This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
FanDuel is spicing things up Saturday. Instead of our main slate featuring a limited five or six games going off at 7:00 p.m. ET, we've got a robust 14 game slate that starts at 4:05. All but three of those games go off within the first five minutes of the slate's start, so be sure to get your lineup(s) set on time.
We have three arms priced north of 10k, and adding in Dylan Cease ($9,700), we've got four top arms facing four woeful offenses. There may be no wrong answer atop the slate's pitching options. And that's a good thing because the options are few and far between after the slate's top names.
Pitching
Trevor Bauer, LAD vs. TEX ($11,500): If I'm paying up on this slate, the choice for me is between the aforementioned Cease and Bauer. I like this spot as a bounce-back for Bauer, who has gone for 36 FanDuel points (FDP) or less in three straight, hopefully making him less attractive to the masses. Yes, the spin rate is down due to a crackdown on foreign substances, but the Rangers offense just isn't good. They fan 26.8 percent of the time while producing an 89 wRC+ and .146 ISO.
Max Fried, ATL at MIA ($8,500): I'm apparently a glutton for punishment after unsuccessfully targeting Atlanta pitching Friday. But it's hard to stay away from a Marlins lineup that swings and misses often regardless of pitcher handedness, whiffing at a 28.2 percent clip in this spot. Fried has been up and down as a strikeout pitcher, and was shelled for seven runs against Miami earlier in the year. Since that outing, however, he's allowed one run or none in five of his six starts. 34 FDP is 4x, and he's managed that in four of those outings. I like those odds.
Alex Cobb, LAA at ARI ($8,000): Cobb has to be the popular pay down option here. He's been worth 30 or more FDP in four straight, allowing one run or none three times. The matchup is super soft, with the Diamondbacks fanning 24.5 percent of the time while posting a meager .290 wOBA, 82 wRC+ and .135 ISO against righties.
Vince Velasquez, PHI vs. NYY ($6,800): If you're a pay down on the bump all the time guy, Velasquez has some GPP appeal. He's fanned at least five in five of his last eight outings, and the Yankees whiff a quarter of the time. They obviously bring big pop to the table but still have just a .146 ISO as a team. Velasquez will need the Ks to pile up, as he rarely goes more than five innings, but he won't need much to bring 3x to the table.
Top Targets
Ronald Acuna, ATL at MIA ($4,300): Acuna simply owns the Marlins. He went for 30.9 FDP Friday thanks to two doubles, a steal and an RBI, bringing him to 9-of-20 against them to date, scoring 11 times. He's likely overdue a homer, having launched only one in his last nine games, something he's routinely done against this squad in the past. The Marlins are likely to use a bullpen plan to piece together nine innings tomorrow, which usually goes terrifically or horribly wrong. With Acuna getting at least four cracks, I like his chance's to make a big impact.
Shohei Ohtani, LAA at ARI ($4,000): Ohtani isn't tearing the cover off the ball, but he still sports a .373 wOBA and robust equal .373 ISO against left-handed arms. D'Backs' starter Caleb Smith doesn't have attackable splits against any handed bat, but that's because he's largely been used as a reliever, limiting his exposure. Justin Upton ($3,200) is your bargain choice if you need an Angel in your lineup.
Value Bats
Matt Olson, OAK vs. KC ($3,500): Olson's price has slid plenty for no valid reason, as he's hit safely in eight of his last nine. He's carrying a team-high .398 wOBA and .280 ISO into Saturday and gets a reeling Jackson Kowar, who's head is spinning after allowing four runs on just 0.2 innings in his Major League debut against the Angels. Surely he'll settle some, so I'm not all-in on a stack. But Olson presents with good value.
Yoan Moncada, CWS at DET ($3,100): This is a tough call. On one hand, we have Tigers' starter Jose Urena, who is allowing a .392 wOBA to lefties at home. And Moncada fits that profile, posting a team-best .387 wOBA and 152 wRC+ against righties. But he carries only a .160 ISO, and sometimes, the advanced numbers aren't the end all, as he's not putting up big fantasy numbers, putting up double-digit FDP only three times since May 29. I'm going to trust the advanced side here, and only need 9.3 FDP for 3x.
Hunter Renfroe, BOS vs. TOR ($2,200): Seeing the Red Sox facing a lefty, you immediately turn to J.D. Martinez to anchor a stack. But Martinez' splits aren't what they normally are, and Xander Bogaerts isn't healthy. So what's left? A surprising Renfroe making more contact than we're used to. He's leading Sox regulars with a .397 wOBA, 153 wRC+, adding a .200 ISO. Renfroe has just one game since May 18 without scoring some form of points.
Stacks to Consider
Dodgers vs. Kolby Allard: Justin Turner ($3,500), Chris Taylor ($3,200), Albert Pujols ($2,700)
I expect the Dodgers to be a popular stack Saturday, but these names may come as a surprise. I want to load up on righties against Allard, who is allowing a .492 wOBA and a 1.179 OPS to opposite-handed bats on the road. Pujols has been pretty decent since coming over from the Angels, posting a .491 wOBA, 219 wRC+ and .355 ISO in 33 plate appearances. Taylor goes .435/182/.344, and Turner a stable .376/143/.282.
Phillies vs. Jameson Taillon: Bryce Harper ($3,700), J.T. Realmuto ($3,200), Odubel Herrera ($2,800)
Taillon is allowing a .382 wOBA to lefties, making Herrera a nice bargain as the Phils' leadoff hitter, and Harper and his sound .375 wOBA and .252 ISO an anchor. Realmuto, surprisingly, has better numbers than both lefty Phils bats here against righties, bringing a .414 wOBA and just a 9.7 percent soft contact rate. With all hitting in the top four of the lineup, there should be plenty of run-producing opportunities.
