This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Wednesday's DFS action kicks off at 1:10 p.m. EDT with a nice four-game slate including the Mariners at the Rangers. The main slate starts at 7:05 p.m. EDT and doesn't disappoint with the other 22 teams in action.
Pitching
It's no surprise that the safest pitching option for cash games is Gerrit Cole ($11,700) who is at home facing the White Sox. The Astros are whopping -330 favorites, putting the bonus points for a quality start and a win into play. The White Sox strike out at the fourth-highest rate in the league against right-handed pitching (26 percent) so this could be a game where Cole hits double digits in strikeouts.
It's much easier to stomach using the Rockies' pitchers when they're on the road, although Jon Gray ($7,900) has pretty even home and away splits. His matchup with Pittsburgh is decent as they are in the bottom third of the league with a .303 wOBA against right-handed pitching. On the road this season Gray has scored 23, 35, 11, 43, 39 and 45 fantasy points. If he was to score 35 fantasy points at this price, it would be the equivalent of Cole scoring 52 at his price. This puts Gray in play in both cash games and GPPs.
The long shot dart throw of the night among the cheaper pitchers has to be Daniel Norris ($6,800) due to his matchup. The Marlins continue to be a terrible hitting team against left-handed pitching with a league-worst .264 wOBA against that handedness. The Marlins have a 24.8 percent strikeout rate in the month of May against lefties (125 plate appearances) which is the 11th highest rate in baseball. Norris has outings of 24, 38 and 39 fantasy points in his six starts showing there's upside with using him.
Key Values/Chalk
The Yankees will likely be the most popular stack tonight and using multiple players from them in cash is a good idea. Clint Frazier ($3,400) is coming of a multi-home run game and gets the lefty-righty matchup against Dan Straily in a good hitter's park. Straily has been awful this season with a 8.51 ERA, allowing a .384 wOBA to left-handed hitters.
If Kris Bryant ($4,300) is affordable he's a great option for third base at home against lefty Cole Irvin. Looking at the cheaper options consider Rafael Devers ($3,300), who'll face Aaron Sanchez in Toronto. Sanchez had issues with left-handed hitters at home last season, allowing a .396 wOBA to that side of the plate. Devers has a .376 wOBA against right-handed pitching this year and it's easy to forget he's only 22 years-old.
It seems like Ronny Rodriguez ($3,400) is getting overlooked in DFS despite being in the middle of what appears to be a breakout season. As of 5/19, he's had games in May of 15, 15.7, 19.2, 21.7, 31.7, 35.2 and 40.4 fantasy points. The matchup is good facing Jose Urena, who has a 4.85 ERA on the road for his career.
Hanser Alberto ($2,400) fits the bill as a player who isn't too expensive, should be hitting in a good spot (he hit leadoff vs. J.A. Happ on Monday) and is swinging a hot bat. Alberto has 46.6 and 15.7 fantasy points in his last two games. CC Sabathia has pitched great this season but his .198 BABIP and 5.47 xFIP suggests there's some negative regression coming to his 2.97 ERA.
Kendrys Morales ($2,600) is another Yankee who makes sense against Straily at C/1B and his price is right. The case against the right-hander has already been made and Morales would actually be better off hitting from the right side against him. Straily (in a small sample, to further the fade argument) has allowed a .478 wOBA to right-handed hitters. For the BvP crowd, Morales has gone 4-for-14 against Straily with two home runs (1.161 OPS).
Stacks
Yankees at Straily (Orioles)
Morales (C/1B - $2,600), Gio Urshela (3B - $3,000), Aaron Hicks (OF - $3,700), Brett Gardner (OF - $3,000)
The Yankees by far will be the most popular stack of the night. In big GPPs the right move is to go with the New York players who have lower ownership and match them with the right combination from other games.
Cubs vs. Irvin (Phillies)
Bryant (3B - $4,300), Willson Contreras (C/1B - $3,600), Albert Almora Jr. (OF - $2,700), David Bote (3B - $2,400)
Irvin could be one of those pitchers who sneaks under the radar and becomes a great option in the Phillies rotation. However, he's 26, a rookie and on the road against the Cubs, which looks like a potential recipe for disaster. Javier Baez ($4,000) is in play if he starts but the heel issue is a concern. Almora is in play for cash games as a cheaper option who should be hitting leadoff and hits left-handed pitching.
