This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
Wednesday's 3:10 PM ET MLB slate features all 30 teams. Exploiting matchups is the key to baseball DFS success, and these guys are all primed to perform against underwhelming opponents...
PITCHER
Jake Odorizzi, TB vs. CWS ($7,700): Odorizzi should easily be able to outplay his modest $7,100 valuation against a White Sox lineup that has allowed the fourth most fantasy points to opposing pitchers. The 27-year-old righty's 20.5 percent strikeout rate has room to climb toward his career average of 21.9 percent, and a Chicago team that strikes out more than average while scoring fewer runs than average presents a tremendous opportunity to begin that ascent. Squaring off against Mike Pelfrey (2-4 record, 4.67 FIP) also gives Odorizzi a strong chance of nabbing his fourth win.
Jimmy Nelson, MIL vs. SF ($7,900): Nelson is another pitcher with a middling price and top-notch upside. He has produced 70.6 fantasy points and a 21:0 K:BB ratio over his past two starts, and now gets to face a Giants lineup that's ranked 28th at 3.56 runs per game. Matching the 1.77 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 42:6 K:BB ratio he has posted in 35.2 innings over his past six starts would easily allow Nelson to once again outplay his $7,900 valuation.
CATCHER
Yan Gomes, CLE at COL ($3,600): Gomes has posted a .399 wOBA when facing left-handed pitching, and that number figures to climb even higher against Kyle Freeland at Coors Field. The notoriously hitter-friendly venue ranks second with a 1.29 park factor, while the home team's rookie starter owns a 4.65 FIP and 4.85 xFIP. Freeland has also exceeded six innings pitched just once in 11 career starts.
FIRST BASE
Chris Davis, BAL vs. PIT ($4,600): Davis has started to heat up of late, notching hits in seven consecutive contests. He couldn't ask for a better opportunity to stay hot, as Pirates starter Chad Kuhl owes his ugly 6.02 ERA and 1.58 WHIP to intense struggles against left-handed hitters. The right-hander's .442 wOBA allowed in that split comes as a result of surrendering five homers, 10 doubles and four triples along with a .414 OBP to his first 116 batters faced from that side.
SECOND BASE
Cesar Hernandez, PHI at ATL ($3,700): The switch-hitting Hernandez has been significantly better from the left side this season, and that's where he'll bat from against righty Mike Foltynewicz. Foltynewicz is allowing a .355 wOBA to left-handed sluggers, so Hernandez's .344 mark should be on the rise. SunTrust Park's seventh-ranked 1.14 park factor represents a minuscule drop-off from sixth-ranked Citizens Bank Park's 1.16, which means Philadelphia's leadoff man is also in good position to score some runs after notching five in his past four games.
THIRD BASE
Josh Donaldson, TOR at OAK ($4,500): Donaldson is set up for a strong effort against his former team. The 2015 AL MVP sports a .411 wOBA against fellow righties, while Oakland starter Jharel Cotton has allowed a .353 mark to hitters from that side. Cotton has also surrendered at least three runs in all but two of his nine starts en route to a 5.11 ERA, so things don't project to get any easier for him anytime soon.
SHORTSTOP
Taylor Motter, SEA vs. MIN ($3,400): The right-handed hitting Motter makes for an enticing choice at $3,400 against underwhelming southpaw Aldaberto Mejia. Motter offers more pop than your typical middle infielder, as evidenced by his six long balls in 165 plate appearances. Mejia's .358 wOBA allowed to righties and 1.65 HR/9 make him vulnerable to more homers here.
OUTFIELD
Seth Smith, BAL vs. PIT ($3,700): Baltimore's leadoff man lacks Davis' upside, but is also primed to pummel Kuhl. Getting as many left-handed Orioles bats in your lineup as possible should be a successful strategy given Kuhl's .442 wOBA allowed to hitters from that side, and $3,700 is a solid price to pay given Smith's lineup placement and .356 career wOBA against righties.
Carlos Gonzalez, COL vs. CLE ($3,600): Gonzalez has been far from his typical self this season, but his affordability makes Colorado's clean-up hitter a strong play nonetheless at home against Trevor Bauer. With most of his teammates priced well over $4,000, Gonzalez represents the best option for owners with big monetary commitments at other positions. It also helps that he's a left-handed hitter facing a right-handed pitcher that's allowing a .373 wOBA in that split.
Khris Davis, OAK vs. TOR ($3,900): Davis has struggled against southpaws this season, but last year's 10 homers and 17 extra-base hits in 148 plate appearances to go with a .367 wOBA against them suggests the powerful slugger still carries plenty of upside in such matchups. That upside could well turn into results against Francisco Liriano, who's allowing 1.08 HR/9 after finishing at 1.44 last season, along with a .389 wOBA to right-handed hitters.
