This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Tuesday's slate is a nearly full 13-game contest, going off at a typical 7:05 p.m. EDT. Only five of those contests have nine-run projected totals, so we're either going to need to get creative with our bats, or trust one team will provide most of the damage to get near those totals. There are so many struggling hitters priced favorably here it's almost impossible to name them all. Don't be bashful in building your offense, as there are more than enough options to go around and still be highly respectable on the bump.
Pitching
Max Scherzer, WAS at TOR ($12,000): I've doubted Scherzer a lot this season, but he's in good form over his last two outings, both worth 55 FDP, while he struck out 19. I'll again doubt him here however. With Juan Soto still sidelined, the run support isn't strong. The Nats' come in as just -135 favorites, and while wins aren't imperative to appeal, Scherzer is going to have to ring up Ks against a lineup fanning only 23.9 percent of the time to provide a return.
Lucas Giolito, CWS vs. DET ($10,600): Giolito is the other reason I'm doubting Scherzer. The floor seems more stable against a bad Detroit lineup posting a .288 wOBA and 27.4 percent K-rate. There's a nice discount relative to Scherzer, a much greater win percentage with the White Sox (-230 favorites), and I personally expect a bounce-back performance after Giolito melted down in his last outing.
Walker Buehler, LAD vs. CIN ($9,800): Buehler has alternated 40 FDP outings with sub-par showings, and if that trend holds, he won't return value here. He's facing a Reds lineup that ranks third against righties with a .344 wOBA. That's enough to scare me away in cash formats, but given the discount from Scherzer, I'd hear arguments for GPP usage.
Chris Paddack, SD at ARI ($7,700): Paddack, like many of the mid-priced arms, has flaws. He has gone four or five innings in each of his four outings, but has allowed only two runs while fanning 11 in his last two starts, which gives him a shot at 4x value. His 3.50 ERA is supported by a 3.10 FIP, and the D'backs don't pound righties, posting just a .298 wOBA and 86 wRC+.
Jose Quintana, LAA vs. TEX ($6,700): Quintana looks like he'll be the trendy pay-down option Tuesday. He's coming off of a season-high 5.1 innings against these Rangers, allowing just two hits and a run while fanning eight. Texas whiffs a fair 25.2 percent of the time against lefties, but brings a meager .273 wOBA, 78 wRC+ and .110 ISO to the table. The Angels big bats are back at full health and should provide some run support in a spot where they are -150 favorites.
Top Targets
Fernando Tatis, SD at ARI ($4,400): I don't know how you can fade Tatis until he proves his heater is over. He homered five times in three games against the Dodgers over the weekend, and faces a pitcher in Merrill Kelly that's allowing a .417 wOBA to righties to date. Tatis is conveniently 5-of-11 with three homers off Kelly to boot.
Shohei Ohtani, LAA at TEX ($4,200): We obviously need to confirm Ohtani plays after Monday's two-way start, but we also know we want at least one piece of the Angels offense against Mike Foltynewicz. The right-hander has not taken kindly to his new home in Globe Life Field, where the ball was jumping last night. Folty is allowing a .529 wOBA and 1.332 OPS against opposite-handed bats, and Ohtani comes at a $300 discount relative to Mike Trout. Jared Walsh ($3,200) makes for a fair pay-down option.
Xander Bogaerts, BOS at NYM ($3,700): I want to stack Red Sox here, but Mets' starter David Peterson has far better splits at home than he does on the road. As such, I'll take Bogaerts and his .452 wOBA and 196 wRC+ over the more expensive J.D. Martinez ($4,200), not chasing Martinez's .346 ISO in spacious Citi Field.
Value Bats
Kris Bryant, CHC at ATL ($3,500): Bryant looks healthy and locked in for his contract year. His grand slam Monday gives him hits in nine of his last 10, and six homers and 16 RBI on the year. The ball was flying out of Truist Park last night, and with heat in the south setting in, that shouldn't change. Bryant is still priced under his historic form, even with Ian Anderson allowing a .254 wOBA to righties. Willson Contreras ($3,300) has four homers against the Braves to date if you need to save a little, I just can't advise a Cubs stack against Anderson.
Aaron Judge, NYY at BAL ($3,500): Fully taking the bait here and chasing power. Despite a slow start, judge owns a .427 wOBA and 183 wRC+ against lefties in the early going, albeit with a .200 ISO. O's starter Bruce Zimmermann shouldn't scare anyone away, allowing a .420 wOBA to righties at home, which can absolutely put a stack of Judge, DJ LeMahieu ($3,000) and Aaron Hicks ($2,900) into play.
Austin Hays, BAL vs. NYY ($2,700): Hays' salary rose $400 from Monday, making him less appealing, but he's certainly putting things together with eight hits in as many games. Mix in Corey Kluber's .442 wOBA allowed to same-handed bats, and I like Hays to at least scratch for 2x value here as a floor.
Stacks to Consider
Astros vs. Marco Gonzales: Alex Bregman ($3,800), Jose Altuve ($3,500), Yuli Gurriel ($3,200)
Houston versus a left-handed arm is a near-automatic play, as it was Monday when Justus Sheffield surprisingly shut them down. They'll get a second straight southpaw in Gonzales, who has righted things over his last two starts but is still surrendering a .472 wOBA and 1.136 OPS to righties. Bregman has been his reliable self against opposite-handed bats (.451 wOBA, 204 wRC+, .250 ISO), while Gurriel and Altuve check in better with a .467 and .460 wOBA and 215/210 wRC+, respectively.
White Sox vs. Jose Urena: Adam Eaton ($3,800), Yoan Moncada ($3,400), Yermin Mercedes ($3,100)
There are a few paths to go down with the Sox here against Urena, who is getting pelted by lefties to the tune of a .394 wOBA (against .205 to righties). Enter Eaton as our anchor, something that seems crazy, but he's off to a nice .393 wOBA, 161 wRC+ and .250 ISO start. I prefer forcing a second lefty into this stack, so I'm rolling with Moncada, giving us Chicago's likely 2-3 hitters despite some deficiencies (.338 wOBA, 24.2 percent K-rate). Mercedes is the wild card. There's no way he can keep up his current pace, but the upside for the price is undeniable as he comes in with a .456 wOBA and 205 wRC+.
