This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
PITCHER
Dallas Keuchel HOU vs. MIN ($9,900): Keuchel has yet to knock the rust off early this season, but the Twins will likely give him every opportunity to do so. They are a bottom-5 team against lefties, striking out against them more than 25 percent of the time. Perhaps the most concerning thing about Kuechel in April was his below-average strikeout rate, but his swinging strike rate (11.7 percent) was the highest of his career, which could mean that a surge is coming.
Nate Karns, SEA at OAK ($7,600): Karns has delivered some big strikeout numbers in his first season as a permanent member of a rotation, but walks have been an issue. He should have the weapons to dismantle the A's despite his shortcomings, as they are the fourth-worst team in the league against the curveball, a pitch he throws nearly 40 percent of the time.
CATCHER
Jonathan Lucroy, MIL vs. LAA ($3,700):Jered Weaver is one of my primary stack targets, as he will likely give up entirely too much (hard) contact to be successful in Miller Park. Jonathan Lucroy has kept something of a reverse platoon in the past two seasons and will enter with a .383 wOBA against righties.
FIRST BASE
Lucas Duda, NYM vs. ATL ($4,000): Opposing starter Mike Foltynewicz will be called up for a spot start after walking 14 batters in 22 innings at Triple-A Gwinnett. Duda is one of a few patient lefties in the Mets' lineup who could give Foltynewicz fits if he is unable to find the zone, as he has a .182 ISO against righties this season.
SECOND BASE
Rougned Odor, TEX at TOR ($3,700): I am generally hesitant to pick against R.A. Dickey due to the unpredictability of the knuckleball, but he is giving up more hard contact this year than ever before (34 percent) while the pitch itself is the least effective its been since 2009, according to runs above average. Odor is showing a tremendous amount of power against righties, posting a .207 ISO against right-handed pitching.
THIRD BASE
Josh Donaldson, TOR vs. TEX ($4,500): Donaldson's numbers go from being superhuman to very good when he faces a same-handed pitcher, but we will happily take the tradeoff against A.J. Griffin, who had his best start of the season against the Yankees last week but still suffers from below average walk and strikeout rates. Donaldson has a good matchup against an extreme fly ball pitcher like Griffin, as he has a career 43.5 ground ball percentage.
SHORTSTOP
Aledmys Diaz, STL vs. PHI ($3,200):Jeremy Hellickson fares better against righties overall, but he has allowed an inordinate number of homers to them each year since 2014. Diaz destroyed both sides of the platoon in April, resulting in a .732 slugging percentage over 71 at-bats.
OUTFIELD
Hunter Pence, SF at CIN ($4,800):Brandon Finnegan is not without talent, but he walks too many batters on both sides of the plate and has allowed a 2.00 HR/9 rate against righties over 22.1 innings. Pence's batting average takes a bit of a dip against his opposite hand, but he has a .222 ISO against lefties on the season.
Kole Calhoun, LAA at. MIL ($4,000): Calhoun has slowed considerably after a hot start, but it is worth grabbing as many lefties as we can against Jimmy Nelson, who has walked six of them in just 15.2 innings, while allowing five home runs. Calhoun is still showing decent power against righties, having notched an ISO of .161.
Curtis Granderson, NYM vs. ATL ($4,500): We will head back to the well for another strike at Foltynewicz but this time against his mid-to-upper 90s fastball, as Granderson has kept an OPS over 1.000 against power pitchers in 30 plate appearances this season.
Other Options: Gerardo Parra, COL at SD ($3,300) Chris Carter, MIL vs. LAA ($3,800) Stephen Piscotty, STL vs. PHI ($4,000)
