This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
An 11-game slate awaits Tuesday night, going off at 7:10 p.m. EDT. The price points on some of the arms don't jibe, so we're paying for form as opposed to familiarity. That's a risky strategy for sure. There's also a plethora of lefties on the bump, which can make for great targets on both sides of the equation.
Pitching
Framber Valdez, HOU at SEA ($10,000): Valdez gets a plus matchup against a Mariners lineup that is woeful against lefties, posting a league-worst.274 wOBA while adding a .145 ISO and 27.0 percent strikeout rate. He fanned 11 in his last outing, and has at least seven Ks in four of his last five. He posted 40 FDP in an earlier matchup with Seattle.
Brady Singer, KAN vs. STL ($9,600): Singer is on a two-game heater, posting 52 and 58 FDP while striking out 16 across 14 shutout innings, allowing just three hits. The Cardinals don't fan often, just 23.7 percent of the time, but their .306 wOBA isn't something that scares you away. He may not have the upside in this matchup he's recently shown, but he doesn't look combustible either.
Tarik Skubal, DET vs. MIN ($7,500): This doesn't look like someone to target, so that could lead to low usage and GPP appeal for Skubal. His 6.17 ERA isn't supported by a 4.76 xFIP, and he's posted 58 total FDP against the Twins in two starts. Minnesota doesn't fan at all against lefties at just 20.9 percent, but they also don't make hard contact, posting a mere .104 ISO.
Jordan Lyles, TEX vs. ARI ($6,600): It may seem asinine to include Lyles here, and make no mistake, there is no upside. Lyles fans only 5.3 per nine, and the Diamondbacks whiff just 21.0 percent of the time. But they also bring a mere .156 ISO and 87 wRC+ to the table, and Lyles has quietly worked 6.1 frames or more in three straight outings. He's averaged 21.7 FDP during that stretch, which allows Lyles to flirt with 4x return. Obviously, he's a GPP target only who allows for free spending offensively.
Top Targets
Freddie Freeman, ATL vs. MIA ($4,000): It's teammate Ronald Acuna ($4,500) that has beef with Marlins' starter Jose Urena, and while Acuna has found success against him, Freeman looks like a bargain given his 11-of-26, four-HR history against the right-hander. He's producing MVP numbers, which includes a .502 wOBA against righties. That pairs well with the .578 wOBA that Urena is allowing to lefties.
Xander Bogaerts, BOS vs. BAL ($3,700): Bogaerts has a robust .426 wOBA and 43.5 percent hard hit rate against lefties. O's starter Keegan Akin has shown flashes of brilliance, and flashes of still being a minor-league arm finding his way. He's allowing a .421 wOBA to righties on the road, albeit in a limited sample size. Akin isn't necessarily someone you'll want to stack against, but rostering Boston's stable top option that has hit safely in 12 of 14 makes sense.
Value Bats
Kris Bryant, CHC at PIT ($2,800): At this salary, Bryant is a free square even given the horrible form that has resulted in the tag. He hasn't homered since August 12, but this looks like a spot for rare optimism. Despite his struggles, Bryant carries a .409 wOBA against lefties into this contest, and is 8-of-16 with two homers and a 1.600 OPS against Steven Brault.
Austin Slater, SFG vs. COL ($2,800): Slater hits atop the order and carries a team-high .445 wOBA and 185 wRC+ into Tuesday, mixing in a .294 ISO. He's absolutely feast or famine, going for zero or two knocks in each of his last 15 games.
Stacks to Consider
Astros vs. Ljay Newsome: Kyle Tucker ($3,300), Michael Brantley ($3,000), George Springer ($3,800)
The real appeal here is the LvR matchup against Newsome, who is allowing a .496 wOBA and 1.200 OPS to opposite-handed bats. Brantley and Tucker are targets for GPPs, with Brantley's .401 against righties leading the team despite the fact he has just two extra-base hits since September 8, while Tucker carries a .282 ISO in this spot. Springer rounds out the stack, and his .378 wOBA against righties is second on the team, slightly higher than Tucker's .370 tally.
Orioles vs. Nick Pivetta: Ryan Mountcastle ($3,600), Jose Iglesias ($2,900), DJ Stewart ($2,900)
Pivetta seems to be a sacrificial lamb for the Sox who is just being trotted out to be pummeled, as he allowed 10 runs over 5.2 innings and facing 29 batters for the Phillies before being cut loose earlier this year. He's targetable from both sides of the plate, and we can anchor with Mountcastle and his .418 wOBA, 167 wRC+ and .240 ISO against righties. Iglesias is a wild card given his potential absence from the lineup following a HBP on Saturday, but he's a contact machine if he returns to the lineup. Stewart has a .357 ISO against righties, and brings run-producing upside to this stack.
