As usual, it’s a massive Friday night slate. There are 13 games on the docket tonight. Thus, 26 teams are contributing DFS options to the player pool. Find the suggested pitchers, stacks, studs and values/punts below.
Friday's Starting Pitcher Strategy
The margin between two aces was small. However, the matchup for the lefty on the table earned him the nod over Max Scherzer. The following two righties on the table are nearly even, with the final suggested option carrying the most risk and profiling best in GPPs.
As usual, it’s a massive Friday night slate. There are 13 games on the docket tonight. Thus, 26 teams are contributing DFS options to the player pool. Find the suggested pitchers, stacks, studs and values/punts below.
Friday's Starting Pitcher Strategy
The margin between two aces was small. However, the matchup for the lefty on the table earned him the nod over Max Scherzer. The following two righties on the table are nearly even, with the final suggested option carrying the most risk and profiling best in GPPs.
Cash Game Recommendations:
Carlos Rodon (SF) vs. PIT
Rodon is having an excellent season with the Giants and has been dialed during the summer. According to FanGraphs, in his last 13 starts, he's had a 2.53 ERA, 2.89 SIERA, 0.96 WHIP, 6.1 BB%, 31.4 K% and 31.0 CSW%. The lefty has also been sharpest when pitching at home this year.
The matchup is ideal for him shining tonight. The Pirates are tied for 27th in wRC+ (82) against lefties. In addition, they've struck out at the second-highest rate (26.2 K%) against them. So, Rodon should clown them. As a result, the Giants are -265, per Betting Pros.
Mike Clevinger (SD) at WSH
Clevinger and the Padres are also monstrous favorites (-240). Additionally, Clevinger's club made his life easier tonight by trading for Juan Soto and Josh Bell before the MLB trade deadline, removing elite talent from the opposition.
But, of course, Clevinger hasn't been a slouch. In 13 appearances (12 starts), he's had a 3.60 ERA, 3.81 xERA, 1.12 WHIP, 6.3 BB%, 22.9 K% and 27.7 CSW%. Thus, Clevinger is talented enough to make the Nationals look like the rebuilding club lacking the qualified offensive talent that they are.
GPP Recommendations:
Tyler Mahle (MIN) at LAA
Mahle is a high-upside GPP selection in an excellent matchup. Unfortunately, the 27-year-old righty has been the victim of misfortune this year. Namely, he's been burned by an uncharacteristically poor strand rate. So, his 4.49 ERA is out of whack with his 3.37 xERA and other ERA estimators.
Fortunately, Mahle's luck has been turning, and he has an outstanding matchup tonight. The Angels are 20th in wRC+(96) with a sky-high 26.9 K% against right-handed pitchers this year. Further, they've had a 77 wRC+ during the previous 30 days. So, Mahle should be the latest pitcher to get the best of the Angels.
Corey Kluber (TB) vs. BAL
Kluber has the most challenging matchup of the four suggested pitchers. However, he's included as a touted option because he's thrived at home in 2022.
In 56.0 innings, Kluber has had a 3.70 ERA, 3.47 xFIP, 1.09 WHIP, 3.5 BB% and 25.7 K%. Kluber has enjoyed whatever is in the water in Tampa Bay. Finally, the Rays are -155, and the game's total is a puny 7.5 runs. Therefore, the betting info is favorable for using Kluber.
Top Lineup Stacks
The Rockies have scored 29 runs in three games at home this week. But, of course, that's the nature of Coors Field. Offensive outbursts are commonplace, and Zach Davies isn't the caliber pitcher to escape Coors Field's clutches unscathed. The 29-year-old righty has had a mediocre 4.03 ERA with lesser ERA estimators this season. It will be shocking if the Rockies don't crush him.
- Home (Guaranteed Rate Field)
- Value: Medium(DK)/High(FD)
- Risk: Medium
- Game Type: Both
- Game Total/Moneyline: 8.5 Runs/CWS -250
It's comical the depths the Tigers have dug to for starting pitching options this year. Next up in the line of pitchers taking the hill for the Tigers, who are unqualified to start big-league games, is Daniel Norris. He's pitched 28.2 innings in relief and 1.1 as an opener this season, getting touched up for a 6.90 ERA. Does that sound like a pitcher who should be starting in The Show? Of course, it doesn't. As a result, the Pale Hose can score the most runs on tonight's slate.
- Road (Fenway Park)
- Value: Low
- Risk: Low
- Game Type: GPP
- Game Total/Moneyline: 9.5 Runs/NYY -125
Gamers fading Coors Field or fading the aces to build hitter-heavy lineups need to have a high-upside stack up their sleeves, and the Yankees fit the bill. Moreover, the Bronx Bombers' high-octane offense will get a boost from Fenway Park, MLB's second-highest scoring venue. They also have a potentially good matchup tonight. Nathan Eovaldi has been in a funk. Over his last seven starts, he's had a 4.95 ERA. Again, the Yankees have the upside to reward gamers who make the uncomfortable decisions needed to fit the Yankees' stud hitters under the cap.
- Since 2019, Jose Abreu has had a .380 OBP, .265 ISO and 158 wRC+ against lefties.
- Andrew Vaughn is another lefty-killer from the White Sox. Through 217 plate appearances against lefties in the majors, he'd had a .387 OBP, .221 ISO and 153 wRC+.
- Brendan Rodgers is heart-of-the-order access to the Rockies. Further, he's red-hot. Rodgers homered yesterday after three consecutive multi-hit games.
- AJ Pollock is a no-brainer punt on FanDuel and a bargain option on DraftKings. Since 2019, he's had a .354 OBP, .261 ISO and 143 wRC+ against southpaws.
- Jose Miranda didn't make a seamless transition from the minors to the majors, but he's been a man on fire after adjusting. In his last 202 plate appearances, he's slugged 10 homers with a .376 OBP, .218 ISO and 164 wRC+.
- Carlos Correa has a reasonable salary on DK and a bargain salary on FD. Since 2019, he's had a .390 OBP and 136 wRC+ against lefties.
Friday's Hitter Strategy
The White Sox are an excellent offense to invest in across DFS game types tonight. The Rockies will probably be chalky, but they're also a great source of hitters. However, gamers shouldn't overlook the Yankees at Fenway Park tonight.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
