This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
Thursday's five-game main slate contains a major price disparity in the pitching department, which will give owners the option of grabbing two value hurlers and loading up on some of the more expensive bats.
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Pitcher
Mike Leake, SEA at TB ($7,500): Leake got off to a rocky start in 2018 but has pitched to a 3.20 ERA over his last 39.1 innings (six starts). The right-hander should be able to limit extra-base hits in the contest, as he has notched a 48 percent groundball rate while the Rays have hit the ball on the ground at a 45 percent clip.
GPP Fade: Gerrit Cole, HOU at TEX ($14,000): The numbers tell us that Cole has been otherworldly in 2018 (2.20 ERA, 116 strikeouts in 81.2 innings) but I am still leery about paying up for him in a matchup at Globe Life Park, which has been one of the highest run scoring environments in baseball this season. It is also interesting to note that Cole will cost nearly double the price of Leake, despite the fact that the two pitchers have put up identical DraftKings scores in their last two outings
Cheap GPP Consideration: Jalen Beeks, BOS vs. DET ($5,700): Beeks has been on fire for Triple-A Pawtucket this season, notching 80 strikeouts in 56.1 innings while pitching to a 2.56 ERA over that span. The Tigers have performed well against lefties this year but it's hard to pass on the upside Beeks presents in this matchup, particularly since the high-powered Red Sox offense could put him in a position to get a win. Those worried that Beeks will be on a short leash should be able to rest easy knowing that the debutant has thrown at least six innings in each of his last four starts.
Catcher
Mike Zunino, SEA at TB ($3,200): Tampa Bay will go with Ryne Stanek to open the game against the Mariners, but Austin Pruitt seems to be the likely candidate to absorb the lion's share of the innings, as he has not taken the mound since June 1 and has thrown at least five frames in each of his last three appearances. While he has thrown the ball reasonably well this season, Pruitt has struck out just 11 right-handed batters in 23 innings, resulting in a 4.77 xFIP. This should bode well for Zunino, who has tallied a .242 ISO against same-handed pitchers this season.
First Base
Justin Smoak, TOR vs. BAL ($4,300): Opposing starter David Hess has been hammered by lefties in his four starts with the big club, having allowed a .525 slugging percentage and four walks over 9.2 innings. Smoak hasn't hit for average against right-handers in 2018 but has more than made up for it by keeping a .250 ISO and a 36.5 percent hard contact rate against righty hurlers over 124 at-bats.
Second Base
Jed Lowrie, OAK vs. KC ($4,500):Jason Hammel owns below-average strikeout and walk rates against left-handed hitters this season while also having allowed a 47 percent hard contact rate over 34 innings. This has left him with a 5.27 xFIP over that span. Meanwhile, Lowrie has notched a .219 ISO and a .373 wOBA against right-handed pitchers in 160 at-bats.
Third Base
Mike Moustakas, KC at OAK ($4,100):Paul Blackburn will make his first start of the season for the A's after recovering from a forearm injury. While there isn't much rehab data to go by, we know that Blackburn walked more left-handed batters than he struck out over 29 innings in 2017, which contributed to a 5.02 xFIP. Moustakas has notched a 9.4 percent walk rate against right-handed pitching this season while logging a .261 ISO over 161 at-bats.
Shortstop
Manny Machado, BAL at TOR ($5,300):Jaime Garcia's fastball has registered a -10.1 RAA this season, making it one of the least effective heaters among pitchers who have thrown at least 30 innings. Machado has tallied a 9.9 RAA against the fastball in 2018 while notching a .323 ISO against left-handed pitching over 62 at-bats.
Outfield
Jorge Soler, KC at OAK ($3,800): Soler has had success against the fastball this season, as evidenced by the 10.5 RAA he has logged over 242 plate appearances. Blackburn kept a reverse split in 2017, allowing a .445 slugging percentage to righty hitters while also registering a -3.7 RAA with his fastball.
Khris Davis, OAK vs. KC ($5,100): Davis has tortured same-handed pitching this year, tallying a .291 ISO to go along with a .361 wOBA over 151 at-bats. Hammel has had to endure similar struggles against righty hitters in 2018, having surrendered a .464 slugging percentage and a 42 percent hard contact rate through 37.1 innings.
George Springer, HOU at TEX ($4,800): Springer has done most of his damage against lefties this season, as we can see from the .306 ISO and .425 wOBA he has posted over 72 at-bats. Opposing starter Cole Hamels has been hit hard by righties this season, allowing 14 homers in 60.1 innings to go along with a bloated 46.7 percent hard contact rate.
