This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
Wednesday's 10-game main slate is a bit top-heavy in the pitching department, but we can still find three quality arms to choose from, including a big-armed prospect priced under $7,000. The upshot of this is that we can find some nice bats to plug into our lineups, including two very attractive looking stacks.
Pitching
Walker Buehler, LAD vs. ARI ($10,200): Buehler is making his return from the injured list in his start against the D-Backs on Wednesday, but he was only dealing with a blister, which should allay fears that he will be affected by the short layoff. Buehler's 4.32 ERA this season is a bit high for someone in this price range, but I'm focused on his fastball (7.8 RAA) due to the fact that Arizona holds the second-lowest RAA against the pitch in the league this year.
Kyle Hendricks, CHC at PIT ($8,700) :The Pirates remain the worst team in the league against right-handers according to wOBA (.251) so we should feel fortunate whenever we can roster a quality pitcher against them at a reasonable price. Hendricks will have at least one other big advantage Wednesday, as he will take his 46 percent groundball rate into a matchup against a club that has hit grounders at the third-highest clip this year.
Triston McKenzie, CLE at KC ($6,700): McKenzie announced his presence with authority by notching 10 strikeouts in his major league debut against the Tigers last month, and while he struggled in his sophomore effort, the 23-year-old is still worth a strong look against the Royals at this price. McKenzie kept a strikeout rate just short of 30 percent in his minor league career and has backed that up with a 34 percent rate in his two starts at this level. The Royals, who hold the fourth-lowest wOBA against right-handed pitching, fall just outside the top-10 in strikeouts against righties (24 percent).
Top Hitters
Nelson Cruz, MIN vs. CWS ($6,100): We've often spoken of Cruz in terms of his numbers against left-handed pitching, but he has brought plenty of power against righties, as we can see from the .275 ISO he has logged in 91 at-bats. Meanwhile, Reynaldo Lopez has been hit hard by same-handed opposition in 2020, allowing a .625 slugging percentage in four innings (18 batters faced).
Fernando Tatis SD at LAA ($5,200): All things considered, this is actually a nice price for Tatis, who has logged a .368 ISO and .457 wOBA in 114 at-bats against right-handed pitching. It should be all aboard against Julio Teheran as he makes his return to the rotation after keeping a 9.17 ERA in his first five appearances (four starts) this year.
Yuli Gurriel, HOU vs. TEX ($5,000): Gurriel should be near the top of our player pools whenever a mediocre lefty takes the hill due to the .406 ISO and .517 wOBA he has logged against his opposite hand in 32 at-bats. Kolby Allard has done well to limit damage against right-handed hitters to this point, but the 6.47 xFIP he owns in 13.1 frames tells us that major regression is coming.
Best Values
Marcell Ozuna, ATL at BOS ($4,300): Ozuna has had a representative season against right-handers in 2020 but has really shined versus southpaws, against whom he has logged a .630(!) ISO in 27 at-bats. Meanwhile, Michael Kickham logged an ERA north of 4.00 in 835 minor league innings and hasn't thrown the ball at this level since 2014.
Willy Adames, TB at NYY ($3,900): Adames may not be the first name that comes to mind when foregrounding hitters, but DFS players owe it to themselves to give him serious consideration, as he has tallied a .433 wOBA against lefty pitchers in 31 at-bats. Jordan Montgomery has thrown the ball well overall this year but has still allowed a .471 slugging percentage against righty hitters in 17 innings.
Bobby Dalbec, BOS vs ATL ($2,500): We can go way down into the basement to roster the prospect, who finished his minor league career with a .362 wOBA and .505 slugging percentage. Robbie Erlin hasn't fared well against either side of the platoon, but we have a bit more of a sample size against righty bats, against whom he has allowed a .529 slugging percentage in 13.1 frames.
Stacks to Consider
Padres against Julio Teheran: Fernando Tatis Jr. ($5,200) Eric Hosmer ($4,200) Jake Cronenworth ($3,800)
This eminently affordable stack should be considered a gift from the DFS gods against Teheran, who has allowed a stunning .839 slugging percentage against lefty bats in 8.1 frames. This opens the door for basically any left-handed hitter, but Cronenworth is the real prize at his price due to the .342 ISO and .454 wOBA he has logged in 76 at-bats against right-handers.
Twins against Reynaldo Lopez: Nelson Cruz ($6,100) Max Kepler ($4,200) Eddie Rosario ($4,000)
Cruz's price is a bit of an eyesore in this stack, but all three players have an opportunity to put up big points against Lopez, who has kept a 9.00 ERA in his three starts. Both Kepler and Rosario bring good power at their respective prices, as they have logged ISOs over .250 against righty pitching.
