This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
A loaded 14-game slate awaits Friday, kicking off at a traditional 7:05 p.m. EDT. We've got four arms priced in five-digit territory, so resource allocation will be paramount to your roster builds. There's no shortage of top bats to choose from either, but the deep slate should yield plenty of bargains if you're interested in splurging on the bump, as some big names are priced in the $3,500 range. Truth be told, these large slates aren't my favorite; just too many choices. As such, there will be some obvious omissions, so feel free to chime in with comments section with thoughts and questions.
Pitching
Jacob deGrom, NYM vs. WAS ($12,500): It's an exorbitant tag, but if I'm paying up, I'm going all the way up. deGrom has fanned 14 in each of his last two outings, having allowed only one run all season. The Nats don't fan often (21.4 percent), but they're posting a paltry .123 ISO, 79 wRC+ and .290 wOBA against righties, and are without star Juan Soto.
Steven Matz, TOR at TB ($9,500): I'm not in love with Matz, as his FDP average is largely thanks to three wins, something we can't chase. But Tampa has just a .160 ISO against lefties, fanning 28.8 percent of the time. We know they'll come with a righty-heavy lineup, and Matz has been tough on opposite-handed bats, allowing just a .189 wOBA and .384 OPS. He's going to come with very low usage buried amongst bigger names.
Sandy Alcantara, MIA at SF ($8,000): Alcantara has been a bit unlucky, as his modest 3.28 ERA comes with a 1.81 xERA thanks to a 2.56 FIP. He's fanning a personal best 10.22 per nine while the Giants are whiffing 28.8 percent of the time. The Giants garner a lot of their offense from long balls, but Alcantara is allowing only 0.36 HR/9. He was worth 28 FDP in his last outing with San Fran, so it won't take much more to get to 4x here, and he's already shown 5x upside twice in four starts.
Cole Irvin, OAK at BAL ($6,700): There are a host of lefties priced at the bottom of the pitching options that have some appeal in matchups against bad offenses. Irvin seems the safest, if we can use that term. He's got the best chance at run support and a win and the Orioles fan 28.9 percent against lefties. He's faced an Astros' lineup twice that rakes against lefties, and a Tigers lineup that is worst in the league against them. That outing resulted in a whopping 46 FDP, and a repeat would win a lot of GPPs when paired with a loaded lineup.
Top Targets
Bryce Harper, PHI at COL ($4,800): What great incite...the top priced arm and bat are both featured here! I'd be shocked if anyone can successfully fit Harper and deGrom into the same lineup, but it's impossible to ignore Harper's current form. Harper went 11-of-17 with two homers, six runs, five walks and four RBI in the Phillies five-game homestand. And he's going to Coors Field?
Trevor Story, COL vs. PHI ($4,100): Two straight targets in the altitude. The Rockies are favored, and this game has the highest total on the docket, so omitting a bat from this lineup against Vince Velasquez seems irresponsible. The problem is Velasquez has no targetable splits across the last three years, and the Rockies bats are cold. Story however seems to be warming, with five hits in his last four, and is overdue one over the fence. Matchup stats are admittedly meh, but odds seem favorable.
Matt Olson, OAK at BAL ($3,700): The A's are certainly stackable against Baltimore's Jorge Lopez, who's been pelted in two home starts, allowing 11 runs in 8.2 innings. Olson leads Oakland with a robust .495 wOBA, 231 wRC+, .381 ISO and 41.2 percent hard hit rate, while drastically cutting his strikeouts to 16.7 percent. He looks like more than a power chasing options thus far, but he's also launched five bombs in his last seven.
Value Bats
Ty France, SEA at BOS ($3,200): It's a small sample, but France has been the Mariners' best bat against lefties, entering Thursday with a .400 ISO, 40 percent hard hit rate, and .431 wOBA. He drove in two last night, having now hit safely in six of his last seven. Red Sox starter Martin Perez is allowing a .389 wOBA to righties at home to date.
Yuli Gurriel, HOU vs. LAA ($3,100): We normally go all in on Astros against lefties, but Angels' starter Andrew Heaney's been a bit unlucky to start the season, with his peripheral numbers better than his lead stats. As such, I'll target Gurriel as a piece rather than stacking. He's carrying a .515 wOBA, 245 wRC+ and .320 ISO into Friday. He cooled a bit last week while on the road, but collected nine hits in his last five home games, and had walked twice with an RBI as of submission Thursday.
Bryan Reynolds, PIT vs. MIN ($2,900): Reynolds looks like he's in the midst of a bounce back season, locking in as a .300 hitter again after a down 2020. The downside is he's unlikely to get three ABs against J.A. Happ, who hasn't gone five innings yet this year. But Reynolds owns a .561 wOBA, 255 wRC+, .333 ISO and 1.329 OPS against lefties in the early going.
Austin Riley, ATL vs. ARI ($2,200): D'Backs starter Luke Weaver hasn't allowed a run at home, but seven runs and four long balls on the road, with equal damage coming from both sides of the plate. Given the team's short turnaround after allowing 11 runs in extra innings Thursday, Weaver is either going to have a long leash, or the Braves will hack at a tired bullpen. But with Ronald Acuna uncertain, a stack isn't a slam dunk. Enter Riley at this bottom tier price. He's coming off of his first long ball of the season, and has quietly hit in three straight, scoring five times and walking in five of his last five. Two singles is 3x here.
Stacks to Consider
Red Sox vs. Yusei Kikuchi: J.D. Martinez ($4,400), Xander Bogaerts ($3,300), Enrique Hernandez ($3,000)
The Sox bats have cool some, which sets this up as an affordable stack in a favorable spot against a lefty. Bogaerts comes in with a cool .425 wOBA against southpaws, adding a 174 wRC+. Martinez and Hernandez aren't off to great starts, having better history against lefties than current form. Kikuchi meanwhile is allowing a .041 wOBA to same-handed hitters but a .374 to opposite bats. This game has the second-highest total on the docket, Kikuchi is a better arm than his adversary, yet the Red Sox remain favored. That doesn't add up.
Marlins vs. Alex Wood: Jazz Chisholm ($3,300), Adam Duval ($2,900), Miguel Rojas ($2,700)
Here's a value stack for Friday for GPPs, with this trio likely hitting 1-2-4 in the lineup. The Marlins as a whole have crushed lefties early. Rojas leads the way with a robust .565 wOBA and 261 wRC+, while Duval brings a .561 ISO long with a .476 wOBA and 204 wRC+. His appeal will largely depend on the direction of likely 15+ mph winds. Chisholm doesn't offer much for power yet, but his speed and .420 wOBA should allow some scoring chances. Alex Wood was sharp in his debut, but is a guy who had a FIP of 5.00 or higher in each of the last two years.
