This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
It's a good Thursday night slate that features top pitching and plenty of viable arms for cheap. I went with one of each, and that allowed for a couple big bats, most notably the Home Run Derby winner. There's rain expected, but forecasts are hovering below 50 percent at game time in Washington and Philly, so it's not an immediate issue.
PITCHER
Zack Greinke, ARI vs. SF ($54): Instead of spending a few extra bucks, Greinke fits the role as elite pitcher with at least 29 fantasy points in his last three starts, including a dominant 13 K outing against the Rockies. The Giants are in a bit of a funk and have poor numbers across the board in the last month with a 22.9 K percentage, .124 ISO and .290 wOBA against righties.
Nick Pivetta, PHI vs. MIA ($34): Pivetta is surprisingly cheap considering he was at $45 a little more than a month ago. He has 28 strikeouts in his last three starts and that's a good enough selling point. The Marlins don't do anything special with a subpar 21.0 K percentage, .120 ISO and .311 wOBA against righty arms in the last month.
CATCHER
Blake Swihart, BOS vs. NYY ($9): Swihart's main purpose is as a cheap catcher and he's at least serviceable against righty hurlers with a .339 BABIP. Sabathia was great against the Red Sox in June but only made it five innings in the first meeting. Now in Boston, things may go a little different as he's in the middle of a bad stretch, failing to make it six innings in his last three. His 4.90 xFIP against lefties this year also doesn't help.
FIRST BASE
Kendrys Morales, TOR at SEA ($19): For the first time in a few years, Morales is hitting better overall against righty arms with a .353 wOBA. Either way, he's always had more power against them with this year's .201 ISO in line with his career .202 rate. Felix Hernandez is another veteran with his best days behind him with a 5.58 ERA and 1.58 HR/9 against lefty bats.
SECOND BASE
Eduardo Nunez, BOS vs. NYY ($12): Nunez is better against righty arms even if he hasn't shown much this year. He's feeling somewhat confident with two hits in four of his last five games, trying to edge closer to last season's .350 wOBA. Conveniently, Sabathia is slightly worse against righty bats with a lower 17.8 K percentage and .323 wOBA allowed for the year.
THIRD BASE
Miguel Andujar, NYY at BOS ($15): Andujar's consistency against southpaws isn't great, but he's cheaper than most third basemen and has 15 extra-base hits (five HR) in 97 at-bats against them for a .268 ISO. Brian Johnson has been solid as a spot starter for the Red Sox, but he hasn't faced the Yankees as a starter and still has a shaky .346 wOBA allowed to righties in his short career.
SHORTSTOP
Trea Turner, WAS vs. CIN ($16): After a mostly down July, Turner's found his bat in the last week, with 12 hits in the last five games. He's been solid with 11 homers against righty arms and still has a career .356 wOBA against them. Tyler Mahle is much better against righties, yet it's hard to trust him against anyone after going just one inning last time out and with 14 runs allowed in his last three starts.
OUTFIELD
Bryce Harper, WAS vs. CIN ($21): Speaking of Mahle's massive struggles against lefty bats, any of the Nationals outfielders can be used. Mahle has a brutal 2.38 HR/9 and .413 wOBA allowed to lefties, perfectly playing into Harper's power. In addition to Harper reaching base more consistently lately, he has 19 homers and a .272 ISO against righty arms.
Adam Jones, BAL at TEX ($13): There aren't a ton of options on Baltimore, but I wanted to recommend one guy against Yovani Gallardo. Jones will do with a hit in his last 11 games to go with a worthwhile .334 wOBA against righties. Gallardo has had a couple good outings, yet I don't trust him and neither do the bookmakers with the over/under at 10.5 runs, the highest on the slate. He also has a 6.26 ERA after a .359 wOBA allowed to righties in 2017.
Hunter Renfroe, SD at CHC ($12): Renfroe continues to be a cheap outfielder worth gambling on against southpaws. He has 11 extra-base hits in 72 at-bats against them this year to go with a career .328 ISO (195 at-bats). Mike Montgomery is slowly falling apart, with at least three runs allowed in four of his last five starts to go with a 4.76 xFIP against righties.
