This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
A robust 11-game slate awaits Saturday night. It's a very top heavy lineup on the bump, giving cash players plenty of choices, where as GPPers will be seeking some secondary arms that can allow more balance.
Pitching
Gerrit Cole, NYY at BAL ($10,600): Casual opponent name value means he'll be a favorite, but current form suggests otherwise. Cole always has elite K upside (11.7 per nine), but he's allowed nine runs in his last two starts, including five home runs. He was worth 42 FanDuel points (FDP) in an earlier outing with the O's, but allowed three runs in that start. The floor still seems safe, but there's more volatility than the name suggests.
Lucas Giolito, CWS at KAN ($10,400): A slight savings to Cole, and the matchup seemingly presents better. The Royals fan 24.2 percent of the time and have only an 86 wRC+ against righties. Giolito has been worth 70-plus FDP in two of his last three and 40-plus in five of seven.
Max Fried, ATL vs. WAS ($8,900): Fried is going to be a popular pivot to top arms. He's failed to reach 30 FDP only twice in seven starts, but the Nats' are stout against lefties, posting a .375 wOBA, second in the league to date. Fried's lack of Ks are further concerning (8.6 per nine) as it relates to upside, but there's heavy win potential facing Erick Fedde.
Justus Sheffield, SEA vs. TEX ($8,000): This looks like a nice bounce-back spot for Sheffield, who's coming off of his worse start in four outings. He'll get a Rangers side that has a 51.9 percent ground ball rate, pairing well with Sheffield's career-low 45.6 percent rate. The Rangers also have a meager 70 wRC+ against lefties and a 24.9 percent K rate. He posted 40 FDP in an earlier meeting with the Rangers, and a 5x return here would make for a great GPP and cash option.
Top Targets
Trea Turner, WAS at ATL ($4,100): If we're not using Fried, we're absolutely building around Turner, who has raised his average to .370 prior to Friday's second double dip, on the heals of 20 hits in his last eight games, including two goose eggs. He's been that good, and can score points with speed, power and contact, and has even recently moved down into a run producing spot in the lineup.
Nelson Cruz, MIN vs. DET ($4,000): This is chalk city, but Cruz against lefties is a borderline must play. He's carrying an obscene .618 wOBA, 305 wRC+ .528 ISO and 60.0 percent HR/FB ration into Saturday. Rookie starter Tarik Skubal is allowing a whopping 4.3 HR/9 to righties, albeit in limited exposure.
Value Bats
Robinson Cano, NYM vs. PHI ($3,400): Cano's resurgence continues to be undervalued. He sits at a modest price at a nonpremium position and brings a ridiculously high .495 wOBA into Saturday's tilt against Spencer Howard, who allows a .485 wOBA to lefties in limited exposure.
Gary Sanchez, NYY at BAL ($3,000): Hidden behind Sanchez' woeful .130 average is a .426 wOBA, 175 wRC+ and .333 ISO against lefties. Not hidden is Sanchez' dominance of the Orioles, which will make him trendy. Keegan Akin's .425 wOBA allowed to righties sure won't turn anyone away.
Colin Moran, PIT vs. CIN ($3,000): The Pirates entire lineup is so limited, they won't be highly used. But Moran has a .380 wOBA and .299 ISO against righties, whiles Reds' starter Anthony DeSclafani is allowing a .415 wOBA and .975 OPS to opposite-handed arms. Limited upside, especially compared to Sanchez above, but a stable floor to round out lineups seems available.
Stacks to Consider
Braves vs. Erick Fedde: Ronald Acuna ($4,100), Marcell Ozuna ($3,800), Dansby Swanson ($3,300)
Fedde isn't throwing well, allowing 10 runs in his last 11 innings. Meanwhile, Acuna asserted himself back into the mix with three homers in Friday's doubleheader, and has a .437 wOBA and .323 ISO against same-handed arms. Ozuna hasn't homered since returning home, but still boasts a 50.7 percent hard hit rate, while Swanson has just a 9.5 percent soft contact rate against righties and is underpriced sandwiched between Acuna and Freddie Freeman.
White Sox vs. Kris Bubic: Tim Anderson ($3,600), Yasmani Grandal ($2,800), Edwin Encarnacion ($2,900)
Anderson is cooling, as his price reflects, but he still sports a .675 wOBA, 347 wRC+ and .676 ISO against lefties; ride him until it bottoms out. The rest of the Sox lineup seems interchangeable, so we'll target a few lesser used options. Grandal goes for a .392 wOBA and is easily replaced by James McCann ($2,900, .556 wOBA) if the lineup dictates. Meanwhile, Encarnacion is going to be largely overlooked and is finally starting to warm up, carrying a .357 ISO into this contest.
