MLB DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer: Friday (8/4)

This is my first Friday article of the season! I’m filling in for this week, but it’s just preparing me for my typical weekend coverage. We had a wild trade deadline a few days ago, and these new players are settling into their new homes. Like most Fridays, every game is part of the main slate outside of the Cubs game during the day. With that in mind, let’s look at the pitchers for this slate!

Starting Pitcher Rankings

Starting Pitcher Strategy

This was a tough slate from a pitching perspective. The first three guys stuck out like a sore thumb, but finding a fourth pitcher we wanted to recommend was nearly impossible. That’s why we went super risky with the last option and would only advise him in GPPs. With that said, let’s get started by looking at the cash game pitchers that we actually trust!

Cash Game Recommendations:

Luis Castillo (SEA) at LAA

Seattle became sellers at the deadline, which is funny because they bought Castillo at last year’s deadline. He’s treated them well since joining the Mariners, maintaining a 2.94 ERA and 1.05 WHIP since the start of last year. He’s been even better recently, registering a 2.32 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, and 10.2 K.9 rate across his previous five starts. The Angels lineup hasn’t been anything special since Mike Trout went down, with Castillo scoring at least 41 FanDuel points in all three starts against them since joining Seattle.

Aaron Nola (PHI) vs. KC

Nola has been inconsistent all season, but the upside is hard to overlook in a matchup like this. Let’s start there, with the Royals ranked 29th or 30th in runs scored, OBP, OPS, and xwOBA against right-handers. That’s bad news against a pitcher with a 3.60 ERA and 1.08 WHIP since 2018. He’s also showcased a 65-point upside twice this year, and one of those could be in play here since he enters this matchup as a -230 favorite.

GPP Recommendations:

Jordan Montgomery (TEX) vs. MIA

The Rangers made a significant splash by acquiring Montgomery at the trade deadline because he’s quietly been one of the most consistent lefties over the last three months. Since allowing seven runs on April 18, Montgomery has a 3.10 ERA and 1.23 WHIP over his last 17 starts. He’s also allowed three or fewer runs in 14 of those, surrendering one or fewer in seven of his last 10 outings. A home start against Miami is tempting, too, with the Marlins ranked 24th in runs scored.

Colin Rea (MIL) vs. PIT

This is risky, but Rea is a worthy GPP option. What makes him enticing is the fact that he faces Pittsburgh, with the Pirates ranked bottom five in runs scored, OBP, wOBA, and K rate since the opening month of the year. That’s why Rea enters this matchup as a -160 favorite at home, and he’s flashed some moments of brilliance for the Brewers. Rea has a solid 1.20 WHIP on the year and an impressive 10.0 K/9 rate across his last four starts. He also dropped 33 FanDuel points in his one start against the Pirates.

Top Lineup Stacks

Philadelphia Phillies (vs. Jordan Lyles)

• Home (Citizens Bank Ballpark)
• Value: Low
• Risk: Low
• Game Type: Both
• Game Total/Moneyline: 9 Runs/PHI -230

Lyles pitching in Philly sounds like a disaster. The Royals righty has a nightmarish 2-12 record and 6.15 ERA, but that’s the guy we’ve seen for years. In his 13-year career, Lyles has a 5.18 ERA and 1.42 WHIP. That’s terrifying against this talented lineup, especially since CBB is one of the most hitter-friendly parks in baseball.

St. Louis Cardinals (vs. Chris Flexen)

• Home (Busch Stadium)
• Value: Medium
• Risk: Low
• Game Type: Both
• Game Total/Moneyline: 9.5 Runs/STL -170

We might have the Cardinals in here every day this weekend. The Rockies rotation ranks 29th in both ERA and WHIP, losing its top four starters to injury. That’s why they signed Chris Flexen, who’s flexing an 8.08 ERA and 1.93 WHIP. There’s no chance that holds up, and this stingy St. Louis lineup should add to those atrocious numbers.

Milwaukee Brewers (vs. Quinn Priester)

• Home (Miller Park)
• Value: Medium
• Risk: Medium
• Game Type: Both
• Game Total/Moneyline: 9 Runs/MIL -160

The Brewers have struggled at times this season, but we love them in this spot. They’re always more dangerous in a hitter’s environment like Miller Park, and that should be the case against a youngster like Quinn Priester. The Pirates pitcher has a 9.19 ERA and 1.72 WHIP in what’s turning out to be an ugly rookie season.

Core Studs

• The consistency of Alvarez is truly mind-blowing. The Astros DH is amid another absurd season, sporting a .290 AVG, .397 OBP, .607 SLG, and 1.004 OPS. That might look outlandish on the surface, but this stud has a .978 OPS throughout his career! That makes him an easy play against Luis Severino, who’s got a 7.49 ERA and 1.84 WHIP in the worst year of his career.
• It’s been a struggle for Harper to get going, but this superstar will find it. He has a .383 OBP across his last 10 games, which is no surprise since he has a .389 career OBP and .906 OPS. Getting to face a weak righty like Lyles should help him keep rolling, with Bryce posting a .995 OPS against righties over the last three years.
• The Cardinals have been a nightmare, but it’s no fault of Goldy. Despite a recent slump, the 2021 NL MVP is still averaging 8.7 DraftKings points per game. A matchup with the Rockies this weekend should help him get out of this slump, especially facing a gas can like Flexen.
• Yelich has quietly had an amazing season in Milwaukee. The former MVP candidate is hitting .286, providing 16 homers, 22 steals, and 76 runs scored. That’s made him one of the best options in fantasy, and we can’t overlook his .934 OPS across his last 54 games. That fantastic form should continue against Priester’s pitiful averages.
• Devers got off to a dreadful start this season, but he’s been unstoppable in the second half. The BoSox third baseman has a .378 OBP, .572 SLG, and .950 OPS across his last 42 games. Most of that damage has come against right-handers, and we don’t want to fade him against Alek Manoah‘s 5.87 ERA and 1.79 WHIP.

Value Plays/Punts

• Schwarber is still hitting below .200, but the power always makes him an intriguing GPP option. The slugger has 27 homers after ripping 46 bombs last season. The home run potential is hard to overlook in a matchup like this because Schwarbs has a .882 OPS against right-handers over the last three years.
• Nootbaar has been hitting leadoff or third in almost every game since coming off the IL, and it’s easy to see why. Over his last 28 games, Lars has a .324 AVG, .421 OBP, .588 SLG and 1.010 OPS. That’s a month of dominance from this preseason fantasy darling, and we obviously don’t mind that he has the platoon advantage against Flexen.
• Mountcastle has been mauling the baseball against left-handers this year. The O’s first baseman has a .351 AVG, .691 SLG, and 1.080 OPS with the platoon advantage in his favor. That’s scary when looking at his recent form, picking up 11 hits and six RBI over his last four fixtures! He should pummell David Peterson, too, providing a 5.92 ERA and 1.62 WHIP.
• Frelick has been one of the best Brewers bats since his call-up. That’s why they’ve been regularly hitting him fourth and fifth, making him a sexy pick against Priester. The numbers speak for themselves, with Frelick tallying a .435 OBP, .515 SLG, and .950 OPS in his first month at this level.
• It’s been an ugly season for Suarez in Seattle, but he’s starting to swing a hot bat! The slugger has homered in five of his last 16 games, generating an OPS above 1.300 over his last five outings. We love that when examining his sensational splits, totaling a .371 OBP and .832 OPS against lefties since the start of last year.

Hitter Strategy

This should be a fun slate from a lineup construction standpoint. There are three top-notch pitchers we love and plenty of great hitters to build around them. The offenses we want to use today include the Cardinals, Astros, Brewers, Rockies, Phillies, Orioles, and Guardians. What’s fun about that group of teams is that we have plenty of cheap hitters among those lineups. That should make lineup construction a breeze, so let’s crush this Friday card!

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Joel Bartilotta is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Joel, check out his archive and follow him @Bartilottajoel.