This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Wednesday's DFS action starts at 12:37 p.m. EDT with a very early-only slate consisting of five games. Another early-only slate kicks off at 3:10 p.m. EDT with four games. Finally, the main slate starts at 7:05 p.m. EDT and features the remaining six games.
Pitching
The pitching for cash games has to start with the Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw ($12,000) despite the hefty price. There are only 12 options for starting pitching and he's the best pitcher on the slate, and he also happens to have one of the best matchups. The Marlins' .292 wOBA against left-handed pitching is the third lowest in baseball, although their 21.9 percent strikeout rate is slightly better than league average. This game has the lowest over/under total (eight runs) on the slate and Kershaw and the Dodgers are a whopping -280 favorite, suggesting the quality start and win bonuses are attainable.
The Phillies' Aaron Nola ($10,100) is in play for both cash and tournaments given there's a small slate of games and the low ownership he should carry. Most will shy away from Nola as he faces the Cubs and their .334 wOBA against right-handed pitching (sixth best in baseball). However, Nola has been much better at home with a 3.07 ERA (4.63 ERA on the road) and his 10.8 K/9 is an elite number. The Cubs strike out 23.2 percent of the time to RHP, which is 10th highest.
One of the cheaper options for pitching is the Angels' Dillon Peters ($7,100). This is all about the matchup for Peters as he'll be at home facing a Pirates team that has a .287 wOBA against lefties, the worst mark in baseball. Peters has at least 26 fantasy points in four of his five starts this season hitting 33 and 37 fantasy points in two of those contests.
Key Values/Chalk
If you want to take a risk tonight - albeit at a low cost - consider using the Cardinals' Randy Arozarena ($2,100). He was just called up from Triple-A where he had a 1.004 OPS and displayed both speed (eight stolen bases) and power (seven home runs). With three outfield spots to fill he's a great punt play and the Cardinals are expected to score over five runs according to Vegas.
Fading Edwin Jackson is always a good idea so consider using multiple Seattle players, including the Mariners' Kyle Seager ($3,400). Seager has a career .345 wOBA on the road against right-handed pitching while Jackson has allowed 13 home runs in 34.2 innings, leading to a 9.35 ERA. Playing the hot hand comes into play here as well with Seager hitting three (really two if you saw the gaffe for the third) home runs last night. Omar Narvaez ($2,600) is another player to use against Jackson and comes at a discounted price. Narvaez has a .357 wOBA against right-handed pitching this season and that number goes up to .372 on the road.
In fact, let's make this a Seager Day and add the Dodgers' own Corey Seager ($3,300). He's been on fire as of late with at least 6.2 fantasy points in his last eight games and has a plus matchup in Miami. Elieser Hernandez (4.94 ERA) comes into this game allowing a .399 to opposing left-handed hitters, putting Corey and other Dodger lefties in a great spot.
The Royals' Nicky Lopez ($2,000) is a good punt play who just got some time off to clear his head. He responded to the break with a single and a walk in three plate appearances Tuesday and should be back in the lineup against Dakota Hudson. Hudson's issues this season have been against left-handed hitters, as he's allowing a .388 wOBA to that side of the plate.
Stacks
Mariners at Tigers (Jackson)
Narvaez (C/1B - $2,600), Daniel Vogelbach (C/1B - $3,900), Seager (3B - $3,400), Mallex Smith (OF - $3,300)
This will be one of the more popular stacks tonight as fantasy owners know to attack Jackson in GPPs. This stack is in play for cash games as well; don't be fooled by Jackson's last fluky outing against the Royals.
Angels vs. Pirates (Chris Archer)
Mike Trout (OF - $4,800), Justin Upton (OF - $3,100), Kole Calhoun (OF - $3,000), Shohei Ohtani (OF - $3,500)
At some point people will start to question whether Archer is a legitimate major-league pitcher. He's been terrible on the road this season with a 6.66 ERA, although he does have 70 strikeouts in only 52.2 innings. The left-handed bats (and Upton) should be able to take advantage of Archer.
