This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
Unless Toronto and Seattle go to a Game 7, Friday will be the last day of this MLB season will multiple games. We have a Game 5 in the ALCS coming to us from Seattle thanks to the 2-3-2 format, and then we have a Game 4 between the Dodgers and Brewers. The first game starts at 6:08 p.m. ET. That's not ideal for Seattle baseball fans, but with two West Coast home teams, that was always going to happen. I mean, they weren't about to make the Dodgers play at three in the afternoon Pacific time, right? Here are my MLB DFS lineup recommendations.
Pitching
Kevin Gausman, TOR at SEA ($8,000): Based on the potential pitchers for Friday, I think Gausman has the highest floor, if not the highest ceiling. Bryce Miller is hoping to keep the postseason magic going to make us forget his 5.88 ERA this season. Shohei Ohtani is sort of a part-time pitcher. The Brewers are in chaos. Gausman pitched well in Game 1 of this series, he had a 3.33 road ERA this season, and he had a 2.51 road ERA in 2024 as well.
Top Target
Even with a hamstring predicament to handle, Jackson Chourio ($5,100) has been remarkably productive this postseason. He's hit .276 with two doubles and two homers, and he had a 20/20 season this year in only 131 games. On top of that, he's slugged .480 on the road in his MLB career (which I grant you is only two seasons). Interestingly, this season Ohtani let righties hit .265 against him, and righties also hit every home run he allowed. He, once again, aggravated his hamstring on Thursday. If Chourio is out, William Contreras ($4,800) plays a different position, but in terms of righties hitting righties, he is the next best thing for the Brewers.
Bargain Bat
Once again, a righty will start for the Mariners, and that works to the favor of Addison Barger ($3,500). In fact, the Mariners also only really have one notable lefty in the bullpen. If Barger can avoid Gabe Speier, he's basically in the clear. This season, Barger slugged .480 against righties and hit 20 home runs in those matchups. The postseason hasn't been a boon time for the third baseman, but he did hit a home run in Game 3.
Stack to Consider
Dodgers vs. Brewers (Jose Quintana maybe?): Freddie Freeman ($5,000), Max Muncy ($3,900), Tommy Edman ($3,400)
When Thursday began, the notion was that an opener would cede the mound to Jose Quintana. Instead, it was Jacob Misiorowski. Time and time again, the Brewers refuse to put Quintana on the mound. I am beginning to think he's not healthy enough to pitch. Even if he can go in a must-win game Friday he likely will be pulled swiftly. This has all the makings of a bullpen game, because the Brewers have zero space to get cute. With all hands likely on deck, lefties like Freeman and Muncy could be targeted by southpaw relievers in multiple at-bats, but just two at-bats against righties might be sufficient. It's league championship series time. You can't always get meaty stack opportunities.
Freeman has been racking up doubles in these playoffs, which makes sense given that he hit 39 double during the regular season. Plus, when it comes to lefties out of the bullpen, Freeman isn't likely to suffer too much. Since 2023 he has an .876 OPS versus his fellow lefties. Muncy is more reliant on facing righties, but there is real opportunity for him Friday. Since 2023 he has an .897 OPS versus righties but also a .918 OPS at home. Edman is a switch-hitter, and he was much better at home this season. Now, he wasn't great, but he hit .251 and slugged .440. Edman has picked it up in the playoffs, as he's hit .290 and slugged .516.
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