This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
There are two pitchers priced well above the rest on Thursday's slate, and I went with the cheaper one. That should allow for multiple Oakland bats, as the A's have another favorable matchup after beating the Orioles 10-0 on Wednesday. And while there's still some rain on the East Coast, all signs point to it clearing by nighttime.
PITCHER
Eduardo Rodriguez, BOS vs. TOR ($48): As the biggest favorite on the slate, Rodriguez could end up being the best value. He struggled against the Astros last time out, but he hit 22 fantasy points in his prior four starts and had 12 strikeouts in his return from the DL on Sept. 1. The Blue Jays are subpar against lefties, and a high 25.4 K percent in the last month should benefit Rodriguez.
Jason Vargas, NYM vs. MIA ($27): Steven Matz was set to go, but Vargas got his start pushed to the night game after Wednesday's postponement. There are at least some positives for Vargas no matter how cheap he is. Before getting throttled by the Dodgers last time out, he allowed only three runs in three starts. And when every team was beating him up earlier in the year, Vargas still posted 30.3 fantasy points against Miami back in May. The Marlins are also striking out a ton against southpaws since the beginning of August with a 26.5 K percent and .306 wOBA.
CATCHER
Jonathan Lucroy, OAK at BAL ($10): Lucroy is most likely to start behind the plate, but I'm willing to take anyone from the A's in this game. That's because Dylan Bundy is on the mound and he's getting torched every time out in addition to a .323 wOBA allowed to righty bats. Lucroy isn't hitting well, yet last year's .355 OBP against righties is good enough against Bundy.
FIRST BASE
Mitch Moreland, BOS vs. TOR ($10): Here's another cheap play on a team filled with huge bats. Moreland is much better against righty hurlers with a .218 ISO and .339 wOBA from 33 extra-base hits (13 HR). Sam Gaviglio has his hands full with this lineup, allowing a .364 wOBA and 1.77 HR/9 to lefties.
SECOND BASE
Logan Forsythe, MIN at KC ($10): Forsythe has slowed down in the past month, yet still has a .341 OBP against righty arms. Plus, Heath Fillmyer only made it 2.1 innings against the Twins last start, giving up six hits and six runs with two of those hits coming from Forsythe.
THIRD BASE
Matt Chapman, OAK at BAL ($25): There aren't many ways to go at third, so I'm spending everything. Chapman is one of the many Oakland bats who smacks around righties with a .274 ISO and .387 wOBA. Bundy has given up a home run in his last 11 starts and multiple homers in five of those. To save money, I'd also consider Hunter Dozier ($17), though he missed Wednesday's game with a sore back.
SHORTSTOP
Andrelton Simmons, LAA vs. SEA ($13): The price doesn't show it, but Simmons has been consistent for most of the year with a .334 OBP against righties, which is enhanced by a 12-for-27 career mark against Mike Leake. The righty isn't pitching well and has allowed 25 hits and 11 runs in his last three starts.
OUTFIELD
Khris Davis, OAK at BAL ($23): Davis is yet another power hitter against Bundy and he may be the best of them with 52 extra-base hits (31 HR) and a .376 wOBA versus righties. As for Bundy, he's having massive issues, allowing 34 runs in his last six starts to go with a 2.29 HR/9 against righty bats.
Andrew Benintendi, BOS vs. TOR ($16): Benintendi has slowed down some, but that's now an advantage due to a cheaper price. He still has a cool .197 ISO and .387 wOBA against righties, which is enough against Gaviglio. The righty hurler has a 4.84 xFIP against lefties and has given up at least four runs in three of his last four outings.
Max Kepler, MIN at KC ($12): You need to find value somewhere on the slate, and Kepler fulfills that role even though he's been struggling. At the least, he has a .333 OBP against righties in his last 105 plate appearances and still has a solid .188 ISO for the season. Fillmyer hasn't pitched well in two starts against the Twins with a brutal nine earned runs and 11 hits allowed in 5.1 innings.
