This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
Wednesday's 12:35 PM ET all-day slate features all 30 MLB teams. While there are plenty of big-name pitchers to choose from, feasting on some of their less impressive peers is key to finding strong value plays around the league.
PITCHER
Jake Arrieta, CHC at SD ($9,900): Much of Arrieta's slow start can be attributed to bad luck, but that luck could start to turn in a hurry during this dream matchup with the Padres. His 26.1 percent strikeout rate is 2.2 percent higher than last season's mark, but a .340 BABIP allowed has done Arrieta in after he finished below .250 in consecutive campaigns. Luckily for the righty, a Padres lineup that strikes out 8.92 times per game likely won't put many balls in play to begin with. Their 29th-ranked offense is also nothing to write home about at just 3.43 runs per game.
Zack Godley, ARI at PIT ($8,700): Godley won't be this affordable much longer if he keeps pitching like he has been. Despite three of his five starts this season coming at the hitter-friendly Chase Field, Godley owns a sparkling 1.99 ERA and 1.04 WHIP along with a respectable 21.5 percent strikeout rate over 31.2 innings. Keeping the good times rolling shouldn't be difficult at PNC Park (1.00 park factor) against a Pirates offense that's scoring 3.98 runs per game.
CATCHER
Devin Mesoraco, CIN at TOR ($2,800): Blue Jays starter Mike Bolsinger has struggled against right-handers this season, surrendering a .533 wOBA to the 50 he's faced. Mesoraco's a low-cost option capable of taking advantage of those struggles given his .342 wOBA in that split.
FIRST BASE
Edwin Encarnacion, CLE vs. OAK ($4,700): Oakland's Sean Manaea has struggled to the tune of a 5.59 ERA in four road starts, and turning things around at Progressive Field won't be easy with Encarnacion in the home lineup. The Cleveland-based ballpark's third-ranked 1.49 home run park factor is perfect for a slugger in search of his sixth consecutive campaign with over 30 long balls, while Manaea's career 12.8 percent HR/FB rate suggests this season's 8.8 percent mark won't last. Encarnacion's currently on pace for his 13th consecutive season with a wOBA over .350 against left-handed pitching, so history's on his side for this one.
SECOND BASE
Jose Altuve, HOU at MIN ($5,500): Altuve continues to justify his spot as the most expensive second baseman. The modestly sized star has churned out 11 hits in the last four games, and his .385 wOBA against southpaws suggests Minnesota's Hector Santiago won't do much to slow him down, especially at the hitter-friendly Target Field (1.13 park factor). Altuve also remains a consistent threat to add value on the base paths, having already swiped 10 bags this year after topping 30 in each of the past five seasons.
THIRD BASE
Jake Lamb, ARI at PIT ($5,100): Lamb's the Arizona hitter best positioned to take advantage of this matchup with righty Chad Kuhl. Kuhl figures to get lit up by Arizona's dangerous lineup given his 6.29 ERA and 1.62 WHIP through 10 starts, with a .437 wOBA allowed to left-handed hitters being the prime culprit behind those struggles. His numbers figure to get even worse against Lamb, who's pounding right-handed pitching to the tune of a .433 wOBA.
SHORTSTOP
Zack Cozart, CIN at TOR ($4,200): While Mesoraco offers solid bang for the buck at catcher, those with more money to spend should turn to his teammate at shortstop. Cozart's .402 wOBA against fellow righties figures to be on the rise once again given Bolsinger's 5.75 ERA and aforementioned .533 wOBA allowed to batters from the right side.
OUTFIELD
Corey Dickerson, TB at TEX ($5,300): Dickerson has lived up to his lofty valuation this season with at least a .416 wOBA against both lefties and righties. Rookie right-hander Austin Bibens-Dirkx is unlikely to slow Dickerson down given his .400 wOBA allowed to left-handed batters, especially with Tampa Bay's leadoff man coming in with nine hits over the past three games.
Jackie Bradley Jr., BOS at CWS ($4,100): Bradley has picked things up after a slow start, but his .220 BABIP still sits miles below the 27-year-old's .292 career average. His luck could well start turning in this matchup with right-hander Mike Pelfrey, whose 4.41 ERA this season is right in line with his underwhelming 4.56 career mark. Bradley's .378 wOBA against righties last season suggests the left-handed hitting slugger has the ability to abuse this favorable matchup despite this season's struggles in that split.
Lorenzo Cain, KC vs. DET ($3,200): Cain isn't hitting lefties like he used to, but $3,200 isn't much to pay in hopes of a return to his form from the past two seasons. He finished 2016 with a .418 wOBA in that split after posting a .405 mark over the previous campaign, and Detroit's Matt Boyd has made far less competent hitters look like stars by surrendering a .389 wOBA from the right side. Any righty in the Royals lineup makes a strong play here, but Cain is the top option among that group.
