We’ve got a massive 13-game slate for Friday’s MLB action. TGIF!
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 Hidden Ball Trick [$50K to 1st]
PITCHER
Stud
Dylan Cease, Toronto Blue Jays vs. Los Angeles Angels ($9,500) — Cease has always had control problems and the walk rate is 10.8% this season, but the strikeout rate is a whopping 33.7%, a career-high. The ERA is 3.05, but he’s been unlucky with a .360 BABIP. The FIP is much lower at 2.12. Only one home run has been hit off of Cease in 38.1 innings. The average exit velocity is only 86.9 mph while the barrel rate is a minuscule 3.3%. He faces an Angels team that strikes out at the highest rate in MLB.
Value
Keider Montero, Detroit Tigers at Kansas City Royals ($6,900) — Montero only has an 18.8% strikeout rate and a 13.5% K-BB%. The average exit velocity is 91 mph with a launch angle of 21 degrees. The BABIP is only .245 with a 67.1% strand rate. That said, the FIP is 3.44 compared to the 3.48 ERA. Montero has gone at least five innings in five of six starts and put up at least 9 FPTS in every contest, with four in double-digits and a high of 29.7 FPTS. This is a floor play so keep expectations in check.
INFIELD
Stud
Shea Langeliers, Athletics at Baltimore Orioles ($5,300) — Langeliers is slashing .336/.390/.627 with 10 home runs, 24 runs and 18 RBI. The batting average is fueled by a .380 BABIP but the power is legit with a .291 ISO. Against right-handed pitching, the ISO is .284 with a 167 wRC+. Kyle Bradish has a 4.84 FIP with an 8.9% K-BB% and 12.9% barrel rate. He has reverse splits, as the FIP is 5.59 and the K-BB% is only 5.5% against righties.
Value
Sung-Mun Song, San Diego Padres vs. St. Louis Cardinals ($2,400) — Song is playing due to Jake Cronenworth’s concussion, but Cronenworth could be back soon so make sure. It’s only been six plate appearances, but Song has two hits, a double, two runs, two RBI and a stolen base while striking out once. He’s batting eighth or ninth but he’s cheap and put up 21 FPTS two games ago.
OUTFIELD
Stud
Taylor Ward, Baltimore Orioles vs. Athletics ($4,200) — Ward has had a weird start to the season, as the strikeout rate is 16.3% the batting average is .285 and the ISO is .123. Ward normally has a strikeout rate in the 25% range, an ISO in the .180 area and a batting average around .240. The power is going to come. It’s a matter of when, not if. Against left-handed pitching, Ward has a wRC+ of 174 with a .185 ISO. Jacob Lopez has a 6.41 FIP with a 0.7% K-BB%. Against righties, Lopez has a 6.95 FIP and 0% K-BB%. Five of the six home runs have come off the bat of righties.
Value
Michael Conforto, Chicago Cubs at Texas Rangers ($2,500) — Conforto has only 41 plate appearances on the season, as he’s strictly in a platoon. The .303/.415/.515 is fueled by a .409 BABIP but the ISO is .212. Against right-handed pitching, the wRC+ is 167 with a .219 ISO. There’s no guarantee that Conforto starts on Friday, but he did go 3-for-3 on Thursday with a home run, two RBI and a walk, and the Cubs face a righty in Kumar Rocker.
