FanDuel MLB: Tuesday Targets

FanDuel MLB: Tuesday Targets

This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.

A full 15-game slate awaits on Tuesday evening's main slate. We've got four pitchers with five-digit salaries on the docket, two of whom are facing off against each other. We can always make a case for and against each of those, and I can see polarizing opinions on these top arms given the matchups. The Orioles and Reds had not made their pitching plans known as of submission, highly unfortunate as Baltimore faces white-hot Houston, while Cincy gets San Diego. I can't consider those bats as a result, but we know stacking Astros is always an option. This should set up as a fun, diverse slate where there isn't a clear consensus in usage.

Pitching

Walker Buehler, LAD vs. SF ($10,000): Buehler lands here as the cheapest of the top options. He faced the Giants twice in late May and put up a total of 71 FDP. He's been in pretty decent form, with a 31 FDP floor over his last three. The Giants rank fifth with a .330 wOBA against righties, but they still strike out often (25.9 percent), which keeps the floor stable. The Cubs present similarly for Brandon Woodruff, but I give Buehler the nod at a $1,400 discount. Robbie Ray ($10,800) is my GPP target, as his K upside is immense but his efficiency is brutal.

Jose Urquidy, HOU vs. BAL ($9,500): This figures to be your chalkiest play on the bump. Urquidy is on a three-game heater where he's gone at least seven innings while putting up 40-plus FDP in each, including a 49-point outing against these Orioles last time out. Baltimore has a league-worst .286 wOBA against righties, adding an 81 wRC+ and .147 ISO while striking out 25.0 percent of the time.

Nick Pivetta, BOS vs. KC ($7,700): There's next to no upside, but Pivetta seems to have great stability in a pay-down spot. He's gone at least five innings in all but two starts, fanning at least six in 10 of his last 11 outings. The Royals don't whiff a ton (22.3 percent) but don't hit well either (88 wRC+, .140 ISO). He should be staked to stable run support, presenting a path to a win and a 4x return.

Carlos Martinez, STL vs. ARI ($6,300): I'm not sure I believe in Martinez, but if you're looking to pay down, he has upside potential. The Diamondbacks' struggles on the road are well know at this point, and they have just a .290 wOBA against righties overall, adding a .130 ISO, 82 wRC+ and 24.6 percent K rate. Martinez fanned six across six innings in Phoenix in late May en route to 31 FDP. If he can duplicate that, it flirts with a 5x return.

Top Targets

Shohei Ohtani, LAA at NYY ($4,300): Ohtani wasted no time acquainting himself with Yankee Stadium, homering in his first at-bat. He's got a robust .429 wOBA, .380 ISO, 177 wRC+ and 1.035 OPS against righties to date. I think the Angels' bats will be popular against Jameson Taillon, but he's been far better at home than on the road. Give me this lineup's anchor, and move on to other options.

Trea Turner, WAS vs. TB ($4,000): The star shortstop is always a target when facing a lefty, as he brings a .429 wOBA, 173 wRC+ and .213 ISO to the table against Rich Hill. Turner's in great form, having scored a run in 10 straight entering Tuesday. He's also homered in consecutive games, resulting in double-digit FDP in eight of his last 10 contests.

Bryan Reynolds, PIT at COL ($3,700): I hate the salary paired with the name, but the simple fact is Reynolds just keeps hitting. He leads the team with a .389 wOBA against righties, adding a .209 ISO, and is likely underpriced for a contest in Coors Field even against German Marquez. He'll bring a 13-game hitting streak into Tuesday, collecting three homers and eight multi-hit games over that stretch.

Value Bats

Eddie Rosario, CLE vs. DET ($3,100): Rosario quietly rides a 14-game hitting streak into Tuesday. I expect Cleveland to be a popular lineup stack against Jose Urena, who's allowed 21 runs in his last four starts spanning 14.2 innings, and rightfully so. He's allowing a .373 wOBA to lefties, a number rising by the start, and Rosario offers a nice run-producing option to your lineup for a fair tag, while also creating differentiation for your build.

Akil Baddoo, DET at CLE ($2,700): I obviously think this game is going to yield some offense, so a sneaky game stack is emerging. Baddoo leads Tiger regulars with a .402 wOBA against righties, adding a 159 wRC+ and .259 ISO. He's been streaky, which works well here having gone for at least 9.0 FDP in eight of his previous nine. Indians' starter J.C. Mejia is allowing a .375 wOBA to lefties to boot.

Tony Kemp, OAK vs. TEX ($2,400): I'm expecting Matt Olson ($4,200) to be about as chalky as a 15-game slate will allow. Rangers' starter Mike Foltynewicz is allowing a .441 wOBA and 1.050 OPS to lefties on the road, creating that clear appeal as Olson is raking, and moreso against righties. But why not take a look at Kemp? He's likely ascending to the leadoff spot in the lineup with Mark Canha sidelined, and his .372 wOBA in this spot plays well for the salary.

Stacks to Consider

Red Sox vs. Brad Keller: J.D. Martinez ($3,800), Rafael Devers ($3,700), Xander Bogaerts ($3,700)

The 15-gamer makes for so many options. Hopefully I've done a fair job above of presenting some individual options to differentiate your lineup, or grab a small piece to an obvious offense. This stack is anything but those; it's obvious, in your face and surprisingly affordable. Keller is allowing a .396 wOBA to righties and .375 wOBA to lefties, so he's targetable from both sides of the plate. There's no sugar-coating things his performance this year. We can enjoy the meat of a potent lineup in a plus spot, as Bogaerts' .390 wOBA and .233 ISO are the lowest splits of this trio.

Marlins at Vince Velasquez: Starling Marte ($3,500), Jazz Chisholm ($3,000), Jesus Aguilar ($2,700)

Marte is hitless in his last 14 ABs, and I've targeted him unsuccessfully a couple of times over the last few weeks, so he's due, right? It's a small sample, but he's 5-for-7 in his career against Velasquez with a 1.571 OPS. Mix in a .376 wOBA and he seems like a singular bargain. Chisholm brings a .206 ISO against opposite-handed arms, and while Aguilar's splits aren't favorable, he's continuing to find ways to produce offense. The real target is Velasquez and his propensity to allow offense, paired with the heart of the Marlins order being priced favorably.

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Chris Bennett plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: k30kittles, DraftKings: k30kittles.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chris Bennett
Bennett covers baseball, college football and college basketball for RotoWire. Before turning to fantasy writing, he worked in scouting/player development for the Atlanta Braves and Montreal Expos. He's also a fan of the ACC.
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