This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
We have an atypically modest main slate on tap Saturday night, as there are only six games on the ledger, a bit smaller than usual even by weekend split-slate standards. There no truly elite pitching options slated to take the hill, but there are multiple solid second-tier starters in action, as well as a couple of mid-salary veterans who have been pitching well lately. The lack of elite arms does leave us poised for an appealing selection of bats across the salary scale.
Pitching
Eduardo Rodriguez, BOS vs. TEX ($9,800): Rodriguez enters this favorable matchup in good form and draws the weakest team in baseball against left-handers on the road. The southpaw has pitched to a 2-0 record, 1.10 ERA and an excellent 13.2 K/9 over his last two starts, while the Rangers have produced a .157 average, .447 OBP and .201 wOBA against southpaws on the road in the second half of the season. Rodriguez has tallies of 46 and 51 FD points in two of those last three trips to the mound, offering a glimpse at his ceiling.
Joe Musgrove, SDP vs. PHI ($9,400): Musgrove faces a Phillies team that's averaged just 2.7 runs per game in its last three and has scored four runs or fewer in 10 of its last 11 overall. Current Philly bats own a collective .202/.252/.353 slash line against Musgrove in 64 career plate appearances, and the right-hander owns a 2.43 ERA, 11.4 K/9 and 0.8 HR/9 at home.
Drew Smyly, ATL at BAL ($7,700): Smyly has left a poor start to his Atlanta tenure firmly behind, allowing three runs or less in 13 consecutive starts. He is 5-2 on the road as well and has been appreciably better at limiting the long ball when traveling (1.4, compared to 2.1 at home). We'll bank on Smyly hanging in at least long enough to qualify for a victory in a game Atlanta is a solid favorite in against a Baltimore team that has just a .235 average, .290 OBP and .305 wOBA against visiting lefties in the second half.
Top Targets
Freddie Freeman, ATL at BAL ($4,400): Freeman has a .307 average, .959 OPS and 21 of his 27 homers off right-handed pitching this season, a .941 OPS on the road, and a .538 average over his last six games. Orioles starter Matt Harvey has been more effective versus lefties this season, but he's allowed a 6.60 ERA and 1.64 WHIP at Camden Yards, while the Baltimore bullpen has pitched to a MLB-high 8.31 ERA and AL-high .381 wOBA in August.
J.D. Martinez, BOS vs. TEX ($4,000): Martinez gets a crack to start the game at Jordan Lyles, who's given up a 9.00 ERA and 3.2 HR/9 across his last three starts. Lyles also has a 5.85 ERA and 2.5 HR/9 on the road, while Martinez boasts a .958 OPS at home and a .927 figures against right-handed pitching overall. Meanwhile, Lyles has been victimized by righty bats for a .303 average and 36 XBH (14 doubles, one triple, 21 homers).
Value Bats
Tyler O'Neill, STL vs. PIT ($3,200): O'Neill is enjoying a breakout season, knocking 40 of his 92 hits for extra bases. The slugger has pounded lefties for a .979 OPS across 66 plate appearances, and he has an impressive .287/.359/.494 slash line at home. Pirates starter Dillon Peters pitched well in his first start of the season, but he's had trouble giving up the long ball through both his minor- and major-league career and has given up a .310 average and 16 homers to right-handed hitters since the start of the 2019 season.
Bryan Reynolds, PIT at STL ($3,300): We'll stick with the Pirates-Cardinals matchup and focus on a player who's seemingly deserving of a higher salary in Reynolds. The switch-hitting outfielder has been better from the right side, posting a .333 average and .934 OPS against southpaws. Reynolds also happens to be a better hitter on the road, where he's produced a stellar .333 average, .968 OPS, 10 homers and 40 RBIs. Cardinals starter J.A. Happ has looked completely rejuvenated since arriving in St. Louis, but he's still the same pitcher who's allowed a .294 average and 21 homers to right-handed hitters this season.
Stack To Consider
Red Sox vs. Jordan Lyles: Xander Bogaerts ($4,100); Kyle Schwarber ($3,700); J.D. Martinez ($4,000); Alex Verdugo ($3,000)
Lyles' weaknesses were already detailed in Martinez's entry, and it's also worth noting when considering a BoSox stack that they average the third-most runs per home game (5.6).
Bogaerts makes for an excellent way to kick off your Boston onslaught, as he boasts a .999 OPS at Fenway Park and has slugged 13 of his 20 homers off righties on his way to a .901 OPS versus that handedness.
Schwarber is a good lefty bat to attack Lyles with, as he's hitting .545 over his last four games, owns a mammoth 1.007 OPS against right-handed pitching and gets the short porch in right to work with at Fenway.
Martinez's appeal was already detailed earlier, while Verdugo is a highly appealing salary saver to round out the stack with. The left-handed slugger has a .324 average, .927 OPS and 10 of his 11 homers on the season off righties, and he's hitting .294 at home.
