This article is part of our FantasyDraft MLB series.
PITCHERS:
Stephen Strasburg, WAS vs. ATL ($24,800):- Strasburg has scored no less than 25.10 fantasy points in his last four starts, and he's posted 30.95 and 35.65 fantasy points, respectively, in two road starts against the Braves this season. Now he catches them at Nationals Park, where he has a solid 3.18 ERA, .260 wOBA and .219 BAA. The Braves also check in with a rather ordinary .304 wOBA since June 1 against right-handed pitching, while Strasburg has double-digit strikeouts in two of his last four starts and at least eight Ks in five others this season.
Kyle Freeland, COL at PIT ($15,600):- The Pirates have been absolutely abysmal against southpaws at PNC Park since May 1st, posting a .205 wOBA, 22.8 percent strikeout rate and anemic 23.2 percent hard contact rate versus that handedness. Freeland has been rock-solid anywhere he's pitched and sports a 3.18 ERA and .242 BAA in 34 road frames. He's gone at least six innings in eight of his last nine starts and fell just one out short of the mark in the other outing in that span. While his strikeout totals are typically modest, he does have upside north of 20 fantasy points as evidenced in his most recent start versus the Indians.
INFIELD
Joey Votto, CIN at SD ($10,000):- Both Padres starter Luis Perdomo and the San Diego bullpen have been bedeviled by lefty bats all season, making Votto one of the premier high-dollar plays. He homered Sunday, bringing his June total to four in his first 44 plate appearances of the month. He's also sporting a .491 wOBA over that span and owns a .410 wOBA, .257 ISO, 25.8 percent line drive rate and 34.4 percent hard contact rate versus right-handed pitching overall. Perdomo has given up a .375 wOBA and 33.3 percent hard contact rate to left-handed hitters, while both his K/9 (6.45) and BB/9 (4.03) against that handedness are markedly lower than his figures against righties. Meanwhile, San Diego relievers have surrendered an NL-worst 6.24 ERA (including 6.33 at home) and majors-high 18 homers to lefty bats, along with a .347 wOBA (including .356 at home).
Todd Frazier, CWS vs. BAL ($8,700):- Frazier got off to a forgettable start but has come on lately, posting a .503 wOBA, .364 ISO, 28.0 percent line drive rate and 40.0 percent hard contact rate in his first 37 plate appearances of June. He also sports a .333 average in 17 career encounters with Orioles starter Wade Miley, who has given up a .360 wOBA, five homers and a 40.5 percent hard contact rate to right-handed hitters on the road. It's also important to note that the Orioles bullpen could be a major factor here, as they got plenty of work in over the weekend while being shredded by the Yankees. Baltimore relievers have put in a whopping 12.2 innings of work over the last three days alone, and already check in surrendering 15 homers (out of 20 total) and an AL-high 6.21 ERA and .386 wOBA to right-handed hitters on the road.
Jose Pirela, SD vs. CIN ($4,400):- Pirela is simply priced too low for a player who was crushing in the minors (.331 average, 13 homers) and that hasn't slowed down a bit since arriving in San Diego. He's posted a .602 wOBA, .409 ISO and 68.8 percent hard contact rate over his first 25 plate appearances with the Padres, and is pummeling right-handed pitching to the tune of a .685 wOBA in the small sample thus far. Reds starter Bronson Arroyo has given up a .383 wOBA and nine homers to right-handed hitters, along with a 5.07 xFIP (including 6.13 on the road), 24.4 percent line drive rate and 32.6 percent hard contact rate. The Reds bullpen could also be fatigued, as they've pitched a combined 12.2 innings over the last three games.
OUTFIELD
Michael Conforto, NYM vs. CHC ($9,300):- There are a number of appealing options near the upper tier at outfield, and it bears mentioning that Avisail Garcia ($8,700) also makes for a viable alternative if you need to save a few hundred. However, Conforto has a sneaky-good matchup against Cubs starter John Lackey, who's given up a .366 wOBA and eight homers to lefty bats, along with a 38.6 percent hard contact rate when facing them on the road. Conforto owns a .440 wOBA at home and against right-handed pitching overall, while also boasting a 23.7 percent line drive rate and 44.9 percent hard contact rate against that handedness.
Scott Schebler, CIN at SD ($7,600):- Padres starter Luis Perdomo's issues with left-handed hitters – as well as those of the Padres bullpen – were detailed earlier, while Schebler checks in with a .381 wOBA, .370 ISO, eight homers and 43.3 percent hard contact rate in 82 plate appearances versus righties on the road.
Melky Cabrera, CWS vs. BAL ($6,800):- The problems that Orioles starter Wade Miley and Orioles relievers have experienced against right-handed hitters on the road were detailed earlier, while the switch-hitting Cabrera has shown more pop against southpaws, having hit five of his seven homers on the season against them. He's sporting a .356 wOBA versus that handedness at U.S. Cellular Field as well, along with a 40.0 percent hard contact rate. He also brings an impressive track record against Miley, including a 462 average, two doubles, a homer and three RBI over 13 career encounters.
UTILITY:
Andrew Benintendi, BOS vs. PHI ($9,300):- Benintendi draws a matchup against the Phillies' Jered Eickhoff, who's surrendered a .361 wOBA and six homers to left-handed hitters, along with a 5.08 xFIP, 22.1 percent line drive rate and 33.3 percent hard contact rate. His first two starts of June have not gone well either, as evidenced by his 8.22 ERA and .387 wOBA across 7.2 innings. Those numbers bode well for Benintendi, who's posted a .346 wOBA, three homers and a 46.2 percent hard contact rate over his first 33 plate appearances of June, and who owns a 38.0 percent hard contact rate against right-handed pitching on the season. The Phillies bullpen is also a sizable target, as they've given up a majors-worst 14.34 ERA and .412 BAA to left-handed hitters since June 1, along with a .481 wOBA
Odubel Herrera, PHI at BOS ($7,800):- Red Sox starter Rick Porcello's incredible run at Fenway Park last season is but a distant memory at this point, as he's surrendered a .362 wOBA, 5.10 ERA, seven homers and a 41.2 percent hard contact rate at home. Herrera has turned his season around in June, posting a .574 wOBA, .459 ISO, 40.6 percent line drive rate and 48.5 percent hard contact rate in his first 38 plate appearances of the month. That includes a .596 wOBA, 278 wRC+ and 50.0 percent hard contact rate versus right-handed pitching during that stretch, while Red Sox relievers have given up a 6.00 ERA to lefty bats in June, along with a .319 wOBA to that handedness on the season.
