This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
Pitcher
Rich Hill, LAD vs. ARI ($10,300): There are several quality pitchers in the five-figure range, but I don't see many who are capable of returning value. Hill may be one of the few with a reasonable price and a decent matchup, as the Diamondbacks are a bottom-10 team against left-handers, as well as on the road. It is also worth noting that they have struck out a quarter of the time against southpaws this season, while Hill has notched a 3.17 ERA to go along with a 27 percent strikeout rate at home.
Rafael Montero, NYM vs. PHI ($7,400): Recommending Montero after his 8.1 innings of shutout ball against the Reds may seem like an insufferable hot take, but the 26-year-old hasn't allowed more than three runs in any of his last four starts, and we need to go back to July 23 to find a start where he struck out less than five batters. The Phillies hold the worst wOBA in the league on the road and will come into the contest with a bottom-10 RAA against the slider, a pitch Montero throws 24.3 percent of the time.
Catcher
Welington Castillo, BAL vs. NYY ($3,500):Jordan Montgomery has thrown the ball well this season but has notched a -5.9 RAA with his fastball, while Castillo has registered a 12.8 RAA against the heater over 303 at-bats. The 30-year-old is also showing good power against lefties, as evidenced by his .256 ISO.
First Base
Justin Smoak, TOR at BOS ($4,700): Smoak has handled the fastball to the tune of a 19.3 RAA this season, while opposition starter Rick Porcello has notched a -11.9 RAA with the pitch. The former American League Cy Young Award winner has allowed a .521 slugging percentage to lefties, which doesn't bode well for him in the matchup against Smoak, who has tallied a .281 ISO against right-handed pitchers.
Second base
Neil Walker, MIL at CIN ($3,700):Homer Bailey may not be looking forward to his return home, as he has logged an ERA of 9.95 over 25.1 innings at Great American Ball Park this season. Neil Walker has logged a .207 ISO and a 33.5 percent hard contact rate against righties across 242 at-bats.
Third Base
Luis Valbuena, LAA at OAK ($3,400): Valbuena finished August having registered a .303 ISO and a 16.3 percent walk rate over 66 at-bats. The 31-year-old's power and patience should come in handy against Chris Smith, who has walked more left-handed batters than he has struck out this season while allowing a hard contact rate of 34.3 percent.
Shortstop
Wilmer Difo, WAS at MIA ($4,000): Difo is turning into a strong option against left-handed pitching due to the .246 ISO and .440 wOBA he has kept over 65 at-bats. Meanwhile, Adam Conley has allowed a 37 percent hard contact rate and walked 28 right-handed batters over just 62 innings.
Outfield
Jay Bruce, CLE at CWS ($4,200):James Shields has had trouble keeping the ball in the yard against lefties all season, and will enter the contest against the Indians having logged a 3.4 HR/9 rate over 40 innings. Bruce has torched righties in his 338 at-bats, tallying a .284 ISO over that span.
Ian Happ, CHC at PIT ($4,400): Happ has shown tremendous power against righties, logging a .306 ISO over 206 at-bats. Opposing starter Chad Kuhl has the ability to string a few good starts together but has allowed a .514 slugging percentage to lefties over 61.1 innings.
Christian Yelich, MIA vs. WAS ($3,700): Yelich may not be having as much success against righties as he did during the 2016 campaign, but the 25-year-old has still logged a .362 wOBA and a 37.5 percent hard contact rate over 428 at-bats. A.J. Cole hasn't fared well at any level of professional baseball this season, having notched a 5.88 ERA at Triple-A Syracuse and a 4.50 ERA with a 13 percent walk rate over 28 innings with the big club.
