This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Pitching
Six arms top out at $9,000 or higher, led by Jacob deGrom's ($12,200) robust tag. He's well worth that in cash lineups, having struck out 24 in 13.0 innings thus far while not allowing a run. He's incredibly cost prohibitive, which will take him out of most GPP lineups, and he's probably due some very moderate regression sooner or later. But if you can fit him into tournament lineups, enjoy!
Gerrit Cole ($10,900), Stephen Strasburg ($10,500) and Aaron Nola ($10,200) bring the next wave of options. The latter two didn't face each other but did see the opposite's squad last week, with Strasburg faring better. Nola could be due for a bounce back, having gone 3-1 against the Nationals last year while posting a 2.14 ERA and fanning 35 in 33.2 innings. Cole is worth a look, coming off of a sub-par effort while getting the zone squeezed against Texas in his last start. The Yankees' bottom half isn't imposing, but the upside doesn't match the price.
The next tier figures to be popular GPP fallbacks. German Marquez ($9,600) had a 4.74 home ERA last year, but only a 2.97 xFIP and 28.0 percent strikeout rate, and is in fine form through two starts. Zack Greinke ($9,300) isn't in such form, but he is coming off a 10-strikeout outing against San Diego and faces a Rangers side that is striking out 27.9 percent of the time against righties. LAD's Ross Stripling ($9,000) rounds out the upper echelon, but he's fanned only eight in 11.2 innings thus far, and doesn't have innings upside either. He's win dependent as a result.
Joey Lucchesi ($8,600) hasn't allowed a run this season, fanning seven in 5.1 earlier innings against San Francisco, and the Giants have a woeful .094 ISO and 23.0 percent K-rate against lefties in 2019 after putting up a .127 ISO and 23.3 whiff rate last season.
Freddy Peralta ($8,300) will likely garner some GPP consideration after an 11-strikeout showing, but the Brewers are only marginal favorites (-120) and the Angels are fanning only 16.3 percent of the time against righties. Finally, I don't trust Max Fried ($6,000) in Colorado, but his ability to spot his fastball last time out allowed his curveball to be a freezing pitch. He's the ultimate GPP gamble against a lineup that ranked second with a .342 wOBA against lefties in 2018.
Key Chalk/Value
Predictably, the highest total Tuesday comes in Coors Field, so having a piece of the Braves and Rockies is prudent. Colorado is struggling out of the gates, making a mini-stack surprisingly affordable. Nolan Arenado ($4,400) destroyed southpaws at home last year to the tune of a .555 wOBA, .477 ISO and 241 wRC+. He'll be a lineup cornerstone despite his slow start. Trevor Story ($4,300) is in better form and posted an equally dominant line against lefties last year, owning a .527 wOBA, 222 wRC+ and .505 ISO. The Braves' side is a little trickier to buy into, but some secondary options include Ender Inciarte ($3,800) who should return to the top of the order with Marquez on the mound, and Josh Donaldson ($3,800), who's been a bit unlucky but has a 60.9 percent hard hit ball rate.
Baltimore-Oakland is only a run behind in the total column, and figures to be another popular game to target. Khris Davis ($4,000) leads the way, with Stephen Piscotty ($3,500) and Matt Chapman ($3,500) checking in at below average prices. Davis actually hit righties better than lefties last season, and I could hear an argument to fade him as a result. Riding some hot Baltimore bats while it lasts leads you to Jonathan Villar ($3,800) and Trey Mancini ($3,700). I tend to believe ownership will be high here, which makes this game better suited for cash lineups.
Milwaukee as a whole aren't swinging it terrifically well, so a stack may be a GPP consideration only against Matt Harvey ($5,600). Christian Yelich ($5,000) is the exception there, and should be a cash game anchor. Ryan Braun ($4,000) looks overpriced due to his two-game homer binge against the Cubs, and he had only a .273 wOBA and 67 wRC+ away from home against righties last year.
Edwin Encarnacion ($3,700) has nine hits (including three homers) in his last five games, and eight RBI in his last two, and his price hasn't risen to match his production. Royals' starter Jakob Junis ($8,100) allowed 2.66 HR/9 to righties at home last year, putting the likes of Domingo Santana ($4,100) and Ryon Healy ($3,500) on radars as well.
Stacks
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Dakota Hudson ($5,700): Joc Pederson ($3,100), Corey Seager ($3,100), Cody Bellinger ($5,000). Hudson allowed three homers in 4.1 innings in his first start, all to left-handers. Building out from Bellinger with Seager and Pederson isn't cost prohibitive. Seager has managed seven hits in his last four games, and Pederson being hitless in his last 15 at-bats will have many looking away.
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Mike Minor ($6,600): Adam Jones ($3,700), Ketel Marte ($3,900), Eduardo Escobar ($2,800). With a lefty on the hill, Jones should return to the leadoff spot and is off to a great start against southpaws. Meanwhile, Marte led Arizona last year with a .408 wOBA against lefties, adding a .273 ISO. Escobar doesn't exactly fit the stacking mantra as he'll likely hit sixth, and while he's off to a slow start, he's very cheap and had a .377 wOBA against left-handers last season.
New York Mets vs. Kyle Gibson ($7,000): Jeff McNeil ($3,100), Pete Alonso ($3,600), Robinson Cano ($3,300). McNeil has been surprisingly sound atop the lineup and had a .374 wOBA last year against righties. Alonso is hitting everything in sight and remains fairly priced, while Cano rounds out the top of the Mets order and will likely be an afterthought for most given his streaky production. This game has the slate's lowest total at 6.5, but you have to assume at least 5.5 of those are being given to the Mets with deGrom on the bump. Gibson wasn't sharp in his season opener, allowing 10 baserunners in 4.2 innings.
