This article is part of our FantasyDraft MLB series.
PITCHER
Danny Salazar, CLE at TB ($22,800): To save a couple grand, Salazar essentially provides the same fantasy value as Jacob deGrom ($24,600) and James Paxton ($24,000). Sure, his overall numbers aren't as good, but Salazar has diced opponents in his last three outings to the tune of eight hits, three earned runs and 28 strikeouts. Not many have been better and the Rays have been bad against righties with a .291 wOBA and 25.8 K% since July 1.
Zach Davies, MIL vs. MIN ($16,200): Davies has gone at least seven innings in his last four starts, failing to give up a run in three of them. The Twins pose a decent challenge with a .313 wOBA against righties since the break, but Davies already dealt with the Cubs and Nationals in recent outings.
INFIELD
Ryon Healy, OAK vs. BAL ($6,900): Let's start with a no-brainer matchup due to Healy's cheap price. Healy has much better numbers against lefties with a .448 wOBA and .315 ISO, and that's not where the positives end, as Wade Miley allows a .376 wOBA and 4.74 xFIP to righties. Miley has only allowed four runs in his last two starts, but also only made it five innings in each of them.
Justin Turner, LAD at ARI ($9,300): There are a few Dodgers I like in this matchup and Turner is one of the cheaper ones. It's also hard to ignore his .527 wOBA and .541 ISO in his last 46 at-bats against lefties, and that includes four homers in the last three games. Anthony Banda has given up 10 hits and five runs in his two starts.
Alex Bregman, HOU at CWS ($9,600): Speaking of guys that are unleashing on lefties, Bregman has a .474 wOBA and .306 ISO in his last 42 at-bats against them and a 9.5 K% should help in this matchup. Carlos Rodon has been lights-out for the White Sox with 31 strikeouts in his last three starts, but he's still giving up hits and runs. He struck out 11 Cubs a few starts ago, yet only made it four innings with four earned runs.
OUTFIELD
Mark Canha, OAK vs. BAL ($6,400): Here's a super cheap way to get another righty bat against Miley. Canha sat Wednesday night, but should return to the lineup with a lefty on the mound. He has four hits in his last three games and his 25.6 K% against lefties may not be a huge factor with Miley's 18.7 K% against righties.
Chris Davis, BAL at OAK ($6,000):Seth Smith is dealing with a bad hamstring, so Davis is the lefty bat I'll take against Chris Smith. Davis is still striking out a ton (30.3 K%), but his wOBA is up to .342 with a .241 ISO in his last 66 at-bats against righties. That's a great reason to use him against Smith, who has a 10.9 K% against lefties in 13.2 innings pitched.
Christian Yelich, MIA at WAS ($7,800): Along with a lot of his teammates, Yelich has been much better in the last month-plus (118 at-bats) with a .376 wOBA and .242 ISO against righties. That's a good enough number to use against Tanner Roark, who struggles against lefties with a .347 wOBA allowed and 5.37 xFIP. Roark hasn't allowed many hits in recent starts, but most of them have come against lefties.
UTILITY
Eric Thames, MIL vs. MIN ($7,500): Even with Travis Shaw questionable, I wanted to grab a lefty against Kyle Gibson and Thames is the pick. Thames hasn't been as good lately, but still sports a .378 wOBA in his last 95 at-bats against righties. His K% (31.6) is acceptable because Gibson isn't a big strikeout guy at only 12.9% against lefties with a 5.50 xFIP.
Caleb Joseph, BAL at OAK ($6,000): Joseph has improved his numbers against righties with a .393 wOBA and .239 ISO in his last 50 at-bats. Smith has allowed 11 runs in his last three starts and has an 8:8 K:BB ratio in that period.
