This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
It won't be a busy night in baseball with just six games making up the main slate on Yahoo. While that leaves us with limited options, there are still a lot of players who are in favorable positions to be productive. Let's discuss which ones to target while creating your entry.
Pitchers
Shane Bieber ($62) leads the pitching options for this slate. He is coming off of a bad start by his lofty standards, allowing three runs across seven innings against the Twins. Still, he had eight strikeouts in that contest and has allowed two runs or fewer in eight of his 10 starts this season. This is a great matchup for him against the Tigers, who he shut out across seven innings earlier this season. He also had 11 strikeouts in that outing.
The Yankees are hot right now. Not only are their bats firing on all cylinders, but they've received some excellent contributions from their starting rotation. One of their more consistent starters has been Masahiro Tanaka ($37), who has allowed two earned runs or fewer in seven of his eight starts. While not a great source for strikeouts, his measly 3.4 percent walk rate has helped him record a 1.03 WHIP. At this cheap salary, he could make for an excellent addition to your entry.
Top Targets
Mookie Betts ($27) has been everything the Dodgers could have hoped for when they acquired him from the Red Sox. His 161 wRC+ is on pace to be the second-highest mark of his career and he's 21-for-60 (.350) with four home runs and two doubles across his last 15 games. Look for him to once again thrive against Kyle Freeland ($25) at hitter-friendly Coors Field.
The Cardinals push for a playoff spot continues against the Pirates, who will start Steven Brault ($25). He's had another underwhelming season, recording a 5.06 ERA and a 4.61 FIP. His main issue has been a lack of control, which has resulted in a 13.9 percent walk rate and a 1.61 WHIP. This could be an ideal matchup for Paul Goldschmidt ($19), who has a career .425 wOBA versus lefties.
Bargain Bats
Goldschmidt isn't the only member of the Cardinals to consider with Brault on the mound. If you're looking for a more budget-friendly option, then Tyler O'Neill ($7) should at least be on your radar. His .190 batting average is a huge disappointment, but he's been unlucky with a .208 BABIP. He's actually reduced his strikeout rate by nearly nine percentage points compared to last season and he's improved his power numbers with a .190 ISO.
The Indians still have an excellent chance to make the playoffs, but losing eight straight games has dropped them in the overall standings. Not only should it help their cause here that Bieber is on the mound, but they will also face the inexperienced Casey Mize ($29), who has a 1.40 WHIP and has allowed 1.4 HR/9. That makes Tyler Naquin ($13) an interesting DFS option given his .367 wOBA against right-handed pitchers.
Stacks to Consider
Yankees vs. Chase Anderson ($29), Blue Jays: Luke Voit ($24), DJ LeMahieu ($21), Clint Frazier ($15)
The Yankees are getting hot at the right time. Their lineup has exploded now that they have received a few key players back from injury, scoring 33 runs across their last two games. That could spell doom for Anderson, who enters with a 5.28 FIP and a 1.56 WHIP. LeMahieu has been on another planet lately, hitting 13-for-29 (.448) with five home runs and five doubles across the last seven games. Frazier has mashed at Yankee Stadium all season, recording a 216 wRC+ there compared to a 105 wRC+ on the road.
Astros vs. Jordan Lyles ($25), Rangers: George Springer ($22), Michael Brantley ($22), Alex Bregman ($17)
Not only couldn't the Astros capitalize on a favorable matchup against Kyle Gibson on Wednesday, but he threw a complete game shutout against them. As ugly as they looked in that game, it's difficult to resist stacking them with Lyles set to make this start. He's had a disastrous season with a 6.14 FIP and a 1.64 WHIP. He's also allowed 1.9 HR/9, which could leave Springer and Bregman with big nights. Springer is already in the midst of a power surge that has seen him slug three home runs and a double over the last six games.
