This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
14 games await Friday evening, with the Chicago series 2:20 p.m. EDT contest all that's missing. There's only one arm that's priced in five figures, and the second-priced pitcher is throwing in Coors Field, so while there is volume to choose from, there's no must use option on the bump.
Pitching
Chris Bassitt, OAK vs. TEX ($9,800): If I'm paying up on the bump, it's between Bassitt's higher ceiling, or Adam Wainwright's ($9,700) stable floor. Bassit's opponent has a .293 wOBA against righties, while Wainwright's a .297, so it's a negligible difference. The appeal is the Rangers 24.6 percent strikeout rate, against the Royals 22.2 percent clip. Bassitt has been worth 37, 40 and 52 FDP against the Rangers thus far, and should get some solid run support with Mike Foltynewicz his adversary.
Kyle Muller, ATL vs. WAS ($7,700): I don't mean for this column to be comparing comparable pitchers, but I again found myself debating options priced next to each other, this time Muller vs. John Means ($8,000). Means has K upside, and the Rays fan often against lefties (27.0 percent), but they've gotten him for nine runs in 11.1 innings. Enter Muller, who gets the depleted Nats' lineup that's Juan Soto and next to nothing else. Muller is fanning 10.01 per nine, and has gone for at least 29 FDP in four of his last five.
Cal Quantrill, CLE vs. DET ($6,700): Detroit surprisingly ranks 15th in the league with a .308 wOBA against lefties. But they strike out 25.7 percent of the time, lending plenty of upside to Quantrill. He's been worth at least 25 FDP in four straight; that floor works fine for this tag, as does the 40 FDP upside.
Top Targets
Jesse Winker, CIN vs. PIT ($4,400): Casual players will pencil in Joey Votto here, and that's not wrong, but for $200 more, I'd rather take the likely road less traveled. Winker has a .444 wOBA, 176 wRC+ and .286 ISO in this spot, and has taken Pirates' starter JT Brubaker deep once in only five chances.
Matt Olson, OAK vs. TEX ($4,200): Olson's power stroke isn't in great form, going yard just once in his last eight games, and his .370 wOBA against righties, albeit a team-high, isn't huge for the price point. The appeal is the .396 wOBA and 2.7 HR/9 Rangers' starter Mike Foltynewicz is allowing. Pair it with an 8.39 ERA and 8.05 FIP on the road, and there's a lot to like.
Ketel Marte, ARI at SD ($3,700): Padres' starter Ryan Weathers isn't going to work too deep, so we can't put full support into the .552 wOBA, 248 wRC+ and .300 ISO Marte has against lefties. But he's just incredibly consistent, with his 0-fer Thursday snapping an 11-game hitting streak, albeit spanning his injury absence. We can argue the upside, we can't argue the stability.
Value Bats
Tommy Pham, SD vs. ARI ($3,000): There aren't many stand out bats for the Padres against lefties; it's been a season-long statistical anomaly for a loaded offense. That said, Pham's .343 wOBA, paired with this price and matchup against Caleb Smith merits attention. Smith is allowing a 5.80 ERA and 5.20 xFIP on the road, and if Pham hits atop the lineup, he'll have some solid run scoring chances.
Tommy Edman, STL vs. KC ($2,800): Royals' starter Mike Minor is laboring, allowing at least four runs in six of his last nine starts, surrendering 36 total runs across 51.1 frames. Edman brings a serviceable .382 wOBA against lefties to the docket, and hitting atop the Cards' order, he too should be in position to reach and score at a minimum.
Rougned Odor, NYY vs. SEA ($2,600): Normally, we'd just roll with Gary Sanchez ($2,800) or Aaron Judge ($3,800) when the Yanks face a lefty, but former is on the IL and the later in poor form. Enter Odor, who has a surprising .402 wOBA and .308 ISO against lefties. Mix in that he's 8-of-23 (.348) against Marco Gonzales, and there's an easy 3x path.
Stacks to Consider
Astros vs. Bailey Ober: Yordan Alvarez ($3,700), Kyle Tucker ($3,700), Michael Brantley ($3,300)
This is going to be so incredibly chalky, to where cash game players should just load up at high usage, and GPP players should pick and choose, and differentiate across their offense. Ober is allowing a .401 wOBA and 2.42 HR/9 to lefties, and we can load up as a result. Brantley leads the way with a .419 wOBA, 175 wRC+ and modest .179 ISO. Tucker goes .399/161/.279 and Alvarez .371/142/.267. It's just so obvious...so for the third time, load up!
Indians vs. Matt Manning: Jose Ramirez ($3,900), Franmil Reyes ($3,600), Oscar Mercado ($2,500)
Manning is getting pelted, allowing 24 runs in 38.2 innings, adding a 8.02 road ERA, and still targetable 5.25 FIP. His crux has been same-handed bats, allowing a .422 wOBA and .996 OPS in this spot, making Reyes' .389 wOBA and .349 ISO against righties clearly appealing, and we'll trust Mercado as a hot bat for his low tag to round out this stack. Ramirez meanwhile speaks for himself, even if from the left side, bringing a .368 wOBA and .312 ISO to the docket, having homered in five of his last 10.
