FantasyDraft MLB: Friday Picks

FantasyDraft MLB: Friday Picks

This article is part of our FantasyDraft MLB series.

Friday's slate at FantasyDraft has over $12,000 in guaranteed contests up for grabs. Below, we'll help identify players that can help you earn a piece of that pie.

For those unfamiliar with FantasyDraft's MLB product, click through for the scoring/rules and available contest types.

FantasyDraft's roster construction is as follows: two pitchers, three infielders (can be anyone listed as a catcher, first base, second base, third base, or shortstop), three outfielders and two utility spots.

FantasyDraft offers contests at a benefit to players by placing a multi-entry cap on tournaments. This allows just a few lineups per player to be entered, making for a more level playing field in terms of how many entries one player owns.

There are six big tournaments on FantasyDraft for Friday's slate:

-- $4,000 Called Up - $25 Entry
-- $2,400 Brushback - $12 Entry
-- $2,500 Line Drive - $5 Entry
-- $1,500 Slider - $3 Entry
-- $1,000 Two Seamer - $2 Entry
-- $500 Ace - $1 Entry

There is a larger payout zone on FantasyDraft, meaning you have an even better chance of cashing. In the $5 tournament, 139 entries are paid out. That is 25 percent of the total field, or five percent higher than most tournaments pay. There has been some overlay on FantasyDraft, so be sure to get into those tournaments for a higher chance of cashing.

Each week, RotoWire will provide picks and analysis for players to target on FantasyDraft for your DFS MLB lineups.

Pitcher

Value Play

Taylor Jungmann, MIL, $15,000

Jungmann has been incredible for the Brewers since being called up in June. In nine starts, he has posted a 2.14 ERA and 1.05 WHIP to go along with 46 strikeouts in 59 innings. He wasn't a big strikeout pitcher in the minors, but Jungmann has seen a jump in the big leagues.

Jungmann has been remarkably consistent, allowing more than two earned runs just one time in his nine starts, making him an excellent target in cash games on FantasyDraft.

He faces a Cubs offense that has hit just .221 as a team in the last month and strikes out among the most in baseball against right-handed pitching at over 24 percent. A consistent pitcher at a discounted price in a good matchup makes for an excellent play, so be sure to consider Jungmann for your lineups.

Top Play

Clayton Kershaw, LAD, $24,400

What more can be said about the Dodgers' ace? His last three starts have been something out of a video game, with 26 innings pitched, 14 hits allowed, no walks, and 38 strikeouts. In those three starts, he has averaged over 49 fantasy points per game on FantasyDraft.

Kershaw has been consistent for a much longer stretch than just the past two weeks, notching at least seven strikeouts in every start since May 10th, which took place in Coors Field. He has seven or more strikeouts in all but two of his starts this season, and has allowed more than three earned runs just three times.

Kershaw is expensive, but as the most consistent pitcher in the game with arguably the highest upside, he's well worth the price. He will match up against the Angels on Friday, who lose the designated hitter in a National League ballpark. The Angels are hitting just .244 against left-handed pitching this season.

Infield

Value Play

Logan Forsythe, TB, $7,200

Forsythe has been a staple as a value play against left-handed pitching this season. He routinely bats in the middle of the Rays lineup against lefties, most times in the cleanup spot, which gives him the most chances at a potentially productive at-bat.

Forsythe has a .406 wOBA (weighted on-base average) and a massive isolated power rating of .320 against left-handed pitching. As one of the top hitters against left-handers in baseball, Forsythe is a solid value each time a southpaw takes the hill.

On Friday, he will face the left-handed Eduardo Rodriguez, who has given up five home runs in his last three starts. The game takes place in Fenway Park, which is one of the better hitting parks in baseball. Given Forsythe's ability to hit the ball for power against left-handed pitching, Fenway is a perfect park for his matchup.

Top Play

Todd Frazier, CIN, $9,600

Despite being expensive, Frazier is an excellent hitter to pay up for if you have the cap space. As one of the top power hitters in baseball, Frazier is always in play, but his Friday matchup makes him a top option in the infield.

Frazier faces lefty Jeff Locke, who has allowed right-handed batters to hit .267 this season. This doesn't seem like an outstanding number, but consider the other side, as Frazier has a .424 wOBA and an absurd isolated power rating of .414 while facing southpaws.

As an added bonus for BvP fans, he is 9-for-20 with three extra-base hits against Locke in his career.

Outfield

Value Play

Adonis Garcia, ATL, $3,900

Garcia has been a value for the last few days, and his salary is incredibly low once again. Garcia has been hitting fourth for the Braves and has at least one hit in four of five starts.

He will face David Buchanan on Friday, which makes him an even better value play. Buchanan has allowed righties to hit .321 against him this season. Right-handed hitters hit with more success against Buchanan, and with Garcia batting cleanup in a favorable matchup, he makes for a top value on FantasyDraft.

Top Play

Adam Eaton, CWS, $7,800

Eaton isn't one of the more expensive players on FantasyDraft, but that does not make him any less of a quality play. He has been on fire of late, notching a hit in 12 of his last 13 games, including eight straight contests. In addition, Eaton has seven games in a row with 10 or more fantasy points, and he has the ability to score in many different ways.

As a leadoff hitter, Eaton gets the most at-bats for the White Sox. He can hit for average, he has some power (five extra base hits in the last seven games) and he steals bases, which is a massive upgrade in value on FantasyDraft, as it is five points.

The left-handed Eaton faces Nathan Eovaldi, who has allowed left-handed batters to hit .343 and reach base at a .399 clip this season. Given that Eaton will have the most at-bats against a pitcher allowing a ton of base runners, he makes for a great play in all of your lineups.

What are you waiting for? Join FantasyDraft today and get in on the fun!

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Josh Collacchi
Josh previously was a manager at Gambling.com Group and has spent over a decade in the fantasy sports, daily fantasy sports, and legal sports betting industry.
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