This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
With Major League Baseball's decision to build a few extra off-days into the schedule, Opening Day was moved up to Thursday this year. Since the weather is wildly unpredictable in many MLB markets in late March, the second day of the regular season (usually a Tuesday) is left open for several clubs in case their season opener needs to postponed.
Most weeks, the Friday main slate will feature at least 14 games, with 15 games on days when the Cubs do not play a home matinee.
This particular Friday, we're left with a nine-game slate, something that more closely resembles a busy Monday in the middle of the summer.
Please note: While FanDuel is offering an early slate for the make-up games in Detroit (Tigers-Pirates) and Cincinnati (Nats-Reds), I'm focusing entirely on the evening Main slate.
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Pitcher
Alex Wood, LAD vs. SF ($8,400) -- Wood is the fifth-most expensive pitcher on the main slate Friday, behind the likes of Robbie Ray, Dallas Keuchel, Masahiro Tanaka and David Price. Thanks to the addition of Evan Longoria and Andrew McCutchen, the Giants' lineup is not the same auto-target it was throughout 2017, but this game is tied for the lowest over/under total of the slate (7.5) and the Dodgers have the third-highest win probability based on the moneylines (-190).
After dominating in the first half, Wood struggled in the second half, which prompted him to make adjustments to his offseason routine, and to begin working exclusively from the stretch this spring in order to simplify the mechanics of his delivery. If the adjustment to his delivery, paired with the new approach to the offseason, enables him to recoup the velocity he lost on his fastball in the second half, Wood's price will be on the rise in the weeks ahead.
Also consider: Robbie Ray vs. COL ($9,500) and Kyle Hendricks at MIA ($8,200)
GPP Fade: Blake Snell, TAM vs. BOS ($6,700) -- I like Snell, I really do. The Red Sox were a tough matchup for lefties last season, and now they've added J.D. Martinez to the lineup. The improved control in the second half, paired with the amazing spring will likely steer a lot of tournament lineups in this direction. There will be plenty of other spots to use Snell over the course of the season, and I would be more inclined to pay up for David Price ($8,500) on the other side of this matchup to get a lower-owned arm in a nice spot Friday.
Cheap GPP Consideration: Aaron Sanchez, TOR vs. NYY ($5,900) -- Sanchez looked healthy this spring, and while it's risky to go up against the Yankees' lineup, only Doug Fister, Caleb Smith and Joey Lucchesi are cheaper than Sanchez on the main slate. If he regains his 2016 form with health this season, Sanchez will be an $8,000+ arm on a start-by-start basis this season.
Catcher/First Base
For the record, I think I'm going to like the new hybrid position, since the catcher spot was ultimately replaced by a utility spot in the default FanDuel configuration.
Carlos Santana, PHI at ATL ($3,200) -- The switch-hitting Santana was in the two-hole for new manager Gabe Kapler in Thursday's Opening Day lineup against the Braves. It's reasonable to think that he'll occupy the same spot Friday with Mike Foltynewicz on the hill for Atlanta. Santana will hit from the left side against Folty, whose struggles against lefties last season include a .356 wOBA allowed, 1.42 HR/9 and a 10.6% K-BB%. As an added bonus, SunTrust Park was extremely friendly for left-handed power bats last season.
Second Base
Ozzie Albies, ATL vs. PHI ($2,900) -- He will be very heavily owned at this price, hence the cash lean, but as the Braves' regular No. 2 hitter, Albies is probably going cost upwards of $3,500 in the very near future. Nick Pivetta struggled mightily with lefties last season (.409 wOBA, 2.69 HR/9!), and the Braves can put a lot of pressure on him with their of their order with the switch-hitting second baseman serving as one of four bats from the left side Friday assuming the same quartet -- Ender Inciarte, Albies, Freddie Freeman and Nick Markakis -- is atop the order again.
Third Base
Kris Bryant, CHC at MIA ($4,400) -- Cubs stacks will be popular against Marlins lefty Caleb Smith. Although the surface numbers make it look like 2017 was a step back for Bryant, he actually took a step forward as a hitter, most specifically by showing improved plate discipline. If you are looking for some exposure to Smith without loading up three or more Cubs in your lineup, Bryant is an excellent building block with the platoon advantage against Miami's starter, and the potential for multiple plate appearances against the soft underbelly of the Marlins' bullpen.
Shortstop
Marcus Semien, OAK vs. LAA ($2,900) -- The A's hit Semien second in the order against Angels right-hander Garrett Richards on Thursday. He should have a prominent spot in the lineup again Friday against lefty Tyler Skaggs, whose 1.38 HR/9 against righties in 2017 was the fourth-highest of the 18 starters on the main slate. Making the matchup even more enticing, Semien has a career 116 wRC+ against southpaws.
Outfield
Khris Davis, OAK vs. LAA ($3,200) -- Thanks to very friendly prices, the A's look very stackable Friday against Skaggs and the Angels. Davis is pretty close to split-neutral from his career (he's actually slightly better against same-handed pitching), and he should be anchoring the Oakland lineup from the cleanup spot. Is there a player in the last decade with back-to-back 40-homer, 100-RBI seasons who was less hyped than Davis?
Domingo Santana, MIL at SD ($3,300) -- Santana's playing time became a subject of debate throughout draft season once the Brewers added Christian Yelich and Lorenzo Cain to their outfield via trade and free agency. The Brewers hit Santanta fifth against lefty Clayton Richard in Thursday's opener, and he'll likely reprise that role Friday as Ryan Braun will play first base against southpaws this season. Rookie Joey Lucchesi is making his MLB debut Friday, and while Petco Park continues to suppress left-handed pop, the park index for homers for right-handed hitters is 97 -- just three percent below a completely neutral power environment.
Utility
Overall, I like the strategic flexibility of a UT spot more than the constraints of having to choose from a pool of mostly underwhelming catchers. If you've spent up elsewhere in your lineup and have a chalk-heavy lineup in a GPP, going very cheap looking for a top-of-the-order bat offering salary relief may be the way to go. With a more balanced lineup, the best hitter available regardless of position (perhaps someone you liked but didn't have room for) now gets a spot on your roster. Perhaps having the UT spot will allow you to fill in a stack more easily.
Ryan Braun, MIL at SD ($3,000) -- Not surprisingly, with Santana listed above, Braun is in play as well against rookie Joey Lucchesi and the same principles apply. Since the start of the 2015 season, Braun's 146 wRC+ against lefties ranks 14th among 129 qualified hitters. The only real question is whether you want to have multiple Brewers going as part of a stack in tournaments (Lorenzo Cain is affordable as well) and how you want to navigate utilizing lefties Christian Yelich and Travis Shaw if you decide to go that route.
On the cheaper front...
Odubel Herrera, PHI at ATL ($2,200) -- The Phillies used Aaron Altherr in center field against righty Julio Teheran on Thursday, but that may have been due in part to starter Aaron Nola's groundball tendencies. In any case, check the lineup to be sure prior to game time, but Herrera may pair nicely with Carlos Santana for a mini-stack if he ends up atop the order Friday.
