This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
There's only room to pick one of the higher-priced pitchers on Wednesday night, so choose wisely. I'm going with the biggest favorite (-240 as of writing), but also one that doesn't break the bank. That lets me use a few bats for the game at Coors Field, which has its usual over/under pushing 12 runs.
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PITCHER
James Paxton, SEA vs. TEX ($11,700): All four high-end pitchers have good matchups, but Paxton is the only one that combines upside with value. Max Scherzer ($13,900) is in the same range but costs a couple thousand more. Paxton provides the same quality with 36 fantasy points in four of his last five starts. The Rangers are mediocre against lefties with a .316 wOBA, and a 25.9 K% could lead to another great outing for Paxton.
GPP Fade: Shohei Ohtani, LAA at DET ($11,200): Ohtani's been great to start the year already with a 4-1 record, but I think his price is a bit of a stretch in this matchup. The Tigers have quietly hit well this season and their 20.7 K% against righties is one of the best in MLB, limiting what Ohtani can do fantasy wise.
Cheap GPP Consideration: Ross Stripling, LAD vs. PHI ($7,300): Stripling was a must in his last start and that's where I'm going again as his price barely increased. He's been great over his last three starts only allowing three runs while striking out 26. The Phillies strikeout a bunch with a 25.4 K% against righties over the last month and that should lead to at least 20 fantasy points for Stripling.
CATCHER
Wilson Ramos, TB at OAK ($3,300): The A's are a solid favorite in this game, but I wouldn't be too sure of that given how Sean Manaea has pitched with 21 earned runs in his last five starts. A lot of that damage has been against righties, which he has a career .323 wOBA against. Ramos has a solid .351 BABIP against southpaws, a year after a .335 wOBA and minimal 12.3 K%.
FIRST BASE
Ryon Healy, SEA vs. TEX ($3,300): Healy comes at a discount given recent performance, but he's been solid against lefties and sports a .235 ISO and .373 wOBA against them in his short career. On the mound, Matt Moore is coming off the DL after a brutal 7.99 ERA in his first nine starts. His numbers aren't great over the last couple years and a 5.06 xFIP against righties in 2017 is ripe for Healy.
SECOND BASE
Daniel Robertson, TB at OAK ($3,500): This is another value play against the struggling Manaea. Robertson doesn't have a great BABIP, but has shown power against lefties with a career .213 ISO and .335 wOBA in 135 career plate appearances. Manaea started the season on fire and now only has 11 strikeouts in his last four outings to go with a career 4.36 xFIP against righties.
THIRD BASE
Nolan Arenado, COL vs. SF ($5,400): It'd be wise to grab multiple Colorado batters against Derek Holland after he gave up four runs to this squad a couple weeks ago in San Fran. This one's in Coors Field and could easily be worse. Holland has given up eight homers to righties a year after a 2.26 HR/9 and 5.97 xFIP. This matchup is all about Arenado, who has an early .469 BABIP against southpaws after roping a ridiculous .420 ISO and .534 wOBA against them in 2017.
SHORTSTOP
Trevor Story, COL vs. SF ($4,800): Story is another homerun hopeful against Holland already with 13 extra-base hits (six HR) in 66 at-bats against lefties. He strikes out a bunch (32.7 K%), but still has a career .351 ISO and .427 wOBA against them. Holland's career K rate against righties is mediocre at 18.7% to go with a .347 wOBA.
OUTFIELD
Gorkys Hernandez, SF at COL ($4,300): Hernandez's price finally shot up, but he's still worth a look with multiple hits in five of his last six Games. He's been hot with a .386 BABIP against righty arms, which is a bit better than his career .325 mark. Conveniently, Jon Gray hit a rough patch with 25 hits and 15 runs allowed in his last three outings. Gray's .325 wOBA against righties is also worse than his number against lefty bats at .313.
Eddie Rosario, MIN at KC ($4,200): Rosario's kept a strong bat against righties all year with seven homers and a .378 wOBA. Righty Brad Keller is set for his first MLB start and likely won't make it past five innings due to pitch count. If that's the case, the Twins should see plenty of the KC bullpen, which has one of the worst ERA's in the league at 5.36.
Justin Upton, LAA at DET ($4,000): Upton's been much better against righties this year already with 10 homers and a solid .355 wOBA. His high K% (25.3) shouldn't be a worry against Mike Fiers, who has a 15.2 K rate against both sides of the plate. Fiers has an early .338 wOBA against righties, which is better than his .360 number last season.
