This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
Pitcher
Jacob deGrom, NYM at SD ($13,400): DeGrom is probably overpriced considering his recent form, but we should be able to use that to get scarcity from an elite pitcher with a nice matchup. Degrom has tallied a 13.5 percent swinging strike rate this season while registering an 11.4 RAA with his fastball. The Padres have logged the worst RAA in the league against the heater, and strike out nearly 26 percent of the time against right-handed pitching.
Chris Smith, OAK at TOR ($6,100): There aren't many appealing mid-tier options on the main slate, which should encourage players to dig a bit deeper and look to save money. Smith has thrown the ball well in his two starts with the big club this season, allowing just five runs (four earned) over 13 innings. Smith has found some early success with his changeup, which could bode well for him in this matchup, as the Blue Jays are a bottom-10 team against the pitch according to RAA.
Catcher
Alex Avila, DET vs. KC ($3,100): The price is right for Avila, who has been struggling mightily in July. Still, his overall numbers tell us that he has what it takes to be successful in the matchup against Jason Hammel. Avila has tallied a 10.1 RAA against the fastball this season to go along with a 54 percent hard contact rate against right-handed pitchers. Meanwhile, Hammel owns a fastball that clocks in at -5.8 RAA.
First Base
Cody Bellinger, LAD vs. MIN ($4,800):Bartolo Colon has said that he may retire after this start, meaning we don't have much time left to take advantage of his fastball, which has yielded a -21.6 RAA this season. Bellinger has decimated right-handed pitching during his rookie campaign, notching a .371 ISO and a .409 wOBA over 202 at-bats.
Second Base
Jonathan Schoop, BAL at TB ($4,500): Schoop has been an offensive threat to both sides of the platoon, but packs the most power against lefties, as evidenced by his .305 ISO and .396 wOBA over 95 at-bats. Blake Snell has walked 15 percent of the right-handed batters he has faced this season while allowing a 38 percent hard contact rate.
Third Base
Adrian Beltre, TEX vs. MIA ($4,000): Opposing starter Adam Conley holds an 18:15 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 26.1 innings against right-handed hitters this season, which has contributed to an xFIP approaching 6.00. Beltre has yet to find his power stroke against lefties since coming off the disabled list but has tallied a .447 OBP over 17 games.
Shortstop
Eduardo Escobar, MIN at LAD ($3,300): We can go to the well with Escobar again after he homered off a lefty Sunday, improving his slash line to .318/.376/.553 over 85 at-bats. Opposing starter Hyun-Jin Ryu has allowed nine homers and a 33 percent hard contact rate against righties over 54.2 innings.
Outfield
Scott Schebler, CIN at CLE ($3,300): Schebler is another hitter having a tough month of July, but he still boasts a .257 ISO and 40 percent hard contact rate over 226 at-bats against righties. Josh Tomlin's fastball has clocked in at -6.4 RAA in 2017. He has allowed a 38 percent hard contact rate to left-handed hitters.
Corey Dickerson, TB vs. BAL ($4,000):Kevin Gausman has surrendered nine homers to left-handed hitters over 41.2 innings this season, walking 27 batters over that span. Dickerson has tallied a .237 ISO and a .366 wOBA against his opposite hand this season
Giancarlo Stanton, MIA at TEX ($5,500):Martin Perez has featured below average strikeout and walk rate rates for most of his career. This has been made more problematic in 2017 thanks to a sharp rise in hard contact rate against right-handed hitters (37 percent). Stanton could put on a show in the friendly confines of Globe Life Park due to his .370 ISO against lefties over 73 at-bats.
