This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
Thursday saw the White Sox and Athletics get their game rained out, and while it has been rescheduled as part of a Friday doubleheader, that game is not being included for daily fantasy purposes. However, you still have 15 games worth of players to choose from. That is, if the rain allows. Here are my recommendations.
STARTING PITCHER
Alex Wood, LAD at NYM ($39): Wood has a 4.22 ERA, but his FIP is a more palatable 3.41. That's in line with his career FIP of 3.33. The Mets are in the bottom five in runs scored, and have a team batting average of .231, so perhaps his ERA will drop after this one is over.
Jon Gray, COL vs. MIA ($33) Gray's 5.89 ERA is brutal, but his 3.25 FIP shows he's been exceedingly unlucky. He's also struck out a whopping 11.11 batters per nine innings. This is the kind of matchup that could help Gray right the ship. The Marlins rank last in runs scored per game.
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CATCHER
Jonathan Lucroy, OAK at CWS ($7): Lucroy's number have been disappointing, but against righties he's been serviceable for a catcher. He has a .292 batting average and .734 OPS right-handed pitchers. Lucas Giolito is a righty, one with a 7.19 ERA and 6.40 FIP to boot. The only concern is which catcher starts which game of the doubleheader for the A's. Josh Phegley wouldn't be a terrible option in a pinch, depending on how that all shakes out.
FIRST BASE
Brandon Belt, SFG vs. SDP ($16): Belt is having a career year so far, and for the first time his batting average is over .300. This is why he's averaged 7.7 fantasy points per game. Clayton Richard has a 4.31 ERA, which is not impressive, but his road ERA is an even worse 4.91.
SECOND BASE
Ozzie Albies, ATL vs. BAL ($15): Albies has had some trouble getting on base, but a .258 BABIP has played into that. Even with those issues, though, he has a .489 slugging percentage and 16 homers. Getting on base tends to not be a problem against Alex Cobb. He has a woeful 7.14 ERA and has given up 1.86 homers per nine innings this season.
THIRD BASE
Kris Bryant, CHC at CIN ($17): Bryant has a career slash line of .287/.388/.525, which are the kind of numbers that get you an MVP award. His overall numbers are in line with those this season, with the only area that he has lacked in being home runs. Even there, though, he has nine dingers in 65 games. He could definitely add to that total against Luis Castillo. The Reds pitcher has a 5.77 ERA and has allowed 1.98 home runs per nine innings.
SHORTSTOP
Manny Machado, BAL at ATL ($13): Sure, Atlanta starter Sean Newcomb has a 2.70 ERA this season, but his career ERA is 3.60. However, we're talking about Manny Machado here. He's putting career-best number up across the board and already has 18 homers. If you have a chance to get a player like Machado at a price like this, you take it, almost regardless of matchup.
OUTFIELD
Juan Soto, WAS vs. PHI ($20): Soto has taken the league by storm since joining the Nationals. He was considered one of the best prospects in baseball before his call up, and he's slashed .326/.426/.598 in the big leagues. Though Zach Eflin has a 3.43 ERA in eight starts, his career 5.22 ERA is less impressive.
Charlie Blackmon, COL vs. MIA ($18): Blackmon's slugging percentage isn't where it has been the last couple of seasons, but a .488 slugging percentage is still nothing to sneeze at. Plus, the 31-year-old still plays his home games at Coors Field, and summer weather tends to help the ball carry. Wei-Yin Chen has a 5.91 ERA, but his road ERA is a staggering 8.88. Coors Field isn't likely to help that.
Odubel Herrera, PHI at WAS ($13): Herrera has slashed .299/.355/.491, showing more power than he ever has before. The 26-year-old has 12 home runs in 70 games, and he's just entering his prime as a hitter. He's also, generally speaking, hit righties better than lefties. Tanner Roark has a 4.52 FIP this season, and he hasn't had a FIP below 3.84 in his last four campaigns.
