This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Saturday's main slate features a robust 11 games and no true ace. What it does offer is a plethora of middling arms on the bump, many of whom are left handed, setting up countless plus matchups for even third-tier bats, let alone your top options.
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PITCHER
Rich Hill, LAD at SEA ($8,800):This doesn't appear to be a slate where you want to mess around on the bump, and let's assume we're differentiating from David Price ($10,100) and Zack Godley ($9,700), who both have obviously favorable matchups. Hill seems to offer a nice floor with equally nice potential, as the only thing keeping him from top production remains an inability to work deep into contests. He's struck out 30 over his last five starts, spanning 30.1 innings, allowing just six runs in that span, and is throwing in spacious Safeco Field. The Mariners offense is also mediocre at best against lefties, sporting a .311 wOBA, 99 wRC+ and .140 ISO.
GPP Fade: Madison Bumgarner ($8,900), SFG at CIN:Bumgarner has almost mirrored Hill's lines of late, having fanned 31 over his last 30 innings, a span of five starts where he's allowed eight runs. The difference here is the opponent and the ballpark. Great American "Smallpark" is a well known bandbox, and the Reds have fared well against left-handed arms, boasting a .331 wOBA, the fifth highest total in the league, while adding a 105 wRC+. We're splitting hairs at the top of the arms' list, but the risk appears to be enough to weed out Bumgarner.
Cheap GPP Consideration: Tyler Glasnow, TAM vs. BOS ($5,900):Facing the league's best offense, Glasnow is clearly not for the faint of heart. But not factoring in Boston's Friday night output, they've been a bit quiet of late, having posted just 10 runs in their previous three games. They lead the league with a .349 wOBA against righties, and the 18.7 percent strikeout rate doesn't add confidence. But Glasnow is pitching like he belongs, allowing one run in each of his last three appearances, striking out 20 in 12.0 innings. At this price, 20 points would fit nicely into a lineup while affording you to spend freely on bats.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Ryan Zimmerman, WAS vs. MIA ($3,200): Zimmerman looks like a terrific tournament gamble. He's been a feast or famine play throughout the year, but his .518 wOBA, 229 wRC+ and 358 ISO pair incredibly with Marlins' starter Wei-Yin Chen's road struggles. Chen is allowing a .463 wOBA and 6.88 xFIP to righties on the road. Anthony Rendon ($4,000) and Trea Turner ($3,700) are far safer choices, but Zimmerman's price and upside are enticing.
SECOND BASE
Niko Goodrum, DET at MIN ($3,000): Goodrum represents another ideal GPP target, while Nick Castellanos ($3,600) is the far safer Tiger to target against Kohl Stewart, who allowed three runs in his first 4.1 big league frames this year. Goodrum has turned in four 20-plus point showings in his last seven games, one of which came against Stewart, when he went one for two with two walks, a run, steal and RBI. His 28.9 percent whiff rate speaks to the volatility, but his .322 wOBA is second among Tiger regulars and comes at a reduced rate at a punt or pay position to boot.
THIRD BASE
Miguel Sano, MIN vs. DET ($3,200):Since his recall from Single-A, Sano is still fanning at a whopping clip, 37.0 percent to be exact. But his all or nothing approach has had plenty of all moments as well, bringing a .378 wOBA, 139 wRC+ and .234 ISO to the table. That seems worth a gamble with the Tigers searching for a starter – most likely a recalled Ryan Carpenter, who has allowed 17 hits, four homers and nine runs across 12.2 innings earlier in the year.
SHORTSTOP
Andrelton Simmons, LAA at TEX ($3,000): Simmons has been a bit streaky but appears to be in a small groove right now, having hit in three straight following an 0-for-11 stretch. He trails only Mike Trout among Angels' regulars with a .367 wOBA against lefties, while Rangers' starter Martin Perez has been incredibly vulnerable to opposite-handed bats, allowing a .418 wOBA
OUTFIELD
Andrew Benintendi, BOS vs. TAM ($3,700):There may be better matchups given Benintendi's current struggling form, but it's awfully difficult to pass on a sub-$4,000 hitter that's near the top of this potent lineup. Benintendi's current slump has pushed his wOBA against righties under .400, all the way to .395. Hopefully you're picking up the sarcasm, as Benintendi's 149 wOBA and .202 ISO are clear bargains at this tag.
Harrison Bader, STL vs. MIL ($3,300): The Cardinals are white hot, and Bader is right in the middle of their surge. He's put up at least nine fantasy points in nine straight, four times going for more than double that total. And he's been feasting on lefties to the tune of a .406 wOBA, 158 wRC+ and .229 ISO, making him well worth using even against a serviceable Wade Miley.
Steven Souza, ARI at SDP ($3,000):Souza is finally warming after a season-long slumber, posting a .341 wOBA and .229 ISO in August, numbers that jump to a .554 wOBA, .667 ISO and 254 wRC+ in limited appearances against lefties this month. That figures to play well against Clayton Richard, who has allowed 15 runs and 21 hits in his last four starts, spanning 23.0 frames.
UTILITY
Lucas Duda, KAN at CWS ($3,000): White Sox starter Dylan Covey has allowed 20 runs and 28 hits in his last four starts, spanning just 18.0 frames, so it seems prudent to buy in even with one of the league's worst offenses. You're not exactly looking for stability with the Royals' bats, so Duda's .340 wOBA, 113 wRC+ and .196 ISO seem like the right mix of price and potential.
