This article is part of our FantasyDraft MLB series.
PITCHERS:
Max Scherzer, WAS at NYM ($25,200):- Scherzer has been outstanding over his last four starts, scoring between 30.10 and 44.75 fantasy points while racking up 48 strikeouts in 32 innings. He also compiled 30.40 fantasy points over eight innings in his one previous meeting with the Mets this season and has a 1.95 ERA, .153 BAA and .225 wOBA in 50.2 road frames.
Junior Guerra, MIL vs. SD ($12,400):- Guerra has had a couple of ordinary starts, which has brought his price down some. That makes him all the more appealing for a matchup against the Padres, which despite some recent signs of life, still sport a majors-worst 28.2 percent strikeout rate against right-handed pitching on the road, along with a .297 wOBA and mediocre 29.1 percent hard contact rate. Guerra had over 20 fantasy points in two of the previous three starts before his recent drop in fantasy production and owns a solid 2.63 ERA and .216 BAA in 13.2 home innings.
INFIELD
Nolan Arenado, COL vs. SF ($10,200):- Arenado punished the Giants Thursday with a 3-for-5 night that included four RBI, and he could be in line for more of the same Friday. The slugging third baseman owns a .435 average, three doubles, a triple and six RBI in 25 career plate appearances against San Fran starter Jeff Samardzija and boasts a .373 wOBA and .267 ISO at Coors Field. Samardzija has actually not pitched as bad as his record would indicate and has certainly suffered from a lack of run support at times, but he is giving up a 21.8 percent line drive rate to right-handed bats on the road and will be in the quintessential hitter's park. Giants relievers have also had their share of struggles away from their spacious home stadium, as they've given up a 4.26 ERA, .344 wOBA and 36.4 percent hard contact rate in 101.1 road frames this season.
Brian McCann, HOU vs. BOS ($7,800):- Evan Longoria also stands out at this same price due to some solid BvP history against Tigers southpaw Daniel Norris, but McCann is a pivot that's likely to be lower-owned in tournaments due to a lefty-on-lefty matchup against Drew Pomeranz. Both McCann and Pomeranz have actually shown reverse-splits tendencies, however, with McCann boasting a .455 wOBA, .394 ISO and four homers in 39 plate appearances against southpaws (despite a .240 BABIP) and Pomeranz surrendering a .447 wOBA (including .531 on the road), 35.7 percent line drive rate and 44.8 percent hard contact rate to lefty bats. Red Sox relievers have endured some hard times against left-handed hitting away from Fenway as well, surrendering a 5.02 ERA, six homers and a .342 wOBA to that handedness.
Ryon Healy, OAK vs. NYY ($6,800):- Yankees starter Michael Pineda has struggled in 31.2 road innings this season, giving up a 6.25 ERA, .386 wOBA and 10 of the 14 homers he's surrendered. He's yielding a .337 wOBA to right-handed hitters outside of Yankee Stadium and has also produced a 5.00 ERA and .353 wOBA over the 18.0 innings encompassing his last three starts. Healy has been knocking the cover off the ball in June, as evidenced by his .443 wOBA, .411 ISO and 48.8 percent hard contact rate over his last 58 plate appearances. He's also touched up righties for a .351 wOBA, .295 ISO and 41.4 percent hard contact rate at home while hitting 10 of his 15 homers on the season versus that handedness.
OUTFIELD
Mookie Betts, BOS at HOU ($10,400):- With the long-ball prone Mike Fiers on the bump for the Astros on Friday, some right-handed Red Sox bats are in order, and there are few hotter than Betts at the moment. He wrapped up the first half of June with a .380 wOBA, .220 ISO and 46.3 percent hard contact rate, and boasts a .413 wOBA, .312 ISO and 38.3 percent hard contact rate versus right-handed pitching on the road overall. Fiers has admittedly been very impressive over his last two starts, but that doesn't erase the .416 wOBA, 12 homers and 35.6 percent hard contact he's surrendered to right-handed hitters.
David Peralta, ARI at PHI ($8,400):- Peralta is doing his usual number on righties, compiling a .361 wOBA and 36.4 percent hard contact rate versus that handedness. Although he's had more impactful hits against them at Chase Field, we're talking about a Phillies pitching staff that's struggled all season against lefty bats. Starter Aaron Nola has yielded a .341 wOBA and .469 xFIP to left-handed hitters, and a 40.0 percent hard contact rate over a modest sample size at home. Philadelphia relievers, meanwhile, have given up a 5.26 ERA and .349 wOBA to that handedness, along with 15 homers. Peralta is also running hot in June, boasting a .382 wOBA, 21.9 percent line drive rate and 37.5 percent hard contact rate in his last 43 plate appearances.
Aaron Altherr, PHI vs. ARI ($7,600):- On the other side of the D-Backs-Phillies matchup is Arizona lefty Patrick Corbin, who has particularly struggled against right-handed hitters on the road. Corbin surrenders a .480 wOBA, 4.79 xFIP, 28.6 percent line drive rate and 35.7 percent hard contact rate to righty bats away from Chase Field, and Altherr boasts a .423 wOBA and 38.0 percent hard contact rate at home. Additionally, while his numbers against lefties profile better on the road, he's bound for a breakout against them at home, considering the unsustainable .091 BABIP he's generated over the modest 30 plate appearances against them at Citizens Bank Park. It's also worth noting Arizona relievers have had their share of issues against righty bats on the road, generating a 4.09 ERA and .330 wOBA.
UTILITY:
Josh Donaldson, TOR vs. SEA ($9,300):- Donaldson has enjoyed some success against struggling lefty Jose Quintana, posting a .455 average with a double and solo homer against him in 12 career encounters. He's also gotten off to a great start against that handedness this season, posting a .493 wOBA, 23.1 percent line drive rate and 46.2 percent hard contact rate over his first 21 plate appearances. Quintana has surrendered a .346 wOBA, 4.61 xFIP and 30.9 percent hard contact to righty bats, while the White Sox bullpen has yielded a majors-high 7.36 ERA and a .387 wOBA to right-handed hitters on the road over the last calendar month.
Eric Thames, MIL vs. SD ($7,600):- Taking lefty bats against San Diego pitching has been a path to success thus far this season, and there's few more potent than Thames. The slugger has a .429 wOBA, .336 ISO, 13 of his 18 homers and a 43.4 percent hard contact rate against right-handed pitching, while Padres rookie starter Miguel Diaz has given up a .442 wOBA, three homers, 6.79 xFIP, 2.07 WHIP and 32.4 percent hard contact rate to the first 50 left-handed hitters he's seen in the majors. The Padres bullpen has been very generous to lefty bats all season also, including giving up a .332 wOBA, 4.24 ERA, eight homers and a 35.4 percent hard contact rate to that handedness over the last calendar month.
