This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Game 3 goes off at 8:08 p.m. et, with the winning side landing just two wins from a championship. It's a battle of aces on the hill, which comes with a somewhat surprising 7.5 run total, likely out of respect for the Dodgers offense.
Pitching Breakdown
Charlie Morton and Walker Buehler are set to duel Friday. Morton has been outright dominant this postseason, seemingly saving his best starts of the season for October. He's gone 3-0 in as many starts, posting a nearly flawless 0.57 ERA. He's not a big strikeout guy, fanning just 17 in 15.2 innings, and the ERA could be a little fortunate as evident by a 3.82 xFIP. The Rays also use their advanced metrics and pull Morton earlier than most would expect with regularity. But he hasn't allowed a long ball, and that's something he excels at, allowing just 0.95 HR/9 during the regular season.
The only similarity Buehler carries is a lack of innings, having worked 19.0 in four postseason appearances. That's been a product of high pitch counts, due in part to a 5.2 BB/9 rate, way up from 2.7 during the regular season, which also wasn't a sparkling number. He's second in the postseason with 29 Ks, which plays right in to the Rays strikeout propensity. They're an all or nothing lineup, so it will be interesting to see if they change their approach in an effort to get Buehler out early.
Hitting Correlation
These showdown slate require a choice between stars and studs, or a balanced attack. The Dodgers' lineup seems to offer a nice mix of stability and upside that can allow for both cash safety, while also building around and differentiating for GPPs. That has to start with Corey Seager ($8,500), who's surprisingly the Dodgers' third-priced bat. He's had nine double-digit FDP outings in the postseason (14 games), including two against the Rays. He's not homer dependent, posting 18.2 FDP in Game 1 despite going 0-for-2. Justin Turner ($7,500) doesn't have the power upside, but he's put up crooked numbers in every game since the Division Series began. Will Smith ($6,500) looks to be a nice blend of floor and ceiling. He posted a .427 wOBA and .350 ISO against righties during the regular season, has homered twice in his last five games and has nine RBI in his last seven.
The Rays lineup is far more difficult to attack, as they are a grip it and rip it squad. Brandon Lowe ($7,000) defines this to a tee, as he has six hits in his last 14 games, five of which have come in the last five outings and three of which have left the yard. He was second in this lineup during the regular season with a .355 wOBA against righties. Manuel Margot ($6,500) is another prime example, hitting just one homer during the regular season but five in the post season. He's also in good form with six hits and five runs in his last six. If we're really digging deep, Mike Zunino ($4,500) had a 55.6 percent fly ball rate during the regular season, and a 44.4 percent hard-hit rate. Buehler had really odd home/road splits during the year, which included a 33.3 percent HR/FB ratio away from Dodger Stadium to righties.
One-offs
The Dodgers hit righties well during the regular season, with five regulars posting a .wOBA north of .383. I certainly wouldn't talk anyone out of Mookie Betts ($9,500, team-leading .438 wOBA, 181 wRC+ and .354 ISO), but Chris Taylor ($5,000) could provide some value after a .384 wOBA and 145 wRC+.
Similar to Betts, I wouldn't talk anyone out of Randy Arozarena ($8,000), who while he hasn't started this series off as hot as he was previously, he's still scratched for 12 FDP and may be overdue a few extra-base hits. Yandy Diaz ($6,000) has next to no upside, homering twice during the regular season and none in the post season, carrying a .081 ISO against righties into Friday night. But his .372 wOBA and 141 wRC+ against righties led Ray regulars.
