This article is part of our FantasyDraft MLB series.
PITCHER
Gio Gonzalez, WAS vs. MIA ($16,400): Gonzalez was much better against lefties last season (.280 wOBA allowed vs. .326 to righties) and that should come in handy against a Marlins lineup that has rolled with three lefties in the top five of the batting order to start the season. And something that could help against the bottom half of the order is his K%, which was almost four percent better against righties than lefties (23.1 percent vs. 19.5).
Brandon McCarthy, LAD vs. SD ($14,400): The Dodgers are one of the biggest favorites in Thursday's games so that's a main reason to take McCarthy in his return to a starting role. But McCarthy won this spot in the spring and is looking to make a return to form. He was solid in nine late starts last season with a K% at 25.7, and that's what you'll be banking on here.
INFIELD
Dustin Pedroia, BOS vs. PIT ($8,100): Pedroia is one of the few batters that is equally good against righties and lefties, so despite Chad Kuhl having superior numbers against righties last year, that may not factor into this game at Fenway. To help, Pedroia's .372 wOBA at home is a good enough number to take him at a cheaper price.
Travis Shaw, MIL vs. COL ($7,200): Shaw kicked off his Brewers career with four doubles in the first two games (and a home run in the third), and while that probably won't continue, he was still notably better against righties last season (.324 wOBA vs. .257 against lefties) and two of those early doubles came against lefties. Opposing starter Antonio Senzatela is making his big-league debut, so the information on him is limited.
Eric Thames, MIL vs. COL ($7,800): There isn't much recent information on Thames given that this is his first season in the majors since 2012. He's being used in a platoon against righties and that will be the case Thursday. He's another cheaper player with the most important stat throughout his career being a .327 wOBA against righties (.274 vs. lefties).
OUTFIELD
Charlie Blackmon, COL at MIL ($9,900): On the other side of the two players listed above, Blackmon was an absolute monster against righties last season and that's what he'll get in Chase Anderson. Blackmon had the eighth-best wOBA (.405) vs. righties last year, and this is as good a spot as any to try and find that form again, as Anderson has a below average K-rate of 18.5 percent.
Bryce Harper, WAS vs. MIA ($9,600): While Harper doesn't have the same kind of splits as Blackmon, he was still much better against righties (.352 wOBA) than lefties (.322) last season. After a nice start to the season, a matchup with Tim Koehler, who he has six home runs against in 32 at-bats, should welcome at least a few more hits.
Michael Saunders, PHI at CIN ($7,800): Saunders comes at a nice price against another pitcher making his big-league debut in Rookie Davis. The best thing for Saunders, who had a 28.1 percent K-rate last season, is that Davis wasn't a big strikeout guy in the minors, striking out only 15.0 percent of the batters he faced last year.
UTILITY
Trea Turner, WAS vs. MIA ($9,200): While this hasn't been the case in the early going, Turner was actually much better against righties (.413 wOBA) than lefties (.325) last season. Meanwhile, Koehler was equally bad against everyone the last few years and sported a career-worst 4.69 xFIP in 2016.
Melky Cabrera, CWS vs. DET ($7,800): All weather patterns point to this game being played, so Cabrera is a guy that needs to be looked at, especially for the price. His .360 wOBA against lefties is solid, but better yet is Matt Boyd's numbers against righties, as he allowed a .341 wOBA against right-handers and a 4.74 xFIP last year.
