This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
PITCHER
Stephen Strasburg, WAS vs. ATL ($11,300): Strasburg's K:BB ratio was a bit disappointing when he faced the Braves last week, but he limited the club to a 12.5 percent hard contact rate and one run over six innings. Atlanta finished last season as the third-worst team in the league against right-handed pitching according to wOBA, and they once again find themselves in the bottom-10 to kick off 2016.
Mike Leake, STL vs. MIL ($8,100): The Brewers landed in the bottom-10 of several categories last season, including wOBA against right-handed pitchers, fly ball percentage and wOBA on the road. Leake features an extreme ground ball rate, and could see an uptick in punchouts from Vic Carapazza, who saw the third-most strikeouts per game among umpires who called at least 20 games last season.
CATCHER
Yan Gomes, CLE at TB ($3,100): Gomes notched an impressive .380 wOBA against lefties in 2014 before injury problems last year led to a lost season. He seems to be back on track, having notched five hits (including a homer and two doubles) in 12 at-bats facing southpaws this year. Drew Smyly yielded nearly a 2.00 HR/9 rate and a 3.90 xFIP to righties last season.
FIRST BASE
Anthony Rizzo, CHC vs. CIN ($5,200): Rizzo would fit in well as part of a stack against Alfredo Simon, who tallied an xFIP of nearly 5.00 against left-handed hitters last season. Rizzo seems likely to benefit from Simon's penchant for ground balls, as he notched the 12th-highest fly ball rate in the league in 2015.
SECOND BASE
Danny Espinosa, WAS vs. ATL ($2,900): Opposing starter Matt Wisler allows us to select a boom-or-bust power option, as he actually walked more left-handed batters than he struck out in 2015, leaving him with a 6.43 xFIP in 48.2 innings. Espinosa held a .176 ISO against right-handed pitchers last season.
THIRD BASE
Trevor Plouffe, MIN vs. CWS ($3,700): We will use another umpire assignment to try to take advantage of Carlos Rodon, who walked 54 right-handed hitters in less than 100 innings last year. Andy Fletcher, who called the fifth-most walks per game last year, could help Plouffe display the power he showed against lefties (.186 ISO).
SHORTSTOP
Francisco Lindor, CLE at TB ($3,500): Lindor brutalized left-handed pitchers in his rookie season, notching a .381 wOBA and a .200 ISO in 140 at-bats. The middle of the Indians' order will provide plenty of cheap righty power bats for those who want to try to take advantage of a homer-prone pitcher.
OUTFIELD
J.D. Martinez, DET at PIT ($4,100):Francisco Liriano was scratched due to a hamstring injury, leaving Ryan Vogelsong to take the mound in his absence. Vogelsong began the season as a reliever after his final year in the rotation with the Giants, when he surrendered a 4.42 xFIP against right-handers. The 38-year-old likely isn't stretched out, which could give those who stack some added value, as the Pirates may opt for a bullpen game.
Gerardo Parra, COL vs. SF ($4,000):Jake Peavy struggled against his opposite hand while away from AT&T Park last season, allowing six home runs in 26.1 innings, with a hard contact rate approaching 31 percent. Parra showed significant power against righties in 2015, notching an ISO of .170.
Joc Pederson, LAD vs ARI ($3,600):Rubby De La Rosa made strides as a pitcher last season, but he struggled mightily against the platoon, surrendering 2.06 HR/9 and an xFIP of 5.15 in 87.1 innings. Pederson certainly has the power to turn those numbers to his advantage, and he should also benefit from De La Rosa's dramatic strikeout dip versus southpaws.
Other Options: Gregory Polanco, PIT vs. DET ($4,500) Dexter Fowler, CHC vs. CIN ($4,400) Alex Gordon, KC at HOU ($4,000)
