This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
After a quiet Monday, we have 15 games that make up the main slate Tuesday on DraftKings. With so many options to wade through, let's get right down to business and highlight some players to consider when building your lineups.
Pitchers
Not much of an argument needs to be made to deploy Walker Buehler ($9,800) in DFS whenever he takes the mound. He's posted an ERA of 3.44 or lower in each of the last three seasons and he's on pace to do it again with a 2.82 ERA through his first 11 starts. While his strikeout rate is down a bit at 25.7 percent, he has a sparkling 0.95 WHIP. Look for him to keep things rolling against the Pirates, who have the worst OPS in baseball.
It's important to note whenever Chris Bassitt ($8,800) is pitching at home, like he will be Tuesday against the Diamondbacks. He has a career 3.11 FIP and 1.09 WHIP at home as a member of the A's, compared to a 4.78 FIP and a 1.34 WHIP on the road. In addition to those favorable splits, he's also appealing in this matchup because he's on pace to set a new career high with his current 26.5 percent strikeout rate.
Pablo Lopez ($8,700) may have lucked out. He was originally slated to start Monday against the Red Sox, but the team decided to push him back a day in order to give him some added rest. Now he will face the Rockies in Miami, which is a significantly better matchup. The Rockies are still dangerous when they play at home, but they only have a .563 OPS on the road.
Top Targets
After a slow start, Whit Merrifield ($5,100) has started to heat up. Over his last 10 games, he is 15-for-43 (.349) with a home run, four doubles, a triple and three stolen bases. He already has 17 steals through 58 games, blowing past his total of 12 across 60 games last season. This might be a good opportunity to deploy him in DFS for his matchup against Andrew Heaney ($7,100), who has a 4.76 ERA through his first 10 starts that is close to in line with his career 4.47 ERA.
Jose Ramirez ($5,100) is one of the few dangerous hitters in Cleveland's lineup. He has an excellent eye at the plate, recording a 13.7 percent strikeout rate and a 10.7 percent walk rate this season. He's also shown a mixture of power and speed with 13 home runs and six steals. Given that his opponent Carlos Martinez ($6,200) only has a 13.3 percent strikeout rate this season, Ramirez could at least find his way on base a time or two in this matchup.
Bargain Bats
Going back to the Royals' matchup against Heaney, Hunter Dozier ($3,100) might also be someone to have on your radar. He's off to a terrible start with his .162 average and 30.4 percent strikeout rate. He has been a bit unlucky given his .185 BABIP, though, and he's shown signs of turning a corner by getting at least one hit in five of his last seven games.
Ryan Mountcastle ($3,600) is locked in right now for the Orioles. Over his last 16 games, he's 20-for-59 (.339) with five home runs and five doubles. His 31.1 percent strikeout rate for the season is concerning, but his 10.4 percent barrel rate is encouraging for him to be able to keep rolling against David Peterson ($7,800), who has a 5.89 ERA and a 5.13 FIP.
Stacks to Consider
Padres vs. Zach Davies ($6,100), Cubs: Fernando Tatis Jr. ($5,800), Eric Hosmer ($4,600), Jake Cronenworth ($4,300)
This is a tough matchup for Davies, who has struggled this season with a 4.94 ERA and a 4.70 FIP. He's still not allowing many home runs, but his 1.68 WHIP and lack of strikeouts have been the main reasons for his downfall. Not only could Tatis do plenty of damage in this matchup, but Hosmer and Cronenworth could prove to be tough outs. They have a 14.9 percent and 13.7 percent strikeout rates, respectively.
Mets vs. Bruce Zimmermann ($5,700), Orioles: Pete Alonso ($5,800), Francisco Lindor ($4,600), Kevin Pillar ($4,400)
The Mets aren't usually an appealing team to stack given their bevy of injuries. However, a matchup against Zimmermann makes them worth considering. He's had trouble keeping batters inside the ball park, allowing 2.0 HR/9. That's even worse when you add in his 1.53 WHIP. This might be just the matchup that Alonso, who has disappointed with his .183 ISO, needs to get back on track.
Athletics vs. Jon Duplantier ($5,000), Diamondbacks: Matt Olson ($5,200), Mark Canha ($4,300), Matt Chapman ($4,700)
With all of their injuries, the Diamondbacks don't have much of a choice but to start Duplantier again. His first two starts were bad, allowing nine runs across 8.2 innings to the Cardinals and Brewers. He didn't pitch well during his first two starts a Triple-A, either, which comes on the heels of his 5.21 ERA and 1.55 WHIP at Triple-A in 2019. Olson is an ideal player to build an A's stack around given his .298 ISO and .395 wOBA.
