This article is part of our FantasyDraft MLB series.
PITCHERS:
Madison Bumgarner, SF vs. ARI ($21,900):- Bumgarner really seemed to hit his stride last time out against the Dodgers in a start that yielded 26.15 fantasy points, following three average outings upon returning from his long layoff. The Giants ace also racked up as season-best 28.15 fantasy points against this same D-Backs squad back on Opening Night, and Arizona checks in with a 29.7 percent strikeout rate and .302 wOBA versus southpaws outside of Chase Field in the last month.
Eduardo Rodriguez, BOS vs. CWS ($13,800):- Rodriguez's price has come down due to some recent struggles, but he draws a prime matchup against a White Sox squad that's gone cold against southpaws. Chicago checks in with a majors-worst .247 wOBA , 50 wRC+ and 16.4 percent hard contact rate against left-handed pitching on the road over the last month, while Rodriguez has a solid 3.38 ERA, 11.48 HR/9 and 85.6 percent strand rate at Fenway over 26.2 innings.
INFIELD
Jonathan Schoop, BAL vs. DET ($9,600):- Schoop owns a .391 wOBA and .270 ISO at Camden Yards, and a .375 wOBA (including 17 homers) and 32.8 percent hard contact rate against right-handed pitching. Tigers starter Justin Verlander has a 5.32 ERA in 64.1 road innings this season and has yielded a .330 wOBA and 37.5 percent hard contact rate to right-handed hitters on the road. Schoop has also been red-hot in the second half, slashing .346/.389/.630 and posting a .420 wOBA in 90 plate appearances.
Robinson Cano, SEA at KC ($8,400):- Cano boasts a .392 wOBA, .255 ISO and 37.7 percent hard contact rate against right-handed pitching away from Safeco Field, and he owns a .361 average, including two homers and six RBI, against Royals starter Jason Hammel in 37 career plate appearances. Hammel has been tough against left-handed hitters overall, but he has a 4.75 ERA over his last six starts, giving up a home run in all but one of those outings.
Yulieski Gurriel, HOU vs. TOR ($6,400):- Gurriel is bargain priced for a matchup against right-hander Cesar Valdez, who's surrendered a .459 wOBA, 2.93 HR/9 and 54.9 percent hard contact rate to right-handed hitters. Gurriel checks in with a .346 wOBA and 34.5 percent hard contact rate versus right-handed pitching, and he's opened up August by posting a 41.7 percent hard contact rate over his first three games. Meanwhile, Blue Jays relievers have a 5.95 ERA and have surrendered eight homers and a .349 wOBA to right-handed hitters on the road in the last month.
OUTFIELD
Andrew McCutchen, PIT vs. SD ($10,400):- McCutchen has been mashing against all comers lately and has been particularly lethal against lefties, as evidenced by his .513 wOBA, .481 ISO, 28.6 percent HR/FB rate and 44.8 percent hard contact rate versus southpaws. Meanwhile, Padres starter Travis Wood has surrendered a .365 wOBA to right-handed hitters, along with a 6.03 xFIP and 34.5 percent hard contact rate when facing them on the road.
Joey Gallo, TEX at MIN ($8,800):- Gallo launched another round tripper Thursday, giving him four over the first three games of August. He's hit 23 of his 29 homers off right-handed pitching, and boasts a .363 wOBA, .382 ISO, 27.5 percent HR/FB rate and 41.8 percent hard contact rate versus that handedness on the road. Meanwhile, Twins starter Bartolo Colon has given up a .390 wOBA, 5.71 xFIP and 38.2 percent hard contact rate to lefty bats and allowed three homers over his last two starts.
Adam Jones, BAL vs. DET ($6,000):- Jones' unusually low price makes him an appealing GPP option Friday, given the struggles of Tigers starter Justin Verlander on the road and against right-handed hitters that were mentioned earlier. Jones has 14 of his 19 homers against right-handed pitching, along with a .328 wOBA and 31.7 percent hard contact rate. He's also started August off on the right foot, posting a .424 wOBA in his first three games.
UTILITY:
Mike Trout, LAA vs. OAK ($10,200):- A's starter Jharel Cotton was touched up for five earned runs in his first start off the disabled list last time out and is giving up a .350 wOBA and 37.4 percent hard contact rate to right-handed hitters on the season. Trout has homers in back-to-back contests and 20 of his 21 round trippers off right-handed pitching. He's also posted a .532 wOBA, 38.9 percent HR/FB rate, 47.4 percent hard contact rate and 249 wRC+ against that handedness at home, while A's relievers have a 8.62 ERA and have surrendered a .427 wOBA and majors-high 42.9 percent hard contact rate to righty bats on the road in the last month.
Steven Souza, Jr., TAM vs. MIL ($8,800):- Souza has hit all 23 of his home runs this season off right-handed pitching and owns a .418 wOBA, .273 ISO and 41.0 percent hard contact rate against that handedness at Tropicana Field. That makes him a particularly appealing option against Brewers rookie Brandon Woodruff, who'll be making his first major-league start. Woodruff owns a 5.28 ERA against right-handed hitters this season at Triple-A Colorado Springs, and all eight homers he's yielded have also come off righty bats. Meanwhile, Brewers relievers have a 7.66 ERA and have yielded a .379 wOBA to right-handed hitters on the road in the last month.
