This article is part of our PrizePicks MLB series.
With another busy Friday across baseball, we have plenty of options to sift through 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
Bryce Harper vs. Tyler Mahle (Reds): Over 7.5 FP: Harper's tenure with the Phillies hasn't exactly been a disaster, but it hasn't been great, either. His 29.4 percent strikeout rate is nearly eight percentage points higher than his career mark and his wOBA checks in at only .349. He is still hitting for power with 11 home runs and can certainly get hot in a hurry. This matchup is too good to pass up against Mahle, who has allowed a .402 wOBA against left-handed hitters in his career. Home runs have also been an issue for Mahle, as he's given up 33 of them in 193.1 career innings.
Gary Sanchez vs. Zach Plesac (Indians): Under 7.5 FP: The Yankees continue to roll along atop the AL East despite their rash of injuries. One of the main reasons they have been able to be so successful despite their limited depth chart is Sanchez, who is off to an insane start in the power department with a .378 ISO. No one is complaining about his .262 average, either, considering he batted just .186 last year. The problem with this matchup is that Plesac has never allowed more than 0.9 HR/9 at any stop during his time in the minors. He's carried that success into the big leagues, allowing one homer over his first 12.1 innings. I'll take the under.
Ronald Acuna Jr. vs. Jose Urena (Marlins): Under 8.5 FP: Acuna's 119 wRC+ this season isn't bad, but he has a ways to go if he's going to duplicate the 143 wRC+ that he produced in his rookie campaign. He's also gone into a bit of a slump lately, hitting 15-for-61 (.246) with only one home run and one double over his last 14 games. Even though Urena doesn't exactly instill fear in the heart of his opponents, he's allowed three earned runs or fewer in eight of his last nine games. He's also only given up 1.1 HR/9 for his career. At this fantasy projection, the under is very appealing.
Players to Avoid
Francisco Lindor vs. Domingo German (Yankees): 8.5 FP: Lindor has been a one-man wrecking crew for an Indians lineup that has scored the fifth-fewest runs (252) in the league. His 135 wRC+ would be the highest mark of his career and he's swinging a hot bat right now with four home runs and two doubles across his last six games. The question is, which German are we going to see in this game? He was excellent over his first nine starts, allowing 16 runs (14 earned) and just four home runs across 50.1 innings. However, he's allowed 13 runs (12 earned) and six home runs across 13.2 innings in his last three outings. He's a strikeout pitcher who can dominate any lineup when he's on top of his game, so avoiding Lindor might be the best route to take.
Trevor Story vs. Jacob deGrom (Mets): 7.5 FP: With Story's power, this isn't exactly a lofty fantasy score for him to hit. He's 14-for-29 (.483) with two home runs, five doubles and two steals across his last seven games, so he comes into this contest about as hot as it gets. However, facing deGrom is no easy task. Story also has just a 98 wRC+ on the road for his career, so he very well could lay an egg in this contest. If it wasn't for his insane hot streak, the under might be the way to go. However, keeping that and this low projection in mind, picking a side might be too risky.
Mookie Betts vs. Yonny Chirinos (Rays): 8.5 FP: This is a big weekend series between two teams battling to catch the Yankees in the AL East. The Red Sox are going to need Betts to step things up considering he is 7-for-41 (.171) over his last 10 games. The Rays won't be deploying the opener strategy for this game, naming Chirinos as their traditional starter. He's done a great job of limiting base runners this year with a 0.95 WHIP, but he's also been aided by a .227 opponents' BABIP. He's not an overpowering pitcher, either, with his career 20.5 percent strikeout rate. I don't feel great about either side of this projection for Betts, making him someone to possibly avoid.
