This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Today's DFS action starts today at 1:05 PM EST with an early-only and an all-day slate. There are only two early games with the Yankees hosting the Mariners, as well as the Twins welcoming the Red Sox. Tonight features a seven-game slate without a Coors game and only one real stud, Max Scherzer, taking the hill.
For those interested, we've started an MLB DFS Slack channel for paid RotoWire subscribers. (There is a season-long one as well.) To join those channels, e-mail support@rotowire.com.
Pitcher
Madison Bumgarner, SF vs SD ($8,600): Three subpar starts from Bumgarner has his price in a very affordable range, and there's a few arrows pointing up for him. He was able to throw 112 pitches last outing, showing any pitch count is officially done for him. This is a great home matchup for Bumgarner, as the Padres have the 10th-lowest wOBA against left-handed pitching (.300), but more importantly strikeout out at the third highest rate (25.1 percent). Both of those starts are worst on the road for the Padres as well (.271 wOBA, 27 percent strikeout rate). Of course, with no Coors game to pay up for, the safe play is to plug-and-play Max Scherzer ($12,200).
GPP Fade: Carlos Martinez, STL vs MIL ($7,300): It's not common to find a pitcher with as many starts as Martinez has under his belt (11), as well as a 2.73 ERA, at this low of a price. However, Martinez's control has been dismal since returning from the DL with 18 walks over 12.2 innings. Until he shows he's righted the ship, he should be a hard pass — even in GPPs.
Cheap GPP Consideration: Tyson Ross, SD at SF ($7,400): A good contrarian strategy in GPPs tonight is to fade Bumgarner and instead go with the opposing pitcher in Ross. While the Giants are in the middle of the pack in terms of wOBA against right-handed pitching (.315), they have the eighth-highest strikeout rate (24.5 percent) against that handedness. Ross is striking out exactly a batter per inning this season and has allowed less than a home run per nine innings pitched.
Catcher/First Base
Matt Olson, OAK at CHW ($3,000):Lucas Giolito (7.19 ERA) has been a good pitcher to pick on this season making the Oakland bats good targets tonight. Olson in his short career has a .376 wOBA against right-handed pitching while Giolito has a allowed a .401 wOBA to left-handed hitters. Teammate Dustin Fowler ($2,100) is a great punt play to consider as well.
Second Base
Ben Zobrist, CHC at CIN ($2,800): Zobrist is a great option tonight, providing an affordable price without sacrificing upside. This season, he has his best wOBA (.367) against right-handed pitching since he was in Tampa in 2009. Part of this is due to increasing his walk rate while lowering his strikeout rate, leading to a .403 OBP against righties. Matt Harvey might be the best matchup on tonight's slate of any of 14 pitchers taking the mound, as well.
Third Base
Colin Moran, PIT vs ARI ($2,900): Moran appears to have taken over the cleanup spot against right-handed pitchers, which makes a lot of sense. The Pirates aren't the most potent lineup in the league and Moran has a .347 wOBA against righties (.407 at home this season). Zack Godley has his worst splits against left-handed hitters (.352 wOBA) especially on the road (.368 wOBA).
Shortstop
Marcus Semien, OAK at CHW ($3,400): Semien is another Oakland player to use tonight with the prime matchup against Giolito. Semien is once against hitting leadoff and has a respectable (for a shortstop) .317 wOBA against right-handed hitters. The allure here is the matchup against Giolito and that Semien comes into the game averaging 17.2 fantasy points over his last five contests.
Outfield
Harrison Bader, STL at MIL ($2,400): Bader usually finds himself in the lineup against southpaws and gets that matchup Thursday against Brent Suter. In 72 career plate appearances against left-handed pitching, Bader has a .410 wOBA while Suter has given up a .343 wOBA to opposing right-handed hitters. Bader's teammate Marcell Ozuna ($3,500, .404 wOBA vs lefties) is another player to target on the Cardinals.
Kyle Schwarber, CHC at CIN ($3,500): Without a game in Colorado for the first time this week, the best stack of the night is probably the Cubs taking on Matt Harvey. Harvey comes into the game with a 5.92 ERA while Schwarber is having another good season against right-handed pitching. His wOBA this year is at .364, which matches his career mark.
Utility
Brandon Belt, SF vs SD ($3,800): Belt is one of the top plays on the board and can easily be used in lineups not rostering Tyson Ross. Belt came into the season with wOBAs of .370 and .372 over the last two years against right-handed pitching. He's up to a .409 mark this season, and that number shoots up to a crazy .470 mark at home. Left-handed bats are what cause Ross the most problems, as he's giving up a .361 wOBA to that side of the plate while allowing right-handed hitters only a .226 wOBA.
