This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Seven games make up our Saturday main slate, which could be reduced to six if weather creates an issue for Detroit at Chicago.
Pitching
This looks like a nice spot for a vintage Clayton Kershaw ($10,900) performance. He's put up 37 FDP in each of his first two starts, averaging a strikeout per inning, and couldn't have a better matchup against Pittsburgh. The Pirates simply can't hit lefties, ranking dead last with a .258 wOBA, 57 wRC+, .058 ISO and 30.0 percent strikeout rate.
Kershaw's appeal is further bolstered when looking at the next two options in Noah Syndergaard ($9,300) and Mike Foltynewicz ($9,000). Syndergaard has allowed four runs or more in four of five starts and faces an always dangerous Brewers offense. Foltynewicz is making his season debut, and he just wasn't good in his rehab starts, posting a 5.70 xFIP and meager 17.1 percent strikeout rate in four outings. Both figure to be faded heavily, so you could catch lightning in a bottle for GPPs, but thats the only hope.
Jon Gray's ($8,600) current form makes him an obvious pivot from Kershaw. He's allowed just two runs in his last 19.2 innings, and the Braves have scored just nine runs in their last three games. Gray has just a 23.6 percent strikeout rate, however, his lowest since his 2015 rookie season, seemingly limiting his upside.
There isn't a ton to be excited about in the bottom wave of arms. Reynaldo Lopez ($8,000) has seen a huge price increase on the heels of consecutive 40 FDP games, one of which came against Saturday's opponent in Detroit, against whom last time out, he allowed two runs over six innings, while fanning eight. Jorge Lopez ($7,700) has put up 27 or more FDP in four straight, but has allowed four runs in two straight and has topped six Ks just once. There's an unfortunate lack of volatile, high upside arms here.
Key Value/Chalk
Arizona's Zack Godley ($7,000) and his 5.42 xFIP and 17.6 percent whiff rate looks like a great place around which to start building. That puts all Cubs bats in play, which are, surprisingly, led by catcher Willson Contreras ($3,800), who has a team-high .497 wOBA, 215 wRC+ and .370 ISO against same-handed arms. Javier Baez ($4,600) plays well as an offensive anchor (.375 wOBA, .266 ISO) while Jason Heyward ($3,600) shouldn't be ignored. He's sporting a .423 wOBA, 166 wRC+ and .271 ISO while striking out only 6.3 percent of the time against righties. As long as he's putting the ball in play, he has ample chances to produce.
Trevor Story ($4,200) and Nolan Arenado ($4,000) both homered Friday, and are at a slight discount on the road. I wouldn't shy away from them against Foltenewicz, who isn't known for his efficiency and likely won't work deep into the contest. That gives this duo extra chances against the Braves awful bullpen. Story has gone for nine or more FDP in nine straight.
There doesn't appear to be a reason to fade Christian Yelich ($4,900) against Syndergaard, with Yelich owning a .522 wOBA, 230 wRC+ and .493 ISO against righties. Mike Moustakas ($3,100) looks like a great value if you expect the Mets' starter to continue struggling, as he's raking against righties to the tune of a .426 wOBA, 166 wRC+ and .365 ISO.
Detroit and Chicago erupted for 23 runs Friday, and with Ryan Carpenter (unlisted at time of submission) making a spot start against a shaky Lopez, there's reason to believe the offense carries over. It has a total of nine runs, the second-highest on the slate, and getting a small piece on both sides looks very affordable. Nicholas Castellanos ($3,300) is hot, with 15.7 or more FDP in three straight, while Jose Abreu ($3,900) has come alive for Chicago, driving in 12 runs in his last four. Miguel Cabrera ($2,600) launched his first homer of the season last night and is cheap enough that he brings little risk if you're hoping that surge carries over.
The day's highest total belongs to the Royals and Angels at 9.5. Mike Trout ($5,000) is a cash game anchor, while any of the Royals' Whit Merrifield ($4,000), Adalberto Mondesi ($4,100), Hunter Dozier ($4,200) and Alex Gordon ($3,900) work. LAA's Kole Calhoun ($3,400) out of the leadoff spot can offer some savings if we're expecting the game to go over, while Albert Pujols ($2,800) is a fair GPP gamble, having homered in two of his last five, with multihit efforts in three of seven.
Stacks
New York Mets vs. Brandon Woodruff (Brewers)
Jeff McNeil (OF - $3,100), Michael Conforto (OF - $4,100), Robinson Cano (2B - $3,800)
Woodruff is being pelted by lefties to the tune of a .421 wOBA and .999 OPS, so a three-man lefty stack makes a lot of sense, especially with McNeil offering some savings. He checks in with a .365 wOBA and 133 wRC+, while Cano comes with a .357 wOBA and .224 ISO. Conforto is the anchor, boasting a .423 wOBA , 171 wRC+ and .290 ISO. Pete Alonso ($4,200) makes plenty of sense as well if you're not worried about opposite-handed matchups.
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Yu Darvish (Cubs)
Christian Walker (1B - $4,100), David Peralta (OF - $3,900), Jarrod Dyson (OF - $3,300)
Darvish has 15 Ks in his last 10.2 innings, but also carries a 7.2 BB/9 rate and 2.4 HR/9 rate. He shouldn't be feared. Walker is white hot, owning five multihit games in his last seven entering Friday, leading to a .503 wOBA, 217 wRC+ and .410 ISO against righties. Dyson is equally as hot with three multihit games in his last four and a .386 wOBA/.231 ISO against opposite-handed arms. Peralta's power is lagging, but he drove in six in a three-game series against Pittsburgh and has a .390 wOBA against southpaws.
