This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
Wednesday's 15-game, July 4 MLB slate begins at 11:05 AM Eastern time, so make sure to get those lineups in bright and early. Neither of the pitchers suggested below costs top dollar, but both have what it takes to deliver in favorable matchups on America's birthday.
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PITCHER
Sean Manaea, OAK vs. SD ($42): It looks like Manaea's rough May (7.18 ERA and .380 wOBA allowed) was just an aberration, as the southpaw got right back into a groove with a 2.84 ERA and .260 wOBA allowed in June after posting 1.03 and .179 marks, respectively, in April. He has a golden opportunity to get off to a strong start in July, as the visiting Padres rank fourth from the bottom in runs per game (3.73) while striking out fourth-most (9.37 per game).
Sandy Alcantara, MIA vs. TB ($32): Alcantara beat the Mets with five innings of one-run ball in his Marlins debut, and the 22-year-old righty has the potential to greatly outplay his $32 price in another favorable matchup. Tampa Bay's 3.73 road runs per game are sixth-fewest in the league and the Rays also strike out 9.23 per contest outside of their home ballpark. Alcantara's posted a 20.0 percent strikeout rate over his brief time in the majors, and using the youngster here frees up major money at other positions.
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CATCHER
Willson Contreras, CHC vs. DET ($16): Contreras has thrived against left-handed pitching this season, producing a .387 wOBA through 62 at-bats in that split. Look for that success to continue against Francisco Liriano, who has allowed a .335 wOBA to batters from the right side in 2018 while failing to notch a win since the end of April.
FIRST BASE
Justin Smoak, TOR vs. NYM ($16): It's a good idea to get as many Blue Jays as possible in there against Mets righty Corey Oswalt, who had a 5.32 ERA at Triple-A Las Vegas before surrendering six runs in 2.2 innings to the Marlins in his first big-league start last Friday. The switch-hitting Smoak's wOBA from the left side this season (.345) is nearly identical to his mark from the right (.349), so he's primed to do damage against Oswalt as well as anyone the vulnerable Mets bullpen sends at him.
SECOND BASE
Yoan Moncada, CWS at CIN ($12): The switch-hitting Moncada is far better from the left side, as his .330 wOBA against righties is .128 higher than his mark against lefties. Luckily for Chicago's leadoff man, he'll get to operate from his preferred side against vulnerable righty Sal Romano. Left-handed hitters have thrived against Romano all season, producing a .372 wOBA over 193 at-bats.
THIRD BASE
Nolan Arenado, COL vs. SF ($26): Arenado's always a strong choice against left-handed pitching and this matchup with Andrew Suarez is no exception. The star third baseman has a .566 wOBA in 102 at-bats against southpaws this season while Suarez is allowing a .366 mark to batters from the right side. If you can only pay top dollar for one slugger, Arenado's as good a pick as any.
SHORTSTOP
Dansby Swanson, ATL at NYY ($12): The savvy CC Sabathia won't make things easy, but Swansby's .345 road wOBA against lefties makes him tough to ignore at Yankee Stadium. The hitter-friendly ballpark ranks sixth with a 1.13 park factor, so the first overall selection in the 2015 draft is positioned to provide nice value here at $12.
OUTFIELD
Curtis Granderson, TOR vs. NYM ($17): The 37-year-old Granderson can still get it done against right-handed pitching, as evidenced by his .369 wOBA in that split this season. Granderson should provide excellent value against Oswalt at $17, and the veteran leadoff man carries considerable upside given that 30 of his 35 home runs since the start of last season have come against righties.
