Friday offers up the standard 15-game slate, all evening affairs. A lot of attention will be directed to Fenway Park with the New York Yankees visiting the Boston Red Sox, although the intrigue is dampened with the Bronx Bombers enjoying a double-digit lead over their rivals. That said, hope springs eternal in Beantown with Chris Sale and Nathan Eovaldi both due back by the break, if not within the next week. A more intriguing series takes place around 3,000 miles west with the San Diego Padreshosting the San Francisco Giants. Heading back east, the New York Mets are also eagerly awaiting Jacob deGrom to join the recently returned Max Scherzer, but in the meantime they'll entertain a suddenly competitive Miami Marlins club for a weekend set.
Friday is one of the lushest schedules for streaming pitchers in recent memory. George Kirby (29% rostered in ESPN leagues) is challenged at home by the Toronto Blue Jays, but the visitors are not as potent on the road. Michael Lorenzen (22%) and the Los Angeles Angels visit Camden Yards to face a Baltimore Orioles offense with the eighth lowest wOBA versus righthanders. Tyler Wells (41%) will oppose Lorenzen and will face an offense fanning at a generous 27% clip against righties. Next up is Ross Stripling (17%) who squares off with the Seattle Mariners in what could be a game decided by the bullpens.
Even though he's ranked lower than those cited, Brady Singer (11%) gets the nod as the slate's top spot starter with a home date with the struggling Cleveland Guardiansoffense. Aaron Ashby (11%) was hit hard by the Pittsburgh Pirates last time out, but Ashby was returning from an IL stint, so expect better results in the rematch. Surprisingly, Chad Kuhl (21%) has pitched better at home in Coors Field, but he's in play on the road drawing a Arizona Diamondbacks lineup with the 11th-lowest wOBA and an above-average strikeout rate against right-handers. Lastly, Aaron Civale(35%) has been a disappointment, but he's tweaked his pitch mix, throwing more sinkers and curves in lieu of four-seam fastballs, splitters and cutters. The results aren't there yet, but he's been pitching better and could be poised for a roll.
Here are some more batters to consider on Friday, all with a favorable matchup so that they can fortify a traditional fantasy lineup, or as a less-pricey, standalone DFS option: Alek Thomas (11%), Alex Kirilloff (29%), AJ Pollock (20%), Luke Voit (32%) and Vinnie Pasquantino (10%).
they used to have the fantasy baseball content that @biggins posts behind ESPN plus paywall. so basically you need to pay to access the information. now it looks like it will be free
Michael Lorenzen (22%) and the Los Angeles Angels visit Camden Yards to face a Baltimore Orioles offense with the eighth lowest wOBA versus righthanders. Tyler Wells (41%) will oppose Lorenzen and will face an offense fanning at a generous 27% clip against righties.