This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
Although there are a lot of day games Wednesday, we still have nine games to choose from for the main evening slate on Yahoo. It's a top-heavy group of starting pitchers, which could make roster construction a little tricky. Keeping that in mind, here are some players to consider for your entry.
Pitching Overview
Mike Clevinger's ($54) season has been slowed by injury, leaving him to make just six starts. He's had a rough go of it since being activated from the IL, which included being shelled by the Orioles for seven runs over 1.2 innings. The good news is that he's shown improvement in his last two outings, allowing one run and recording 15 strikeouts over 11 innings against the Royals and Twins. Facing a Tigers lineup lacking impact bats makes him a very intriguing option.
Among the big names in a favorable spot is Chris Paddack ($45) against the Marlins. This will mark his first start since the All-Star break, so the young right-hander is certainly fresh. He's lived up to the hype so far, posting a 2.84 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP. It's worth noting that he's been aided by a .224 BABIP, but it's not hard to make a case for starting him here since the Marlins have one of the worst lineups in baseball.
The cheaper pitching options on this slate are not very enticing. Eduardo Rodriguez ($43) at least won't destroy your budget. He's had his ups and downs, leaving him with a pedestrian 4.43 ERA and 4.03 FIP. The positive with him is his strikeout upside, which was evident in his last start when he recorded 10 punch outs over seven innings against the Dodgers. The Blue Jays have some talented young hitters, but they have struck out the eighth-most times (863) in baseball.
Key Values/Chalk
With plenty of high-priced pitchers, keying in on some of the leagues less potent lineups might be the way to go. One team set up to thrive is the Royals, who will be facing Ivan Nova. Not only does Nova have a 5.44 FIP, but he's also allowed 1.9 HR/9. That makes Jorge Soler ($18) and his .268 ISO an interesting target. Alex Gordon ($12) also checks in at a reasonable price and could provide value based on his 116 wRC+ versus right-handed pitchers.
Staying in that same game brings us to the White Sox against Danny Duffy. They have hit lefties well this season, recording a 102 wRC+ against them compared to an 87 wRC+ against righties. Jose Abreu ($16) and James McCann ($16) jump out as players to consider since they have a 155 wRC+ and 153 wRC+ against lefties, respectively. A cheaper option to consider is Yolmer Sanchez ($7), who has a 117 wRC+ against lefties compared to a 56 wRC+ against righties.
Believe it or not, the Indians find themselves in the thick of the playoff hunt despite the myriad of injuries to their starting rotation. Their lineup is finally starting to heat up, putting them in a great spot to have success against Spencer Turnbull and his 4.13 FIP. Lefties have recorded a .355 wOBA against him, making cheaper players like Jason Kipnis ($15), Jake Bauers ($14) and Tyler Naquin ($15) worth considering.
Stacks
Nationals vs. Aaron Brooks (Orioles)
Juan Soto (OF - $23), Anthony Rendon (3B - $19), Adam Eaton (OF - $13)
Brooks began the season with the A's and did not pitch well, posting a 5.01 ERA and a 5.67 FIP. His 1.26 WHIP wasn't horrible, but he allowed a staggering 12 home runs over 53 innings. The Orioles have little choice but to start him due to their lack of pitching, putting the Nationals in a prime spot to thrive. Soto and Rendon carry the highest upsides on the team while Eaton is 19-for-57 (.321) with three doubles and three steals over his last 14 games.
Red Sox vs. Aaron Sanchez (Blue Jays)
Rafael Devers (3B - $27), Xander Bogaerts (SS - $27), Jackie Bradley Jr. (OF - $20)
While the Blue Jays rotation isn't in as dire of straights as the Orioles, they aren't far behind them. Sanchez has had a difficult time keeping them in games, posting a 6.22 ERA and a 5.50 FIP. He's not doing himself any favors with his 1.75 WHIP. Devers and Bogaerts provide plenty of production potential while Bradley also makes sense since he comes into this contest having hit 16-for-55 (.291) with a home run and four doubles across his last 14 games.
Dodgers vs. Nick Pivetta (Phillies)
Cody Bellinger (OF - $25), Alex Verdugo (OF - $18), Joc Pederson (1B - $12)
Pivetta has already been demoted to the minors once this season due to poor play and isn't helping his cause for sticking around right now, allowing 23 runs (22 earned) over 28.1 innings in his last five starts. Now he'll have to face a Dodgers lineup that is loaded with potent left-handed hitters. Not much needs to be said about Bellinger and the stellar season that he is having. He's pricey, so rolling with Verdugo and Pederson could be the way to go to help balance out your budget. Verdugo is especially hot, hitting 19-for-59 (.322) with four home runs over his last 15 games.
