We have a larger-than-typical main slate for a Tuesday, with 12 games scheduled to start at 7:05 pm EDT or later. Coors Field isn't on the schedule, but we still have some hitter-friendly ballparks to target, including Yankee Stadium and Sutter Health Park in Sacramento.
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Pitchers
This slate of pitchers doesn't necessarily include the biggest names with the most upside, but it is deep and it offers options in every salary range. There are two pitchers at the top of the pool that should intrigue. Hunter Brown ($11,000) hasn't flashed the same upside that he did earlier in the season, but he still has roughly a 20-point floor. A matchup against the Rockies in Houston makes him more intriguing, despite what he's shown lately. Dylan Cease ($9,300) is the other upper-tier option. He's also been quite inconsistent, but the Mariners have the third-highest strikeout rate in the league over the last 30 days.
There are two strong options if we drop down a tier. Chris Bassitt ($8,400) and Yusei Kikuchi ($8,300) get there in very different ways but have had similar overall results. Kikuchi has struggled to generate strikeouts lately however, while Bassitt draws a matchup against the Twins. Minnesota has only a .296 wOBA across the last 30 days, the fifth-lowest mark in the league. Bassitt would be my preference.
Charlie Morton ($7,900) and Clayton Kershaw ($7,700) are good options in the value range. Morton has been shockingly good lately, maintaining a 25.4 percent strikeout rate across his last five starts while posting between 19.9 and 25.9 DK points in three of his last four. He has a very tough matchup against the Athletics and is being forced to throw in a great hitter's environment. Kershaw draws a Reds lineup which has only an 83 wRC+ across the last 30 days, and he'd be my preferred option if this range fits your budget.
We can round out the pitchers with two punt options. The first is Justin Verlander ($6,800). He draws a tough matchup against the Cubs, but he's performed far better at home this season (65:17 K:BB in 63 innings). Bailey Ober ($6,600) has pitched decently since his return from a hip issue and is underpriced based on those results and his skills, but Toronto isn't a desirable matchup to attack.
Top Hitters
There are a lot of stackable offenses on this slate, and Houston is one of the best. Tanner Gordon has improved in his last two starts but gave up six, seven and 10 earned runs across his three outings prior. Christian Walker ($4,000) is a good power target, and it's worth noting that Yordan Alvarez ($4,500) is projected to return to the lineup as well.
We mentioned the hitter-friendly parks in the intro, and this is the opportunity to highlight them. Both matchup and park dictate targeting the Tigers and Yankees, who face Osvaldo Bido and MacKenzie Gore, respectively. Gore started the season well, but he has given up two home runs in four of his last seven starts. Jazz Chisholm ($5,400) is a good target for the Yankees, while Riley Greene ($5,600) is swinging a hot bat once again for Detroit.
Value Bats
Sean Manaea has racked up strikeouts in his last two starts, but he has allowed at least four earned runs across all five starts in August. Harrison Bader ($3,200) hasn't delivered great overall numbers against lefties, but his .171 ISO is solid.
We'll highlight the other side of this matchup shortly, but Andre Pallante has shifted from a groundball-heavy pitcher that generates very little swing and miss to a pitcher that still can't get strikeouts but struggles with the long ball. The Pirates have a feeble lineup, but Spencer Horwitz ($3,400) and Tommy Pham ($3,200) have both hit well in the second half of the season.
Stacks to Consider
Los Angeles Angels at Texas Rangers (Patrick Corbin): Zach Neto ($4,900), Mike Trout ($4,800), Taylor Ward ($4,500)
Corbin had a strong run through the middle of the season, but he has a 1.1 K-BB% and has given up 1.96 HR/9 across his last five starts. That puts the Angels on the radar, even though they are one of the most boom-or-bust lineups in the league. There's a lot of risk due to their swing and miss, but their top bats can do damage.
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (Mitch Keller): Lars Nootbaar ($4,200), Alec Burleson ($4,300), Nolan Gorman ($4,100)
This is another stack with a focus on the matchup. Keller has faded similarly to Corbin in his last five starts, posting a 2.25 WHIP while allowing a 1.80 HR/9. The Cardinals have admittedly been cold over the last month, but both Burleson and Gorman have swung the bat well lately and can leave the yard.
