This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
A full 15-game slate awaits Tuesday evening. There's a surprising lack of top-tier pitchers, with only two arms carrying five-figure salaries, but there are some solid matchups below that range that seem well worth targeting.
Pitching
Lance McCullers, HOU at SEA ($10,500): I don't think this slate requires paying top dollar for pitching, but if that's your steadfast philosophy, McCullers gets the nod. He's fanned at least seven in five straight starts, allowing more than two runs just once in that stretch. Mix in the Mariners' 26.0 percent K-rate and just a .296 wOBA, and there's clear appeal.
Sandy Alcantara, MIA at BAL ($9,300): I expect Alcantara to draw a lot of interest Tuesday facing an O's lineup that fans 25.0 percent of the time while ranking last in the league against righties with a .293 wOBA and 85 wRC+. But there is some buyer beware here. He's allowed at least three runs in three of his last four starts, not lasting more than four frames in his last two. He also hasn't thrown since July 16, when he landed on the bereavement list. It's an obvious spot to use him, but the trends suggest we fade. And we know how the ball can jump out of Camden Yards.
Charlie Morton, ATL at NYM ($8,600): Morton has been steady and stable for a while, posting at least 30 FDP in 10 of his last 12 starts dating back to May 19. He's faced the Mets three times in that stretch, averaging 47 FDP while showing a 34 FDP floor and 64 FDP ceiling. The law of averages is clearly on Morton's side here.
Spenser Watkins, BAL vs. MIA ($6,800): There are some really solid pay-down options Tuesday, with Jordan Montgomery ($7,200) and Taylor Widener ($6,500) both meriting a look, but Watkins seems like someone that profiles similarly and will go completely overlooked. He's coming off of a seven-strikeout outing against the Rays, and the Marlins' 25.4 percent K-rate gives him a chance to replicate that. The Fish also walk just 8.0 percent of the time, giving Watkins a chance to be efficient and gain some innings. He's averaged 30.7 FDP in his last three outings.
Top Targets
Vladimir Guerrero, TOR at BOS ($4,500): I keep getting stuck with slates where the most expensive bat has such a plus matchup he gets included -- not exactly hard-hitting analysis. But how do you ignore Guerrero if your build can stomach the cost? He has a .471 wOBA, 203 wRC+ and .368 ISO against righties. Sox starter Garrett Richards is allowing a.385 wOBA and .893 OPS (compared to .341/.789 to lefties). And it's a small sample, but Guerrero is 6-for-9 with three walks and a 2.083 OPS against Richards.
Trea Turner, WAS at PHI ($4,300): Matt Moore is allowing a .405 wOBA to righties, and with the Nats' secondary bats all being priced under $3k, they make for a clear stack in this spot. Their lineup is volatile though, so we'll take an anchor in Turner before considering the other spots. He's got a robust .464 wOBA, 191 wRC+ and .260 ISO against lefties on the year, and has hit safely in all but five games since June 22.
Bryce Harper, PHI vs. WAS ($4,300): Despite allowing only a .339 wOBA to lefties and .276 wOBA to righties, Nats' starter Erick Fedde has a 4.88 ERA and supporting 4.46 FIP. He's walking lefties at a high rate (5.6 per nine), which should give Harper a stable floor at worst. At best, his .401 wOBA and .278 ISO play up against a pitcher he's 6-for-15 against with four homers.
Value Bats
Josh Donaldson, MIN vs. DET ($3,200): Donaldson is still producing runs from the top third of the order, and brings a .384 wOBA against lefties to the table. The Tigers will throw Tyler Alexander, who is allowing a .368 wOBA to righties (against .246 to same-handed bats), and he's expected to be on a higher pitch count here, giving Donaldson additional opportunities against him.
Tyrone Taylor, MIL at PIT ($2,400): There are values throughout the Brewers lineup, with Kolten Wong ($2,900) and Avisail Garcia ($2,700) also standing out. Taylor has a .387 wOBA against lefties, the lowest of this trio, but he's also the cheapest. Mix in a .267 ISO, plus five hits, two homers, five RBI and four runs in his last three games, and there's some upside at the salary.
Gavin Sheets, CWS at KC ($2,300): Sheets is feast or famine, but that's the upside that can help win GPPs if he pops. He's boasting a .365 ISO against righties to go with a .406 wOBA. The rest of the White Sox don't stand out against righties, and Royals' starter Brad Keller has been decent of late, but seeing that he'd allowed four or more runs in five straight starts prior to a three-game stretch of moderate success, we can take a shot or two against him.
Stacks to Consider
Reds vs. Adbert Alzolay: Jesse Winker ($4,100), Joey Votto ($3,600), Aristides Aquino ($2,300)
We know we want to load up on lefties against Alzolay, who is allowing a .405 wOBA to them as opposed to a .229 to righties. That makes Winker and Votto obvious building blocks, checking in with a .438 wOBA/.281 ISO and .408/.275, respectively. Finding a third option is far less obvious, and Jonathan India ($3,400) is probably the best bet if budget isn't a concern. If it is, why not throw a dart at Aquino's power potential. He's playing daily with Nick Castellanos sidelined, and quietly he's hit safely in five of six.
Athletics vs. Chris Paddack: Matt Olson ($4,100), Mark Canha ($2,900), Jed Lowrie ($2,700)
This is a GPP-only option for those looking to construct a very different lineup and hope Paddack's back luck continues. He has a 6.94 ERA at home, but only a 3.53 xFIP. He's been hit hard by righties, allowing a .410 wOBA and .945 to righties, so we can feel a little more confident in Canha and Lowrie than their RvR splits suggest. Olson lands here simply as the high-priced anchor, but getting even weirder with Elvis Andrus ($2,500) gets three cheap righties atop the order/surrounding Olson.
