This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
The night slate at DraftKings only features five games, but there are plenty of pitchers to exploit. There are also two pitchers that I like above the rest, both with good odds to get wins, yet also affordable.
For those interested, we've started an MLB DFS Slack channel for paid RotoWire subscribers. (There is a season-long one as well.) To join those channels, e-mail support@rotowire.com.
PITCHER
Johnny Cueto: SF vs. SEA ($9,600): Cueto doesn't cost the most in the night slate, but he's the favorite in a game expected to have the fewest runs with an over/under at seven. Cueto carved through the Dodgers in his first outing, allowing just one hit in seven innings. His price is still in a reasonable spot after struggling in 2017 and there's still a chance to benefit from that. The Mariners have been solid in the first few games, but it's not an overwhelming lineup with an early .307 wOBA against righties.
GPP Fade: Carlos Martinez, STL at MIL ($10,200): Martinez didn't have a good spring and that showed up in his first game, as he failed to make it five innings while giving up four runs and walking six. The Brewers have a solid roster and an early .337 wOBA against righties. Those two things are reason enough not to go with the most expensive pitcher of the night. Cheap GPP Consideration: Sean Manaea, OAK vs. TEX ($8,200): Manaea isn't the cheapest arm, but trusting anyone below him is a stretch. He comes at a nice price after coasting through the Angels for seven strikeouts in 7.2 innings. The Rangers have struggled to get their bats going, which is the main reason the A's are decent-sized favorites.
CATCHER
Welington Castillo, CWS at TOR ($3,600): Castillo has shown his power in the early season and that should work well against Aaron Sanchez. The righty was roughed up by the Yankees in his first start (5.2 IP, 8 H, 4 ER) and was brutal against right-handed bats last season in 20 innings pitched with a 6.54 xFIP and 2.25 HR/9. Castillo had betters numbers against lefties last season but still sported a stout .202 ISO against righties.
FIRST BASE
Matt Carpenter, STL at MIL ($3,700): Jhouyls Chacin only made it 3.1 innings against San Diego in the opener and there's no reason Milwaukee can't do the same against him. His 2017 numbers are much worse against lefty bats with a .338 wOBA allowed and much smaller 16.1 K%. That works for Carpenter, who has ripped righties in the early season and had a .235 ISO against them last year.
SECOND BASE
Jed Lowrie, OAK vs. TEX ($3,300): Doug Fister is still a fine pitcher, but he doesn't have anything that's going to blow batters away. That was seen in his first start in which he went five innings, walking three and striking out three. Last season, he was much worse against lefties with a .365 wOBA allowed and 4.82 xFIP. Even though it's been a slow start for Lowrie, he did most of his damage last year against right-handed pitchers with a .353 wOBA.
THIRD BASE
Nolan Arenado, COL at SD ($5,000): This is a perfect spot to throw some money around even if Clayton Richard looked good in his first game. He's still a pitcher that doesn't get a lot of strikeouts and had a miserable 5.9% K-BB against righty bats last season. That won't work against Arenado, who produced a .534 wOBA and .420 ISO against lefties last season.
SHORTSTOP
Freddy Galvis, SD vs. COL ($3,300): With money locked into Arenado, this is a good spot to go cheap in that same game. I'm banking on Jon Gray to struggle again after only going four innings last week. Galvis doesn't have great numbers, but he was better against righties last season with a .307 wOBA. And while the Padres are losing, Galvis has provided a consistent bat at home for his new team, already with a couple multi-hit games and a home run.
OUTFIELD
Christian Yelich, MIL vs. STL ($4,600): I'm fading Martinez, which means I need at least one bat from the Brewers. Yelich fits the bill after Martinez struggled most against lefty bats last season with a .337 wOBA allowed. Yelich has been solid from both sides of the plate early, but he put up better numbers against righties last season with a .359 wOBA standing out.
Dexter Fowler, STL at MIL ($3,300): Fowler's career numbers say he's better against lefties, but that wasn't the case in 2017 with a .368 wOBA and .243 ISO against righties. Chacin was blasted by lefty bats last season, as seen in his 5.55 xFIP.
Curtis Granderson, TOR vs. CWS ($3,200): Granderson is my extreme value play against a pitcher that was roasted in the spring for 17 runs and 13 walks in 10.2 innings. Carson Fulmer hasn't been good in his limited time in the majors and had a 6.50 xFIP against left-handed bats last season in 13.1 innings. Granderson is one of many Blue Jays to use, and his price makes him a good gamble.
