This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
Thursday's slate is all about dominant pitching, with four guys priced above $55. With few options to trust below that threshold, I put together a lineup that features numerous bats coming in under 13 bucks.
PITCHER
Blake Snell, TB at MIN ($56): I've been on Snell in his last couple starts and, unfortunately, his price is finally among the elite. Still, he's in a better situation than everyone priced above him outside of Max Scherzer ($62). Snell is roasting opponents with 29 strikeouts in his last three starts. The Twins aren't going to change that with a 23.9 K percentage, .106 ISO and .283 wOBA against southpaws since the beginning of June.
Ross Stripling, LAD at SD ($49): There isn't anyone cheaper than Stripling that I want to roster, making this a difficult slate. Stripling doesn't often throw more than 90 pitches, but he's consistent and was back to dominating last time out with one earned run and seven strikeouts against the Angels. He faced the Padres at the end of May and had 38 fantasy points. San Diego hasn't improved and has a 26.4 K percentage, .109 ISO and .278 wOBA against righties in the last month.
CATCHER
Francisco Cervelli, PIT vs. MIL ($9): Cervelli's numbers against lefties are rough this year in 34 at-bats, but he's cheap and has a solid .350 wOBA for his career. Wade Miley returns from the DL and didn't make it five innings in either of his rehab starts. Coming off a 2017 campaign in which Miley had a .374 wOBA allowed to righties, Cervelli is worth a shot.
FIRST BASE
Ji-Man Choi, TB at MIN ($9): All of the other cheap first basemen are in tough matchups, so this is hoping Choi starts again. He managed a couple hits on Wednesday and has a .230 ISO in 169 plate appearances against righties so there's some upside. Kyle Gibson has allowed 11 runs in his last three starts and has a 4.08 xFIP against lefties. If you want to spend, Josh Bell ($14) and Cody Bellinger ($20) are a little easier to trust.
SECOND BASE
Eduardo Nunez, BOS vs. TOR ($12): Nunez is a cheap play with the hopes that J.A. Happ's struggles continue. Nunez hasn't done much against lefties this year, but had a workable .321 wOBA against them in 2017. As for Happ, he's been blasted for 14 hits and 13 runs in his last two starts, one of them against the lowly Tigers. He still has decent numbers for the season, although a 4.09 xFIP against righties is below average.
THIRD BASE
Yangervis Solarte, TOR at BOS ($13): Solarte's been a nice bat against southpaws this year with a .237 ISO from 14 extra-base hits (seven HR). He could capitalize against a struggling David Price, who has allowed 15 hits and 12 runs in his last two starts to go with a 4.18 xFIP against righty bats.
SHORTSTOP
Jordy Mercer, PIT vs. MIL ($10): Mercer is another cheap Pittsburgh bat and he at least has a .322 BABIP against southpaws and maybe more importantly a career .352 wOBA. Miley has never had good numbers against righties with last year's 4.74 xFIP showing that.
OUTFIELD
Joc Pederson, LAD at SD ($17): Here's another play that's mostly about power as all 13 of Pederson's home runs have come against righties with his career ISO at .245. Tyson Ross is having major issues on the mound allowing 14 hits and 15 runs with only two strikeouts in his last two outings. He's also allowing 1.54 HR/9 to lefties, which only helps Pederson.
Andrew Toles, LAD at SD ($12): This is more of a value play as Toles should return to the lineup (in place of the injured Yasiel Puig) with a righty on the mound,. He's sporting a decent .355 wOBA in 203 plate appearances against righties the last few years so there's hope. Ross can't figure out lefty bats at the moment and has a .381 wOBA allowed for the season.
Christian Yelich, MIL at PIT ($16): There are plenty of expensive outfielders to use, namely the ones from Boston, but most won't be able to afford them. Yelich supplies pop against righties with 15 homers, 27 doubles and a .359 wOBA. Taillon is far from an elite pitcher and remains iffy against lefty bats with a career 4.38 xFIP.
