This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
PITCHER
Jose Fernandez, MIA at NYM ($11,900): By every piece of sabermatric data, Fernandez's 7.94 ERA from his season opening 5.2 innings against the Tigers was an issue of unfortunate BABIP. Through that first start he holds a 56.5 percent strikeout rate, 1.58 FIP, 0.14 xFIP, 0.95 SIERA and just a 4.4 percent walk rate, so no matter the metric you hold most dear, the initial start for Fernandez on first glance is not indicative of the quality of the outing actually showcased. The much hyped Mets are league bottom in both wOBA (.247) and wRC+ (50) to start the season.
Gio Gonzalez, WAS vs. ATL ($8,600): Though an admittedly low sample size, the Braves have been incompetent against southpaws this season with a .190 wOBA, 13 wRC+, 24.1 strikeout rate. This is Gonzalez's first start of the season after getting passed first time through the rotation, in part likely to pitching coach Mike Maddux making a few mechanical tweaks that will hopefully help drop his career 10.1 percent walk rate. The value on Gonzalez comes via is 23.1 K rate, which over the last two years he was able to accompany with a FIP just over 3.00.
CATCHER
Salvador Perez, KC at HOU ($3,600): Fiers is a righty who struggles more against righties (.310 career wOBA) than lefties (.297 wOBA) and Perez is a right-handed batter who has faired much better against righties (.328 wOBA and .187 ISO last season compared to .241 and .122 against lefties).
FIRST BASE
David Ortiz, BOS vs. BAL ($4,800): A career .420 wOBA and .305 ISO against righties, the now 40-year-old Ortiz gets to face second-year man Mike Wright in his first start of the season after allowing a .392 wOBA and 5.95 FIP against left-handed batters last season. Boston has the highest implied run total from Vegas out of the night's games not being hosted at Coors Field.
SECOND BASE
Joe Panik, SFG at COL ($4,300): The price isn't pretty, but it's what you pay to get access to the almighty Coors Field and it's corresponding 11-run over/under. Panik sported a .369 wOBA against righties last season and faces Tyler Chatwood, who's allowed a career .350 wOBA.
THIRD BASE
Danny Valencia, OAK vs. LAA ($3,500): Valencia has a career wOBA 81 points higher against lefties (.371) than against righties (.289), a split much more substantial than typically seen from right-handed batters. Hector Santiago is a perfectly serviceable pitcher, but he has allowed a career wOBA of .326 against righties. The Oakland A's, possibly better than any other organization, platoon their lineup to correspond with the opposing pitcher's handedness. Billy Burns, Khris Davis, Jed Lowrie, Danny Valencia, Billy Butler, Josh Phegley, Mark Canha and Marcus Semien will put that career .326 split for Santiago to the test.
SHORTSTOP
Francisco Lindor, CLE at TB ($3,700): Despite being a switch hitter, Lindor has been considerably better against lefties, with a career .387 wOBA (compared to .340 against righties). Matt Moore allowed hitters to hit for a .375 wOBA from the right side of the plate last season.
OUTFIELD
Jon Jay, SDP at PHI ($2,900): The leadoff spot is valuable, and despite a middling career, Jay posses a solid .331 wOBA against righties and now faces Charlie Morton, who allowed a .384 wOBA against lefties (and a .720 in his first, abysmal start of the year).
Gerardo Parra, COL vs. SFG ($3,900): The start of the season hasn't been pretty for Parra, but a BABIP of .222 (more than 100 points below last season's .325) can garner much of the blame. Parra recorded a .345 wOBA against righties last year as a Brewer and Jeff Samardzija counters with a poor career .330 wOBA against left-handed batters. The game is at Coors Field with the over/under at 11, just to reemphasize that formerly mentioned point. Parra also posses some base-stealing upside.
Carlos Gonzalez, COL vs. SFG ($4,600): I've already stated Samardzija's struggle with lefties, and Gonzalez sports a career .396 wOBA against right-handed pitchers, including .415 last season and .658 this year.
