This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
After Thursday's limited five-game evening/main slate, MLB treats us to a rare 15-game main slate Friday night, with no afternoon or early action. Despite volume, we've got only three pitchers priced north of four figures, while six teams have yet to confirm a starter. Trevor Bauer ($11,800) faces a surging Giants squad, Tyler Glasnow ($11,000) gets a leg up against Toronto's right-handed heavy lineup at their "home" park where the ball travels, and Carlos Rodon ($10,400) faces a Yankees squad that crushes southpaws. I'm not talking you out of any of those, and Glasnow is my favorite on the surface. But we'll target other options as we break down Friday. Offensively, I've got 12 lines as of Thursday night, and none are above 10, though Coors Field is still pending. It's a weird slate where strength at the dish meets strength on the mound in many matchups.
Pitching
Ian Anderson, ATL vs. PIT ($8,800): This figures to be chalk city, but I don't know how you avoid considering Anderson given the price, matchup, and bigger names in more difficult spots Friday. His efficiency, or lack thereof, worry me, as he's made it more than 5.1 innings in only half of his eight starts. Pittsburgh has a .290 wOBA and .114 ISO against righties, so there's very minimal risk. But with only a 23.0 percent strikeout rate, I fail to see the upside in Anderson, who's topped 40 FDP only twice.
Mike Minor, KC vs. DET ($7,600): There's almost too much to like here. On the forefront, the Tigers rank last with a .251 wOBA, 58 wRC+, and .058 ISO against lefties while fanning a whopping 33.7 percent of the time. Minor counters with 14 Ks in his last two against the lefty-mashing White Sox (targeted below). He put up 44 FDP while fanning nine Tigers in an earlier meeting, and that's a heck of a return at this number.
Dylan Bundy, LAA vs. OAK ($7,400): GPP target only, as Bundy is in terrible form, having allowed 13 runs over his last 7.1 innings while facing the Dodgers and Red Sox. But his 9.6 K/9 is in line with his lines from the past two years, as is his 3.85 xFIP. Oakland isn't mashing at all, carrying a .298 wOBA, .163 ISO and 24.2 percent K rate. Bundy appears positioned for a rebound while likely being ignored on this crowded slate.
Chris Paddack, SD vs. SEA ($6,300): Paddack's stuff is simply too good to not flash on occasion. And having not topped 30 FDP since April 15, he's due or I'm just wrong. The Mariners have already been no-hit twice this year and carry a .289 wOBA and 25.4 percent K rate into Friday. Paddack just needs to attack and get through five, and he can bring 5x.
Top Targets
Trevor Story, COL vs. ARI ($4,300): Story is the first of two top-priced options that hasn't found his grove just yet. But he's the safest of the Rockies bats in a plus, plus spot. D'Backs starter Riley Smith is getting torched, allowing 18 runs across his last five appearances, spanning 16.1 innings. I expect Story to be in the mix early, and the D'Backs have a plethora of poor lefty options in their pen, further presenting favorable matchups once Smith is lifted.
Juan Soto, WAS vs. BAL ($4,200): Soto hasn't quite gotten hot, but he appears to be percolating, collecting 12 hits in his last 10 games. He's got a team-best .368 wOBA against righties, but the .114 ISO is due heavy progression. O's starter Jorge Lopez has been hit harder by righties, but is still surrendering 2.13 HR/9 to lefties, with 30 percent of the fly balls he allows leaving the yard. I trust the floor here and will pay for the power upside as a differentiation option.
Value Bats
David Peralta, ARI at COL ($3,600): The price is inflated, but it's still fair to value for a middle order bat in Coors Field. Peralta has a mediocre .343 wOBA and .187 ISO against righties, but pairing the ballpark with BvP success against German Marquez (15-of-38, two homers, 1.123 OPS) and the appeal becomes more obvious.
Chris Taylor, LAD vs. SF ($3,500): I really want to stack Dodgers, but their splits aren't great against lefties. I'm not buying Alex Wood, who has faced the Marlins (twice), Rockies (twice), Rangers and Pirates. Taylor is boasting a .510 wOBA, 231 wRC+ and .432 ISO against lefties, and his current hot streak is pushing his tag out of value territory, having 16 hits this month.
Ian Happ, CHC at STL ($3,000): Happ's time off recently looks to have done him well, having launched four homers in six games, collecting eight hits in that span. Mix in a 5-of-16, two homer, 1.201 OPS against Cards' starter Carlos Martinez, and he has stand alone interest.
Ozzie Albies, ATL vs. PIT ($2,900): The Braves offense is priced to stack, with only Ronald Acuna and Freddie Freeman above $3,100. But they've collectively been awful, especially against lefties. Albies isn't excluded from that, but his .346 wOBA and .275 ISO are lower than his totals in 2018 and 2019 (omitting 2020, with injuries and 29 plate appearances). He's a known lefty masher, hits cleanup, and is priced well below the average per spot.
Stacks to Consider
White Sox vs. Jordan Montgomery: Jose Abreu ($3,500), Yasmani Grandal ($2,900), Yermin Mercedes ($2,800)
A three-man stack isn't easy to pull off on this slate, an amazing feet with all 30 teams featured, as price, lineup slots and matchups didn't make for obvious choices; except here. I can't believe the low numbers for this trio. Abreu is expected back from a foot injury, pricing him down as he carries a .429 wOBA, the lowest of this trio, against lefties, adding a .379 ISO and 181 wRC+. Grandal leads the team with a .488 wOBA and 221 wRC+, adding a 300 ISO, while Mercedes sports a .474 wOBA, 211 wRC+ and .242 ISO. Andrew Vaughn ($2,200) is absolutely in play too if on a budget. Montgomery's .358 wOBA allowed to righties isn't huge, but it is compared against a .146 wOBA to lefties.
Royals vs. Jose Urena: Carlos Santana ($3,400), Salvador Perez ($3,100), Andrew Benintendi ($2,600)
We obviously need to ensure Urena starts, as he's dealing with a leg injury, but all indications are he's good to go. His .351 wOBA and 4.96 xFIP allowed against lefties immediately make Santana and Benintendi targetable, with the former sporting a .364 wOBA and .220 ISO against opposite-handed bats and the later going .348 with a 121 wRC+. Perez is surprisingly the best of the trio against righties however with a .380 wOBA to date.
