You want a marquee matchup? How about the AL East leading Yankees inviting the NL West leading Dodgers to the Bronx? How about Yoshinobu Yamamoto ($9,800), who chose Los Angeles over New York this offseason, starting the first game of the series? How about that?!
Let’s break down that matchup and the other nine contest on tonight’s slate.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $250K Bat Flip [$50K to 1st]
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PITCHER
Stud
Garrett Crochet, Chicago White Sox vs. Boston Red Sox, $8,900 – By xERA, Crochet (2.19) has been the best pitcher in baseball this season by a considerable margin. His league-best 33.7% strikeout rate suggests he’s been one of the top pitchers for DFS, too. His win expectancy is a different story, a ramification of playing for the lowly White Sox, but in general, Crochet should be considered a steal any time he’s priced below $9K. It certainly helps his case that the Red Sox own baseball’s highest strikeout rate against LHPs at a staggering 28.3%.
Value
Logan Webb, San Francisco Giants at Texas Rangers, $7,700 – For the first time this season, Webb’s salary has dropped below $8K. That seems like a mistake. The RHP has been his usual self through 79.1 innings, registering a 2.95 ERA and a 2.77 FIP. The bigger story here is his matchup. The 2024 Rangers aren’t the 2023 Rangers. Across the past 30 days, the team ranks 24th in ISO (.134) and 27th in wRC+ (87). Texas’ only dangerous bat in that span has been Corey Seager ($5,500; hamstring), who likely won’t be in tonight’s lineup due to injury.
INFIELD
Stud
Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers at New York Yankees, $6,500 – Just when you thought he couldn’t get better, right? Through his first 277 plate appearances of 2024, Ohtani is sporting a career-high in both average (.318) and expected wOBA (.445). He’s also on pace to smash his career-best in stolen bases by year’s end. Ohtani is viable on any slate, but he’ll draw a particularly good matchup on Friday in the form of Cody Poteet ($6,100), who has conceded 1.91 home runs per nine to opposing LHBs at the MLB level.
Stud
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays at Oakland Athletics, $4,700 – What a cheat code that you can once again use Vladdy at third base. I love it. Guerrero hasn’t received much praise in 2024, but that’s more about the state of the Jays than his personal performance. In fact, since April 27, Guerrero is slashing .363/.442/.504 with a 174 wRC+. Tonight he’ll face-off with the left-handed Hogan Harris ($6,500), who posted a 7.67 ERA at Triple-A.
Value
Justin Turner, Toronto Blue Jays at Oakland Athletics, $3,400 – Turner went through a nightmarish slump in May, but he’s suddenly managed six hits over his last three games. I’m not sure if that guarantees the veteran’s production on Friday, yet it’s worth noting his numbers against LHPs remain pristine. In 47 plate appearances within the split in 2024, Turner is slashing .349/.383/.558 with a 165 wRC+. Take a chance on the 39-year-old at his modest salary.
Value
Masyn Winn, St. Louis Cardinals vs. Colorado Rockies, $3,200 – Regardless of matchup, this seems too cheap a price tag for Winn, who is hitting .311 with a 130 wRC+ in his rookie campaign with the Cardinals. Still, I won’t pretend that matchup doesn’t matter. Winn has clearly showcased more power when getting the opportunity to face a left-handed pitcher, posting a .231 ISO within the split. That means an elevated ceiling in his duel with Austin Gomber ($6,300).
OUTFIELD
Stud
David Fry, Cleveland Guardians at Miami Marlins, $5,700 – Is it insane that Fry is suddenly the fifth-most expensive outfielder on a 10-game slate? Truly. However, I can not argue with his results against left-handed pitching. In 73 plate appearances within the split in 2024, Fry is batting .400 with a 272 wRC+. Ryan Weathers ($7,100) isn’t even pitching poorly. But he’s a lefty. Proceed with Fry in your lineups.
Stud
Yordan Alvarez, Houston Astros at Los Angeles Angels, $5,300 – Alvarez’s overall numbers haven’t been as jaw-dropping as in seasons past, but the All-Star has started June red-hot. In 21 plate appearances, Alvarez has eight hits — three of which have been home runs. Then there’s Griffin Canning ($5,700). The RHP has been unable to pitch to left-handed bats in 2024, surrendering 2.34 long balls per nine within the split. He’s also struggled to contain Alvarez in the duo’s past meetings, giving up a pair of home runs in nine at-bats.
Value
JJ Bleday, Oakland Athletics vs. Toronto Blue Jays, $3,600 – It seems like the former fourth-overall pick has found a home with the Athletics. Heck, Bleday appears to be settled as Oakland’s everyday hitter in the three-spot. It’s not hard to see why. The 26-year-old has posted a 127 wRC+ over 253 plate appearances. Bleday is also left-handed — that’s of crucial importance when facing Chris Bassitt ($8,300). LHBs have combined to hit .310 with a .394 wOBA off of Bassitt so far this season.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $250K Bat Flip [$50K to 1st]
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and customer (my username is theglt13) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
