This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
After a wild trade deadline Monday, baseball continues to churn towards the playoffs with a busy slate Tuesday. Let's jump right into the matchups and discuss some players who might be worth targeting for your lineup.
Pitchers
One of the bright spots on the Astros this season has been the improvement of Framber Valdez ($42). He struggled while making the majority of his appearances out of the bullpen last year, recording a 5.86 ERA and a 4.98 FIP. Now a starter, he's been stellar out of the gate with a 2.35 ERA and a 2.59 FIP. The key has been improved control, dropping his walk rate from 13.4 percent last year to 5.8 percent this season. He'll look to take advantage of a Rangers lineup that has the second-lowest OPS (.636) in baseball.
The only team that has been worse than the Rangers in terms of OPS is the Pirates (.618). With that in mind, Jon Lester ($38) could also be someone to pursue. When he faced them earlier this season, he allowed one run and recorded four strikeouts across six innings. Lester has had a couple of bad outings that have done a number on his ERA, but he's largely pitched well by allowing one or no runs in four of his six starts.
Top Targets
Michael Pineda ($30) will be making his first start of the season for the Twins after serving a suspension for PEDs. It's unclear how deep he'll be able to pitch into this contest, so the White Sox could see a combination of him and a few of the Twins' middle relievers. That could mean another big night is in store for Jose Abreu ($24), who is 24-for-58 (.414) with nine home runs and five doubles during his current 14-game hitting streak.
After a disappointing debut campaign with the Mets in 2019, Robinson Cano ($18) has looked like a completely different player this season. His .273 ISO and 184 wRC+ would both be the highest marks of his career, which is impressive when you consider some of the seasons that he compiled with the Yankees. He has a favorable opportunity to stay hot against Asher Wojciechowski ($28), who has allowed a career .388 wOBA against left-handed hitters.
Bargain Bats
Staying on that matchup against Wojciechowski brings us to Jeff McNeil ($10). He has produced a disappointing .302 wOBA and his power numbers have fallen off the map, leaving him with a .075 ISO. However, he is on a four-game hitting streak and hit two doubles against the Marlins on Monday, so he could be worth a look at such a cheap salary.
The Giants will face the Rockies at Coors Field, so expect them to be a popular team to stack. One player to pursue who doesn't have a salary that will destroy your budget is Alex Dickerson ($12). He's produced back-to-back multi-hit games and had a .354 wOBA against right-handed pitchers last year, so he could provide value with Jon Gray ($25) starting for the Rockies.
Stacks to Consider
Braves vs. Kyle Hart ($25), Red Sox: Freddie Freeman ($24), Marcell Ozuna ($21), Austin Riley ($19)
There is a possibility that Ryan Weber starts this game instead of Hart, but either way, the Red Sox will be deploying yet another struggling starting pitcher. The Braves scored six runs in the series opener Monday and could keep things rolling in this contest. Freeman has been stellar and is 20-for-51 (.392) with two home runs and six doubles during his current 14-game hitting streak. Riley showed plenty of power after being called up last season and has carried that over with a .230 ISO this year.
Indians vs. Matt Harvey ($25), Royals: Jose Ramirez ($19), Franmil Reyes ($18), Francisco Lindor ($17)
The Indians might not be a proficient offensive team, but it's difficult to pass up on a matchup against Harvey. He's been roughed up in his first two starts, allowing seven runs and two home runs across 5.2 innings. The home runs are nothing new for him since he has allowed at least 1.6 HR/9 in each of the last three seasons. That could especially spell trouble for him against Reyes, who has a .216 ISO to go along with his .368 wOBA.
Astros vs. Luis Garcia ($25), Rangers: Kyle Tucker ($25), Yuli Gurriel ($20), Michael Brantley ($16)
Garcia will serve as the opener for this game with Jordan Lyles expected to follow him. Lyles has been awful with a 6.22 FIP and a 1.89 WHIP, so this is a matchup to considering attacking. Tucker has finally been given an opportunity to play regularly and has come through with a 141 wRC+. Brantley might not be a flashy name, but he's a tough out given his career 10.7 percent strikeout rate. He also gets on base at an excellent clip, which has helped him post a .355 wOBA this season.
