This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Wednesday's DFS action starts early at 2:10 p.m. EDT with a slate of just three games. The main slate starts at the usual 7:05 p.m. EDT with 11 games.
Pitching
Normally the top cash game option would involve mentioning the Nationals' Max Scherzer ($11,400), but he's not 100 percent and will likely be on a pitch count. The Astros' Gerrit Cole ($12,000) is definitely an option, but his salary will limit the amount of Rockies/Red Sox bats one can squeeze under the cap. Still, Cole has hit at least 40 fantasy points in nine straight starts, making him a strong cash game option, while his elevated price will help keep his ownership down to put him in the GPP conversation as well.
Another good cash game option is the Reds' Anthony DeSclafani ($7,600), who will take on the Marlins. Miami has the worst wOBA (.284) against right-handed pitching in baseball and their 24.9 percent strikeout rate is the sixth highest. DeSclafani has a career-best 9.16 K/9 this season, which has been helped by an uptick in velocity (94.6 mph fastball).
A solid tournament play despite the matchup is the Padres' Chris Paddack ($6,800). At this price he will allow for 5-6 bats from the game in Coors Field while providing 30-plus point upside. Paddack has been better at home (3.45 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 9.9 K/9) and will have a very low ownership given the bad matchup against the Dodgers.
Key Values/Chalk
The Padres' Josh Naylor ($2,100) is a sneaky punt option at home against Kenta Maeda. He should be hitting second with a right-handed pitcher on the mound and has a respectable .336 wOBA at home against that handedness. The matchup works out nicely for Naylor, as Maeda's worst split this season is on the road against left-handed hitters (.366 wOBA allowed).
Another decent punt play for value at a thin position is the Tigers' Willi Castro ($2,400). Castro is one of Detroit's best prospects and has just completed a successful campaign at Triple-A Toledo. Castro had a .833 OPS for the Mud Hens and went 17-for-21 on the basepaths, showing his speed. Only 22, he should get regular playing time for the rest of the season.
The obvious play at third is using the Rockies' Nolan Arenado ($4,500) at home against Eduardo Rodriguez, but he may price himself out of a lot of lineups. A more economical option is the Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. ($3,100) who also has a good home matchup. Guerrero has had reverse splits this season with a .377 wOBA against right-handed pitchers. He'll face Mike Foltynewicz, who has surrendered a .356 wOBA to opposing right-handed hitters -- although much of that damage came early in the season.
Now seems like a good time to buy low on the Royals' Whit Merrifield ($3,100). While his stolen base numbers are down (along with his walk rate), Merrifield's ISO is up 37 points. He comes into Wednesday on a nine-game hitting streak, and a matchup against Tanner Roark at home is nothing to be worried about.
One player who will go under the radar will be the Twins' C.J. Cron ($3,200). He's been fantastic against left-handed pitching this season with a .410 wOBA against that handedness, and that number goes up to .418 on the road. Ross Detwiler finds himself as a -162 underdog in a game with a 10.5 run over/under, the second highest on the slate.
Stacks
Twins at White Sox (Detwiler)
Cron (C/1B - $3,200), Miguel Sano (3B - $3,900), Nelson Cruz (OF - $4,200), Mitch Garver (C/1B - $3,400)
As a team the Twins have the second-highest wOBA (.366) against left-handed pitching, behind only the Astros. Detwiler is coming off his best start of the season and that, coupled with the Rockies game, could make this a less popular stack in GPPs.
Rockies vs Red Sox (Rodriguez)
Arenado (3B - $4,500), Trevor Story (SS - $4,300), Ryan McMahon (2B - $3,500), Charlie Blackmon (OF - $4,400)
Boston is a -160 favorite in a game that features an over/under of 13.5 runs, likely making them a more popular stack than Colorado. Rodriguez comes into this game having thrown 14.1 scoreless innings over his last two starts (BAL, SD). As a result the Rockies might actually be overlooked, making them more of a contrarian play at home than usual. All four of these players rake against southpaws when at Coors Field. Believe it or not, it's Blackmon who has the best home split against left-handed pitching this season (.501 wOBA).
