This article is part of our PrizePicks MLB series.
A busy Friday night in the majors means we have 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.
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Here are some players to target and avoid while creating your entry.
Players to Target
Ketel Marte vs. Sandy Alcantara (Marlins): Over 7.5 FP: Marte's breakout season has to be one of the more surprising ones in baseball. Not known much for his power, he's thrived in that area with a .258 ISO. His strikeout rate has remained low (14 percent) and he has a .394 wOBA, so it's not like he's selling out for power numbers, either. He's been especially hot of late, recording at least two hits in eight of his last 11 games. Alcantara doesn't miss many bats and has a 1.45 WHIP, so it wouldn't be surprising to see Marte provide another productive performance.
Trea Turner vs. Hyun-Jin Ryu (Dodgers): Under 7.5 FP: Despite his career-high 23 percent strikeout rate, Turner is having another strong season for the Nationals with a .349 wOBA and 21 stolen bases. He's shown a little more power (.199 ISO) and has plenty of talent protecting him in the lineup (Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto), which has helped Turner score 43 runs in only 63 games. But this is a tough matchup against Ryu, who has allowed more than two earned runs in a game only one time all season. Ryu also does a great job of keeping runners off base, resulting in his 0.93 WHIP. While this might not be a big number to hit, I still prefer the under.
Brian Anderson vs. Zack Greinke (Diamondbacks): Under 5.5 FP: Picking the under on a projection this low can be risky. However, I still feel comfortable with the under based on this matchup. Anderson isn't exactly on top of his game right now, hitting 9-for-48 (.188) with a .235 OBP across his last 12 games. With so little talent around him, he also doesn't get many opportunities to provide counting stats. Facing Greinke, who has a 3.19 FIP and a 0.95 WHIP, won't help Anderson's cause, either.
Players to Avoid
Bryce Harper vs. Mike Soroka (Braves): 8.5 FP: With Harper's power, he could easily blow past this projection with one swing of the bat. He's starting to come on strong down the stretch for his new squad, hitting 18-for-60 (.300) with a home run and seven doubles over his last 15 games. Overall, Soroka has been excellent at limiting home runs, but he has been a bit more homer-prone of late, allowing four long balls over his last seven outings. Still, that's not terrible based on the current hitting environment. This one could go either way with Harper, so leaving him out of your entry might be the best route to take.
Mookie Betts vs. James Paxton (Yankees): 8.5 FP: The Red Sox couldn't have started off their weekend series with the Yankees any better Thursday with a 19-3 drubbing of the AL East leaders. Betts was right in the thick of the offensive outburst, finishing the game 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored. He'll look to keep things rolling against Paxton, but that might be easier said than done. Paxton has had an inconsistent first season in pinstripes and was torched by the Rockies for seven runs (four earned) across 3.1 innings in his last start. However, before that, he had allowed two runs or fewer in five of his previous six starts. There are plenty of other viable options to pursue rather than taking a chance that Paxton has one of his bad outings here.
Joey Votto vs. German Marquez (Rockies): 7.5 FP: Speaking of inconsistent starts, Marquez has had a frustrating campaign for the Rockies. His ERA checks in at a disappointing 4.99, although his 4.04 FIP indicates that he hasn't pitched that poorly. One of the main areas of concern with him is that his strikeout rate has dropped from 28.2 percent last year to 23 percent this season. This matchup might be a little easier for him since the game isn't being played at Coors Field. He showed he can still thrive against even the best of lineups when he held the Yankees to two runs over seven innings in his last start. On the other hand, Votto has at least two hits in four of his last six games and has looked much better at the plate than he did earlier this season. With how inconsistent Marquez has been, it's hard to feel good about taking either side of this projection with Votto.
