This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
Due to a lot of early start times, we only have eight games to choose from for the main evening slate on Yahoo. The good news is that there are still plenty of great options despite the limited schedule. Let's examine some of them while also discussing how ownership percentages might play out.
Pitching Overview
The cloud over Chris Sale ($54) seems to have lifted. After recording 14 strikeouts across 18 innings in his first four starts, he has 24 strikeouts over 18 innings in his last three outings. He did allow a home run in all three of those starts, but he only gave up a combined four earned runs. Look for him to keep things rolling against an Orioles team that is in the bottom-third of the league in runs scored.
In the current state of baseball, you don't see to many outings like the one Kyle Hendricks ($44) recorded against the Cardinals on Friday. Not only did he throw a complete game shutout, but he only needed 81 pitches to do so. The lack of strikeouts is the main downside of his game, but he's now allowed two earned runs or fewer in four of his six starts. It doesn't get any better than his matchup Tuesday against the Marlins, who have scored the fewest runs (99) and have the lowest OPS (.602) in baseball.
While they aren't as juicy of an opponent as the Marlins, the Blue Jays lineup has had plenty of problems themselves with the sixth-most strikeouts (349) and the fourth-lowest OPS (.652). Kyle Gibson ($36) will have the opportunity to benefit from this favorable matchup and he's off to another respectable campaign with a 3.95 xFIP. While his 20.4 percent strikeout rate is nothing to write home about, he actually has a career high 12 percent swinging strike rate.
Key Values/Chalk
With Jose Urena on the mound for the Marlins, the Cubs figure to be a popular lineup to deploy in DFS. He has a 1.54 WHIP and has allowed 1.6 HR/9, which is a recipe for disaster. He's also not an overpowering pitcher with his career 15.9 percent strikeout rate, so look for the Cubs to have plenty of success against him.
Another team that should have several players among the ownership leaderboard is the Astros for their matchup with Jorge Lopez, who has struggled to keep runners off base with his career 1.49 WHIP. He's off to another rough start with a 4.46 xFIP this season while allowing seven home runs across just 40.2 innings.
A team to attack more often than not is the Orioles. They continue to have an abysmal pitching staff and will have to trot out Andrew Cashner for their matchup with the Red Sox. He doesn't miss many bats with his career 17.7 percent strikeout rate and he's struggled out of the gate this season with a 4.94 xFIP and a 1.46 WHIP.
Stacks
Cubs vs. Urena (Marlins)
Anthony Rizzo (1B- $21), Javier Baez (SS - $24), Kyle Schwarber (OF - $11)
If you're stacking Cubs, Rizzo has to be included. He's rebounded from a slow start to hit 20-for-60 (.333) with six home runs and six doubles over his last 16 games. He also has a career .377 wOBA against right-handed pitching. Baez has been just as hot as Rizzo, logging at least two hits in 12 of his last 20 games. He also has seven home runs and 11 doubles during that stretch. With the struggles that Urena has faced to keep hitters inside the ballpark, Schwarber also is a viable option at a more budget-friendly price.
Astros vs. Lopez (Royals)
Carlos Correa (SS - $19), Michael Brantley (OF - $22), Josh Reddick (OF - $14)
Building around Correa in an Astros stack could be a wise move considering he is 22-for-70 (.314) with six home runs and five doubles over his last 17 games. Left-handed hitters have a career .356 wOBA versus Lopez, so rolling with Brantley and Reddick might also prove to be profitable. Brantley has certainly made a good first impression with his new team based on his 152 wRC+.
Red Sox vs Cashner (Orioles)
Andrew Benintendi (OF - $20), Mitch Moreland (1B - $16), Rafael Devers (3B - $16)
It's hard to argue against Mookie Betts or J.D. Martinez, but they should both have high ownership percentages. If you want to take a bit of a different approach, the trio of Benintendi, Moreland and Devers might be the way to go since Cashner has allowed a wOBA of at least .361 against left-handed hitters in three of the last four seasons. Devers is particularly appealing since he is 18-for-51 (.353) with a home and five doubles over his last 13 games.
Dodgers vs. Mike Foltynewicz (Braves)
Cody Bellinger (OF - $27), Corey Seager (SS - $14), Alex Verdugo (OF - $12)
Foltynewicz has not pitched well over two starts since returning from an elbow injury, allowing 10 runs (six earned) and three home runs in 10.2 innings. His average fastball velocity is down 2.4 mph compared to last year and his strikeout rate is just 16.3 percent. He might still need some time to regain his form, so take advantage while you still can by compiling a Dodgers stack. Bellinger should be the anchor while Seager and Verdugo provide cheaper options with upside. Seager is particularly appealing based on his career 137 wRC+ against righties.
