As is always the case with a massive Friday slate, we’ve got some weather concerns to be aware of this evening on the diamond. I’d keep an especially close eye on Chicago and Kansas City, but that’s just me — a man who reads smarter people’s daily meteorology reports.
Yeah, I’m mostly here for my insight into the actual baseball being played. On that note, let’s dive into tonight’s action and find some studs and values.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $222K Bat Flip [$50K to 1st]
For up-to-the-minute news, analysis and lineups, download the DK Network app. You also can follow DK Network on Twitter @dknetwork.
PITCHER
Stud
Bailey Ober, Minnesota Twins at Seattle Mariners, $8,800 – The Mariners have been hitting the ball better in recent weeks, but the team’s strikeout numbers remain gargantuan. To wit, over the last 14 days, Seattle leads MLB with a 28.2% strikeout rate. For context, no other American League lineup has a figure above 25% in that same span. That’s all great news for projecting Ober’s ceiling on this slate, as the RHP makes his first start since a complete game against the Athletics this past weekend. Ober’s been solid in 2024, pitching to a 3.79 xERA with 83 strikeouts in 82.0 innings. In a plus-matchup, he’s definitely viable.
Value
Triston McKenzie, Cleveland Guardians at Kansas City Royals, $7,500 – I’m intrigued by McKenzie. Obviously, injuries have changed how we all view the RHP. Coming out of 2022, McKenzie was yet another pitching accomplishment of the Guardians’ development path. Now? It’s a little less clear. Still, his fastball velocity has spiked in his last two outings and it makes be believe he can be effective against the Royals on Friday. It certainly helps matters than Kansas City has been the worst offense in baseball across the past two weeks, slashing a putrid .183/.240/.322 with a 54 wRC+.
INFIELD
Stud
Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox vs. San Diego Padres, $5,700 – I’m not breaking any news here, but Devers is still one of the best hitters in the league when it comes to destroying right-handed pitching. Devers has hit 14 of his 16 long balls off of RHPs in 2024, as he’s registered a .301 average and a 173 wRC+ within the split. The righty in question on Friday? Randy Vasquez ($6,000). LHBs are hitting .474 with a .532 wOBA off Vasquez in his 10 MLB starts this season. Needless to say, Devers might be the top overall bat on this slate.
Stud
Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Oakland Athletics, $5,100 – There are few players in baseball who have hit LHPs as well as Marte in 2024. In 119 plate appearances within the split, the switch-hitter is managing a .315/.378/.694 slash line with a 193 wRC+. JP Sears ($5,600) isn’t exactly Randy Johnson, either, when it comes to lefties. Sears has allowed 15 earned runs over his last three starts, a span of time where he’s conceded more opponent home runs (4) than he’s recorded strikeouts (3). That’s a tough look.
Value
Michael Busch, Chicago Cubs at Milwaukee Brewers, $3,900 – I truly don’t understand how Colin Rea ($7,400) keeps surviving his starts. The man’s 5.34 xERA is nearly two full runs higher than his actual ERA. At some point, regression is going to hit. Rea is also surrendering 1.85 home runs per nine to opposing LHBs, which is where Busch comes into the picture. The 26-year-old is having a good rookie campaign, with nine home runs and a 126 wRC+ in 76 games.
Value
Blaze Alexander, Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Oakland Athletics, $3,200 – The Diamondbacks have been fantastic as a whole against LHPs this season, and while much of that is the aforementioned Marte, they have some nice secondary pieces to consider in your lineups. Allow me to sell you on Alexander. In his 77 plate appearances versus lefties in 2024, the rookie is batting .328 with a 158 wRC+. That’s probably why, in the team’s most recent contest where the opponent’s starter was left-handed, Alexander hit second in Arizona’s lineup. At just over $3K, he’s a steal.
OUTFIELD
Stud
Marcell Ozuna, Atlanta Braves vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, $6,000 – Ozuna is another imposing bat that tends to specialize in his supreme ability to hit left-handed pitching. In fact, in 98 plate appearances in 2024, Ozuna is batting .333 with a 162 wRC+ within the split. Tonight, he’ll face Martin Perez ($5,900), who will be making his first start since going on the IL back in May. Across his first 11 outings this season, Perez is sporting an ugly 5.70 xERA.
Stud
Jarren Duran, Boston Red Sox vs. San Diego Padres, $5,700 – The Red Sox have so many left-handed bats to throw at the aforementioned Vasquez and they’re all going to be good options. Still, Duran — along with Devers — definitely possesses the most upside. The outfielder has been on fire in June, slashing .371/.426/.608 with a 185 wRC+. Duran also has 20 stolen bases in 2024, so there’s a multitude of ways he can contribute.
Value
Cedric Mullins, Baltimore Orioles vs. Texas Rangers, $3,500 – It’s not the easiest matchup in the world with Max Scherzer ($9,100) on the mound for the Rangers, but Mullins is still far too inexpensive for his recent level of production. The former All-Star has been on fire throughout June, slashing .310/.347/.563 with a .254 ISO and a 157 wRC+. Plus, Scherzer only threw 57 pitches his last time out. It’s not like he’s in peak form.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $222K Bat Flip [$50K to 1st]
The Crown Is Yours: Sign up for DraftKings and experience the ultimate host for games and betting experiences!
All views expressed are my own. I am an employee of DraftKings and am ineligible to play in public DFS or DKSB contests.
