This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
There aren't many high-priced pitchers that prospective owners can look to for certainty on Thursday's main slate, which should encourage the selection of at least one value option in order to take advantage of some strong matchups in high run-scoring environments on the offensive end.
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Pitcher
Nick Kingham, PIT vs. NYM ($9,400): Kingham has had mixed results for the Pirates in his rookie campaign but has looked like a world beater at home this season, logging a 2.90 ERA with 32 strikeouts in 31 innings. Meanwhile, the Mets will come into the contest holding the seventh lowest wOBA against right-handed pitching in 2018 (.304).
Cheap GPP Consideration: Wade Miley, MIL at SF ($6,600): Miley's peripherals indicate that he likely won't hold onto the 1.56 ERA he has amassed in four starts with the Brewers but he should have the opportunity to use his heavy groundball rate to his advantage against the Giants, who have put the ball on the ground at a 45 percent clip this season. Miley has had trouble with the free pass early in his 2018 campaign but that shouldn't hurt him too badly in this matchup, as San Francisco has walked less than eight percent of the time against lefty hurlers.
GPP Fade: Rich Hill, LAD at ATL ($9,200): Hill has relied on his strikeout pitch to compensate for his high walk and home run totals but that may not save him against the Braves, who hold a strikeout rate of just 19.7 percent against left-handed pitching this season. If he can't get the strikeouts pumping, Hill could be in some trouble against Atlanta, as the team has notched the second highest ISO in the league against left-handed pitching (.190).
Catcher
Elias Diaz, PIT vs. NYM ($3,500): Diaz remains an outstanding affordable option against left-handed pitching thanks to the .255 ISO and .426 wOBA he has notched against his opposite hand in 55 at-bats. Opposing starter Steven Matz has thrown the ball reasonably well overall but has surrendered a .451 slugging percentage and 13 homers to righty hitters in 77.2 frames.
First Base
C.J. Cron, TB at BAL ($4,800): Cron has been consistent against righties and lefties in his breakout campaign, which has resulted in a .226 ISO and a .348 wOBA in 350 at-bats. Alex Cobb has been hit hard by same-handed batters in 2018, surrendering a .548 slugging percentage to go along with a .376 wOBA in 50 innings.
Second Base
Sean Rodriguez, PIT vs. NYM ($3,100): Regular playing time is no longer assured for Rodriguez due to Josh Harrison returning from the disabled list but he should get the start against Matz, as he has notched a .243 ISO against southpaws in 37 at-bats. The sample size may be small but it will be hard to pass on Rodriguez for this price, particularly as we have discussed the issues Matz has had with right-handed hitters this season.
Third Base
Jed Lowrie, OAK at TEX ($4,400): Opposing starter Bartolo Colon has struck out less than 13 percent of the left-handed batters he has faced this season while owning a fastball that has registered a -3.6 RAA in 111.1 innings. Lowrie has smashed right-handed pitching to the tune of a .234 ISO in 252 at-bats while keeping a 14.1 RAA against the fastball.
Shortstop
Johan Camargo, ATL vs. LAD ($3,700): Camargo is another affordable option we can plug in due to his favorable platoon splits, as he has logged a .270 ISO and a .374 wOBA against left-handed pitching in 74 at-bats. Camargo could fit in nicely as part of a mini stack for those who want to try and exploit the tendency Hill has to give up long balls.
Outfield
Aaron Judge, NYY vs. KC ($5,600):Jakob Junis is sporting one of the least effective fastballs in the league this season (-13.1 RAA). This should allow Judge to get some purchase against the young righty, as he has tallied a 20.4 RAA against the heater. We should also point out that Judge has tallied a .262 ISO against right-handed pitchers in 275 at-bats.
Odubel Herrera, PHI at CIN ($4,600):Tyler Mahle has had real trouble keeping the ball in the park against lefties in 2018, allowing 14 homers in just 50 innings. He has walked 37 batters over that span. Some may point to Herrera's home/road splits as a reason to pass on the 26-year-old in this spot but I will take his .199 ISO overall against righties, as I am not too worried about anyone having issues hitting at Great American Ball Park.
Adam Duvall, CIN vs. PHI ($3,700): We will look to the opposite dugout for our final selection, as Duvall is carrying a .217 ISO against left-handed pitching this year. Debutante Ranger Suarez has maintained solid ERAs in the Phillies' minor league system throughout his career but his lack of strikeout stuff could make him vulnerable to hitters at this level, particularly in such an offense-friendly ballpark.
