The Tuesday night main slate is robust, featuring 11 games at both providers. The fun starts at 7:05 pm ET and includes a mix of excellent pitching and high-end stacks at various price points. Below, I tout my narrowed-down player pool for the sizable main slate.
Tuesday's Starting Pitcher Strategy
Once again, I'm not suggesting dipping down into the bargain bin. Instead, I advise paying top dollar for the best hurlers on the slate. Thankfully, there are enough value hitters and stacks to make it work across game types.
The Tuesday night main slate is robust, featuring 11 games at both providers. The fun starts at 7:05 pm ET and includes a mix of excellent pitching and high-end stacks at various price points. Below, I tout my narrowed-down player pool for the sizable main slate.
Tuesday's Starting Pitcher Strategy
Once again, I'm not suggesting dipping down into the bargain bin. Instead, I advise paying top dollar for the best hurlers on the slate. Thankfully, there are enough value hitters and stacks to make it work across game types.
Cash Game Recommendations:
Carlos Rodon (SF) vs. OAK
Rodon has been hellbent on clowning the opposition in his first three starts for the Giants. According to FanGraphs, the lefty has spun a 1.06 ERA, 1.61 xERA, 1.72 SIERA, 0.82 WHIP, 44.6 K%, and 34.3 CSW% through three starts totaling 17.0 innings. Moreover, per ESPN, Rodon has recorded 52 swinging strikes on 274 pitches.
Thankfully, this doesn't look like a small-sample fluke after Rodon was dominant before shoulder fatigue late in 2021. So, I'm buying what he's selling. Finally, he has a cushy matchup against the toothless A's, and the betting info favors using Rodon in all game types. Betting Pros lists the Giants as commanding -275 favorites, and the game's over/under is a pitcher-friendly 6.5 runs. Sure, other excellent hurlers are taking the hill tonight, but Rodon's the no-doubt top pitcher on Tuesday's main slate.
Chris Bassitt (NYM) at STL
Bassitt has endeared himself to his new employer and Mets fans in the early going. He's gotten the ball three times this year, acquitting himself well with a 3.00 ERA, 2.81 xERA, 2.75 SIERA, 0.94 WHIP, 5.7 BB%, 28.6 K%, and 31.6 CSW% in 18.0 innings.
As a result, I love his odds of tying the Cardinals in knots tonight. This year, the Red Birds have had a 94 wRC+ with a punchless .097 ISO against right-handed pitchers, and most of their hitters have a recent track record of mediocrity or worse against righties.
Adding to my belief Bassitt is a safe cash game SP2 on Draftings is the betting info. The Mets are small favorites (-115), and the game's over/under is only 7.0 runs. Thankfully, there are enough value hitter options on the slate to jam both Rodon and Bassitt into cash-game lineups on DraftKings with relative ease.
GPP Recommendations:
Kevin Gausman (TOR) vs. BOS
Gausman has taken like a fish to water north of the border. In three starts lasting 18.2 innings, he's had a 2.89 ERA, 3.03 xERA, 2.07 SIERA, 0.0 BB%, 30.1 K%, and 33.9 CSW%. Further, in his most recent turn, Gausman held the Red Sox to one run on seven hits, zero walks, and eight strikeouts in eight innings.
The Red Sox will have a second crack against him tonight, but they've stunk against righties this year, and they're a top-heavy group against righties since 2019. The Red Sox are a pathetic 26th in wRC+ (80) against right-handed pitchers in 2022. So understandably, the Blue Jays are -182 favorites, and the game's total of 8.0 runs supports using Gausman.
Patrick Sandoval (LAA) vs. CLE
Sadly, Sandoval has pitched only 8.0 innings across two starts. Nonetheless, he's been dialed in, recording a 0.00 ERA, 2.59 xERA, 3.92 SIERA, 1.50 WHIP, 30.6 K%, and 26.9 CSW%. Obviously, Sandoval's WHIP has left a lot to be desired. Still, the lefty hasn't allowed an earned run in 2022.
The matchup against the Guardians is a plus. Specifically, only three of Cleveland's hitters have been above-average against lefties since 2019. Also, as good as the Guardians have been this year, they've had just a 101 wRC+ against lefties. So, the only concern with Sandoval is his penchant for piling up pitches quickly and his high walk rate. As a result, there's a risk to using him. Still, his upside outweighs his salary, making him a nifty GPP pick.
Top Lineup Stacks
The Rangers have struggled at the dish in the early going, ranking 28th in wRC+ (71) against right-handed pitchers. Thankfully, they have the man opposing them to turn things around. Jake Odorizzi has been dreadful through three starts. In fact, the veteran righty has walked more hitters (seven) than he's struck out (five, adding a wild pitch and a hit batter to his ledger in nine innings. I suspect this matchup is precisely what the Rangers need to show out.
- Home (Target Field)
- Value: Medium
- Risk: Medium
- Game Type: GPP
- Game Total/Moneyline: 7.5 Runs/MIN -150
Eduardo Rodriguez has struggled through three starts for his new employer, coughing up a 5.27 ERA with wretched ERA estimators and 1.32 HR/9. The Twins have been mid-pack against lefties out of the chute, but they have some hitters that can make E-Rod's life difficult tonight. Among the nine projected hitters on the table above, four have been 17% better than the league average against lefties since 2019, and seven have had a 101 wRC+ or better. As a result, there aren't many projected soft spots for Rodriguez to exploit.
- Road (Chase Field)
- Value: Low
- Risk: Low
- Game Type: Cash
- Game Total/Moneyline: 9.5 Runs/LAD -195
I imagine seeing the Dodgers in here on a nearly nightly basis is getting tiresome. Nevertheless, Los Angeles's seemingly bottomless lineup of superstars is highly stackable from top to bottom, making them attractive every night. Moreover, they're the perfect offense to blend with another stack since they have viable options at every position on the diamond. As for the matchup, Zach Davies has a 5.02 ERA with 1.88 HR/9 on the heels of tallying a 5.78 ERA with 1.52 HR/9 in 2021. Backed by a bullpen with MLB's highest xFIP in 2022, this game has an offensive outburst from the Dodgers written all over it.
- Byron Buxton is playing at an MVP level in 2022. In addition, he has had a .299 ISO and 157 wRC+ against southpaws since 2019.
- It's been a slow start for Carlos Correa with his new employer, but I'm still drawn to his 138 wRC+ against lefties since 2019.
- Spencer Torkelson's bat-first profile has hit the ground running in the majors. He has a plus matchup against Chris Paddack tonight. Since last year, the right-handed hurler has coughed up a .528 SLG and .369 wOBA to righties.
- Andrew Vaughn has a dreamy matchup on tap against Daniel Lynch tonight. The young southpaw has ceded a .511 SLG and .386 wOBA to righties since debuting in 2021.
- Gio Urshela isn't a flashy hitter. Regardless, he has been an above-average hitter against lefties since 2019 and held down a spot in the heart of Minnesota's order against southpaws this year. So, I'll sign up for Urshela as an underpriced punt.
- Even after an 0-for-4 showing last night, Cody Bellinger has a .288 ISO and 148 wRC+ this year. Thus, DraftKings continues to price him below his production.
- Corey Seager has struggled in his first year with the Rangers. However, his plate discipline numbers are stellar, he had a multi-hit effort last night, and he's crushed righties recently. As a result, Seager is a bargain on FanDuel.
Tuesday's Hitter Strategy
The Dodgers are an excellent option for hitters every night, tonight not excluded. Meanwhile, the Rangers and Twins offer high ceilings that fit in GPPs. Finally, since I'm fixated on the top pitchers, I'm overloading my lineup with bargain hitters, such as those listed above.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
