DraftKings MLB: Friday Picks

DraftKings MLB: Friday Picks

This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.

PITCHER

Corey Kluber, CLE at CWS ($10,800): Kluber has been knocked around to begin the season, but his 6.38 ERA is largely the result of an ungodly 21 percent HR/FB rate, which is double the figure he kept in 2016. The White Sox have notched the second-lowest wOBA against righties this season, while striking out 25 percent of the time over 385 plate appearances.

Cole Hamels, TEX vs. KC ($9,300): The Royals entered competition Thursday with the third-lowest wOBA in the league before getting blanked for 13 innings by Andrew Cashner and friends. Hamels is another pitcher who has gotten off to a bit of a rough start, but his upside makes for a potentially nice scarcity play on a large slate.

CATCHER

Buster Posey, SF at COL ($5,100): Posey missed the required seven days while recovering from a concussion, but he has gone 5-for-9 in two games since returning to the lineup. Tyler Chatwood spun a complete game when he faced the Giants last week in San Francisco, but he may be without one of his weapons against Posey, as the All-Star backstop notched a 4.3 RAA against the cutter last season.

FIRST BASE

Anthony Rizzo, CHC at CIN ($5,300):Tim Adleman has been a serviceable starter in the minor leagues, but a lack of strikeouts and a 35 percent hard contact rate led to a 5.15 xFIP in 69.2 innings last season. Adleman has opened the season leaning heavily on his changeup, which could be good news for Rizzo, as he notched a 10.7 RAA against the pitch last year.

SECOND BASE

Jose Peraza, CIN vs. CHC ($3,600): Peraza hasn't gotten off to the fast start many had hoped for, but he may have a chance to get things going against a lefty, as he notched a .340 wOBA against his opposite hand in 52 at-bats last season. Almost any willing base stealer is worthy of a look against Jon Lester, and Peraza certainly qualifies, having swiped six bags in just 15 games this year.

THIRD BASE

Evan Longoria, TB vs. HOU ($4,100):Mike Fiers has been clubbed by righties his entire career, as evidenced by his 1.4 HR/9 rate and 34 percent hard contact rate. Longoria held a reverse split in 2016 in terms of power, finishing the year with a .262 ISO against same-handed pitchers.

SHORTSTOP

Aledmys Diaz, STL at MIL ($4,500): Some may be tempted to look at Wily Peralta's 2.65 ERA and think this is what we have all been waiting for, but a .174 BABIP against righties despite a 38 percent hard contact rate should give us an idea that regression is coming. Diaz has kept his power against righties despite a miserable start to the year overall, as he has a .261 ISO over 46 at-bats.

OUTFIELD

Aaron Judge, NYY at PIT ($3,500): Judge could be an option every day at this price, but a matchup against Tyler Glasnow makes him even more appealing, as he has walked seven batters over his 6.2 innings. Consider that he kept a 14 percent walk rate in Triple-A Indianapolis last season, and suddenly a future ace looks like a present stack target. Judge has kept a 5.8 RAA against the curveball, a pitch Glasnow threw 35 percent of the time in 23.1 innings with the big club in 2016.

Nelson Cruz, SEA at OAK ($4,200):Sean Manaea has his strikeout pitch working in 2017, but a walk rate of nearly 13 percent has contributed to a 5.51 ERA over three starts. Cruz demolished lefty pitchers in 2016, registering a .351 ISO and .419 wOBA over 218 plate appearances.

Jay Bruce, NYM vs. WAS ($3,400): A groundballer like Tanner Roark should be perfect for Bruce, who has hit the ball in the air a whopping 55 percent of the time in his 66 plate appearances this year. Bruce has always shown good power against righties, having tallied a .233 career ISO.

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. Christopher Olson plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: DraftKings: Sommerset, FanDuel: Christop, Yahoo: Martins.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Christopher Olson
Christopher Olson writes DFS articles and blogs for a variety of sports including MLB, NFL and MMA. Follow him on Twitter @RealChrisOlson
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