FantasyDraft MLB: Saturday Values

FantasyDraft MLB: Saturday Values

This article is part of our FantasyDraft MLB series.

PITCHER:

Max Scherzer, WAS at MIL ($26,000): Despite being the highest-priced option on the evening slate, Scherzer's upside makes him a viable play against a Brewers team that has a 28.3 percent K% against righties at home in the last month. Scherzer has also been at his best on the road, posting a 1.79 ERA, .154 BAA, 12.3 K/9 and .230 wOBA allowed in 85.2 innings.

Brad Peacock, HOU vs. NYM ($21,300): Peacock offers strikeout upside against a Mets team that has a .287 wOBA and 28.2 percent hard contact rate against right-handed pitching on the road over the last two weeks. Meanwhile, Peacock has a 3.35 ERA, .211 BAA and .288 wOBA allowed at home, along with a 12.6 K/9 in 45.2 innings.

INFIELD

Joey Votto, CIN at PIT ($9,600): Votto has a .434 wOBA and 38.1 percent hard contact rate against right-handed pitching, while Pirates starter Jameson Taillon has allowed a .362 wOBA to left-handed hitters. He also had a 6.60 ERA and allowed a .380 wOBA over six starts in August, a month in which Votto tallied a season-best .475 wOBA and 40.0 percent hard contact rate.

Joey Gallo, TEX vs. LAA ($8,100): Gallo will face Angels starter Ricky Nolasco, who's allowed a .357 wOBA, 5.67 xFIP and 36.7 percent hard contact rate to left-handed hitters on the road this year. He's also allowed a 41.9 percent fly-ball rate in that scenario, while Gallo has a .369 wOBA and .368 ISO versus righties, along with a 31.9 percent HR/FB rate against them at Globe Life Park.

Steve Pearce, TOR at BAL ($6,000): Pearce's price is hard to pass up, considering he boasts a .369 wOBA, .286 ISO, 37.5 percent HR/FB rate and 48.4 percent hard contact rate versus left-handed pitching outside of Rogers Centre. Orioles lefty Wade Miley checks in allowing a .367 wOBA (including 18 homers) to right-handed hitters, and he's been touched up by Pearce for a .412 batting average over 17 plate appearances.

OUTFIELD

Charlie Blackmon, COL vs. ARI ($10,200): Blackmon is completely immune to same-handed matchups, with his .499 wOBA, .350 ISO and 40.0 percent hard contact rate against southpaws at Coors Field serving as compelling evidence. Diamondbacks starter Patrick Corbin has allowed a .351 wOBA, 41.7 percent HR/FB rate and 32.6 percent hard contact rate to lefty bats on the road, as well as a .375 batting average over 24 plate appearances to Blackmon. Additionally, D-Backs relievers have allowed a .351 wOBA (including six homers) and have a 5.47 ERA against lefty bats on the road in the last month.

Adam Duvall, CIN at PIT ($8,100): Duvall is also in a favorable situation against Taillon, who's allowed a .369 wOBA and 36.1 percent hard contact rate to right-handed hitters at PNC Park. Duvall counters with a .350 wOBA, .298 ISO and 37.0 percent hard contact rate versus righties on the road. He's also enjoyed success against Taillon in the past, posting a .375 batting average, including two homers, over 17 plate appearances. Additionally, Pirates relievers have a 4.61 ERA while allowing a .335 wOBA (including eight homers) to righty bats at home in the last month.

Carlos Gomez, TEX vs. LAA ($7,200): Gomez has decimated right-handed pitching at Globe Life Park, as evidenced by his .435 wOBA, .298 ISO, 28.6 percent HR/FB rate and 43.4 percent hard contact rate. Those numbers match up very well with those of Angels starter Ricky Nolasco, who's given up a .429 wOBA (including 12 homers), 35.3 percent HR/FB rate and 43.8 percent hard contact rate to right-handed hitters on the road.

UTILITY

Giancarlo Stanton, MIA vs. PHI ($11,100): Stanton continues his 60-homer push Saturday against Aaron Nola, who's allowed a 31.8 percent hard contact rate to right-handed hitters on the road. Meanwhile, Stanton has a .418 wOBA, .349 ISO, 33.3 percent HR/FB rate and 39.0 percent hard contact rate against right-handed hitters at home. Additionally, he's also coming off a month of August when he posted a season-high .523 wOBA and .550 ISO, numbers partly comprised of 18 homers.

Mike Moustakas, KC at MIN ($7,500): Moustakas, who has a .346 batting average in 30 career plate appearances against Twins starter Kyle Gibson, has smacked 27 homers versus right-handed pitching, and he has a .384 wOBA, .337 ISO, 23.9 percent HR/FB rate and 39.3 percent hard contact rate against right-handed pitching on the road. Meanwhile, Gibson's struggles against left-handed hitters at home are evidenced by the .413 wOBA, 5.36 xFIP and 33.6 percent hard contact rate he's yielded to that handedness at Target Field.

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. Juan Carlos Blanco plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: DraftKings: jcblanco22, FanDuel: jc_blanco22, DraftPot: jc_blanco22, FantasyDraft: jc_blanco22, OwnThePlay: jcblanco22.
RotoWire Community
Join Our Subscriber-Only MLB Chat
Chat with our writers and other RotoWire MLB fans for all the pre-game info and in-game banter.
Join The Discussion
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Juan Carlos Blanco
Winner of the FSWA 2016 Newcomer of the Year Award, Juan Carlos Blanco has been playing fantasy sports for over 20 years and covers NBA, MLB, NFL, CFL and Arena Football for Rotowire.com, including serving as the beat writer for teams in multiple sports. He has previously written for KFFL.com and remains an avid season-long and daily fantasy player in multiple sports as well.
Farm Futures: Rookie Outfielder Rankings
Farm Futures: Rookie Outfielder Rankings
Offseason Deep Dives: Reynaldo Lopez
Offseason Deep Dives: Reynaldo Lopez
Offseason Deep Dives: Hunter Greene
Offseason Deep Dives: Hunter Greene
Farm Futures: November Dynasty Mailbag!
Farm Futures: November Dynasty Mailbag!
All-Bust Fantasy Team: Relief Pitchers
All-Bust Fantasy Team: Relief Pitchers
Collette Calls: Thinking About Pitchers Returning From Injuries
Collette Calls: Thinking About Pitchers Returning From Injuries