FantasyDraft, the only site offering 100% rake-free contests, allows for a lot more freedom when it comes to MLB lineup construction. Two pitchers, three infielders, three outfielders, and two utility players makes building your lineups a lot of fun.
Wednesday will be an interesting day for roster construction on the eight-game evening slate. While the slate itself sets up a little bit unusual with limited pitching options that offer us confidence in a strong performance, it also has the added intrigue with the MLB Trade Deadline. So, be sure you are paying extra close attention to the news and starting lineups throughout the day.
As always, be sure to pay close attention to the lineups when they are released and monitor the weather leading up to game time. For reference throughout the season, be sure to bookmark our overview of MLB Park Factors and how to Use Weather to Your Advantage in MLB DFS.
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Pitchers
Jacob deGrom (NYM): $23,100 @ CWS
Using a pair of high-priced pitchers on FantasyDraft is not an uncommon way to build a lineup. On this slate, that is the route I’m recommending. The cheaper options are not very impressive while the top two high-priced aces both have sensational matchups to exploit. Jacob deGrom will face a White Sox team that has a league-low .264 wOBA and 63 wRC+ versus right-handed pitching over the last 30 days. They have also struck out at a 28.4% clip (second) during that timeframe. Meanwhile, deGrom has been rolling with no runs allowed over 14 innings in his last two starts while striking out 19 hitters.
Jose Berrios (MIN): $20,700 @ MIA
The second ace to roster is Berrios pitching against the lowly Marlins. The Marlins haven’t been quite as bad as the White Sox against righties over the last month, but it is close. They have a .265 wOBA (29th), 65 wRC+ (29th), and a 26.7% strikeout rate (fourth). I typically only roster Berrios when he is pitching at home due to his consistent home/road splits, but this matchup is too juicy to pass up. Double down on a pair of aces!
Other Notables
- Mike Minor (TEX): $19,800 vs. SEA
- Jose Urquidy (HOU): $13,500 @ CLE
- Jordan Lyles (MIL): $12,100 @ OAK
Hitters
Brandon Belt (IF/OF – SF): $7,700 @ PHI
Belt comes into Wednesday night with a reasonable price tag and positional flexibility for his matchup against righty Vince Velasquez on the road in Philadelphia. Velasquez has surrendered a .413 wOBA to lefties at home this season, including five home runs in just over 21 innings. Belt went deep in a pinch-hit appearance on Tuesday and has a .388 wOBA and .254 ISO on the road versus righties this season.
Michael Conforto (OF – NYM): $7,200 @ CWS
Conforto is on a tear at the plate with a home run in three straight games. He has produced a .387 wOBA and .266 ISO for the season against right-handed pitchers and gets a favorable park adjustment playing against the White Sox in Chicago. He’ll face righty Lucas Giolito who has had a breakout campaign for the White Sox but struggled mightily in his last outing serving up four homers while giving up seven runs to the Twins. It still isn’t an ideal matchup for Conforto, but if you’re playing the streaks, he comes with a very reasonable salary.
Khris Davis (OF – OAK): $6,800 vs. MIL
Davis may be starting to heat up at the plate after his three-hit performance — including a homer — against the Brewers on Tuesday night. He’ll face his former team again on Wednesday as the Brewers’ newly acquired right-hander Jordan Lyles makes the start. Lyles has been bad recently, allowing five or more earned runs in three of his last four starts. He has allowed 1.59 HR/9 to right-handed hitters this season. Davis has been better versus lefties than righties this season but has handled righties well over his career including a .374 wOBA and .315 ISO last year.
Jesus Aguilar (IF – MIL): $5,800 @ OAK
Aguilar should find his way into the Brewers’ lineup on Wednesday night with a lefty on the hill for the Athletics and the DH spot in play at the American League park. Aguilar hasn’t been able to reproduce his breakout season from a year ago, but he has posted a .340 wOBA on the road against southpaws this season. In order to fit in a pair of aces, you’ll need to find a value option or two with upside. Aguilar fits that description.
Other Notables
- Bryce Harper (OF – PHI): $8,400 vs. SF
- Matt Olson (IF – OAK): $8,300 vs. MIL
- Ryan Braun (OF – MIL): $8,300 @ OAK
- Kyle Schwarber (OF – CHC): $8,200 @ STL
- Matt Chapman (IF – OAK): $8,000 vs. MIL
- Lorenzo Cain (OF – MIL): $7,600 @ OAK
- Ji-Man Choi (IF – TB): $7,200 @ BOS
- Tyler O’Neill (OF – STL): $6,500 vs. CHC
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Brad Richter is a Featured Writer and correspondent at FantasyPros and a contributor at DailyOverlay. For more from Brad, you can view his archive or follow him @RotoPilot.