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PITCHER
Aaron Nola, PHI at LAD ($9,500): On a normal night, using Clayton Kershaw ($11,000) would make a lot of sense. That said, he's likely to be on a pitch count coming off the DL and it's probably a good idea to take a wait-and-see approach. Nola has been dominant this season with a 2.27 ERA while holding opponents to a .244 wOBA. He strikes out almost a batter per inning (24.6 percent) and is averaging just below 40 fantasy points per game this season. The Dodgers come into the game around league average for both strikeouts (21.9 percent) and wOBA (.313) against right-handed pitching.
GPP Fade: Jack Flaherty, STL vs PIT ($7,700): Flaherty is off to a great start, sporting a 2.15 ERA and averaging 36 fantasy points. However, this is the third time the Pirates will face him, which means they've seen his full repertoire of pitches. Flaherty's 3.58 xFIP suggests he's been a little lucky, as do his low BABIP (.261) and high LOB rate (89.2 percent). Pittsburgh has the third-lowest strikeout rate in the league at 19.5%, making this a tough matchup for Flaherty.
Cheap GPP Consideration: Jordan Lyles, SD vs MIA ($7,100): Lyles has cooled off after a hot start, but it's probably not a coincidence that the hot start happened in the pitcher-friendly confines of Petco Park. He owns a 1.85 ERA there this season (24.1 innings pitched) while striking out over a batter per inning. The Marlins continue to be a good offense to target against, as they own the second-lowest wOBA (.282) and strike out the 10th most (23.8 percent) against right-handed pitching. Shane Bieber ($6,000) making his Major League debut is worth consideration as well.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Greg Bird, NYY at BAL ($2,800): Bird gets a good lefty-vs-righty matchup against Andrew Cashner, who has allowed a .361 wOBA to left-handed hitters since the start of 2015 season (.381 this season). Bird's .333 wOBA against righties is solid, but his .387 wOBA in 2015 against them shows the type of upside he possesses.
SECOND BASE
Jason Kipnis, CLE at MIN ($3,000): Kipnis' patience at the plate has paid off, as he's starting to drive the ball more and has safely reached base in 20 straight games. He has two home runs over the last week and his career-low .237 BABIP has been unlucky. Kipnis still maintains a .341 wOBA against right-handed pitching, and Jake Odorizzi isn't good enough to worry about in this matchup.
THIRD BASE
Pedro Alvarez, BAL vs NYY ($2,900): Alvarez is a great GPP play given he's likely either going to homer or put up a goose egg. He's gone yard six times in his last 17 games but has also scored 3.2 or fewer points nine times during that span. Sonny Gray has struggled this season with a 4.18 ERA, and on the road in a small sample that number has been worse.
SHORTSTOP
Jurickson Profar, TEX at SEA ($3,400): Once considered an elite prospect, Profar is finally healthy and able to produce for the Rangers. He's been especially effective this season against left-handed pitching with a .413 wOBA and a .313 ISO. Tonight's matchup against Wade LeBlanc is a good one, as his 4.39 xFIP suggests some regression is coming to his 2.70 ERA.
OUTFIELD
Ian Happ, CHC at NYM ($3,000): Both Happ and Kyle Schwarber ($3,900) are in play tonight as lefties facing Seth Lugo. Happ gets the nod here due to the discount and his .364 wOBA against right-handed pitching this season. Lugo gave up a .329 wOBA last season to left-handed hitters, leading to a 4.92 ERA against them.
Nelson Cruz, SEA vs TEX ($3,300): While his price crept up $100 from yesterday, Cruz is a great play again tonight taking on lefty Mike Minor and his 5.63 ERA. Cruz's wOBA against lefties remains excellent for his career at .389, and Minor has struggled mightily this season against right-handed hitting, giving up a .380 wOBA to them.
UTILITY
Hunter Renfroe, SD vs MIA ($2,300): Renfroe is a great punt-play tonight with a severely depressed price, likely due to his recent DL stint. He should be hitting cleanup against a lefty and has raked against them since joining the Padres with a .421 wOBA in 169 plate appearances. He'll face Wei-Yin Chen, who has a .372 wOBA against right-handed hitters this season, a drop from his career .333 mark.
