This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
There are only two ways to go for Saturday night's slate and one of them involves using an ace on the mound. If you choose the other route, you're hoping for some luck at pitcher, but also a few home runs. I went with an ace and a value arm and that still left little room to maneuver at the plate.
PITCHER
Clayton Kershaw, LAD vs. SD ($57): The huge favorites have seemed to let down in almost every spot this season, but with Kershaw there's a chance he goes for 40 fantasy points. He's returned to form with at least 30-plus fantasy points in his last two starts and now faces the Padres, who have struggled with a 22.2 K% and .315 wOBA against southpaws since the All-Star break.
German Marquez, COL vs. STL ($40): Going with a pitcher at Coors Field is the opposite of safe, yet there are multiple reasons to back Marquez. He's hit 21 fantasy points in his last three home starts and his 24.6 K% keeps his floor fairly high. The Cardinals are winning games, but not because they're smoking pitchers as their .320 wOBA against righties since the break is only average.
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CATCHER
Jonathan Lucroy, OAK at MIN ($8): If you spend on one of the aces, you'll have to find value elsewhere. Lucroy continues to hold that role and is at least hitting lefties better than righties with a .327 OBP and career .344 wOBA. That's worth a try against Stephen Gonsalves, who only made it 1.1 innings in his MLB debut earlier in the week.
FIRST BASE
Cody Bellinger, LAD vs. SD ($18): Bellinger is one of my expensive bats and he still comes in at a reasonable amount. He can only be used against righties, as that's where 34 of his extra-base hits have come with a .228 ISO and .366 wOBA. Anyone from the Dodgers can realistically be used against Brett Kennedy, who was competent last outing yet still allowed two runs and a few walks. And through three starts, he hasn't exactly looked promising with an 8.36 ERA and 2.14 WHIP.
SECOND BASE
Ozzie Albies, ATL at MIA ($10): Albies hasn't shown much power since July, but it's hard to ignore his .213 ISO and .388 wOBA against lefty arms – especially at the price. Combine those numbers with Wei-Yin Chen's .352 wOBA allowed to righty bats and Albies makes sense.
THIRD BASE
Miguel Andujar, NYY at BAL ($20): Andujar has been great in August with seven home runs and six doubles, helping form a .223 ISO and .363 wOBA against righties for the season. Andrew Cashner gave up five runs in his last outing and five runs to the Yankees when he saw them in July. His .342 wOBA allowed and 5.11 xFIP against righties also qualify as subpar stats. If you want to go cheaper, Renato Nunez ($13) is in play in the same game.
SHORTSTOP
Tim Beckham, BAL vs. NYY ($13): Beckham has improved across the board since the All-Star break with a .364 BABIP and .222 ISO against righties. He should continue that run against Sonny Gray, who is getting his first start since being smashed for seven runs and eight hits by the Orioles on Aug. 1. Gray also sports a miserable .358 wOBA allowed to righties for the year.
OUTFIELD
David Dahl, COL vs. STL ($17): Dahl has been killing for the Rockies and comes at a reasonable price in a good spot. He has a .394 BABIP against righties in 109 plate appearances and more importantly has roasted them for eight extra-base hits and nine singles in only 50 at-bats at home. John Gant isn't pitching terribly, yet a trip to Colorado could change that and a 4.96 xFIP against lefty bats doesn't help.
Stephen Piscotty, OAK at MIN ($15): If you have the money feel free to load up on Oakland's top hitters, but I'm going with value against one of the sketchiest pitchers on the slate. Piscotty has been serviceable against southpaws with five homers and 10 doubles, which plays into his career .200 ISO and .363 wOBA. Gonsalves posted a 4.42 xFIP in 19 Triple-A starts this year and then gave up six hits and four runs in his MLB debut.
Greg Allen, CLE at KC ($13): Allen isn't a flashy play, but he's pumped his BABIP up to .400 in August and has hit successfully in 12 of his last 13 games. At this price, that'll work against Heath Fillmyer, who has been gashed for 12 hits and 10 runs over his last two starts.
