We’ve got a 13-game slate for Friday’s MLB action.
Let’s find some studs and values for your DraftKings MLB DFS lineups. This article was written before lineups were announced.
Make your DraftKings MLB DFS picks here: MLB $100K Bat Flip [$25K to 1st]
PITCHER
Stud
Cade Cavalli, Washington Nationals at St. Louis Cardinals ($9,300) — Through 164.2 innings, Cavalli has a 3.33 FIP with a 21.3% K-BB%. He’s allowed only 18 home runs. The launch angle is 8.2 degrees, while the barrel rate is 7.2%. He’s put up 20+ FPTS in seven straight games, including 37.1 and a high of 40.2. St. Louis doesn’t strike out often, but it ranks 27th in ISO, 26th in wOBA and 24th in wRC+. Cavalli can match or even exceed Dylan Cease’s fantasy output, and Cease costs $2,000 more.
Value
Grayson Rodriguez, Los Angeles Angels vs. Minnesota Twins ($6,000) — Rodriguez has been a tale of two halves this season. In the first nine starts, he posted a 5.66 FIP with a 5.9% K-BB% and 1.62 HR/9. In his last nine outings, he owns a 4.26 FIP with a 14.5% K-BB% and 1.31 HR/9. In that time, his average exit velocity was 88.8 mph, his launch angle was 12.3 degrees, and his barrel rate was 7.3%. He put up double-digit FPTS in eight of those nine contests, including two performances with more than 20 FPTS. The matchup isn’t great, as Minnesota ranks 23rd in strikeouts, 11th in ISO, 11th in wOBA, and 9th in wRC+. This is purely a price play, hoping that he tosses another double-digit FPTS outing.
INFIELD
Stud
Travis Bazzana, Cleveland Guardians vs. Athletics ($4,300) — Since September 4, Bazzana has been hitting mostly 2nd to 5th in the batting order. In this 11-game stretch, he’s slashing .395/.477/.868 with an 11.4% walk rate, 9.1% strikeout rate and .474 ISO! That has translated to five home runs, 10 runs, 14 RBIs and one stolen base, with four 20-FPTS outings and a high of 30 FPTS. Bazzana owns a .201 ISO and a 134 wRC+ against right-handed pitching. Now he faces Mason Barnett in Sacramento. Barnett has allowed an average exit velocity of 89.2 mph, a launch angle of 17.2 degrees, and a barrel rate of 9.9%. Against lefties, he’s saddled with a 6.81 FIP and a 0% K-BB%. His home FIP is 7.80.
Value
Abimelec Ortiz, Washington Nationals at St. Louis Cardinals ($2,600) — Ortiz has five home runs, 16 runs, and 13 RBIs across 124 plate appearances this year. He owns a .185 ISO against right-handed pitching. Kyle Leahy is allowing a 91.1 mph average exit velocity with a 9.8% barrel rate. Lefties are slashing .312/.379/.473 against Leahy, giving him a 4.23 FIP and an 11.6% K-BB% for the split.
OUTFIELD
Stud
Brett Bateman, Toronto Blue Jays at Texas Rangers ($4,000) — Bateman doesn’t have much power, with an ISO of .094. Through his minor league career, that number exceeded .100 only once. He does have speed, though, with a sprint speed of 28.7 feet per second, which puts him in MLB’s 84th percentile. The Statcast numbers are middling, and the BABIP is high at .419, but he’s batting leadoff, and the production has been undeniable. Since returning to the lineup on August 7, Bateman has produced double-digit FPTS 14 times. Kumar Rocker has had his issues with lefties, allowing a .281/.353/.482 slash, a 4.91 FIP, and a 10.8% K-BB%.
Value
Tommy Pham, Chicago White Sox vs. Detroit Tigers ($2,000) — Pham is on the short side of a platoon with the White Sox. On Wednesday, he started at DH and mashed a three-run home run. In 19 plate appearances this season, his strikeout rate is an insane 42.1%. Still, he has posted an impressive 94.7 mph average exit velocity and a 10% barrel rate. He’s priced at the bare minimum and will likely bat cleanup. The risk/reward is very favorable.
