This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
Quality pitching overflows at the high and mid-ranges of Wednesday's 10-game main slate, which will give players the opportunity to roster two solid options. On the hitting side, two pitchers with ERAs in the stratosphere should make for fantastic stacking opportunities.
Pitching
Sonny Gray, CIN at MIL ($8,800): A few marquee names top the slate Wednesday, which may explain why we can roster Gray at below $9,000 despite the fact that he carries a 35 percent strikeout rate and a 2.21 ERA in six starts this season. The Brewers will certainly be up against it in this matchup due to the fact that they carry the second-lowest wOBA (.273) and third-highest strikeout rate (27 percent) against righty pitching this season.
Dinelson Lamet, SD vs. SEA ($8,600): Lamet continues to be priced well below what one might expect for a pitcher with a 1.89 ERA and a 34 percent strikeout rate in six starts this year. The Mariners have logged a bottom-10 wOBA against righty hurlers in 2020, and hold the second-lowest RAA in the league against the fastball. Meanwhile, Lamet has logged a 5.4 RAA with his heater, placing him just outside the top-10 in that category.
Top Hitters
Anthony Rizzo, CHC at DET ($5,300): Michael Fulmer has been nothing short of Abysmal in 2020, posting a 9.53 ERA in 11.1 innings (four starts). A disproportionate amount of this damage has come against righty bats, but the 5.42 xFIP he has logged against left-handed hitters over that span lets us know that hitters like Rizzo aren't far behind. For his part, the 31-year-old has logged a .254 ISO and .372 wOBA against right-handers in 67 at-bats.
Trevor Story, COL at ARI ($5,300): Robbie Ray is an electric pitcher who doesn't seem to have found the juice this season. He enters Wednesday's contest against the Rockies having allowed a .653 slugging percentage and a 3.3 HR/9 rate against righty hitters in 19.1 frames this year. That's bad news against a hitter like Story, who has tallied a tremendous .375 ISO against his opposite hand in 32 at-bats.
Paul Goldschmidt, STL vs. KC ($4,700): It may be due to the fact that the team had to pause its season as the result of a Covid-19 outbreak, but it doesn't feel like Goldschmidt is getting properly recognized for his offensive output in 2020. The veteran has logged a .224 ISO with a robust .477 wOBA in 49 at-bats against righty pitching. Jakob Junis only made two starts before hitting the injured list with a back injury but logged a 7.34 xFIP against right-handed hitters, walking more batters than he struck out over that span.
Best Values
Niko Goodrum, DET vs. CHC ($4,200): Goodrum has struggled overall this season but should garner strong consideration whenever he is facing a mediocre lefty pitcher due to the .476 ISO and .501 wOBA he has logged against southpaws in 21 at-bats. Jon Lester fits this description thanks to the .526 slugging percentage he has allowed to right-handed hitters in 22.2 frames.
Kole Calhoun, ARI vs. COL ($3,900): Calhoun's .228 batting average should keep his price depressed for a little while longer, which allows us to take advantage of the monstrous .345 ISO he has logged against righty pitchers in 81 at-bats. Jon Gray has walked more batters than he has struck out on the road this year and will enter the contest having allowed a .506 slugging percentage against lefty bats.
Jake Cronenworth, SD vs. SEA ($3,800): Cronenworth is a legitimate Rookie of the Year candidate this season, having notched a .333 ISO and .455 wOBA in 60 at-bats against right-handed pitchers. Taijuan Walker's 2020 season has been bookmarked thus far by strong outings, but it's impossible to ignore the .600 slugging percentage he has allowed against lefty hitters in 10.2 innings.
Stacks to Consider
Cubs against Michael Fulmer: Anthony Rizzo, ($5,200) Javier Baez, ($4,900) Ian Happ, ($4,300)
It's unfortunate that the Cubs can't field enough right-handed bats to really expose Fulmer and the 1.190 slugging percentage he has allowed over four innings (22 batters faced), but it wouldn't be the worst idea to smuggle a few cheap righties in — even those who haven't necessarily performed well to this point in the season. As for lefties, Happ is a real find at this price, as he has tallied a .373 ISO and .448 wOBA in 59 at-bats against right-handed pitching.
Rockies against Robbie Ray: Trevor Story, ($5,300) Nolan Arenado, ($4,900) Matt Kemp ($2,700)
Ray is averaging just 8.6 DraftKings points per game in his six starts this season and has walked a stunning 21 righty hitters over 19.1 innings. This should allow us to sneak in cheap bats like Kemp, as well as find space for Arenado, who is off to a slow start in 2020 but still holds a 47 percent hard contact rate against lefty arms.
