This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
A smaller, more manageable seven-game slate is set for Saturday evening's main contest, ready to go off at 7:07 p.m. EDT. Coors Field is included in this mix, so grabbing a piece here and there makes obvious sense, but we'll look for some other options to complement lineups. An early look at weather seems favorable.
Pitchers
Patrick Corbin, WAS at BAL ($10,600): The clear top target, and seemingly a great cash lineup play, having posted three games of at least 37 FanDuel points (FDP). Corbin hasn't worked more than 6.1 innings, however, and the Orioles surprisingly rank second thus far against lefties, posting a .391 wOBA, 150 wRC+ and only 21.0 strikeout rate. That could be matchup specific success, but it may be enough to pass on Corbin for GPPs.
German Marquez, COL vs. TEX ($8,400): It's never advisable to pay up for a pitcher in Coors Field, but Marquez had nine Ks across 7.1 frames in his only home start to date, allowing two runs. He was a bit unlucky at home last year, owning a 6.26 ERA, but only a 3.30 xFIP and 10.3 K/9 rate. It makes for a contrarian GPP target.
Cristian Javier, HOU vs. SEA ($7,800): Javier figures to be a popular target for casual players, with the Astros checking in at (-203) favorites. He's managed to work into the sixth twice in three starts, but Javier is far from a lock for a quality start. The Mariners do check in at 23rd across the league with a .304 wOBA, but using Javier here almost feels lazy and/or too easy.
Kevin Gausman, SFG vs. OAK ($7,300): Gausman has been surprisingly usable for the Giants, and despite a one-start struggle, should benefit from a pitcher-friendly home field. The A's are fanning 25.1 percent of the time against righties, and Gausman is fanning batters 28.1 percent of the time. He's been heavily victimized by lefties to date, but Oakland's regular lineup only has three.
Top Targets
Juan Soto, WAS at BAL ($4,600): The price point is becoming exorbitant, but Soto remains white hot at the dish, is playing in a favorable Camden Yards and Saturday gets a favorable LvR matchup. He's homered five times in eight games, collecting 12 hits entering Friday's contest, suggesting he's worth the hefty tag.
Charlie Blackmon, COL vs. TEX ($4,200): Seemingly from the Captain Obvious department, Blackmon's hot bat gets an LvR matchup against Kyle Gibson, who has allowed 13 hits and seven runs in his last 10.1 innings. Blackmon's pace isn't sustainable, but he's currently carrying a .506 wOBA and 196 wRC+ at home, and comes at a sound discount to Soto.
J.D. Martinez, BOS at NYY ($3,600): Facing a lefty in James Paxton, Martinez is an immediate target, and the price makes him even more attractive. He's off to a slow start this year, carrying a .324 wOBA and 26.7 K rate into Saturday, but had a .406 wOBA in 2018, a .539 wOBA in 2019 and is 7-of-17 with two long balls against Paxton.
Value Plays
Gleyber Torres, NYY vs. BOS ($2,700): There's just too much talent for a player to be priced this low, despite season-long form. Torres had four hits Friday at time of submission, and has at least one knock in five of his last six. That alone will work for the price, and it's challenging to find more potential for the cost.
Clint Frazier, NYY vs. BOS ($2,500): Volatility and lineup position make Frazier and Torres unfavorable for stacking, but feel free to pick and choose, or use both and load up elsewhere. Frazier has a clear path to at bats with Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton sidelined, and has taken advantage in his first two opportunities Thursday and Friday, going 4-for-8 with three extra base hits.
Yuli Gurriel, HOU vs. SEA ($2,900): The Astros hit lefties incredibly well, so stacking here is very fair, perhaps obvious, though concerns over how deep Nick Margevicius goes suggest we can get a cheaper piece in Gurriel and differentiate. Gurriel has a .459 wOBA, .429 ISO and 50 percent hard hit rate against lefties. He went deep Friday, his second in five games, and hits in a run-producing spot.
Stacks to Consider
Padres vs. Alex Young: Fernando Tatis ($4,500), Tommy Pham ($2,900), Wil Myers ($2,900)
Tatis can anchor here, and may come with lower usage totals given current form, putting up only 21.2 total FDP across his last five games. He also has only a .345 wOBA against lefties in limited appearances this season. Pham and Myers make this stack more budget friendly, and are better LvR matchups, with Myers bring a .562 wOBA and .500 ISO, while Pham goes .429/.235. Their places in the top portion of the order should guarantee production, or at least two cracks at Young, who is making his first start of the year and may not go deep.
Giants vs. Sean Manaea: Mike Yastrzemski ($3,600), Donovan Solano ($2,900), Wilmer Flores ($2,600)
This stack is buried at the bottom of the column with good reason, as it won't be for the faint of heart. It will also require some retooling, as their is ambiguity around the A's starter after Frankie Montas was scratched Friday. Manaea last threw August 10, so he seems due on normal rest, and he's been pelted by righties to date, allowing a .439 wOBA, 1.020 OPS and 53.7 percent hard hit rate. That brings appeal to Solano and Flores near the top of the order, and while Yastrzemski is a LvL matchup, he's hit lefties well and is by far the safest Giant bat. Should Manaea not get the nod, pivoting to a more expensive Dodgers' stack against lefty Andrew Heaney makes since, with Mookie Betts ($4,100), Justin Turner ($3,300) and A.J. Pollock ($2,900) presenting favorably.
