This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
There are reasons to go big with Gerrit Cole on Tuesday, but I'd rather challenge myself with cheaper pitchers that also allow me to have decent bats. Most of those bats are from games with over/unders of 9.5, which is the highest total of the slate. And while there is rain in some forecasts, it's mostly scattered showers.
PITCHER
Zack Greinke, ARI vs. MIL ($49): I could spend all my money on Gerrit Cole ($60) or go with Greinke, who has been just as consistent with less upside. Greinke has hit 17 fantasy points in his last six starts and has at least 27 in two of his last three. He has the ability to go deep and carve lineups and that should work against a Brewers lineup that has a below average 24.3 K% and .153 ISO against righties over the last month.
Tyler Mahle, CIN at SF ($35): There were a few places to go with this one, but I think Mahle has a nice combination of value and upside compared to someone like Alex Wood ($43), who is only good for consistency. Mahle has at least 15 fantasy points in his last four starts, but also an 11-strikeout outing against a good Braves lineup. I'd be willing to bet on him as a small underdog against the Giants, which have a high 25.7 K% against righties.
CATCHER
Yan Gomes, CLE at DET ($16): Gomes struggled against a lefty on Monday, but this is another good chance for him to do some damage. Strikeouts are a problem for him (31.7 K%), but Francisco Liriano has had some issues against righty bats this season with a 13.3 K% and 14.2 BB%. This is after he had a 5.54 xFIP against righties last season. As for Gomes, he roped southpaws for a .264 ISO and .360 wOBA in 2017. To save some cash, Tucker Barnhart ($13) continues to have nice value.
FIRST BASE
Mark Canha, OAK at BOS ($15): Canha is blasting southpaws early with seven extra-base hits (four HR) in only 36 plate appearances. Eduardo Rodriguez just carved up the Yankees, but he's struggled with consistency early and 26 of his 29 allowed hits have come against righties. I'm still comfortable going against Rodriguez due to his career 4.39 xFIP against righty bats.
SECOND BASE
Brock Holt, BOS vs. OAK ($10): Holt has regained his swing early in the season with seven XBH in 54 at-bats against righties, which is closer to the .329 wOBA he had in 2016 than a lost 2017 in which he rarely played. Daniel Mengden is pitching better than earlier in the season, but still isn't a guy that's going to mow down this lineup. He has an early 13.3 K% against lefty bats to go with a career 4.34 xFIP.
THIRD BASE
Maikel Franco, PHI at BAL ($17): Franco is crushing this season with five homers against righties, which has pushed his career wOBA to .313. That's not great, but there's no doubt he's improved and that should be enough against Andrew Cashner. The righty hurler has allowed at least three runs in his last five starts and has 13 walks in that period. Throw in last year's 4.73 xFIP against righty bats and he's going to struggle against this roster, a main reason this over/under is at 9.5 runs.
SHORTSTOP
Amed Rosario, NYM vs. TOR ($8): To save some money, Rosario is a cheap bat that gets on base with a career .362 BABIP against southpaws in his two short seasons. Jaime Garcia is having another troubled year and while he only gave up three hits last outing, he also walked five batters to go with three Ks. Garcia had a 4.59 xFIP against righties last season and he's headed for a worse number this year.
OUTFIELD
Andrew Benintendi, BOS vs. OAK ($21): Benintendi is my expensive bat to use against Mengden supported by his 13 XBH and minimal 12.5 K% against righties this season. That's in line with his career .363 wOBA at home, which will cause Mengden problems. Mengden isn't striking out lefties this season (13.3 K%) and has a mediocre career .303 wOBA against them.
Mitch Haniger, SEA vs. TEX ($21): Haniger only has two homers against lefties, but his .412 BABIP in 46 at-bats is solid to go with a career .198 ISO against them. Mike Minor gave up three home runs to righties last start and has given up 12 runs in his last three. There's no reason that will change against a Mariners team that has a .343 wOBA against lefties.
Yasiel Puig, LAD at MIA ($11): I couldn't create an entire roster and not use anyone against Wei-Yin Chen, who was rocked for nine runs last time out and only has six Ks in his three starts. Puig hasn't done much this season, but he has the tools to capitalize against a struggling pitcher and this is as good of spot as any for his career .335 wOBA against southpaws to show up.
