This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
Friday brings a strange DFS slate. We have a COVID-19 situation to monitor on the Yankees that might impact more than just their game against the Red Sox. We also have several teams who haven't even announced their starting pitchers as of early Friday morning. With that in mind, here are some players to consider for your DraftKings lineups.
Pitchers
The Giants will start off their second half of the season with their ace Kevin Gausman ($10,300) on the mound against the Cardinals. He also faced them a couple of weeks ago, allowing two runs and recording eight strikeouts across seven innings. Gausman is having an amazing season, allowing two or fewer runs in 16 of his 18 starts and posting a 30.5 percent strikeout rate. Given that the Cardinals have the fifth-worst OPS in baseball, Gausman might be able to keep things rolling in this outing.
While he might not garner a lot of headlines, Chris Bassitt ($8,500) is in the midst of an excellent season for the A's. He has a 3.28 ERA that is supported by a 3.39 FIP, and his 1.05 WHIP would be the lowest mark of his career. Even though he hasn't big a major source for strikeouts for most of his career, he has made some improvements in that area, leading to a 24.5 percent strikeout rate. He's an even more appealing option when he pitches at home given his career 3.16 FIP and 1.07 WHIP there with the A's. That's where he'll be for his outing against the Indians, who rank inside the bottom-half of baseball in OPS and runs scored.
Kyle Hendricks' ($7,500) overall numbers have taken a bit of a hit this season, especially his 4.83 FIP. His main issue has been an inability to keep hitters inside the ballpark, resulting in him allowing 1.7 HR/9. A lot of that came early in the season, though. Over his last six starts, he's only given up three long balls over 36.1 innings. Going back even further, he has a 2.56 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP over his last 10 starts. He has a favorable opportunity to continue his hot streak against the Diamondbacks, who have the fourth-worst OPS in baseball.
Top Targets
Freddie Freeman ($6,200) has an uncharacteristically low .274 batting average, although he does still have a .371 wOBA. He was red-hot heading into the break, hitting 42-for-115 (.365) with six home runs and eight doubles over his last 30 games. With his slow start firmly in his rearview mirror, he could be an excellent option against Michael Wacha ($67,700), who has an underwhelming 4.87 ERA and 4.63 FIP.
Vladimir Guerrero ($6,400) went deep in the All-Star Game on his way to winning the MVP award. It was an exclamation point at the end of an excellent first half that saw him record a .326 ISO and a .453 wOBA. Expect him to be a tough out for Jordan Lyles ($6,600), who is on pace to allow at least 1.6 HR/9 for the third straight season.
Bargain Bats
Gavin Lux's ($3,200) first extended run in the majors hasn't gone well. He's provided very little power with his .127 ISO, and even though he's walking a lot, he has just a .297 wOBA. Still, at this cheap salary, he could be worth considering for a matchup at hitter-friendly Coors Field against Antonio Senzatela ($5,800).
If the Yankees and Red Sox play Friday, Jarren Duran ($2,000) could be someone to consider. He was originally slated to make his debut Thursday before the game was postponed. He's one of the team's top prospects and was thriving at Triple-A, posting a .398 wOBA and a .291 ISO.
Stacks to Consider
Padres vs. Erick Fedde ($7,700), Nationals: Fernando Tatis Jr. ($6,100), Jake Cronenworth ($4,700), Eric Hosmer ($3,500)
Fedde faced the potent Padres' lineup a couple of weeks ago and did not pitch well, allowing six runs over 4.1 innings. He hasn't proven to be much more than a back-of-the-rotation starter, posting a 4.98 ERA and a 5.29 FIP for his career. Tatis is the big name to build a Padres stack around, but don't sleep on Hosmer. While he had a disappointing first half, he started to show signs of turning things around, hitting 14-for-37 (.378) with a home run and three doubles over his last 11 games.
Nationals vs. Chris Paddack ($6,300), Padres: Juan Soto ($5,300), Trea Turner ($5,700), Starlin Castro ($2,700)
Once one of the more highly regarded pitching prospects in baseball, Paddack has largely been unable to live up to the hype. He hasn't been as bad as his 5.38 ERA this season would lead you to believe given his 3.83 FIP, but his 1.35 WHIP isn't helping matters. Soto has had a somewhat disappointing season of his own, especially in the power department, given his .162 ISO. However, he's still one of the most dangerous hitters in baseball and is extremely difficult to strikeout out given his career 18.5 percent strikeout rate.
Royals vs. Keegan Akin ($4,900), Orioles: Whit Merrifield ($5,300), Salvador Perez ($5,400), Carlos Santana ($4,700)
The Orioles were one of the best teams to stack against in the first half and should remain one for the rest of the season given their lackluster starting rotation. Akin has been no exception to their struggles given his 7.54 ERA and 4.93 FIP. He's allowed 1.8 HR/9, which is disastrous when combined with his 1.68 WHIP. The lefty could really be in trouble against Perez, who has a .391 ISO and a .472 wOBA against lefties this year.
