This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
We've got a two-game National League slate Saturday, with Game 2s taking center stage. There's only $1,400 between the top and bottom pitcher, but I think the clear strategy is going to be to target one of the top three. That makes the fourth a clear low used option....unless you think GPP managers just don't care on the bump, pay down and move on.
Pitching
Max Fried, ATL at MIL ($9,000): Atlanta's approach was pathetic Friday, so there's nothing wrong with Brandon Woodruff ($10,000). And Julio Urias ($9,400) fanned 33 across 29.1 innings against San Francisco, so he looks nice too. But at a $1,000 discount, I'm taking Fried and my savings to build a bigger name offense. He's allowed one run in his last three starts, spanning 23 innings. The Brewers, who Fried didn't face during the regular season, fanned 24.0 percent against lefties during the regular season, posting a .308 wOBA and 90 wRC+.
Kevin Gausman, SF vs. LAD ($8,600): As mentioned in the intro, there just isn't a huge difference between the top and the bottom of Saturday's arms. Gausman went only 14.0 innings in three starts against the Dodgers during the regular season, but he managed to fan 16 while allowing five runs. There's not huge upside, as he hasn't been efficient late in the year either, but as the slate's pay-down option, you take roughly 30 FanDuel points (FDP), or 3.5x, and hope you've picked the right bats.
Top Targets
Freddie Freeman, ATL at MIL ($3,800): On the plus side, Freeman leads the Braves with a .398 wOBA and 148 wRC+ against righties, adding a .217 ISO. He doesn't have a great postseason track record, and his move into the second spot in the lineup limits run production. But he's still the straw that stirs this lineup, and his keen eye won't create outs. Brewers' starter Woodruff hasn't been great, leading into the end of the season, allowing a .375 wOBA and 7.35 FIP to lefties in the season's final month.
Mookie Betts, LAD at SF ($3,600): The name and the price suggest I could claim Betts as a value, rather than top target. Betts hit safely in six of the final eight regular season contests, scoring seven times. He's just in the mix of everything the Dodgers do offensively and is conveniently 15-of-46 (.326) with three homers and a .923 OPS against Gausman.
Value Bats
Justin Turner, LAD at SF ($3,200): Turner's .363 regular season wOBA against righties should play at least evenly here, as he's 4-of-15 (.357) against Gausman. All of those hits have gone for extra bases, resulting in a 1.399 OPS, and his cleanup spot in the order is beyond ideal for the price.
Eddie Rosario, ATL at MIL ($2,900): Atlanta seems content with its starting three in the outfield, and that gives us some value in Rosario. He'll hit sixth, giving him run production opportunities, he boasts a .392 wOBA, 144 wRC+ and .325 ISO against righties since joining the club at the trade deadline, and is one of five Braves' bats that has at least two hits against Woodruff in less than 10 ABs.
Also considered: All things Brewers. I do love Fried's form and the matchup, but the Brewers just find ways to score and figure to bring a right-handed heavy lineup into Saturday. There will surely be value based on how they approach.
Stack to Consider
Giants vs. Julio Urias: Buster Posey ($3,300), Evan Longoria ($2,600), Darin Ruf ($2,500)
The LvR season-long splits are tough to ignore, and given the price points, you can go all in here, be wrong, and likely still have enough heat across your lineup to not lose. Longoria's sample size isn't huge, but he's got a .447 wOBA, 185 wRC+ and .318 ISO against lefties. Posey goes .431/174/.255, and Ruf .419/166/.310.
