This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
Wednesday's MLB slate begins bright and early at 12:35 PM Eastern time and features 14 games. It's tough to resist the temptation to pay up for Gerrit Cole given his incredible start for the defending champions, and the value picks below will help allow you to integrate him while still finding effective options at other positions.
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PITCHER
Matt Boyd, DET vs. BAL ($34): It might be time to start believing in Boyd, who went 4-0 with 26 strikeouts over 23.2 spring training innings and has backed those results up by allowing only two combined runs in 13 innings through two starts. While the southpaw only has a disappointing five strikeouts in that stretch, he's displayed excellent control with just a single walk. A home tilt against a Baltimore offense that scores the fourth-fewest runs per game (3.19) while striking out the most (11.06) presents a golden opportunity for Boyd to post another quality start.
Gerrit Cole, HOU at SEA ($53): Owners who nab Cole have the opportunity to be a part of history as he continues to mow down hitters at a record rate. His 14-strikeout performance last time out was his third consecutive outing with at least 11 strikeouts to start the season -- a feat previously accomplished only by Nolan Ryan. With 36 strikeouts already, Cole now holds the record for most whiffs generated through three games with a team. The righty's also got a tidy 1.29 ERA and 1.60 xFIP to boot, so the middling Mariners lineup will likely be overmatched here.
CATCHER
Buster Posey, SF at ARI ($16): Don't sweat the minor thumb injury that kept Posey out of Sunday's lineup, as he was likely due for a day off anyway. He went deep off starter Robbie Ray when these two teams last met April 11, and that result wasn't surprising given Posey's .461 season wOBA against southpaws and .403 career mark. Look for him to keep the good times rolling against Ray in this rematch at Chase Field, which still has a significant hitter-friendly bend despite the offseason installation of a humidor. After ranking third with a 1.20 park factor last season, the Arizona-based venue sits 10th at 1.13 so far in 2018.
FIRST BASE
Matt Olson, OAK vs. CWS ($18): Olson isn't a household name yet, but it won't be long until even casual fans become well acquainted with his work. The lefty slugger posted a .439 wOBA against right-handed pitching last season thanks to 20 long balls in just 143 at-bats, and he's backed that result up with a solid .366 mark this year. Look for him to keep rolling against Carson Fulmer, who has allowed six earned runs while walking seven in just 9.2 innings through two starts.
SECOND BASE
Yolmer Sanchez, CWS at OAK ($13): Sanchez is a switch-hitter, but he's significantly more effective from the left side than the right. His wOBA against righties was .043 higher than his mark against lefties in 2017, and the gap is even greater early in this campaign given his .366 wOBA from the left side and .300 output from the right. Sanchez will get to bat from his preferred side against Oakland righty Andrew Triggs, who comes in with a 4.13 ERA through 137.1 career MLB innings.
THIRD BASE
Travis Shaw, MIL vs. CIN ($18): Shaw's demonstrated a slight improvement in wOBA against righties from last season to this year, posting a .395 mark so far on the heels of a .373 finish. Considering the left-handed slugger just turned only 28 on Monday, there's reason to believe that improvement is organic rather than the result of small-sample statistical variance. Either way, Milwaukee's clean-up hitter is primed to do some damage against Reds starter Tyler Mahle, who's allowing a .425 wOBA to left-handed hitters over a 29-batter sample this season.
SHORTSTOP
Corey Seager, LAD at SD ($13): This is a nice buy-low opportunity on Seager, whose .300/.379/.491 career line at age 23 suggests he's likely to significantly outproduce his $13 valuation as the season unfolds. He has a great chance to start that turnaround right here against Padres righty Tyson Ross, who's surrendered a .449 wOBA to the 34 left-handed hitters he's faced this season.
OUTFIELD
Michael Conforto, NYM vs. WAS ($18): Conforto's displayed an elite batting eye against right-handed pitching this year, walking eight times while striking out only seven times en route to a .366 wOBA in that split. His .380 career mark suggests Conforto still has plenty of room to grow as the season unfolds, and it wouldn't be surprising to see his numbers start creeping up against Tanner Roark, who's surrendering a .375 wOBA to left-handed batters after allowing a .356 mark last year.
Odubel Herrera, PHI at ATL ($15): Herrera's been locked in of late, churning out six multi-hit performances in his last 10 games. That hot streak has raised the left-handed slugger's wOBA against righties to .464, as he's taking full advantage of the protection offered by batting third in front of budding superstar Rhys Hoskins. Don't expect Herrera to slow down against veteran righty Brandon McCarthy, who experienced shoulder issues in his last start.
Ender Inciarte, ATL vs. PHI ($9): Inciarte's off to a pretty miserable start at the plate, but he has enough going for him here to warrant consideration as a lineup filler for owners looking to spend big at other positions. The speedy veteran has already nabbed five steals and is always a good candidate to cross the plate a couple times as the leadoff man for a clicking Braves offense. He also benefits from a favorable matchup against Phillies righty Vince Velasquez, who surrendered a .376 wOBA to the 153 left-handed batters he faced last season.
