This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
It's easy to spend up on a pitcher Wednesday night, but that may not be the best strategy. The lower-priced arms may be just as good and that will also lead to better bats, especially with a lack of cheaper options.
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PITCHER
Mike Clevinger, CLE vs. MIN ($9,500): I don't fully trust any of the top pitchers on this slate and Clevinger comes at a reasonable price with a solid floor due to strikeouts. He's hit 15 fantasy points in nine of his last 10 starts and that's as good as Clayton Kershaw ($12,800), who never dropped in price. The Twins will probably get a couple runs off Clevinger, but they have a 21.7 K% against righties over the last month and that should lead to around seven strikeouts.
GPP Fade: Clayton Kershaw, LAD at OAK ($12,800): Kershaw's price doesn't match his performance and that's the main issue. He's been a solid pitcher, yet failing to surpass 19 fantasy points in four of his last seven outings doesn't correlate to the price. Throw in the hot-hitting A's with a .184 ISO and .367 wOBA in the last month against southpaws and it's hard to see Kershaw being worth it.
Cheap GPP Consideration: Jhoulys Chacin, MIL vs. SD ($7,500): I like Chacin's upside a little more than a few other viable options. Some will be turned off because he was lit up by the Dodgers last time out, but he hit 26 fantasy points in his prior two starts and this could be another one of those. The Padres are back to the bottom of most hitting charts with a 25.8 K%, .116 ISO and .276 wOBA against righty arms over the last month.
CATCHER
Omar Narvaez, CWS vs. NYY ($3,000): With a righty on the mound, Narvaez should start. He's much better against them with 15 extra-base hits and a .353 BABIP in 150 at-bats. He's a cheap bat against a struggling Luis Severino, who has been smacked for 20 runs and six homers in his last four starts. If Narvaez doesn't start, Kevan Smith ($3,100) can be used, although isn't as good of play.
FIRST BASE
Daniel Murphy, WAS vs. ATL ($4,200): Murphy still feels underpriced given what he's done in the last month with a .222 ISO and .410 wOBA in July. Last season's .231 ISO and .396 wOBA against righties is still his best selling point. Mike Foltynewicz has been the opposite with 20 runs and seven home runs allowed in his last five outings. He's been closer to last year's numbers when he had a .375 wOBA allowed to lefty bats.
SECOND BASE
Gleyber Torres, NYY at CWS ($4,400): Torres is less consistent against righty arms, but the power is there with 13 homers and eight doubles (.356 wOBA). That power should work well against Lucas Giolito, who has a 5.97 ERA and 1.44 HR/9 against righty bats.
THIRD BASE
Justin Turner, LAD at OAK ($3,800): Turner's power hasn't come back to him, but he's still getting on base against southpaws with a .351 BABIP after a ridiculous .324 ISO and .484 wOBA in 2017. Brett Anderson is coming off his best outing of the season, yet that was against the Tigers and he still only had two strikeouts. Anderson hasn't performed consistently since 2015 and has 1.62 HR/9 against righty bats this year.
SHORTSTOP
Didi Gregorius, NYY at CWS ($5,000): The price is a bit high, but I wanted at least one Yankee lefty against Giolito. Conveniently, most of Gregorius's power comes against righties with 36 extra-base hits (16 HR) that have led to a .236 ISO. Giolito pitched well last time out, but he hasn't faced the Yankees this season and that won't help his .376 wOBA allowed or 6.85 xFIP against lefties.
OUTFIELD
Michael Brantley, CLE vs. MIN ($4,800): Brantley is one of the few Indians hitters that doesn't break the bank. He's been consistent against righty arms with a .188 ISO and .369 wOBA, which is slightly better than where he was a season ago. As for Jake Odorizzi, he's given up 15 runs and five homers in three starts (13.2 IP) against Cleveland this season. His 5.22 xFIP against lefties enhances those numbers.
Joey Wendle, TB vs. BAL ($4,100): If the Rays were hitting better, I'd probably use a few of their guys, but Wendle will do. He has a solid .350 BABIP against righties and has enough power to be relevant with 13 doubles and six homers. Andrew Cashner may not get blasted for 10 runs like he did last time out, but he does have a .370 wOBA allowed to lefties. And while he allowed two runs to Tampa last meeting, he gave up 11 hits and five runs to them back in May.
Kyle Schwarber, CHC at KC ($4,400): I wasn't going to do an entire article without going against the Royals. Schwarber will look to add to his 20 home runs against righty arms and that's possible against rookie Heath Fillmyer. The righty hurler hasn't shown much in four starts, only making it more than five innings against the lowly Tigers. Fillmyer also isn't a big strikeout guy (15.1 K% vs. lefties) so that should help Schwarber and his 25.8 K%.
