This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
DraftKings has given us a difficult main slate to navigate through Thursday, as two pitchers on the four-game docket can't be trusted to give us length, while two more have had mixed results of late. This means we need to dig deep in order to find a serviceable secondary pitcher who will allow us to get a few choice bats into our lineups.
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Pitcher
Aaron Nola, PHI vs. WAS ($12,100): It can be argued that Nola has underperformed of late but the 25-year-old lines up well against the Nationals, as he will take his heavy groundball rate (52.3%) into a matchup against a team that hits the ball on the ground at a clip approaching 45 percent. It is also worth noting that the right-hander has registered a 7.5 RAA with his changeup while Washington has been a bottom-10 team against the pitch this season according to RAA.
Cheap GPP Consideration: Anthony DeSclafani, CIN vs. MIL ($6,400): DeSclafani may not have the prettiest rate stats in the league but he has been a solid option for the Reds since coming off the disabled list, allowing more than two runs in just one of his four starts. He has logged at least 16 DraftKings points in three of those outings. While he may not be anyone's first choice on a full slate, DeSclafani can provide some much-needed salary relief in order to fit high-priced bats in a lineup.
GPP Fade: Tanner Roark, WAS at PHI ($7,100): All fades become negotiable on such a small slate but I still wonder where the upside will come from with respect to Roark, who has failed to register double-digit DraftKings points four times in his last six starts. While Roark's road numbers may look good on the surface, the peripherals tell a different story, as a 16.5 percent strikeout rate has contributed to a 4.62 xFIP in nine starts.
Catcher
Max Stassi, HOU at TB ($3,600):Ryne Stanek will begin the game on the mound for the Rays Thursday but he has not thrown more than two innings in his last 10 starts, which likely means left-hander Ryan Yarbrough will see the lion's share of the work on the mound. Stassi has notched a .250 ISO and a .399 wOBA against southpaws in 60 at-bats this season while Yarbrough's mediocre strikeout and walk rates against his opposite hand have contributed to a 4.54 xFIP in 54.1 innings. Stassi hasn't secured an everyday role in the lineup as of yet but has started three of the team's last four games and should be in the lineup to see at-bats against Yarbrough, as it has been announced that he will be the first reliever in the game for the Rays.
First Base
Brad Miller, MIL at CIN ($3,300): Low-cost options are hard to come by in the main slate but Miller appears to be a deceptively strong option against DeSclafani, who has been hammered by left-handed hitters to the tune of a .571 slugging percentage in 11.1 innings. Miller has slid into something of a platoon with Orlando Arcia after being acquired from the Rays due to the .189 ISO and 42.4 percent hard contact rate he has tallied against righties in 127 at-bats.
Second Base
Daniel Robertson, TB vs. HOU ($3,400): Robertson has showcased a strong ability to get on base in 2018, notching a .384 on-base percentage in 189 at-bats. He has kept a hard contact rate of 35 percent against righties over that span. Opposing starter Lance McCullers has thrown the ball well this year but has surrendered an eight percent walk rate to same-handed hitters to go along with a .435 slugging percentage.
Third Base
Rafael Devers, BOS vs. LAA ($4,000): Opposing starter Jaime Barria looked to be a promising young pitcher early in 2018 but the wheels appear to have fallen off in June, as he has surrendered a .551 slugging percentage in 20 innings. Meanwhile, Devers has swung the bat well against right-handed pitchers this season, notching a .194 ISO and a 40 percent hard contact rate in 216 at-bats.
Shortstop
Andrelton Simmons, LAA at BOS ($3,700): Simmons hasn't hit for much power in 2018 but has kept himself relevant against southpaws as far as DFS is concerned with a robust .422 on-base percentage in 68 at-bats. The Angels may not see much of opposing starter Brian Johnson in the contest, as he has worked out of the bullpen for most of the season, but players should note the .356 wOBA he has surrendered to right-handed hitters in 24.1 innings.
Outfield
Scott Schebler, CIN vs. MIL ($4,300): Schebler has been a good source of power against right-handed pitching this season, logging a .227 ISO with a 41 percent hard contact rate in 154 at-bats. Milwaukee right-hander Junior Guerra has done a good job limiting damage but may not be able to hold offenses in check much longer due to the 11 percent walk rate and 39 percent hard contact rate he has allowed to lefty batters in 40.1 frames.
George Springer, HOU at TB ($4,900): A bullpen game may be all the justification one needs for stacking Astros but Springer may be someone to target specifically against Yarbrough, as he has kept a .274 ISO and a .404 wOBA against his opposite hand in 95 at-bats.
Ryan Braun, MIL at CIN ($4,200): Braun has improved his power numbers against righty hurlers in 2018, as evidenced by the .196 ISO he has logged in 153 at-bats. DeSclafani has thrown the ball well against right-handed hitters but still carries a 1.7 HR/9 rate and a 55 percent hard contact rate in 10.2 innings.
