This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
There are only four games Thursday night, which makes selecting a pitcher difficult. Unfortunately, the four I like all play against each other. Because of that, most of the bats I'm suggesting come from the other two games with higher over/unders.
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PITCHER
Rick Porcello, BOS at TB ($47): I considered Blake Snell ($45), but Porcello is the favorite for a reason. The Rays may be hitting well but they don't have nearly the same power as the Red Sox with a .154 ISO over the last month against righties. Porcello has fallen off after his hot start, yet still had nine strikeouts last outing and has reached 19 fantasy points in all three starts against the Rays this year.
Mike Clevinger, CLE vs. HOU ($42): Clevinger just faced the Astros and had a mediocre performance with three earned runs and six strikeouts. I'm willing to bet he does better this time around at home and won't have four walks again. His strikeout potential (10 vs. Yankees) at least gives fantasy owners some hope. The Astros haven't hit righties as well as the Indians over the last month with a .165 ISO and .321 wOBA.
CATCHER
Manny Pina, MIL vs. NYM ($10): There aren't many places to go for catcher unless you want to spend up and that's still a stretch. Pina doesn't cost much and gets a decent matchup against a southpaw with the hope his career .324 BABIP shines through. Steven Matz has one quality start all season and has just 13 strikeouts to eight walks in his last four outings.
FIRST BASE
Adrian Gonzalez, NYM at MIL ($12): With a righty on the mound, Gonzalez will get the start, as that's all he can hit these days. At the least, he has five homers, which is already more than a year ago. Zach Davies returns from the DL and hasn't pitched in a month in the majors so he'll be unpredictable, especially after last season's 4.75 xFIP against lefty bats. If you don't want to save money, Jesus Aguilar ($17) is the better play.
SECOND BASE
Isiah Kiner-Falefa, TEX vs. KC ($13): Unfortunately, the Rangers haven't hit lefties well this season, so I have to stretch on some players to benefit against Danny Duffy. Kiner-Falefa at least comes on the cheap end and has the ability to benefit against a guy who's allowed 14 runs and eight walks in his last two starts.
THIRD BASE
Mike Moustakas, KC at TEX ($16): Moustakas has slowed down since a torrid start, but he's continually great against righties so there's no reason to worry. He roped a .268 ISO and .353 wOBA with 29 homers against righties last year and that's where he's headed again. Austin Bibens-Dirkx is making his first start of the season after having a miserable 6.43 xFIP against 134 lefties faced in 2017. That being the case, I'd put fellow lefties Alex Gordon ($11) and Jon Jay ($11) into roster consideration, as well.
SHORTSTOP
Jurickson Profar, TEX vs. KC ($14): Profar is one of the only Texas players who's had success against southpaws, with seven XBH (and .323 BABIP) in 36 at-bats. That isn't amazing, but it'll be enough against Duffy, who's giving up close to three homers per nine innings (2.81). Duffy hasn't improved since last year's .329 wOBA against righty bats.
OUTFIELD
Lorenzo Cain, MIL vs. NYM ($20): Cain is Milwaukee's best bat against southpaws, with an early .412 BABIP, which comes a year after a .200 ISO and .349 wOBA. Matz is getting brutalized for 2.35 HR/9 against righties and was equally bad in 2017 with a .370 wOBA.
Ryan Braun, MIL vs. NYM ($11): Here's another righty to throw at Matz with the hope that Braun starts in his first game off the DL (if not, look at Domingo Santana). Before injuring his back, Braun had five extra-base hits in 33 at-bats against lefties and that's how things went last season with a .253 ISO and .358 wOBA. Matz hasn't pitched well since 2016 and had a 2.06 HR/9 and 4.55 xFIP against righties last year.
Delino DeShields Jr., TEX vs. KC ($16): DeShields hasn't seen many lefties, which makes his early numbers somewhat less impressive. In just 29 plate appearances, he's sporting a solid .444 BABIP and that's slightly better than last year when he had a .328 wOBA. Duffy has never pitched well against righties with a career 4.64 xFIP.
