This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
The march toward normal Tuesday slates continues. Two matinees, and the early-evening start in Cleveland drop the main contests to 12 games, but with a completely mixed bags of pitchers -- and a Coors game -- there are plenty of lineup strategies available.
Look closely at the prices on the bats in Colorado, especially on the San Diego side, where several quality right-handed hitters are under $4,000 including Manny Margot, Hunter Renfroe, and Jose Pirela, among others. On the Rockies' side, Pat Valaika might be on course for another start against San Diego lefty Joey Lucchesi, as the Rockies appear to be platooning Valaika with Ian Desmond, and moving Desmond to the outfield against southpaws in order to sit Gerardo Parra.
For those interested, we've started an MLB DFS Slack channel for paid RotoWire subscribers. (There is a season-long one as well.) To join those channels, e-mail support@rotowire.com.
Pitcher
Aaron Nola, PHI vs. CIN ($8,200) -- The steeper pricing curve at the top of the board on DraftKings makes Nola pop as a relative value from the second-tier starters. With Chris Sale and Jacob deGrom north of $12,000, Nola emerges as a heavy favorite (-220), at home, in a game with a reasonably low over/under total (7.5) against Reds starter Homer Bailey. Nola struggled with his command to begin his last start against the Mets, and manager Gabe Kapler's decision to pull the ripcord with a big lead and a low pitch count for Nola on Opening Day shortened up an outing in which he could have easily finished the sixth inning, and possibly completed the seventh in what should have a winning effort.
Also in play among the pricey starters: Stephen Strasburg, WAS vs. ATL ($10,800), Jacob deGrom, NYM at MIA ($12,400)
GPP Fade: Based on today's pricing, there isn't a clear-cut high ownership tournament arm to fade. Thank the limitations on cheap interesting arms, paired with the half-dozen or so viable options on the top-third of the price list.
Cheap GPP Consideration: Just as there isn't a great fade, there isn't a necessarily great cheap pitching target in these matchups. I am not planning on using him in my own lineups, but Jake Odorizzi at $5,700 is somewhat tempting as an extremely low-owned option at home against Dallas Keuchel and the Astros. Keep in mind, however, that in addition to the challenge presented by a loaded Houston lineup that is generally good at avoiding whiffs, Target Field is a hitter-friendly environment, and the frigid temps that have been hanging around the upper midwest to begin the season are beginning to warm up Tuesday.
Catcher
Yadier Molina, STL vs. MIL ($3,600) -- The Cards may bump Molina up one spot in the lineup Tuesday, as Jose Martinez left Monday's game with an Achilles contusion and is day-to-day. Even if he's in the sixth spot for the 11th consecutive game, Molina draw soft-tossing lefty Brent Suter on Tuesday, giving him the best matchup of of the sub-$4,000 backstops on the board. Cheaper options in good spots (assuming they get to start Tuesday) include: Austin Hedges in Colorado against lefty Tyler Anderson at $3,200, Mike Marjama at $2,100 vs. Eric Skoglund, Robinson Chirinos at $2,900 vs. Tyler Skaggs, and Travis d'Arnaud at $3.400 at Miami against lefty Caleb Smith.
First Base
Lucas Duda, KC vs. SEA ($3,100) -- Unfortunately, King Felix doesn't appear to be a king anymore. Over the last two seasons, Hernandez has a 17.4% K% against lefties, along with a 1.32 HR/9 and .335 wOBA. Duda received a break from the starting lineup Monday with lefty Marco Gonzales getting the start for Seattle, but he should be back in the heart of the order for Tuesday's game, as he's been the team's clean-up hitter against righties when healthy. Duda has a 124 wRC+ against righties since the start of 2016, putting him in the same range as Mookie Betts and Jose Abreu in that split.
If he's in the lineup despite the early exit Monday night, Jose Martinez at $3,400 against Suter is a very strong play.
Second Base
Wilmer Flores, NYM at MIA ($2,900) -- The Mets should have Flores in the lineup in place of Adrian Gonzalez on Tuesday with rookie left-hander Caleb Smith starting for Miami. Like Duda, Flores is a very good when platooned, and his 151 wRC+ against southpaws ranks just behind Nelson Cruz (152) and Jose Altuve (152) since the start of the 2016 season. Even though the volume of playing time from a season-long perspective took a hit with the addition of Gonzalez and Jay Bruce in free agency, Flores will still have plenty of DFS appeal throughout the season when he gets set up with a matchup like the one he has Tuesday.
Third Base
Mike Moustakas, KC vs. SEA ($3,200) -- The Royals' lineup might be too weak for a large stack, but I can't argue against a two-man pairing of Moustakas and Duda for Tuesday night. In addition to tapping into more power than ever last season, Moustakas has continued to carry a sub-20 percent strikeout rate overall, and sub-16 percent strikeout rate against righties every season since 2013. Royals manager Ned Yost hasn't moved Moose from the No. 3 spot in the order, and there is little reason to think he'll shake things up in the wake of back-to-back multi-hit games from his third baseman.
Shortstop
Elvis Andrus, TEX vs. LAA ($3,600) -- Andrus against lefties has become a matchup to seek out on a regular basis over the last two seasons. The over/under total for Tuesday's game in Arlington is 9.0, with Tyler Skaggs and Martin Perez taking the ball for their respective clubs. Since the start of the 2016 season, Andrus has been 26 percent better than league average against southpaws with a 126 wRC+ against them. The Rangers continue to use Andrus as their primary No. 3 hitter, while his only two detours out of that spot were a pair of starts atop the order immediately following Delino DeShields Jr.'s wrist injury in the opening series.
One alternative to watch closely when lineups are released is Paul DeJong, who is just $3,900 for the Cards in their matchup against Suter.
Outfield
Austin Jackson, SFG vs. AZ ($2,600) -- With a Coors game on the slate, finding cheap options hitting atop lineups is always a good idea. Jackson has led off each the Giants' first six matchups against a left-handed starter this season, and he'll get a chance to make it seven-in-a-row Tuesday with a home matchup against Arizona's Patrick Corbin. Corbin's K% drops more than 10 percentage points when he faces lefties (18.3% K% since the start of 2016), while his .353 wOBA allowed to lefties is the third-worst of the 30 starters pitching Tuesday.
Marcell Ozuna, STL vs. MIL ($3,700) -- Ozuna showed clear frustration after whiffing against Jacob Barnes in a key spot near the end of Monday's loss to the Brewers -- but he picked up his third multi-hit game in his last five contests, while reaching double figures on DraftKings for the fifth time in his last eight games. A Cards stack is very appealing Tuesday, but Ozuna is the best play overall for those looking to get one-off exposure while mixing and matching with the other favorable matchups throughout the slate.
Nick Williams, PHI vs. CIN ($2,900) -- Williams hit a go-ahead homer off the bench that stood as the eventual game-winning run Monday night against the Reds. He's only started three games thus far, so check the lineups Tuesday afternoon to be sure that he's getting the nod against Homer Bailey. With a 2.9% K-BB% and .374 wOBA allowed against lefties over the last two seasons while pitching in small pockets around injuries, Bailey has struggled to regain the effectiveness that made him a steady option for the Reds from 2012-2014.
