A busy 12-game main slate comes your way at FanDuel Friday evening, with first pitch at 7:05 p.m. EDT. It’s absolutely loaded atop the pitching options, with Garrett Crochet ($11,000) leading five arms priced in five-figures with five more priced at $9,000 or greater.
The Mets (-205) are the slate’s biggest favorite, which could offer some pitching value, followed by the Padres (-176). Coors Field is present, so to no surprise, we’ve got an 11.5 run total there to consider. No other game is north of 9.0 runs, while four games sit at 7.5 or 7.0. Weather overall looks like a nonfactor with no clearly favorable winds, and only rain chances in Minnesota, which aren’t significant.
Pitching
Hunter Brown, HOU vs. SEA ($10,400): Use Crochet if you can afford him, know many, particularly in cash formats, will look toward Dylan Cease ($10,200) against the White Sox. But we’ve got a massive series in the AL West race here with two aces on the mound and a low 7.5 run total. With an expected playoff atmosphere, the likelihood of a tight, low scoring affair is viable. Brown is cheaper than his adversary and has turned in six straight quality starts, confidently allowing us to assume volume innings. He did face the Mariners previously, and it wasn’t elite but Brown has a fair floor and ceiling.
Brandon Sproat, NYM vs. WSH ($9,200): He’ll likely be a popular pivot off of Cease for savings in cash formats, as Sproat has a soft matchup against a Nationals lineup that looks like it’s packed it in. He’s worked six innings in both of his Major League starts, striking out 10. A third straight quality start is certainly possible, as is picking up his first win, which could allow Sproat to better a 4x return.
Jacob Misiorowski, MIL at STL ($8,800): With so many quality options, I do feel like paying a decent chunk of your budget for a pitcher is required. And this pick in Misiorowski is all about upside and the potential to match or better the options above him. He’s not in great form, allowing at least three runs in five of his last six, including four to the Cardinals in his last start. But he averages 12.2 K/9 and can give us 40-plus FDP even with elevated walk totals and five innings.
Top Targets
Though he doesn’t have targetable splits, Philadelphia’s Taijuan Walker has allowed at least four runs and seven hits in four straight starts. Corbin Carroll ($4,200) and Geraldo Perdomo ($3,900) are amongst the hottest hitters out there. Perdomo has an eight-game hitting streak where he’s also walked eight times. Carroll has eight hits, six walks, three steals and five runs in his last six.
Byron Buxton ($4,100) has been a near automatic play against lefties, sporting a .439 wOBA, 185 wRC+ and .391 ISO. He’s hit safely in 16 of his last 18.
Bargain Bats
The Angels lineup isn’t trustworthy, and they have a slight Coors Field pricing boost. They also have no left-handers to target the massive struggles Rockies’ starter Bradley Blalock has had against them (.550 wOBA), so we’re going out on a limb. But we also likely want a piece. Christian Moore ($3,000) has two homers and two doubles in his last four.
Miami’s Janson Junk has allowed at least three runs in nine straight starts, but do we trust the Rangers enough to stack? They’re certainly priced for us to do so. Josh Jung ($2,900) has quietly strung together a nice week of form with six hits and five RBI, but any of their starters can help round out your build.
It’s a deep BvP dart throw, but Enrique Hernandez ($2,400) is 14-for-57 (.246) but has homered five times off Robbie Ray.
Stacks to Consider
Mets vs. Andrew Alvarez (Nationals): Juan Soto ($4,300), Francisco Lindor ($3,700), Pete Alonso ($3,400)
The Mets’ 5.7 run expectancy is the second-highest on the slate. This stack is incredibly expensive, but Alvarez is due to be knocked around, as his 1.15 ERA comes with an elevated 4.46 xFIP, he walks too many (3.5 per nine) and doesn’t miss bats (6.3 per nine). Taking the Mets big three obviously comes with big potential, and they are all in terrific form. Alonso has homered in four straight, Lindor has a seven-game hitting streak, and Soto has six hits in his last five, including two homers.
Blue Jays vs. Michael Lorenzen (Royals): George Springer ($3,800), Vladimir Guerrero ($3,600), Alejandro Kirk ($2,700)
Lorenzen has allowed 24 runs in his last five starts. There’s not a lot of BvP history here, and the Blue Jays aren’t tearing the cover off the ball as they seemingly coast into the postseason, but it’s a favorable spot to consider this trio. Kirk helps balance the budget and should hit close enough to the other two to drive them in. Springer has a team-best .411 wOBA, 167 wRC+ and .242 ISO off righties, and Guerrero sits at .365/135/.178.
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