This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Wednesday's DFS action kicks off at 12:05 p.m. EDT with a small, early-only four-game slate. The main slate starts at the usual 7:05 p.m. EDT and features eight games.
Pitching
It'll be hard to pass on the Mets' Jacob deGrom ($12,000) given his performance as of late and his matchup against the White Sox. Chicago hasn't seen much of deGrom given they play in the American League, and they've struggled against right-handed pitching all season. They have the third-lowest wOBA (.298) against righties and their 26 percent strikeout rate is the third highest. Meanwhile deGrom comes into this game on a tear, scoring at least 34 fantasy points in each of his last 10 starts. Over that span of games he's averaging 46.5 fantasy points, justifying using him despite the high salary.
Not surprisingly, the other top option for cash games is the pitcher with the second-highest salary, the Twins' Jose Berrios ($10,400). Berrios gets the Marlins, a matchup that every DFS owner considers on a nightly basis. Miami continues to be one of the worst hitting teams against right-handed pitching with a .282 wOBA (second worst), and its 25.3 percent strikeout rate is the fifth highest. Berrios has an elite 2.94 ERA supported by a 1.14 WHIP and a 8.15 K/9 on the season. The Twins happen to be a bigger favorite than the Mets.
A cheaper player to gamble on in GPPs is the Phillies' Vince Velasquez ($7,700). He's coming off his best start of the season, a 50 fantasy point performance against the Tigers, and gets another favorable matchup against the Giants at home. San Francisco has a .302 wOBA against right-handed pitching (fifth worst) although their 22.7 percent strikeout rate is league average. Velasquez has pitched better at home than on the road this season and has an elite 10.66 K/9.
Key Values/ Chalk
Looking at the outfield, the Rangers' Nomar Mazara ($3,500) is in a great spot tonight. He's not ridiculously priced for a player hitting cleanup on a team with a high expected run total. Mazara has a career .361 wOBA at home against right-handed pitching and should have that matchup today against the Mariners.
The Phillies' Jean Segura ($3,300) has a good matchup facing Jeff Samardzija at home. Segura has a .347 wOBA at home this season against right-handed pitching while "The Shark" has had a 4.80 ERA on the road since 2017. Look for Segura to hit towards the top of the lineup and remember he's always a threat to steal.
It's easy to look past him and his teammates, but if you don't believe in Velasquez then the Giants' Pablo Sandoval ($2,700) should be on your radar. He has a .356 wOBA on the road against right-handed pitching and has a 1.095 OPS over the last seven days. Velasquez has allowed four earned runs in three of his last four starts.
While he's a bit of a gamble, the Rays' Joey Wendle ($2,400) is worth considering at shortstop. At this price he offers some salary cap relief and has a career .327 wOBA on the road against right-handed pitching. Rick Porcello has been awful against left-handed hitters this season, surrendering a .357 wOBA to that side of the plate.
While he's probably barely holding a roster spot, the Brewers' Jesus Aguilar ($2,500) should be in the lineup against lefty Brett Anderson. While he's struggled this season, Aguilar had a .389 wOBA against left-handed pitching in 2018. On the other side of this matchup, Anderson has a .319 wOBA at home against right-handed hitters this season.
Stacks
Texas vs. Seattle (TBD)
Mazara (OF - $3,500), Rougned Odor (2B - $2,800), Shin-Soo Choo (OF - $3,200), Hunter Pence (OF - $3,500)
The Mariners have yet to name a starter but be assured it won't be some ace. It's very hot this time of the year in Arlington and the ball should be jumping out of the park. Look for the Rangers to be the most popular stack and their bats should justify that.
Oakland vs. Milwaukee (TBD)
Matt Olson (C/1B - $3,400), Khris Davis (OF - $2,700), Matt Chapman, (3B - $3,300), Mark Canha (C/1B $2,800)
Olson and Davis are firmly in play for cash games given their upsides, and like Texas they'll face some inferior starting pitching or a bullpen day. Vegas has Oakland penciled in for at least five runs and the A's offense could easily do much better than that.
