The final MLB DFS slate of the work week is large. It includes 13 games on DraftKings and FanDuel, beginning at 7:05 pm ET. As usual, for a slate of this size, four pitchers, three stacks, core studs and values/punts are suggested below for DFS rosters.
Friday's Starting Pitcher Strategy
Two pitchers are a cut above the others. A veteran righty and a young hurler putting it together round out the suggested pitchers.
The final MLB DFS slate of the work week is large. It includes 13 games on DraftKings and FanDuel, beginning at 7:05 pm ET. As usual, for a slate of this size, four pitchers, three stacks, core studs and values/punts are suggested below for DFS rosters.
Friday's Starting Pitcher Strategy
Two pitchers are a cut above the others. A veteran righty and a young hurler putting it together round out the suggested pitchers.
Cash Game Recommendations:
Robbie Ray (SEA) vs. LAA
Ray hasn't duplicated his 2021 American League Cy Young Award campaign. Still, he's been sharp lately. According to FanGraphs, in his last 11 starts spanning 62.0 innings, Ray has had a 3.48 ERA, 3.45 xFIP, 1.19 WHIP, 8.3 BB%, 28.0 K% and 26.0 CSW%.
Ray has also been better at home than on the road and hosts a terrible offense tonight. The Angels are 28th in wRC+ (82) against lefties. Further, their 24.3 K% against lefties is tied for the fourth-highest mark. Thus, this is a matchup in which Ray should dominate. Finally, his lower salary than the other elite hurler on the table is the difference maker, earning him the top honors tonight.
Corey Kluber (TB) at DET
Kluber isn't the same hurler he was at his peak. Nonetheless, he's rock-solid. In 20 starts totaling 105.0 innings, Kluber has had a 4.03 ERA, 3.99 xERA, 1.15 WHIP, 3.7 BB%, 21.6 K% and 29.4 CSW%. So again, Kluber has been pretty good.
Frankly, Kluber's work is plenty enough to justify using him against the bumbling Tigers. Detroit's dead last in wRC+ (67) against righties. Remarkably, they've been 11 points worse than the second-worst team. Yikes. Additionally, the Tigers have struck out at an exploitable 24.6% rate. As a result, Kluber should mow them down, making him the ideal SP2 in cash games on DK and a stellar GPP pick.
GPP Recommendations:
Dylan Cease (CWS) at TEX
Cease has an enormous ceiling. So, he's worth spending top dollar to use in GPP lineups. In Cease's last 11 starts totaling 63.0 innings, he's had a sparkling 0.57 ERA, 2.98 xFIP, 1.11 WHIP, 33.3 K% and 32.6 CSW%.
The cruising righty also has a great matchup. The Rangers are tied for 22nd in wRC+ (94) against righties, striking out at a 23.5% clip. Thus, the stage is set for another electrifying performance from Cease.
Mitch Keller (PIT) at BAL
Keller has turned a corner. He generated buzz in the offseason, lighting up the radar gun. Sadly, Keller didn't parlay the increased heat into early-season success. However, in his last 11 starts totaling 57.1 innings, he's had a 3.30 ERA, 3.46 xFIP, 1.31 WHIP and 21.0 K%.
Keller doesn't have a high enough ceiling to warrant using on FD's single-pitcher platform. Yet, he's an appealing value arm on DK, where the bar is low to clear for producing DFS value. Moreover, the salary relief he provides allows gamers to jam in an extra stud hitter or two.
Top Lineup Stacks
Dakota Hudson's pitch-to-contact approach is a poor fit for facing the Yankees. The righty has had a 12.8 K% and 7.0 SwStr%, below the league averages of 22.3 K% and 11.0 SwStr%, respectively. In addition, Hudson's 10.4 BB% has also been worse than the league average of 8.2%. Therefore, he's probably in for a rough night against MLB's second-best offense against righties (120 wRC+).
- Home (American Family Field)
- Value: Low
- Risk: Low
- Game Type: Both
- Game Total/Moneyline: 9.0 Runs/MIL -205
The Brewers are facing a pitcher who doesn't belong in a big-league rotation. Robert Dugger has primarily pitched poorly in Triple-A, and he's had a 6.97 ERA in 82.2 innings in The Show. It will be shocking if the Beer Makers don't light up the scoreboard, which is reflected in their juicy implied total.
- Home (Target Field)
- Value: High
- Risk: High
- Game Type: GPP
- Game Total/Moneyline: Unlisted
The Twins have a wide range of outcomes on offense tonight against up-and-down Jose Berrios. In 21 starts, Berrios has allowed no more than three runs 15 times. However, he's allowed at least five runs five times, and the Rangers scored four runs against him in only one-third of an inning to open 2022. Berrios has been excellent this month, increasing the risk for stacking the Twins. Yet, Berrios' strong showings lately will likely dampen the DFS community's enthusiasm for stacking the Twins, enhancing the appeal of stacking them in GPPs.
- Kyle Schwarber has had a .349 ISO and 146 wRC+ against righties since last year. Meanwhile, Josiah Gray has allowed a .578 SLG and .404 wOBA to lefties this year. So, it's a DFS match made in heaven.
- Aaron Judge is ripping the cover off the ball this season. In 450 plate appearances, he's hit 43 homers with a .386 OBP, .378 ISO and 194 wRC+, stealing 10 bases for good measure.
- Rowdy Tellez is a nifty power source. Since last season, he's had a .234 ISO against righties.
- Nick Gordon is an ideal punt. This season, Gordon has had a 110 wRC+ against righties. The matchup is excellent, too. Berrios has allowed a .358 wOBA to lefties in 2022.
- Luis Garcia has excelled with the platoon advantage this year, sporting a 121 wRC+ against righties. Additionally, he's now the No. 2 hitter against righties for the rebuilding Nationals.
- Eloy Jimenez is a good value on DK and a stone-cold steal on FD. The right-handed slugger has had a 119 wRC+ against righties in his career, and Glenn Otto has coughed up a .399 wOBA to righties this year.
Friday's Hitter Strategy
Tonight's hitting strategy has a stars and punts feel. Gamers should use Schwarber, Judge and Tellez with the suggested stacks, opening up the requisite cap space with punts, such as Gordon, Garcia and Jimenez.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
