This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
There aren't many pitching options in Wednesday's night slate and that means you may have to spend up. That also means there should be plenty of cheaper bats to find even with possibly only six games. There's rain all day in Pittsburgh's forecast, so I'm staying away from the Pirates and Brewers.
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PITCHER
David Price, BOS at MIN ($9,700): It's surprising Price is cheaper than Gio Gonzalez ($10,200), but that's fine by me. Price continues to put in consistent outings with at least 14 fantasy points in his last six starts and 19 points in five of those. The Twins shouldn't slow him down with subpar numbers across the board against southpaws with a 22.6 K%, .133 ISO and .306 wOBA since the beginning of May.
GPP Fade: Gio Gonzalez, WAS vs. BAL ($10,200): Gonzalez has a solid matchup on paper, but he did last start against the Blue Jays and was lit up for five runs. In fact, Gonzalez has allowed nine runs to go with only has six strikeouts in his last two outings. That's not good enough to back at this price and the Orioles have an above average 20.3 K% against lefties since May 1.
Cheap GPP Consideration: Jonathan Loaisiga, NYY vs. SEA ($8,300): The cheap pitchers available are some of the worst there have been on a slate this season, especially with the Pittsburgh game a possible rain out. Loaisiga was decent in his MLB debut, striking out six and not allowing a run to the Rays. This matchup is more difficult, but he's still a favorite and the Mariners are mediocre in most categories against righties, mainly a .153 ISO over the last month.
CATCHER
Chris Iannetta, COL vs. NYM ($3,600): Iannetta, like most Rockies, is better at home where he has a .435 BABIP against righties. That number is a bit better than last season, but he still had a solid .349 wOBA. Seth Lugo didn't open the season as a starter and most recently was lit up for five runs and eight hits. While he has decent overall numbers, those are mostly out of the bullpen and there's nothing he can do about the over/under of 11.5 runs.
FIRST BASE
Wilmer Flores, NYM at COL ($4,200): If Flores doesn't play, I'm also comfortable with lefty Dominic Smith ($4,000). If Flores starts, the stats still favor him in a righty-righty matchup. He has an early .369 wOBA against righties and had a solid .197 ISO in 2017. Even better is that Chad Bettis has struggled more against righty bats with a 4.80 xFIP and that extends throughout his career with a .369 wOBA allowed.
SECOND BASE
Wilmer Difo, WAS vs. BAL ($2,900): Difo is the value play in my lineup as his numbers aren't exactly enticing, although last year's .323 BABIP is still worth the gamble. More importantly, there's no reason to trust Andrew Cashner, who returns from the 10-day DL with a back injury. In his three starts prior to injury, he gave up 29 hits and 11 runs. Cashner doesn't have good numbers against either side of the plate and is near last season's 5.96 xFIP against lefty bats.
THIRD BASE
Miguel Andujar, NYY vs. SEA ($3,900): The Yankees haven't gotten their bats going in awhile, but Felix Hernandez could help that. Andujar is hitting righties better with a .354 BABIP and .216 ISO and conveniently Hernandez hasn't been good against anyone with a 4.34 xFIP against righty bats. Hernandez also has a career worst 5.44 ERA and 18.9 K%.
SHORTSTOP
Jurickson Profar, TEX at KC ($4,000): Profar is no longer the value bat he was earlier in the season, yet is still worth the higher price with an improved .387 wOBA and small 7.5 K% in the last month against righty arms. Jakob Junis is having some issues and has allowed 17 hits and 12 runs in his last two starts in addition to his career .322 wOBA allowed against lefties.
OUTFIELD
Gerardo Parra, COL vs. NYM ($4,000): Parra doesn't provide power like some of his teammates, but he'll get on base with a .395 BABIP against righties this year, following up last season's .333 wOBA. Lugo has pitched well in his few years in the majors, yet still has a career 4.37 xFIP against lefty bats, which Colorado will likely capitalize on.
Michael Taylor, WAS vs. BAL ($3,900): I wanted to use Matt Adams from the Nationals, but with him on the DL, I turned to Taylor, who has less power. At the least, Taylor has been one of their best bets in June with a .500 BABIP, which is closer to last season's .221 ISO and .333 wOBA against righties. Cashner has a brutal 4.94 xFIP against righties this year, which is only slightly better than the 4.73 from last season.
Joey Gallo, TEX at KC ($3,900): Gallo is the power play of the day going against a righty that has given up six homers in his last two starts. Gallo has 13 homers against righties and that's on par with his career .303 ISO against them. Junis has given up more homers to righties, but his career 4.73 xFIP against lefties is still troubling.
