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). There aren't a lot of day games Saturday, so let's concentrate on the evening slate for DraftKings.
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PITCHER
Kenta Maeda, LAD at SD ($11,400): Maeda has a 1.48 WHIP this season, but a lot of that has to do with opponents posting an abnormally high .380 BABIP against him. He's also allowed a 39.7 percent hard-hit rate, which is about 10 percentage points higher than his career mark. He normally does a great job limiting baserunners, finishing with a 1.15 WHIP or lower in both of his previous two seasons. Not only does he only have a 2.5 BB/9 for his career, but he also has strikeout upside with a 9.4 career K/9. This will mark his second start of the season against the Padres, and although he allowed four runs in 5.2 innings in the first game, he finished with 10 strikeouts. The Padres are in the bottom third of baseball this season in runs scored, making Maeda a great option.
GPP Fade: Trevor Cahill, OAK vs. BAL ($8,000): Cahill split last year between the Padres and Royals and did not pitch well, finishing with a 4.93 ERA and 1.62 WHIP. He's had problems limiting baserunners in his career, registering a 1.37 WHIP overall. He's only made three starts this season and while his 3.00 ERA looks nice, it should be noted that opponents have just a .250 BABIP against him. His price has jumped up significantly, so it might be best to avoid him.
Cheap GPP Consideration: Brandon McCarthy, ATL vs. SF ($7,600): McCarthy has had problems staying healthy, totaling 155.2 innings in his last three seasons. He pitched well when healthy last year, recording a 3.98 ERA, 3.28 FIP and 1.25 WHIP in 92.2 innings. While he's not a big strikeout pitcher, he helped his cause by throwing a first-pitch strike to 65.1 percent of the hitters he faced last year. His numbers don't jump off the page this season, but he has allowed three earned runs or fewer in all six of his starts. He takes on one of the worst offenses in baseball in the Giants, leaving him someone to consider in tournament play.
CATCHER
Robinson Chirinos, TEX vs. BOS ($3,400): Chirinos has struggled this season and a lot of it is because of his increased strikeout rate. He's still hitting for power, though, slugging six home runs and six doubles. He was excellent against left-handed pitchers in 2017, finishing with a 193 wRC+. At this price, he might be worth the risk against Eduardo Rodriguez.
FIRST BASE
Cody Bellinger, LAD at SD ($4,200): Bryan Mitchell takes the mound for the Padres, which should immediately make you think about stacking Dodgers hitters. Mitchell allows a ton of baserunners with a career 1.68 WHIP and doesn't have an overpowering pitch arsenal with a career 5.5 K/9. Bellinger has followed his .383 wOBA against righties in 2017 with an identical mark this year, so don't hesitate to put him into your entry.
SECOND BASE
Jed Lowrie, OAK vs. BAL ($4,400): Lowrie is off to a tremendous start this season, but a lot of that has to do with an unsustainably high BABIP and hard-hit rate. That said, Saturday he faces righty Kevin Gausman, who allowed a .350 wOBA to lefties last year. Lowrie finished with a .353 wOBA against righties in 2017 as well, giving him upside Saturday.
THIRD BASE
Colin Moran, PIT at MIL ($3,500): Moran didn't hit for a ton of power in the minors, but he did have a .290 average in almost 2,000 plate appearances. He entered Friday batting .286 this year with a .349 wOBA against right-handed pitchers. He faces Jhoulys Chacin, who didn't fare as well against lefties last year, allowing a .338 wOBA.
SHORTSTOP
Andrelton Simmons, LAA at SEA ($3,900): Known for his defensive prowess, Simmons entered 2018 batting at least .278 in back-to-back seasons. He faces Marco Gonzales, who struggles against righties, allowing a career .382 wOBA against them. If you don't want to pay up for one of the top-tier shortstops, Simmons is a viable secondary option with upside.
OUTFIELD
Ronald Acuna Jr., ATL vs. SF ($4,800): Acuna has lived up to the hype since being called up and is helped tremendously by hitting between Ozzie Albies and Freddie Freeman in the Braves' lineup. He faces lefty Ty Blach, who doesn't have dominating stuff with just a 4.3 K/9 for his career. Although he held lefties to a .261 wOBA last year, righties had much more success with a .350 wOBA.
Justin Upton, LAA at SEA ($4,200): Upton is another Angels' right-handed bat who makes a lot of sense Saturday. With Gonzales' struggles against righties already detailed, Upton also crushed lefties for a 201 wRC+ in 2017. He's not cheap, but he won't bust your budget either.
Corey Dickerson, PIT at MIL ($4,200): It's still hard to believe the Rays gave away Dickerson for so little. He's following his first All-Star campaign in 2017 with a great start this year, hitting for both average and power. He's excelled against righties over the course of his career, recording a .364 wOBA against them compared to only .309 against lefties. The duo of Moran and Dickerson could provide a valuable return against Chacin.
