This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
Tuesday's featured MLB slate begins at 7:05 p.m. EDT and includes 11 games. With some of this slate's top arms also benefiting from favorable matchups, finding affordable yet effective bats to complement the pricey pitchers will be key to crafting an effective lineup. Below, you'll find recommended pitchers and hitters to target, as well as some value plays and stacking options.
Pitchers
Yu Darvish ($10,500) should be worth paying up for as this slate's most expensive arm. He owns a sparkling 1.88 ERA and 2.16 FIP to go with 27 strikeouts in 24 innings for the Cubs heading into a home clash against a Cardinals team that's scoring the second-fewest runs per game in the league (3.80).
Carlos Carrasco ($9,900) is another top arm who stands to benefit from a favorable matchup. The top-notch strikeout artist (30 in 22.1 innings) should rack up plenty of Ks against a putrid Pirates team that's off to a 4-14 start.
Tony Gonsolin ($8,700) is an intriguing option for the heavily favored Dodgers against a Mariners team that's just 7-17 and scoring 3.96 runs per game. The right-hander has lasted only 4.0 and 4.2 innings in his two appearances this season, but Gonsolin is yet to allow a run while giving up just four hits to go with a 9:2 K:BB. If he can give the Dodgers some length, Gonsolin's primed for a strong outing.
Brad Keller ($6,700) has tossed 11 scoreless innings for the Royals through two starts, allowing just five hits to go with a 10:5 K:BB. His most recent start featured six shutout innings in Cincinnati, and he'll be looking for similar results with the Reds paying Kansas City a visit.
Top Targets
Juan Soto ($5,900) has raised his season line to a ridiculous .409/.490/.955 and has five home runs, 10 runs and 10 RBI in his last six games. The left-handed slugger should keep producing against a Braves team that's set to start right-handed opener Josh Tomlin.
Jose Ramirez ($5,400) is bouncing back nicely after a down year in 2019, slashing .277/.371/.542 out of the two-hole for the Indians. The third baseman is set for a strong performance against the lowly Pirates, who are sending JT Brubaker to the mound for his second major-league start.
Dominic Smith ($4,300) is riding a hot streak for the Mets, with five multi-hit performances, four doubles, four home runs and 10 RBI in his last six games. The left-handed slugger, who is eligible at first base and in the outfield, should keep rolling against Marlins opener Humberto Mejia and the Miami bullpen.
Best Values
Jesse Winker ($3,800) was scorching hot for the Reds before they were forced to take a few days off, with 11 hits and five home runs in his last five games. The affordable outfielder will have the platoon advantage against Keller in what will be Cincinnati's first game since Friday.
With the injury bug biting the Yankees hard again, 25-year-old outfielder Clint Frazier ($4,500) is getting the opportunity to play every day and making the most of it. Frazier's slashing .444/.500/.944 with eight RBI in five games, and he was moved up to third in the batting order Monday. Rays lefty Blake Snell is a tough matchup, but the right-handed slugger will have the platoon advantage working in his favor.
Orioles third baseman Rio Ruiz ($3,700) offers some nice power upside against rookie Blue Jays righty Nate Pearson. Ruiz has gone deep six times in 16 games while displaying good patience at the plate with an 11.4 percent walk rate. Meanwhile, Pearson has struggled with his control, issuing nine walks and allowing two home runs in 12.1 innings.
Stacks to Consider
Phillies at Red Sox RHP Zack Godley:
Bryce Harper (OF - $5,500), J.T. Realmuto (C - $5,300), Didi Gregorius (SS - $4,900)
Godley has struggled for the 6-17 Red Sox, with an 8.16 ERA overall and an 11.32 ERA in his three starts. Meanwhile, Harper's performing like the player the Phillies were hoping to get when they signed him to a $330 million contract prior to last season, slashing .364/.493/.673. Realmuto is the league's best hitter at the catcher position, and he's on pace for the best season of his career with a .309/.354/.717 line. Like Harper, Gregorius has the platoon advantage over Godley as a left-handed hitter, and the former Yankees shortstop is off to a fine start in Philadelphia, slashing .295/.323/.475 while batting in the heart of the order. If the Phillies opt to use Realmuto at DH, Andrew Knapp ($3,000) would be an intriguing value catcher option given his .417/.462/.500 line this season.
Blue Jays vs. Orioles LHP Wade LeBlanc:
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (1B - $4,800), Randal Grichuk (OF - $3,900), Teoscar Hernandez (OF - $4,700)
LeBlanc's off to a tough start this season, with a 7.13 ERA and 5.95 FIP through 17.2 innings (four starts). Things don't get any easier against a Blue Jays lineup that features these three dangerous right-handed sluggers. Guerrero's .233/.300/.411 line is nothing to write home about, but the top prospect should heat up as his sophomore season rolls on, and this favorable matchup provides a great opportunity to do so. Grichuk's a bargain given his .327/.393/.509 line. He was recently moved up to the two-hole in the order and has four multi-hit games, three home runs and seven RBI over his past five contests. Hernandez is slugging .636 and occupies the cleanup spot.
Dodgers vs. Mariners LHP Marco Gonzales:
Mookie Betts (OF - $6,100), Justin Turner (3B - $4,900), Chris Taylor (OF/SS - $3,200)
Los Angeles boasts the league's best offense at 5.79 runs per game, and these three right-handed batters are primed to carry the lineup against Seattle's middling southpaw (4.90 xFIP). Betts is unsurprisingly performing at an elite level with a .319/.374/.681 line, and he owns a .378 career wOBA against lefties. Turner's wOBA against southpaws has exceeded .430 in two of the previous three seasons, while the versatile Taylor brings some affordability while still benefiting from the Dodgers' powerful lineup.
