RADIO
I'm not sure what is harder to believe - the fact it's now playoffs time (I felt like I was writing opening day strategy pieces just yesterday), or the fact that two deserving fan-bases (see: Astros and Cubs) aren't guaranteed a home playoff game after their teams strung together incredible seasons.
Anywho, the FanDuel action this week is tied to both one-game, Wild Card playoff matchups, giving us a Tuesday-Wednesday slate.
Let's get it started.
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Offenses to Target for FanDuel Stacking
Houston Astros versus Masahiro Tanaka
If I'm loading up players from any one team this week, it's going to be the big swingers from Houston playing in a great home run park in the Bronx. As a team, the Astros hit the second most home runs this season with 230, just two behind the Blue Jays, and compiled the second best second slugging percentage in the majors at .437. What makes their guys even more appealing is that they face Tanaka, he who has allowed 1.75 HR/9 at home this season , and notably significantly more in the second half. A lot of the power in the Astros order comes from the right side, but if you can fit a lefty or two in there - like Luis Valbuena, Colby Rasmus and the switch-hitting Hank Conger, for instance - go ahead and do it. Tanaka allowed a 23.2% HR/FB ratio to left-handed batters this season.
Honorable Mention: Yankees versus Dallas Keuchel (pitching on short rest)
DFS Starting Pitchers to Consider for FanDuel
Jake Arrieta (SP, CHC) - $12,700
Nobody has been as locked in down the stretch, and he has the numbers to prove it after posting the lowest second-half ERA in MLB history. Whether you're a stats-heavy guy or an eye-test guy, he passes both tests with flying colors. The Pirates normally march out a very right-handed heavy lineup, and for the season, Arrieta has held righties to a .206/.248/.309 slash line with a 24.5 strikeout rate. On the road, he's been slighty better than at home, holding hitters to a .186 batting average and .224 wOBA.
Honorable Mention: Gerrit Cole (SP, PIT) - $10,000 (big strikeout upside)
DFS Infielders to Consider for FanDuel
Hank Conger (C, HOU) - $2,800
I mentioned rostering Conger as a part of my Astros stack but he'll be in play for me in cash games as well. He has nice upside, is the most attractive catcher in an underwhelming crop and has a high floor with a .411 wOBA against right-handed pitching.
Anthony Rizzo (1B, CHC) - $4,400
Sure you'll have to pay up and picking on Cole is not something I'd normally suggest, but Rizzo is the best first baseman option on the board for this slate. For the season, Rizzo owns a .388 wOBA and .256 ISO against right-handed pitching. On top of that, he's fared well against Cole in the past with an .862 OPS in 17 at-bats.
Tommy La Stella (2B, CHC) - $2,200
With an expensive pitcher in Arrieta, I need a punt (or two) to fill out the roster, and La Stella fits the bill. I've actually got him as my second best second baseman on the board this week, and I don't think the dropoff from Neil Walker to La Stella is too significant. As such, I'd rather save the $600 for the rest of my lineup and play La Stella. He's also the only Cub with an extra-base hit against Cole this season.
Alex Rodriguez (3B, NYY) - $3,100
Among the third baseman available in this slate, A-Rod not only has the best wOBA against the pitcher-handedness he's facing (.404), but also the best ISO (.298) and slugging percentage (.554). He's also playing in a much better park than the second guy on my list, Kris Bryant, and is $1,300 cheaper, too.
Carlos Correa (SS, HOU) - $4,000
I'm a little torn between going with Correa or a viable punt in Marwin Gonzalez, but I'm going with the upside Correa possesses. He's a bit pricey and hits better against lefties, but his numbers are still well above average and he hits in a much more favorable position in the lineup.
DFS Outfielders to Consider for FanDuel
Kyle Schwarber (OF, CHC) - $3,400
Schwarber's so-so final month of the season might play in the favor of GPP players as he's much more affordable than he has been before when facing a right-handed pitcher. Despite the below-average finish relative to what he did earlier in the year, his numbers against RHP are still very strong: .483 wOBA, .375 ISO and .712 slugging percentage.
Chris Young (OF, NYY) - $2,500
My "always roster Chris Young at home when facing a left-handed pitcher" gets the call one last time this season.
Colby Rasmus (OF, HOU) - $3,100
His seasons numbers are nothing to write home about, but he finished the season on a real strong note and can hit for power against right-handed pitching. I also love getting as much exposure to left-handed bats against Tanaka as I can.
