This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
PITCHER
Max Scherzer, WAS at ATL ($13,700): Don't overthink this one. Scherzer's robust 11.09 K/9 gives him incredible upside, and he's very likely to pick up the win pitching for a superior team against the second-lowest scoring lineup in the league. His first four starts against the Braves this season haven't been spectacular, but his 3-0 record demonstrates the high floor Washington's ace possesses in this matchup. At worst, you get another solid performance. At best, Scherzer reaches double-digit strikeouts for the 14th time while approaching or topping 40.0 fantasy points.
Felix Hernandez, SEA vs. HOU ($8,000): King Felix's strikeout rate is the worst of his career, but he has just the matchup to raise it back up facing a division-rival Houston team against which he has posted a 9.91 K/9 dating back to the 2014 season. That number isn't too surprising considering the Astros strike out over once per inning in general, and Hernandez is catching them at the right time as they've dropped six of their last eight games. Hernandez should be able to keep them down again while missing quite a few bats coming off six shutout innings against the A's in his last start.
CATCHER
Brian McCann, NYY at BOS ($3,900): There should be no shortage of offensive fireworks at Fenway Park, and New York's left-handed DH will be hungry to get in on the action after sitting in favor of Billy Butler on Thursday. He'll get that opportunity with Boston sending righty Clay Buchholz to the mound, and McCann's favorable history against Buchholz (3-for-8 with two walks) suggests he's ready to prove his bat belongs in the lineup on a permanent basis. The hitter-friendly environment and weak opponent make the veteran well worth $3,900 at his former position.
FIRST BASE
Pedro Alvarez, BAL vs. TB ($3,400): Alvarez has managed to turn a painfully slow start into a respectable campaign thanks to 17 long balls since the calendar turned to June. All but one of his homers have come against right-handers, and he has a solid .358 wOBA in that split. Tampa Bay's Chris Archer is allowing 1.28 home runs per nine innings, while Alvarez is a favorable 4-for-10 with a homer and three doubles facing him lifetime. The ceiling here is high while the price isn't.
SECOND BASE
Robinson Cano, SEA vs. HOU ($4,500): The newly-dimensioned Safeco Field sees 1.18 times as many balls leave the yard as the average ballpark, making it conducive to Cano's game against a pitcher who is susceptible to the long ball. Houston's Collin McHugh is allowing 1.37 home runs per nine innings, and has given up 10 in his last eight starts. With 22 home runs among his 43 extra-base hits against right-handers this season, Cano defies positional stereotypes. Those totals, along with his gaudy .420 wOBA at home against right-handers, should be on the rise given McHugh's struggles.
THIRD BASE
Martin Prado, MIA at PHI ($4,200): Phillies starter Adam Morgan is allowing an ugly .381 wOBA to right-handed hitters, but that mark actually falls well short of Prado's astronomical .449 wOBA against southpaws. Miami's three-hole hitter is one of the toughest outs in the league in this split, making him unlikely to fail in such a comfortable matchup. Look for him to stay hot after getting on base seven times in the last four games.
SHORTSTOP
Brad Miller, TB at BAL ($4,000): Tampa Bay's clean-up hitter will be in excellent position to do major damage against Orioles starter Ubaldo Jimenez, whose inflated 5.98 ERA stems from an abundance of free passes. Jimenez has an ugly 4.74 BB/9, and is allowing a .395 wOBA to left-handed hitters like Miller. Given the favorability of this matchup and the elite power Miller has displayed with 28 home runs this season, $4,000 is a small price to pay.
OUTFIELD
Joc Pederson, LAD at ARI ($4,300): Pederson is basically useless when the opposition puts a lefty on the mound, but the young outfielder has a strong .380 wOBA against right-handers. That number has been positively influenced by his 2-for-5 mark with a homer and a double against former teammate Zack Greinke, who comes in having allowed 11 runs in 10.2 innings over his last two starts. Playing at the hitter-friendly Chase Field (1.192 Park Factor) enhances Pederson's chances of finding success against the slumping starter even further.
Marcell Ozuna, MIA at PHI ($4,200): As pointed out earlier, a big reason left-hander Adam Morgan has only won once in his last 17 starts is his inability to retire righties. Just like Prado, Ozuna excels against lefties, making him a nightmare opponent for the Phillies starter. The young outfielder has a .392 wOBA, and has smashed 10 homers in just 123 plate appearances in this split this season. His combination of powerful upside and high floor against an overmatched opponent is unmatched in this price range.
Curtis Granderson, NYM vs. MIN ($4,500): Granderson has been tearing the cover off the ball recently, with four homers and 11 RBI while primarily serving as the clean-up hitter over the past 10 games. He significantly prefers to face right-handers, and will be matched up with an awful one in Minnesota's Jose Berrios, who has a 9.27 ERA in 44.2 innings.
