Pitcher List is excited to be partnering with FantasyDraft, featuring advice articles every morning through the entirety of the 2018 season. Signup and play for free at FantasyDraft.
We’ve got a near-full Friday night slate on FantasyDraft tonight with 14 matchups. Only the early CIN-CHC game is not included. We’ve also got a late slate covering four games starting at 9:40 pm eastern.
Must Play SP: Jacob deGrom, NYM ($25,000) vs TB
There are plenty of elite level pitching options to choose from tonight. I’ll take deGrom out of the bunch as he takes on the Rays. Tampa Bay is the weakest lineup that any of the top four (Sale, deGrom, McCullers, Carrasco) are facing and he doesn’t carry the price tag of Sale or the risk of Carrasco coming off of the DL. The Rays have just a .306 wOBA versus righties this year and deGrom gets to face them in a pitcher’s park at home. deGrom’s numbers are stupid good this year, with a 2.16 Deserved Run Average, a 2.23 FIP, and a 31.5% K-rate. He’s one of the best investments you can make.
Honorable Mention: Chris Sale, BOS ($27,400) at KC
Value SP: Zack Godley, ARI ($16,900) vs SD
If your reaction to Godley is “ugh, why?,” I certainly don’t blame you. However, that’s exactly where his value comes from – Godley has completely bottomed out after his last start, making this start the perfect buy low opportunity. After all, the Padres are the second-worst lineup in all of baseball against righties with a .288 wOBA. Their 25.8% K-rate is also the second-highest mark. There’s some serious upside here, making Godley worth a look in GPP contests.
Honorable Mention: Freddy Peralta, LAA ($19,900) vs ATL
IF Justin Turner, LAD ($8,000) at LAA (RHP Felix Pena)
It’s surprising that JT’s price has yet to correct, as he’s been mashing the ball over the last 15 days, batting ..310 with a .968 OPS and three homers. He’s in an awesome spot as the Dodgers three-hitter where he can rack up runs and RBIs against Felix Pena. Pena has been solid through five appearances this year but still has a career 4.62 ERA and has done little to show that he’s a MLB caliber starter. Turner is an elite hitter at a sub-elite price with a good matchup.
Honorable Mention: IF Matt Adams, WAS ($7,600) vs MIA (Straily)
OF Andrew Benintendi, BOS ($8,900) at KC (RHP Jason Hammel)
Benintendi is a guy that I have no problem spending to get. He obliterates right-handed pitching, as he’s got a 142 wRC+ against them this year. His power/speed combo, with 13 homers and 16 steals, is a rare fantasy asset, and batting second in the Red Sox order is just about the best spot you can be for counting stats. Opposing starter Jason Hammel has a 5.56 ERA, so there’s a good chance the Red Sox lineup has a big day against him, and Benintendi should be involved.
Honorable Mention: OF Marcell Ozuna, STL ($7,300) at SF (Rodriguez)
Value: OF Brett Gardner, NYY ($6,600) at TOR (RHP Sam Gaviglio)
It’s pretty crazy that there’s any leadoff hitter at this low of a price, as their plate appearances alone give them lots of DFS value. While Gardner is only roughly average at the plate, his spot as the Yankees number one hitter will score him lots of runs. He’s in a fantastic hitter’s park in Toronto against Gaviglio, owner of a 4.41 FIP.
Honorable Mention: OF Adam Jones, BAL ($6,900) at MIN (Lynn)
Top Stack: Nationals vs Marlins (RHP Dan Straily)
After hanging 14 runs on the Marlins last night, it’s tough not to go back to the Nationals lineup for more. Dan Straily has an awful 5.87 FIP through 12 starts this season, a perfect stack candidate. The Nats have some affordable bats in Matt Adams ($7,600), Daniel Murphy ($8,200), and Adam Eaton ($8,300) to go with top-end guys like Bryce Harper ($9,600) and Trea Turner ($9,300).
Honorable Mention: Indians vs Athletics (Blackburn)