This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
We have six games to work with in the main slate without a true hitters' park in sight. Fortunately, there does not appear to be any rain that will threaten our plays.
PITCHER
Jon Lester, CHC vs. CIN ($10,500): For those who might shy away from coughing up the $13,100 it will take to get Max Scherzer, Lester represents a (relatively) cheap SP1 option. The Cincinnati offense lost a bit of its sting on the road last year, where they were a bottom-10 team according to wOBA. The Reds were also the second-worst team in the league against the cutter, a pitch that Lester threw nearly 30 percent of the time last year.
Steven Matz, NYM vs. MIA ($9,200): The Marlins should present a nice matchup for the ground ball tendencies of Matz, as they tallied the lowest fly-ball percentage in the league last year, and tied the Phillies for the lowest wOBA against right-handed pitching (.297). Matz struggled in his eight innings against lefties in 2015, but the Marlins feature a lineup that is overwhelmingly right-handed, which should allow the 24-year-old to work to his strengths.
CATCHER
Stephen Vogt, OAK at LAA ($3,500): Vogt loses time against left-handed pitchers but is a threat to leave the yard any time a righty takes the hill, as evidenced by the .211 ISO he posted against them last year. Nick Tropeano had success in 37.2 innings with the big club last year, but he logged a 4.81 ERA over 16 starts at Triple-A Salt Lake.
FIRST BASE
Lucas Duda, NYM vs. MIA ($4,300): It would be enough to simply say that Duda has a nice platoon matchup against opposing starter Jarred Cosart, but he could also be a candidate to take advantage of the righty hurler's extreme ground ball tendencies, as he held the highest fly ball rate in the league last season.
SECOND BASE
Daniel Murphy, WAS vs. ATL ($4,100):Bud Norris had a decent start against the Nats in his season debut last week, but I remain unconvinced. While he held the righties in check, he allowed hits to three of the 10 lefty batters he faced, two of which went for doubles. This seems to simply be a continuation for Norris, as he surrendered a .385 wOBA to lefties in 2015. Murphy has picked up where he left off last season, when he registered a .193 ISO against right-handed pitching.
THIRD BASE
Kyle Seager, SEA vs. TEX ($4,200):Colby Lewis yielded a hard contact rate of nearly 33 percent against lefties last season, while striking them out at just a 13.4 percent clip. Seager actually showed more power against southpaws in 2015, but he has a .178 ISO against his right-handers over his career.
SHORTSTOP
Asdrubal Cabrera NYM vs. MIA ($3,500): Cabrera could be part of a nice stack option against Cosart, as the righty surrendered a 12 percent walk rate against left-handed hitters last season. Cabrera hit for a higher average against lefties in 2015, but his power rose considerably against righties, notching a .173 ISO over 352 at-bats.
OUTFIELD
Nomar Mazara, TEX at SEA ($2,900): Mazara should make for an excellent value play for as long as his price stays depressed. Highly touted as a prospect for his raw power, the 21-year-old took Jered Weaver deep as part of a three-hit day during his major league debut Sunday. Hisashi Iwakuma is the quintessential solid pitcher, but he followed up a shaky spring with a mediocre outing against the Rangers last week, allowing three walks and six hits in just five innings.
Preston Tucker, HOU vs. KC ($3,300): Tucker could be a nice counter to an extreme fly-ball pitcher like Young, as he had a 47 percent ground ball rate last season, while keeping an impressive .238 ISO against righties.
Nelson Cruz, SEA vs. TEX ($4,500): As much as Lewis struggled against lefties in 2015, he actually allowed a higher rate of homers to right-handed hitters. We can employ Cruz to take advantage of Lewis' fly ball tendencies, as he kept a 1.34 GB:FB ratio last season.
Other options: Curtis Granderson, NYM vs. MIA ($4,400) Norichika Aoki, SEA vs. TEX ($3,600) Ben Zobrist, CHC vs. CIN ($4,300)
