This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
With only seven games on Thursday night's slate there aren't many different ways to go at pitcher, especially when two of the more expensive ones face each other in the Red Sox-Yankees game. I avoided both and went even cheaper for my second pitcher due to so few other reliable options.
PITCHER
Matt Boyd, DET vs. KC ($42): If you don't want to spend everything on Max Scherzer ($58) there aren't many other places to go. Boyd is the most logical choice mostly because the Royals can't hit southpaws with a 24.8 K percentage, .093 ISO and .266 wOBA against them since the beginning of August. Boyd has had good and bad performances against Kansas City this year, but he should reach 20 fantasy points, having been near that total in his last three with two of those on the road in Cleveland and New York.
Cody Reed, CIN at MIA ($28): Reed should be a popular option if people ignore his average. He's extremely cheap and had 30.5 fantasy points last time out with the help of 10 strikeouts. He may not hit that total again, but the Marlins can't hit most lefties and strikeout a ton with a 26.6 K percentage and .291 wOBA over the last month.
CATCHER
Gary Sanchez, NYY vs. BOS ($13): Sanchez has struggled since returning from a groin injury, but he's cheap and still has a worthwhile .325 OBP this year and career .282 ISO against southpaws. Even better is that Eduardo Rodriguez gave up five runs the last time he pitched in New York, and Sanchez is 3-for-10 in his career against him with a triple and homer.
FIRST BASE
Ji-Man Choi, TB at TOR ($21): Choi hasn't slowed down since joining the squad and is blasting righties with a .368 OBP and .266 ISO. He'll face one of the most troubled pitchers on the slate in Sam Gaviglio, who has given up 11 runs in his last three starts and has a 1.72 HR/9 allowed to lefties.
SECOND BASE
Scooter Gennett, CIN at MIA ($17): Gennett had an up and down season, but he's always worth using with a shaky righty on the mound due to his .190 ISO and .373 wOBA. Jeff Brigham hasn't shown much in his two starts, giving up nine hits, six runs and five walks in 7.1 IP. He also wasn't great in nine Triple-A starts with a 4.36 xFIP.
THIRD BASE
Yolmer Sanchez, CWS at CLE ($16): Josh Tomlin is getting another start after returning to the rotation last week and only made it four innings against the Tigers. He doesn't have good numbers against anyone this year with a 5.44 xFIP standing out. The White Sox could have success against him starting with Sanchez, who has a .380 OBP in his last 100 plate appearances against righties.
SHORTSTOP
Willy Adames, TB at TOR ($16): Adames doesn't provide a ton of power, yet he gets on base against righty arms with a .427 OBP in his last 111 plate appearances and .341 wOBA for the season. Gaviglio is struggling against all batters with a 5.25 ERA and .338 wOBA allowed to righties.
OUTFIELD
Kevin Kiermaier, TB at TOR ($20): Kiermaier has hit safely in 12 of his last 13 games and provides a bit of power with a .172 ISO against righties. Gaviglio struggles against everyone, but struggles most against lefty bats with a .365 wOBA allowed and 4.84 xFIP.
Ender Inciarte, ATL vs. PHI ($17): Inciarte has provided a solid bat all year with his numbers against righties near his career .327 wOBA. That's not an overpowering rate, but Vince Velasquez is struggling against most lefties with a .366 wOBA allowed and has given up nine runs in his last two starts.
Mikie Mahtook, DET vs. KC ($13): Mahtook has been one of the better bets on a bad team with a .346 OBP against righty arms in his last 78 plate appearances to go with a .188 ISO for the season. Jorge Lopez had trouble breathing in his last start and gave up nine hits in 4.1 innings to the Twins. It's unknown how long he'll last in this game, but he's still hard to trust with a career .374 OBP allowed to righty bats.
