This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
After a limited slate of games Monday, baseball is back with a full night of action Tuesday. The evening will be highlighted by a marquee matchup between the Yankees and Braves. There are also some top-tier pitchers set to take the mound, including Jack Flaherty and the Cardinals taking on the Tigers. Two potent lineups will also face off when the Blue Jays host the White Sox. Fresh off firing their pitching coach, the Padres will have the difficult task of trying to slow down the Dodgers. Let's get down to business and highlight some players to consider while building your DraftKings lineups.
Pitchers
The Cardinals have some ground to make up in the NL Wild Card race and they'll try to do so with Flaherty ($9,600) on the mound. He hasn't shown any signs of rust since being activated from the IL, allowing two runs and recording 13 strikeouts over 12 innings. Look for him to carry plenty of strikeout upside into his matchup with the Tigers, who have struck out the fourth-most times in baseball.
Despite having to start his home games at Coors Field, German Marquez ($8,200) is in the midst of an excellent season. Through 25 starts, he had a 3.80 ERA that is supported by an even better 3.57 FIP. The key to his success has been limiting home runs since he's only given up 15 of them across 147 innings. Up next is a great matchup on the road against a Cubs team that dismantled their lineup at the trade deadline.
After a disastrous nine starts with the Diamondbacks last year, Madison Bumgarner ($7,100) has been a stabilizing force within their starting rotation this season. His ERA and FIP are identical at 4.06 and his 1.10 WHIP would be his best mark since 2017. Expect him to be a popular option against the Pirates, who have the second-worst OPS in baseball.
Top Targets
We could be looking at an epic mismatch when Shohei Ohtani ($6,400) steps into the batter's box against Spenser Watkins ($5,300). Watkins has a 4.82 FIP and a 1.55 WHIP while only recording a 14.0 percent strikeout rate. While Ohtani's salary will do a number on your budget, his .367 ISO illustrates his immense upside.
Justin Steele ($6,500) has been moved to the Cubs' starting rotation after coming out of the bullpen earlier this season. Across his two starts with the team, he's allowed five runs, three home runs and 14 total baserunners over nine innings. This could be an excellent opportunity to roll with C.J. Cron ($4,800), who has a 156 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers this season.
Bargain Bats
Staying with the Rockies' matchup against Steele, Connor Joe ($3,500) might also be worth considering. After posting a .344 ISO and a .430 wOBA at Triple-A, he has a .197 ISO and a .370 wOBA across 53 games in the majors. One of the keys to his success has been a good eye at the plate, which has helped him generate an 11.2 percent walk rate and just a 20.7 percent strikeout rate.
One of the many struggling pitchers on the Pirates' staff has been JT Brubaker ($6,700), who has a 5.49 ERA and a 5.36 FIP. His control hasn't been an issue, but he's been done in by allowing 2.2 HR/9. A matchup against the Diamondbacks means Daulton Varsho ($3,600) and his .232 ISO could provide value.
Stacks to Consider
Astros vs. Brady Singer ($5,700), Royals: Jose Altuve ($5,400), Yordan Alvarez ($5,300) Jake Meyers ($2,400)
Singer faced the Astros in his last outing and actually pitched well, limiting them to two runs over 6.2 innings. Coming into that outing, he had allowed 12 runs over 5.2 innings in his previous two starts. For the season, he has a bloated 1.60 WHIP, so the Astros have the potential to be more successful against him the second time around. One of the more appealing options for an Astros stack is Alvarez, who has a .248 ISO to go along with his .372 wOBA.
Braves vs. Andrew Heaney ($7,500), Yankees: Ozzie Albies ($5,700), Austin Riley ($5,100), Jorge Soler ($4,200)
Heaney stepped up in a big way in his last start, holding the Red Sox to one run over seven innings. Of course, the run that he gave up was via the home run. Since joining the Yankees, he has given up nine home runs over 22 innings. For the season, he's been taken deep 25 times over 116 innings. The Braves have plenty of powerful hitters in their lineup, including Soler. Despite a disappointing season in terms of his batting average, he's recorded 18 home runs.
Red Sox vs. Griffin Jax ($6,100), Twins: Rafael Devers ($5,900), J.D. Martinez ($5,200), Alex Verdugo ($3,500)
Even though he has only logged 44 innings for the Twins, Jax has allowed 11 home runs. That could be a big problem for him against a Red Sox team that has the third-highest slugging percentage in baseball. Devers and Martinez carry plenty of power to the plate, combing for 52 home runs. Power may not be Verdugo's forte, but he's proven to be a tough out based on his 14.7 percent strikeout rate.
