This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
Wednesday's 14-game MLB slate begins at 12:10 PM Eastern time. This slate's most expensive pitcher is worth paying up for, as is a middling guy whose underlying numbers suggest he's much better than the surface stats indicate. Those two are joined by a group of affordable hitters primed to capitalize on vulnerable pitchers.
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PITCHER
Corey Kluber, CLE vs. KC ($57): Kluber costs a pretty penny at $57, but his astronomical ceiling in this favorable matchup makes last year's AL Cy Young Award winner worth paying up for. He has a minuscule 2.09 home ERA in 103.1 innings and a 24.9 percent strikeout rate that could actually grow down the stretch given Kluber's career 27.0 percent mark. A Royals lineup that ranks 28th with 3.84 runs per game will likely be at Kluber's mercy here.
Nick Pivetta, PHI at MIA ($36): The Marlins average a league-low 3.73 runs per game, and that number drops to 3.41 at pitcher-friendly Marlins Park, which has the second-lowest park factor in the league at 0.73. Pivetta's ERA is 4.66, but his 3.66 FIP and 3.32 xFIP suggest he's gotten unlucky this year. Add in his lofty 28.2 percent strikeout rate, and Pivetta's capable of putting up huge numbers against this exploitable opposition.
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CATCHER
Francisco Cervelli, PIT vs. CIN ($17): Reds righty Homer Bailey has been a piñata for opposing offenses this season, with a .371 wOBA allowed to right-handed hitters, a .390 mark allowed to left-handed hitters and a 1-13 record. Cervelli has thrived in righty-on-righty matchups with a .371 wOBA and has been occupying the cleanup spot recently, so he's primed to do damage against Bailey.
FIRST BASE
Tyler Austin, MIN at HOU ($18): Austin has very extreme righty/lefty splits, with just a .285 wOBA in 198 career at-bats against the former and a .403 wOBA in 110 at-bats facing the latter. With Houston sending rookie southpaw Framber Valdez to the mound here, Austin's set up for success. Valdez has struggled with control at the major-league level, walking seven batters in his first 14.1 innings.
SECOND BASE
Adam Frazier, PIT vs. CIN ($15): Frazier's another affordable Pirates slugger in position to take advantage of Bailey's struggles. The left-handed hitter has a .361 wOBA against righties, and Frazier also benefits from batting second in Pittsburgh's batting order.
THIRD BASE
Adrian Beltre, TEX vs. LAA ($12): Beltre has a wOBA under .300 against lefties this season and a sub-.300 mark against righties on the road, but he's used Globe Life Park in Arlington's league-high, 1.37 park factor to his advantage with a .363 home wOBA against right-handed pitching. Angels starter Jaime Barria has surrendered a .375 wOBA in righty-on-righty matchups this season and just a .257 mark to lefties, so this is the perfect situation to deploy Beltre.
SHORTSTOP
Amed Rosario, NYM at LAD ($13): Rosario has pummeled left-handed pitching when not limited by the pitcher-friendly confines of Citi Field, producing a .425 wOBA in 59 road at-bats against lefties. He also maximizes at-bats out of the leadoff spot and has racked up 12 steals since the All-Star break. Dodgers southpaw Hyun-Jin Ryu has been tough at home, but Rosario's still worth a look at $13.
OUTFIELD
Odubel Herrera, PHI at MIA ($11): This is a nice buy-low opportunity on Herrera, who can be had for just $11 here. The left-handed slugger has been moved back up to third in Philadelphia's batting order recently, and he faces a vulnerable righty here in Miami's Sandy Alcantara. Alcantara walked five while striking out one in his lone appearance this season.
Denard Span, SEA vs. BAL ($17): Span offers nice value at $17 given the circumstances. The veteran left-handed hitter usually bats either second or fifth for the Mariners, so he's likely to get some high-leverage at-bats against Orioles righty Andrew Cashner. Cashner's allowed a .350 wOBA to left-handed hitters and has a 5.27 road ERA this season.
Nicky Delmonico, CWS vs. DET ($11): Delmonico has significantly outplayed his $11 price at home against righties, posting a .402 wOBA in 100 such at-bats. The left-handed slugger has recently been moved into the leadoff spot, which also bodes well for his fantasy stock heading into this matchup with Tigers righty Jordan Zimmermann. Batters from the left side have a .334 wOBA against Zimmerman this season.
