This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Since it's 2021, we have to be Covid-19 aware. The fact is, games are going to get canceled/postponed. Just be cognizant of that and try to be at a computer right up to the first pitch. There's a 10-game slate for Wednesday night, just watch the news particularly about the Yankees/Rays game.
Pitching
Gerrit Cole, NYY vs. TB ($12,000): There are few pitchers with 60-plus fantasy point upside, but Cole is one of them. He's gone over the 60-point mark in three of his seven starts this season and the Rays are not an offense to be afraid of. Use him in cash and look for bargains with the bats to build a lineup around him, but don't hesitate to pivot off him in GPPs.
Casey Mize, DET vs. KC ($6,800): I still believe in Mize's pedigree, and while the walks are alarming, he's more or less learning as he goes. Kansas City is in the middle of the pack for both wOBA (.308) and strikeout rate (23.8 percent) against right-handed pitching. In other words, this isn't a lineup to be worried about.
Top Targets
Jose Abreu, CHW vs. MIN ($3,900): Abreu has been meh to start the season but he's facing a lefty and he's at home. Abreu has a career .387 wOBA against left-handed pitching and will get J.A. Happ tonight. That's a very favorable matchup for Jose. His salary coupled with a slow start should make him an unpopular pick, so take advantage in both cash and tournament contests.
Jared Walsh, LAA at HOU ($3,600): If you grabbed Walsh in redraft leagues or have been using him in DFS, my hat tips towards you. He's hitting .347 with seven home runs and has entrenched himself has the cleanup hitter for the Angels. Will he let Mike Trout run the bases ahead of him? One can only hope. Good for Walsh on his success this season, and while I love Jose Urquidy I'll bank on Walsh here.
Value Bats
Eduardo Escobar, ARI vs. MIA ($2,700): Escobar has duel eligibility at 2B/3B, making him an even more attractive option. He should be in the cleanup spot and a home matchup against the Marlins is a good spot to be in. While it's a small sample, Escobar has a .352 wOBA at home this season.
Kyle Schwarber, WAS vs. PHI ($2,700): Here's another player who should be hitting cleanup and has multi-home run potential on any given day. Zack Wheeler isn't the best matchup but Schwarber is at home and in a good RBI spot. Wheeler has unsurprisingly struggled more on the road than at home this season.
Stacks To Consider
NY Yankees vs. Collin McHugh: Giancarlo Stanton ($3,700), Aaron Judge ($3,300), DJ LeMahieu ($3,800), Luke Voit ($3,000)
Voit and Judge could have easily ended up in the Value Bats section given their salaries. This is going to be a bullpen game for the Rays, as McHugh won't likely pitch more than two or three innings. There aren't many games tonight with a healthy over/under total but the Yankees are heavy favorite with Cole on the mound and should put up four or five runs.
Atlanta vs. Hyun Jin Ryu: Ronald Acuna ($4,000), Freddie Freeman ($3,800), Marcell Ozuna ($3,300), Ozzie Albies ($3,200)
"Frederick, Frederick!" If you haven't seen the video of Anthony Rizzo chasing down Freddie Freeman, you need to look it up. It's never a bad idea to put Freeman and Acuna into a lineup given the amount of upside both have. Ryu has hit a rough patch, allowing eight earned runs over his last three starts (13.2 innings). Ozuna has a .359 wOBA for his career vs. southpaws while Albies sits at a lofty .392 mark.
