This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
DFS players will likely want at least one high-priced pitching option Thursday but will need to be mindful to find value in order to take full advantage of the 11.5 over/under at Coors Field.
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Pitcher
Miles Mikolas, STL at SD ($10,200) - Mikolas will be tough to look past in his matchup against the Padres, who have notched a bottom-3 wOBA against right-handed pitching and hold the lowest RAA in the league against the slider, a pitch the 29-year-old throws 21 percent of the time. While his strikeout rate (19.3 percent) is a bit low for someone with a five-figure salary, Mikolas has walked just two batters in 40 innings this season while keeping a 51 percent ground ball rate, which should allow him to maintain his 2.70 ERA.
GPP Fade: Jose Berrios, MIN at LAA ($7,800) - Berrios has hit a rough patch after a strong start to the season, having allowed 13 runs over his past 13 innings (three starts) while striking out just nine batters over that span. Discerning DFS players will likely be looking to buy him low but that may not be the best idea for the outing against the Angels, as they have logged the third highest wOBA against right-handers this season while striking out less than 20 percent of the time.
Cheap GPP Consideration, Ian Kennedy, KC at BAL ($6,500) - Kennedy hit a bit of a speed bump after a strong start to the season but seems to be returning to form, as he has allowed just two runs and notched 13 strikeouts in 11 innings over his last two starts. The Orioles have posted the second lowest wOBA against right-handers in the league this season while also logging a bottom-10 RAA against the fastball, a pitch Kennedy throws 62 percent of the time.
Catcher
Yasmani Grandal, LAD vs. CIN ($3,600) - Grandal has kept his foot on the gas pedal since Opening Day and now owns a .250 ISO and a .407 wOBA against right-handed pitching over 72 at-bats. Tyler Mahle has been hammered by lefty hitters so far this season, having allowed a .556 slugging percentage and a 48 percent hard contact rate in 19 innings.
First Base
Lucas Duda, KC at BAL ($3,400) - Opposing starter Chris Tillman will undoubtedly be a popular stack target due to the .708 slugging percentage he has allowed to left-handed hitters over 10.2 innings in 2018. Duda may not be hitting for as much power as one might expect against his opposite hand but still carries a .353 wOBA and a 40 percent hard contact rate against righties through 76 at-bats.
Second Base
Yangervis Solarte, TOR vs. SEA ($3,900) - Mike Leake's hard contact rate has skyrocketed to a career-high 38.6 percent, which has contributed to a 6.28 ERA over 38.2 innings this season. Solarte has kept a 32 percent hard contact rate against right-handed pitching in 87 at-bats while notching a .241 ISO over that span.
Third Base
Matt Carpenter, STL at SD ($3,700) - Carpenter's anemic 2018 slash line (.152/.305/.295) makes him an unlikely DFS option but it could pay dividends to collect reasonably priced lefties against Jordan Lyles, who will make his first start of the season after allowing a .368 wOBA to left-handed hitters in 13 games out the bullpen. The 27-year-old kept a 7.75 ERA over 69.2 innings in time split between the Rockies and Padres in 2017 and Carpenter has registered a .179 ISO to go along with a 44 percent hard contact rate against righty hurlers this year.
Shortstop
Paul DeJong, STL at SD ($4,000) - A dearth of quality matchups for shortstops has us going back to Lyles despite his strong numbers against righties, as he allowed a .528 slugging percentage and a 35 percent hard contact rate against same-handed hitters in 38.2 innings last season. DeJong has kept a reverse platoon split in 2018, notching a .238 ISO and a .374 wOBA in 101 at-bats against right-handed pitchers.
Outfield
David Dahl, COL vs. MIL ($4,600) - Dahl has struck out more than 21 percent of the time against right-handed pitching in 2018 but that shouldn't be an issue in the matchup against Jhoulys Chacin who has kept a remarkable 3:12 K/BB ratio against lefties while allowing a .522 slugging percentage over 15 innings. Dahl has packed plenty of power against his opposite hand this season, as evidenced by the .300 ISO he carries against righties over 30 at-bats.
Mitch Haniger, SEA at TOR ($4,100) - J.A. Happ has been excellent overall this season but has shown vulnerability against righty hitters, against whom he has allowed a .452 slugging percentage over 29.2 innings. Meanwhile, Haniger's strong start to 2018 has seen him post a .297 ISO and a .450 wOBA against southpaws in 37 at-bats.
Christian Yelich, MIL at COL ($4,800) - German Marquez has been excellent on the road this season but has had a hard time negotiating Coors Field, where he has allowed 13 runs in just 11 innings. Yelich hasn't wowed the baseball world with his power this season but his 52 percent hard contact rate against right-handed pitchers should play well at altitude.
