It’s the final Friday of games in the MLB regular season. The Underdog Fantasy pick ’em lobby is loaded, giving users many options to choose from. This piece narrows the focus to five exciting higher picks.
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Friday’s Top Underdog Fantasy MLB Pick ‘Em Picks
Nick Pivetta: 6.0 Strikeouts – Higher
Pivetta is on fire to close out his 2023 campaign. According to FanGraphs, in his previous five appearances (four starts) spanning 26.1 innings, he’s had a 3.08 ERA, 2.94 xFIP, 0.91 WHIP, 33 strikeouts, 11.28 K/9, 32.0 K%, 31.9 CSW%, 126 Stuff+, 104 Location+ and 112 Pitching+. Additionally, Pivetta has struck out at least six batters in his last three starts.
Pivetta has also excelled on the road. In 66.1 innings on the road, Pivetta has a 3.93 ERA, 3.49 xFIP and 1.07 WHIP with 86 strikeouts, 11.67 K/9 and a 31.9 K%. The Orioles aren’t a perfect matchup. Nevertheless, Baltimore is midpack in strikeout rate in any applicable split for tonight’s game. So, Pivetta should exceed 6.0 strikeouts tonight.
Matt Olson: 9.5 Fantasy Points – Higher
Olson is a monster at home with the platoon advantage. In 276 plate appearances against righties at home this year, Olson has hit 27 homers with a .428 OBP, .397 ISO and 197 wRC+.
Conversely, Trevor Williams is a tire fire on the road against lefties. Williams has yielded a .359 OBP, .563 slugging and .386 wOBA to 327 lefties on the road this year. Finally, Atlanta’s offense is a juggernaut, providing Olson ample potential to score runs and drive baserunners in.
Cody Bellinger: 7.5 Fantasy Points – Higher
Bellinger is putting the finishing touches on a resurgent 2023 campaign. The sweet-swinging lefty hit seven homers with a .333 OBP, .156 ISO and 110 wRC+ in 183 plate appearances on the road. Yet, Bellinger can also score fantasy points as a base stealer. He’s stolen 20 bases in 26 attempts this year.
Bellinger can add to his season totals in a cushy matchup tonight. Colin Rea has coughed up 11 homers, a .354 OBP, .610 slugging and .404 wOBA to 132 lefties at American Family Field this season.
Charlie Blackmon: 7.5 Fantasy Points – Higher
Blackmon is ripping the cover off the ball with the platoon advantage at home this year. In 160 plate appearances against righties at Coors Field this year, the veteran hitter has a .419 OBP .246 ISO and .423 wOBA. He’ll also benefit from hitting atop Colorado’s lineup.
Nolan Jones: 1.5 Total Bases – Higher
Jones is an extra-base-hit machine against righties in his hitter-friendly home ballpark. In 144 plate appearances against righties at home in 2023, he has hit five doubles, three triples and six homers with a .295 batting average, .516 slugging and .221 ISO.
Finally, the matchup is a plus for Jones and the previously discussed Blackmon. Joe Ryan has allowed a .327 wOBA to 150 lefties on the road this season.
Whether you’re new to fantasy baseball or a seasoned pro, our Fantasy Baseball 101: Strategy Tips & Advice page is for you. You can get started with our Sabermetrics Glossary or head to a more advanced strategy – like Maximizing Your Potential in Multi-Lineup Contests – to learn more.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.