This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
Pitcher
Dallas Keuchel, HOU at LAA ($10,400): Keuchel may be the only pitcher in the game who can be considered a value play at a five-figure salary, as he has averaged over 29 DraftKings points in his last four starts. The Angels hit the ball on the ground at a 48 percent clip, which should help Keuchel execute his game plan, as he boasts a 63 percent ground ball rate this season.
Danny Salazar, CLE at KC ($10,000):Derek Holland was owned by just 16 percent of players in the early $10K Four-Seamer on Thursday, which makes me think I haven't done enough to spread the word about my campaign to fade the Royals. Kansas City will enter this matchup having tallied the third lowest wOBA in the league against right-handed pitching, while holding a strikeout rate of 20 percent. Salazar's 4.34 ERA this season doesn't look very appealing, but he has struck out a third of the hitters he has faced over five starts on the strength of a 16 percent swinging strike rate.
Catcher
Matt Wieters, WAS at PHI ($3,600): Wieters has done most of his damage against lefties this season but has had his share of success against righties, as evidenced by his .351 wOBA over 66 at-bats. Nick Pivetta has had trouble keeping the ball in the park and harnessing his control at various points in his minor-league career. While he only walked one batter over five innings in his major league debut against the Dodgers, he was tagged for a homer before departing.
First Base
Eric Thames, MIL at PIT ($4,700):Chad Kuhl has been absolutely hammered by lefties this season, allowing a .750 slugging percentage over 8.1 innings. Thames has tallied a 4.3 RAA against the slider, a pitch Kuhl throws nearly 26 percent of the time.
Second Base
Neil Walker, NYM vs. MIA ($3,600): Like Kuhl, Tom Koehler has been hit hard by his opposite hand. The 30-year-old has allowed an .850 slugging percentage and a 43 percent hard contact rate over 9.0 innings. The amount of ace pitchers on the slate forced us to spend up for both starters, but we can look to some of the lefties in the Mets lineup for salary relief. While Walker has struggled to open 2017, he has notched a 32 percent hard contact rate against righties.
Third Base
Joey Gallo, TEX at SEA ($3,500): The former top prospect has hit nine home runs this season while notching a slugging percentage of .558. Gallo could be a candidate to go yard again against a ground-baller like Yovani Gallardo due to the 57 percent fly-ball rate he has kept over 95 at-bats.
Shortstop
Corey Seager, LAD at SD ($4,400):Jhoulys Chacin has sprinkled in a couple of nice performances this season but still carries a 5.82 ERA over six starts. Seager has notched a .206 ISO against righties and has the potential to do even more damage, having registered a 54 percent hard contact rate.
Outfield
Hanley Ramirez, BOS at MIN ($4,600):Phil Hughes has combined low strikeout and walk numbers with a 47 percent hard contact rate, making him the perfect pitcher to feed to a talented lineup. Ramirez hasn't found his stride against lefties in 2017 but is making his at-bats count against same-handed pitchers. He has registered a .228 ISO and a 43 percent hard contact rate over 83 at-bats.
Marcell Ozuna, MIA at NYM ($3,600):Rafael Montero hasn't transitioned his game to a major league mound effectively. He has allowed eight runs in 6.2 innings (six games) out of the bullpen this year, and owns a 5.51 career ERA in 30 games (12 starts). A Marlins stack could certainly start with Ozuna, who has tallied a .279 ISO and a 49 percent hard contact rate against righties.
Michael Brantley, CLE at KC ($4,300):Jason Hammel told MLB.com after his outing against the Twins that he is going to try to attack the zone more going forward. This could lead to a reduction of his 12 percent walk rate, but there is also a chance that trying to force pitches into the zone will result in a few gopher balls. Brantley hasn't needed any help squaring up balls against righties this season. He will enter the contest with a 52 percent hard contact rate versus his opposite hand.
