This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Friday's slate features several value options that may fly under the radar if prospective owners aren't paying attention to recent trends. This can allow us to pay up for pitching or key in on a few stacks against pitchers who are ripe for the picking.
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Pitcher
Zack Godley, ARI vs. SEA ($9,300): The Mariners aren't anyone's idea of a soft offense but Godley should be able to stifle his opposition by using his curveball (11.2 RAA) as Seattle has notched a bottom-10 mark against the bender. The right-hander will also receive a boost by virtue of the fact that he will be facing a pitcher in the ninth spot of an American League lineup.
Cheap GPP Consideration, CC Sabathia, NYY at BAL ($7,800): Sabathia was dealing in August before being sidelined with a knee injury, allowing just three runs in 14.2 innings (three starts). He struck out 21 batters over that span. The veteran will come off the disabled list to face the Orioles, who are tied with the Mets for the worst wOBA in the league against left-handed pitching (.283). It's worth noting that much of what I just said about Sabathia with respect to August dominance also applies to Alex Cobb ($6,800) but Sabathia is my preferred play due to the quality of his opposition and ability to get punch outs.
GPP Fade, Andrew Heaney, LAA vs. HOU ($8,000): Heaney has been getting hit hard in August, as evidenced by the 6.46 ERA he has tallied in 23.2 innings (four starts) this month. Houston is hardly a matchup one hopes for when looking to bounce back from a rough stretch, as they are a top-3 team in both wOBA (.347) and ISO (.189) against left-handed pitching.
Catcher/First Base
Tyler Austin, MIN vs. OAK ($3,100): Austin has put up gaudy numbers against left-handed pitching this season, logging a .359 ISO and a .417 wOBA in 64 at-bats. Opposing starter Sean Manaea has thrown the ball well in general but has allowed 19 homers and a 42.2 percent hard contact rate to righty hitters in 124.2 frames.
Second Base
Niko Goodrum, DET vs. CWS ($3,000): Goodrum may not be consistent enough to warrant a spot on most yearly fantasy league rosters but the 26-year-old has shown good power against right-handed pitchers, notching a .230 ISO in 256 at-bats. Reynaldo Lopez's numbers against left-handed hitters look decent enough upon first inspection but deeper study will reveal the 6.08 xFIP he holds against his opposite hand in 73.1 innings.
Third Base
Matt Chapman, OAK at MIN ($3,800): Chapman owns a fairly significant reverse split, as we can see from the .249 ISO and .379 wOBA he has logged against same-handed hurlers in 285 at-bats. This could be an issue for Jake Odorizzi, who has notched a 5.12 ERA in 63.1 innings at home.
Shortstop
Willy Adames, TAM vs. BOS ($3,100): Adames is another player who has come to life in August. The promising prospect has logged a .227 ISO to go along with a .416 wOBA in 66 at-bats this month. Opposing starter Hector Velazquez has been hit hard by left-handed batters this season, surrendering a .477 slugging percentage and a .350 wOBA in 28.2 innings.
Outfield
Matt Kemp, LAD vs. SD ($3,100): Kemp has cooled down considerably since his torrid stretches in the first half of the season but has still logged a .252 ISO and a 45.7 percent hard contact rate against lefty pitching in 139 at-bats. Meanwhile, Clayton Richard has tallied a 6.28 ERA in 77.1 innings away from Petco Park this year.
Andrew McCutchen, SF vs. TEX ($3,200): McCutchen has had some success versus the fastball in 2018, registering a 16.1 RAA against the pitch in 124 games. This should translate to results against Drew Hutchison, whose heater has yielded -4.6 RAA in 34.2 innings. He has logged a 5.71 ERA in 14 games (three starts) over that span.
Daniel Palka, CWS at DET ($2,700): Palka may be the best offensive value play of the entire slate as a result of the .252 ISO he has notched against right-handed pitching in 258 at-bats. Detroit starter Michael Fulmer will be returning from an extended stay on the disabled list due to an oblique injury. He had allowed 10 homers to left-handed hitters in 61 innings prior to his absence.
Utility
Ryan Zimmerman, WAS at NYM ($3,600):Jason Vargas should be looked at as one of the main stack targets for offenses Friday, as he has allowed a .604 slugging percentage versus right-handed hitters in 44.1 innings. This is good news for Zimmerman, who has crushed left-handed pitching to the tune of a .345 ISO and a .504 wOBA in 55 at-bats.
