This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
A full 15-game slate awaits Tuesday evening, and it presents very differently than normal. We've got only one pitcher priced in five digits, and the other top options are either big names in bad spots or surging second-tier options. Pitching is also lefty-heavy Tuesday, so there should be some targetable offensive platoon options on a weird slate overall.
Pitching
Yu Darvish, SD at COL ($9,000): I'm hoping the Coors Field factor scares off most, and there is no debating the Rockies swing it far better at home. But Darvish has faced the Rockies twice and fanned 12 across 11 innings while allowing just six hits and no runs. He was inefficient in an earlier start at Coors, but his floor is lowered heavily by this reduced tag, and at his best, there's 6-7x value potential at this number.
Mike Minor, KC vs. DET ($8,800): Chalk city, but the matchup is too great to be omitted from this column. The Tigers have a league-worst .279 wOBA and 75 wRC+ against lefties while fanning a whopping 29.9 percent of the time. It's not a slam dunk, as Minor has allowed six runs and 14 hits across 11.2 innings against Detroit in two starts, but he's whiffed 17 in that span, keeping his floor stable.
Patrick Corbin, WAS vs. PIT ($7,000): The main difference between Minor and Corbin is the lack of strikeouts, as the Pirates fan only 23.7 percent against lefties paired with Corbin's current career-low 6.9 K/9 ratio, but the damage potential seems limited given the Pirates' .281 wOBA, 77 wRC+ and .135 ISO. He's not for the faint of heart, having gone for 20 FDP or less in five straight starts and six of seven, but Corbin does have two games of 37 FDP and one of 55, showing he still has upside.
Eduardo Rodriguez, BOS at ATL ($6,400): Rodriguez isn't in good form, having allowed 28 runs across his last six starts spanning 29.2 innings. He's fanned 37 in that span though, and Atlanta whiffs at a 25.4 percent rate. We don't yet know how healthy Ronald Acuna is, and the lineup after the top four is simply brutal. Rodriguez has a stable floor thanks to his K potential, with 6x value upside if Atlanta's bats remain swing-happy.
Top Targets
Nick Castellanos, CIN at MIL ($4,300): It's almost far too obvious of a smash spot, and it was just last week I successfully targeted Reds' bats against a lefty. Castellanos spots an obscene .507 wOBA, 23 wRC+, .362 ISO and 55.3 percent hard-hit rate against LHP. After an extended cold streak, he's averaged 18.2 FDP across his last five, and Brewers starter Brett Anderson is allowing a .375 wOBA to righties in his own right, suggesting a 2x value floor.
Jose Ramirez, CLE vs. BAL ($4,100): You'll likely see lots of Cleveland stacks Tuesday, but unfortunately, their top bats are largely injured, leaving Ramirez as the main option to build around. He's carrying a team-leading .392 wOBA, 150 wRC+ and .338 ISO amongst healthy regulars into Tuesday's matchup with Matt Harvey, who, after flashing early, has allowed five or more runs in five of his last six starts.
Trent Grisham, SD at COL ($4,000): Paying up for Fernando Tatis is challenging if you want a top arm and some offensive depth, though it may be worth it as he sports a .442 wOBA and .404 ISO vs. righties. Grisham makes for a fair pivot however, as he remains full of upside and hits atop the Padres lineup while carrying a .388 wOBA, .230 ISO and 151 wRC+ into Coors Field. Rockies' starter Chi Chi Gonzalez isn't someone we should shy away from, and if we're a believer in Darvish above, the Padres' offense is going to need to do some heavy lifting in a game with a run total of 11.
Value Bats
Trea Turner, WAS vs. PIT ($3,600): The definition of value can vary, but I largely find it to mean cheap. Relative to his name, Turner is a clear bargain Tuesday. He's got a .426 wOBA, 171 wRC+ and .217 ISO against lefties to date, and hitting atop the Nats' lineup he should see plenty of chances to swing. Yes, he's in a funk, owning only one double-digit points outing since June 6, but there's not much of a downside to Turner at this number.
Ozzie Albies, ATL vs. BOS ($3,300): Even if you're paying down on the bump and liking Rodriguez above, Albies can be a stand-alone option. He's usually a prime suspect against lefties, and his recent hot streak has him bringing a .422 wOBA, .323 ISO, and minimal 13.8 percent K-rate to the docket.
Tyler Stephenson, CIN at MIL ($2,600): This column is becoming redundant when the Reds face lefties; Castellanos to anchor, Stephenson for value. The latter has a .413 wOBA, 161 wRC+, .351 ISO and 44.8 hard hit rate against southpaws. He'd earned double-digit FDP in each of his last four starts entering Monday, and only that fact makes him risky, as there's no certainty he'll be behind the dish two nights in a row.
Stacks to Consider
Blue Jays vs. Jordan Montgomery: Vladimir Guerrero ($4,700), Teoscar Hernandez ($3,200), Randal Grichuk ($2,700)
Montgomery's splits heavily favor right-handed bats, and the Blue Jays hit lefties very well, so this appears a match made in heaven. Guerrero is exorbitantly priced, and his .140 ISO against lefties is disheartening at this number, though his .396 wOBA, 153 wRC+ and 8.3 percent K-rate seem to give him a stable floor. We're chasing power upside with the other two, and they are often happy to oblige. Hernandez is a game removed from two long balls and has a team-high .511 wOBA, 229 wRC+ and .510 ISO against lefties, while Grichuk goes .420/169/.305.
White Sox vs. Shane McClanahan: Jose Abreu ($3,800), Yasmani Grandal ($3,000), Andrew Vaughn ($2,100)
Truth be told, I don't love the idea of a true stack on this slate. There are so many left-handed arms, we can target individuals and mini-stacks. We also can question how long McClanahan will work in this contest, but if we assume he'll be a traditional starter and the Sox get at least two cracks at him, it makes sense to target options here. Chicago boasts seven regulars who carry a .385 wOBA or better against lefties, all of which have at least a .203 ISO. Abreu can anchor, while I'm always more attracted to Grandal than most if he's in the lineup given his willingness to walk (37.3 percent) paired with a .464 wOBA against lefties. Vaughn is a feast or famine dart throw on the very low end price wise, as he's got a .377 ISO and only 5.6 percent soft contact rate against opposite-handed arms.
