This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
Tuesday's featured MLB slate begins at 7:05 p.m. EDT and includes 11 games. While this slate doesn't have many elite pitching options, it features plenty of intriguing value plays on the mound, leaving you room to pay up for some top hitters. Below, you'll find recommended pitchers and hitters to target, as well as some value plays and stacking options.
Pitchers
The two most expensive pitching options — Aaron Nola ($10,400) and Patrick Corbin ($10,200) — are going head-to-head. The Phillies (third) and Nationals (ninth) both boast top-10 offenses, making this a less than ideal time to lock in these aces, though Nola's gaudy 34.8 percent strikeout rate gives you reason to pause before skipping over him.
Zach Plesac ($8,300) was rolling for Cleveland prior to breaking protocols with a night out, but he's ready to rejoin his teammates just in time for a juicy matchup against Kansas City's 26th-ranked offense (4.03 runs per game). With a 1.29 ERA, 0.67 WHIP and 24:2 K:BB in 21 innings this season, Plesac could be this slate's most popular pitching option.
The Rangers continue to bring up the rear offensively with just 3.64 runs per game — the .33 run difference between Texas and 29th-ranked Milwaukee is larger than the difference between Milwaukee and 21st-ranked Miami. Astros lefty Framber Valdez ($8,100) should take advantage of this favorable matchup. Valdez's 2.59 FIP suggests his 2.35 ERA isn't due for any major regression, and he has a 26.0 percent strikeout rate to boot.
While the Red Sox are playing a bit better lately, they're just 12-23 overall and rank below average offensively at 4.63 runs per game. Braves rookie Ian Anderson ($6,800) has tremendous upside against them after holding a depleted Yankees lineup to one run on one hit with a 6:2 K:BB over six innings in his debut last week.
Top Targets
Nelson Cruz ($6,200) is pummeling left-handed pitching to the tune of a .612 wOBA, with six of his 13 home runs coming against lefties in just 38 plate appearances. This slate's most expensive hitter should be worth paying up for against White Sox southpaw Dallas Keuchel.
Freddie Freeman ($5,300) is enjoying another productive campaign in the heart of the Braves' order, slashing .314/.434/.551. The left-handed hitting first baseman will have the platoon advantage against Red Sox righty Ryan Weber, who is allowing a .372 wOBA to batters from that side.
Luke Voit ($4,400) has a .452 wOBA in righty-on-righty matchups this season, and he has gone deep eight times in his last 12 games. The best hitter left for the injury-riddled Yankees will look to keep rolling against Rays righty Trevor Richards (4.71 ERA, 5.56 xFIP).
Best Values
Wilmer Flores ($4,200) is slashing .327/.364/.615 over his last 14 games, and now he'll get to face struggling Rockies starter Jon Gray (6.55 home ERA) in the league's most hitter-friendly venue (Coors Field — 1.72 park factor). The versatile Giants infielder is eligible at both first and second base, though you'll likely be using him at the latter position given the available alternatives.
Orioles outfielder Ryan Mountcastle ($3,500) has gotten his career off to a fast start, slashing .364/.432/.606 through nine games. The 23-year-old right-handed batter hit .312/.344/.527 at the Triple-A level last season, and he's primed to keep rolling against Mets starter Franklyn Kilome, who has allowed four earned runs on six hits and five walks in seven innings of long relief this season.
The Rockies should insert Kevin Pillar ($3,200) right into their lineup after trading for the outfielder Monday. Pillar was 4-for-8 in his last two games for Boston, so he's a low-risk, high-reward option at just $3,200 against Giants righty Kevin Gausman at hitter-friendly Coors Field.
Stacks to Consider
Mets at Orioles RHP Adrian Wojciechowski
Dominic Smith (1B/OF - $4,600), Robinson Cano (2B - $4,400), Michael Conforto (OF - $4,300)
New York's top power bats are in a terrific situation to succeed here. Wojciechowski has struggled with the long ball (2.39 HR/9) en route to an unimpressive 5.13 ERA and 6.02 FIP, while Oriole Park at Camden Yards has the league's sixth-highest home run park factor (1.33). All three of these guys are left-handed hitters, giving them the platoon advantage against the Baltimore righty. Smith has made Mets fans say "Pete who?" with a breakout power campaign of his own (.326/.404/.685), and the 25-year-old slugger is eligible at both first base and in the outfield (whether he'll give New York quality defense at either spot is a different story). Cano's enjoying a resurgent campaign at nearly 38 years of age, slashing .375/.411/.648. Conforto has chipped in a .317/.421/.496 line while batting somewhere between second and fourth in the order.
Dodgers vs. Diamondbacks LHP Alex Young
Mookie Betts (OF - $6,100), A.J. Pollock (OF - $3,800), Austin Barnes (C - $2,900)
Los Angeles' top power bats offer tremendous upside against Young, who has a 5.78 FIP and has allowed seven home runs in just 23 innings. Betts has had no trouble acclimating to his new home in Los Angeles, slashing .298/.380/.611. Pollock has mashed lefties to the tune of a .384 wOBA this season and usually bats fifth against them. Barnes has a .374 wOBA against lefties, making him an appealing catcher option as one of the cheaper bats in the high-powered Dodgers lineup. If Justin Turner (hamstring) is able to make his return, his prowess against lefties would make him an enticing option as well at $4,800.
Indians at Royals RHP Matt Harvey
Jose Ramirez (3B - $5,400), Francisco Lindor (SS - $5,300), Tyler Naquin (OF - $2,600)
Offense has been hard to come by for Cleveland this season, but even this subpar lineup should deliver against Harvey, who has allowed seven earned runs on nine hits and four walks in just 5.2 innings over his two previous starts this season. Ramirez has been Cleveland's most productive fantasy bat, delivering 10.0 fantasy points per game. While he has been more effective against lefties than righties, Ramirez's mix of power (seven home runs) and speed (eight steals) out of the two-hole makes him worth locking in against Harvey. The switch-hitting Lindor has swatted all five of his home runs this season against right-handed pitching. On the opposite end of the price spectrum, Naquin has homered in two of his last four games, raising his slugging percentage to .508 for the season. The affordable outfielder has the platoon advantage against Harvey and owns a .381 wOBA against right-handed pitching this season.
