This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Saturday's main slate features nine games and is absolutely loaded on all fronts. Three aces topping $11,000 are on the bump, while three raw starters check in with bottomed out prices, presenting juicy offensive matchups for their opponents. Coors Field also features Saturday evening.
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PITCHER
Corey Kluber, CLE at KAN ($11,200):With three aces on the mound Saturday, there doesn't appear to be a wrong answer among them, but Kluber is my preference and seems to offer a nice blend of cash game stability with GPP upside. Kluber has gone at least seven innings, won and provided a quality start, and struck out six or more in four of his last five. He's 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA against the Royals this season, has a great opportunity to win again against Heath Fillmyer, and the Royals have only a.298 wOBA and 85 wRC+ against righties.
GPP Fade: Anibal Sanchez ($8,600), ATL at MIA:Sanchez was my fade in his last start, which remarkably ended with 39 points despite him allowing three runs over 6.2 frames. It also increased his price $500, and the tag now just seems unfathomable for his name. Yes, he gets a plus matchup at Miami, and great win potential against Wei-Yin Chen, but Sanchez is showing some wear of late, allowing seven runs over his last 11.2 innings. At $7,000 or less, he'd be a terrific option, but as the slate's fifth-highest price arm, he's difficult to justify.
Cheap GPP Consideration: Mike Fiers, OAK at MIN ($8,000):We've reached a point in the year where most pitchers are what they are, while the bottom tier of arms is being littered with late-season callups. As such, there aren't always going to be great bargains, hence Fiers elevated price here. But Fiers looks well worth paying for and still comes much cheaper than the top arms. He's been dominant in three starts since joining Oakland, allowing only three runs while striking out 21 over 18.1 innings, winning twice. The Twins 21.5 percent fan rate make keep the upside in check, but Fiers has a great shot at a win against Stephen Gonsalves, and Minnesota's 97 wRC+ won't scare many away.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Matt Carpenter, STL at COL ($4,700):The price is high and Carpenter has cooled some, but the matchup is too juicy to ignore. Carpenter has a .402 wOBA, 156 wRC+ and .310 ISO against righties to date, numbers that have elevated to .451/188/.436 in the second half. He gets the joy of playing in Coors Field Saturday, where German Marquez has struggled, owning a 6.42 home ERA while allowing a .425 wOBA to lefties.
SECOND BASE
Brian Dozier, LAD vs. SDP ($3,200):The Dodgers are one of many offenses worth targeting Saturday as they face Brett Kennedy, who has look completely overmatched in his first three appearances, allowing 26 hits, five home runs and 13 runs over 14.0 innings. Dozier has fared decently against same-handed arms since coming to L.A., posting a .384 wOBA, 145 wRC+ and .273 ISO, and is just the sixth-highest priced Dodger bat.
THIRD BASE
Matt Chapman, OAK at MIN ($4,200):You're going to pay a premium for the hot A's lineup, but Chapman at least comes at a bit of a discount over Khris Davis (more on him later). Chapman is second on the team behind Davis against lefties, sporting a .370 wOBA, 137 wRC+ and .228 ISO. The stacking potential should be very obvious against the aforementioned Gonsalves, who allowed six hits, two walks and four runs over 1.1 innings in a rain-shortened first start.
SHORTSTOP
Tim Beckham, BAL vs. NYY ($2,200):With so many other tantalizing bats worth paying up for, punting and/or taking a high reward, low risk option is necessary. Targeting an O's offense against Sonny Gray could save some dollars, and Beckham fits the profile. While his .275 wOBA against righties is less than stellar, its offset a bit by Gray's .358 wOBA allowed to same-handed bats. Beckham is eight for 21 with two homers against Gray in his career, a small sample size, but worth noting when bargain hunting.
OUTFIELD
Khris Davis, OAK at MIN ($4,700):It appears very difficult to keep Davis out of your lineup Saturday. We noted the appealing matchup against Stephen Gonsalves previously. Then we mix in Davis' robust .381 wOBA, 145 wRC+ and .316 ISO against southpaws, and we top it off with his obscene surge since the All-Star break, where he's carrying a .462 wOBA, 201 wRC+, .484 ISO and has hit 18 home runs in 31 games. That suggests the potential may still be greater than the price.
Joc Pederson, LAD vs. SDP ($3,100):We noted Brett Kennedy's woes previously. Pederson checks in with nearly similar numbers against righties as his teammate above, sporting a .380 wOBA, 143 wRC+ and whopping .300 ISO against righties. His place atop the lineup in this plus matchup is enticing.
Steven Souza, ARI vs. SEA ($3,100):As of submission time, FanDuel listed Mike Leake as the Mariners' starter, but he's been pushed to Sunday, leaving an inviting matchup for Souza against lefty Wade LeBlanc. Souza's overall numbers remain ugly, but they'd be even worse if not for a .385 wOBA, 142 wRC+ and .245 ISO against lefties. LeBlanc's splits aren't overly discernible, but his 4.13 road ERA isn't worth steering clear of.
UTILITY
Ozzie Albies, ATL at MIA ($3,300):Albies second-half slump has cost him some $1,000 from his June price. But that slump has virtually all been from the left side of the plate, as he's posted a .421 wOBA and 166 wRC+ against lefties since the All-Star break. Marlins' starter Wei-Yen Chen is allowing a .352 wOBA to righties, and this looks like the right opportunity to trust a slumping bat at a discount.
