We’ve got an 11-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
Sean Burke, Chicago White Sox vs. Detroit Tigers ($8,500) — I prefer to stay in the midrange for pitching on this slate. Through 167 innings, Burke has a 3.62 FIP and a 16.8% K-BB% while allowing 18 home runs. He’s put up at least 19 FPTS in three of his last four games; that said, he had a -13 FPTS outing, and the three prior games were all in single digits. His game has been inconsistent this season, but he’s put up over 20 FPTS 14 times, including three 30+ FPTS games. Now he gets a Rockies team that ranks eighth in strikeouts, 16th in ISO, 19th in wOBA and 20th in wRC+ on the road.
Value
Bryce Miller, Seattle Mariners vs. Los Angeles Angels ($7,500) — Miller has been much better at home, with a 3.93 FIP compared to 4.78 on the road. In addition, 13 of his 20 home runs allowed have come outside of T-Mobile Park. The Angels have been a much better offense on the road, posting the seventh-best ISO, third-best wOBA and third-best wRC+. Still, Los Angeles ranks fourth in strikeouts. Miller faced the Angels in Seattle back in July, spinning seven shutout innings on just two hits with eight strikeouts — good for 34.6 FPTS.
INFIELD
Stud
Jake Bauers, Milwaukee Brewers vs. St. Louis Cardinals ($4,500) — Bauers has 26 home runs, 90 runs, 83 RBIs, and 11 stolen bases in 560 plate appearances. He has posted a 16.6% walk rate, a 26.6% strikeout rate, and a .223 ISO. His average exit velocity sits at 92.2 mph, with a 14% barrel rate and a 76.5-mph bat speed. Against right-handed pitching, he’s mashed 18 homers with a .208 ISO and a 144 wRC+. He bats third to fifth and will face Michael McGreevy, who has allowed 14 home runs, a 4.66 FIP, and a 6.8% K-BB% against lefties.
Value
Alika Williams, Athletics vs. Houston Astros ($2,700) — Williams has been solid, slashing .270/.307/.428 with a 21.6% strikeout rate, a .158 ISO, four home runs, and two stolen bases in 231 plate appearances. The Statcast numbers are poor, though: 84.6 mph average exit velocity, 1.2% barrel rate, and 69.1 mph bat speed. But all we care about are the fantasy goodies, and he’s been providing those — putting up double-digit FPTS in three of his last four games. While he’s had some cold streaks, he has four double-digit FPTS outings, including two with 20+ FPTS. Williams has been better against lefties and will be at home, where he’s posted a 113 wRC+ and a .193 ISO.
OUTFIELD
Stud
Garrett Mitchell, Milwaukee Brewers vs. St. Louis Cardinals ($4,000) — Yup, we’re stacking against McGreevy. Mitchell strikes out a lot (31.5%), and he’s been lucky (.388 BABIP), but he has power and speed (11 home runs and 14 stolen bases in 515 plate appearances). The Statcast numbers are chef’s kiss: 93.2 mph average exit velocity, 11.8% barrel rate, and 77.6 mph bat speed. The only bugaboo is his 2.2-degree launch angle. Against right-handed pitching, he’s crushed 10 of his 11 home runs with a .178 ISO and a 123 wRC+. At home, those numbers swell to a .186 ISO and a 137 wRC+.
Value
Tommy Pham, Chicago White Sox vs. Colorado Rockies ($2,500) — Since joining the White Sox six games ago, Pham is slashing .273/.467/.545 with a 26.7% walk rate, a 20% strikeout rate and a .273 ISO. His average exit velocity is a whopping 99.3 mph with a 12.5% barrel rate. He’s pulling the ball 87.5% of the time, and his hard-hit rate is an exceptional 75%. He batted cleanup in the first two games and is now in the two-hole. He’s cheap, smashing the ball, hitting at the top of the order and now gets to face Rockies pitching. Colorado’s bullpen has the seventh-highest FIP in MLB. Tomoyuki Sugano has a 9.4% K-BB% and a 4.60 FIP against righties, while his FIP is much higher away from Coors Field.
