DraftKings MLB: Wednesday-Thursday Playoff Picks

DraftKings MLB: Wednesday-Thursday Playoff Picks

This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.

There are only two games on the Wednesday-Thursday slate and one of the teams isn't using a starting pitcher so that means there are only three arms worth using. That should make for similar lineups, which means it may be best to get weird with bats in order to separate from the rest.

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PITCHER 

Hyun-Jin Ryu, LAD vs. ATL ($8,500): Ryu was moved into this spot (in favor of Clayton Kershaw) because he's allowed just 12 hits and one run in his last three starts. He's the biggest favorite on the slate and is going against arguably the worst set of hitters. The Braves have a mediocre 22.0 K% and .313 wOBA against southpaws in the last month.

GPP Fade: Luis Severino, NYY vs. OAK ($8,500): Severino is favored, but the over/under is at 8.5 runs and he only made it 2.2 innings when he faced Oakland on Sept. 5, allowing six hits and six runs. The A's destroyed most pitchers late in the season and in the last month had a .201 ISO and .359 wOBA against righty arms.

Cheap GPP Consideration: Mike Foltynewicz, ATL at LAD ($8,000): There are only three pitchers to use since Oakland is rolling with its bullpen and Foltynewicz is the last choice. The Dodgers were the best team against righties in the last month, but Foltynewicz has 23 fantasy points in three of his last four outings and he struck out eight Dodgers in his only start against them in July. This game also has an over/under of 6.5, two runs below Wednesday's matchup.

CATCHER

Yasmani Grandal, LAD vs. ATL ($4,000): Grandal's crushed righties with a .240 ISO and .361 wOBA and that's what this matchup presents. Grandal also has two homers in six career at-bats against Foltynewicz with one of them coming earlier this year.

FIRST BASE

Luke Voit, NYY vs. OAK ($4,900): Voit may not homer in his fourth-straight game, but he does have two homers against the A's this year. He was great in the final few weeks of the season with a .408 OBP and .465 wOBA in 102 plate appearances. For a little cheaper, Cody Bellinger ($4,600) is a viable play after showing he could handle the pressure, homering against the Rockies on Monday.

SECOND BASE

Jed Lowrie, OAK at NYY ($4,300): Lowrie is inexplicably the only A's player that has more than two career hits against Severino with a 6-for-11 mark. Lowrie also went 2-for-2 with a couple runs and an RBI when they met at the beginning of September. For the season, Lowrie has been much better against righty hurlers with a .204 ISO and .364 wOBA. To save money, Enrique Hernandez ($3,700) has been on fire with 10 hits in his last four games.

THIRD BASE

Miguel Andujar, NYY vs. OAK ($4,700): Andujar should be useful against the array of pitching options Oakland throws on the mound because he can hit all pitchers. His versatility has been a key component to early career success with a .245 ISO and .344 wOBA against southpaws combined with a .225 ISO and .368 wOBA against righties.

SHORTSTOP

Manny Machado, LAD vs. ATL ($4,800): Machado's best stat entering the playoffs is that he can hit everyone with a .238 ISO and .383 wOBA against lefties, and .242 ISO and .374 wOBA against righties. He's also been one of LA's better bats against Atlanta this year going 6-for-16, which is enhanced by his 4-for-6 career rate against Foltynewicz.

OUTFIELD

Brett Gardner, NYY vs. OAK ($4,500): Gardner had Oakland's number all year with eight hits, five walks and a .464 OBP in 28 plate appearances. His overall stats aren't enticing for the season, but he should get the call because of what he did against the A's. If you want a tad more power around the same price, Andrew McCutchen ($4,700) is a good place to look.

Yasiel Puig, LAD vs. ATL ($4,200): Puig's been dominant against righty arms with a .418 OBP in his last 55 plate appearances to go with a .390 wOBA for the season. He's 0-for-3 in his career against Foltynewicz, though went 5-for-14 against the entire Braves staff this year.

Nick Martini, Oak at NYY ($3,500): Martini doesn't cost much and it'd be a surprise if he weren't in the lineup due to a .481 OBP in his last 52 plate appearances against righties. While the power isn't there, he still had a solid .362 wOBA and maybe more intriguing is that Martini has never faced Severino.

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Adam Zdroik plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: zdroik, DraftKings: rotozdroik, Yahoo: StreakMaster.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Adam Zdroik
Adam, a 2019, 2018 and 2017 Finalist for FSWA's Soccer Writer of the Year, is RotoWire's soccer editor. He also runs RotoWire's Bracketology, as well as writes on other various college basketball content. He has previously worked at ESPN and Sporting Kansas City, and he is a former Streak for the Cash winner and Michigan State graduate.
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