This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
PITCHER
Carlos Rodon, CHW vs. BOS ($8,000): After picking on the Red Sox's deficiencies against southpaws yesterday with Jose Quintana, the South Side rolls out another of their premier lefties in the second year Rodon, who flew through the minors pitching just 34.2 innings while maintaining a K rate over 30 percent. The third pick in the 2014 draft has struggled some with walks, but in the majors he has maintained a solid 22.9 percent K rate and an ERA under 4.00. Referencing just this season, he's sporting a 3.65 SIERA, dropped his walk rate below 10 percent and increased his ground-ball rate to 53.8 percent. After being shutdown Tuesday night, the Red Sox now stand with a 52 wRC+ against lefties with a 24.2 percent K rate. Expect Drew Smyly to also be a very popular pitcher, and understandably so with a 2.61 SIERA and 32 percent K rate this season. The Dodgers rocking fellow Rays lefty Matt Moore Tuesday night is the only hesitancy.
CATCHER
Brian McCann, NYY at BAL ($2,900): Simply stated, McCann is the best offensive catcher on the slate and gets to face a relatively weak righty in Tyler Wilson. Also, with the recent injury to Alex Rodriguez, McCann will likely move up to the cleanup spot in the order. McCann has been good this season with a .356 wOBA and 132 wRC+, including .394 and 159, respectively, against righties.
FIRST BASE
Mark Teixeira, NYY at BAL ($3,000): Teixeira has been subpar this season, but he defaults into being usable more than he earns it. Chris Davis, Adrian Gonzalez, Paul Goldschmidt, David Ortiz and Brandon Moss all find themselves in bad matchups against a pitcher of the same handedness. Meanwhile, Teixeira's March/April career split sits at a .338 wOBA while his career May split is .383.
SECOND BASE
Jose Altuve, HOU vs. MIN ($4,100): Despite a BABIP 40 points below his career average, Altuve has a .423 wOBA and 182 wRC+, most of which comes from his huge surge in power, as represented by his .311 ISO and seven home runs (he's hit more than seven in a season just once in his career). Phil Hughes isn't a particularly bad pitcher, but he's not good either with a career 4.33 ERA and 4.13 SIERA this season. Above all, what makes this a plus matchup for Altuve (outside of it being a 8.5-run over/under and his team being -151) is Kurt Suzuki's weak arm behind the plate. Suzuki is the easiest catcher, among those who regularly start, to steal bases off of, and Altuve already has 10 stolen bases this year.
THIRD BASE
Evan Longoria, TBR vs. LAD ($3,100): Longoria's career splits against lefties sit at .387 wOBA, 148 wRC+ and .250 ISO. After a dazzling first six major league seasons, Longoria has fallen to a fairly mediocre bat over the last few years. His wRC+ this year is 110, but a .216 ISO and .270 BABIP are encouraging that he could improve some as the season goes on. What's especially enticing is his .417 wOBA, 182 wRC+ and .290 ISO against lefties this year, while opposing pitcher Alex Wood's career xFIP against righties stands a whole point higher against lefties.
SHORTSTOP
Aledmys Diaz, STL vs. PHI ($3,100): Diaz has a .474 wOBA, 194 wRC+ and .313 ISO this season, and while those numbers are obviously unsustainable, he's carried a strong bat throughout his time in the minors. The fact that he's still batting eighth in the order is less than ideal, especially considering he's not particularly cheap. Nonetheless, given the lack of affordable options at the position, he looks to be a solid play against subpar southpaw Adam Morgan.
OUTFIELD
Mark Trumbo, BAL vs. NYY ($3,700): Trumbo has been spectacular this season, as his wOBA stands at .426, wRC+ at 182 and ISO at .276. The 30-year-old has always been a plus-hitter with home-run power, but he's trying to redefine himself as elite. Opposing on the mound is CC Sabathia, who's struggled against right-handed batters throughout his career (.370 wOBA last season and .349 this year) while Trumbo, despite a .077 BABIP, has a .440 wOBA and 192 wRC+ against southpaws this season. To break that down a little for you, Trumbo has six hits off lefties this season: one double and five home runs.
Joey Rickard, BAL vs. NYY ($2,700): There's not a lot of precedent with just a month of sample size for the rookie, but in 29 plate appearances against lefties Rickard has a .402 wOBA and 164 wRC+. As mentioned earlier, Sabathia has really struggled against righties in recent years.
Stephen Piscotty, STL vs. PHI ($3,200): The Cardinals' offense doesn't get enough credit as they share the highest team wRC+ of 118 with the Orioles. In just over a year in the majors, Piscotty has a .432 wOBA and 175 wRC+ against left-handed pitching. Adam Morgan, with a weak fastball, isn't even a mainstay in the Phillies' rotation and will likely be back in the bullpen in a lefty specialist role sooner rather than later.
