This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Game 1 of the World Series gets going at 8:09 p.m. et. While it features the two best team's in the league from a record standpoint, it figures to be a challenge from a DFS standpoint. The Dodgers have a deep lineup where every piece is capable of producing, while the Rays are the definition of a team, and the sum is greater than its individual parts. Feeling fully confident on any of their bats is difficult.
Pitching Breakdown
Aces Tyler Glasnow and Clayton Kershaw will square off, the former having thrown six days prior and the latter five days. And both figure to be polarizing when targeting against.
Kershaw's postseason struggles are well documented, but they are more accurately described as a lack of success, or dominance. He's allowed seven runs over his last two starts, spanning just 11.0 innings while striking out 10, but he had an eight-inning shutout against Milwaukee in the Wild Card round where he fanned 13. He's 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA in 26.2 World Series innings in his career.
Glasnow hasn't enjoyed his 2020 postseason either. He's largely been a victim of the long ball, surrendering two in three of his four starts. The lone outing without a homer was a short-rest outing where he went only 2.1 frames. It's resulted in 2.79 HR/9 during the postseason, which seems high, but it's not too inflated from the 1.73 ratio he allowed during the regular season. Mix in the fact his Ks are down from 14.3 to 11.6 per nine, and there are certainly blemishes.
Hitting Correlation
Where do we go with the Rays lineup? It's pretty evident they are the GPP target, and the team as a unit ranked sixth in the league with a .343 wOBA against lefties during the regular season, though the 28.5 percent K rate is alarming. Four pseudo-regulars bring a wOBA north of .400 from the regular season, lead by post season darling Randy Arozarena ($8,500), who boasted a .591 wOBA, 291 wRC+ and .600 ISO, albeit in just 23 plate appearances. He makes too much sense as an MVP if going Tampa heavy. Other options include Brandon Lowe ($7,500), who was ice cold throughout the playoffs before hitting safely in three straight to close out the ALCS, including a homer. He posted a .467 wOBA and .420 ISO during the regular season. Mike Brosseau ($4,500) couldn't be colder, with a mere two hits in the post season, but will more than likely be ignored by all, and sported a .455 wOBA, 198 wRC+ and .405 ISO against southpaws in the regular season.
As noted above, the Dodger lineup is so incredibly deep, it's no surprise we have a nice mix of top options and values. Mookie Betts ($9,000) may not draw enough eyes given his post season form. He has only one career post season long ball, but churned out seven hits in as many games against the Braves in the NLCS, and posted a team-best .438 wOBA, 181 wRC+ and .354 ISO against same-handed arms during the regular season. Will Smith ($6,500) presents as an upside value option. He's earned one knock in five of the last six games, but they've all been timely, resulting in seven RBI, all on the heels of a .427 wOBA, .350 ISO, 174 wRC+ regular season. Justin Turner ($7,000) brings minimal upside, having homered only once in the postseason. But he's hit safely in eight of 10, scoring 10 runs, and put up a stable .397 wOBA against righties during the regular year.
One-offs
Willy Adames ($5,000) has enjoyed a nice floor throughout the postseason, failing to post points just three times while going for at least 9 FDP seven times. It's come largely via 12 walks, seemingly an anomaly after a 32.1 percent K rate and 11.3 percent walk rate during the regular season. But maybe we can offset that with a .417 wOBA against southpaws.
I wish I had enough viewership to bury Corey Seager ($9,500) here and hope his usage decreases, but that's not happening. I'd be shocked if he's not in the winning lineup for both cash and GPPs, and the only real variant is whether he's your MVP or not. He's launched six homers in 47 post season at bats, adding 15 RBI and 13 runs in route to a 1.124 OPS. That seems to pair well with Glasnow's propensity to allow homers, and the .416 OPS and .301 ISO he posted against righties during the regular season won't hurt.
