With one early game and 14 games starting after 6 p.m. ET, Friday has a loaded fantasy baseball slate. If you’re looking for advice on which hitters you should target as potential streaming options, or perhaps home run prop bets, here are three options you should consider.
Why Marcell Ozuna Is a Strong Home Run Bet on Friday
It’s increasingly hard to trust Marcell Ozuna these days, especially considering the slow start to the season he has endured. However, the veteran slugger can still hit for power when he makes contact. And when he has a favorable matchup on tap, he’s quite capable of getting the job done and taking advantage of it. That’s exactly the case with Ozuna on Friday against Nick Martinez.
The veteran has hit .400 with a 1.555 OPS and two homers across 10 at-bats against Martinez. Ozuna should be available in most fantasy formats and be relatively affordable in DFS after hitting just .127 with a .413 OPS so far. However, he’s riding a four-game hitting streak and smacked a three-run homer in Thursday’s game against the Washington Nationals, so he’s showing signs of a turnaround.
Teoscar Hernandez’s Value as a Friday Home Run Candidate
Hernandez has faced Ryan Feltner just eight times throughout his career, but his results have been excellent since he’s hit .500 with a 1.000 OPS in that span. Even though the veteran slugger has yet to go yard against him, Hernandez has enough power to hit a long ball against almost any pitcher in the game based on power alone, but that’s especially true when facing a favorable matchup.
Hernandez is trending in the right direction as well, as he’s hit safely in four of his last five games while slashing .353/.421/.824 with a 1.245 OPS and two homers over that stretch. Hernandez actually hit a solo shot in his last game Wednesday against the New York Mets. The favorable matchup makes him a hitter worth targeting if you’re looking to roll the dice on a home run prop bet.
Nolan Arenado Is an Excellent Fantasy Streaming Option
Arenado is not the player he once was, but the veteran slugger has proven he can still mash the baseball when given a favorable offering. He has an excellent track record against Eric Lauer, hitting .292 with a 1.108 OPS and three homers across 24 at-bats against him. Arenado has been seeing the ball lately as well, hitting safely in three of his last four games, including a massive two-homer performance against the Baltimore Orioles on April 13.
While he’s not productive enough to be an everyday starter in season-long formats, even in a depleted position like third base, this matchup looks favorable for him on paper. Feel confident to start Arenado as a streaming option to boost your fantasy baseball lineup.
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