3 MLB FanDuel Studs to Target on 4/4/19

Kris Bryant, 3B, Chicago Cubs

Price: $4,500

Kris Bryant's production fell last year, and he ended up notching career-worst marks in both wOBA (.359) and ISO (.188). Even in the midst of those struggles, though, he mashed southpaws. In 96 cracks against lefty pitching, he turned a 41.4% hard-hit rate and 39.7% fly-ball rate into a .461 wOBA and .349 ISO.

That's a small sample, and he benefited from an unsustainably high .500 batting average on balls in play (BABIP) in that split, but those contact numbers are in line with his career averages (38.6% hard-hit rate and 42.5% fly-ball rate) versus southpaws. So even when his production inevitably regresses, it will likely remain lofty as that batted-ball profile has given him a career average of a 408 wOBA and .271 ISO.

The Atlanta Braves will start lefty Max Fried tonight, putting Bryant in a good spot for as long as the usual relief pitcher lasts in this one. He didn't play the "opener" role when he started last year, pitching at least five innings in three of his five starts, so Bryant likely stands to see at least a couple of plate appearances against Fried tonight.

Fried allowed a 42.1% hard-hit rate and dealt a 14.1% walk rate in his full 14-game sample last year, giving Bryant's value a bit of a boost, as well.