This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
Friday has the potential to be a wild night in the majors with a lot of teams in favorable positions to produce offensively. With so many excellent options to discuss, let's get right down to business and highlight some of the best players to target for your Yahoo entry.
Pitching Overview
If you're inclined to pay up at starting pitcher, Lance Lynn ($49) stands out as the top choice. While the Rangers entered the trade deadline as sellers, they ultimately didn't move him or Mike Minor. They may have missed a prime opportunity to cash in on Lynn, who has a sparkling 2.94 FIP to go along with a 27.2 percent strikeout rate. He'll have an excellent chance to keep things rolling against a Tigers team that has scored the fewest runs (376) in baseball.
Another great option is Wade Miley ($41), who now becomes the Astros' fourth-best starter after they acquired Zack Greinke. While he might night carry the same name recognition that Greinke, Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole do, he's managed to record a 3.06 ERA despite a 4.33 FIP. The key is that he's been able to limit baserunners, giving him a 1.12 WHIP. He's been even better with a 3.88 FIP and a 0.96 WHIP at home, which is where he will face the Mariners in this matchup. The last time pitched against them at Minute Maid Park, he allowed only one run across six innings.
For those looking to take advantage of some of the stellar high-priced hitting options, rolling with Steven Matz ($29) at starting pitcher could be the best route to take. He'll be facing the Pirates for the second time in as many starts and he couldn't have looked any better the first time around, striking out seven hitters during a complete game shutout. While it's unlikely he performs that well again, he could provide significant value since the Pirates have the worst wRC+ against left-handed pitchers (73) in baseball.
Key Values/Chalk
With a Coors Field game on the slate, look for the Rockies to be included in plenty of lineups. Not only do they have the advantage of their hitter-friendly home park, but they will also be facing Shaun Anderson and his 1.49 WHIP. Left-handed hitters have compiled a .354 wOBA against him, leaving Charlie Blackmon ($19), David Dahl ($18) and Daniel Murphy ($17) as some of the top players to target.
Normally not known as one of top offensive teams, the Giants should also be a popular team to pursue since they will be the team opposing the Rockies. The last time we saw them at Coors Field, they scored 40 runs across four games. They won't exactly be facing an imposing foe this time around in Peter Lambert, who has struggled with his 5.67 ERA and 5.24 FIP. Mike Yastrzemski ($17) is definitely someone to consider, especially since he is 25-for-67 (.373) with four home runs and six doubles over his last 17 games.
The Twins lead all of baseball with their .835 OPS, so don't be surprised to see plenty of their players included in entries for this slate. They are set up to score in bunches against Glenn Sparkman, who has a 5.93 FIP and has allowed 2.0 HR/9. He's been even worse of late, giving up 12 home runs over 34.1 innings in his last six starts. That could end up being his downfall against the likes of Nelson Cruz ($23) and Max Kepler ($22).
Stacks
Astros vs. Yusei Kikuchi (Mariners)
Yordan Alvarez (OF - $20), George Springer (OF - $20), Jose Altuve (2B - $21)
The Astros continue to steamroll their opponents and became the first AL team to 70 wins with a victory Thursday. They will be in another excellent offensive spot at home against Kikuchi, who has a 5.61 FIP and a 1.46 WHIP. He's allowed 1.9 HR/9, leaving the powerful duo of Alvarez and Springer with a ton of upside. Altuve comes into this contest about as hot as it gets, hitting 32-for-71 (.451) with five home runs and six doubles across his last 17 games.
Indians vs. Dillon Peters (Angels)
Francisco Lindor (SS - $22), Yasiel Puig (OF - $18), Franmil Reyes (OF- $16)
With the Angels running out of healthy pitchers, they will once again turn to Peters to make a start. Don't be fooled by his 3.06 ERA. He hasn't pitched well, posting a 5.94 FIP and a 1.58 WHIP. He also struggled at Triple-A this season to the tune of a 5.32 FIP, so his chances of shutting down a hot Indians lineup seem unlikely. Lindor could be the best player to build an Indians stack around with him hitting 25-for-62 (.403) with three home runs, six doubles and four steals over his last 13 games. The newest members of the Indians, Puig and Reyes, are also intriguing based on their power upside.
Blue Jays vs. Aaron Brooks (Orioles)
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (3B - $18), Bo Bichette (SS - $21), Cavan Biggio (2B - $17)
While the Blue Jays don't have a good record, it's still an exciting time to be a fan of the team now that they have called up many of their top prospects. They'll all have a chance to shine against Brooks, who has been torched for 11 runs (10 earned) over 8.2 innings in his last two outings. Guerrero looks locked in at the plate, hitting 20-for-48 (.417) with five home runs, four doubles and a staggering 21 RBI over his last 12 games. Bichette has also wasted no time making an impact, hitting 8-for-18 with a home run and two doubles since being recalled from the minors.
