This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
It's not easy picking a lineup Saturday with the four pitchers on the mound, but Wade Miley stands out as the weakest so I focused my bats on the Dodgers. As for pitching, I found little reason to spend the extra money on Chris Sale.
PITCHER
Justin Verlander, HOU at BOS ($47): The Red Sox aren't a big enough favorite to back Chris Sale ($54) for more money, especially since he still hasn't reached 100 pitches since returning from injury. In 10 career starts at Fenway, Verlander has 58 strikeouts, while only allowing a .306 OBP and four homers. He went six innings and gave up two runs against the Red Sox back in June and repeated the same line when he faced them in the playoffs last year.
Hyun-Jin Ryu, LAD at MIL ($40): Ryu comes at a reasonable price and I trust him a little more than Wade Miley ($27) given recent outings. Ryu last pitched against the Brewers in 2013 but he's cruised through the last month, allowing just four hits in each of his last four starts – including a dominant performance against the Braves. His numbers aren't as favorable on the road, but Milwaukee sported a fairly high 24.2 K% against lefties in the last month of the season and that could be enough for Ryu to make value.
CATCHER
Yasmani Grandal, LAD at MIL ($9): None of the remaining catchers are worth much, but Grandal at least provides power with a .178 ISO against lefties. While Miley's overall numbers looked great this year, his 1.67 HR/9 allowed to righty bats from 2017 is lurking somewhere. Even then, Miley hasn't gone more than five innings in his last five starts, which means Grandal's .545 OBP in 22 PA against Milwaukee could show up.
FIRST BASE
Mitch Moreland, BOS vs. HOU ($7): Whether it's Moreland or Steve Pearce ($8) in this spot, I'm fine with going cheap against Verlander. If Moreland's hamstring is healthy, he's the better play with a career .371 OBP and six doubles in 35 plate appearances against Verlander. Pearce at least has a .500 OBP in his last 26 plate appearances against righties while homering against Verlander in one of his two career at-bats, although that was a while ago.
SECOND BASE
Eduardo Nunez, BOS vs. HOU ($8): If you have money, Jose Altuve ($18) is a no-brainer, but he'll be hard to fit into lineups. Brock Holt ($12) could also start, although Nunez became the preferred option no matter who was on the mound in the New York series. Nunez comes in with a decent .350 OBP in 19 PA against Verlander, which is better than most on the team. If Holt starts, his .487 OBP in his last 39 plate appearances against righty arms also looks enticing.
THIRD BASE
Justin Turner, LAD at MIL ($19): Turner has hit safely in 13 of his last 14 games and he's provided a consistent bat in the postseason, which is often good enough even if the power isn't there. He has a solid .429 OBP in his last 42 plate appearances against lefties and a .433 wOBA for the season. He doesn't possess the same power as Alex Bregman ($22), but you can count on him to get on base.
SHORTSTOP
Manny Machado, LAD at MIL ($19): Machado is the clear play at shortstop and that's why he costs the most. In addition to a career .529 OBP and one homer in 17 PA against Miley, he notched a .238 ISO and .383 wOBA against lefties during the season. Machado has also stepped up in the postseason with three homers and seven RBIs.
OUTFIELD
Christian Yelich, MIL vs. LAD ($25): You have to spend money to make money and that's what Yelich provides. He's hit one home run in seven career at-bats against Ryu and, more importantly, enters as the hottest hitter in the game with a .450 OBP in his last 40 PA against lefties and a .250 ISO for the season. It doesn't help Ryu that he suffered against lefty bats in limited time this year with a 4.21 xFIP.
George Springer, HOU at BOS ($21): Springer represents another expensive bat, but he's one of the few Astros who's had success against Sale in his career with a .400 OBP in 15 PA that includes a homer and a double. Springer fared slightly better against southpaws during the year with a .190 ISO and .358 wOBA.
Yasiel Puig, LAD at MIL ($17): Puig has slumped against lefty arms this season, so he probably won't be a popular cash play. However, there's something to his career .522 OBP in 23 plate appearances against Miley. That's an intriguing number against a pitcher who sported a .374 wOBA allowed to righties last season. If Puig sits again, Matt Kemp ($10) becomes the logical replacement.
