This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
It's back to a regular slate Friday night with a slew of stud pitching options up for grabs. That means if you opt to save money at pitcher, you can't screw it up. There's some rain expected in Pittsburgh and Texas, but earlier in the day it looked like both games would be played, though I'm not a meteorologist.
PITCHING
This could be a fairly underrated pitching slate because a lot of people will automatically lock in Clayton Kershaw ($11,300). That's not a bad idea since he racked up 52 fantasy points last start and gets an even better matchup with the Padres, but there are still cheaper, viable options.
Tyler Glasnow ($10,500) and Matthew Boyd ($10,400) are next on the list and have already shown they can put up big numbers. Glasnow struck out nine Red Sox last outing and shouldn't have any trouble going at least six against the Orioles, who have a .306 wOBA against righties. Boyd has had similar success, reaching 31 fantasy points in every start. The Royals shouldn't change that with their .150 ISO and .286 wOBA against southpaws.
You can't go wrong with the top arms and as expected, it's a little less certain if you want to save money. Kevin Gausman ($8,100) will get some looks because he faces the Marlins, though he's given up 10 runs in his last two starts. I prefer Jerad Eickhoff ($8,600), who has coasted in his first few outings with a 30.8 K% and 2.12 ERA. The Nationals have had their moments, but a 25.4 K% against righty arms should help Eickhoff.
If you're looking to really stretch your money, Jorge Lopez ($7,200) is the most reasonable value pick. He won't get more than 40 points, but 30 is on the table against the Tigers, who have a poor 26.9 K% and .139 ISO against righty hurlers. Lopez only struck out three in Detroit a month ago, but he could easily double that number. Sonny Gray ($8,000) faces the Giants and while he isn't going deep into games, that may not matter in this matchup.
KEY VALUES/CHALK
With two questionable arms at Coors Field, a lot of rosters will focus on those teams. The Diamondbacks are the first place to look since they're cheaper and Tyler Anderson has given up 21 runs in his first four starts. Nick Ahmed ($3,500) could be chalk for the value options since he leads Arizona's regulars with a .481 BABIP against lefties. If you prefer power, Eduardo Escobar ($4,700) has roasted lefty arms with eight extra-base hits and a .469 BABIP in 46 plate appearances. There isn't much money to save on the Rockies, though Ian Desmond ($3,400) comes fairly cheap due to his shaky start.
Kyle Gibson's price is up, but carving through the Orioles in back-to-back outings doesn't say much after he allowed 12 runs in his first three starts. He's still had trouble against lefty bats and that's where Brett Gardner ($3,200) and Mike Tauchman ($2,800) will benefit even if they're struggling. I'm always willing to save a few bucks to go against Gibson.
I talked up Jorge Lopez earlier, but the Tigers are home for the first time in a couple weeks so that should at least get their hopes up. Niko Goodrum ($3,100) provides decent pop for the price after last year's .215 ISO against righties and almost everyone can be considered a value play. Ronny Rodriguez ($2,900) has been a mini-spark for the Tigers, reaching base in nine of his 10 games played. If you take that route, Jeimer Candelario ($2,700) and Miguel Cabrera ($2,600) are also cheap. I'm not recommending the Tigers as a stack, but it's a perfect GPP play since no one else will do it.
I'd also be willing to test my luck against Dan Straily, who has had a weird start to the season and was blasted by lefties for a .360 wOBA last year. That brings Ji-Man Choi ($2,900) and Kevin Kiermaier ($2,900) into my crosshairs, but also rookie Nate Lowe ($2,400) if he starts.
With so many cheap options, it should allow people to continue to benefit from Cody Bellinger ($5,100), who isn't slowing down. He's been worse against southpaws, but worse means six extra-base hits (4 HR) in 42 at-bats. If he costs too much, Joey Gallo ($4,500) could be the chalk power play with a homer in each of his last three games and I'm not sure Trent Thornton can slow him down.
STACKS
Rangers vs. Trent Thornton (Blue Jays)
(OF Shin-Soo Choo - $4,000), (SS Elvis Andrus - $4,200), (OF Joey Gallo - $4,500), (3B Asdrubal Cabrera - $2,900)
Thornton still doesn't have a quality start and has given up 14 runs in his last four. He's struggled most with lefties and the Rangers lineup won't help with their league-leading .359 wOBA against righty arms. All of these guys provide a bit of power, but Choo and Andrus are the best at getting on base, while Danny Santana ($4,000) is another piece to add to the mix if he makes the lineup. Even if you don't stack the Rangers, you'll need at least one of their bats since this game could get ugly. Thornton has already given up 10 extra-base hits (4 HR) to 60 lefties faced.
Diamondbacks vs. Tyler Anderson (Rockies)
(OF Adam Jones - $4,000), (OF Ketel Marte - $4,500), (3B Eduardo Escobar - $4,700), (SS Nick Ahmed - $3,500)
I don't usually write about stacks at Coors Field because there's little value, but it's hard to ignore Tyler Anderson's early numbers. It doesn't help that he had a .355 wOBA allowed to lefty bats in 2018 and .358 wOBA allowed to righty bats in 2017. All of their prices are juiced, which makes things a little more difficult, but Ahmed is cheaper and a reasonable idea if you can fit him in with Escobar.
Phillies vs. Jeremy Hellickson (Nationals)
(SS Jean Segura - $3,800), (1B Rhys Hoskins - $4,600), (C J.T. Realmuto - $3,400)
Getting shelled at Colorado could've been ignored, but Hellickson has given up 11 hits and seven runs in his last two home starts in only 8.2 innings. He had a decent 2018, but has seemed to revert to 2017 levels when he gave up 2.01 HR/9 to lefties and 1.84 HR/9 to righties. I'm fine passing on Bryce Harper ($4,800) since he isn't worth the money, but the same doesn't go for Hoskins, who has an early .361 ISO against righty hurlers. Segura and Realmuto don't have the same power, but they lead the regular starters in terms of BABIP against righties, and give a nice balance to this stack in addition to being cheaper.
