This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Saturday's main slate features a mere four games. That's all of eight arms from which to choose, one of whom is the best in the league, while the top four priced arms are all heavy favorites. Strategy is paramount to success here – pay up for the ace, or pay down and hope for 25ish points on the bump and exploit vulnerable pitchers with a stacked offense to compensate.
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PITCHER
Max Scherzer, WAS vs. MIA ($12,200): Scherzer hasn't been a must-own player over his last four outings, but on this slate, cash players don't have many other reliable options to turn to. The Marlins have been a bit of an ace killer this season and hit Scherzer for four runs while only whiffing four times in six innings earlier this year. But they still carry just a .299 wOBA, 88 wRC+ and .130 ISO against righties, while Scherzer has an obscene 2.40 xFIP and 40.1 percent strikeout rate at home. Pay up, secure a likely 40 points or more, and find some affordable bats looks like a winning strategy.
GPP Fade: David Price, BOS at KAN ($8,000): On its face, there's no reason not to use Price in a plus matchup against a woeful Royals offense that has just a .293 wOBA, 83 wRC+ and .131 ISO against lefties. But he's simply too obvious of a pivot from Scherzer that there's going to be no upside to owning him. He owns a 4.74 road ERA against a 3.63 figure at home, and while he has seven quality starts in his last 10 outings, he's twice given up seven or more runs in that span. Usually, when it's too good to be true, it is, and in a tournament setting, this is one of the more obvious instances where you need to differentiate.
Cheap GPP Consideration: Robbie Ray, ARI vs. SDP ($9,000): Ray is far from the definition of cheap, but the feeling here is that most owners are looking at paying for Scherzer, or possibly fading Price, and looking to buy down below him in the process. That could leave Ray and Ross Stripling ($8,600) overlooked. Ray has fanned 13 in 11 innings since returning from the DL, and while the price is more than I'd prefer, it's fair given his 32.0 percent strikeout rate at home. He's been hit hard in his home park, but the Padres come in with only a .296 wOBA, 88 wRC+ and .157 ISO against lefties, adding a 24.1 percent strikeout rate. Ray's 3.45 home xFIP suggest he's been a bit unlucky, and this is a matchup that can turn his baseline stats in his favor.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Mitch Moreland, BOS at KAN ($3,200): Injuries bring opportunity in the form of reduced pricing. Moreland hasn't played since July 3 due to a back ailment but is expected back Saturday. Obviously his status needs to be confirmed, but if/once it is, he's coming at a $300 to $700 discount in the heart of this potent offense. It certainly doesn't hurt that he brings a .385 wOBA, 144 wRC+ and .259 ISO against righties to the table.
SECOND BASE
Whit Merrifield, KAN vs. BOS ($2,700): Merrifield's price has plummeted, and as long as he's atop an albeit weak order, he's the definition of a bargain. He brings a .433 wOBA and 179 wRC+ to the table against lefties, rare success for the Royals, and fits perfectly into a Scherzer led, Price fading lineup. Arizona's Daniel Descalso ($2,400) also has a plus matchup, which we'll target below.
THIRD BASE
Anthony Rendon, WAS vs. MIA ($3,900): Any and all National bats appear in play against Wei-Yin Chen and his 9.85 road ERA, even more so righties, who he's allowing a .469 wOBA to away from Miami. Rendon is the best option, sporting a cool .427 wOBA, 166 wRC+ and .301 ISO against southpaws since the start of 2017.
If you're really looking to roll the dice, and are a believer in BvP numbers, Miami's Martin Prado ($2,400) has had surprising success against Scherzer, going 16 for 35 (.457) with a 1.114 OPS and has made 35.2 fantasy points in two games since returning from injury.
SHORTSTOP
Chris Taylor, LAD at LAA (3,300): At a punt or play position, Taylor offers a rare middle ground. He's swinging a white hot bat, going eight for 12 over his last three games entering Friday, with seven RBI and three extra base hits. He has a .352 wOBA and .205 ISO against righties, while Angels starter Deck McGuire is allowing a .553 wOBA to same-handed bats.
OUTFIELD
Andrew Benintendi, BOS at KAN ($3,700): Near the top of the order Red Sox, at a sub $4,000 price, is the definition of a bargain. Benintendi hasn't been his usual self of late, leading to the discounted price, but his .381 wOBA, 142 wRC+ and .218 ISO aren't anything to scoff at. Pairing Moreland and Benintendi would give two Sox lefties against rightie Brad Keller, and cost only $6,900 total; a pretty nice mini stack at that price.
David Peralta, ARI vs. SDP ($3,500): In the spirit of offering differing opinions, I'm trying to not list too many Diamondbacks in this column, but a lefty D'Back stack against Tyson Ross looks very appealing. Ross allows a .369 wOBA to opposite handed bats against a .237 wOBA to righties, and Arizona's lineup is littered with lefties that swing well against righties. Peralta leads that pack, owning a .392 wOBA, 147 wRC+ and .256 ISO.
Hunter Renfroe, SDP at ARI ($2,800): The limited slate means we can't ignore any matchup, even if I like Robbie Ray on the bump. Ray's been plenty vulnerable at home to righties, allowing an eye-opening .460 wOBA, seeming playing right into Renfroe's wheelhouse. Renfroe boasts a .374 wOBA, 140 wRC+ and .226 ISO since returning from injury.
UTILITY
Jake Lamb, ARI vs. SDP ($3,600): Picking on Tyler Ross with lefties is likely going to be popular, but it's also likely to be successful. Lamb hasn't been as automatic against opposite handed bats as he was last year, so maybe his .328 wOBA has owners looking elsewhere. He's in good form, having hit safely in five straight and 13 of his last 14, and brings a blistering 45.9 percent hard hit rate against righties to the table, suggesting he'll square up a few balls Saturday night.
