This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
Wednesday's MLB slate should be a fun one, with 13 games on tap starting at 12:10 PM Eastern time. With a number of hittable left-handed starters on the mound, this column is full of right-handed hitters that excel in such matchups. For those interested, we've started an MLB DFS slack channel for paid RotoWire subscribers. (There is a season-long one as well). To join those channels, e-mail support@rotowire.com.
PITCHER
Jake Odorizzi, MIN at PIT ($40): Odorizzi excelled in his Twins debut, striking out seven Baltimore batters over six scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and two walks. A Pirates team that few picked to finish above .500 has roared out to a 4-0 start thanks to an easy schedule, but Odorizzi should be up to the challenge of handing an underwhelming Pittsburgh lineup its first loss. He's allowed just three earned runs in his last six starts dating back to last season, including none over the past three, so don't be surprised if Odorizzi's price starts to climb rapidly in the near future.
Johnny Cueto, SF vs. SEA ($43): This slate features plenty of high-level options on the mound, but Cueto's as likely as anybody to come through with an elite effort. He has an 18-11 career March/April record and is 14-7 with a 2.80 ERA in 31 interleague starts. His interleague opponent here isn't particularly fearsome, as Seattle's offense ranks a bit below average so far after finishing 15th a year ago. Cueto shut down a more dangerous lineup in his first start, holding the Dodgers to just one baserunner over seven innings. It also helps that he'll be pitching at AT&T Park, which finished with the fourth-lowest park factor in the league a year ago (.850) and has been even more pitcher-friendly so far this season.
CATCHER
Yan Gomes, CLE at LAA ($14): Gomes pummeled left-handed pitching to the tune of a .360 wOBA last season, and the affordable catcher's off to an even hotter start over a limited sample this year. In an Indians lineup that doesn't lack big names, Gomes could end up providing the best bang for the buck here.
FIRST BASE
Miguel Cabrera, DET vs. KC ($19): The soon-to-be 35-year-old Cabrera's still as dangerous as ever against left-handed pitching, as his .397 wOBA in that split last season wasn't far off his career .412 mark. Royals southpaw Danny Duffy surrendered five earned runs over just four innings to the White Sox in his first start, so Cabrera's primed to feast in this favorable matchup while costing owners a little less than the top guys at his position.
SECOND BASE
Cory Spangenberg, SD vs. COL ($10): Spangenberg posted a respectable .348 wOBA against right-handed pitching last season, and that number jumped up to .388 at home. With those stats in mind, it's no surprise the left-handed slugger's already gone deep against righties twice at Petco Park in the early going. He'll get a nice opportunity to find further success against Jon Gray, who lasted just four innings while allowing nine baserunners and three runs in his first outing.
THIRD BASE
Adrian Beltre, TEX at OAK ($16):Age is but a number for the nearly 39-year-old Beltre, who continues to hit in the heart of Texas' order. He's especially dangerous in that prime spot when facing left-handed pitching, as he excelled to the tune of a .464 wOBA in that split just last season. Oakland starter Sean Manaea allowed a .347 wOBA to right-handed batters in that same campaign, so recent history is certainly on Beltre's side here.
SHORTSTOP
Trevor Story, COL at SD ($13): Story's power gives him excellent upside for a $13 shortstop, especially in this matchup. He managed a .420 wOBA against southpaws a season ago, and his .399 mark on the road suggests Story's success was not merely a Coors Field byproduct. Padres lefty Clayton Richard gave up a .377 wOBA to batters from the right side last season, so Story has a great chance to bounce back from his slow start here.
OUTFIELD
Giancarlo Stanton, NYY vs. TB ($26): You'll be hard-pressed to find a more favorable split than Stanton against left-handed pitching, as he finished with a .480 wOBA in such situations last season to raise his career mark to .425. Given the extra motivation of playing his first home series in pinstripes and Yankee Stadium's hitter-friendly bend, Stanton should have no trouble maintaining that success against lefty Blake Snell, who has held left-handed hitters to a meager .257 wOBA while allowing a .324 mark to batters from the right side.
Marcell Ozuna, STL at MIL ($18): Ozuna's still looking to find his groove with in St. Louis, but his .400 wOBA in righty-on-righty matchups with Miami last season suggests its only a matter of time until his price jumps up from its current $18 valuation. In the meantime, don't miss out on this buy-low opportunity against Jhoulys Chacin, who gave up four runs in 3.1 innings during his Brewers debut.
Matt Olson, OAK vs. TEX ($17): Olson's picked up right where he left off after posting a .439 wOBA against righties a year ago, and there's little reason to expect him to slow down with Doug Fister on the mound for the Rangers. Over the last three seasons, Fister's seen his ERA jump from 4.19 to 4.64 to 4.88, and last season's 4.88 mark was accompanied by a .365 wOBA allowed to left-handed hitters.
