This article is part of our FantasyDraft MLB series.
PITCHERS:
Jacob deGrom, NYM at WAS ($22,800):- The Nationals sport an NL-low .293 wOBA and 74 wRC+ against right-handed pitching at home in the last 21 days, and have struggled against deGrom overall. Washington hitters have a combined .167/.221/.252 line over 97 plate appearances versus deGrom, who's already claimed two victories against the Nationals this season, and who's allowed just a .282 wOBA over 54 second-half innings.
Michael Wacha, STL vs. TBR ($14,700):- Wacha boasts a 2.99 ERA and has allowed a .290 wOBA over 72.1 home innings. The Rays have also struck out at a 22.2-percent clip and have a .300 wOBA against righties on the road since the All-Star break. Meanwhile, before a rough outing against the Braves his last time out at Busch Stadium, Wacha had scored between 21.90 and 32.50 fantasy points in his previous four home starts.
INFIELD
Joey Votto, CIN vs. PIT ($10,800):- Votto's resume against righties at home includes a .475 wOBA, .340 ISO and 40.0 percent hard contact rate, while Pirates starter Ivan Nova has allowed a .372 wOBA, including nine homers and a 33.8 percent hard contact rate, and a 43.8 percent hard contact rate over his last four starts.
Josh Bell, PIT at CIN ($8,400):- Bell boasts a .394 wOBA in 85 August plate appearances, and a .378 wOBA, .274 ISO and 31.1 percent hard contact rate on the road against righties. Meanwhile, Reds starter Robert Stephenson has given up a .381 wOBA and 37.4 percent hard contact rate to righty bats.
Mitch Moreland, BOS vs. BAL ($7,200):- Moreland's brief but impressive history against Orioles starter Jeremy Hellickson includes a .571 average over 10 plate appearances. He's also blasted righties for 16 of his 17 homers on the season, as well as a .349 wOBA and 46.8 percent hard contact rate when facing them at Fenway. Hellickson has allowed a .340 wOBA to left-handed hitters, as well as a 39.2 percent hard contact rate to them on the road. Orioles relievers have a 5.11 ERA and have allowed a .369 wOBA to lefty bats on the road in the last 21 days.
OUTFIELD
Charlie Blackmon, COL at ATL ($10,400):- Braves starter Julio Teheran has been touched up by lefty bats at home for a .408 wOBA, including 11 homers, a 5.93 xFIP and a 40.3 percent hard contact rate. Blackmon boasts a .426 wOBA, .302 ISO and 39.2 percent hard contact rate versus righties, as well as a .496 wOBA, including six homers, over 101 August plate appearances. Meanwhile, Braves relievers have a 5.65 ERA and have allowed a .349 wOBA to lefty bats at SunTrust Park in the last three weeks.
Justin Upton, DET at CWS ($9,000):- Upton boasts a .449 wOBA, .357 ISO, 30.8 percent HR/FB rate and 47.4 percent hard contact rate in 165 plate appearances since the All-Star break, including a .377 wOBA versus right-handed pitching over that span. White Sox starter Miguel Gonzalez has allowed a .333 wOBA and 5.67 xFIP to right-handed hitters, and a .385 average over 14 plate appearances to Upton. White Sox relievers have a majors-high 9.19 ERA and .468 wOBA allowed to right-handed hitters at home in the last 21 days.
Seth Smith, BAL at BOS ($7,800):- Red Sox starter Rick Porcello has particularly struggled against lefty bats at Fenway, allowing a .372 wOBA and 39.0 percent hard contact rate. He's also had a tough time getting Smith out, as evidenced by the .400 average he's allowed to him in 26 plate appearances. Smith has smacked 11 of his 12 homers on the season off righties as part of a .345 wOBA, and he boasts a .404 wOBA and 44.8 percent hard contact rate in 55 second-half plate appearances.
UTILITY
Aaron Judge, NYY vs. SEA ($10,000):- Judge's teammate Gary Sanchez ($10,200) also makes for a viable play against Mariners starter Ariel Miranda, who's allowed a .378 wOBA (including 17 homers) and 6.29 xFIP to right-handed hitters on the road. Meanwhile, Judge counters with a .475 wOBA, .325 ISO, 40.0 percent HR/FB rate and 58.3 percent hard contact rate against southpaws at Yankee Stadium.
Ryon Healy, OAK vs. TEX ($7,200):- Healy has been heating up as of late, posting a .349 wOBA, including four homers, in 85 August plate appearances. Rangers starter Nick Martinez has been heading in the opposite direction, as evidenced by his 11.57 ERA, .435 wOBA and 44.4 percent hard contact rate allowed in his last two starts. Furthermore, he's yielded a .398 wOBA to righty bats on the road on the season.
