This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
The number of aces set to take the mound Tuesday is staggering. With so many quality options to choose from, finding the right cheap bats to help balance out your budget will be crucial. Let's breakdown the slate and discuss some of the better players to target for your Yahoo entry.
Pitching Overview
Among the top-tier pitchers set to take the mound are Chris Sale ($53), Clayton Kershaw ($52) and Chris Paddack ($48). The one who might be the most worthy of his lofty price tag is Sale, who has a favorable matchup at home against the Rockies. Sale is locked in after his slow start, allowing five earned runs and recording 42 strikeouts over his last 26 innings. The Rockies are a potent lineup at Coors Field, but they only had a .289 wOBA on the road last year.
We should have a fun pitcher's duel in Miami with Caleb Smith ($49) facing off against Charlie Morton ($53). Despite how well Smith has pitched this season, Morton might be the player to go with in this matchup. He's been a rock for the Rays, posting a 3.53 xFIP and a 30.4 percent strikeout rate. The Marlins lineup has been simply dreadful, scoring the fewest runs (105) and recording the lowest OPS (.592) in the league.
If you're looking to differentiate your lineup in tournament play, taking a chance on a cheap starter might be the way to go. Danny Duffy ($31) could be just that pitcher for his matchup against a Rangers team that is loaded with left-handed hitters. Despite his struggles last year, Duffy held lefties to a .284 wOBA. The Rangers lineup also hasn't been as potent on the road, recording an 82 wRC+ there last season compared to a 98 wRC+ at home.
Key Values/Chalk
The chalk stack of the night is likely going to be the Astros against Ryan Carpenter and the Tigers. The Astros already lead the league with their .860OPS and are second in runs scored (229). Carpenter didn't pitch well with a 5.42 xFIP across six starts in Triple-A this year and was then hit hard for six runs across five innings in his first start in the majors against the Angels.
Another team that could be popular is the Cardinals for their matchup with Mike Foltynewicz and the Braves. Foltynewicz has not pitched well since returning from the IL, allowing 15 runs (11 earned) over 16.2 innings. He's only recorded 10 strikeouts and has allowed five home runs. With his average fastball velocity down 2.3 mph compared to last season, it's possible that something is still ailing him or he needs to build up his arm strength. Either way, this is a matchup for the Cardinals to exploit.
Joe Musgrove was a trendy breakout candidate heading into the season and he looked like he was going to deliver, allowing 10 runs (six earned) and recording 31 strikeouts over his first 35 innings. However, his last two starts have been a disaster with him allowing 15 runs (13 earned) across 5.2 innings. Now he will have to face a Diamondbacks lineup that has the fifth-highest OPS (.786), so they could be in line for another productive evening.
Stacks
Astros vs. Carpenter (Tigers)
Alex Bregman (3B - $22), George Springer (OF - $27), Jake Marisnick (OF - $11)
Bregman and Springer have provided tremendous production lately. Bregman is on a power surge that has seen him slug nine home runs across his last 13 games while Springer is 23-for-52 (.442) with seven home runs over that same stretch. While they are pricey, their upside is off the charts based on this matchup. Marisnick should be in the lineup with a lefty on the mound, so adding him makes rostering Bregman and Springer a little more manageable.
Cardinals vs. Foltynewicz (Braves)
Paul Goldschmidt (1B - $18), Matt Carpenter (3B - $14), Yadier Molina (C - $17)
It's not often that Goldschmidt is priced this cheap, but a slow start has left him with a disappointing stat line. However, he's starting to show signs of heating up again by hitting 9-for-17 (.529) with a home run and a double across his last four games. Carpenter is also off to a slow start in part because of his abnormally low .250 BABIP. With his career .373 wOBA against right-handed pitchers and Foltynewicz struggling, he could be a bargain. Molina will likely be one of the top targets at catcher, especially after registering at least one hit in eight of his last 10 games.
Diamondbacks vs. Musgrove (Pirates)
David Peralta (OF - $18), Eduardo Escobar (3B - $20), Jarrod Dyson (OF - $14)
While Musgrove has limited right-handed hitters to a .298 wOBA for his career, lefties have been more successful with a .332 wOBA. Peralta should be at the center of any Diamondbacks stack with him hitting 16-for-41 (.390) with two home runs and three doubles across his last nine games. Escobar showed improved power last year and has been even better this season with a .244 ISO. He kicked off this series with a home run and a triple Monday. Dyson obviously doesn't carry that same type of power upside, but he's rebounded from a disastrous 2018 campaign to record a .349 wOBA and steal nine bases.
Royals vs. Shelby Miller (Rangers)
Whit Merrifield (2B - $24), Alex Gordon (OF - $22), Ryan O'Hearn (1B - $15)
The Royals might not have the most potent lineup, but it's hard to resist stacking them against Miller and his 6.78 xFIP. Merrifield could find himself on base often and Gordon also should be targeted based on the hot start that he's off to this season. While he doesn't normally hit for a high average, he has a career-low 12.5 percent strikeout rate and his BABIP isn't all that high at .291, so he could be in line for one of the best years that we've seen from him in a long time. O'Hearn helps balance out Merrifield's and Gordon's high prices while also providing some power upside.
