This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
Wednesday's MLB schedule features 14 games beginning at 12:10 PM Eastern time. While there are plenty of big names on the mound in this slate, two of the best pitching values to be found are actually affordable youngsters. For those interested, we've started an MLB DFS slack channel for paid RotoWire subscribers. (There is a season-long one as well). To join those channels, e-mail [email protected].
PITCHER
Trevor Richards, MIA vs. STL ($37): Richards has quietly put together a dominant stretch over his past four starts, allowing just two runs while striking out 25 in 23.2 innings. Overall, the 25-year-old rookie has shown the ability to miss bats with a 22.5 percent strikeout rate, and his ERA at the pitcher-friendly Marlins Park (0.79 park factor) is an impressive 3.05. Look for Richards to keep rolling against a Cardinals lineup that ranks 20th in OPS against right-handed pitchers at .717.
Brett Kennedy, SD at MIL ($27): It's always risky relying on a pitcher making his major-league debut, but Kennedy's upside makes him worth a look at just $27. The righty -- who just turned 24 this past Saturday -- has earned his call-up with a tremendous campaign at Triple-A El Paso, where he's 10-0 with a 2.72 ERA through 16 starts. His 22.1 percent strikeout rate at that level is nothing special, but Kennedy keeps the ball out of the air with a 52.6 percent groundball rate. Milwaukee's .730 home OPS ranks below league average and one spot below the Orioles, so Kennedy's minor-league success could easily translate into a strong major-league debut.
[Join a Yahoo Daily Fantasy Baseball contest or league today]
CATCHER
Kurt Suzuki, ATL at WAS ($8): Nationals lefty Tommy Milone dominated the Mets in his last start, but this Braves lineup is far superior to New York's pitiful offense. Overall, Milone's pitched just 12 innings this season after surrendering a .441 wOBA to right-handed hitters last year. Whichever one of Atlanta's affordable catchers makes the start here is primed to find success -- Suzuki's season wOBA against lefties is .352 while Tyler Flowers sports a .524 mark.
FIRST BASE
Justin Bour, MIA vs. STL ($13): Bour isn't one of this slate's more expensive first basemen, but he could easily perform like one given the circumstances. The left-handed slugger has a .355 wOBA against righties and bats in the cleanup spot. Bour's gotten off to a red-hot start in August with three home runs already, so Cardinals righty John Gant will have a hard time slowing him down. As a starter, Gant's 1-4 with a 4.63 ERA.
SECOND BASE
Ozzie Albies, ATL at WAS ($16): Albies is another Braves hitter likely to capitalize on this favorable matchup against Milone. The switch-hitting second baseman has shown greater aptitude batting from the right side in his young career, producing a .370 wOBA against left-handed pitching and only a .334 mark facing righties.
THIRD BASE
Justin Turner, LAD vs. OAK ($14): Turner has dominated left-handed pitching, posting a .386 wOBA in that split this season after producing a .484 mark last year. He gets a nice opportunity to close the gap between those two numbers here, with Oakland sending southpaw Brett Anderson to the mound. Anderson has allowed a .373 wOBA to righties this season and has an ugly 6.30 ERA at home.
SHORTSTOP
Jean Segura, SEA at TEX ($13): Rangers starter Yovani Gallardo has built up a 6-1 record by winning his share of slugfests, but he's still allowing an exploitable .383 wOBA in righty-on-righty matchups. Segura's wOBA against righties and lefties is basically identical, and Seattle's two-hole hitter should benefit greatly from Globe Life Park in Arlington's league-leading 1.37 park factor.
OUTFIELD
Andrew Benintendi, BOS at TOR ($23): Blue Jays righty Mike Hauschild has only faced 18 left-handed hitters in his major-league career, but they've clobbered him to the tune of a .405 wOBA. Benintendi's undoubtedly better than most of those hitters given his .405 wOBA against righties this season, so the sky's the limit for the young slugger here.
Brandon Nimmo, NYM vs. CIN ($12): Nimmo's been slumping lately, but this matchup with Reds righty Robert Stephenson represents a nice buy-low opportunity. The left-handed slugger costs just $12 despite posting a strong .375 wOBA against right-handed pitching this season. Meanwhile, Stephenson has spent the whole year at the Triple-A level, and he's struggled in the majors in the past. Stephenson has surrendered a .351 wOBA to right-handed batters and owns a 7.28 career road ERA in 47 such innings.
Mallex Smith, TB vs. BAL ($21): Smith loves hitting at Tropicana Field, as evidenced by his .404 wOBA in 114 home at-bats against righties this season. He has a great chance to improve that number even further against Orioles righty Andrew Cashner, who has allowed a .370 wOBA to left-handed batters in 2018.
