This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
The players featured in this piece are building blocks who can work in several lineup configurations (cash and GPP). There are 15 games on the schedule Saturday, but only seven make up the main slate on DraftKings.
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PITCHER
Yu Darvish, CHC at MIA ($12,200): We've reached the third game of the season for some teams, so the depth of quality pitchers available in DFS is starting to dwindle. And with only seven games on the main slate, Darvish is the most expensive option for a good reason. He has excellent strikeout upside, posting a K/9 of at least 10.1 in every season of his career. Facing a depleted Marlins lineup, he's a great option in both cash and GPP lineups.
GPP Fade: Zack Greinke, ARI vs. COL ($10,100): Greinke battled a groin injury during spring, but managed to throw 75 pitchers in six innings in his final turn before the start of the regular season. He showed a lack of velocity during spring, putting some fear into owners who drafted him in season-long fantasy. He's the second most expensive pitcher on the slate, but he hasn't been a consistent source for strikeouts with a K/9 of 8.1 or lower in two of the last three seasons. The Rockies lineup has quality depth, so this might not be the day to pay up for Greinke.
Cheap GPP Consideration: Lucas Giolito, CWS at KC ($8,700): Giolito had a strong spring, finishing with a 2.04 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 17 innings. Although he hasn't been a dominant strikeout pitcher in his brief major league career, he did have a 9.6 K/9 in almost 500 innings in the minors. Between free-agent departures and Salvador Perez (knee) being on the DL, the Royals lineup isn't very deep. Giolito isn't dirt cheap, but he's still priced low enough where he can provide value.
CATCHER
Welington Castillo, CWS at KC ($3,500): Castillo was limited to just 96 games last year, but still hit 20 home runs with a .344 wOBA. He faces Ian Kennedy in Kauffman Stadium on Saturday, a place where Kennedy allowed 19 home runs in just 71 innings last season. Lineup placement usually isn't great for catchers, but Castillo did bat sixth in Chicago's opener Thursday.
FIRST BASE
Anthony Rizzo, CHC at MIA ($5,200): Stacking Cubs hitters against the lowly Marlins in their first series of the season has been a popular idea this week, and while it paid off Thursday in the opener, that wasn't the case Friday. Rizzo and the Cubs face Odrisamer Despaigne on Saturday, who allowed a .350 wOBA to lefties last year. Rizzo mashed righties with a .382 wOBA in 2017, which ranked in the top 30 in the majors.
SECOND BASE
Joe Panik, SF at LAD ($3,400): Panik will bat leadoff against right-handed pitchers this season, so expect him to be in that spot against Kenta Maeda on Saturday. Panik is a better hitter against righties, posting a .337 wOBA against them last year compared to a .309 wOBA against lefties. The price is right to take a chance on him, especially in GPP.
THIRD BASE
Manny Machado, BAL vs. MIN ($4,900): Machado faces Kyle Gibson on Saturday, who struggled to keep right-handers hitters inside the park last year. While Gibson had only an 11.4 percent HR/FB rate against lefties last year, righties crushed him for a staggering 28.3 percent. Machado had an off season in 2017 with a .322 wOBA against right-handed pitching, but he had at least a .352 wOBA against righties in each of the previous three seasons.
SHORTSTOP
Corey Seager, LAD vs. SF ($4,200): The Giants suffered two big injuries to their starting rotation before the season even began, resulting in Derek Holland making the team as a non-roster invitee out of spring training after a poor season with the White Sox in 2017. Seager excelled against same-handed pitchers last year by posting a 144 wRC+ against them, so don't let the fact that Holland is a southpaw scare you away from considering Seager.
OUTFIELD
David Peralta, ARI vs. COL ($4,400): Peralta is a much better hitter against right-handers, posting a .353 wOBA against them in 2017 compared to just .311 against lefties. He also had a 36 percent hard-hit rate against righties compared to 19.6 percent against lefties. Rockies right-hander German Marquez is in for a tough task against Peralta on Saturday.
Jon Jay, KC vs. CWS ($3,500): Jay batted leadoff Thursday in the season opener and should continue to do so against right-handed starters. He doesn't hit for much power, but he posted a .374 OBP for the Cubs last season. He won't have a ton of great players hitting behind him, but he's priced low enough to still consider for your entry.
Kike Hernandez, LAD vs. SF ($3,300): With Holland's terrible splits against righties, it makes sense to stack Dodgers. Hernandez sat against left-hander Alex Wood on Friday, but batted cleanup against another southpaw in Ty Blach on Thursday. Hernandez hits lefties especially well, posting a 144 wRC+ against them in 2017. If he's back in the lineup Saturday, he can provide value at this price.
