FantasyDraft MLB: Thursday Values

FantasyDraft MLB: Thursday Values

This article is part of our FantasyDraft MLB series.

PITCHER

Jacob deGrom, NYM vs. SD ($23,400): As the biggest favorite of the late games, most will be on deGrom even with a high price and a blister that pushed his start back a day. He comes in averaging close to 10 strikeouts per start in his last six and gets some of the worst bats in the league, as the Padres have a .296 wOBA against righties and equally bad 24.7 K%.

Drew Pomeranz, BOS vs. TEX ($15,000): There isn't a second pitcher who stands out, so I'll go with one of the cheaper options even if he's not totally reliable. Pomeranz has been bad, recently dealing with triceps tightness and only going 11 innings in his last three starts. However, this is a good enough spot to roll with him against the Rangers, who have a .293 wOBA and high 24.6 K%. Those numbers have improved on a recent hot streak, but they are still striking out a good amount with a 23.5 K% since April 24.

INFIELD

Marwin Gonzalez, HOU vs. DET ($7,200): I usually don't go against aces, but Justin Verlander hasn't been an ace lately, allowing 10 runs in his last three starts to go with nine walks and a 4.66 xFIP against lefties. Gonzalez has a nice .431 wOBA against righties, but also lower K% against them (20.9) than lefties (25.0).

Matt Carpenter, STL at LAD ($6,900): Carpenter is cheap because he hasn't done much lately outside of a couple homers earlier in the month. I'm willing to back him against Kenta Maeda because he still has a .394 wOBA against righties and Maeda is making his first start since a stint on the DL. Maeda had a few good outings before getting hurt, but against lefties he has allowed a .351 wOBA, as well as 14 home runs, in 19.2 innings.

Cody Bellinger, LAD vs. STL ($8,400):Michael Wacha has cruised along this season, going at least six innings in every start, but never more than 6.2. However, his numbers aren't great against lefties, allowing a .343 wOBA and 4.18 xFIP to go with a lower 20.0 K%. As for Bellinger, there's not much to complain about with a .388 wOBA and .347 ISO against righties.

OUTFIELD

Keon Broxton, MIL vs. ARI ($7,500): After a rough start, Broxton has turned things around and has a .409 wOBA this month, while posting a .316 wOBA against lefties for the season. The hope is that Robbie Ray doesn't have one of his good outings, which is possible against this Brewers lineup. Ray carved up the Padres in his last time out, but he only went four innings and struck out two against the Pirates before that. Still, Ray has been much worse against righties, allowing a .320 wOBA and 4.31 xFIP.

Michael Conforto, NYM vs. SD ($9,900): With the way Conforto has been hitting, it's logical to use him against a righty (Dinelson Lamet) making his major-league debut. Conforto is smoking with a .457 wOBA and .360 ISO against righties, which includes his four homers in the last six games.

Chris Herrmann, ARI at MIL ($7,200): Against a loaded lineup, this could be a rough outing for Zach Davies, who hasn't made it more than six innings all season and has a mediocre 17.5 K%. Herrmann is cheaper as the backup catcher, but he's caught for Ray in his last two outings, so I'll bank on him starting again after hitting a homer in each of his last three starts. More than that, Herrmann has a solid .398 wOBA in 57 plate appearances against righties this season.

UTILITY

Hanley Ramirez, BOS vs. TEX ($8,800): A little cheaper than a few other Red Sox players, Ramirez has been much better at home (.390 wOBA against righties), similar to everyone else on the team. Nick Martinez hasn't been good against either side of the plate and is allowing a .331 wOBA to go with a poor 14.0 K% against righties.

J.D. Martinez, DET at HOU ($8,800): Martinez was going to cool off at some point, but now is a good time to get back on track. Most of his damage has come against righties with a .522 wOBA and .469 ISO, and Mike Fiers can keep those numbers high, as he has allowed a .467 wOBA and 11 homers in 17 innings against right-handed hitters this year.

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. Adam Zdroik plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: zdroik, DraftKings: rotozdroik, Yahoo: StreakMaster.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Adam Zdroik
Adam, a 2019, 2018 and 2017 Finalist for FSWA's Soccer Writer of the Year, is RotoWire's soccer editor. He also runs RotoWire's Bracketology, as well as writes on other various college basketball content. He has previously worked at ESPN and Sporting Kansas City, and he is a former Streak for the Cash winner and Michigan State graduate.
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