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 $175K Bat Flip [$50K to 1st]
PITCHER
Stud
Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia Phillies at New York Mets ($11,000) — It’s always tough fading Jacob Misiorowski, but he’s priced at $13K and Wheeler has the better matchup. New York is 23rd in ISO and 28th in wRC+ while Chicago is 12th in ISO and third in wRC+. Misiorowski is great and can put up over 30 FPTS against anyone, but he only had 19.9 FPTS against Atlanta last outing, so it’s not a guaranteed thing. In addition, Wheeler is no slouch himself, posting over 20 FPTS seven times this season with two over 30 FPTS.
Value
Taj Bradley, Minnesota Twins vs. Colorado Rockies ($7,600) — Bradley has always confounded, as he throws hard and can miss bats, but the control and long ball have always been issues. This season, he’s averaging a career-high 97 mph on the fastball, but the FIP is 4.28 with a 15.7% K-BB%, primarily due to the 9.7% walk rate. He’s allowed 12 home runs in 76.2 innings. The average exit velocity allowed is 91.8 mph while the barrel rate is 10.3%. That said, he has put up over 20 FPTS six times this season with a high of 31.4 FPTS. Now he gets a Rockies team that is away from Coors Field and is sixth in strikeouts and 26th in wRC+.
INFIELD
Stud
Jonathan Aranda, Tampa Bay Rays vs. Arizona Diamondbacks ($4,100) — Aranda is slashing .282/.383/.451 with a 13.3% walk rate, 23.5% strikeout rate and .170 ISO. The BABIP is elevated at .342, though, but the average exit velocity is 90.8 mph with a 10.7% barrel rate. Against right-handed pitching, the wRC+ is 147 and the ISO is .222. 11 of the 12 home runs have come against righties. Brandon Pfaadt has a 6.97 FIP and 7.6% K-BB% against lefties. Six of the seven home runs allowed have come off the bat of a lefty.
Value
Josh Rojas, Kansas City Royals at Chicago White Sox ($2,100) — Rojas has only seven plate appearances on the season and was recently called up due to injuries. He has one home run, two runs and four RBI over that span. The average exit velocity is 92.9 mph while the barrel rate is 14.3%, both are well above the career numbers of 88.3 mph and 4.6%. The 70.8 mph bat speed has increased from the 67.1 mph average over the prior two seasons. So, it’s highly unlikely that the power gains are real. That said, he has put up at least seven FPTS in three of the five games, which is almost the bare minimum, will likely start and is facing David Sandlin, who has a 6.48 FIP, 12.1% K-BB% and 13.5% barrel rate in 13.1 innings.
OUTFIELD
Stud
Kody Clemens, Minnesota Twins vs. Colorado Rockies ($4,200) — Clemens is batting third in the order and has a .220 ISO on the season. Through 266 plate appearances, he’s contributed 11 home runs, 32 runs, 30 RBI and six stolen bases. The average exit velocity is 92.3 mph, launch angle is 15.4 degrees and the barrel rate is 12.4%. Against right-handed pitching, the wRC+ is 120 with a .242 ISO. Nine of the 11 home runs have come against a righty. Tomoyuki Sugano is allowing an average exit velocity of 90.6 mph, 15.1 degree launch angle and 14.3% barrel rate. Against lefties, the FIP is 6.3 while the K-BB% is 5.2%. 10 of the 14 home runs have come off the bat of a lefty.
Value
Kahlil Watson, Cleveland Guardians vs. Seattle Mariners ($2,100) — Watson was called up seven games ago due to injuries. He struggled in the first four games, going 0-for-12 with eight strikeouts. Since then, he’s gone 5-for-9 with a home run, six RBI and a walk with only two strikeouts. That translated to 12, 17 and 14 FPTS. The average exit velocity is 94.4 mph with a 21.1 degree launch angle and 16.7% barrel rate. The bat speed is 73.5 mph. Luis Castillo has struggled against lefties, posting a 5.42 FIP and 8% K-BB%. Seven of the nine home runs allowed have come off the bat of a lefty.
