This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
Note: Player prices are based on Friday's games.
Here are some of the top plays on DraftKings for Friday night and the upcoming weekend:
Pitchers
Phil Hughes, MIN (Fri. vs. CLE), $9000 – Hughes has refused to settle for a mere breakout season, instead getting even better as the year has gone on. His 3.56 ERA won't blow you away, but his 176:16 K:BB over 194.2 innings should do exactly that. The 28-year-old righty has been remarkably consistent since the end of July, recording 21 or more DraftKings points in seven of his last eight starts. Even that eighth start wasn't bad, as Hughes put up 13.1 points on the road against a then-hot Royals team. The hot streak included an Aug. 21 start against the Indians, with Hughes striking out eight over seven innings of one-run ball on his way to 30.8 DK points. Cleveland still doesn't make for a particularly attractive matchup, but Hughes has proven that he's worth using against nearly any team at such a friendly price.
Yusmeiro Petit, SF (Sat. at SD), $7100 – The San Diego offense has actually ventured toward respectability over the last two months, but the Friars are still among the most favorable matchups a pitcher can draw, especially when playing at Petco Park.
Petit, meanwhile, hasn't had great results since rejoining the rotation in late August, but his 31:1 K:BB over four starts is encouraging to say the least. He gave up six runs in Colorado a few weeks back, and then surrendered three earned runs over seven innings to the Dodgers last weekend, despite striking out eight without any walks. In his other two outings, Petit combined for an 18:0 K:BB over 15 innings, allowing a mere two runs. Really, if you throw out the start in Colorado, he's been dominant since joining the rotation.
Corey Kluber, CLE, (Sun. at MIN) – Sunday's discount pitching options look shaky, so get ready to load up on cheap hitters. Rather than overpaying for a middle-tier hurler, pony up the big bucks for Kluber, who is one of the most consistent pitchers in the game. There's not much convincing left to do, as the 28-year-old righty's ascension has been well documented. The Twins are admittedly a decent offensive team, but they're also somewhat strikeout-prone, which figures to work in the Cy Young candidate's favor. As expensive as it may be, I like a Kluber-Strasburg pairing for Sunday.
Other intriguing options:Julio Teheran, ATL (Fri. vs. NYM), $8800; Jose Quintana, CHW (Fri. at TB), $7700; Marcus Stroman, TOR (Sat. at NYY), $7500; Chris Tillman, BAL (Sat. vs. BOS), $9100; Stephen Strasburg, WAS (Sun. at MIA); Lance Lynn, STL (Sun. vs. CIN)
Batters
Miguel Montero, C, AZ, $3300 – Montero has done next to nothing over the last two weeks, with just two hits and nary an RBI in his last 32 at-bats. However, it's not as if he's been unable to make contact, as he has four strikeouts and four walks over that period. The cold streak has kept his price at a more-than-reasonable $3300 as the veteran catcher heads into a weekend series at Coors Field. With the Rockies slated to throw right-handers in each of the three games, Montero should be a good play all weekend. Always a much better hitter against opposite-hand pitching, Montero owns a .744 OPS versus righties this season, compared to an ugly .556 mark against lefties. He has a career .287/.341/.507 slash line at Coors Field, and none of the Rockies' projected starters is any good. Look for Montero to bust out of his cold streak, with his left-handed hitting teammates also strong options.
Adam Dunn, 1B, OAK, $3400 – Dunn's fast start with his new team has faded, but he's still batting fourth in (what should be) a strong lineup, nestled between Josh Donaldson and Brandon Moss. Dunn offers plenty of power at a low price, with the A's set for a weekend series that will see them face Philadelphia right-handers David Buchanan, Jerome Williams and A.J. Burnett. In addition to Dunn, look for Moss ($3800) to hit a homer or two against the slate of lousy right-handed pitching. Moss finally showed signs of competence this week, homering in consecutive games.
Robinson Cano, 2B, SEA, $4400 – Cano still hasn't suffered through a real slump this season, and his power numbers have rebounded since the beginning of August. This looks like a Safeco Field price, but he'll be spending the weekend at Minute Maid Park in Houston, kicking thing off against Brad Peacock on Friday. I'm not too concerned about Cano's stretch of mediocre games over the last week or so, as he was red-hot before that.
Matt Carpenter, 3B, STL, $4100 – Carpenter may still feel too expensive for a guy who doesn't have many huge games on DraftKings, but there's something to be said for his consistency, even as his batting average has lagged. This weekend brings a perfect opportunity to break out of a semi-slump, with the Cards scheduled to face the soft part of the Cincinnati rotation. Friday brings a matchup against lefty David Holmberg, followed by contests against right-handers Mike Leake and Alfredo Simon. As the Cards creep toward clinching a playoff berth, Carpenter and the team's other big bats should be in for a productive weekend, despite their disappointing individual campaigns.
Rafael Ynoa, 3B/SS, COL, $2300 – Ynoa has been filling in for Nolan Arenado, who will likely miss the next few games with an illness. While Ynoa isn't an especially talented batter, he hits from both sides of the plate and comes at a dirt-cheap price for a series at Coors Field. As you'd expect against the Diamondbacks, the matchups will be favorable. Chase Anderson pitches on Friday, followed by Trevor Cahill, and then Wade Miley. Anderson has been impressive, but not to the extent that he's likely to succeed at Coors Field.
Adam Jones OF, BAL, $4500 – Picking on the Red Sox is getting boring, but it's hard not to like the Baltimore bats at Camden Yards this weekend. Jones himself hasn't had much success lately, which explains why you can get him at such a reasonable price. I'm also not too worried about his relative struggles against right-handers this season, as he previously exhibited slight reverse platoon splits. While his .708 OPS against righties is confounding, Jones still figures to have a big weekend against the all-righty Boston rotation. It's going to be a long weekend for the Red Sox, with Allen Webster, Rubby De La Rosa and Joe Kelly set to pitch.
Other intriguing options:
Carlos Santana, CLE, C/1B, $4500; Yadier Molina, C, STL, $3500
Justin Morneau, 1B, COL, $4800; Steve Pearce, 1B/OF, BAL, $4700; David Oritz, 1B, BOS, $4400; Matt Adams, 1B, STL, $3500
Brian Dozier, 2B/SS, MIN, $4000; Kolten Wong, 2B, STL, $3300
Josh Rutledge, 2B/SS, COL, $3300; Rougned Odor, 2B, TEX, $2800
J.J. Hardy, SS, BAL, $3600; Chris Owings, SS, AZ, $3600; Jed Lowrie, SS, OAK, $3300; Wilmer Flores, 2B/SS, NYM, $2900
Kole Calhoun, OF, LAA, $4500 Charlie Blackmon, OF, COL, $4400; Jacoby Ellsbury, OF, BOS, $4000; Mookie Betts, OF, BOS, $3800; Nick Markakis, OF, BAL, $3700; Ryan Rua, 1B/OF, TEX, $3200; Matt Joyce, OF, TB, $3000
