This article is part of our FantasyDraft MLB series.
PITCHER
Collin McHugh, HOU vs. TB ($14,800): I'm going heavy on cheap pitchers for Thursday as I don't think the high-end guys will be worth it. McHugh is a decent favorite and looked better in his second start of the season in Detroit, going six innings and striking out seven. As for the Rays, they have a .301 wOBA against righties since July 1 and their K% is one of the worst at 26.1.
Ty Blach, SF vs. OAK ($12,600): Blach won't have numbers that jump off the page, but he's reached 11 fantasy points in his last five starts and gone seven innings in each of the last three. To help continue those streaks, the A's aren't good against lefties with a .296 wOBA and 23.6 K% since the start of June.
INFIELD
Eric Hosmer, KC vs. SEA ($8,700): Hosmer has been a different player since the break with a .439 wOBA and .215 ISO in his last 73 at-bats against righties. More recently, he has 15 hits in his last eight games. Yovani Gallardo has been hard to trust, and while he held the Mets to one run in 5.2 innings last start, he only had one strikeout. Against lefties on the season, he has a 4.83 xFIP.
Jonathan Schoop, BAL vs. DET ($10,000): Schoop has blasted lefties over the last couple months with one of the best wOBAs at .505 and ISOs at .481 (59 at-bats). Matt Boyd has some decent starts for the Tigers, but has still given up at least three runs in his last 10 outings. Boyd's smaller 15.4 K% against righties should help Schoop as that's his only downfall against lefties with a K% up at 27.1.
Manny Machado, BAL vs. DET ($9,000): Machado doesn't have amazing numbers against lefties this season (.339 wOBA, .225 ISO), but they are good enough and he's been raking over the last week with four multi-hit performances in eight games.
OUTFIELD
Nelson Cruz, SEA at KC ($9,200): Cruz is 4-for-23 in his career against Trevor Cahill, but keep in mind the last time they saw each other was in 2011 when Cahill was with Oakland and Cruz with Texas. Current numbers matter much more with Cruz's .363 wOBA and .250 ISO against righties combined with Cahill's .364 wOBA allowed and 3.62 xFIP against righties.
Eddie Rosario, MIN vs. TEX ($6,400): It's best to get at least one batter against A.J. Griffin, who gave up 17 runs in his three starts prior to joining the DL with an oblique injury in May. His 6.43 xFIP stands out against lefties, while Rosario has been one of Minnesota's better hitters against righties since July 1 (Max Kepler the other) with a .363 wOBA.
Gregory Polanco, PIT vs. CIN ($8,400): Polanco has been busy pumping up his numbers the last couple months and has a .367 wOBA and .220 ISO to show for it in his last 51 at-bats against lefties. Sal Romano has a decent 26.0 K% against lefties, but Polanco's K% is at just 5.9 in those 51 at-bats. Plus, Romano walked six guys last start and likely isn't high on confidence.
UTILITY
Brandon Belt, SF vs. OAK ($8,800): Belt has remained steady against righties throughout the season with a .370 wOBA and .246 ISO. More recently, he has six doubles in his last seven games and no one else in the league can say that. As for Kendall Graveman, he's struggled against lefties with a 5.38 xFIP, but hasn't started since late May. With Sonny Gray gone, Graveman's back on the mound after giving up 22 hits in his last three outings in the majors.
Christian Vazquez, BOS vs. CWS ($9,600): Vazquez is one of the few Red Sox batters that's had success as of late, and he gets the call against Miguel Gonzalez. Vazquez has crushed the last week with 11 hits and six RBI in his last five games. His wOBA is up to .324 over his last 59 at-bats against righties, so it's at least improving (.305 for season). As for Gonzalez, he's had a few quality starts but still walked 17 batters in his last five starts. He also isn't a guy that's going to completely lock down a lineup with a low K% against both sides of the plate (12.7 against righties).
