This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
With no day games on the schedule Tuesday, we are left with 15 games to make up the main slate on DraftKings. With a nice mix of appealing pitching and hitting options, let's highlight some of the top players to consider when building your lineups.
Pitchers
After a disappointing strikeout season in 2020, Julio Urias ($9,600) has bounced back with a 27.6 percent strikeout rate this year. His walk rate has also dropped to 3.6 percent, which has helped him generate a 0.97 WHIP. He could be in line for another valuable performance considering that he will be facing a Phillies team that has struck out the eighth-most times in baseball.
Facing the Yankees isn't as daunting as it has been in seasons past. Between injuries and several players struggling, they have scored the fourth-fewest runs in baseball. That means this could be a night to consider deploying Hyun Jin Ryu ($9,000) in DFS. He's already faced them two times this season, allowing three runs (two earned) and recoding 12 strikeouts across 12 innings.
If you're looking for a pitcher with a cheaper salary, then Casey Mize ($7,100) should be on your radar. He's allowed three or fewer runs in each of his last eight starts, two of which came against the Royals, who he will face again Tuesday. While he's still having trouble keeping hitters inside the ball park, he's been able to limit the damage created by those home runs with his 1.06 WHIP.
Top Targets
Brett Anderson ($6,900) has struggled for the Brewers, posting a 4.99 ERA and an even worse 5.60 FIP. Never one to miss many bats, he has a paltry 11.5 percent strikeout rate. This is an ideal matchup to take a chance on Nick Castellanos ($4,900), who has a career .378 wOBA against left-handed pitchers.
After an abnormally low 1.09 WHIP last season, Dallas Keuchel ($7,300) has a 1.30 WHP across his first 13 starts this year. That's more in line with what we've come to expect from him given that he entered 2020 with back-to-back seasons of a WHIP of 1.31 or higher. He doesn't miss many bats given his career 18.7 percent strikeout rate, so he's someone to considering targeting against in DFS. For his matchup with the Rays, that means Randy Arozarena ($5,100) is a top option. He's shown a combination of power and speed this season, launching nine home runs to go along with 10 steals.
Bargain Bats
The Pirates don't have many viable hitters to target in DFS on most nights, but their matchup against Patrick Corbin ($7,000) means that Bryan Reynolds ($3,200) could provide value. Corbin has been awful with a 5.46 FIP and a 1.51 WHIP. Meanwhile, Reynolds has been one of the more dangerous hitters on the Pirates, posting a 146 wRC+.
Ozzie Albies ($3,900) has a career .402 wOBA against left-handed pitchers, which even more noteworthy when you consider that the switch hitter only has a .320 wOBA versus righties. With the Red Sox starting lefty Eduardo Rodriguez ($7,800), Albies stands out at his salary. Rodriguez hasn't exactly been sharp, either, given his 1.45 WHIP.
Stacks to Consider
Padres vs. Chi Chi Gonzalez ($5,600), Rockies: Fernando Tatis Jr. ($6,400), Jake Cronenworth ($5,600), Trent Grisham ($4,400)
The Rockies are going nowhere fast, which may be why they have decided to keep Gonzalez in their starting rotation. It's certainly not because he's pitching well given his 5.74 ERA and 5.09 FIP. His WHIP is a bloated 1.48, which is especially problematic when you factor in that he's allowed 1.5 HR/9. Facing the Padres at Coors Field could end up being disastrous for him. While he doesn't have the gaudy numbers that Tatis has, Grisham is still having an excellent season with a .221 ISO and a .380 wOBA.
Indians vs. Matt Harvey ($6,000), Orioles: Jose Ramirez ($6,000), Eddie Rosario ($3,800), Amed Rosario ($3,900)
Harvey hasn't been as bad as his 7.41 ERA would lead you to believe, but his FIP is still an ugly 4.91 and he's allowed 1.7 HR/9. His 1.68 WHIP can be somewhat attributed to a .352 BABIP allowed, but given his 18.1 percent strikeout rate, he's certainly not an overpowering pitcher at this stage of his career. Ramirez is a player to build any Indians stack around given his .262 ISO and .377 wOBA.
Orioles vs. Cal Quantrill ($6,800), Indians: Trey Mancini ($4,700), Cedric Mullins ($3,400), Freddy Galvis ($3,300)
The Indians are running out of healthy starting pitching options, especially after placing Shane Bieber (shoulder) on the IL on Monday. After 18 of his 20 appearances this season came out of the bullpen, Quantrill now has a path to a starting role. His 1.37 WHIP and 19.2 percent strikeout rate aren't exactly encouraging for his prospects of thriving in the role, though. He was shelled by these same Orioles less than two weeks ago, allowing seven runs (five earned) over 11 innings. A key Oriole to consider could be Mancini, who has returned after missing all of 2020 to post a 129 wRC+.
