This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
We've got as full of a playoff slate as possible on Friday, with all four series set to square off, starting with Houston-Chicago's second game at 2:07 pm et. With the National League just getting going, we've got an interesting contrast of Game 1s and 2s, with first and second starters throwing. That should offer some different thought processes to lineup construction. No contest has a higher run total than 7.5; typical for playoff baseball, but not great for offensive builds.
Pitching
Walker Buehler, LAD at SF ($9,900): Buehler righted himself in his final regular season tune up, and has dominated the Giants with great exposure, fanning 33 across 37.0 innings, allowing nine earned runs (2.19) and 27 hits. The Giants are a veteran team, but most have been waiting on them to wilt all year. I'm not expecting homers here, and their 24.3 percent K rate, paired with tense play, and I'm personally banking on Buehler to dominate.
Charlie Morton, ATL at MIL ($9,000): Braves' manger Brian Snitker has had a tendency to leave Morton in a hair too long, and it's resulted in some bad finishes. But he's still turned in a terrific season and has a reputation as a post season ace. He was dominant in helping Atlanta clinch the NL East, fanning 10 in seven shutout innings against Philadelphia, and we shouldn't fear this Brewers' lineup, which is arguably the worst in the playoffs. They bring a .311 wOBA, .164 ISO and 24.0 percent K rate into Friday. He posted 34 FDP against Milwaukee in a regular season start, which seems disappointing yet is still right at 4x. Less than that would be a surprise here, as he matches Corbin Burnes toe to toe at worst.
Shane Baz, TB vs. BOS ($7.800): I wouldn't normally include a third arm in a four-game slate, but I'm certainly not targeting Red Sox bats, so why not think about the slate's cheapest arm. Baz' appeal is all about the Ks, something he's doing at an obscene 36.7 percent of the time. Boston hasn't seen him, so he should enjoy a solid start before they adjust. He's a GPP upside guy only, as his 2.03 HR/9 show vulnerability, but he could easily go 5x in just five innings thanks to swings and misses.
Top Targets
Corey Seager, LAD at SF ($3,900): Seager posted a .389 wOBA and 147 wRC+ during the regular season against righties, leading Dodger regulars in both. He's also been white hot down the stretch, hitting .451 (23-of-51) with seven homers, seven walks, 11 runs and 14 RBI over the last two weeks (13 games), and we have to love his post season success, where he had a .475 wOBA, .418 ISO and 214 wRC+ during last season's World Series run, homering eight times in 18 games.
Jose Abreu, CWS at HOU ($3,800): Both the White Sox and Rays have tremendous options against left-handed arms, so it's a matter of personal preference. I'll offer Abreu and his .405 wOBA, .309 ISO and 161 wRC+ simply for consideration.
Value Bats
Christian Yelich, MIL vs. ATL ($3,200): Giant bats, despite their struggles against Buehler, are probably safer to value hunt. But Milwaukee has done it all year offensively with a different guy coming through nightly, so snagging a cheap option here makes sense. It's virtually impossible to find a player of Yelich's pedigree for this number. Yes, he had a miserable regular season. But there were signs of life late, with eight hits in his last eight games (unfortunately just one extra base hit in that span). He's 6-of-15 (.400) against Morton in his career, and we just need a few singles for 2x. Not ideal, but two singles gives us 2x.
Dansby Swanson, ATL at MIL ($2,700): Given the Braves' swing and miss tendencies, I understand not loading up on their bats, even if they hit Corbin Burnes hard during the regular season. So build elsewhere, and take a cheap shot with Swanson, who is a hard to pass up 4-of-5 with two HR and five RBI against Burnes. Small sample, but too much to ignore at this number.
Also considered: Cody Bellinger ($2,400), Michael Brantley ($2,400), Austin Meadows ($2,800)
Stack to Consider
Rays vs. Chris Sale: Randy Arozarena ($3,700), Wander Franco ($3,400), Mike Zunino ($3,300)
I really didn't want to go here, as it's chalk city. But the Rays' bats are priced so low it's impossible to omit at least one from your builds, if not multiple. Arozarena went yard last night, starting off his postseason with a bang again. Franco and Zunino are straight lefty mashers and discounted too heavily to pass, the former posting a .429 wOBA, 181 wRC+ and .245 ISO, and the latter a .519 wOBA, 242 wRC+ and .526 ISO. Not having a share, or multiple, of this lineup seems irresponsible. Perhaps grabbing a piece or two here, and stacking the White Sox trio of Abreu, Luis Robert ($3,400) and Tim Anderson ($3,600) offers some differentiation.
