This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Wednesday features three slates of games, with both an "early-only" and "all-day" starting at 12:35 EST while the main slate (that will be focused on here) starting at 7:10 EST. Also check out the "Home Run Challenge" running tonight at 7:10 EST. All you need to do is pick three batters who you think will go yard tonight and enter the contest for free.
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PITCHER
Gerrit Cole, HOU at SEA ($10,400): It's not a tough call to go chalk and pick the highest-priced pitcher on the board, but there are a few things to consider. Cole has been magnificent with double-digit strikeouts in every contest while scoring 57, 61 and 57 fantasy points. He'll be pitching in a better ballpark tonight in Seattle, and the other elite pitchers all seem to have fleas. Kenta Maeda has a floor of single-digit fantasy points, Jose Berrios and Carlos Carrasco will be fighting each other for the win and Robbie Ray has had one good start out of three.
GPP Fade: Rick Porcello, BOS at LAA ($8,500): Porcello has been lights out to start the season and even carried a no-hitter into seventh inning the last time out. Heading across the country against the Angels will be a tough task and it's worth noting two of his first three starts have come against Tampa Bay. The Angels are tied with the Red Sox for the lowest strikeout percentage (16.6 percent), making this a bad matchup for Porcello.
Cheap GPP Consideration: Vince Velasquez, PHI at ATL ($7,200): Valasquez will make a great GPP play tonight only because he'll likely be less than five percent owned across the board. He tanked miserably the first time out against the Braves, scoring only eight fantasy points and lasting only 2.2 innings. He has turned it around over his last two starts, scoring 43 and 42 fantasy points albeit against Miami and Tampa Bay. Still, the other cheap options don't have the strikeout potential of V.V., who fanned at least five batters in seven of his 15 starts last season.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Carlos Santana, PHI at ATL ($3,500): Santana has been very unlucky to start the season as his .143 batting average doesn't show that his .128 BABIP is almost 150 points lower than last season. Despite the low batting average he's scored fantasy points in all 15 games he's appeared in this season. Brandon McCarthy isn't 100 percent with a shoulder issue and he's not a pitcher to worry about when selecting bats.
SECOND BASE
Ketel Marte, ARI vs SF ($2,400): Marte has a nice home matchup against Chris Stratton and comes into the game with a 10-game hit streak. Stratton has pitched over his head this season, as his small-sample numbers are a product of a seven-inning shutout in San Diego last time out. Marte will look to keep the hitting streak going and his speed could also play a factor on the base paths.
THIRD BASE
Kyle Seager, SEA vs HOU ($3,200): This is a pick best left for GPPs, as it doesn't seem smart to go against Cole in cash tonight. During his career Cole has struggled the most facing left-handed hitters on the road, and Seager has a .341 and .395 wOBA at home against right-handed pitching over his last two seasons.
SHORTSTOP
Corey Seager, LAD at SD ($3,800): Shortstop is an ugly position tonight and it makes sense to either pay up for the spot or completely punt with an option within $200-$300 of the minimum. Seager makes a lot of sense even in Petco against Tyson Ross, who has given up over a .340 wOBA to lefties in a limited sample over the last three seasons. Seager comes into the game reaching base safely in seven of his last eight with three of those games being double-digit fantasy performances.
OUTFIELD
Josh Reddick, HOU at SEA ($3,400): Reddick get a downgrade in ballparks on the road, but he's got a great matchup as a lefty against Mike Leake. Reddick has mashed right-handed pitching over the last four seasons, averaging a .364 wOBA (with no season under .356), while Leake gave up a .335 wOBA to lefties last season. Look for some correction tonight with Leake's .200 BABIP as well.
UTILITY
A.J. Pollock, ARI vs SF ($3,300): This price seems too cheap for someone with Pollock's skill set hitting in Arizona against an average pitcher like Stratton. Pollock has that dangerous power/speed combo with three home runs and four stolen bases already this season, and it's yet to be determined how much of an effect the humidor will have in Chase Field. Given the high ceiling here – Pollock already has three games over 30 fantasy points – he seems like a steal.
