This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Friday's main slate features 14 games, with Pirates-Cubs omitted, an unfortunate missing contest given both bad offenses give us pitching options. We've only got three arms priced in five-digits, but 11 more from $7,800-$9,600. That should offer an option for all strategies.
Pitching
Shohei Ohtani, LAA vs. TEX ($10,800): If we're paying up, I see no reason to not go all the way up. The Rangers are just a bad, targetable offense, fanning 24.0 percent of the time while posting a .298 wOBA and .155 ISO in this spot. Ohtani has faced Texas three times to date, fanning 22 across 16 innings and figures to receive ample run support as the offense goes to work on Glenn Otto. Perhaps there's not a 5x ceiling, but there should be at worst a 3.5x floor.
Kyle Gibson, PHI at MIA ($9,400): I expect many will prefer Adam Wainwright and his terrific form, but I'm a little concerned there as his success came against the likes of Pittsburgh (3x), Kansas City, Cleveland and Minnesota, not exactly top offenses. Gibson is in similar form, averaging 30.3 FDP in six August starts, including a down performance against the Dodgers; completely understandable. He gets a soft hitting Marlins side Friday that has just a .295 wOBA, 88 wRC+ and .137 ISO, and their 25.4 percent K rate should help Gibson's disappointing 7.0 K/9 play up. He'll have a great shot at a win as well with the Phillies surging and facing a punishable Jesus Luzardo.
Vladimir Gutierrez, CIN vs. DET ($8,700): The Tigers offense hasn't been awful of late, but they still carry only a .300 wOBA for the year against righties while striking out a robust 25.9 percent of the time. That should give Gutierrez a margin for error. He's fanned at least six in five of his last six while allowing two or fewer runs in eight of 10. The two other outings he was shelled, so there is some volatility, but we'll take our chances at an 80 percent chance of a solid return.
Cal Quantrill, CLE at BOS ($7,800): Quantril is in a terrific groove, having allowed three runs or less in every start since July 4, seven times allowing one or no runs while earning eight quality starts in 11 tries. We know the Red Sox can be explosive, and we'll need to keep an eye on their lineup. But assuming Xander Bogaerts remains out, and possibly Enrigue Hernandez too, they'll be less so, giving Quantirl a leg up against an offense he just faced and posted 40 FDP against.
Top Targets
Freddie Freeman, ATL at COL ($4,300): The appeal here is really that Freeman isn't over priced for a top bat in Coors Field. He's a rare option that offers contact and power in the top third of an order, providing returns in a variety of ways. A stable .389 wOBA against righties sure doesn't hurt.
Ketel Marte, ARI vs. SEA ($4,200): Marte's ABs have been limited by injury, but in 81 plate appearances, he's posted a ridiculous .513 wOBA, 223 wRC+ .347 ISO and 46.2 percent hard hit rate against lefties. He's lacked upside of late, but he's collected at least one knock in 18 of his last 21 outings and should be good to put up at least some form of a crooked number here.
Aaron Judge, NYY vs BAL ($4,100): Judge is always in play, especially against lefties where he boasts a .423 wOBA, 173 wRC_ and .260 ISO. He's also in great form, with at least two hits in three straight and seven of eight, where he's gone 18-of-37 (.486) with three homers, 10 RBI, and six runs scored. He doesn't have terrific BvP numbers against John Means, but Baltimore's top arm is fading down the stretch, having allowed 15 runs in his last four starts.
Value Bats
Jonathan India, CIN vs. DET ($3,600): The price point is a bit odd; not a true bargain, not a true top target. And while Tigers' starter Tyler Alexander hasn't been as bad as his bottom-tier price suggests, we at least want a piece of the Reds against him if we're not stacking. India's .391 wOBA leads Red regulars against lefties, even if his .157 ISO limits the ceiling.
Adalberto Mondesi, KC vs. CWS ($3,600): Mondesi is arguably the most exciting offensive player out there, when healthy. He's currently active, which is about the best we can say. I'll spare split stats, but Mondesi is a power/speed option in a plus spot against lefty Dallas Keuchel. If he's in the Royals lineup, it's hard not to put him into yours, as he's got east 5x potential.
Kyle Tucker, HOU at SD ($3,300): I have no idea what the Padres hope to gain by throwing Jake Arrieta in this spot. Tucker at this number and his .373 wOBA, 143 wRC+ and .249 ISO is an immediate option. Arrieta is allowing a .405 wOBA and .962 OPS to lefties, further increasing the appeal. Finally, he's allowed 26 runs in this last 17.0 innings.
Andrew Vaughn, CWS at KC ($2,600): Yes, I prefer Yasmani Grandal ($3,300) if all things are equal, but they aren't. Vaughn comes at a nice discount and offers a cheap in against Kris Bubic. Vaughn sports a .427 wOBA, 177 wRC+ and .321 ISO in this spot.
Stacks to Consider
Rays vs. Randy Dobnak: Brandon Lowe ($3,900), Austin Meadows ($3,400), Kevin Kiermaier ($2,500)
While Dobnak has been highly getable, he hasn't appeared since June 19, and we shouldn't be stacking exclusively against him. Rather, I assume the Twins will piece things together here, and feature more righties than lefties, lending the Rays' left-handed bats to be targetable. Meadows is my favorite play of the night; he simply produces runs, driving in 93 entering Thursday while sporting a .374 wOBA and .295 ISO. Lowe actually betters him at .390/.303, making for a terrific 1-2 punch in your lineup. If forcing a third piece, give me a cheaper Kiermaier, who hasn't played in two days due to matchups, but has at least 6.2 FDP in his last seven starts. Not lineup altering, but it's not a zero, and if the Rays' as a unit succeed, he's in for 3-4x.
Phillies vs. Jesus Luzardo: J.T. Realmuto ($3,500), Jean Segura ($3,300), Andrew McCutchen ($2,800)
A great, maybe not so new, strategy for me is grab the Phillies' right-handed bats, facing a lefty, who surround Bryce Harper, and hopefully profit. This lineup is hot, and I'm not buying Luzardo's success in his last outing; he's been pelted by either handed bats regularly. Realmuto is warm and should have run producing opportunities, helping offset his limited .190 ISO. McCutchen meanwhile has seven RBI in his last two games, and leads the way with a .450 wOBA, 184 wRC+ and .346 ISO against lefties. Segura is our table setter with a .375 wOBA. This figures to be chalky, but that doesn't make it incorrect.
