This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
Saturday's games look like two pitching duels, but New York-Boston could easily break open for 20 runs between the unpredictable Masahiro Tanaka and David Price. There's one arm far above the rest in Houston, while it's more of a guessing game between the other three.
PITCHER
Gerrit Cole, HOU vs. CLE ($50): Cole is the most reasonable pitcher on the slate as a favorite at home with almost a guarantee of eight strikeouts. He allowed four hits and three runs when he faced the Indians back in May and sports a .246 OBP allowed to them during his career. The only reason not to use him is in GPP to go against everyone else.
David Price, BOS vs. NYY ($37):Carlos Carrasco ($49) is probably the safer route because he can rack up strikeouts, though he gave up 15 hits and three homers in two starts against the Astros this year. Price is always a mystery against the Yankees and hasn't looked good against them this year. However, he fared much better against them in Boston when he went six innings and allowed only four hits in an August start.
[Join a Yahoo Daily Fantasy Baseball contest or league today]
CATCHER
Gary Sanchez, NYY at BOS ($17): I just wrote about Price, but Sanchez's numbers against him are almost unexplainable. In only 13 career at-bats, Sanchez has six hits with five of them going over the fence. Throw in his .289 ISO and .373 wOBA against southpaws and it's hard to use any other catcher.
FIRST BASE
Yuli Gurriel, HOU vs. CLE ($15): Gurriel comes in with a career 4-for-9 mark against Carrasco and shouldn't be a strikeout victim with just a 9.9 K% over his last 81 plate appearances against righty arms. He doesn't bring the same power as Luke Voit ($21), but you have to save money somewhere.
SECOND BASE
Jose Altuve, HOU vs. CLE ($18): Altuve is another bat that's succeeded against Carrasco with a career .458 OBP in 24 plate appearances. Altuve's numbers aren't at the same outlandish spot as last season, but he's still rocking a solid .372 wOBA against righties. He also has to be feeling good after homering off Corey Kluber on Friday to go with 12 hits in his last nine games.
THIRD BASE
Rafael Devers, BOS vs. NYY ($15): With a righty on the mound, Devers should make the lineup due to his .220 ISO for the season. Miguel Andujar ($18) can be considered, but only if you're not using Price. As for Tanaka, his numbers are better against lefties this year, though his 1.85 HR/9 allowed to them last year could show up in the playoffs.
SHORTSTOP
Didi Gregorius, NYY vs. BOS ($19): Gregorius has looked fine since returning from a wrist injury and that's worth a gamble even in a weird lefty-lefty matchup. For starters, Gregorius enters with a career .405 OBP in 36 plate appearances against Price and that's enhanced by a 4.29 xFIP against lefty bats this season.
OUTFIELD
J.D. Martinez, BOS vs. NYY ($21): Martinez is worth the price given his career production against Tanaka with five extra-base hits – including three HR – in 18 at-bats. Martinez cooled off late in the year, but he still sported a solid .400 OBP in his last 65 plate appearances against righties. Tanaka's numbers don't mesh with Martinez, with a 1.78 HR/9 and .324 wOBA allowed to righty bats this season.
Andrew Benintendi, BOS vs. NYY ($14): Benintendi is cheaper because of a slow finish, but he still posted a solid .184 ISO and .376 wOBA against righty hurlers. He also comes in with a respectable .385 OBP in 26 plate appearances against Tanaka and that includes four extra-base hits – including two HR.
Josh Reddick, HOU vs. CLE ($11): Not only has Reddick picked up his batting with a .500 OBP and four homers in his last 30 plate appearances against righties, but he's also 6-for-12 in his career against Carrasco with three extra-base hits. Since cheaper bats are needed on a small slate, Reddick is close to a must.
