This article is part of our FantasyDraft MLB series.
PITCHER
Carlos Carrasco, CLE at CWS ($21,200): Carrasco has scored more than 20 fantasy points in two his first three starts of the season, including 25.35 against this same White Sox squad on April 11. Carrasco's rotation mate Corey Kluber dominated Chicago to the tune of a three-hit shutout Friday and the White Sox have posted a .265 wOBA and 24.7 percent strikeout rate against righties this season.
Robbie Ray, ARI vs. LAD ($16,800): Like Carrasco, Ray has already enjoyed success against his Saturday opponent this season, scoring 27.30 fantasy points on the strength of 10 strikeouts against the Dodgers. Los Angeles' well-established difficulties against southpaws have bled over into this season, as they're posting a .292 wOBA and 21.8 percent strikeout rate against that handedness over 284 plate appearances.
INFIELDER
Nolan Arenado, COL vs. SF ($9,900): Arenado has been deadly against lefties this season in a modest sample of 22 plate appearances, posting a .571 average, four homers, .782 wOBA and 55.6 percent hard contact rate. That's simply an outsized snapshot of his career success, as he's tallied a .376 wOBA and .241 ISO against that handedness in his four-plus major-league seasons, with those numbers rising to .449 and .338 when facing righties at Coors Field, respectively. Meanwhile, Matt Moore allowed a .344 wOBA to the first 67 right-handed hitters he's seen this season.
Jake Lamb, ARI vs. LAD ($7,800): Dodgers starter Kenta Maeda is undoubtedly a quality pitcher, but Lamb has been raking against right-handers this season and has also largely dominated his matchup. Lamb has a .350 average, .445 wOBA and 50 percent hard contact rate over his first 46 plate appearances against righties this season, and he has a .351 wOBA against that handedness over his three-plus major-league seasons. Meanwhile, Maeda has given up a .384 wOBA, 2.16 HR/9 and 30.8 percent hard contact rate to the 37 left-handed hitters he's seen this season, and has surrendered a .471 average, three doubles, one homer and four RBI to Lamb over 18 career plate appearances.
Cesar Hernandez, PHI vs. ATL ($6,400): Hernandez has been revelation this season and busted out of a brief 0-for-9 slump Friday with a 3-for-4 night. That makes it eight multi-hit efforts over his last 12 games, boosting his batting average to .324. He's posted a .313 batting average, .435 wOBA and 36.4 percent hard contact rate over a modest sample of 17 plate appearances in 2017, following a 2016 campaign where he generated a .341 average and .342 wOBA against southpaws. Additionally, Braves starter Jaime Garcia has yielded a .408 wOBA and 41.3 percent hard contact rate to the first 58 right-handed hitters he's faced this season, and a .342 wOBA and 22 homers to righty bats in 2016.
OUTFIELDERS
Adam Jones, BAL vs. BOS ($8,400): Jones already boasts a pair of homers over 12 career plate appearances against Red Sox starter Steven Wright, who's yielded a .519 wOBA and 51.4 percent hard contact rate to the 45 right-handed batters he's faced this season. Meanwhile, Jones has a .376 wOBA, .222 ISO and 39.3 percent hard contact rate over his 41 plate appearances against right-handed pitching this season, and boasts a .366 career wOBA versus righties at Camden Yards.
Christian Yelich, MIA at SD ($8,100): Padres starter Jered Weaver has surrendered a .391 wOBA to the 40 lefty hitters he's faced this season, following a 2016 campaign when he yielded a .365 figure to that handedness. Yelich is already punishing right-handed pitching this season, posting a .376 wOBA and 44.4 percent hard contact rate over 52 plate appearances, numbers validated by the .386 wOBA, .215 ISO and 41.7 percent hard contact he managed against righties in 2016.
Jose Martinez, STL at MIL ($6,000): Brewers starter Chase Anderson has been very effective this season, but Martinez's price, hot bat and reasonable price make him worth consideration. The Cardinals outfielder has a .364 wOBA against right-handed pitching this season, while Anderson has allowed a .356 wOBA, 1.43 HR/9 and 34.4 percent hard contact rate to that handedness over three-plus major-league seasons.
UTILITY
Freddie Freeman, ATL at PHI ($9,000): Phillies starter Jerad Eickhoff has allowed a .348 wOBA over his two-plus major-league seasons to left-handed hitters, along with 25 homers (1.67 HR/9). It's been more of the same this season, as he's already given up a .340 wOBA to the 51 lefty bats he's faced. Freeman has posted a .395 average and .536 wOBA against right-handed pitching this season and already has multiple games with more than 20 fantasy points.
Joey Gallo, TEX vs. KC ($7,200): Gallo blasted two more monster homers Friday and draws now a matchup against a pitcher who gives up plenty of them in Ian Kennedy. The veteran Royals starter has allowed 102 round-trippers to left-handed hitters over his long career, along with a 33.9 percent hard contact rate. He's been effective in the early going this season, but Gallo has a .328 wOBA and 47.8 percent hard contact against right-handed pitching, and a .349 wOBA against righties at Globe Life Park over 72 career plate appearances.
