This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
With the Astros looking to sweep the A's on Wednesday, we could be looking at our last Yahoo DFS slate that consists of at least four games. Let's try to make it count with a winning entry. Here are some players to consider as you work your way through the options.
Pitchers
The Dodgers won Game 1 in their series with their pitching staff holding the Padres to only one run. Runs might be difficult for the Padres to come by again in Game 2 with Clayton Kershaw ($52) on the mound. He dominated the Brewers in the first round, recording 13 strikeouts across eight scoreless innings. While he's had some playoff flops during his career, this is still a favorable spot to consider using him in DFS. The Padres recorded a .815 OPS against right-handed pitchers this season, but they weren't as productive with their .761 OPS against lefties.
After losing Game 1, the Rays bounced back to win Game 2 thanks to an offensive outburst that resulted in seven runs. They'll try to take a 2-1 lead with Charlie Morton ($32) on the mound, who had a down year with a 4.74 ERA. However, his 3.45 FIP indicates that he pitched better than his ERA would lead you to believe and he still hasn't allowed more than 0.97 HR/9 since 2010. He also carries excellent strikeout upside despite a decline in that area this season, so he could end up being a bargain at this salary.
Top Targets
Ronald Acuna Jr. ($25) has wasted no time making an impact for the Braves in the playoffs. He went 2-for-4 with a home run in Game 1 against the Marlins and is now 6-for-15 with that home run and two doubles across three playoff games. He posted a monster .331 ISO during the regular and could be a tough out for Pablo Lopez ($30), who didn't exactly blow hitters away with a 24.6 percent strikeout rate this season.
The Yankees have had no answer for Randy Arozarena ($17), who is 5-for-8 with two home runs through two games. He has recorded three straight multi-hit games and is quickly becoming one of the best hitters on the team. His power prowess could be a problem for Masahiro Tanaka ($36), who allowed 1.7 HR/9 this season.
Bargain Bats
Marcus Semien ($14) didn't have a great regular season, finishing with a .299 wOBA and a 91 wRC+. However, he's come alive in the playoffs, hitting 7-for-19 with a home run and a double. He was starting to show signs of life at the end of the regular season, as well, recording a .361 OBP across his final 17 games. Don't be surprised if he has another productive day at the plate against Jose Urquidy ($30), who only had a 14.7 percent strikeout rate during the regular season.
What has happened to Khris Davis ($10)? After struggling mightily this season, he's caught fire in the playoffs, hitting 6-for-15 with three home runs. Two of those home runs have come in this series against the Astros and the A's will be counting on him to stay hot here as they try to stave off elimination. At this salary, he could be well worth the risk.
Stacks to Consider
Dodgers vs. Chris Paddack ($28), Padres: Mookie Betts ($20), Corey Seager ($20), Cody Bellinger ($18)
The Padres are in trouble. Not only will they face Kershaw, but they will likely have Paddack on the mound to try and slow down the Dodgers' lineup. He had a terrible regular season, posting a 4.73 ERA and a 5.02 FIP. His struggles continued into the playoffs when he allowed six runs across 2.1 innings against the Cardinals. With that in mind, the Dodgers will probably be the most popular team to stack for this slate. Betts is the likely the key player to build any Dodgers' stack around after drilling four doubles over the last three games.
Astros vs. Jesus Luzardo ($35), Athletics: George Springer ($23), Alex Bregman ($17), Jose Altuve ($12)
This is a tough spot for Luzardo, who allowed three runs across 3.1 innings against the White Sox in the Wild Card round. He'll now be asked to try and keep a hot Astros' lineup down and help the A's stave off elimination. With the lefty on the mound, this trio could prove to be potent. They all have excellent numbers during their careers against lefties, especially Bregman, who has posted a wOBA of at least .406 against them in four straight seasons.
