This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
DraftKings has decided to make its main slate just five games Thursday, beginning at 7:05 EDT. The short slate has left us with more than a few pitchers that wouldn't ordinarily be looked at for DFS purposes, but finding the right value play could leave us free to spend up on offense in juicy matchups.
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Pitcher
Zack Greinke, ARI vs. SF ($10,600) - Greinke has been hurt by an elevated HR/FB rate to begin the season but will enter the matchup with the Giants having notched a 21:1 K/BB ratio over 17 innings (three starts). San Francisco has struck out against right-handed pitching 25 percent of the time in 2018 while managing just a .108 ISO.
GPP Fade: Jake Arrieta, PHI vs. PIT ($7,600) - It's hard to call many pitchers fades on such a short slate, but Arrieta may be one of those guys, as he has struck out just six batters in 10.2 innings (two starts) this season on the strength of a dreadfully low 5.6 percent swinging strike rate. Arrieta comes into the contest sporting an impressive 67 percent ground ball rate, but the Pirates are a top-10 team when it comes to fly ball percentage, which could spell trouble for Arrieta. The right-hander hasn't scored more than 12 DraftKings points in a start this season, and it's not clear where his upside will come from in this matchup.
Cheap GPP Consideration: Matt Wisler, ATL vs. NYM ($4,500) - Wisler has found success in the Minor Leagues throughout his career and 2018 has been no different, as he has posted a 2.25 ERA in two starts with Triple-A Gwinnett. It must be said that he owns a career 5.26 ERA at the highest level but the 25-year-old won't need to do much in order to break through his price point, leaving us ample room to target big bats against exploitable hurlers. Wisler is listed as the starter on DraftKings as I am writing this but that has yet to be confirmed, which means players should check official matchups before selecting him.
Catcher
Jett Bandy, MIL vs. MIA ($2,900) - Bandy has seen just four at-bats against left-handed pitchers so far this season but should be ready to show off his power when given the opportunity, as he has kept a career .261 ISO against southpaws in 92 at-bats. Meanwhile, Dillon Peters has logged an 8:6 K/BB ratio in 14.2 innings (three starts) this season, while allowing three home runs over that span. We have already seen Peters put up a negative score once in 2018, making him an attractive stack target any time he is in a hitter's park.
First Base
Paul Goldschmidt, ARI vs. SF ($5,000) - Goldschmidt mashed against the platoon last season and is off to a similar start in 2018, posting a gaudy .571 ISO over 21 at-bats. Opposing starter Ty Blach has walked more right-handed batters than he has struck out in 13.1 innings this season after recording just a 10.6 percent whiff rate in 2017, which likely doesn't bode well for him in a place like Chase Field.
Second Base
Ozzie Albies, ATL vs. NYM ($4,300) - Albies has hit better against lefties this year but still owns a .190 ISO against right-handed pitchers over 58 at-bats. Opposing starter Matt Harvey's issues with lefties appear to have followed him to 2018, as evidenced by the .577 slugging percentage he owns against his opposite hand over 6.1 innings.
Third Base
Rafael Devers, BOS at LAA ($3,700) - Devers seems to have designs on backing up his rookie campaign in a big way, as he holds a .226 ISO along with a .360 wOBA over 53 at-bats against right-handers in 2018. Nick Tropeano threw six shutout innings in his season debut last week but that doesn't mean we should give up on him as someone to stack against, as he held a 1.8 HR/9 rate in his last Major League season in 2016 and allowed six hits in 15 at-bats to lefties in his successful outing against the Royals.
Shortstop
Scott Kingery, PHI vs. PIT ($4,000) - While it may seem risky to select a hitter against the top pitcher on the slate, Kingery is worth a look here due to the 2.4 RAA he has notched against the curveball, which rates as the fifth highest mark in the league. Jameson Taillon has thrown the pitch 23 percent of the time to begin the year, which could make him vulnerable in what otherwise looks like a straightforward matchup.
Outfield
Justin Upton, LAA vs. BOS ($4,500) - Upton hasn't connected for much power against lefties so far this season but was one of the best right-handed sluggers against lefties in the game last year, securing a .384 ISO and a 44 percent hard contact rate against southpaws over 125 at-bats. Eduardo Rodriguez has had a fair bit of trouble keeping the ball in the yard against righties, having tallied a 1.3 HR/9 rate in 119.2 innings dating back to last season.
Starling Marte, PIT at PHI ($4,100) - Mate's power disappeared in 2017 but he seems to be making up for lost time to begin the year, having logged a .241 ISO against right-handed pitchers in 54 at-bats. Arrieta allowed 19 stolen bases in his 30 starts last season, which could allow Marte to rack up points quickly as he has already swiped five bags this season.
Michael Conforto, NYM at ATL ($4,800) - I'm generally not keen on recommending a hitter against one of my pitchers, but Wisler finished 2017 having surrendered a .677 slugging percentage to left-handed hitters in 14.1 innings. Conforto has tallied a .185 ISO against right-handers so far this season, potentially making him someone to look for as a power source.
