This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
Saturday's main MLB slate features eight games after 7:10 PM Eastern time. Below, you'll find which individual pitchers and hitters are primed to provide the best value, as well as the top lineup stacking options in this slate.
Pitching Overview
With Jacob deGrom ($59) and Max Scherzer ($57) set to toe the rubber in this slate, many lineups will likely feature one of these two pricey NL East aces.
DeGrom has gotten back on track after a small speed bump with just two earned runs allowed and a 13:3 K:BB in 14 innings over his past two starts. He's primed to keep rolling at home against Miami's league-worst offense.
The Nationals are just 1-7 in Scherzer's first eight starts, but Washington's ace should still be a popular pick against the Dodgers. Scherzer's 1.95 FIP suggests his 3.78 ERA is inflated, and he continues to be a tremendous source of whiffs with a 33.3 percent strikeout rate.
Owners in search of cheaper options on the mound should look to Cincinnati's Anthony DeSclafani ($38) in San Francisco. DeSclafani is striking out a career-best 28.6 percent of batters en route to a 3.65 ERA and 4.16 FIP heading into this matchup with a Giants team that's scoring the second-fewest runs per game in the league in its own park.
Minnesota's Martin Perez ($41) is also an enticing option against Detroit's bottom-three offense. Perez is coming off what could be the best two-start stretch of his career -- no earned runs allowed and a 16:4 K:BB in 15 innings.
Value Plays/Chalk
In addition to the Astros and the pair of NL West teams below, certain individual batters stand out from other teams.
Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman ($18) is in the midst of another strong campaign, and the left-handed slugger is primed for further success against 30-year-old rookie righty Merrill Kelly.
Bryce Harper ($17) is available at a good price, and his excellent batting eye should help him find success against Kansas City's Brad Keller, who has a 5.32 BB/9 and just a 6.85 K/9.
Robinson Cano ($13) is a nice option for owners looking to save money at second base. The left-handed Mets slugger will be facing Marlins righty Sandy Alcantara, who is allowing a .352 wOBA to batters from the left side and just a .312 mark to right-handed hitters.
Stacks
Rockies vs. Joey Lucchesi (Padres)
Nolan Arenado (3B - $27), Trevor Story (COL - $23), Ian Desmond (OF - $16)
Arenado is one of the league's best hitters against southpaws, especially at hitter-friendly Coors Field. His wOBA against lefties at home sits over .500 for the third consecutive season. Story's wOBA is close to .400 at Coors Field and not far above .300 elsewhere. Desmond is the third prominent righty in Colorado's lineup and has a wOBA over .400 when facing lefties at home despite struggling in other splits.
Astros vs. Drew Smyly (Rangers)
Jose Altuve (2B - $19), Robinson Chirinos (C - $20), George Spring (OF - $27)
While the Rangers may opt to start the game with an opener, Smyly is still expected to pitch most of the innings in this one even if he doesn't start. That's good news for Houston's right-handed sluggers considering Smyly's ERA and FIP are both over 6.00. Altuve hasn't found his usual success against righties, but his wOBA against lefties isn't far from .500. Chirinos is primed to finish among this slate's top catchers given his solid start, and while Springer doesn't come cheap, he's mashed lefties similarly to Altuve this season.
Diamondbacks vs. Kevin Gausman (Braves)
Christian Walker (1B - $16), David Peralta (OF - $18), Jarrod Dyson (OF - $15)
Gausman is allowing a .401 wOBA to his first 59 batters faced on the road this season, including a .441 mark in righty-on-righty road situations. Walker has thrived in righty-on-righty matchups, posting a wOBA over .400. Peralta has the traditional platoon advantage as a left-handed slugger and is finding similar success against righties. Dyson has demonstrated surprising power out of the leadoff spot and is always a threat on the base paths as well.
