This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
PITCHER
Sonny Gray, OAK vs. TB ($9,600): Gray has put his best stuff on display for trade suitors over his past four starts, posting a masterful 1.33 ERA and 0.59 WHIP over 27 innings. His only shortcoming in that stretch is a pedestrian 7.0 K/9, but facing a Rays team that strikes out more than any other should help alleviate that issue. The right-hander mowed down 10 hitters via strikeout in Tampa Bay on June 10, and a repeat effort could be in the cards during this home rematch given that the Rays whiff 9.62 times per game.
Jon Gray, COL vs. SD ($8,400): Gray might be the only pitcher in baseball who prefers to pitch at Coors Field. He posted a 0.61 lower ERA at home than on the road a season ago and sports a tidy 2.45 mark through two home starts this season. One of the keys to his success is a tremendous 24.5 percent strikeout rate which reduces the impact of hitter-friendly conditions by lowering the number of balls put in play. The Padres have struck out 9.54 times per game while a scoring a league-low 3.63 runs per contest, so keeping this lineup at bay won't be difficult for Gray.
CATCHER
Welington Castillo, BAL vs. TEX ($3,300): Rangers southpaw Martin Perez has allowed multiple earned runs in 14 consecutive outings, and that streak is unlikely to come to a close against Castillo and the Orioles. Castillo specializes in hitting lefties, having posted a .359 career wOBA in that split compared to a meager .305 mark against righties. The affordable catcher's also swinging a hot bat, with a pair of extra-base hits in his past four games.
FIRST BASE
Justin Smoak, TOR at BOS ($4,500): The switch-hitting Smoak has smoked left-handed pitching this season, managing a .454 wOBA in 75 at-bats. That success should continue against Red Sox lefty Drew Pomeranz, who has pitched to a 4.50 ERA while lasting just 46 total innings in nine starts at Fenway Park this season. Saving a few hundred dollars by staying out of the top price tier at the position is just icing on the cake.
SECOND BASE
LeMahieu, COL vs. SD ($4,500): LeMahieu deserves heavy lineup consideration any time the opposition puts a lefty on the mound, especially when it's one as ordinary as Clayton Richard. The second baseman has compiled a .425 wOBA against lefties overall while taking advantage of Coors Field's league-high 1.27 park factor with a .461 mark in 56 such plate appearances at home. Getting the favorite to lead second basemen in scoring for the fifth-highest price at the position is a strong value play despite LeMahieu's high price.
THIRD BASE
Nolan Arenado, COL vs. SD ($5,500): Arenado has been even more effective against lefties than LeMahieu, posting a .518 wOBA thanks to a .414/.442/.818 line in 99 at-bats. He's 4-for-9 with a couple of extra-base hits lifetime against Richard, and things are unlikely to get any better for the Padres starter here given his .381 wOBA allowed to right-handed batters. Throw in the fact that this game will be taking place at the hitter-friendly Coors Field, and there's nothing not to like about Arenado.
SHORTSTOP
Dansby Swanson, ATL vs. CHI ($2,800): This year hasn't gone according to plan for the 2015 first overall pick, but Swanson has actually been solid against left-handed pitching with a .352 wOBA in 49 at-bats. His value may never drop lower than the current $2,800 and Cubs starter Mike Montgomery comes in having allowed 20 earned runs over 22.1 innings in his past five appearances. This is a textbook buy-low opportunity.
OUTFIELD
Marcell Ozuna, MIA vs. PHI ($4,500): Rookie Phillies starter Nick Pivetta has been impressive in dealing with left-handed hitters early in his career, but fellow righties have given him serious problems. He has surrendered a .415 wOBA to his first 135 batters faced from that side, and things should only get worse against Ozuna and the Marlins. Florida's clean-up hitter has excelled in righty-on-righty matchups, posting a .403 wOBA over a sizable 284 at-bat sample.
Alex Presley, DET at KC ($2,800): The left-handed hitting Presley should be in the lineup against righty Jason Hammel, which is good news for bargain-hunting owners. Presley has vastly outplayed his $2,800 price in this split, generating a .356 wOBA while batting fifth in the order of late. Hammel has allowed 12 earned runs in 17 innings over his past three appearances, making him a prime candidate to pick against here.
Bryce Harper, WAS at LAA ($5,500): Angels righty Ricky Nolasco has served up 26 home runs in 108.1 innings while Harper has swatted five homers over his current 12-game winning streak to give him 23 in 85 games. Nobody in this slate's likelier to connect for another dinger, and just one home run would be more than enough to justify this price tag. Considering Harper already has four multi-homer performances this season and Angel Stadium of Anaheim boasts a seventh-ranked 1.11 park factor for home runs, his ceiling is unmatched.
