This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
I usually cover the night schedule, but with only five games late and two of them headed for rain all day, it makes more sense to dive into the nine-game day slate. Still, there is rain all over the east coast, so I'd be wary of games in Baltimore, Pittsburgh and New York. On a day without many top pitching options, it won't be easy finding the right guy, so I spent up a bit.
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PITCHER
Trevor Bauer, CLE at DET ($12,800): Unfortunately, my two favorite plays were J.A. Happ ($9,300) and Vince Velasquez ($8,400), but due to postponement worries, I'm looking elsewhere. I could go Miles Mikolas ($11,000), but his matchup is just as difficult. The good thing for Bauer is that the Tigers don't have three of their best bats in Miguel Cabrera, Jeimer Candelario and Leonys Martin. That hasn't stopped the backups from hitting, but Bauer already went seven innings against Detroit a month ago and his K% remains strong at 25.9.
GPP Fade: Jake Faria, TB at KC ($9,000): Faria looks like a nice option on the surface, but he's been inconsistent all season and his bad outings are really bad (gave up seven runs to Baltimore last start). He's not a big strikeout pitcher and the Royals strikeout the least amount to righties in MLB (16.1 K%), which isn't a good combo.
Cheap GPP Consideration: Andrew Suarez, SF vs. CIN ($8,800): There aren't many places to go, but Suarez is surprisingly one of the bigger favorites of the day. Even after struggling last time out, he has hit 15 fantasy points in three of his four starts. The Reds have solid numbers against southpaws, but Suarez already went 5.1 scoreless innings against the Braves. The Reds also lack major power with a mediocre .166 ISO.
CATCHER
Mike Zunino, SEA vs. TEX ($3,500): There's no denying that Zunino has started the season slow, but he still has five homers against righties and there's no reason he can't return to last year's .350 wOBA against them. Bartolo Colon is chugging along after a nice start and has given up 13 runs in his last four starts to go with only 12 strikeouts. Those numbers are more in line with last season when he had a .381 wOBA against righty bats.
FIRST BASE
Brad Miller, TB at KC ($3,400): I'd use a bigger bat against Jason Hammel, but those aren't readily available on the Rays. Miller's biggest issue this season has been strikeouts (27.7 K% vs. righties) and conveniently that's not in Hammel's wheelhouse with a 14.9 K% against lefty bats. Throw in Miller's career .194 ISO and Hammel's 5.15 xFIP last season and this is a perfect matchup.
SECOND BASE
Ketel Marte, ARI vs. MIL ($3,200): The power isn't there for Marte, but this is more of a value play against a pitcher that was blasted for nine hits and seven runs last outing. This may be the last start for Brandon Woodruff, who has a career .374 wOBA against 117 lefties faced. Marte's numbers aren't great this year, but he at least managed a .325 wOBA against righty hurlers last season.
THIRD BASE
Jose Ramirez, CLE at DET ($5,100): Ramirez turned on his boosters and has six homers and seven doubles in his last 11 games. This comes a year after he had a .254 ISO and .395 wOBA against southpaws. Those numbers should work well against Ryan Carpenter, who couldn't make it more than three innings in his lone start a month ago. Carpenter also struggled in Triple-A with a 5.01 ERA so not many stats suggest he'll do well. It'd be wise to stack Indians against him as long as you can find room for Francisco Lindor ($5,500).
SHORTSTOP
Brandon Crawford, SF vs. CIN ($3,300): Even after going four scoreless innings last time out, I'm not convinced Matt Harvey is back. I'm still willing to bet against him with brutal numbers early on and a .426 wOBA against lefty bats last season. Crawford is a cheap bat that has a solid .343 BABIP against righties and that should be worth the price if Harvey gets shelled again.
OUTFIELD
Mitch Haniger, SEA vs. TEX ($4,200): Haniger is another righty I'm rolling with against Colon as he already has eight homers against righties and is on pace with last year's .226 ISO and .366 wOBA. Colon gave up 1.70 HR/9 last season to go with a 4.61 xFIP and that's where he's headed again with seven homers given up to righties already.
Johnny Field, TB at KC ($3,700): I had Carlos Gomez ($3,900) in this spot and he injured his groin on Tuesday. Field is set for a start and is a cheap bat with fine numbers in limited appearances this season (.344 BABIP, 49 plate appearances). Hammel has been even worse against righty bats this season with a 9.7 K%, which comes a year after an 18.2 K% and 4.67 xFIP.
Gregor Blanco, SF vs. CIN ($3,100): Blanco is another cheap lefty I'm throwing at Harvey in case he reverts back to early-season struggles. Blanco at least has a decent .356 BABIP against righties after a .333 wOBA against them last season. Harvey was blasted by left-handed bats in 2017 with a 6.26 xFIP.
