This article is part of our FantasyScore MLB series.
Friday's FantasyScore MLB Picks
Every team in the league takes the field Friday, and now that teams are deeper into their rotations, there are a number of juicy hitting matchups to hone in on. Offense has been scarce thus far, but expect a few more high-scoring affairs Friday.
Need a hand with some of the basic strategies for daily baseball? Michael Rathburn has covered the importance of splits, weather and more already. It is worth the read, even as a refresher.
Unique to FantasyScore, players will notice cushy pricing which allows for more fantasy points and lineup options. Salary cap manipulation takes a backseat to assembling the right combination of players. Obviously, you're still going to have to budget, but a few savvy selections will open the door to roster plenty of star power.
FantasyScore Settings
Lineup Composition
1 Catcher
1 First Baseman
1 Second Baseman
1 Third Baseman
1 Shortstop
3 Outfielders
2 Pitchers
Pitcher Scoring
4 pts per Win
-1 pt per Earned Run
1 pt per Strikeout
1 pt per Inning (0.33 pts per out for fractional innings)
Hitter Scoring
1 pt per Single
2 pts per Double
3 pts per Triple
4 pts per Home Run
1 pt per Run Batted In
1 pt per Run Scored
1 pt per Walk
1 pt per Hit By Pitch
2 pt per Stolen Base
-1 pt per Caught Stealing
Lineup Configuration Notes
Because of the affordable pitching prices Friday, you'll be able to roster plenty of big bats. Additionally, with the soft pricing, don't be afraid to leave a few dollars on the table if you're confident in your assembled lineup. Matchups aren't created equally and just because a player is more expensive doesn't mean they're a better play on a particular day.
Arms to Target
Gio's Tier
Not only is Gio Gonzalez ($6,500, 13.0 percent of cap) priced into his own tier Friday, he's likely in his own tier in terms of skill, too. Through 12 career starts against Philadelphia, Gonzalez has a respectable 3.05 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, with 72 strikeouts over 73.2 innings, and he has held opposing hitters to a .230/.290/.361 slash line.
During their opening three-game series against Boston, the Phillies struck out 26 times and scored just six runs. Gonzalez enters his first start on the heels of a tidy spring, and expect the bats to provide enough run support for him to earn the four-point win bonus Friday. The Nationals are also receiving the largest chalk of the day.
Expect Gonzalez to be highly owned, though, which doesn't always yield favorably to GPP contests and separating from the pack.
Spring Buzz Tier
Taijuan Walker, SEA, $4,900, 9.8 percent of cap - The mound darling of spring training allowed just two earned runs and 10 hits over 27 innings with 26 strikeouts. Friday, he'll face a new-look Athletics lineup in their spacious O.co Coliseum. Still, while the upside is there, Oakland has scored an average of five runs per game to start the season, and their plate approach might not be ideal for Walker's daily return.
Brett Anderson, LAD, $4,300, 8.6 percent of cap - Injuries have hindered Anderson significantly and limited him to fewer than 50 innings in each of the past three seasons. When healthy he has pitched well and has a career 7.0 K/9. At his price, the southpaw and rebound candidate could easily exceed value.
Matchup Play
Jon Niese, NYM, $3,800, 7.6 percent of cap - Hats off to the Braves for their road sweep of the Marlins to start the season, but their lineup shouldn't instill fear. Plus, their most potent bats in the middle of the order (Freddie Freeman and Nick Markakis) bat left-handed. Niese is cheap and should miss enough bats to easily reward on his cap hit.
Bats to Target
Split Game Stat Pack
Here are three favorable hitting matchups to target Friday. It is also worth noting each of the following hitters bat second in their respective lineups, and the games are being played in hitter-friendly venues.
Jorge Soler vs. LHP Tyler Matzek, Chicago at Colorado
Matzek allowed a .306/.374/.474 slash line with a .372 wOBA to right-handed batters last season. Add the Coors Field factor and a number of Cubs right-handed hitters stand to reward. At his cap hit, Jorge Soler ($3,700, 7.4% of cap) presents a great profit opportunity batting in the two hole.
Yasiel Puig vs. RHP Chase Anderson, Los Angeles at Arizona
Oddly, Anderson had a reverse split last season, as he allowed a .302/.350/.482 slash line with a .363 wOBA to right-handed hitters. Similar to Anderson, right-handing hitting Yasiel Puig ($5,300, 10.6 percent of cap) has had more success against right-handed pitching during his career with a beastly .305/.380/.510 slash line and an impressive .388 wOBA. Puig has three career bombs at Chase Field, too.
Jason Heyward vs, RHP Jason Marquis, St. Louis at Cincinnati
To begin with, Marquis last pitched in the majors July 19, 2013, but he has also been hammered by left-handed hitters over his past two seasons. He allowed lefties to slash .302/.381/.562 with a .400 wOBA in 2012, and .267/.382/.487 with a .378 woBA in 2013. Heyward ($4,200, 8.4 percent of cap) handled the bat nicely against right-handed pitchers in 2014 with a .304/.384/.436 slash line and a .363 wOBA. Add his new approach at the plate, and there is a lot to like at his cap hit.
Spending Up
Nolan Arenado, 3B, COL, $4,900 salary, 9.8 percent of cap - With five runs and RBI through the first three games of the season, Arenado is already rewarding those who reached for him in seasonal formats. He faces underwhelming lefty Travis Wood Friday, and Arenado has owned south paws during his short career -- .233 ISO and .387 wOBA.
Cap Relief
Wilmer Flores, SS, NYM, $2,100 salary, 4.2 percent of cap - Just a tick above minimum price, Flores has a hit in consecutive games and has power upside from the shortstop position.
Howie Kendrick, 2B, LAD, $3,200 salary, 6.4 percent of cap - Currently hitting cleanup for the Dodgers, Kendrick has filled the stat columns through three games. Add the previously mentioned favorable matchup against Anderson, and Kendrick presents an excellent buying opportunity.
Good luck with your FantasyScore contests Friday.
