Friday nights are lovely for daily baseball because it’s always a big slate. So, tonight isn’t any exception, with 13 games on the main slate at DraftKings and FanDuel. But, of course, the beauty of a large slate is a deep player pool. So, below, I highlight my top picks for all game types.
Friday's Starting Pitcher Strategy
I suggest paying for the top hurlers in cash games. However, two righties with a bit riskier profile are attractive GPP picks. Thankfully, their upside makes the risk worth taking.
Friday nights are lovely for daily baseball because it’s always a big slate. So, tonight isn’t any exception, with 13 games on the main slate at DraftKings and FanDuel. But, of course, the beauty of a large slate is a deep player pool. So, below, I highlight my top picks for all game types.
Friday's Starting Pitcher Strategy
I suggest paying for the top hurlers in cash games. However, two righties with a bit riskier profile are attractive GPP picks. Thankfully, their upside makes the risk worth taking.
Cash Game Recommendations:
Nestor Cortes (NYY) at KC
Cortes is a safe pick in a cushy matchup. He's on fire out of the gate, an extension from last year's brilliant showing after moving from the bullpen to the rotation. According to FanGraphs, in 17 starts spanning 89.0 innings since last year, the lefty has had a 2.73 ERA, 3.60 SIERA, 0.99 WHIP, 5.7 BB%, 28.5 K%, and 26.7 CSW%.
Finally, the matchup is good no matter how you slice it. The Royals are 28th in wRC+ (62) against lefties in 2022. Moreover, save for Salvador Perez, Kansas City's hitters have been awful against lefties since 2020. As a result, I'll slot Cortes into cash game rosters with confidence and comfort.
Alex Wood (SF) vs.WSH
Wood has a few more tricky spots in Washington's lineup to navigate than Cortes. Nevertheless, Washington has a top-heavy offense against southpaws, with Nelson Cruz and Juan Soto the only established elite hitters against them. Additionally, they've struggled mightily with lefties in 2022, ranking 27th in wRC+(71) with a pathetic ISO (.066).
Wood isn't just a matchup-driven suggestion, though. In three starts totaling 14.1 innings, he has had a 2.51 ERA, 3.04 SIERA, 1.19 WHIP, 6.7 BB%, 26.7 K%, and 32.8 CSW%. In his previous start, the veteran lefty also held the Nationals to two runs on four hits, one walk, and five strikeouts in 5.0 innings. So again, I'm embracing the floor at pitcher in cash games by suggesting Wood.
GPP Recommendations:
Dylan Bundy (MIN) at TB
Bundy probably rightfully has detractors and skeptics after getting rocked for a 6.06 ERA in 90.2 innings in 2021. Still, he was fantastic in 2020 after a change of scenery. Could history repeat itself after signing with the Twins after his disastrous finish with the Angels? Maybe!
He has had a 0.59 ERA, 1.65 xERA, 0.72 WHIP, 1.7 BB%, 20.7 K%, and 30.0 CSW% through three starts totaling 15.1 innings. Bundy has turned back the clock to a recipe for success in 2020, throwing his below-average fastball under 50% of the time. His career-best 2020 is the only time other than so far this year that Bundy has thrown fastballs less than half the time.
Finally, I'm chasing the strikeout potential the Rays provide Bundy tonight. Tampa Bay has had the third-highest strikeout rate (26.4 K%) against right-handed pitchers in 2022.
Noah Syndergaard (LAA) at CWS
Sadly, Syndergaard had been limited to 2.0 innings pitched in the majors from 2020 through 2021. Thor had Tommy John surgery in 2020 and missed almost all of 2021 rehabbing and suffering setbacks in his recovery. Thankfully, he's been healthy and sharp to start this year for his new club.
Syndergaard has had a 2.12 ERA with a nearly identical 2.13 xERA in three starts lasting 17.0 innings. Sadly, he's struck out just 16.4% of the hitters he's faced. However, Thor's 13.0 SwStr% and 29.3 CSW% are harbingers of more strikeout potential. Therefore, I'm backing Syndergaard against the White Sox. In addition, the White Sox have been ice cold against righties, ranking 29th in wRC+ (73).
Top Lineup Stacks
The Cardinals have been world-beaters against lefties in 2022. They lead MLB in wRC+ (150) and ISO (.248). Their dominant offense against lefties is positioned favorably against a lucky lefty tonight. Have no fear. Madison Bumgarner's 1.00 ERA has been fortunate, evidenced by his 5.06 SIERA.
- Road (Kauffman Stadium)
- Value: Low
- Risk: Low
- Game Type: Both
- Game Total/Moneyline: 8.0 Runs/NYY -200
The Yankees erupted for 10 runs yesterday. That's terrible news for the struggling Kris Bubic. The 24-year-old southpaw has had a wretched 14.14 ERA in three starts lasting only 7.0 innings. Yikes. In addition, he's allowed 1.49 HR/9 in 187.0 innings in his big-league career. The Yankees should rough him up tonight.
- Road (Tropicana Field)
- Value: Medium
- Risk: High
- Game Type: GPPs
- Game Total/Moneyline: 7.5 Runs/MIN +115
The betting info above might throw gamers off the scent of the Twins, despite their seven-run showing yesterday. Minnesota has had a 105 wRC+ against righties this year, and guys like Byron Buxton, Carlos Correa, Jorge Polanco, and other forthcoming players have been excellent against righties in recent years. Therefore, they're capable of getting the best of Corey Kluber and his underwhelming 4.53 xERA in 2022.
- Paul Goldschmidt has clowned lefties throughout his career. In addition, he's not slowing down, with a .412 OBP, .285 ISO, and 182 wRC+ against them since 2021.
- Aaron Judge pushed his ISO up to .282 along with a .367 OBP and 180 wRC+ in 80 plate appearances in 2022 after slugging a homer yesterday. Plus, he's a lefty-killer, owning a .411 OBP, .320 ISO, and 178 wRC+ against them since 2019.
- I'm doubling up on core lefty-killers from the Red Birds, suggesting using Nolan Arenado. The right-handed-hitting third baseman has seamlessly transitioned from Coors Field, recording a .331 ISO and 157 wRC+ in 139 plate appearances against lefties since getting traded to the Cardinals before last year.
- Luis Arraez is a great value play. He hits in a good spot in Minnesota's order. Further, he has had a 127 wRC+ against righties in his career.
- Sadly, you can't use Albert Pujols with Goldy on DraftKings. Still, he's a high-upside GPP pivot there. In addition, he's a steal at FanDuel, where you can use Pujols and Goldy together. In short, the draw for Pujols is his .329 ISO and 162 wRC+ against lefties since 2021.
- Max Kepler is reasonably priced on FanDuel and a steal on DraftKings. The lefty has excelled with the platoon advantage, ripping off a .263 ISO and 122 wRC+ since 2019.
- Kolten Wong is inexplicably priced only $300 above the minimum salary on FanDuel. Milwaukee's leadoff hitter is a stellar punt based on his lineup spot alone. However, his .348 OBP and 105 wRC+ against righties since 2019 is the icing on the cake.
Friday's Hitter Strategy
The Red Birds and Bronx Bombers are focal points of my offenses tonight. The Twins are a great GPP pivot. However, they also have a couple of excellent value plays to complement the Cardinals and Yankees.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
