Yahoo DFS Baseball: Wednesday Picks

Yahoo DFS Baseball: Wednesday Picks

This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.

Pitcher

Justin Verlander, DET vs. CWS ($48): Verlander has a tough matchup in terms of the opposing pitcher (Chris Sale) but a favorable one in terms of the lineup he draws. The White Sox have the third-lowest wOBA (.305) against righties in the AL, along with a 20.6 percent strikeout rate. Both of those respective numbers are even a bit worse on the road, where the South Siders have tallied a .303 wOBA and struck out at a 21.4 percent clip overall. Verlander has also been particularly tough at Comerica Park, where he's allowed just a .195 average against and .265 wOBA over 109.1 innings this season.

Gio Gonzalez, WAS at PHI ($36): Gonzalez can be a bit up-and-down but draws a highly favorable matchup against a team that he's already stymied on a couple of occasions this season. The Phillies rank only above the Dodgers against southpaws with an anemic .284 wOBA, along with a 22.9 percent strikeout rate. Gonzalez has also generated a 1.35 ERA and allowed a .200 batting average over 13.1 innings against Philadelphia this season in two previous outings, averaging 23 fantasy points over that pair of appearances.


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Catcher

Wilson Ramos, WAS at PHI ($16): Ramos is my first of two cost-conscious right-handed bats against Phillies starter Adam Morgan, who's given up a .412 wOBA and 18 homers on the season to right-handed hitters and a .400 wOBA, four homers and a 5.79 ERA over the 14 innings covering his last three starts. Ramos is one of the last guys the southpaw likely wants to see, considering the Nationals backstop's .403 wOBA, .311 ISO and mammoth 34.8 percent HR/FB rate against lefties. Ramos is also tearing the cover off the ball in August, with a 42.3 percent hard contact rate that's by far his highest in any month this season.

First Base

Anthony Rizzo, CHC vs. PIT ($19): Pirates starter Ryan Vogelsong has given up a .376 wOBA, 5.21 xFIP and 33.3 percent hard contact rate to lefty hitters this season, while Rizzo has decimated righty arms to the tune of a .409 wOBA, .267 ISO and 39.2 percent hard contact rate along with 17 homers. Rizzo has also been wielding a hot bat despite having only one homer in August with a .337 average, .380 wOBA and 35.6 percent hard contact rate over his last 25 games.

Second Base

Chase Utley, LAD at COL ($16): Utley is a cost-effective choice to deploy at Coors Field against Rockies rookie Jeff Hoffman, who's been battered by left-handed hitters in his young career. Hoffman has surrendered a .420 wOBA to lefty bats that rises to .495 over a limited sample when facing them at home. Utley owns a .361 wOBA and 41.5 percent hard contact rate against righties away from Dodger Stadium, making him an appealing option in a hitter's park that won't break your bank.

Third Base

Jose Ramirez, CLE vs. MIN ($20): The switch-hitting Ramirez could be in a prime position to capitalize on facing Twins rookie southpaw Pat Dean, who's given up a .372 average, .428 wOBA and .635 slugging percentage to right-handed hitters on the road along with a 2.33 HR/9. Ramirez has a .401 wOBA, .257 ISO and 153 wRC+ against lefties at home along with a 20 percent HR/FB rate and 34.6 percent hard contact rate. Despite an 0-for-4 day Tuesday he's also wielding a hot bat in August, with a .355 average and .414 wOBA over his last 28 games.

Shortstop

Danny Espinosa, WAS at PHI ($12): Espinosa is our second Nationals bat with homer upside against Morgan, whose extensive problems against right-handed hitters were detailed earlier. Espinosa owns a .269 ISO and impressive 44.2 percent hard contact rate against left-handed pitching away from Nationals Park and already has blasted two homers against Morgan in just six career at-bats against him.

Outfield

Michael Saunders, TOR at BAL ($9): Saunders' price has taken a serious dip, making him a high-upside cheap lefty bat with which to attack Orioles starter Yovani Gallardo, who's given up a .363 wOBA to left-handed hitters along with a 5.42 xFIP when facing them at Camden Yards. Saunders has started to emerge from some recent struggles by hitting safely in four straight, with homers in two of those games including one in Tuesday's contest. He also owns a .347 wOBA and 13 homers overall against right-handed pitching and a 39.5 percent hard contact rate when facing them away from the Rogers Centre.

Hunter Pence, SF vs. ARI ($9): Pence has a .355 wOBA and .247 ISO against southpaws along with five of his eight homers during what has been an injury-shortened campaign. D-backs starter Robbie Ray has pitched much better in the second half but has still given up a .335 wOBA and 16 of his 18 homers on the season to right-handed hitters, along with a 38 percent hard contact rate. While Ray hasn't been a pitcher to target in recent starts, Pence offers some long-ball upside with minimal risk due to his near-minimum price.

Matt Kemp, ATL vs. SD ($15): Kemp gets the call against his former squad and Paul Clemens, who gives up a .414 wOBA and 5.50 xFIP to right-handed hitters and a mammoth 3.68 HR/9 rate when facing them outside of Petco Park. Kemp has launched 17 of his 26 homers on the season against righty arms while also tallying a 35.9 percent hard contact rate against that handedness. After an 0-for-5 night against his old team Tuesday, Kemp could be due some for some fireworks Wednesday considering his matchup.

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Juan Carlos Blanco plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: DraftKings: jcblanco22, FanDuel: jc_blanco22, DraftPot: jc_blanco22, FantasyDraft: jc_blanco22, OwnThePlay: jcblanco22.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Juan Carlos Blanco
Winner of the FSWA 2016 Newcomer of the Year Award, Juan Carlos Blanco has been playing fantasy sports for over 20 years and covers NBA, MLB, NFL, CFL and Arena Football for Rotowire.com, including serving as the beat writer for teams in multiple sports. He has previously written for KFFL.com and remains an avid season-long and daily fantasy player in multiple sports as well.
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