This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Both circuits' are on tap Monday, with the American League getting going first at 4:07 p.m. ET.
Pitching
Walker Buehler, LAD vs. ATL ($9,600): Buehler is a sneaky play as the top-priced option. He's quietly put up 30-plus FanDuel points (FDP) in three straight despite not going more than four frames. That gives better than 3x value, and while the Braves lead the league with a .363 wOBA against righties, they also fan 23.6 percent of the time.
Max Fried, ATL vs. LAD ($8,800): Fried has looked human of late, with all three of the long balls he's allowed this year coming across his last three starts. He's not a big strikeout guy, fanning just 8.0 per nine, which has slightly fallen to 7.4 in two postseason starts. Mix in the Dodgers meager 20.7 percent fan rate and .335 wOBA against lefties, the eighth-highest mark, and it's hard to see a path to value.
Lance McCullers, HOU vs. TAM (unlisted): It appears McCullers will get the call Monday, though he's not yet listed by FanDuel. He'll be an upside, as the Rays' 26.3 percent strikeout rate against righties pairs well with McCullers' 11.3 K/9 rate. He allowed three homers in his first postseason start, a rarity after surrendering 0.82/9 during the regular season, when he averaged a 59.2 percent ground ball rate.
Charlie Morton, TAM vs. HOU (unlisted): Morton could profile as the safest choice Monday. The Astros don't strike out often, just 19.8 percent of the time against righties, but Morton hasn't allowed more than three runs in any start since July 24 and figures to be a safe bet for five innings and roughly that amount of Ks, giving him a stable floor.
Top Targets
Freddie Freeman, ATL vs. LAD ($4,200): Freeman labored early but warmed late in the NLDS, finishing the series with two hits, two runs and two walks. That last tally is key, as Freeman's ability to get on base allows him to establish a stable floor even without squared contact. Mix in a .499 wOBA and .360 ISO against righties, and there is upside to go with stability.
Mookie Betts, LAD vs. ATL ($4,300): Betts figures to be a polarizing option on this slate. On one hand, he's incredibly hot during the postseason, hitting safely in every game, owning a 9.2 FDP floor, collecting seven hits (five doubles) and six runs. On the other side, he hasn't homered since September 18 and has struggled all season against lefties. All of his long balls have come off of same-handed pitching, and he posted a paltry .248 wOBA, 56 wRC+ and .018 ISO against southpaws.
Value Bats
Randy Arozarena, TAM vs. HOU ($3,300): Arozarena did it again Sunday, homering for the fourth time in the postseason, and striking out in his three other plate appearances. He's all or nothing, but facing a pitcher who allowed three homers in his last start, there's decent odds his surge continues.
Travis d'Arnaud, ATL vs. LAD ($3,100): This is a lazy pick, but I'm not doing my job if I omit d'Arnaud from this column after he launched two bombs and drove in seven in three games against the Marlins. Mix in that he had a .433 wOBA and 172 wRC+ against righties, and d'Arnaud is almost too obvious a target.
A.J. Pollock, LAD vs. ATL ($2,900): Given Fried's form, the Dodgers look stackable, but for GPPs, we may want to get lesser pieces to have a share, and go heavy elsewhere. Enter Pollock, who has four hits in five postseason games, scoring at the same rate. He led the Dodgers with a .468 wOBA against lefties during the regular season.
Will Smith, LAD vs. ATL ($2,900): See above for the lineup appeal against Fried. Smith isn't far behind Pollack with a .370 wOBA against lefties. Maybe you pair these two with a top bat like Cody Bellinger ($4,000), but again, perhaps that's too obvious and GPPers need to differentiate.
Stack To Consider:
Astros vs. Charlie Morton: George Springer ($4,200), Michael Brantley ($3,000), Kyle Tucker ($3,600)
There aren't a ton of plus matchups to target on this slate, and while Morton has been decent throughout the year, he's also been unspectacular. We'll pair the Astros' top bat with a few lefties in hopes of success. Brantley led the team with a .398 wOBA against opposite-handed arms during the regular season, followed closely by Springer (.392) and Tucker (.375), and the latter two bring the power upside, with ISOs at .277 and .257, respectively.
