This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
A lot of fantasy players will flock to the highest-priced pitchers on Saturday night's slate, but I found a way around them. These pitchers still have upside and you can also get slightly better bats instead of spending up on arms who may or may not go off.
PITCHER
Charlie Morton, HOU vs. SEA ($47): Morton's been great in two prior starts against Seattle with two earned runs and 16 strikeouts in 13 innings, his most recent outing on July 31. The Mariners were great in the first two games of this series, but I'm not sure that continues due to their .159 ISO and .300 wOBA against righties since the beginning of July.
Jack Flaherty, STL at KC ($47): Flaherty doesn't provide as much upside, but he's plenty consistent with at least 15 fantasy points in his last five outings, including a dominant performance in his last start (6.0 IP, 0 ER, 7 K). The Royals are the opposite of consistent at the plate even though a 22.4 K% and .317 wOBA against righties in the last month are only slightly below average.
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CATCHER
Yan Gomes, CLE at CWS ($9): Instead of spending up on a different Cleveland bat, Gomes provides decent value for a cheap catcher. Like most players in this range, Gomes' numbers are far from special (7 HR vs. righties), but James Shields has been worse against righty bats this year with a .323 wOBA allowed. He's going somewhat deep into games, yet has 10 walks and given up 12 runs in his last three starts.
FIRST BASE
Wilmer Flores, NYM at MIA ($12): I'm not opposed to using a couple Mets to save money, and Flores fits the bill. He has great value with 21 extra-base hits (9 HR) against righties, which has led to a .211 ISO and .359 wOBA. Dan Straily is often all over the place on the mound, giving up five walks in his last start and 11 hits before that. Against Flores, a righty, his 1.81 HR/9 and 4.64 xFIP won't help.
SECOND BASE
Cesar Hernandez, PHI at SD ($14): Hernandez is on the high side for a mediocre bat, but his .333 wOBA against righty pitchers might be just enough to do the trick against a rookie. Walker Lockett hasn't been good in three appearances (two starts), allowing 11 runs and 17 hits in only 10.2 innings.
THIRD BASE
Rafael Devers, BOS at BAL ($18): If you go cheap at pitcher, you could probably grab a few Boston bats, but Devers will do. He brings a career .208 ISO against righties into this matchup with Yefry Ramirez. The righty hurler has allowed 11 runs and eight walks in his last two starts and has a miserable .348 BABIP allowed to lefties (eight appearances).
SHORTSTOP
Brandon Crawford, SF vs. PIT ($9): I used Crawford a couple times this week and will continue to in good matchups. His .328 wOBA against righties isn't elite but is worth backing for the small price. Trevor Williams was on a run of solid performances, yet allowed nine hits last outing and has a 4.98 xFIP against lefty bats.
OUTFIELD
Nick Williams, PHI at SD ($19): Here's another Philly lefty hoping to bank on more struggles from Lockett on the mound. All of Williams' power comes against righty arms with 23 XBH (14 HR) that has led to a .219 ISO and .342 wOBA. Against 35 lefties faced, Lockett has given up six runs, two homers and six walks. His numbers in Triple-A weren't great (19 starts), either, with a 4.19 xFIP and .329 BABIP allowed.
Michael Brantley, CLE at CWS ($15): Brantley isn't too expensive and is great against right-handers with 36 XBH and a .366 wOBA. Shields has a 5.06 xFIP against left-handers this year, but I'm still banking on last year's .388 wOBA allowed because he's always liable to get shelled.
Derek Dietrich, MIA vs. NYM ($15): Dietrich should only be used against righties with a .372 BABIP and career .342 wOBA. More success should come against rookie Corey Oswalt, who had his worst outing last start with eight hits and three runs allowed. He isn't striking out lefties with an 11.5 K%, which has led to a 5.67 xFIP, albeit in seven appearances.
