This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
There are scattered storms expected on Saturday to keep an eye on, but those shouldn't postpone any games. It's a big slate that features pitchers of all kinds, but I'm sticking with arms that I know will perform, which means most of my bats are on the cheap side.
PITCHER
Blake Snell, TB vs. SEA ($47): Snell is rolling and doesn't cost an overwhelming amount. He just carved up the Mariners for 12 Ks and only two hits last outing and has reached 29 fantasy points in his last four starts, which includes ones against the Red Sox and Angels. The Mariners aren't terrible against southpaws, but the numbers show they have performed below average with a 22.5 K% and .154 ISO since May 1.
Tyson Ross, SD at MIA ($42): If you want a pitcher that's easier to trust, Gio Gonzalez ($49) and David Price ($48) cost a few more bucks. As for Ross, he at least has potential at a lower price. His 24.0 K% is solid, even though he only struck out seven over his last two starts – one of those against the Marlins. Considering Miami isn't an easy team to trust with a 23.3 K% against righties over the last month, Ross is worth a try.
[Join a Yahoo Daily Fantasy Baseball contest or league today]
CATCHER
Martin Maldonado, LAA at MIN ($12): Maldonado possesses better numbers against righties, so it makes sense to use him as a cheap catcher. His .330 BABIP has kept him fantasy relevant and while Kyle Gibson is throwing well, he's not a pitcher that will carve through this lineup. At some point, last year's .352 wOBA or even his career .316 wOBA against righties will show through.
FIRST BASE
Justin Smoak, TOR vs. BAL ($18): There are a few juicy first basemen and I'm going with Smoak, who comes in with a decent price and solid power. This is a pick with hopes for a homer, as that's where most of Smoak's power comes with seven homers against righties this year after a .266 ISO last season. Kevin Gausman has been lit up for five runs in three of his last four starts, which is in line with last year's 4.92 xFIP against lefty bats.
SECOND BASE
Cory Spangenberg, SD at MIA ($9): This pick represents a longshot in case you went with two of the higher priced pitchers. The hope is that Spangenberg's hot streak continues with two triples and two homers in his last five games. His numbers are coming back around after last season's solid .168 ISO and .348 wOBA against righties. Dan Straily isn't allowing many runs with a 3.50 ERA, but he's shown little control against lefties with a 19.0 BB%, coming off a year in which he sported a 4.87 xFIP.
THIRD BASE
Daniel Descalso, ARI at COL ($19): Descalso has been stout against righties, with an early .259 ISO and .333 BABIP after last year's .332 wOBA. Those numbers should keep going up at Coors Field, where Chad Bettis was roasted for 17 hits and 10 runs in his last two outings. More of the same is expected for the righty hurler, who has already allowed four homers to lefties in 15 IP at home.
SHORTSTOP
Aledmys Diaz, TOR vs. BAL ($14): I was looking for someone a little cheaper, but Diaz still comes at a decent rate against a pitcher that could get blown up. Diaz has only hit righties this year with six homers, and now has a career .209 ISO against them. Gausman is conveniently worse against righties with a career 1.51 HR/9 and .343 wOBA.
OUTFIELD
Teoscar Hernandez, TOR vs. BAL ($14): This is my third bat against Gausman, who has a high variance with 15 hits and 12 runs allowed in his last two starts along with 2.17 HR/9 allowed to righties. Hernandez has roped an early .252 ISO against righty arms, which has pushed his career mark to .261 with a .339 wOBA.
Gerardo Parra, COL vs. ARI ($13): I'm going full bargain mode in my outfield, and Parra highlights that since the Rockies have a few others that are better and more expensive. Parra doesn't wield a ton of power, but still has a solid .364 BABIP and had a .170 ISO against righties at home last season. Matt Koch is relatively inexperienced in the big leagues, and has allowed five runs in two of his last four starts with a career 4.81 xFIP against lefty bats.
Marwin Gonzalez, HOU at TEX ($12): Gonzalez continues to struggle his way to fantasy relevance, but doesn't cost much and enters Saturday with a .362 BABIP against southpaws after a .217 ISO last season. Mike Minor faced the Astros two times in April and only made it through a total of 9.2 innings, while possessing an early 1.82 HR/9 against righties with a 4.78 xFIP.
