This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
12 games are featured in Tuesday's main slate, and the weather looks largely clear. As such, we've got a plethora of options to choose from.
Pitching
Big names are scattered throughout the pitching docket, led by a red-hot Chris Sale ($11,400), who has fanned 10 or more in three of his last four starts, averaging 51.9 FDP in that stretch. It's not a perfect matchup against Colorado, who ranks 10th with a .333 wOBA against lefties, but they also strike out 25.7 percent of the time. I'm not sure I fully trust Sale here at this price, but I'm certainly not fading him either.
Caleb Smith ($10,700) is a name that doesn't typically fit with the top-tier arms, but he's gone for at least 43 FDP points in each of his last five starts, striking out eight or more in four consecutive outings. He faces a Rays lineup that is whiffing 30.6 percent of the time against southpaws. San Diego ranks better than Tampa in all categories in this instance, which has Clayton Kershaw ($10,200) not looking like a preferred choice. The feel is similar for his adversary, Chris Paddack ($10,000), as the Dodgers strike out only 19.6 percent of the time while ranking third with a .344 wOBA against righties.
Charlie Morton ($9,800) headlines the sub-10k options, and is going to be a popular option against the always woeful Marlins, who strike out 27.1 percent of the time while sporting just a .089 ISO, while the total in this contest had moved to 6.5 as of Monday evening. Luke Weaver ($9,400) has gone for 40 or more FDP in four of his last five, including a 6.1 inning outing against Pittsburgh where he struck out seven. But the Pirates strike out only 20.8 percent of the time, so maybe they'll come with a different approach. Noah Syndergaard ($9,300) may be a GPP target. His current form will have many overlooking him, but the matchup against a struggling Nats lineup presents well. Washington ranks 24th with a .294 wOBA against righties while striking out 26.1 percent of the time. He hasn't fared well at Nationals Park however, allowing 14 runs across his last 18.1 innings.
Wade Miley ($7,500) is an obvious target if you're looking to save on the mound. Houston is a huge favorite (-195) while the Tigers are fanning 28.2 percent of the time against southpaws. Miley hasn't allowed more than three runs in any start to date, and with the game having a total of 10 runs, Houston bats and Miley figure to be very popular. The Angels' Felix Pena ($7,100) is in great form, but Minnesota hits righties very well, ranking second with a .348 wOBA while striking out only 19.4 percent of the time.
Key Chalk/Value
As mentioned above, many eyes will turn towards the Astros against Detroit's Ryan Carpenter ($5,500), who has a 10.80 ERA and 8.10 FIP, though he's thrown only five innings, giving us little splits of worthiness. What is worthy is George Springer's ($4,700) .529 wOBA, 245 wRC+ and .500 ISO. He'll be the option to build around. Michael Brantley ($4,200) could be a low-ownership option given the LvL matchup while Aledmys Diaz ($2,900) is a chalky option at the keystone given his low price and safe spot in the lineup with Jose Altuve on the IL.
Colorado hits lefties well, but given that they aren't in Coors Field, and the matchup is with Sale, their prices weren't lowered as much as one might expect. At least not low enough where a contrarian GPP stack is in play. No name dropping here, but they shouldn't be fully ignored. The Boston offense looks good to deploy, but Kyle Freeland ($6,500) has been far more serviceable on the road, allowing a mere .279 wOBA to righties. Maybe that makes J.D. Martinez ($4,200) and Xander Bogaerts ($4,200) less obvious, as both have wOBAs of .462 or higher, and ISOs north of .400. Christian Vazquez ($2,400) is off to a great start (.480 wOBA, 204 wRC+) and can be your cheap buy in.
St. Louis bats are one of my favorite options to target, but they aren't priced cheap enough to make a full stack with. Braves' starter Mike Foltynewicz ($6,900) is allowing a .449 wOBA to righties, has surrendered five homers in 16.2 innings and has a 6.89 FIP. Paul DeJong ($4,200, .403 wOBA) is the most desirable, with Marcell Ozuna ($4,300) and Paul Goldschmidt ($4,000) both carrying a .363 wOBA. Dexter Fowler ($2,900) is the cheap choice with a .379 wOBA, but limited upside thanks to a .120 ISO. Matt Wieters ($2,100) has swung well against righties in limited action, and would be a GPP option if he makes a rare start.
Toronto-San Francisco is an interesting spot. Both sides are woeful offensively, with the Giants ranking 25th with a .294 wOBA and the Jays 29th at .282. There's some standalone value on both sides, with Toronto starter Trent Thornton ($6,200) allowing a .380 wOBA to lefties, while the Giants will use an opener before possibly/probably turning to a very hittable Tyler Beede. Brandon Belt ($3,300, .393 wOBA, .307 ISO) and Eric Sogard ($3,900, .409 wOBA) are shortlisted here.
Stacks
Kansas City Royals vs. Shelby Miller (Rangers)
Adalberto Mondesi (SS - $4,200), Hunter Dozier (3B - $4,100), Jorge Soler (OF - $3,200)
Miller brings a 6.58 FIP into Tuesday, and his splits aren't discernible as it relates to handedness of the bats he's facing. Dozier leads the Royals with a .473 wOBA and .374 ISO, while Mondesi has a .241 ISO to go along with his speed potential. Soler is the wildcard that makes this an affordable stack, as he brings a .282 ISO to the table. Whit Merrifield ($4,000) and/or Alex Gordon ($3,700) are both in play as well to make a Royals' stack more affordable.
New York Mets vs. Jeremy Hellickson (Nationals)
Michael Conforto (OF - $3,800), Jeff McNeil (OF - $3,400), Robinson Cano (2B - $3,000)
Hellickson has a 5.52 ERA, 5.63 FIP and 5.14 xFIP. While some pitchers may be experiencing early-season bad luck, he isn't, and the numbers say he is exactly who he presents as. He's allowing a .474 wOBA to lefties, a number that rises to .552 at home, where he's allowed three homers to 23 batters faced. This is an affordable all-lefty stack, led by Conforto's .412 wOBA and .266 ISO, and supported by McNeil's .393 wOBA and Cano's .364 spot.
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Joe Musgrove (Pirates)
Christian Walker (1B - $3,600), David Peralta (OF - $4,100), Adam Jones (OF - $3,400)
Musgrove has allowed 13 runs, 12 hits and seven walks in his last two starts, spanning only 5.2 innings. He'd been pretty solid prior to these struggles, so his splits don't present a clear target, but his form says we should have a few lineups hoping his recent fails continue. Walker has a team-high .406 wOBA and .296 ISO against righties, while Peralta sits at .401/.265. Jones' .340 wOBA isn't tremendous, but he's homered in consecutive games and comes at a modest price.
