DraftKings MLB: Saturday Picks

DraftKings MLB: Saturday Picks

This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.

PITCHER

Dallas Keuchel, HOU vs. TB ($9,200): The Rays have regularly been dominated by southpaws all season, striking out against lefties at a 26 percent rate that ranks as the highest baseball. Keuchel has been a bit erratic to be sure, but he has flashed an impressive ceiling, most recently evidenced by fantasy-point tallies of 40.3 and 28.4 in two of his last three starts. He's also been a much better pitcher at home this season, averaging 18.1 fantasy points over 11 starts at Minute Maid Park with a .234 batting average against.

Jameson Taillon, PIT at MIL ($9,900): Taillon has been impressively consistent as a rookie and has now rattled off eight straight quality starts. He's also scored 27 fantasy points in two of his last three starts. The Brewers may be willing facilitators for more of that type of production, as they've whiffed 25.4 percent of the time against right-handed pitching, a figure that ranks them as the worst in the league.

CATCHER

Salvador Perez, KC at BOS ($2,700): Red Sox starter David Price has had some trouble with righty bats this season, giving up 16 of his 21 homers on the season to that handedness. He's also yielded a .328 wOBA to righty bats at Fenway, along with 10 of the aforementioned 16 round-trippers and a 36.9 percent hard contact rate. Perez has also hit safely in four of his last five games, with double-digit fantasy points in two of those contests. At a sub-$3K price range, Perez provides some appealing and low-risk tournament value at a position where it often pays off to save some cash.

FIRST BASE

Freddie Freeman, ATL at SF ($4,600) Freeman has shown a ceiling of close to 40 fantasy points this season, and he has battered righty arms to the tune of a .391 wOBA that rises to .448 when facing them on the road, along with an absurd .331 ISO. He's also been on fire over the last three-plus weeks, tallying eight homers, a .481 wOBA, .403 ISO, 58.2 percent hard contact rate and 28.6 HR/FB rate over the last 22 games. Meanwhile, Giants starter Jake Peavy has yielded a .384 wOBA, 5.51 xFIP and 36.5 percent hard contact rate to left-handed hitters, making him an appealing target.

SECOND BASE

Rougned Odor, TEX vs. CLE ($3,500): Odor has been stellar against righties at home, posting a .350 wOBA, .248 ISO and 31.5 percent hard contact rate versus that handedness at Globe Life Park. Indians starter Carlos Carrasco has had a solid season and was outstanding in his last start against the A's, but has given up a 38.5 percent hard contact rate to left-handed hitters, and a 5.01 ERA and .329 wOBA over his last five starts overall.

THIRD BASE

Jake Lamb, ARI vs. CIN ($4,500): Lamb is in a prime position to take advantage of Reds starter Anthony DeSclafani's struggles against left-handed hitting. Those troubles include a .390 wOBA given up to lefty bats on the road, along with a 1.88 HR/FB rate. Lamb has pounded right-handed pitchers at Chase Field, posting a .415 wOBA, .346 ISO and 49.6 percent hard contact rate.

SHORTSTOP

Jorge Polanco, MIN at TOR ($3,000): The switch-hitting Polanco offers some nice value at just $3K, and he boasts a massive .387 wOBA against right-handed pitching on the road. He also has hits in eight of his last nine contests, a stretch that includes a pair of triples. Blue Jays starter Marcus Stroman has given up a .330 wOBA, 10 homers, a 20.8 percent HR/FB rate and 34.9 percent hard contact rate to lefty hitters at Rogers Centre this season.

OUTFIELD

Alex Dickerson, SD at MIA ($3,700): Dickerson is a cost-conscious lefty bat with which to exploit Marlins starter Jose Urena's troubles against that handedness at Marlins Park, which includes a .416 wOBA allowed, 7.90 xFIP, 2.08 HR/9 and a 40 percent hard contact rate. Dickerson has a .369 wOBA and .273 ISO against right-handed pitching, along with a 35.6 percent hard contact rate against that handedness overall.

Tyler Naquin, CLE at TEX ($3,800): Rangers starter A.J. Griffin has been disastrous against left-handed hitters this season, giving up a .392 wOBA, 13 homers and 2.66 HR/9 rate to that handedness overall, as well as a whopping 50.9 percent hard contact rate when facing them at Globe Life Park. He's also been hit hard in his last four starts, posting a 6.75 ERA and allowing a .429 wOBA, 3.57 HR/9 rate and nine homers over 22.2 innings. Naquin has decimated right-handed pitching throughout his rookie season, tallying a .403 wOBA, .278 ISO, 33.3 percent HR/FB rate and 42.4 percent hard contact rate.

Brandon Moss, STL vs. OAK ($5,000): Moss is a potent left-handed bat to target A's rookie Zach Neal with, considering the latter has given up a .395 wOBA on the road, including .356 to left-handed hitters. He's also yielded a 2.25 HR/9 rate to that handedness away from O.co Coliseum, along with a 23.1 percent HR/FB rate. Moss checks in with a .409 wOBA and mammoth .377 ISO against righty arms, along with a 44.5 percent hard contact rate. He's also scored double-digit fantasy points in seven of his last 10 contests and has a .402 wOBA, .345 ISO, 47.5 percent hard contact rate and eight homers over his last 21 games.

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Juan Carlos Blanco plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: DraftKings: jcblanco22, FanDuel: jc_blanco22, DraftPot: jc_blanco22, FantasyDraft: jc_blanco22, OwnThePlay: jcblanco22.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Juan Carlos Blanco
Winner of the FSWA 2016 Newcomer of the Year Award, Juan Carlos Blanco has been playing fantasy sports for over 20 years and covers NBA, MLB, NFL, CFL and Arena Football for Rotowire.com, including serving as the beat writer for teams in multiple sports. He has previously written for KFFL.com and remains an avid season-long and daily fantasy player in multiple sports as well.
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