The Baltimore Orioles’ Ubaldo Jimenez is the pitcher to have anchoring your DraftKings staff on Friday, not the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw or any of the other higher-priced options available.

Kershaw is an especially tantalizing option. He’s arguably the best pitcher in the game facing a struggling New York Mets team that is averaging just 1.64 runs per game in their last 14 contests. That would normally scream for any DK player to draft Kershaw without a second thought. 

However, after closer examination, Kershaw‘s $13,100 DK salary is just over 26 percent of your payroll. If you figure you’ll need around 190 fantasy points to have a chance to win your contest, that would mean Kershaw would need to produce almost 50 fantasy points to be worth the investment.

Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

He’s good, and the Mets aren’t hitting well, but that’s a huge risk.

Kershaw would need to throw a complete-game shutout with 12 strikeouts, no walks and no more than two hits to reach that number. Give or take a point or two, most would be happy with Kershaw‘s performance, but let’s keep in mind, he hasn’t had a game quite that good all season.

It simply isn’t realistic to expect him to produce on that level.

Jimenez doesn’t have to jump as high to carry his weight. His salary is $7,500, and he’s facing a Chicago White Sox team that is dead last in runs scored this season. Chicago did score seven runs against the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday, but that explosion and its recent hitting success has come on the road.

For whatever reason, the White Sox have struggled to score runs inside their own ballpark. The team has scored a major league-low 106 runs at home. Friday night’s game takes place at the suddenly not-so-hitter-friendly confines of U.S. Cellular Field.

Jimenez has won four straight, and he’s coming off a 33.6 fantasy-point performance in his last start against the Cleveland Indians. The 28.4 fantasy points you’d need from Jimenez are very feasible in this matchup. Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun tweeted Jimenez’s latest numbers since his last rough outing:

Ubaldo Jimenez walked 6, lasted just 5 IP on June 6 in Cleve. Since then, he’s 4-0 w/ 29 K & just 5 BB. That’s a K/BB ratio of 5.8. #Orioles

— Eduardo A. Encina (@EddieInTheYard) June 28, 2015

He is the best value of the day when it comes to pitchers.

Noah Syndergaard ($8,700) at Los Angeles Dodgers

John Bazemore/Associated Press

Instead of tabbing Kershaw, his counterpart, Noah Syndergaard, is a better option. The fireballing rookie has been an inconsistent fantasy performer this season, but there’s a decent chance he rises to the occasion against one of the sport’s best.

At $8,700, Syndergaard needs to come as close to 33.6 fantasy points as possible. He could attain that number without getting the win. A seven-inning, 10-strikeout, four-hits-allowed performance would likely satisfy any of his fantasy owners.

Two of Syndergaard‘s last three starts have produced 25-plus fantasy points, and it seems as if he’s on the cusp of turning the corner. The fact that the Dodgers have yet to see him this season also helps his cause. A spectacular performance is possible because of his talent level. Even if he doesn’t hurl his best outing, a clunker doesn’t appear to be in the cards for Syndergaard.

He’s a solid guy to pair with Jimenez.

Julio Teheran ($8,000) vs. Philadelphia Phillies

Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Usually a struggling offense is not reason enough to tab an opposing pitcher for selection, but the Philadelphia Phillies bats have been so bad, this is almost an exception.

The Atlanta Braves’ Julio Teheran has shown flashes this season. He’s had two starts in his last 10 outings that produced 28-plus fantasy points. He’s coming off a rough loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates in his last appearance, but Philly might be the medicine for what ails him.

Even with a recent jolt to its offensive output, Philadelphia is 28th in runs scored this season. This will be the first time it has faced Teheran this season, and that usually favors the man on the mound. In case you don’t believe in Syndergaard, Teheran is a solid alternative.

Drew Hutchison ($7,300) at Detroit Tigers

Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images

Despite Drew Hutchison‘s 4.99 ERA, the Toronto Blue Jays starter has been a fairly consistent fantasy performer this season. In his last three starts, he’s averaged 22.1 fantasy points per game. That’s not going to win him a Cy Young, but if you pair him with Jimenez, it should provide your team with two legitimate pitching performances on Friday.

Likewise, it’ll also leave $35,200 in DK salary to fill the position-player slots. 

Hutchison has also had some brief success against the Detroit Tigers in his career. Detroit hitters have had a combined 26 at-bats against Hutchison and they are hitting just .231 against him. Only Yoenis Cespedes and Victor Martinez have had any success. Combined, they have just one RBI.

Consider Hutchison another strong alternative to Syndergaard. 

Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter