This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
One pitcher towers above the rest on Wednesday night in Jacob deGrom. I chose to look elsewhere with a lineup that features a cheaper arm that has plenty of upside in a favorable matchup. On the other end of that, I'm going against a few struggling hurlers to fill out most of my bats, highlighted by a stud shortstop.
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PITCHER
Kenta Maeda, LAD vs. COL ($9,800): I like the top three pitchers, but think Maeda has the best value and upside potential. Jacob deGrom ($13,200) costs too much, while Kyle Freeland ($10,100) is a road underdog. Maeda comes at a good price and went eight scoreless innings with eight strikeouts last time out. The Rockies aren't hitting anyone well and sport a 24.7 K% and .303 wOBA against righties over the last month.
GPP Fade: Tyler Skaggs, LAA at TOR ($9,600): I'm not saying Skaggs will bust, only that the upside isn't there as he hasn't surpassed 23 fantasy points since his first start. He's plenty consistent, but without potential of a huge outing, his DFS value takes a hit, especially against a Toronto roster that has a solid .168 ISO against southpaws.
Cheap GPP Consideration: CC Sabathia, NYY at TEX ($7,900): While I like the three most expensive options, I'm not sure about the rest. Sabathia at least has a great matchup against a Rangers squad that strikes out the most in the league against southpaws (27.8 K%) to go with a subpar .300 wOBA. Sabathia has struggled in his last two, but has shown the ability to go seven innings and strike out up to seven in a start.
CATCHER
Francisco Cervelli, PIT at CIN ($3,600): Cervelli is smacking around righties with 12 of his 28 hits going for extra bases, which is almost better than all of 2017 when he had a .319 wOBA. Homer Bailey is the cheapest pitcher on the slate, having allowed at least five runs in three of his last five starts. He hasn't improved since getting smoked in limited time last season with a .394 wOBA against righties.
FIRST BASE
Pedro Alvarez, BAL at CWS ($3,700): Alvarez is here for power as that's about all he's done this season with seven of his 16 hits going deep. When he last saw major time in 2016, Alvarez roped in a .271 ISO and .358 wOBA against righty hurlers. With Dylan Covey on the mound, that should be enough. Covey has made 13 big-league starts, yet still doesn't have a win and gave up four runs and three walks in his first 2018 outing against the Royals a month ago.
SECOND BASE
Yoan Moncada, CWS vs. BAL ($4,200): Moncada does most of his work against righties with stout numbers across the board from this year's .424 BABIP to a career .225 ISO and .365 wOBA. Alex Cobb has given up at least seven hits in all but one start this season and while he pitched better in 2017, still had a high 4.64 xFIP against lefty bats.
THIRD BASE
Miguel Andujar, NYY at TEX ($3,700): Andujar's price still isn't aligning to his output with 15 XBH (5 HR) and a .354 BABIP against righties. That price makes less sense against Doug Fister, who will have trouble in this matchup. The righty performed well in seven innings against the White Sox last start, but gave up 13 hits and nine runs in the two before that. His early numbers against righties have been troublesome with a .369 BABIP standing out.
SHORTSTOP
Manny Machado, BAL at CWS ($5,500): Machado is worth the price in an intriguing matchup against Covey, who has a career .429 wOBA and 6.18 xFIP against 179 righties faced. Machado is destroying righties in the early season with a .447 wOBA coming off last year's semi-disappointing .322 mark.
OUTFIELD
Aaron Hicks, NYY at TEX ($4,300): There's little reason not to use Hicks at this price with three homers and 11 hits in his last seven games. A lot of that damage has come against righties, which follows up last season's .214 ISO and .352 wOBA. Fister has better numbers against lefty bats this year, but that doesn't mean his .365 wOBA and 4.82 xFIP from 2017 won't brew up against this lineup.
Corey Dickerson, PIT at CIN ($4,000): I could list the entire Baltimore lineup against Bailey, but two will suffice. Most of Dickerson's power comes against righties with 16 XBH (five homers) after last year's solid .220 ISO and .339 wOBA. Bailey has an ugly 2.81 HR/9 and 11.9 K% against lefty bats and is in position to get shelled again.
Daniel Palka, CWS vs. BAL ($3,600): Palka provides a cheap bat with upside, already with 10 XBH (3 HR) in only 58 at-bats and he only plays against righties. Cobb hasn't had an overwhelming game this season with his highest fantasy point total at 17.9 through seven starts. His early .491 BABIP against lefty bats is troubling and made worse by an 11.8 K%.
