This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
We have a bevy of players to choose from Tuesday with 14 games making up the main slate on DraftKings. Let's try to help narrow down the field by highlighting some players who could thrive based on their respective matchups.
Pitchers
Whenever Tyler Glasnow ($9,800) is on the slate, he has to be considered among the top pitching options. He's bounced back nicely from a subpar 2020 campaign, posting a 2.57 ERA and a 2.97 FIP through 11 starts. He's only allowed 1.2 HR/9, which is a big improvement from the 1.7 HR/9 that he allowed last season. On top of that, he continues to blow hitters away with his 36.2 percent strikeout rate. Facing the Yankees isn't the easiest task in the world, but with all of their injuries, they don't have nearly the lineup that they've had in seasons past.
Robbie Ray ($8,500) didn't pitch well in his last start, allowing five runs (four earned) across 4.2 innings against the Yankees. He allowed two home runs in the outing, marking the fourth time in his last five starts that he's been taken deep at least two times. As discouraging as that stat is, it might not be as much of a problem for his start against the Marlins, who had the sixth-worst slugging percentage in baseball entering Monday. They've also struck out the seventh-most times, which is noteworthy given that Ray has a 28.0 percent strikeout rate.
Not one to normally strike out many hitters, Chris Bassitt ($9,100) has been a surprise in that area with a 26.1 percent strikeout rate this season. His previous career high is just 23.0 percent. Add in his 1.00 WHIP and he has a 3.21 ERA that is supported by an even better 2.91 FIP. Look for him to keep things rolling against the Mariners, who had the worst OPS in baseball entering Monday.
Top Targets
Kyle Hendricks ($7,800) is starting to turn things around after a slow start, allowing five earned runs over 21.2 innings in his last three starts. However, he allowed three home runs in his last start against the Pirates. He's already allowed 14 home runs across 56.1 innings after giving up just 10 across 81.1 innings last season. That could spell trouble against Fernando Tatis Jr. ($6,100), who has stormed out of the gate with a .409 ISO.
It's been a bounce-back season for Kris Bryant ($5,400), who has a .286 ISO and a .431 wOBA. He's been aided by a .378 BABIP, but he's also dropped his strikeout rate by five percentage points compared to last season. Add in his career .424 wOBA against left-handed pitchers and he could be in line for a big night with Ryan Weathers ($5,500) starting for the Padres.
Bargain Bats
Adolis Garcia ($4,200) at Coors Field is about as enticing as it gets. He could thrive in the hitter-friendly environment given his .303 ISO. He'll also be facing a starter in German Marquez ($6,700) who has struggled to limit base runners, leaving him with a 1.49 WHIP.
Wil Crowe ($5,000) is off to a rocky start with the Pirates, posting a 5.67 ERA and a 5.56 FIP. His WHIP has been a disaster at 1.67 and he's also not missing many bats based on his 20.2 percent strikeout rate. With him scheduled to take the mound against the Royals, Andrew Benintendi ($3,100) could be worth considering. He hasn't provided much power, but he is 11-for-35 (.355) with a .400 OBP over his last 10 games.
Stacks to Consider
Twins vs. Bruce Zimmermann ($5,500), Orioles: Nelson Cruz ($4,700), Josh Donaldson ($4,500), Miguel Sano ($3,600)
Zimmermann has allowed at least one home run in eight of his nine appearances this season with the only team failing to take him deep being the Marlins. Add in his 1.53 WHIP and he enters this matchup with an exploitable 5.15 ERA and 5.47 FIP. His propensity for giving up home runs makes Sano appealing. Despite Sano having just a .307 wOBA, he's still hitting for power, posting a .233 ISO.
Astros vs. Garrett Richards ($7,000), Red Sox: Alex Bregman ($5,300), Jose Altuve ($4,800), Kyle Tucker ($3,700)
Richards has managed to record a 3.83 ERA and a 3.84 FIP despite a 1.50 WHIP. He's done so mainly by allowing just four home runs over 54 innings. However, his inability to keep hitters off base could be a problem against the Astros, who had the third-highest OPS in baseball entering Monday. Tucker's bad start might have taken him off your radar, but he's largely been a product of an unlucky .233 BABIP. His strikeout rate has actually dropped to 15.7 percent and he has a very strong 10.8 percent barrel rate.
Dodgers vs. John Gant ($7,300), Cardinals: Mookie Betts ($5,100), Max Muncy ($5,300), Gavin Lux ($4,000)
It's pretty rare to see a pitcher record a 1.81 ERA despite having a 1.57 WHIP, but that's exactly what Gant has done through his nine starts. However, with a 15.4 percent walk rate and just a 17.4 percent strikeout rate, it likely won't be long before Gant's ERA starts to catch up to his 4.05 FIP. It could begin to in this matchup with the Dodgers, who had the sixth-highest OPS in baseball entering Monday. Muncy has been one of their offensive leaders, posting a .281 ISO and a .429 wOBA entering Monday.
