This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Of the 15 games Saturday, only four are available for the evening main slate. The limited player pool, for me personally, lends itself much better to GPP lineups, as cash players are likely going to face high ownership amongst more obvious plays. GPP lineups, however, can go for some higher risk, higher reward and/or contrarian plays that could prove profitable, and if not, you try again Sunday!
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PITCHER
Patrick Corbin, ARI vs. NYM ($9,500): Corbin's cash game ownership figures to be huge, but his price isn't so high that he can't be considered in GPP formats. The Mets are simply woeful offensively, especially against lefties, to the tune of a league-worst .257 wOBA, at 62 wRC+, adding 26.4 percent strikeout rate. Corbin looks as safe as possible, and his 33.7 percent fan rate at home certainly brings tournament upside.
GPP Fade: Carlos Martinez, STL vs. CHC ($7,900): Maybe Martinez should be featured and not faded for GPP, as no one in their right mind should consider using him in his current form, but I just can't find a reason to expect 30-plus points He's walked 12 over his last 7.2 frames, which has led to seven runs. Even if you factor in his 10 Ks in that span, he's only averaging 16 fantasy points due to inefficiency. Casual folks may see the name here, and a price that's lower than the slate's top two options, and pull the trigger. There's always strikeout upside, but Martinez's recent wildness should keep him off your roster.
Cheap GPP Consideration: Steven Matz, NYM at ARI ($6,800): There are plenty of red flags here that make Matz the ideal low floor, high ceiling GPP play. With his start being delayed to Saturday by a blister, it's fair to wonder how deep Matz can work into the game, fearing a reopening of the wound. The Diamondbacks also bring a surging offense to the table, one that even without their recent hot streak boasts the fourth-highest wOBA (.339) against lefties. So why play Matz? Hopefully because no one else will for these reasons. The D'Backs whiff 24.7 percent of the time against lefties, and Matz has been borderline dominant on the road, owning a 1.61 ERA and.294 wOBA allowed. The win percentage may be lower than you'd like, but this has the potential for a pitchers duel and a quality start.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Luke Voit, STL vs. CHC ($2,500): With Jose Martinez on paternity leave, I'm more than willing to take my chances with Voit at this tag and pay up elsewhere, whether it be on the bump or premium bats. Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks has a 4.50 road ERA against 2.96 at home, allowing a moderate .336 wOBA to righties outside of Wrigley Field, while only striking out 12.3 percent, giving Voit at least a chance to put things in play three times.
SECOND BASE
Ben Zobrist, CHC at STL ($2,900): I'm highly interested in stacking some secondary Cubs bats against the aforementioned Martinez. Enter Zobrist, who has a team-leading .365 wOBA and 131 wRC+ against righties. Martinez has a 5.06 xFIP against lefties, which will certainly be brought up again before this column concludes, but also serves as an example that his 2.50 ERA may not be sustainable.
THIRD BASE
Justin Turner, LAD vs. SFG ($3,600): Giants' starter Madison Bumgarner hasn't found his stride since returning to action, and his name recognition may lead others to stay clear of Dodgers bats. Turner feasts on lefties, owning a .407 wOBA and 164 wRC+ this year after posting a .484/206 line a year ago.
SHORTSTOP
Brock Holt, BOS at SEA ($2,700):Xander Bogaerts ($4,100) is the play here if price isn't constrictive, as he boasts more power potential than Holt. But Holt sets up as a nice bargain in an offense that hits lefties well, bringing a .482 wOBA and 211 wRC+ to your lineup at a bargain price. He's becoming a bit of a default option at short due to his price in this potent lineup, so ownership figures to be higher than it should be, but he remains difficult to ignore in the right spot.
OUTFIELD
Mookie Betts, BOS at SEA ($5,200): The reason you consider paying down for the likes of Voit and Holt are so you can afford guys like Betts, who absolutely rakes against lefties to the tune of a .505 wOBA, 226 wRC+ and .449 ISO. Mariners' starter Wade LeBlanc is the rare lefty who has been tougher on same-handed bats over the same season, but Betts' splits are too good to ignore.
Mitch Haniger, SEA vs. BOS ($3,900): It's fair to doubt Boston starter Steven Wright's current 22.2 inning scoreless streak, as he's a guy who had an 8.25 ERA in 2017. During that brief season (24.0 innings) he allowed a .496 wOBA to righties. Haniger checks in with a team-best .375 wOBA among regulars in that situation, adding a 144 wOBA and .282 ISO.
Kyle Schwarber, CHC at STL ($3,400): See Zobrist, Ben above. Martinez's xFIP against lefties appears worth exploiting for GPP formats, with the hope we'll catch a lot of long balls. Schwarber lifts the ball at a 36.4 percent clip, with a whopping 28.2 percent of those leaving the yard. He also ranks second behind the aforementioned Zobrist among Cub bats with a .356 wOBA and 125 wRC+, while sporting a nifty .270 ISO.
If you're in need of a cheap alternative, the Dodgers' Enrique Hernandez ($2,700) is swinging well of late, and has had surprising success (14-of-30, 3 HRs) against Madison Bumgarner.
UTILITY
Willson Contreras, CHC at STL ($3,000): Contreras' spot in the cleanup hole certainly provides run producing opportunities. This play brings a secondary Cubs stack full circle, as he's third on the team behind Zobrist and Schwarber with a .348 wOBA , 119 wRC+ and 39.4 percent fly ball rate against righties. This type of stack comes in at a total of $9,300, which should afford splurging elsewhere. Fingers crossed!
