This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
A robust 12-game slate awaits on Tuesday's main card, with plethora of options and strategies presenting themselves. Let's dive in.
Pitchers
Max Scherzer, WAS at NYM ($10,700): On one hand, you get a dominant ace at a reasonably reduced price, and one that fanned 35 Mets in 26.0 innings against them last year. On the other, he's "discounted" as he's coming off a hamstring issue that limited him to one frame in his last outing, against these Mets. It makes him a risky cash game play, but the GPP upside remains.
Dylan Bundy, LAA vs. OAK ($9,700): The change in uniform has been a blessing for Bundy, who brings a 2.73 xFIP and 31.3 strikeout percentage through three starts into Tuesday. Mix in a matchup with an A's lineup that is fanning 25.7 percent of the time against righties, ranking 11th across the league, and the makings are there for both a stable floor and high ceiling.
Kenta Maeda, MIN @ MIL ($8,500): Maeda could get lost in the shuffle of a deep slate Tuesday, especially coming off an outing in which he allowed three runs across six innings against lowly Pittsburgh. He has gone either five or six frames in his first three starts, so he's a bit limited in innings upside, but his moderate strikeout totals (8.5 per nine) get a minor boost against a Brewers lineup fanning 30.1 percent of the time against righties, the second-highest mark in the league.
Touki Toussaint, ATL at NYY ($7,400): Toussaint makes for the ultimate low-usage GPP target. He'll be widely ignored against a potent Yankees lineup, and there's certainly the potential he implodes and loses you points. But he's coming off arguably the best outing of his career, striking out nine Blue Jays in 6.2 innings en route to 42 FDP. His command/control lead to big time inconsistency, but we've now seen the upside.
Brandon Bielak, HOU vs. SFG ($6,600): Bielak has been terrific, allowing just six hits and one run across 10.1 frames. But he's fanned only seven, clearly pitching to contact, and has limited innings potential in what will be his second start. He'll be a popular buy-down target, and the matchup is favorable for nearly 3x value, but expect high usage and limited potential.
Top Targets
Charlie Blackmon, COL vs. ARI ($4,400): The home matchup clearly screams "target Rockies!", and it makes sense to play the opposite-handed matchup against righty Zac Gallen. Blackmon is actually hitting lefties better in the early going, but he still has a .471 wOBA against righties at home this year on the heels of a .476 wOBA, 184 wRC+, .363 ISO and 42.6 percent hard hit rate from last year.
Fernando Tatis, SDP at LAD ($4,400): Tatis probably deserves to be listed here on a nightly basis until he proves otherwise. He entered Monday averaging 19.68 FDP (a cool 4.5x value), having launched six long balls in as many games. It's not a preferred matchup against Ross Stripling, who's won three straight starts, but the Dodger is allowing a .410 wOBA to righties in the early going. Fade Tatis at your own risk.
Ronald Acuna, ATL at NYY ($4,000): He's been a bit feast or famine, but Acuna is starting to get going, and his ability to hit balls out in any direction should play well with the short porches on each side at Yankee Stadium. Tuesday starter Jordan Montgomery is allowing a .454 wOBA to righties across 30 batters faced, while Acuna had a .370 wOBA, .270 ISO and 43.2 percent hard hit rate against lefties last year.
Value Plays
David Dahl, COL vs. ARI ($3,400): It goes without saying we want Rockies in our lineup when at home. But Dahl's salary seems an anomaly given his credentials as the Colorado leadoff man against an opposite-handed arm. He hasn't shown any power this season, but he's still reached at least 6.2 FDP in nine straight games and and 13 of 14 overall. Less than 2x value isn't ideal, but there's stability here with overdue upside.
Carlos Correa, HOU vs. SFG ($3,400): With a lefty on the mound, we usually immediately target Alex Bregman ($3,900) from the Astros lineup. But Correa is off to a nice start, posting a .470 wOBA and 216 wRC+ against southpaws in the early going.
Niko Goodrum, DET vs. CHW ($2,800): There are two lefties on the bump here, which makes the game highly stackable, and no bat checks in north of $3,500 on either side. White Sox starter Gio Gonzalez is essentially throwing soft toss at this point, and Goodrum brings a .456 wOBA against lefties to the table from the top spot in the lineup.
Stacks to Consider
White Sox vs. Tyler Alexander: James McCann ($3,000), Jose Abreu ($3,100), Luis Robert ($3,300)
As noted above, this game could be stackable on both sides. McCann comes in with standalone value, having posted a .385 wOBA against lefties last year while hitting .360 across his first seven appearances to date. Abreu has a history of hitting lefties well despite an overall decline in production, posting a .408 wOBA and 161 wRC+ last season, while Robert brings run scoring potential atop the lineup.
Nationals vs. Rick Porcello: Juan Soto ($4,100), Asdrubal Cabrera ($2,900), Adam Eaton ($2,700)
We're clearly targeting lefties against Porcello, who is surrendering a .462 wOBA, 1.065 OPS and 57.9 percent hard hit rate. The inclusion of Cabrera and Eaton make this stack affordable, while Soto provides the run producing upside, having now homered in two of his last three games. It goes against the splits, but there's little wrong with Trea Turner ($3,200) atop the lineup as well given the reduced price.
