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There are 15 MLB games on Friday's FanDuel slate and plenty of options available on both ends of the salary spectrum for you to choose from. Let's see what we have in store. There are several top notch starting pitchers taking the hill tonight so let's try and find some value tonight.
Pitching
On the top end of things we have Clayton Kershaw (13,000) at home against the Cubs, Max Scherzer (11,500) and the Nationals at home against the Marlins, the Mets Matt Harvey (11,000), taking on the Red Sox, , Sonny Gray (10,600) at Arizona and Cole Hamels (10,200) at home against the Orioles.
DFS is all about value; with the exception of Kershaw and Hamels none of these pitchers are even ranked in the top 100 over their past three starts. If I were to get value out of this tier I suppose I would take my chances on Hamels; during the month of August the Orioles have a 22 percent strikeout rate that's one point worse on the road with a .296 BABIP and wRC+ of 102. Hamels nearly 9 punchouts per nine over his past 3 starts really looks good here.
Francisco Liriano (9,500) at home against the Rockies, Michael Wacha (9,200) at the Giants, Danny Salazar (9,200), at home against the Angels, Masihiro Tanaka (9,200) at the Braves and Scott Kazmir (9,000) at the Twins round out the second tier of Friday night's slate. Of this tier I would probably go with Salazar tonight; he's striking out nearly 9 per nine ninnings over his last 3 starts with a 3.48 xFIP who faces an Angels team with a 19 percent strikeout rate, .254 BABIP and wRC+ of 75 over the last 14 days.
The most intriguing start of the night has Raisel Iglesias of the Reds visiting the Brewers. $8000 isn't a lot to spend for a pitcher who over his last 3 starts is averaging almost 11 strikeouts per nine innings against a team with a 22 percent strikeout rate with a 99 wRC+ over their last 14 days.
Players to consider for Friday
The Cardinals Mark Reynolds is priced at $2,400 and he has a career slash line of .357/.438/.714/ 1.152 with 1 bomb and 2 RBI over 14 at bats against the Giants Mike Leake. Reynolds also has a five game hitting streak and might be a good addition to your lineup.
The Dodgers Andre Ethier (2,300) has a career slash line of .333/.438/..593/.1.030 with 2 bombs, 9 RBI and 9 hits in 27 career at bats against the Cubs Jason Hammel. Ethier has struggled this season but that could all change tonight against Hammel.
On this weeks Phil's Fantasy Sports Fake Teams Ray Guilfoyle joins me to discuss the top 25 starting pitchers for 2016, Draft Kings Playbook writer Jason Walker and I have a great Fantasy Football discussion regarding sleepers at the running back position, Rotowire NHL Fantasy Hockey expert Brian Rutherford and I discuss defencemen who might be considered Fantasy Hockey sleepers and SLC Dunk NBA expert Amar joins me to discuss the Fantasy Basketball value of several NBA rookies as well as the Fantasy Basketball value of Nicolas Batum, Aaron Afflalo, Robin Lopez and Lou Williams. You canb download the show from my site or just listen on the player provided below.