This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
The heart of the Detroit lineup stands out as an underpriced group, which makes a few Tigers an affordable stack.
And is Edinson Volquez intimidating enough to fade them? He allowed 17 runs through 22 innings against the Tigers in 2015, after all.
PITCHER
Gerrit Cole, PIT at SD ($10,300): Dating back to the beginning of 2015, San Diego owns a .296 wOBA and 89 wRC+ against right-handed hurlers, and the Friars didn't undergo enough of a roster makeover to expect improvement this season. Cole has struggled out of the gate, but you should chalk it up to limited spring work, and this is a ripe matchup to kick-start a hot stretch. Plus, the ace owns a 2.49 FIP and a 21.4 percent K rate through his first two starts.
Luis Severino, NYY vs. OAK ($7,400): Two rough starts have Severino's salary down significantly from the $8,700 he carried in his season debut. This alone should sound the value sirens, but the matchup checks out for the promising righty, too. Oakland has a .279 wOBA and 84 wRC+ against right-handed arms this season. And don't forget, Severino fanned batters at a 22.0 percent clip through his 11 starts as a rookie last year.
CATCHER
Francisco Cervelli, PIT at SD, ($3,100): Riding a four-game hitting streak, Cervelli's cap hit stands out because of his .299 batting average and .377 on-base percentage since 2014. Against right-handed hurlers during the span, Cervelli boasts a .344 wOBA and 120 wRC+. Add his assignment in the heart of the order, and this is a cushy salary. The matchup should keep Cervelli's ownership percentage down, too.
FIRST BASE
Miguel Cabrera, DET at KC ($4,300): Take advantage of Cabrera's modest start, and load him into your lineup at a discounted price. Dating back to 2013, he's posted elite numbers against right-handed hurlers to the tune of a .550 slugging percentage, .219 ISO, .408 wOBA and 162 wRC+.
SECOND BASE
Ian Kinsler, DET at KC ($4,100): The keystone is shallow after the big boys, but Kinsler is much cheaper than top-priced Jose Altuve ($4,900), which makes the Tiger a nice option Thursday. Kinsler has registered a hit in 12 of his 13 games this season with 13 runs, 12 RBI and eight multi-hit games. Small sample size, sure, but the salary hasn't adjusted to the elite production, either.
THIRD BASE
Mike Moustakas, KC vs. DET ($3,900): Opposing-hurler Mike Pelfrey has allowed a .375 wOBA to left-handed hitters dating back to the beginning of last season, and Moustakas has been a staple batting second again in 2016. He has a .349 wOBA and 122 wRC+ over his past 434 plate appearances against righties, too.
SHORTSTOP
Carlos Correa, HOU at TEX ($4,600): It is a shallow shortstop crop Thursday, so with a manageable cap hit, Correa is intriguing. The wind is projected to be blowing out, and Correa has a .362 wOBA and 132 wRC+ against righties since entering the league. A.J. Griffin is ripe for a blow-up given his 4.77 FIP through his first two starts since 2013, too.
OUTFIELD
J.D. Martinez, DET at KC ($4,200): Take the savings and run. Martinez has posted a target-worthy .373 wOBA and 139 wRC+ against right-handed hurlers since joining the Tigers in 2014, and he has .381 and 156 marks, respectively, to start 2016. Paired with Cabrera and Kinsler, the Tigers stack eats just 25.2 percent of the salary cap.
Gregory Polanco, PIT at SD ($3,800): After showing improvement in the second half last year (.324 wOBA and 108 wRC+), Polanco has raked right-handed arms to start 2016 with a .405 wOBA and 157 wRC+. Plus, left-handed hitters have a .372 wOBA against James Shields since he joined the Padres last year.
Alex Gordon, KC vs. DET ($3,700): Another left-handed-hitting option to target against Mike Pelfrey (.375 wOBA allowed to left-handed hitters since beginning of last season), Gordon has a .365 on-base percentage, .345 wOBA and 121 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers since 2014. His salary provides great cap relief, too.
