This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
It's a difficult fantasy slate for Wednesday night with no huge favorites and no over/under more than 8.5 runs. That usually means it's best to go with the most expensive pitcher no matter the situation and aim for consistent bats over guys that are power only.
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PITCHER
Gerrit Cole: HOU at SEA ($11,900): There are a few ways to go with your top pitcher, but I think Cole is the best bet given his early dominance. He's hit seven innings and had at least 11 strikeouts in all three of his starts, and while Seattle has been decent against righties with a .328 wOBA, there's no denying Cole's strikeout potential, keeping his floor high along with being the biggest favorite of the night.
GPP Fade: Carlos Carrasco, CLE at MIN ($10,500): Carrasco has three wins, but I think he's slightly overpriced for how he's actually pitched. His last two wins came against the Royals and Tigers, two of the worst lineups in the league, and he gave up five runs to the Mariners in his first outing. The Twins may be striking out a decent amount, but they also have a solid .324 wOBA and league-leading .200 ISO against righties.
Cheap GPP Consideration: Tyler Skaggs, LAA vs. BOS ($6,900): There isn't anyone that truly stands out in this spot and that's seen in my pick of Skaggs. I don't fully trust him, but it's worth noting the Red Sox haven't been the same team against southpaws with a .288 wOBA. At the least, Skaggs has 17 strikeouts in his first three starts and if he can reach five or six again, that may be enough to hold fantasy value at a cheap price. My other pitching choice is Robbie Ray ($10,000), who is clearly not a cheap play.
CATCHER
Kurt Suzuki, ATL vs. PHI ($2,900): Suzuki still comes at nice price and is in a good enough situation to use against Vince Velasquez, who couldn't make it three innings the last time he saw the Braves, allowing nine hits and seven runs. Suzuski didn't play in that game, but he still has eight of his nine hits against righties this season and had a solid .341 wOBA against them a year ago. Velasquez has been hard to trust throughout his short career as seen in that opener and another boost for the Braves is that he gave up 2.39 HR/9 against righties last season.
FIRST BASE
Cody Bellinger, LAD at SD ($4,500): This is a reasonable spot to pay up due to Tyson Ross's struggles against lefties. Ross has already allowed 13 hits to 34 lefties faced this season, which builds off 2017's 5.73 xFIP. Bellinger has done most of his damage against righty arms with 14 hits, but more importantly he roped them for a .383 wOBA and .323 ISO last season.
SECOND BASE
Ketel Marte, ARI vs. SF ($3,400): Marte has been one of Arizona's more consistent bats with a hit in 10 of his last 11 games and that should continue against Chris Stratton. The righty hurler just coasted through the Padres, but remains hard to trust with seven walks and seven strikeouts in his last two starts. Even worse is his career 5.22 xFIP against lefty bats. That's where Marte comes in after a decent .325 wOBA against righties last season, which is enough for the price.
THIRD BASE
Luis Valbuena, LAA vs. BOS ($3,300): Valbuena should return to the lineup (after sitting Tuesday) with righty Rick Porcello on the mound. Valbuena has been solid against all pitchers this season, but he's been more useful against righty arms throughout his career with last year's .249 ISO standing out. Porcello has pitched well in his first few outings, but he still had a poor .360 wOBA against lefties a season ago and the Angels are smoking at the moment with a team .358 wOBA.
SHORTSTOP
J.P. Crawford, PHI at ATL ($3,100): Crawford has been on fire over the last week with two homers and two doubles and I'm hoping he can keep it going now with a .334 wOBA against righties the last two seasons. Brandon McCarthy isn't the same pitcher he used to be and while he's been decent in the early going, he's not a guy that's going to mow down a lineup (12 K, 6 BB in three starts). It doesn't help that he partially dislocated his non-throwing shoulder last start.
OUTFIELD
David Peralta, ARI vs. SF ($3,600): This is my second lefty play against Stratton only because I can't trust him. He has one good outing in three tries and had a miserable 5.50 xFIP against lefty bats a season ago. That should work well for Peralta, who is crushing righties with 12 hits in only 31 at-bats this season, which is in line with last season's .353 wOBA.
Franchy Cordero, SD vs. LAD ($3,500): It's been a weird start to the season for Kenta Maeda, who struck out 10 in his first outing, then made a relief appearance and then got shelled by the Diamondbacks in his most recent start. He has a career .323 wOBA allowed to lefties and I'm hoping the Padres will capitalize. Cordero provides a cheaper bat to go with some power, as seen in his .236 ISO against righties over the past two years.
Brandon Nimmo, NYM vs. WAS ($3,000): Nimmo only plays against righties, and Tanner Roark has only allowed hits (and three HR) to lefties, so this matchup makes sense as long as Nimmo starts. Nimmo is cruising in the early season with a .368 average, and his career .371 wOBA against righties is just as good. As for Roark, he gave up five runs to the Mets a couple weeks ago and had a 5.09 xFIP against lefty bats in 2017.
