This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
There are some clouds to watch out for on Tuesday's slate, but with 15 games at night, there are plenty of options. That includes at pitcher where it might not be the best idea to spend everything on Clayton Kershaw.
PITCHING
Clayton Kershaw ($11,800) is the big name on the slate, but his price feels a bit high. He hasn't gone more than six innings in his last four and the Cardinals have been respectable against southpaws with a .336 OBP since July 1. If you want to spend, it's a little easier to use Zack Wheeler ($10,600) or Zack Greinke ($9,800). Wheeler has at least 21 fantasy points in five of his last six starts and the Marlins are one of the better matchups on the slate with a 26.2 K% and .265 wOBA against righties since the All-Star break. Greinke should be excited to receive a little more run support in Houston and he's had decent success against Colorado. In four meetings this season, Greinke has allowed 25 hits and nine runs (26 IP), and two of those came at Coors Field. German Marquez ($9,300) is the GPP pick because no one is going to use him against the Astros.
I'd use one of those arms then skip through the mid-range choices because the matchups are iffy at best. Zach Plesac ($7,700) is the next guy I'd look at against the strikeout-heavy Rangers. He had 25.6 fantasy points (7 IP, 5 BB, 6 K) when they met in June and Texas has been worse of late with a 29.3 K% against righty hurlers since the break. There aren't many situations I'd use Hector Santiago ($6,700) in with a 5.53 xFIP in seven Triple-A starts under the White Sox, but he faces the Tigers, who own a 27.5 K% and .269 OBP against righties since the ASB.
Chase Anderson ($6,000) doesn't have much upside, but he has at least 15 fantasy points in four of his last five outings and the Pirates have a .299 wOBA against righty arms since the break. Otherwise, Andrew Cashner ($5,800) is as cheap as I'd go and he comes with a ton of risk. He's allowed 19 runs in four starts with Boston, though his best fantasy outing surprisingly came against the Yankees. The Royals have hit better recently, yet still aren't showing power with a .120 ISO against righties in the last month.
KEY VALUES/CHALK
The Yankees will be one of the more popular routes against Asher Wojciechowski, who has had some nice outings, but his underlying numbers are bad against lefties (.361 wOBA allowed). That points to a pricey option like Didi Gregorius ($5,000) or the somewhat cheaper Mike Tauchman ($4,500) and Brett Gardner ($4,400). It's a similar situation for the Twins against Mike Foltynewicz, though I'm taking a cautious approach with them. Foltynewicz had terrible numbers earlier in the season, but he found a groove in Triple-A and didn't allow a homer in six starts. Sure, you can still stack their lefty trio at the top of the lineup or roll with Luis Arraez ($4,000) and Marwin Gonzalez ($3,600) at reasonable prices. The problem is that they'll be popular and this could be a sneaky difficult matchup.
It may be easier to look at the Diamondbacks-Phillies matchup with Mike Leake and Jake Arrieta on the mound. Leake's overall numbers aren't bad, but he's allowed a .385 wOBA away from Seattle this season and while this is a home game for him, it's his first start with Arizona. Bryce Harper (4,400) and Jean Segura ($4,100) have been the best at getting on base against righties while Rhys Hoskins ($4,500) provides a bit more power. It's best to use lefty bats against Arrieta, who has allowed a .379 wOBA and 1.92 HR/9 against them. Ketel Marte ($5,300) and Eduardo Escobar ($4,900) cost a bit, but Carson Kelly ($4,300) and Jake Lamb ($4,100) have some power and Alex Avila ($4,000) is always an option against righties.
It's usually not smart to back the White Sox, but they dispelled those notions after scoring seven runs on Monday. Drew VerHagen has struggled since becoming starter, allowing 16 hits and 11 total runs in two starts (8.2 IP). Instead of going with Chicago's most expensive bats, it may be easier to save on the secondary options like Ryan Goins ($3,100), Jon Jay ($3,100) or Yolmer Sanchez ($2,900). Plus, both Goins and Jay have OBPs above .370 against righties since the beginning of July.
STACKS
Red Sox vs. Jakob Junis (Royals)
(3B Rafael Devers - $5,400), (OF Andrew Benintendi - $5,000), (2B Brock Holt - $3,400)
Junis has given up 16 hits and 10 runs in his last two starts and a trip to Boston isn't going to be the cure. He allows a .350 OBP and .348 wOBA to lefties, which is where the home team can pounce. If you can't afford this stack or Holt doesn't start, Mitch Moreland ($4,100) and Jackie Bradley Jr. ($3,800) should also be in the mix. Sam Travis ($3,400) is a righty, but it's not like Junis is good against them (1.89 HR/9 allowed). Either way, Devers has to be in the stack with a .444 OBP and .400 ISO in his last 90 PA against righty arms.
Indians vs. Ariel Jurado (Rangers)
(OF Yasiel Puig - $4,400), (3B Jose Ramirez - $4,800), (OF Franmil Reyes - $4,100)
Jurado has allowed 22 runs in his last six starts with his only successful outing in the last couple months coming against the Tigers. He has a 5.56 xFIP against lefty bats and .366 wOBA allowed to the right side. Ramirez has provided the most power for the Indians with a .420 wOBA in his last 92 PA against righties, while Puig and Reyes save a little money. Puig had a .360 wOBA against righty arms in July and Reyes has a .296 ISO against righties all season.
Reds vs. Jose Suarez (Angels)
(3B Eugenio Suarez - $4,600), (OF Phillip Ervin - $4,100), (2B/SS Jose Peraza - $2,900)
In addition to the Angels allowing 33 runs in Suarez's last four starts, he has a .398 OBP allowed to 123 righties faced. The Reds haven't seen a ton of southpaws, but they have the righties to face Suarez. Plus, this stack won't break the bank and it won't be as popular as others. Suarez and Ervin both have OBPs above .400 in the last couple months against lefty arms, and Peraza is cheap with a .346 OBP in his last 26 PA versus lefties. You can save more money if you take the discount route with Jose Iglesias ($3,700), Aristides Aquino ($3,700) and Tucker Barnhart ($3,300).
