This article is part of our FantasyDraft MLB series.
PITCHERS:
Luis Castillo, CIN at PIT ($18,300):- Castillo boasts a 2.68 ERA, .222 BAA and .286 wOBA allowed in 40.1 road innings this season. He also just stymied this same Pirates squad in his last start with a seven-inning, nine-strikeout effort that netted 29.35 fantasy points. He's scored between 16.10 and 29.60 fantasy points in his last three road starts as well, and he's generated quality starts in five of his last outings overall.
Cole Hamels, TEX vs. LAA ($18,000):- Hamels sports a solid 3.04 ERA, .215 BAA and .286 wOBA allowed in 53.1 innings at Globe Life Park despite its hitter-friendly reputation. He's also coming off a strong August where he generated a 4-1 record, a .223 BAA and .293 wOBA allowed in 33.1 innings across five starts. The Angels generated an AL-low .255 wOBA and 54 wRC+ against southpaws on the road in August, and Hamels has already tossed three quality starts that netted between 18.15 and 30.85 fantasy points against them this season.
INFIELD
Paul Goldschmidt, ARI at COL ($10,800):- Goldschmidt sports a .420 wOBA and .270 ISO versus southpaws, along with a 53.3 percent hard contact rate against them on the road. He also posted a .455 wOBA in August, his highest monthly total of the season. Rockies starter Kyle Freeland has allowed a .336 wOBA (including 13 homers) and 4.96 xFIP to right-handed hitters, and a .349 wOBA and 39.6 percent hard contact rate overall in his four August appearances.
Mark Reynolds, COL vs. ARI ($8,700):- Reynolds has punished righties at Coors Field for a .427 wOBA, .312 ISO, 34.9 percent HR/FB rate and 40.5 percent hard contact rate, and he generated a season-best 44.6 percent hard contact rate overall in August. Meanwhile, D-Backs starter Taijuan Walker allows a .359 wOBA and 32.1 percent hard contact rate to righty bats on the road, and has yielded a .500 average, including two homers, to Reynolds in nine plate appearances. D-Backs relievers also have a 6.91 ERA and have allowed an NL-high .473 wOBA (including five homers) to the 75 right-handed hitters they've faced on the road in the last three weeks.
Yasmani Grandal, LAD at SD ($6,600):- Padres starter Dinelson Lamet has been particularly vulnerable to lefty bats at Petco Park, where they've tagged him for a .382 wOBA, 22.2 percent HR/FB rate and 36.2 percent hard contact rate. While he's been very effective in his last seven starts, a 4.99 xFIP and .261 BABIP versus that handedness over that span bely his .277 wOBA. Grandal owns a .343 wOBA and .232 ISO versus righties, along with a 39.4 percent hard contact rate against them on the road.
OUTFIELD
Nelson Cruz, SEA vs. OAK ($9,600):- Cruz's body of work against A's starter Sean Manaea includes a .667 average, two homers and six RBI over 15 plate appearances. He also owns a .403 wOBA, .220 ISO and 40.0 percent hard contact rate at home versus southpaws, while Manaea has allowed a .343 wOBA (including nine homers) and a 38.0 percent hard contact rate to righties on the road, and he has a 9.17 ERA and .465 wOBA allowed over his last five starts. Oakland relievers have also allowed a .359 wOBA (including seven homers) to right-handed hitters on the road in the last 21 days.
Max Kepler, MIN vs. KC ($8,100):- Kepler has smacked all 17 of his homers off righties and owns a .385 wOBA, .244 ISO and a 40.0 percent hard contact rate versus that handedness at home. He also owns a .714 average over eight plate appearances versus Royals starter Jason Hammel, who's allowed a .332 wOBA, 5.38 xFIP and 31.5 percent hard contact rate to left-handed hitters on the road. Meanwhile, Royals relievers have a 10.12 ERA and have allowed .409 wOBA to the 57 lefty bats they've faced on the road in the last month.
Kevin Pillar, TOR at BAL ($6,400):- Pillar checks into Friday with a five-game hitting streak and a career-high 13 homers on the season, 10 which have come off right-handed pitching. He's been a much better hitter on the road as well, as evidenced by a .330 wOBA. Pillar also owns a .421 average in 21 plate appearances against Orioles starter Kevin Gausman, who's allowed a .350 wOBA (including 14 homers) and 34.2 percent hard contact rate to right-handed hitters.
UTILITY
Jonathan Schoop, BAL vs. TOR ($9,000):- Schoop owns a .368 wOBA, .235 ISO and 31.0 percent hard contact rate against right-handed pitching at Camden Yards, and a .423 wOBA, 25.0 percent HR/FB rate and 38.5 percent hard contact rate in the 53 plate appearances he's logged over his last 12 games. Blue Jays starter Joe Biagini was pounded by the Twins in his last start and has allowed a .361 wOBA and 36.4 percent hard contact rate in the second half of the season.
Elvis Andrus, TEX vs. LAA ($8,800):- Andrus boasts a .335 wOBA and 33.7 percent hard contact rate against southpaws, and a .429 average against Angels lefty Tyler Skaggs in 17 plate appearances. Skaggs has allowed a .338 wOBA and 34.2 percent hard contact rate to right-handed hitters, while also yielding a .387 wOBA when throwing his four-seam fastball, a pitch that Andrus owns a .395 wOBA (including 10 homers) against.
