This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
All 30 MLB teams will be in action during Wednesday's evening slate. These underpriced guys are best positioned to deliver strong bang for the buck thanks to their respective combinations of matchup and venue…
PITCHER
Nick Martinez, TEX at HOU ($5,600): Martinez has earned the right to stay in the Rangers' rotation with a 2.77 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 10:1 K:BB ratio over 13.0 innings in his first two starts. He remains priced at an incredibly affordable $5,600 despite that success, making the 26-year-old right-hander a strong value play at the league's most pitcher-friendly venue. Minute Maid Park sports a league-low 0.64 park factor after also finishing last at 0.81 last year, further adding to Martinez's low-risk, high-reward appeal.
Antonio Senzatela, COL at SD ($6,200): Even with three of his first five starts coming at the hitter-friendly Coors Field, Senzatela owns an impressive 2.81 ERA and 1.00 WHIP. The rookie's 6.8 K/9 and 2.50 FIP on the road both significantly outpace his home stats, and facing a Padres team that's striking out 9.15 times while scoring only 3.78 runs per game should help improve both numbers. He's a steal for just $6,200 given the location (Petco Park ranks 23rd with a .85 park factor) and opposition.
CATCHER
Salvador Perez, KC vs. CWS ($3,700): Perez has been much more effective against righties despite being one himself, with a .393 wOBA in 68 plate appearances facing them and just a .191 mark in 21 plate appearances against lefties. Maintaining that production shouldn't be difficult against Mike Pelfrey, who's giving up a .462 wOBA to hitters from the right side after allowing a .361 mark in 2016. Pelfrey is yet to clear five innings in a start while posting a 3:5 K:BB through nine innings, so Kansas City's clean-up hitter should get some at-bats with runners on base for once.
FIRST BASE
Josh Bell, PIT at CIN ($3,300): Reds righty Rookie Davis has posted an 11.17 ERA and 2.59 WHIP while failing to pitch more than four innings in any of his first three appearances, making him a strong candidate to stack against. His biggest problems have come when facing left-handed hitters, who own a massive .553 wOBA in 27 career at-bats against Davis. The switch-hitting Bell has managed a .375 wOBA against righties and just a .290 mark against lefties, so this is the ideal time to use him.
SECOND BASE
Darwin Barney, TOR at NYY ($2,500): Barney is a sensible play for owners looking to go cheap at either second or third base. The versatile infielder owns a .359 wOBA against southpaws after finishing at no worse than .336 in each of the previous two seasons, while veteran CC Sabathia is giving up a wOBA over .340 to right-handed hitters for the fourth time in the past five. Playing this game at Yankee Stadium (1.35 park factor) further raises Barney's stock.
THIRD BASE
Chase Headley, NYY vs. TOR ($3,500): Headley's another player in position to take advantage of the league's fourth-most hitter-friendly park thanks to favorable platoon splits. The switch-hitting third baseman owns a .420 wOBA from the left side, which is where he'll bat from against right-hander Marcus Stroman. Throw in Headley's positioning in the top third of the order for a lineup that ranks second with 5.38 runs per game, and he becomes too tempting to pass up at just $3,500.
SHORTSTOP
Tim Beckham, TB vs. MIA ($2,900): Beckham has vastly outplayed his modest price against left-handed pitching for the second consecutive season with a .336 wOBA following a .342 performance in 2016. Expect Beckham to once again find success in his preferred split against southpaw Adam Conley, who has surrendered a .348 wOBA to the first 68 right-handed hitters he's faced this season.
OUTFIELD
Gregory Polanco, PIT at CIN ($4,100): Polanco is still batting clean-up despite some early struggles, and this matchup offers an excellent opportunity for him to take advantage of that lineup placement. Davis' aforementioned struggles against sluggers from the left side play right into Polanco's hands, and the outfielder's .288 wOBA against righties is unlikely to stay that low much longer considering he's finished no worse than .323 in that split in any of his previous three major league seasons. Polanco will also be fresh after a day off Tuesday, which could lead to another productive outing on the base paths as he looks to add to his team-leading five steals.
Steven Souza Jr., TB vs. MIA ($3,500): Souza has managed a .382 wOBA against lefties, making him Tampa Bay's most dangerous option in that split with Evan Longoria (foot) ailing. While Conley will surely improve after surrendering nine earned runs to the Pirates in 1.2 innings last time out, his 10 walks in just 19.2 innings overall this season suggest he'll continue to be vulnerable. As mentioned in the Beckham section, right-handed hitters like Souza have unsurprisingly given the Marlins southpaw the most trouble.
Kole Calhoun, LAA at SEA ($3,400): Calhoun is heating up with nine hits in his past five games, and his .309 wOBA against righties should continue to rise closer to his .334 career average in this matchup with Hisashi Iwakuma. Iwakuma allowed six earned runs over three innings in his only previous home start of the season, and has shown vulnerability with a 12:11 K:BB through 26.0 innings pitched. The Japanese veteran's .473 wOBA allowed to the first 47 left-handed batters he's faced this season suggests Los Angeles' two-hole hitter is primed to give him trouble.
