This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
Tuesday's MLB slate begins at 7:05 PM Eastern time and features all 30 teams. Neither of the starting pitching options below was expected to make a major impact coming into the season, but each represents strong bang for the buck based on 2018 results. Those pitchers are joined by a group of affordable hitters all priced at $17 or less, including a pair of Royals set to capitalize on a favorable matchup.
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PITCHER
Clay Buchholz, ARI vs. PIT ($33): Those who have been relying on Buchholz every fifth day since his return to the majors should continue to do so, as he's been sensational in four starts for Arizona. His ERA sits at 1.88, and Buchholz has also racked up 16 strikeouts in 13 innings over his last two starts after striking out only five batters through 11 frames in his first two outings. The installation of a humidor has made Chase Field's hitter-friendly tilt a relic of the past, as the venue now ranks 23rd with a 0.89 park factor. Those pitcher-friendly conditions should help Buchholz handle a slumping Pirates lineup that's scored more than two runs in just three of its last eight games while suffering three shutout losses in that stretch.
Miles Mikolas, STL vs. SD ($48): Mikolas is an outstanding 7-1 with a 2.27 ERA overall, and the latter number drops to a minuscule 1.28 in 42.1 home innings. His 18.5 percent strikeout rate doesn't blow you away by any means, but this favorable matchup against the Padres should allow Mikolas to pad his strikeout totals while still maintaining his effectiveness when it comes to keeping runners from crossing the plate. San Diego averages the fifth-fewest runs per game (3.90) while also whiffing fifth-most (9.36 strikeouts per game).
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CATCHER
Wilson Ramos, TB vs. TOR ($15): Ramos is operating out of the cleanup spot for the Rays, and he'll have the platoon advantage here against Toronto lefty Jaime Garcia. The veteran catcher owns a .342 career wOBA against left-handed pitching while Garcia's surrendered a .375 wOBA to the 183 right-handed hitters he's faced this season while also posting an 8.20 road ERA.
FIRST BASE
Justin Bour, MIA vs. SF ($17): Bour costs a bit less than the top options at first base, but he's in position to outplay many of those pricier alternatives in this slate. Miami's left-handed clean-up hitter has a .369 wOBA against right-handed pitching, and he draws a favorable matchup here against Chris Stratton of the Giants. Stratton's career wOBA allowed to batters from the left side is .343, and his season mark of .339 is hardly any better.
SECOND BASE
Brian Dozier, MIN at DET ($17): Dozier sports a .372 career wOBA against left-handed pitching, making Minnesota's leadoff man one of the most dangerous second basemen in this slate. He also benefits from facing an unremarkable southpaw in Detroit's Blaine Hardy, who has allowed a .331 wOBA to right-handed hitters in his career.
THIRD BASE
Mike Moustakas, KC vs. CIN ($15): Moustakas has a nearly ideal matchup at home against Reds righty Sal Romano. The 146 left-handed batters to face Romano this season have produced a .400 wOBA while Moustakas has posted a .378 wOBA through 172 at-bats against right-handed pitching. That .378 mark jumps to .391 in 89 such at-bats at Kauffman Stadium.
SHORTSTOP
Trea Turner, WAS at NYY ($16): Turner should benefit from Yankee Stadium's seventh-ranked, 1.14 park factor against lefty CC Sabathia, who has a 6.39 ERA (18 earned runs in 25.1 innings) over his past five starts. If Turner's contributions at the plate out of the leadoff spot aren't enough, he's also a major threat on the base paths with 64 steals since the start of last season.
OUTFIELD
Lonnie Chisenhall, CLE at CWS ($12): If you can't afford stud lefty outfielder Michael Brantley ($20), his teammate Chisenhall makes for a nice low-cost alternative at $12. Both are primed to find success against White Sox righty James Shields, who finished with at least a .370 wOBA allowed to left-handed batters in the 2015, 2016 and 2017 campaigns.
Daniel Palka, CWS vs. CLE ($13): Palka's making the most of his opportunities at the highest level, as the productive rookie now finds himself batting cleanup for the White Sox. The left-handed slugger's prime position in the batting order and platoon advantage against Cleveland righty Adam Plutko put Palka in position to deliver excellent value relative to his price. Plutko gave up five earned runs in five innings to the White Sox in his last major league appearance on May 28, and the 40 left-handed batters he's faced in his career have produced a .384 wOBA.
Alex Gordon, KC vs. CIN ($12): Stacking lefties against Romano is a good idea given his struggles in that split, and Gordon's .346 wOBA against right-handed pitching suggests the veteran outfielder has the skills to capitalize on this favorable matchup. Gordon's affordability also leaves plenty of room to pay up for premium players at other positions.
