This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
Wednesday brings another packed slate in baseball, leaving us with a lot of viable options to wade through on Yahoo. There aren't many top-tier pitchers scheduled to take the mound, so don't be surprised to see plenty of offense across the board. Let's dig into the matchups and highlight some of the better opportunities to exploit.
Pitching Overview
Sonny Gray ($52) has been one of the most reliable starting pitchers down the stretch, allowing two earned runs or fewer in 12 of his last 13 starts. His first season with the Reds has been a smashing success with him recording a 2.75 ERA, 3.37 FIP and a 1.10 WHIP. Add in a strikeout rate that checks in at 28.5 percent and he could be in line for a dominant performance against a Mariners team that has struck out the third-most times in baseball.
Chris Paddack ($39) recently went through a rough patch, but he's turned things around by allowing one run and recording 16 strikeouts across 12.1 innings in his last two starts. That's especially impressive considering his last outing was on the road against the red-hot Diamondbacks. Now he'll get to start against the Cubs at home, which is a plus based on his 3.25 FIP there compared to a 4.77 FIP on the road. The Cubs are also playing without Javier Baez (thumb), so Paddack is at least worth considering in tournament play.
Staying in that same game, Cole Hamels ($38) is also a viable target. He's been inconsistent since coming off the IL, although he still checks in with a 3.95 ERA and a 4.09 FIP for the season. One of the keys to his success has been keeping hitters inside the ballpark, allowing just 1.1 HR/9. The Padres lineup is also depleted without Fernando Tatis Jr. (back), which has resulted in them averaging only 3.7 runs over their last 15 games.
Key Values/Chalk
Another game at Coors Field will likely mean a lot of chalk amongst the Rockies' hitters. They'll face off against Dakota Hudson, who has actually pitched really well by not allowing a run in four of his last five starts. Still, pitching at Coors Field is an entirely different animal. Left-handed hitters have a .352 wOBA against him, making Charlie Blackmon ($20), Ryan McMahon ($19) and Daniel Murphy ($15) prime targets.
The Cardinals will look to take advantage of the Rockies' struggling rotation when Antonio Senzatela steps onto the mound. He has a career 5.00 FIP and 1.51 WHIP at Coors Field and has been very underwhelming with his 11.8 percent strikeout rate this season. Lefties have recorded a lofty .416 wOBA against him, leaving Kolten Wong ($21), Tommy Edman ($20) and Dexter Fowler ($20) as viable options.
The Indians will look to keep their playoff hopes alive against the Angels, who are far less formidable right now with Mike Trout (toe) on the shelf. They will have a chance to score in bunches against Dillon Peters, who has a 4.45 ERA and an even worse 5.30 FIP. His problem has been the long ball, allowing 1.8 HR/9. Expect to see Carlos Santana ($23) in a lot of entries. Not only has Peters struggled, but Santana has a 158 wRC+ against southpaws.
Stacks
Nationals vs. Martin Perez (Twins)
Anthony Rendon (3B - $27), Ryan Zimmerman (1B - $15), Asdrubal Cabrera (2B - $20)
In a matchup between two playoff bound teams, the Nationals could be in line for an impressive offensive performance. Perez has been prone to getting hit hard, allowing at least five runs in four of his last nine starts. That's not a huge surprise based on his 1.46 WHIP. Rendon is the anchor to build a Nationals stack around while Cabrera is swinging a hot bat, hitting 14-for-39 (.359) with two home runs and three doubles over his last 10 games.
Rays vs. Ariel Jurado (Rangers)
Austin Meadows (OF - $21), Tommy Pham (OF - $20), Ji-Man Choi (1B - $14)
It's hard to find anything encouraging with Jurado, who has a 5.40 ERA and a 5.08 FIP. He has a 1.46 WHIP to go along with a paltry 15.3 percent strikeout rate, making this a matchup to attack. Meadows has shined during his first full season in the majors with a .377 wOBA and Choi has a .344 wOBA versus right-handed pitchers.
White Sox vs. Glenn Sparkman (Royals)
Jose Abreu (1B - $25), Yoan Moncada (3B - $20), Tim Anderson (SS - $21)
The last time we saw Sparkman on the mound against the White Sox, he pitched a complete game shutout. So, why exactly should you consider the White Sox in this rematch? Well, that was more of an outlier start for Sparkman considering his 6.06 FIP and 1.50 WHIP. He's given up at least four runs in each of his last three starts, including his last outing against the weak Tigers' lineup. This trio can do plenty of damage, so don't sleep on them in tournament play. Anderson is finishing his stellar campaign on a high note, hitting 18-for-50 (.360) with two home runs and seven doubles over his last 11 games.
