This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Tuesday brings us one of the last few chances for a full-game contest this postseason.
Pitching Breakdown
Gerrit Cole ($11,800) - Cole is on a ridiculous run, fanning 10 or more in every start dating back to August 7, 11 straight outings. He whiffed 25 over two ALDS starts, allowing six hits and one run in the process. Cole faced the Yankees once during the regular season, allowing three runs and four hits over seven innings, fanning six, but that was back in April.
Luis Severino ($7,800) - Severino has been great in four starts since returning from injury, allowing two runs and 10 hits across 16.0 innings, fanning 21. The innings/pitch count is the issue, as the Yankees simply aren't opening him up. He's maxed out at 83 pitches, and there's no evidence he'll get to flirt with 100 here, so a quality start and/or win is likely off the table. Returning 3x value would be solely based on high strikeouts.
Patrick Corbin ($9,500) - Corbin has a chance to close out a team that hit him hard during the regular season. He allowed eight runs and 11 hits over 11.0 innings against the Cards in two regular-season starts. But St. Louis' offense has been woeful in the NLCS, mustering just two runs and 11 hits through three games. Corbin has worked in relief three times since starting in Game 1 of the NLDS, and he's been very up and down over the second half. But given the Cardinals' form, he feels trustworthy.
Dakota Hudson ($7,300) - Hudson is either playing with house money with the Cardinals looking dead to rights, or has the weight of the world on his shoulders looking to keep St. Louis alive. He impressed in a Game 4 NLDS start before getting a quick hook, and fared well in the regular season against the Nats, fanning eight while allowing nine hits and four runs across 13.0 frames. He's walk prone however, which leads to high pitch counts and limited inning totals.
Hitting Correlation
Nationals' bats have been, and look to be, the chalky play facing the opposing pitcher with the lowest salary on the slate. Howie Kendrick ($2,800) continues to come up big and remains criminally underpriced. Victor Robles ($2,900) notched a big fly in his return to action and his power/speed upside plays well at this low price. These two make for great stacking partners with Trea Turner ($4,200) and/or Anthony Rendon ($4,000). Juan Soto ($3,600) looks lost at the plate however, seemingly begging for walks. He's a GPP play only in the hopes he drives one.
If we assume Severino continues to be limited, and Aaron Boone continues to mismanage the bullpen, Astros' bats will be solid choices, particularly in cash formats where they are seemingly the safest offense. Alex Bregman ($4,300) continues to be as steady as they come, as does Jose Altuve ($4,200), while Michael Brantley ($3,200) has quietly put up four hits in his last three games.
Yankee bats will be ignored given Cole's presence on the bump, and I agree with that strategy. Maybe a GPP stack for entertainment, but that's it. Cardinals bats may be more intriguing for tournament purposes. Marcell Ozuna ($3,900) has multiple hits in five of eight postseason games, while Paul DeJong ($2,800) has shown a better approach in the NLCS. The Cardinals used Jose Martinez ($2,400) in Monday's Game 3, and he rewarded them with two hits. In desperate need of offense, he's likely to start again Tuesday and had a .414 wOBA against lefties during the regular season.
One-offs
Giancarlo Stanton ($3,500) is the only injury situation we're monitoring. He's had a little success against Cole previously (3-of-10, two doubles and a homer). If he sits, Cameron Maybin ($2,600) is the cheap replacement.
