This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Saturday's slate feels rather chalky to me. Six pitchers check in at $8,600 or more, and all appear to offer favorable matchups. Similarly, there are five bats at $5,000 or greater, and six more at at least $4,600, none of which scream you should fade. Mix in juicy matchups in Colorado and a favorable spot for a potent Astros lineup, and there appear to be some great stacking options. In summary, there's a lot to choose from Saturday.
For those interested, we've started an MLB DFS Slack channel for paid RotoWire subscribers. (There is a season-long one as well.) To join those channels, e-mail support@rotowire.com.
PITCHER
Dallas Keuchel, HOU at CWS ($8,600): Keuchel appears to check in as the worst of the best, and I'd have no issue using anyone north of Keuchel in price Saturday in any format. Keuchel is inducing ground balls at a high rate, has 12 strikeouts over his last 12 innings and gets the backing of one of the league's most potent offenses against a struggling Lucas Giolito. There's a safe floor with winning upside here that doesn't need advanced stat to support the choice.
GPP Fade: Sean Manaea, OAK vs. BOS: ($8,200): Similar to Keuchel above where I trust everyone from him up in pricing, Manaea may be the first pitcher I don't trust when running through arms in price order. Quite simply, his early-season success does not appear sustainable after a 4.50 ERA a year ago. The potent Red Sox lineup offers a solid mix of left and right handed bats and is only striking out 18.1 percent of the time. There's more bust potential here than there is upside.
Cheap GPP Consideration: Julio Teheran, ATL vs. NYM ($6,000): There's no sugar coating Teheran's home/road splits since moving into Suntrust Park, he simply isn't good at home. But this game comes with a modest total of eight, and the Braves will need Teheran to match Jacob deGrom if they hope to be competitive. Teheran has 16 strikeouts over his last 12 innings, and the Mets are fanning 22.1percent of the time against righties. So long as Teheran doesn't combust, he's in a good spot to overproduce his tag.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Paul Goldschmidt, ARI vs. SDP ($4,600): The appeal here should be obvious despite the top-dollar price. Since the start of 2017, Goldschmidt leads D'Backs regulars with a .433 wOBA and 165 wRC+. He'll face Clayton Richard, who has allowed a .407 wOBA to righties, along with a 5.34 ERA since the start of 2017. Goldschmidt entered Friday having hit safely in 10 of his last 12. His ceiling and floor both appear worth paying for here.
SECOND BASE
Starlin Castro, MIA at MIL ($2,800): DFS 101 suggests paying up for power positions, while trying to save at non-premier spots, like the keystone. An ironic strategy given that five second basemen check in at $4,000 or higher with three more at at least $3,800. Castro posted a .358 wOBA and 123 wRC+ last year against lefties. He doesn't offer power upside, but there's clear 10-point potential in facing Brewers' starter Brent Suter and his 4.87 ERA.
THIRD BASE
Adrian Beltre, TEX vs. SEA ($3,300): Nine players check in at a higher price that Beltre at the hot corner, seemingly making him the epitome of a value play. While his power isn't what it once was, he still posted a .464 wOBA, 192 wRC+ and 1.124 OPS against southpaws last year. H2H stats aren't largely relevant, but at the worst, I'd encourage you to take a gander at Beltre's success against James Paxton.
SHORTSTOP
Jean Segura, SEA at TEX ($3,000): At worst, Segura seems like a safe cash league play. A matchup with Bartolo Colon shouldn't scare anyone off, and Segura brings a moderate .325 wOBA and 107 wRC+ from a year ago against righties. His spot near the top of the order paired with being priced at or lower than 15 others at this position bring some cost savings with seemingly a more stable floor than someone like Trevor Story ($3,700) or Zach Cozart ($3,300).
OUTFIELD
Justin Upton, LAA vs. SFG ($,900): Maybe one of the less obvious stacks of Saturday, the Angels have a prime matchup against Derek Holland, who simply can't get Major League hitters out. Since the start of 2016, he's owns a 6.56 road ERA while allowing a .397 wOBA to righties. Upton mashed lefties a year ago to the tune of a .472 wOBA, 201 wRC+ and .384 ISO.
Josh Reddick, HOU at CWS ($3,700): Any exposure to the Astros lineup feels like good exposure against a struggling Lucas Giolitto, who's allowed 11 runs over his first 18 innings. Reddick posted a .363 wOBA and 131 wRC+ while striking out only 12.1 percent of the time last year against righties, also showing better power with a .190 ISO compared to .087 against southpaws.
Albert Almora, CHC at COL ($3,200): You'll need to confirm his spot in the lineup, preferably near the top of the order, but Almora offers a cheap buy in in a Cubs' lineup against Tyler Anderson. Almora has a .394 wOBA and 144 wRC+ since the start of 2017, second only to Kris Bryant amongst Cubs with at least 100 plate appearances.
UTILITY
Eric Thames, MIL vs. MIA ($4,000): Thames flirts with automatic inclusion when facing righties, whom he posted a .390 wOBA and 138 wRC+ and .286 ISO against last year. Marlins' starter Jose Urena's early start is more in line with his 2016 struggles than his moderate 2017 success, and he owns a career 5.53 ERA while allowing a .343 wOBA to left-handed bats. Thames is a boom-or-bust option probably best suited in GPP lineups, but there's clear power upside Saturday.
