This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
We've had heavy Monday slates the last few weeks, which leads to split Wednesday schedules as many teams play day games as a getaway day. That's the case again today, as there are six games included in a slate that begins at 12:35 pm ET and another five-game slate at 6:45 pm ET. The prize pools and contest offerings are nearly identical, so we'll focus on the night slate for the purposes of this article.
Pitchers
There is a limited pitcher pool both in terms of volume and quality. George Kirby ($9,900) is comfortably the top option with a beneficial matchup against the White Sox. Spencer Strider is the only pitcher with a higher strikeout rate, but he's been far more inconsistent and also has a tough matchup against the Brewers.
Things dry up quickly, but there is a key choice between Michael Wacha ($7,400) and Dustin May ($7,200), who square off against each other. Wacha has had better results but has inferior skills and the tougher matchup. I'd lean May, but his results have not been reliable.
Two value options stand out. Jeffrey Springs ($6,800) is mispriced. He has an impressive 18.0 K-BB percentage across his last five starts, and he's scored at least 15 DraftKing. points on four occasions. A matchup against the Nationals helps his case. Nestor Cortes ($6,900) will start for the first time since April 3. He threw 93 pitches in his final rehab outing, so he should be at relatively full capacity against the Diamondbacks.
Top Hitters
It's difficult to know exactly what to expect from Cade Cavalli, who will be making his first big-league start in nearly three years. It's worth getting some exposure to the A's lineup as a result, and there are plenty of hot hitters to choose from, including Brent Rooker ($5,200) and Nick Kurtz ($6,100).
Ketel Marte ($4,500) has been inferior against left-handed pitching this season but still has a .200 ISO. Similarly to Cavalli, we don't know exactly what to expect from Cortes after a lengthy layoff, so it makes sense to slot some Arizona hitters into lineups.
Value Bats
Colson Montgomery has rightfully gotten the attention for the White Sox, but Lenyn Sosa ($3,100) has averaged 10.8 DK points across his last 10 games. A matchup against Kirby isn't one attack, but on a slate this short, there will have to be some creativity in every lineup.
Michael Harris ($3,400) has had a disappointing season but has actually hit better against lefties and has averaged 10.3 DK points across his last 10 games. Jose Quintana has found ways to get outs, but he gives up a lot of contact, which can lead to good results for opposing hitters.
Stacks to Consider
Seattle Mariners vs. Chicago White Sox (Jonathon Cannon): Randy Arozarena ($5,000), Julio Rodriguez ($5,300), Josh Naylor ($4,700)
There is a group of relatively similar pitchers based on skill and SIERA, and Cannon is one of them. He's allowed 11 earned runs across his last two starts, while the Mariners have been among the league's best power-hitting lineups in the last month (.193 ISO) while also improving at the trade deadline. All of that should combine to create a strong offensive environment for Seattle, making them a good stacking option.
San Diego Padres vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (Anthony DeSclafani): Fernando Tatis ($5,800), Manny Machado ($5,600), Jackson Merrill ($4,400)
The case for the Padres is a little more unique. DeSclafani has pitched well since being recalled in mid June, but he rarely works more than three innings. The Diamondbacks have a poor bullpen (4.82 season ERA) to follow him, so look for the Padres to take on plenty of runs late.
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