This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
PITCHER
Stephen Strasburg, WAS vs. PHI ($12,700): Nothing makes me sadder than recommending a pitcher at such a high price, but we have three top-flight options on a 10-game slate, so we should have at least one. Strasburg has logged a 9.4 RAA with his fastball, while the Phillies have notched a bottom-10 RAA against the pitch. It is also worth noting that the 29-year-old will bring a 12.5 percent swinging strike rate into the matchup against a team that strikes out 23.7 percent of the time against righties.
Michael Wacha, STL vs. PIT ($7,900): Wacha should be able to use his heavy ground ball rate to stifle the Pirates, who have hit the ball on the ground at a 47.1 percent clip this season. Pittsburgh makes a bit more contact than one might want from an opposing offense, but they are still a bottom-5 team against right-handers, according to wOBA.
CATCHER
Robinson Chirinos, TEX vs. NYY ($3,300): Chirinos has emerged as an intriguing option at catcher in 2017, having notched a .279 ISO over 74 games. The 33-year-old has a 9.9 RAA against the fastball, while Yankees lefty Jordan Montgomery's heater has registered a minus-6.8 RAA over 134.2 innings. Chirinos sat out of Saturday's contest due to a sore hamstring, but manager Brian Banister implied heavily that the day off was a way to recharge his batteries for the stretch run.
FIRST BASE
Lucas Duda, TB at BOS ($3,800): Duda has a 9.4 RAA against the fastball this season to go along with a robust .320 ISO against right-handed pitching. Meanwhile, Rick Porcello's fastball has yielded a minus-13.5 RAA over 29 starts, and he has allowed a .536 slugging percentage to lefty batters over that span.
SECOND BASE
Whit Merrifield, KC vs. MIN ($3,600):Bartolo Colon has thrown the ball better as a member of the Twins, but it shouldn't be forgotten that his fastball has returned a minus-26.3 RAA, the lowest mark in the league among pitchers who have thrown at least 100 innings. Merrifield owns a 6.5 RAA against the heater and has notched a .355 wOBA over 38 at-bats this month.
THIRD BASE
Anthony Rendon, WAS vs. PHI ($4.900):Ben Lively has allowed a .445 slugging percentage over 34.1 innings against right-handed hitters this season while striking out just 21 batters over that span. Meanwhile, Rendon has tallied a .214 ISO and a .379 wOBA against same-handed pitchers through 369 at-bats.
SHORTSTOP
Brandon Crawford, SF at CWS ($3,700): Crawford has performed well since the All-Star break, logging a respectable .174 ISO and .345 wOBA over 53 games. Opposing starter Carson Fulmer was torched for six runs over 1.1 innings in his only start with the big club this season, and he logged a 5.79 ERA over 126 innings with Triple-A Charlotte.
OUTFIELD
Jacoby Ellsbury, NYY at TEX ($3,800): Opposing starter A.J. Griffin has walked 16 left-handed batters over 27.2 innings, surrendering six homers over that span. Ellsbury's bat has come alive of late, as he finished August with a .219 ISO, and he has 11 hits in 25 at-bats this month.
Brandon Nimmo, NYM vs. CIN ($3,600): Nimmo has excelled in 50 games with the big club, tallying a .381 wOBA and 35.5 percent hard contact rate against right-handed pitching. Sal Romano has notched a 25:16 K:BB ratio in 29 innings against lefties, which has contributed to a 5.32 xFIP.
Matt Kemp, ATL vs. MIA ($3,800): Kemp seems to have become a forgotten man after spending nearly a month on the disabled list at the end of July, but the veteran still carries a .210 ISO against right-handed pitching. Meanwhile, Odrisamer Despaigne has been hammered on the road to the tune of a 6.57 ERA over 12.1 innings.
