This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
We've got nine games on the docket for Saturday evening, starting at a traditional 7:05 p.m. ET. Weather has been reeking havoc on the east coast, so keep an eye out again for this slate. It's also wreaked havoc on my ability to break down the slate, as FanDuel held off on posting this until after I'd normally submit the night before. Early wakeup for me Saturday means a condensed breakdown from my usually wordy self.
As this piece came together, pitching appears to be at a premium. There are plenty of options in the slate's top half, but I struggled to find any options near the bottom worthy of a gamble.
Pitching
Joe Musgrove, SD at ARI ($9,600): There's nothing wrong with going all the way up for Walker Buehler ($11,500) against the injured and slumping Mets, or an inconsistent Hyun Jin Ryu ($10,400) against a strikeout prone Mariners, but Musgrove seems to offer upside, stability and savings. The D'Backs fan 24.7 percent of the time against righties while posting just a .293 wOBA and .132 ISO. Musgrove has been worth at least 34 FanDuel points (FDP) in four straight.
Dylan Cease, CWS vs. NYY ($8,900): Cease may go overlooked based on the name of his matchup, but he's in great form, having fanned 21 in his last two starts, spanning only 11 innings. We could chalk that up to his opponents, but he fanned 11 Astros three starts prior. The Yankees did get to him in a prior matchup, but that was back in late May. Cease has been dominant at home, earning a 2.20 ERA and 3.28 FIP with a 32.9 percent K rate, putting him in a decent spot against a right-hand heavy lineup.
Kenta Maeda, MIN vs. TB ($7,500): Maeda lands here almost by default, as he's about as low as I'm willing to go on this slate. The appeal isn't all about strikeout potential, but it starts there. The Rays hit 25.6 percent of the time against righties. Maeda's Ks are down, just 9.28 per nine at home, but he's been far better in Minnesota, carrying a 2.53 ERA, 2.78 FIP and 3.46 xFIP against 5.77/4.98/4.07 on the road.
Top Targets
George Springer, TOR at SEA ($4,300): I'm not as big a fan of Mariners' starter Yusei Kikuchi as most seem to be, but he stifled the Jays in a previous matchup, so I don't want to go all-in on an offense that has great splits against lefties. But Kikuchi has been far more getable for right-handed bats, something the Jays are ripe with, so don't be afraid to throw out a stack if affordable. I'll take Springer as my one-off and for his power upside. He's got his timing locked in after some injury issues and boasts a .433 wOBA, 177 wRC+ and .292 ISO against southpaws.
Max Muncy, LAD at NYM ($3,700): It'd be easy to stack Dodgers against Taijuan Walker, who has a 9.89 ERA since the All-Star Break, allowing a .464 wOBA and 1.117 OPS overall, including 10 homers in 21 innings. But the Dodgers are a bit banged up, so who knows what their lineup will look like. Muncy is healthy, hasn't put up a zero in eight games, and the matchup suggests upside.
Value Bats
Salvador Perez, KC vs. STL ($3,400): Another easy spot to stack, as Cards' starter Jon Lester has allowed 11 runs in his last two starts, spanning 10.1 innings. That includes five in 5.1 to these Royals last time out. Kansas City doesn't have immensely targetable splits across lefties, however, and it's fair to wonder how many cracks they get at Lester, who's simply out of gas. Perez, however, doesn't need many cracks, carrying a .453 wOBA, 191 wRC+ and .383 ISO against southpaws.
Buster Posey, SF vs. COL ($3,300): Posey is enjoying quite the renaissance season when healthy, and is crushing left-handers to the tune of a .449 wOBA, 185 wRC+ and .225 ISO, with just a 12.3 percent soft contact rate. He entered Friday having homered in consecutive games, hitting safely in four straight while collecting eight hits and five runs scored, and had already scored as of submission Friday. Rockies' starter Kyle Freeland was a punching bag early before finding some success, but he labored against Miami last time out, and his FIP and xFIP (4.88/4.82) are higher on the road.
Stack to Consider
Athletics vs. Jordan Lyles: Matt Olson ($4,000), Mark Canha ($3,500), Sean Murphy ($2,500)
Starling Marte ($4,400) is white hot, and belongs in the top targets section; he's absolutely an anchoring option Saturday. But in the interest of diversification, we can build around Marte and reap the rewards. Jordan Lyles is fading quickly, allowing six runs in consecutive starts, and, in three of his last five, 24 total runs in that stretch. Olson brings the power option (.231 ISO) while Canha hits in front of Marte atop this order, giving run scoring chances. Murphy balances our budget and should start after Friday's rest. He has a 1.077 against Lyles, who will be facing Oakland for the fourth time, having allowed 10 runs across 17.1 innings, but having gotten progressively worse in each appearance.
