This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
The highest priced pitchers on Monday's slate could all have good games, but none of them are guarantees in tough spots. I took a different route that should lead to a few better options at the plate against a lot of questionable pitchers.
PITCHER
Luis Severino, NYY vs. NYM ($50): Severino appeared to regain his form last start (7 IP, 8 K) and has a good matchup to keep it going. The Mets have been one of the worst against righties in the last month with a 22.0 K%, .146 ISO and .298 wOBA. Severino only made it five innings against the Mets in early June, but that team was still playing with hope.
Mike Clevinger, CLE at CIN ($44): I wanted to save money with one of my pitchers and Clevinger will do having reached 18 fantasy points in his last six starts. His upside's been limited, but if he can reach 20 points, that's enough to make value. The Reds haven't done much since the All-Star break, especially against righty arms with a 22.2 K%, .118 ISO and .285 wOBA.
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CATCHER
Jonathan Lucroy, OAK vs. SEA ($9): Lucroy hasn't shown much power this year, but his career .175 ISO and .343 wOBA against southpaws is still worth backing for a cheap catcher. It helps that Marco Gonzales hit a rough patch and has allowed 19 hits and 11 runs over his last two starts.
FIRST BASE
Justin Smoak, TOR at KC ($10): Smoak's average is down this year, but he's still providing power against righty arms with a .263 ISO and .385 wOBA, almost matching last year's .266 ISO and .359 wOBA. Brad Keller has a decent ERA (3.57) from time spent as a reliever, but he's had a tough go as a starter, giving up close to four runs per outing in his last five to go with a 4.91 xFIP against lefty bats.
SECOND BASE
Niko Goodrum, DET vs. CWS ($10): Goodrum's on a bit of a tear with two homers and at least 13 fantasy points in every game of the Minnesota series. His power against righties (31 XBH, .233 ISO) is great for the price. Reynaldo Lopez is aiming to close the season on a good note, but he's been hard to trust and a career 1.45 HR/9 against lefty batters could help Goodrum.
THIRD BASE
Christian Villanueva, SD vs. LAA ($13): If you go big on pitching, you have to find value somewhere and that's possible with Villanueva. His 14 homers in 105 at-bats against southpaws are hard to beat, as that's led to a .419 ISO and .476 wOBA. He'll face Andrew Heaney, who has given up 14 hits and nine runs in his last two starts and has a 1.47 HR/9 and 4.28 xFIP against righties.
SHORTSTOP
Marcus Semien, OAK vs. SEA ($13): Semien provides a little pop and doesn't cost much. He has 18 extra-base hits (5 HR) in 150 at-bats against lefties, which totals a .193 ISO and that matches his career rate. Gonzales's struggles may continue against this Oakland lineup and his career .336 wOBA allowed to righties won't help.
OUTFIELD
David Peralta, ARI at TEX ($21): I was always going to have at least one Arizona player in my squad against Bartolo Colon. Peralta will do with 39 XBH (15 HR) and a .365 BABIP against righty hurlers. Colon's getting battered every start with 24 hits and 15 runs allowed in his last three to go with a .333 wOBA allowed against lefties.
Harrison Bader, STL vs. WAS ($16): Bader's on a nice run with a couple homers over the weekend, enhancing his .228 ISO and .389 BABIP against lefty arms. Tommy Milone carved through the Mets, but was blasted for 10 hits and seven runs against the Braves last start. Milone isn't pitching much better than a year ago when he had a 3.44 HR/9 against 167 righties faced.
Jim Adduci, DET vs. CWS ($9): Here's another spot to scrape the barrel with a Tigers bat. Adduci only plays against righty arms and he's been solid with a .378 BABIP in 57 plate appearances after being at .327 last year. Lopez gave up nine hits when he saw Detroit in June and his career 5.83 xFIP against lefties isn't enticing.
