This article is part of our FantasyDraft MLB series.
PITCHERS:
Jake Arrieta, CHC at PIT ($22,000):- Arrieta just stymied the Pirates in his last start, compiling 22.50 fantasy points on the strength of six scoreless innings. He's also scored between 18.25 and 29.95 fantasy points in his last six road starts, and has a 1.59 ERA, .186 BAA and .250 wOBA allowed in 56.2 second-half innings.
Trevor Bauer, CLE at CWS ($17,200):- The White Sox have struck out at a 26.2 percent clip against righties at home over the last month, while Bauer is coming off a month of August in which he generated a 2.31 ERA, 10.2 K/9 and 96.5 percent strand rate in 39.0 innings across seven starts. Bauer has also scored between 18.00 and 29.60 fantasy points in seven of his last eight starts overall and has a solid 3.08 ERA over 52.2 innings since the All-Star break.
INFIELD
Jose Ramirez, CLE at CWS ($10,200):- White Sox starter James Shields allows a .437 wOBA, 3.3 HR/9, 6.27 xFIP and 33.3 percent hard contact rate to left-handed hitters at Guaranteed Rate Field. The switch-hitting Ramirez boasts a .399 wOBA, .286 ISO and 36.4 percent hard contact rate against right-handed pitching on the road, while his .404 wOBA against the four-seam fastball dovetails perfectly with the .453 wOBA that Shields has surrendered when throwing the pitch this season.
C.J. Cron, LAA at OAK ($8,700):- Athletics starter Chris Smith has started to unravel the more starts he's received, and he's allowed a .405 wOBA (including six homers), a 33.3 percent HR/FB rate and 41.9 percent hard contact rate to right-handed hitters at home. Cron counters with a .326 wOBA against right-handed pitching overall, and a .413 wOBA, .280 ISO and 45.6 percent hard contact rate in the 83 plate appearances against righties he logged during a torrid August. Oakland relievers have also allowed a .352 wOBA to righty bats at home in the last 21 days.
Travis Shaw, MIL at CIN ($7,200):- Shaw is one of several Brewers in a good spot against Reds starter Homer Bailey, who's allowed a .401 wOBA, 2.2 HR/9 and 6.29 xFIP to left-handed hitters at home. Shaw sports a .386 wOBA, .265 ISO, 26.7 percent HR/FB rate and 37.4 percent hard contact rate against righties on the road, and a .362 wOBA versus the four-seam fastball, a pitch that Bailey surrenders a .419 wOBA when throwing.
OUTFIELD
Mike Trout, LAA at OAK ($10,800):- The struggles of Athletics starter Chris Smith and the A's bullpen against right-handed hitters were detailed earlier, while Trout checks in with a .426 wOBA, .317 ISO, 25.0 percent HR/FB rate and 39.8 percent hard contact rate against right-handed pitching on the road. He's also been on fire over the last four games, going 10-for-16 with three doubles, a triple and a solo homer while posting double-digit fantasy points in each contest.
Jay Bruce, CLE at CWS ($8,100):- The struggles of White Sox starter James Shields against left-handed hitters at home were detailed earlier, while Bruce checks in with a .390 wOBA, .311 ISO and 45.7 percent hard contact rate against right-handed pitching on the road this season between his time with the Mets and Indians.
Ryan Braun, MIL at CIN ($7,200):- Reds starter Homer Bailey has been hit hard by righty bats also, allowing a .498 wOBA, 23.1 percent HR/FB rate and 30.6 percent hard contact rate to that handedness at home. Braun's body of work against Bailey includes a .341 average, three homers and eight RBI over 44 plate appearances, and he owns a .342 wOBA and 38.8 percent hard contact rate against right-handed pitching on the season.
UTILITY
Anthony Rizzo, CHC at PIT ($10,500):- Rizzo makes for an appealing option against Pirates starter Chad Kuhl, who's allowed a .375 wOBA and 36.4 percent hard contact rate to left-handed hitters, and a .500 average to Rizzo in 14 plate appearances. Rizzo owns a .391 wOBA, .252 ISO and 34.2 percent hard contact rate versus right-handed pitching and is coming off a month of August where he compiled a .443 wOBA in 127 plate appearances. Pirates relievers also have a 5.65 ERA and have allowed a .351 wOBA to lefty bats at home in the last 21 days.
Matt Carpenter, STL at SD ($7,200):- Padres starter Luis Perdomo's principal weakness has been lefty bats, as they've touched him up for a .361 wOBA and 4.92 xFIP, along with a 35.0 percent hard contact rate at home. Carpenter has been at his best against righties on the road, where he's compiled a .381 wOBA, .250 ISO and 43.7 percent hard contact rate. Additionally, Perdomo allows a .360 wOBA when throwing his most common pitch, the sinker, which Carpenter owns a .510 wOBA against.
