This article is part of our FantasyDraft MLB series.
PITCHER
J.A. Happ, TOR vs. MIL ($15,600): There isn't a lot of value at the high end of the pitching slate, so it's a good time to focus on the middle and lower-tier pitchers. When looking at those types of pitchers, it's not often that you get a triple-threat, which is a high potential for a win, a lot of strikeouts and a low ERA. That holds true on this slate, but Happ is certainly a double-threat. Milwaukee hit lefties pretty well last season, but the Brewers also struck out at a high rate against them. Factor in that Toronto is a heavy favorite in this game and you've got some good value.
Matt Harvey, NYM at PHI ($16,200): As mentioned above, there isn't much value at the high end of the slate and outside of Happ and Harvey, there isn't much value at the mid or low end either. Harvey looked good last week in his first start of the season, while the Phillies posted the second-lowest wOBA versus righties last season and the fifth-highest K-rate.
INFIELD
Manny Machado, BAL at BOS ($9,000): Baltimore visits Boston in what is projected to be the second-highest scoring game on the slate, so of course we'll want some shares. Drew Pomeranz takes the bump for the Red Sox, and though he was about the same versus righties and lefties last season, his real struggle was pitching at home. With that in mind, it makes sense to look for the best guy in the Baltimore lineup versus lefties, and that's Machado, who had a .388 wOBA verses left-handed pitching last season.
Dee Gordon, MIA vs. ATL ($8,000): Gordon hasn't quite been the same since returning from his suspension last season, but he's showing signs that his game is coming back. Gordon faces Bartolo Colon and while Colon has somehow managed to keep his production up at the age of 43, Gordon will have some advantages in this matchup. The first is that lefties posted a .335 wOBA against Colon last season, and his walk rate against them was nearly twice as high than against righties. A walk for Gordon is like a double because of his ability to steal bases
Asdrubal Cabrera, NYM at PHI ($7,500):Clay Buchholz is coming off a poor 2016 season, and his first start of 2017 gave us no indication that he'd turned anything around. Lefties hit Buchholz better last year than righties, so you'll want to target the lefties in the Mets' lineup. Cabrera was competent from both sides of the plate last season, so he's one that should be able to take advantage of Buchholz's shortcomings.
OUTFIELD
Charlie Blackmon, COL vs. SD ($10,000): It's certainly a steep-price to pay for a guy who hasn't produced much this season, but the matchup is just too enticing. Opposing starter Jared Weaver really struggled on the road last season, and he'll now have to take those struggles to Coors Field. He was equally bad against lefties and righties last season, so to find the advantage here, we have to look for the best hitters against righties in the Rockies' lineup. Blackmon topped all Rockies last season in wOBA against righties, and though he's off to a slow start, he's bound to turn it around soon.
Travis Jankowski, SD at COL ($7,600): Weaver isn't the only pitcher expected to struggle in this game. Vegas has the total set at 12 runs, which is about as high as they come. Colorado sends rookie Antonio Senzatela to the hill, and while we don't know much about him yet on the Major League level, we do know that most pitchers struggle at Coors Field. Jankowski is off to a slow start this season, but he hit righties well last year and this looks like a good place to snap out of a slump. I would suggest as much exposure to this game as possible, but with the salaries so high, it will be tough to get more than a couple hitters.
Starling Marte, PIT vs. CIN ($10,200):Rookie Davis faces the Pirates hoping to fare better than he did in his first start of the season when he was pummeled by the Phillies. The Pittsburgh lineup is full of right-handed bats, so they're obviously better against lefties, but Marte was one Pirate who did plenty of damage against righties last season, posting a team-high .358 wOBA against them last year.
UTLIITY
Tony Wolters, COL vs. SD ($6,000): Jared Weaver's issues were already detailed, so shares of Rockies are nearly mandatory. The problem, of course, is that most of the hitters on Colorado are expensive. Enter Wolters, who usually gets the start against righties and comes at a very cheap price. He is a lefty with good numbers against righties, posting a .325 wOBA against them last year.
Jay Bruce, NYM at PHI ($7,200): Bruce is one of many Mets that should take advantage of Buchholz . Of the current Mets hitters, Bruce posted the highest wOBA versus righties last season, and he is coming off a huge game Monday when he crushed two home runs, his first two of the season.
