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Friday’s FantasyDraft slate contains 14 matchups and starts at 7pm. Neither game from the A’s-White Sox doubleheader is included.
Must Play SP: Alex Wood, LAD ($18,000) at NYM
With no true aces taking the hill on Friday, I’m turning to Wood as my must-start. His ERA looks much worse than it should, as Wood’s been hit with a very low 63.0% LOB-rate – his 3.30 FIP is a more accurate representation of his skills. The Mets are actually dead last in wOBA versus lefties with their .280 mark, and they’ve also got the second-highest K-rate at 25.6%. This is an incredibly friendly matchup for Wood.
Honorable Mention: Sean Newcomb, ATL ($20,600) vs BAL
Value SP: Shane Bieber, CLE ($16,700) vs DET
The Biebs was strong in his return to the rotation last time out, striking out seven Twins batters in five innings with only one earned run. He should continue his success against a Tigers lineup that has just a .299 wOBA versus righties. Against Mike Fiers, the Indians lineup should easily provide Bieber with a win. At this price, he can certainly return you some value.
Honorable Mention: Dallas Keuchel, HOU ($16,400) vs KC
IF Justin Bour, MIA ($8,400) at COL (RHP Jon Gray)
Bour isn’t all that expensive for a hitter going into Coors Field, the best hitter’s park in baseball. Bour mashes right-handed pitching, with a 141 wRC+ off righties this season. He could be in line to drive in some RBIs as the cleanup hitter in an extreme hitting environment. Opposing starter Jon Gray has a 6.45 home ERA.
Honorable Mention: IF Anthony Rendon, WAS ($7,800) vs PHI (Eflin)
OF Kyle Schwarber, LAD ($8,000) at CIN (RHP Luis Castillo)
Schwarber has three homers in the last week and can add to that total against Castillo, who has a 1.96 HR/9 this year. Schwarber has an .882 OPS against righties and gets to play in a great hitting ballpark for this matchup versus Castillo, owner of a 5.77 ERA. If the Cubs hang some runs on Castillo, Schwarber will definitely get some of the counting stats involved.
Honorable Mention: OF Marcell Ozuna, STL ($8,300) at MIL (Guerra)
Value: IF Carlos Santana, PHI ($7,500) at WAS (RHP Tanner Roark)
Santana has an .843 OPS in the last month and just feels way too cheap at this price. He’s got a higher walk-rate (16.9%) than K-rate (13.3%) and is getting dragged down by a .222 BABIP right now. Santana will be batting cleanup against Roark, who has a 4.42 FIP. Santana is great in cash formats for his high floor.
Honorable Mention: IF Kyle Seager, SEA ($7,700) at BOS (Wright)
Top Stack: Indians vs Tigers (RHP Mike Fiers)
Fiers has a 4.89 FIP this season with just a 17.3% K-rate. The Indians have plenty of elite bats to choose from, including Michael Brantley ($9,100) and Edwin Encarnacion ($9,400), while their cheaper options include Yonder Alonso ($7,600) and Lonnie Chisenhall ($6,600).
Honorable Mention: Nationals vs Phillies (Eflin)