FantasyDraft MLB: Saturday Values

FantasyDraft MLB: Saturday Values

This article is part of our FantasyDraft MLB series.

PITCHER

Charlie Morton, HOU vs. TOR ($18,300): Morton has a .213 BAA over 59.2 home innings and has allowed a .164 average and .262 wOBA over his last five starts. He also turned in a quality start at Toronto over six innings on July 7, an effort that generated 17.90 fantasy points. Morton has over 20 fantasy points in two of his last three home starts as well, and given the run support he's likely to receive, he has a good chance for a win versus a Toronto squad that's struck out at a 20.4 percent rate against right-handers on the road in the last month.

Drew Pomeranz, BOS vs. CWS ($17,400): The White Sox have a .246 wOBA , 48 wRC+ and 18.7 percent hard contact rate against left-handed pitching on the road over the last month, while Pomeranz already racked up 29.55 fantasy points against this same squad over seven innings back on May 31. Pomeranz also has a 2.72 ERA over his last five starts, and has lowered his hard contact allowed by almost five percentage points (33.1 percent to 28.4 percent) in his four second-half starts.

INFIELD

Eduardo Nunez, BOS vs. CWS ($9,900): Nunez's torrid streak since joining the Red Sox continued Friday, as he turned in his fourth straight multi-hit effort. He draws a great matchup Saturday, as White Sox starter James Shields has allowed a .342 wOBA and 39.0 percent hard contact rate to right-handed hitters. Nunez boasts a .345 wOBA against right-handed pitching, as well as a .567 wOBA, .406 ISO and 44.8 percent hard contact rate over his 34 plate appearances with the Red Sox. Meanwhile, White Sox relievers have allowed a .358 wOBA, including six homers, to righty bats on the road in the last month.

Marwin Gonzalez, HOU vs. TOR ($7,800): Blue Jays starter Marco Estrada has been heading in the wrong direction since June 1, as he has a 7.86 ERA and has allowed a .394 wOBA over 52.2 innings in 11 starts during that stretch. The switch-hitting Gonzalez has been particularly lethal against righties, compiling a .429 wOBA and .280 ISO, as well as a 29.4 percent HR/FB rate and 35.6 percent hard contact rate against them at home. Blue Jays relievers also have allowed a .340 wOBA to lefty bats and .383 wOBA to right-handed hitters on the road in the last month.

Mike Napoli, TEX at MIN ($6,300): Twins starter Kyle Gibson has allowed a .379 wOBA, 35.7 percent HR/FB rate and 40.9 percent hard contact rate to right-handed hitters at home, while Napoli has 15 homers, a .214 ISO and 37.5 percent hard contact rate against right-handed pitching. He's also taken Gibson deep twice in just nine career plate appearances, while Twins relievers have yielded a .331 wOBA (including four homers) to right-handed hitters at home in the last month.

OUTFIELD

Justin Upton, DET at BAL ($10,800): Following a 2-for-4 night Friday that included a grand slam, Upton now sports a .453 wOBA and .317 ISO in the second half of the season. He's also posted a .542 wOBA, .373 ISO, 23.5 percent HR/FB rate and 44.2 percent hard contact rate against southpaws on the road, while Orioles starter Wade Miley has allowed a .377 wOBA (including 16 homers) and 34.6 percent hard contact rate to right-handed hitters. He's also been heading in the wrong direction lately, as he has an 8.68 ERA and has surrendered a .408 wOBA and 38.1 percent hard contact rate over his last six starts.

Christian Yelich, MIA at ATL ($9,000): Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz's Achilles heel has been left-handed hitters at home, as evidenced by the .388 wOBA, 6.10 xFIP and 37.1 percent hard contact rate he's allowed to that them at SunTrust Park. Meanwhile, Yelich has a .357 wOBA and 38.3 percent hard contact rate against right-handed pitching on the road, and boasts a .429 batting average against Foltynewicz over 15 plate appearances. He's also been hot in the second half, posting a .398 wOBA over 86 plate appearances.

David Peralta, ARI at SF ($6,400): Peralta is underpriced for a matchup against right-hander Chris Stratton, who's surrendered a .486 wOBA to left-handed hitters in a modest sample. Peralta also has a .354 wOBA and 35.9 percent hard contact rate versus right-handed pitching, and he's smacked eight of his 10 homers on the season against that handedness as well.

UTILITY

Joey Votto, CIN vs. STL ($9,900): Votto has punished Cardinals starter Lance Lynn for a .444 batting average over 34 plate appearances, and he has a .430 wOBA, .262 ISO and 36.8 percent hard contact rate against right-handed pitching at Great American Ballpark. Lynn's biggest weakness has been left-handed hitters on the road, as he's yielded a .365 wOBA (including nine homers), 5.57 xFIP, 22.0 percent HR/FB rate and 38.1 percent hard contact rate to that handedness away from Busch Stadium.

Eric Hosmer, KC vs. SEA ($7,200): Hosmer checks in with a .428 wOBA, .272 ISO and 31.6 percent hard contact rate against right-handed pitching at Kauffman Stadium, as well as a .412 batting average over 18 plate appearances versus Mariners starter Felix Hernandez. King Felix has had a rough go of it on the road (5.40 ERA, .421 wOBA), with his struggles including a .377 wOBA and 33.3 percent hard contact rate allowed to lefty bats.

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. Juan Carlos Blanco plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: DraftKings: jcblanco22, FanDuel: jc_blanco22, DraftPot: jc_blanco22, FantasyDraft: jc_blanco22, OwnThePlay: jcblanco22.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Juan Carlos Blanco
Winner of the FSWA 2016 Newcomer of the Year Award, Juan Carlos Blanco has been playing fantasy sports for over 20 years and covers NBA, MLB, NFL, CFL and Arena Football for Rotowire.com, including serving as the beat writer for teams in multiple sports. He has previously written for KFFL.com and remains an avid season-long and daily fantasy player in multiple sports as well.
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