This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
The National League gets our two-game slate going at 6:05 p.m. EDT as Atlanta looks to go up 2-0 on the Dodgers, followed by the American League clash as the Astros try to make a series of it against the Rays.
Pitching
Clayton Kershaw, LAD vs. ATL ($10,000): We know Kershaw's history of postseason failure, or simply lack of results, but he's been pretty good in two starts this year, fanning 19 while allowing three runs and nine hits across 14 innings. We know what we're getting from this Atlanta offense at this point... lots of Ks and the potential to hit balls over the fence. They fanned 27.8 percent of the time against lefties, seemingly setting Kershaw up for success.
Ian Anderson, ATL vs. LAD ($9,400): It's hard to doubt Anderson given his current form. He hasn't allowed a run in three starts, two in the postseason, spanning 17.1 frames, fanning 23. The Dodges don't fan often, just 20.2 percent of the time, but Braves pitching earned 11 Ks Monday, so Anderson could play up here. It's certainly as difficult a matchup as the young righty has faced, but he's passed every test thus far.
Jose Urquidy, HOU vs. TAM ($7,700): We know the Astros are desperate and need a solid outing from Urquidy. He wasn't good in his last outing but allowed two runs or fewer in all five of his September starts. The Rays are the one remaining offense that doesn't seem combustible, and paired with a 26.3 percent K-rate, there seems to be a stable floor with a decent ceiling for Urquidy.
Ryan Yarbrough, TAM vs. HOU ($7,000): Yarbrough has minimal to no appeal, which is why I assume he'll feature in plenty of GPP lineups to allow for free spending on bats. He has virtually no swing and miss upside, generating only three swinging strikes in his last outing, and the Astros fanned only 19.7 percent of the time against lefties. But he did make it through five frames against the Yankees, something he's done in five of his last seven appearances, and could eat up enough frames to provide a solid return.
Top Targets
Marcell Ozuna, ATL vs. LAD ($4,000): Ozuna wore out lefties during the regular season to the tune of a .527 wOBA, 234 wRC+, .511 ISO, 50 percent hard-hit rate and only a 2.9 percent soft-hit rate. I don't think I'm fully in on Atlanta tonight, but those numbers are difficult to look past.
Alex Bregman, HOU vs. TAM ($3,800): Targeting Astros against Yarbrough is probably going to be popular, and a wise cash game strategy, but I'd look to differentiate a bit in GPPs. Bregman looks like he can be an anchor and is priced favorably for the matchup, coming in with six hits in his last three games. He led the Astros during the regular season with a .408 wOBA and 166 wRC+.
Value Bats
Ozzie Albies, ATL vs. LAD ($3,800): The salary isn't ideal, but Albies is always a target when he gets to hit from the right side, even if it's against Kershaw. He connected for a long ball Monday in this spot, and while it didn't play out during the regular season largely due to a wrist injury, Albies posted a .451 wOBA and .295 ISO against lefties in 2019.
Yuli Gurriel / Martin Maldonado, HOU vs. TAM ($2,700): I'm lumping these two together, as both are the same salary and have nearly identical appeal. Neither is hitting much if at all during the postseason, but both faired well during the regular season against lefties. Maldonado's .387 wOBA bettered Gurriel's .366, but the latter had more power, boasting a .274 ISO compared to Maldonado's .186.
Manuel Margot, TAM vs. HOU ($2,600): Targeting Rays bats is a challenge, because none are spectacular and their lineup is always in flux. The target here is Urquidy against same-handed bats, as they've been his Achilles heel over two shortened big-league seasons. Margot has already hit more homers (two) in the postseason than he did in the regular season (one), so we can go with that potential here. Hunter Renfroe ($2,700) is equally feast or famine, but more likely to run into one if he's in the lineup.
Will Smith, LAD vs. ATL ($2,900): I'll have more on the Dodgers below, but Smith has standalone appeal given the minimal cost. He simply dominated right handed pitching during the regular season to the tune of a .427 wOBA, .350 ISO and 174 wRC+. That's hard to come by in this price range.
Stack to Consider
Dodgers vs. Anderson: Mookie Betts ($4,300), Corey Seager ($3,900), Justin Turner ($3,000)
It can't be overstated how well the Dodgers fared all year against righties. Betts leads the way with a .438 wOBA and .354 ISO, and probably deserves to live in the Top Targets section above. He's a great cash lineup anchor. Seager and Turner both collected hits Monday and sported a .416 and .397 wOBA, respectively, during the regular season. It's too early to call this a must-win game, but I'm expecting the Dodgers offense to fire back today.
