We’ve got a 13-game slate for Friday’s MLB action.
Let’s find some studs and values for your MLB DFS lineups on DraftKings. This article was written before lineups were announced.
Make your DraftKings MLB DFS picks here: MLB $200K Bat Flip [$50K to 1st]
PITCHER
Stud
Roki Sasaki, Los Angeles Dodgers at Chicago White Sox ($8,200) — Man, it’s tough not going with Jacob Misiorowski, who’s put up over 30 FPTS in each of the last seven starts with a high of 40 FPTS. But he’s $12,000 and I think Sasaki could be in the 30 FPTS range himself, something he’s done twice in the last four starts. Things have certainly clicked for Sasaki after a wretched start to the season. Over the last four starts, the FIP is 1.87, strikeout rate is 32.2%, K-BB% is 26.7%, average exit velocity is 88 mph, launch angle is 6.1 degrees and the barrel rate is 7.1%. Now he faces a White Sox team that is third in strikeouts. There is risk because Chicago does have power and is fifth in wOBA and sixth in wRC+ but the upside is worth it.
Value
Gage Jump, Athletics vs. Colorado Rockies ($7,000) — Jump has made only three starts while pitching 18.1 innings. The strikeout rate is only 17.8%, but the lefty has a fastball that averages 96.6 mph while the FIP is 2.83. The average exit velocity is 88.5 mph while the barrel rate is only 3.8%. He’s put up 20.6 and 24.8 FPTS over the last two starts. Now he faces a Rockies team that is fourth in strikeouts, 21st in ISO and 29th in wRC+. There is risk since this game will be played in Las Vegas, but that will likely keep the ownership down.
INFIELD
Stud
Nick Kurtz, Athletics vs. Colorado Rockies ($6,000) — Kurtz has 15 home runs, 46 runs, 49 RBI and seven stolen bases in 306 plate appearances. The strikeout rate is high at 29.1%, but the ISO is .246 with a 94.4 mph average exit velocity, 18.5% barrel rate and 78.1 mph bat speed. Zach Agnos is allowing an 11.5% barrel rate with a 5.65 FIP through 40 innings while the Rockies bullpen has the sixth-highest xERA.
Value
Will Wagner, San Diego Padres at Baltimore Orioles ($2,200) — Wagner is up because Xander Bogaerts is on paternity leave. In two games, Wagner produced 5 and 10 FPTS while batting fifth in the lineup both games.
OUTFIELD
Stud
Jackson Chourio, Milwaukee Brewers vs. Philadelphia Phillies ($5,500) — Chourio is slashing .304/.358/.514 with a .210 ISO through 151 plate appearances. The batting average is fueled by a .383 BABIP, but the 89th percentile sprint speed helps in that department. The average exit velocity is 92.2 mph while the barrel rate is 15%. The bat speed is 74.8 mph. Against right-handed pitching, the ISO is .231 with a 135 wRC+. Five of the six home runs hit have come against righties. Andrew Painter has had issues this season, posting a 5.09 FIP. Against righties, the FIP is 5.88 while the K-BB% is 8.1%.
Value
Zach McKinstry, Detroit Tigers at Cleveland Guardians ($2,200) — McKinstry bats toward the bottom of the lineup and the numbers do not inspire much confidence. Through 148 plate appearances, the ISO is .063, average exit velocity is only 85 mph, barrel rate is 2.9% and the bat speed is 69 mph. That said, he hasn’t had a bagel in eight games, put up 17 FPTS three games ago and went yard on Thursday.
