This article is part of our FantasyDraft MLB series.
PITCHERS:
Stephen Strasburg, WAS vs. PIT ($23,200):- The Pirates have a 25.8 percent strikeout rate, .255 wOBA and 26.0 percent hard-contact rate versus righties on the road in September, while Strasburg has scored between 22.50 and 41.05 fantasy points in six of the last seven starts. He also has a .210 BAA and .259 wOBA allowed over 84 innings at Nationals Park, and an 0.98 ERA, .181 BAA and .214 wOBA allowed over 55.0 second-half innings overall.
Jake Odorizzi, TB vs. BAL ($16,200):- Odorizzi racked up 32.50 fantasy points against the Orioles in his last start on the strength of a nine-strikeout effort, and he'd scored 29.80 and 23.70 fantasy points, respectively, in two of his previous three starts as well. Those performances have led to a 1.21 ERA, .186 wOBA allowed and .105 BAA over 22.1 September frames, while the Orioles sport an AL-high 27.1 percent strikeout rate and a .258 wOBA versus righties on the road this month.
INFIELD
Nolan Arenado, COL vs. LAD ($10,800):- Arenado boasts a .530 wOBA, .441 ISO, 218 wRC+, 35.0 percent HR/FB rate and 42.9 percent hard-contact rate against lefties at Coors Field. Dodgers starter Hyun-Jin Ryu has allowed 12 homers to right-handed hitters, along with a 4.43 xFIP and 40.6 percent hard-contact rate when facing them on the road. Furthermore, the .473 wOBA Ryu allows when throwing his four-seam fastball spells trouble, considering the .458 wOBA Arenado owns against the pitch. Meanwhile, Dodgers relievers have a 7.36 ERA and have allowed a .324 wOBA (including five homers) to righty bats on the road in September.
Justin Turner, LAD at COL ($8,700):- Rockies starter Chad Bettis has surrendered a .382 wOBA and 5.43 xFIP to right-handed hitters, and a .418 wOBA when throwing his four-seam fastball. Turner has posted a .360 wOBA and 37.2 percent hard-contact rate versus righties, and is sporting a .388 wOBA and 44.3 percent hard-contact rate overall in 87 September plate appearances. He also boasts a .406 wOBA against the four-seam fastball, and he's slashing .345/.419/.491 against Rockies pitching this season.
Cesar Hernandez, PHI vs. NYM ($6,800):- Mets starter Matt Harvey has been touched up by lefties during his forgettable 2017, allowing a .425 wOBA (including 12 homers), 6.24 xFIP, 24.0 percent HR/FB rate and 37.1 percent hard-contact rate. The switch-hitting Hernandez sports a .363 wOBA and 27.0 percent line-drive rate against righties at Citizens Bank Park, and owns a .350 wOBA overall in 105 September plate appearances. Hernandez also owns a .411 wOBA versus the four-seam fastball, a pitch that Harvey allows a .431 wOBA on.
OUTFIELD
Cody Bellinger, LAD at COL ($10,800):- Rockies starter Chad Bettis has struggled against lefty bats at Coors over a modest sample, as evidenced by a .413 wOBA and 31.4 percent hard-contact rate allowed. Bellinger boasts a .390 wOBA (including 27 homers) and a 44.2 percent hard-contact rate versus righties, and a .408 wOBA versus the four-seam fastball that Bettis allows a .418 wOBA on. Rockies relievers also have a 7.00 ERA and .349 wOBA allowed to lefty bats at home in September.
Denard Span, SF vs. SD ($7,200):- Span serves as cost-effective exposure to Padres starter Jordan Lyles, who's allowed a .477 wOBA (including six homers) to lefty bats on the road, and a 38.3 percent hard-contact rate to that handedness overall. Span owns a .386 wOBA and 31.6 percent hard-contact rate in 72 September plate appearances, and a .342 wOBA versus righties overall. Moreover, Span's .352 wOBA versus the four-seam fastball plays well against the .455 wOBA that Lyles allows when throwing the pitch. Padres relievers also have a majors-high 10.13 ERA and .491 wOBA allowed (including a majors-high 11 homers) to lefty bats on the road in September.
Alex Presley, DET at MIN ($6,800):- Twins starter Kyle Gibson's struggles versus left-handed hitters at Target Field include a .366 wOBA and 35.4 percent hard-contact rate allowed. Presley boasts a .389 wOBA versus righties on the road, and a .411 wOBA versus Gibson's trademark sinker, a pitch that Gibson allows a .368 wOBA on.
UTILITY
Francisco Lindor, CLE vs. CWS ($10,800):- The switch-hitting Lindor makes for an appealing target against White Sox starter Mike Pelfrey, considering his .401 wOBA, .265 ISO and 34.9 percent hard-contact rate versus righties at Progressive Field. Pelfrey has allowed a .346 wOBA (including 10 homers) to righty bats, and he has a 7.62 ERA and has allowed a .366 wOBA over the 13 innings encompassing his six September appearances. Lindor's .451 wOBA versus the sinker also dovetails nicely with the .404 wOBA that Pelfrey allows on his trademark pitch, while White Sox relievers have a 5.73 ERA and .379 wOBA allowed to lefty bats on the road in September.
Brian Dozier, MIN vs. DET ($9,300):- Dozier's body of work against southpaws at Target Field includes a .492 wOBA, .387 ISO, 33.3 percent HR/FB rate and 40.8 percent hard-contact rate, while Tigers starter Matt Boyd has allowed a .361 wOBA, 4.84 xFIP and 37.2 percent hard-contact rate to righty bats on the road. Meanwile, Detroit relievers have a 7.13 ERA and have allowed an AL-high .463 wOBA to right-handed hitters on the road in September.
