This article is part of our FantasyDraft MLB series.
PITCHER
Carlos Carrasco, CLE at KC ($22,800): Carrasco bounced back from a couple of rough outings in his last start, scoring 26.15 fantasy points against the A's. Additionally, he's actually been a notably better pitcher on the road, posting a 2.18 ERA while allowing a .175 batting average and .225 wOBA in 33.0 innings away from Progressive Field. He now takes on a Royals squad that has a .293 wOBA against right-handed pitching, along with a 21.1 percent strikeout rate.
Jon Lester, CHC vs. STL ($20,400): Lester takes on a Cardinals squad that's mustered a .285 wOBA versus southpaws, along with a 22.2 percent strikeout rate. While he was unexpectedly hit hard by the Dodgers in his last start, Lester scored 42.75 fantasy points just two starts ago versus the Giants, and he has eclipsed 20.00 in two other outings this season. He's also been excellent at home, posting a 1.80 ERA and allowing a .227 wOBA while racking up 39 strikeouts over 40 innings. Finally, he has 16 Ks over just 10.2 innings in two previous road outings against St. Louis this season.
INFIELD
Justin Bour, MIA vs. ARI ($9,600): Bour went deep again Friday and now faces Randall Delgado, who has been solid overall but has allowed a .325 wOBA and four of five homers to left-handed hitters. Bour has 11 of his 16 round trippers off righties, boasts a .441 wOBA overall at home, and he has a 20.9 percent line drive rate and 52.2 percent hard contact rate against righties at Marlins Park.
Jose Abreu, CWS AT DET ($7,600): Abreu has pounded Tigers starter Jordan Zimmermann for a .583 batting average, including a double and a triple, and five RBI over 13 career plate appearances, and he a .353 wOBA, .283 ISO and 38.2 percent hard contact rate against righties away from U.S. Cellular Field. Zimmermann has been hit hard by both sides of the platoon, but he has allowed a .447 wOBA, five homers, 28.0 percent line drive rate and 41.2 percent hard contact rate to the 68 righty bats he's faced at Comerica Park. Additionally, the Tigers' bullpen has given up a .329 wOBA and majors-high 21 homers and 43.9 percent hard contact to right-handed hitters.
Jed Lowrie, OAK vs. WAS ($6,300): The switch-hitting Lowrie seems to be perpetually underpriced despite a solid season, and he draws a favorable matchup against Nationals starter Joe Ross, who's given up a .390 wOBA (including .408 on the road), four homers, a 23.8 percent line drive rate and 38.6 percent hard contact rate to left-handed hitters. Meanwhile, Lowrie has been much better from the left side of the plate, posting a .381 wOBA (including .444 at home), all six of his homers, a 25.0 percent line drive rate and a 37.2 percent hard contact rate versus right-handed pitching.
OUTFIELD
Charlie Blackmon, COL at SD ($10,800): Rostering lefty bats against the Padres has been one of the surer ways to fantasy goodness this season, particularly when Jhoulys Chacin has been on the hill. The Padres starter has allowed a .422 wOBA and 36.6 percent hard contact rate to left-handed hitters, while Blackmon has a .429 wOBA, 15.1 wRAA and 40.0 percent hard contact rate against right-handed pitching. It is worth noting that Chacin's home/road splits against left-handed hitters are dramatic, with him being much more effective at Petco Park, but, Blackmon is in the midst of an MVP-caliber campaign, and the Padres' bullpen has been one of the worst against lefty bats, yielding a majors-high 6.43 ERA along with 15 homers, a .343 wOBA and 36.4 percent hard contact rate.
Avisail Garcia, CWS at DET ($7,200): Tigers starter Jordan Zimmermann's problems against right-handed hitters – as well as those of the Detroit bullpen – were detailed earlier, while Garcia boasts a .348 wOBA and 30.9 percent hard contact rate against right-handed pitchers. He's also touched up Zimmermann for a .500 batting average, including one homer, and two RBI over eight career plate appearances.
Odubel Herrera, PHI vs. SF ($4,800): Given the low risk, Herrera is worth a GPP flyer despite the matchup against Johnny Cueto, who's allowed a .348 wOBA to the 91 lefty bats he's faced on the road, and he's given up a 24.4 percent line drive rate and 36.0 percent hard contact rate to that handedness overall. Herrera has uncharacteristically struggled against right-handed pitching this season but still sports a .331 wOBA and 23 homers versus that handedness over his two-plus major-league campaigns. Additionally,, the Giants' bullpen has struggled against lefty hitters outside of their spacious home park, as they've given up a .366 wOBA on the road to that handedness, second-highest in the National League.
UTILITY
Paul Goldschmidt, ARI at MIA ($10,200): Goldschmidt went deep again Friday and is primed for a potential Saturday encore against Marlins starter Edinson Volquez, whom he's blasted for a .500 batting average, including four doubles and a homer, and four RBI over 17 plate appearances. Goldy also brings a .452 wOBA and 48.7 percent hard contact rate versus righties to the table, while the Marlins' bullpen has given up a 4.50 ERA, 13 homers and a 35.5 percent hard contact rate to right-handed hitters.
Edwin Encarnacion, CLE at KC ($8,000): Royals starter Jason Hammel has allowed a .406 wOBA to right-handed hitters (including .411 at home), along with five homers, a 26.3 percent line drive rate and 32.1 percent hard contact this season. He also has been struggling with the long ball, giving up six round trippers in five May starts after surrendering just one in all of April. Those shape up as bad optics for a matchup against Encarnacion, who has a .395 wOBA, .297 ISO, five homers, a 31.8 percent line drive rate and a 47.7 percent hard contact rate in 72 plate appearances against right-handed pitching on the road. He also has a .381 batting average, including a double and four homers, and five RBI over 22 plate appearances against Hammel in his career.
