This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
The viable pitching options are limited for Thursday night's slate, which should make for some similar lineups. The difference will come with bats so I tried to find as many reasonably priced power hitters as possible.
PITCHER
Justin Verlander, HOU vs. SEA ($57): Unfortunately, there's no way around not using Verlander on this slate. There's a lack of elite pitching, and Verlander is the only one who hits 30 fantasy points with regularity. He carved the Dodgers for 14 Ks last time out and has at least 26 fantasy points in five of his last six starts. The Mariners haven't been hitting well and sport a .291 wOBA against righties since the beginning of July.
Rick Porcello, BOS at TOR ($41): Given the lack of options, the two former Tigers are the way to go. Porcello hasn't been consistent and was lit up for eight runs last time he faced the Blue Jays, but he destroyed the Yankees last start for 45.2 fantasy points. Toronto has a solid .330 wOBA against righty arms in the last month, although so did New York prior to facing Porcello.
CATCHER
Sandy Leon, BOS at TOR ($7): Money has to be saved somewhere and catcher is a good spot for that. Leon doesn't have many positive numbers, but a .321 OBP against southpaws is at least workable. Ryan Borucki was lit up by Boston for eight hits and four runs less than a month ago and he'll probably have trouble again with a 4.46 xFIP against righty bats.
FIRST BASE
C.J. Cron, TB vs. BAL ($18): If you want power at first base, you have to spend. Cron comes on the low end of the upper tier with 30 extra-base hits (17 HR) and a .233 ISO against righties. That'll work against rookie David Hess, who has a 6.41 ERA in 10 starts and 2.03 HR/9 against righty hitters.
SECOND BASE
Joey Wendle, TB vs. BAL ($17): Wendle is another guy who can capitalize versus Hess with a .346 BABIP against righties. Hess was relegated to a relief role at the beginning of July, but became a starter again when Kevin Gausman got traded. None of his numbers are good with a .353 OBP allowed to lefty bats.
THIRD BASE
David Freese, PIT at SF ($15): You'll have to spend if you want more power, but Freese will do with a .335 wOBA against southpaws after being at .364 last season. Andrew Suarez is having some problems and anyone on the Pirates can be considered. Suarez gave up 10 hits and eight runs last start and has allowed at least eight hits in his last three outings. Throw in a .366 wOBA and 1.64 HR/9 allowed to righties and Freese could get lucky.
SHORTSTOP
Brandon Crawford, SF vs. PIT ($9): Here's another cheap play with the hopes Crawford can regain some form, as he still has a .339 BABIP against righties for the season. A matchup with Ivan Nova could help as he's given up 14 hits and seven runs in his last two starts and has a .367 wOBA allowed to lefties.
OUTFIELD
Aaron Hicks, NYY vs. TEX ($16): Hicks has better numbers against lefties, but that doesn't mean he's not valuable with a .182 ISO and .346 wOBA against righty hurlers. Jurado is starting the fourth MLB game of his career and he'll likely run into some problems against this lineup. It doesn't help that he's not a big strikeout guy; he has a sub-12.0 K percentage against both sides of the plate.
Brett Gardner, NYY vs. TEX ($14): Speaking of going against Jurado with a relatively cheap outfielder, Gardner also fits the bill. Gardner has some power against righties, with 24 extra-base hits and career .334 wOBA. Jurado didn't pitch more than five innings against the Orioles last time out, which means he'll have trouble reaching four in New York.
Mark Trumbo, BAL at TB ($14): Considering how Trumbo is hitting, this is great value. He's hit safely in his last 10 and has a solid .201 ISO and .332 wOBA against righty arms. Hunter Wood is set to open for the Rays, while I'm guessing Yonny Chirinos comes in after. Both are righties and far from dominant, especially since Chirinos gave up six hits and three runs (3.0 IP) to the Orioles less than two weeks ago.
