This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
A nearly full 14-game slate awaits Tuesday evening, with only a matinee between the Red Sox and Yankees being omitted. While we have two starting pitchers priced in five digits, there are 11 more carrying salaries $8,300 or higher, so it's a very deep slate on the bump. Resource allocation will be paramount as we look to grab the right arm, and pair it with successful bats.
Pitching
Alek Manoah, TOR at WAS ($9,900): With options like Manoah, I don't see great reason to pay all the way up for either Corbin Burnes or Chris Bassitt. The rookie's got strikeout upside (10.8 per nine), fanning at least nine in three of his last five outings. Washington's offense is a nightly target as right now they are Juan Soto and not much else, and the Nats have scored two runs or fewer in three of five. Manoah isn't efficient, so innings/a quality start are not guaranteed, but he should have win potential with ample run support as the Jays tee off against Erick Fedde.
Vladimir Gutierrez, CIN vs. CHC ($8,700): This is probably the most obvious option Tuesday. Gutierrez is in fine form, posting 38-43 FDP in each of his last four starts with the lowest figure coming against this same Chicago club. Since their selloff, the Cubs is a nightly target for opposing pitchers (and DFS players). They've posted a meager .290 wOBA, 80 wRC+ and .132 ISO in August, fanning a whopping 31.5 percent of the time.
Logan Webb, SF vs. NYM ($7,600): Webb has worked six innings in each of his last four starts, averaging 40.8 FDP in that stretch. He isn't a known strikeout guy, and paired with the Mets not fanning often either (23.0 percent in August), he likely doesn't have that kind of upside Tuesday. New York's bats aren't to be feared either though, having posted a .281 wOBA, 78 wRC+ and .123 ISO this month. Webb's floor in this current stretch has been 31 FDP, which is easy 4x value at this salary.
Top Targets
Vladimir Guerrero, TOR at WAS ($4,400): Stacking the Jays here is difficult; they are rightfully priced up, but George Springer isn't healthy, and the rest of the lineup doesn't have huge positive splits against righties. Furthermore, Fedde is more vulnerable to opposite-handed bats. All of that is out the window with a talent like Guerrero though. His monstrous .441 wOBA, 183 wRC+ and .335 ISO against same-handed arms play in any situation.
Joey Votto, CIN vs. CHC ($4,100): We know the power surge Votto has been on during the second half. He comes into Tuesday with an obscene .520 wOBA, 225 wRC+, .550 ISO, 1.315 OPS and 54.4 percent hard hit rate against righties since the All-Star break. Cubs' starter Kyle Hendricks has allowed at least three runs in six straight starts, 24 in total doing that stretch, and seems unlikely to harness his early-season shutdown form here.
Value Bats
Will Smith, LAD vs. PIT ($3.500): Smith is piping hot, homering in three consecutive games. He leads the Dodgers with a .423 wOBA and .293 ISO against righties, and is in a great spot to stay locked in against Pirates' starter Wil Crowe. Crowe has been better of late but is still allowing a .413 wOBA to righties, and he's been victimized by the long ball often, allowing 2.0 per nine.
Yuli Gurriel, HOU at KC ($3,100): We know the Astros smoke lefties, so I'm assuming they will be a popular stack Tuesday against Daniel Lynch, who is allowing a .371 wOBA to opposite-handed bats. I'm choosing to ride only Gurriel and differentiate elsewhere. His .400 wOBA, 162 wRC+ and .252 ISO lead Houston regulars.
Ty France, SEA at TEX ($2,900): France can be a bit feast or famine, but that's perfectly fine at this salary. He leads the Mariners with a .360 wOBA against lefties, and his .200 ISO is serviceable. We want some shares of this offense against Taylor Hearn, but not too many as his .350 wOBA allowed to righties is more stable than attackable.
Stacks to Consider
Rockies vs. Matt Strahm: C.J. Cron ($4,000), Trevor Story ($4,000), Brendan Rodgers ($3,300)
I am a little leery here, as I don't trust Strahm to work too deep and the Padres' bullpen can be tough, but it seems likely he'll get hit hard regardless as he has a 9.82 road ERA (though only a 5.34 xFIP), allowing a .513 wOBA and 1.278 OPS to righties. The inclusion of Rodgers really makes this affordable, though Story and Cron aren't priced too high given the positive matchup in Coors Field. Cron leads the Rockies with a .408 wOBA, adding a 142 wRC+ and .277 ISO. Story goes .379/123/.252 and Rogers .408/142/.328.
Braves vs. Sandy Alcantara: Ozzie Albies ($4,400), Freddie Freeman ($3,800) Dansby Swanson ($3,600)
Hopefully Atlanta bats aren't popular and we can get some low usage rates. This lineup is mashing the ball of late, hitting 13 homers in their last four games, but only Joc Pederson ($2,700) has taken Alcantara yard previously. While he has sub .300 wOBAs allowed to bats from both sides of the plate, Alcantara is a bit more vulnerable to lefties, fanning only 6.9 per nine in that split against 9.17 per nine against righties and adding a 4.41 FIP against 3.21 to same-handed bats. Enter Albies and Freeman from the left side atop this lineup. The third piece is up for discussion, and Pederson is an option, but give me Swanson and his current form (11-for-23, four HRs, 12 RBI, seven runs scored in his last five).
