This article is part of our FantasyDraft MLB series.
PITCHER
Ervin Santana, MN vs. COL ($18,400): There is a lot of wind blowing out in the forecast across the league tonight, and this is one game where that won't be an issue. That's good news because the Rockies are certainly a team that knows how to take advantage of atmospheric conditions. Ervin Santana got off to a great start this season and although he was roughed up a couple starts back, he continues to pitch at a high level. In his most recent start, Santana shut down a potent Cleveland lineup. The Rockies are a force at home, but on the road, they are a different team. As a whole, the Rockies are a bottom-half team in wOBA against righties and their K% is eighth worst.
Matt Garza, MIL at SD ($15,900): As mentioned, with the wind blowing out at a high rate in many locations, there aren't a lot of appealing options on the night card, but Garza provides an intriguing option. Garza is pitching better this season than he has in quite a while and has a good chance to keep that going tonight against a futile Padres lineup. San Diego is a bottom-10 team in wOBA against righties this season, but more importantly, it is second worst in K%. Garza isn't racking up a ton of strikeouts through four starts, but that could change in this game.
INFIELD
Ian Happ, CHC vs. CIN ($5,200): If folks didn't know about Happ before Tuesday, they know now. With that said, his price is still very low, which means he's almost a must-start, no matter the matchup. The Cubs get Scott Feldman tonight and although he's pitched fairly well this season, he has blown up a couple times. Another blow-up is certainly possible against the Cubs because just like last night, the wind is blowing out at a high rate. The Cubs are a great stacking option again and it shouldn't be hard to find room for Happ, who has two home runs in his first three games.
Kris Bryant, CHC vs. CIN ($9,900): Bryant is at the opposite end of the pricing spectrum from Happ, but he'll be worth it against Feldman. Feldman has been better against lefties this season, so I'll be targeting the righties in the Cubs lineup against him. Bryant missed out on the home-run party Tuesday, but he still had a productive night with two hits, a run, and an RBI. Bryant is one of the Cubs that has produced at a high level for most of the season and now that his teammates appear to be coming around, it should only increase his production.
Joey Votto, CIN at CHC ($9,200): You've probably noticed a pattern here — the game in Chicago is going to be fun to watch. Unlike Feldman though, Kyle Hendricks is probably a guy you don't want to stack against. That said, there are a couple options that look good with the wind blowing out. Votto is always the top option in the Reds lineup and that certainly holds true here. Votto has had a lot of success against Hendricks in his career, with seven hits, six walks, and two home runs in 17 career plate appearances. It's not a huge sample size, but it's enough to know that Votto sees the ball well out of Hendricks' hand.
OUTFIELD
Lorenzo Cain, KC vs. NYY ($7,800): This is another game where the wind will be blowing out hard, and Lorenzo Cain looks to be one of the better options in the Royals lineup. Michael Pineda will take the mound for the Yankees, and although his overall numbers are good this year, he's been much worse on the road. Pineda's home run rate against righties this season is 2.11 and with the wind blowing out, he's likely to give up a couple long balls. Cain is the most capable righty in the Royals lineup and he's starting to heat up with 17 hits in his past 11 games.
Aaron Judge, NYY at KC ($9,600):Jason Vargas takes the mound for the Royals, and while he's pitching far too well to stack against, he has shown one vulnerability that we can take advantage of: his fly ball rate against righties this season. Righties have hit the ball in the air at a 43.6% rate, which could spell trouble tonight given the forecast. Judge has ridiculous power as evidenced by his 14 home runs this season, and if Vargas gets the ball up against Judge, he's liable to knock it out of the park.
J.D. Martinez, DET vs. BAL ($8,400):J.D. Martinez spent most of the season on the DL, but since his return last week, he's been a monster. Martinez has played just four games, but he's already posted two multi-homer outings. His matchup against Ubaldo Jimenez looks too good to be true. Jimenez has been his typical awful self this season with just one good start out of seven so far.
UTLIITY
Miguel Sano, MN vs. COL ($9,600): It's way too early to get a read on Rockies pitcher German Marquez, mostly because he's been two entirely different pitchers in his four starts this season. He's had two duds and two great games, so which will we see tonight? There's no way to know, but one trend that has developed early on is that he's been better against lefties than righties. Enter Sano, who's hit righties to the tune of a .441 wOBA, which is good for 12th in all of baseball.
Freddie Freeman, ATL at TOR ($10,200): Credit Toronto starter Joe Biagini, who has filled in admirably in his two spot starts, but he's in for a tough matchup today against Freeman and the Braves. Freeman is averaging 12.28 fantasy points this season, which places him behind only Bryce Harper and Mike Trout among batters that have played the entire year. It's getting to the point where Freeman is a must-start against any non-elite right-hander, and although Biagini has yet to surrender a run in two starts, he's nowhere near elite right now. Freeman has a .496 wOBA against righties this season, as well.
