This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
The players featured in this piece will be building blocks that can work in several lineup configurations (cash and GPP). This is an atypical Friday, since it's the second day of the regular season and several teams were given scheduled off days in case inclement weather delayed their season openers.
To that end, while DraftKings is offering an early slate for the make-up games in Detroit (Tigers-Pirates) and Cincinnati (Nats-Reds), I'm focusing entirely on the evening Main slate.
For those interested, we've started an MLB DFS Slack channel for paid RotoWire subscribers. (There is a season-long one as well.) To join those channels, e-mail support@rotowire.com.
Pitcher
Robbie Ray, AZ v. COL ($8,700) -- Admittedly, I had a difficult time paying up for Ray as a top 10-15 starting pitcher in drafts this spring, but the D-backs' installation of a humidor at Chase Field makes me much more comfortable with Ray than I would have been without it. Ray led all qualified starters (58 of them) in hard-hit rate (40.4%) last season, and among the benefits of storing baseballs in a humidor, is a significantly reduced exit velocity on batted balls. With double-digit strikeout rates in each of the last two seasons, Ray has a ceiling in any given matchup to help bring down a GPP, but at this price, he's very cash-lineup friendly.
Also in play among the pricey starters: Dallas Keuchel at TEX ($11,800), Alex Wood vs. SFG ($10,400), Kyle Hendricks at MIA ($9,900)
GPP Fade: Blake Snell, TB vs. BOS ($6,800) -- I'm on board with 2018 being a breakout year from Snell, and it seems like plenty of members of the fantasy community share that belief. In addition to lowering his walk rate down the stretch last season, Snell racked up an impressive 27:5 K:BB over 17.1 frames this spring. The Red Sox were already a tough matchup for lefties last season because they did a good job avoiding strikeouts (17.1% K% vs. LHP), and now they've added J.D. Martinez to the mix. If you're more comfortable going cheap with your second pitcher in cash games, by all means, but the ownership rate should be very high in tournaments.
Cheap GPP Consideration: Johnny Cueto, SF at LAD ($7,900) -- The hope here is that the masses flock to Blake Snell and ignore Cueto in what is a fairly difficult road spot. It's fair to wonder, however, if the Dodgers sans Justin Turner can be picked on in tournaments early this season.
Catcher
There's no real argument against Willson Contreras other than price ($4,800), since Gary Sanchez ($4,700) gets a tougher matchup against Aaron Sanchez.
Brian McCann, HOU at TEX ($3,400) -- Doug Fister was much better than you probably think against right-handed hitters last season (.264 wOBA allowed), but lefties crushed him to the tune of a .389 wOBA including a 1.68 HR/9. Lineup placement is generally poor for catchers, but McCann should hit a little higher (eighth?) in the order against Fister than he did against lefty Cole Hamels on Opening Day when he hit ninth.
First Base
Freddie Freeman, ATL vs. PHI ($4,500) -- Phillies starter Nick Pivetta was awful against lefties last season and Freeman is a monster anyway, which puts him in the conversation for a lineup spot in pretty much any situation when he's not facing an ace. He could easily cost $5,000+ in this matchup, especially when you consider how SunTrust Park boosted left-handed power in its inaugural year.
Second Base
Ozzie Albies, ATL vs. PHI ($3,600) -- An extremely talented player with a hold on the No. 2 spot in a lineup is going to draw a ton of interest. The switch-hitting Albies will give the Braves four options from the left side of the plate atop to the lineup Friday, putting a ton of pressure on Phillies starter Nick Pivetta given his aforementioned struggles. Enjoy the discount on Albies while it lasts, as he has the talent to quickly land in the $4,000-4,500 range on a day-to-day basis in the weeks ahead.
Third Base
Zack Cozart, LAA at OAK ($4,000) -- It's easy to look at Cozart's success over the last two seasons in Cincinnati and attribute it to the homer-inducing Great American Ball Park. Of the 40 homers he hit between 2016 and 2017, 21 were hit on the road compared to 19 at home. Further, the Angels used him as their leadoff hitter on Opening Day when Ian Kinsler was on the bench with a groin injury. While Kinsler may return to action Friday, Cozart should be a relatively unheralded option at the position on a day when plenty of owners will build around Kris Bryant ($5,400 at MIA) or look at Marcus Semien ($3,600 vs. LAA) as alternatives.
Shortstop
Didi Gregorius, NYY at TOR ($3,900) -- Gregorius will likely be overshadowed by Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez all year. Much like Cozart, the home-road split in his power production doesn't look the way you would expect (45 homers over the last two season -- 23 at home, 22 on the road). Friday's starter Aaron Sanchez looked healthy and effective in spring training, and when he's pitching well, he's able to keep the ball in the yard thanks to his heavy two-seam fastball.
Outfield
Stephen Piscotty, OAK vs. LAA ($3,300) -- Several injuries impacted Piscotty's performance last season, but he showed improved plate discipline despite a decline in production. Traded to the A's this winter, Piscotty is now closer to his mother, who was diagnosed with ALS last year. Being healthy, and getting an opportunity to play closer to home, should ultimately help him regain the form he showed in 2016, when he swatted 22 homers and hit .273/.343/.457 over 153 games for the Cardinals. The A's hit him sixth in the season opener against Garrett Richards, and it's possible that Piscotty will move up in the order with lefty Tyler Skaggs taking the ball for the Halos on Friday. Skaggs' Achilles heel throughout his career has been a propensity to give up long balls to righties (1.45 HR/9), which bodes well for an Oakland lineup that can mix-and-match effectively.
Manuel Margot, SD vs. MIL ($3,400) -- While Margot does not have the platoon advantage against Brewers starter Jhoulys Chacin, he should be in the leadoff spot again Friday after going 1-for-4 with a walk on Opening Day. As Eno Sarris pointed out in a January piece at FanGraphs, Margot increased his launch angle in the second half of last season. The stolen-base upside takes a slight hit in this matchup since Brewers catcher Manny Pina effectively controls the running game, but the lineup placement is key here given the very low price on a rising talent.
Domingo Santana, MIL at SD ($4,000) -- The Padres are throwing rookie left-hander Joey Lucchesi into the fire for his MLB debut on Friday night. There are more difficult places to take the ball against big-league hitters for the first time than Petco Park, and the scouting reports on Lucchesi are very positive about his command, makeup, and mound presence, but it's still good price for a good power bat in a strong lineup. Santana posted a 130 wRC+ against southpaws last season, and Petco's homer-reducing lean is much worse for left-handed hitters (three-year park index of 75) than it is for righties (97).
