This article is part of our PrizePicks MLB series.
There will be no shortage of action across the majors Friday with 15 games on the schedule. That leaves us with a bevy of options to choose from on PrizePicks. For those unfamiliar with the platform, it provides a unique spin on DFS in which you pick two, three or four players and predict if each will go over or under their projected fantasy score.
If this is your first time playing on PrizePicks, be sure to sign up using our promotional offer. New members who sign up and make their first deposit get a free 2-pick entry to win $25 and a 25% first deposit instant match. For the instant match promotion, the maximum deposit is $4,000 for $1,000 in Promo Money. If downloading the app, use promo code: WIRE.
Here are some players to target and avoid while creating your entry.
Players to Target
Blake Snell vs. Cleveland Indians: Over 40.5 FP: Snell's first two starts off the IL didn't go well with him allowing 10 runs (nine earned) over 6.1 innings. He faced the Royals both times, who don't exactly have a great lineup. However, he's been dominant since then, allowing three runs and recording 30 strikeouts over 17.2 innings in his last three outings. With his strikeout upside, Snell has the ability to put forth a monster stat line whenever he takes the mound. The Indians are in the bottom-third of the league in runs scored and OPS, making the over the way to go here.
Josh Bell vs. Walker Buehler (Dodgers): Over 6.5 FP: Bell can't be stopped right now. Not only is he 36-for-88 (.409) over his last 22 games, but he also has 10 home runs and nine doubles during that stretch. His ISO has jumped all the way up to .379 and he's still not striking out a ton based on his 21.9 percent strikeout rate. His .370 BABIP isn't going to hold up, but he's already well on his way to the best season of his career. Even though this is a tough matchup against Buehler, the switching-hitting Bell does have better career numbers against right-handed pitchers. This is also a low fantasy projection, so roll with the over.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. vs. Joey Lucchesi (Padres): Over 6 FP: It was only a matter of time before Guerrero starting mashing in the majors. He went 6-for-41 (.146) with no home runs over his first 11 games, but Vlad Jr. is 14-for-42 (.333) with five home runs in 11 games since. He didn't strike out much in the minors and only had a 10.6 percent strikeout rate during that second 11-game stretch. Lucchesi's career wOBA against right-handed hitters is almost 70 points higher than it is against lefties, leaving Guerrero with an excellent opportunity to hit the over on this low projection.
Players to Avoid
Walker Buehler vs. Pittsburgh Pirates: 30.5 FP: Buehler has followed up his stellar rookie campaign with a respectable 3.85 xFIP this season. His WHIP is still excellent at 1.05 and he doesn't allow many home runs, so the over might appear to be the way to go here. However, the Pirates have averaged 5.3 runs over their last 11 games and have some dangerous hitters in Bell, Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco, so it wouldn't be a huge surprise if they put forth another strong offensive showing at home. This could go either way, so it might be best to avoid picking a side of this projection.
Curtis Granderson vs. Kyle McGowin (Nationals): 7 FP: As crazy as this sounds, the Marlins enter this contest having won six straight games. Miami has even averaged 4.8 runs per game during that stretch, which is significant considering they have scored by far the fewest runs in the league for the season. Granderson is one of the few veterans on the team and has struggled mightily with a .281 wOBA and a 30 percent strikeout rate. This might seem like an easy under, but he does have power upside and will be facing a pitcher in McGowin who recorded a 4.31 xFIP at Triple-A earlier this season. Granderson could hit the over with just one swing of the bat, but the risk associated with him isn't worth chancing in your entry.
Manuel Margot vs. Trent Thornton (Blue Jays): 5.5 FP: Margot is in a major slump right now, hitting 3-for-27 (.111) with a 30 percent strikeout rate across his last 12 games. His wOBA is all the way down to .257, so he's going to need to turn things around quickly if he doesn't want to lose playing time. Leaning towards the under might be the way to go here, but this is a low fantasy score to hit. Thornton also isn't an overwhelming option with his 4.35 xFIP and 1.29 WHIP, so this isn't the worst of matchups for Margot to potentially get back on track. Avoiding this all together is advisable.
