This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
It's a small slate for Thursday night, which makes for limited options all around. That's seen at pitcher where the highest priced arm (Sean Newcomb) has been torched in his last two outings. Without many places to go, I took some gambles on the mound, but back that up with a couple big bats.
PITCHER
Sean Newcomb, ATL at MIA ($41): It's never a good idea to back a pitcher that's allowed 21 hits and 12 runs in his last two outings. The good news is that the Marlins aren't as good against southpaws as are the Rockies and Brewers (Newcomb's previous opponents). Miami isn't worst in the league, but a .133 ISO and .307 wOBA aren't great. Newcomb has faced the Marlins three times this season and reached 22 fantasy points in all of them. Cole Hamels ($40) is the other choice, but I'm fading him against the hot-hitting Reds.
Tyler Glasnow, TB vs. KC ($33): Glasnow is pitching well as a starter and would be a bargain on any slate. Most recently, he gave up just three hits in 6.2 innings in Boston and that's not something many pitchers can say this season. An easier matchup could produce better numbers with the Royals having a below average .321 wOBA against righties since the All-Star break.
CATCHER
Jonathan Lucroy, OAK at MIN ($10): This is a cheap catcher against possibly the worst pitcher on the slate. Lucroy isn't hitting well, but at least had a .323 wOBA against righty arms last year, which could work in this matchup. Kohl Stewart wasn't good in his prior two starts against one of the worst hitting teams in the league (Detroit) and could be in even more trouble against the Athletics. If Lucroy doesn't start, Josh Phegley will do at the same price.
FIRST BASE
Matt Olson, OAK at MIN ($19): Olson brings some power to the plate against Stewart with 19 homers and a .239 ISO against righty arms. In Stewart's only two starts in MLB, he allowed 11 hits, six runs and five walks with three strikeouts in seven innings.
SECOND BASE
Ozzie Albies, ATL at MIA ($9): Albies is in a funk and that's seen in his price, but he still has power hiding somewhere with 14 home runs and 21 doubles to go with a .185 ISO against righties over the last two years. Elieser Hernandez is set for his sixth spot start of the season for the Mariners. He hasn't been good in relief or as a starter, with a 4.76 xFIP against lefty bats and won't go more than five innings.
THIRD BASE
Matt Duffy, TB vs. KC ($10): Here's another cheap play if you're looking to go big somewhere else. Duffy doesn't have much power, but he gets on base and has a .353 BABIP against southpaws. Danny Duffy is returning from the 10-day DL because of a shoulder injury and gave up six runs in three of his four starts prior to getting hurt. He also sports a .347 wOBA allowed to righty bats.
SHORTSTOP
Jorge Polanco, MIN vs. OAK ($17): Polanco is only hitting righties this year with a solid .405 BABIP, which goes well with his career .330 wOBA. As long as Trevor Cahill continues to struggle on the road, Polanco and the Twins should have success. Cahill has unexplainable splits with a .208 wOBA allowed at home and .355 wOBA allowed on the road. He's allowed at least three runs in all seven road starts, while his ERA sits at 3.12.
OUTFIELD
Khris Davis, OAK at MIN ($27): Davis continues to blast opposing pitchers and Stewart won't slow him down. Davis has 29 homers and 18 doubles against righty arms, which leads to a stout .328 ISO and .387 wOBA. There's little reason to trust Stewart on the mound with a 7.71 ERA in two starts against the Tigers.
Nick Markakis, ATL at MIA ($16): Markakis hasn't gone deep in a couple weeks but he still gets on base consistently with a .367 wOBA against righties. Hernandez hasn't been good in his rookie season with a .389 wOBA and five homers allowed against 126 lefties faced.
Kyle Schwarber, CHC vs. CIN ($13): There aren't a ton of cheap outfielders, so I'll hope for power with Schwarber, who has all 22 of his homers against righties with a .361 wOBA. Anthony DeSclafani has been great his last few outings, but the Cubs could present a different challenge, and his 2.70 HR/9 and .361 wOBA allowed to lefty bats won't work against this lineup.
