Friday MLB on Draftstreet is great. The action over there is loaded on Friday nights, and well, it’s Friday night! Count me in for getting excited over that. Tonight we have 15 games to choose from and tons of studs to choose from.

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Weather:
TB/BOS: Rain at 50%
SF/STL: Rain at 40%

Positional Breakdown:

Starting Pitchers

The top pitcher of the day for me is probably Corey Kluber against the Rockies. Say what!? I’m not scared of the Rockies and the road and neither should you. They hit .46 points worse on the road (.242) and hit less home runs per at bat as well. Also, they’re hitting .216 in the last seven games with just six home runs. Throw in the fact that Kluber has 26 strikeouts in his last 21 innings and is sporting a great inning and I’m digging this play.

Just like Kluber, Madison Bumgarner has been great lately. In 13 innings, he has 16 strikeouts and a 2.77 ERA. His ERA is three points lower on the season on the road and not surprisingly, hitters are hitting 30 points lower (.257). He’s a great play on the road against the Cardinals tonight. Miguel Gonzalez is an intriguing mid-range option tonight against the Astros. He has bad road numbers, but has faced Houston and done well. He gave up just two runs in seven innings with six strikeouts.

A betting man rolls with an underpriced Tom Koehler at home against the Braves. He is still sporting a 2.45 ERA even with a terrible last game against Milwaukee. I think he’ll bounce back in Miami where he’s been great except for one game out of five.

Others to Consider: Stephen Strasburg, Adam Wainwright

Catchers

Jonathan Lucroy has been on a tear lately and gets himself a great matchup against a LHP. Travis Wood has been solid this season, but Lucroy is hitting .347 against southpaws and I think that continues at home for him. Chris Iannetta is another guy that hits LHP well as he has a .280 average with five bombs against them so far. He leads all catchers with home runs against LHP in 2014.

If Jason Castro is in the lineup against the Orioles then I certainly can’t ignore him. He’s been a better hitter against RHP than LHP in his career and gets a RHP tonight.

Others to Consider: Sal Perez

First Basemen

Edwin Encarnacion just hit another home run. What are you doing sitting here without him in your lineup? If you’re not buying Kluber against the Rockies then roll with Justin Morneau. He’s hitting .344 with eight home runs in just 125 at bats against RHP on the season. He also has some success in his career against Kluber.

Adam LaRoche is swinging it well and gets to hit off Lewis the RHP as well. He’s hitting .308 in his last 15 days and hits opposite-hand pitchers well. He’s hitting .333 with six home runs in 96 at bats so far in 2014 against them.

Others to Consider: Garrett Jones, Brandon Moss

Second Basemen

Chase Utley is almost a lock for me when he’s at 7k and hitting against a RHP. He’s the best second basemen against RHP by 39 points. 21 of his 44 hits have been for extra bases. Robinson Cano is another stud second basemen that goes up against a RHP tonight. He’s also cheap and hitting .408 in his last 15 days. He gets the underperforming Verlander in Seattle.

Brandon Phillips is only hitting .211 in the last 15 days, but he’s only 3.7k on Draftstreet. That’s just ridiculous. He’s the punt play of this position easily. There is really no one else that tempts me like those two, but if you must go with someone cheap then look at Jedd Gyorko.

Others to Consider: None

Third Basemen

Conor Gillaspie is red hot right now and gets another home matchup tonight. He faces Kennedy with a recent game average of .386. He’s hitting in the middle of that White Sox order, so if you’re thinking about any kind of White Sox stack then it starts with him. Lonnie Chisenhall struggled for me just the other day, but his average in the last 15 days is still .413. He leads all qualified third basemen with a .336 average against RHP.

Does Pablo Sandoval have another bomb off a stud pitcher in his arsenal tonight? He gets to hit from his hot side, but afces Wainwright. You’re not paying for a discount Sandoval either.

Others to Consider: David Wright, Manny Machado

Shortstop

Alexei Ramirez leads MLB shortstops when it comes to average against RHP. He is beating out Tulowitzki by one point right now, and they both get a RHP tonight. I like both, but Ramirez is cheaper by 2k, so he’s who I write about. For the way JJ Hardy has been playing lately, you have to consider him. He’s hitting over .400 recently and gets a LHP in a lineup that mashes them.

Xander Bogaerts gets a tough matchup against David Price tonight, but at least he’s hitting .321 against LHP this season. He’s also super hot hitting in the two hole with a .370 average recently. He’s a guy to consider if you’re not trying to pay up for Tulo or Ramirez.

Others to Consider: Starlin Castro

Outfielders

Adam Jones is only priced at 5.5k although he’s the best MLB outfielder against LHP. He has a .457 average against them in 2014 with three home runs. He’ll be in my lineup against Oberholtzer pretty much everywhere. Nelson Cruz hit himself two bombs on Wednesday night and gets another great matchup against Houston’s southpaw. Like Jones, he’s a top hitter against LHP, but only hits .394 against them with four home runs.

Jose Bautista also faces a LHP tonight, Vargas, and is a great play because of his power against them. He hits a home run once every ten at bats and is hitting .420 against them. Using Bautista feels almost as safe as the two previously mentioned Orioles hitters. Khris Davis is on a tear in the last 15 days with five home runs during that span. He also hits one home run every ten at bats, but this time with a .380 average against LHP.

Jason Heyward had himself a great series in Boston hitting two home runs and having a hit in each game. He gets to face Koehler, who if you don’t believe has that early season magic is a guy you’ll want to pick hitters against.

The best punt play for me is Scott Van Sylke against Liriano. He mashes LHP and gets one who has a 6.19 ERA in his last 16 innings. Van Slyke could easily go yard in this one.

Others to Consider: Jay Bruce, Seth Smith

Top Stacks:
Baltimore: Jones/Cruz/Hardy
Houston (If not fan of Gonzalez): Altuve/Springer/Fowler/Castro
Philadelphia: Rollins/Utley/Howard/Byrd

Lineup

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