If you love massive slates, you’re in luck. Tuesday’s main slate includes 12 games. Additionally, it has a desirable blend of quality pitching at many price points and high-upside offenses. So, there is a wide variety of paths to building a winning roster tonight.
Tuesday's Starting Pitcher Strategy
Paying top dollar for both pitchers in cash games on DraftKings is optimal tonight. However, it's a trickier decision on FanDuel, where you can use the top pitcher on the table at the expense of a stud hitter or spin down to the second listed pitcher and jam in all of the forthcoming studs. A pair of high-strikeout pitchers round out the options as outstanding GPP picks.
If you love massive slates, you’re in luck. Tuesday’s main slate includes 12 games. Additionally, it has a desirable blend of quality pitching at many price points and high-upside offenses. So, there is a wide variety of paths to building a winning roster tonight.
Tuesday's Starting Pitcher Strategy
Paying top dollar for both pitchers in cash games on DraftKings is optimal tonight. However, it's a trickier decision on FanDuel, where you can use the top pitcher on the table at the expense of a stud hitter or spin down to the second listed pitcher and jam in all of the forthcoming studs. A pair of high-strikeout pitchers round out the options as outstanding GPP picks.
Cash Game Recommendations:
Lucas Giolito (CWS) vs. CLE
Giolito is striking out hitters left and right through four starts. He's fanned 32 of 79 batters faced, a 40.5 K%, per FanGraphs. Additionally, his 3.20 ERA and 2.20 SIERA are excellent.
At a glance, the Guardians appear to be a tricky matchup. They're first in wRC+ (130) against righties in 2022. Although, they're not as scary an offense when looking at a larger sample. So, it makes sense Betting Pros lists the White Sox as -185 favorites and the game's total as 7.5 runs.
Carlos Carrasco (NYM) at WSH
The Mets haven't officially listed Carrasco as the starter for tonight's game as of late Monday night, but it's his spot in the rotation. So, DraftKings and Roster Resource at FanGraphs list him as the probable starter. Therefore, I'm treating him as such.
In his previous turn, the 35-year-old righty was brilliant, holding the Braves scoreless on six hits, two walks, and five strikeouts in eight innings. Carrasco has pitched five or more innings, allowing two or fewer runs in four of his five starts. Thus, he's equipped to tame Washington's mediocre offense.
GPP Recommendations:
Jesus Luzardo (MIA) at ARI
Luzardo teased his upside in 2019 and 2020 before hitting the skids last year. Thankfully, he's rebounding this year. The 24-year-old southpaw has had a 3.08 ERA, 2.77 xERA, 1.06 WHIP, 33.3 K%, and 34.1 CSW%.
Unfortunately, Luzardo has walked 11.4% of the batters he's faced. So, there's a risk to using him. However, Luzardo has had a 40.0 Zone% (41.6% league average) and 72.4 F-Strike% (61.0% league average), creating reasons for optimism about Luzardo reigning in his free passes. Finally, he has a great matchup tonight. The Diamondbacks are dead last in wRC+ (65) against lefties in 2022, and they're mostly a non-threatening group over a larger sample. Thus, Luzardo's upside is worth chasing tonight in GPPs.
Mike Clevinger (SD) vs. CHC
Clevinger was ho-hum, at best, in his first start of the year last week. Nevertheless, he's stretched to a complete workload, and he was sharp on his rehab assignment. Clevinger had a 14.8 SwStr% and 35.7 K% in 6.2 innings at Triple-A.
Might Clevinger be sharper in his second start of the year for the Friars? That's a reasonable expectation. He also has a GPP-friendly matchup against the Cubs, evidenced by their 25.0 K% and 95 wRC+against righties this year. Further, many of their hitters have sky-high strikeout rates recently against righties.
Top Lineup Stacks
Not even unsustainable luck on homers has prevented Patrick Corbin from throwing up all over himself this year. He has had a 7.16 ERA and 4.92 xERA in six starts. Further, he has allowed five runs or more in three of his starts. Corbin is an excellent target to stack against as long as the Nationals keep giving him the ball for starts.
- Home (Yankee Stadium)
- Value: Low
- Risk: Low
- Game Type: Both
- Game Total/Moneyline: 7.5 Runs/NYY -155
Yusei Kikuchi has been flirting with disaster this year, and his 4.35 ERA doesn't tell the whole story. His 5.31 xERA is more indicative of his quality of work to date in 2022. The lefty's high walk rate and issue keeping the ball in the yard are a recipe for a meltdown start against the Bronx Bombers.
- Road (Busch Stadium)
- Value: High
- Risk: High
- Game Type: GPP
- Game Total/Moneyline: Unlisted
Adam Wainwright is on the COVID-19 list. Unless he has a second negative test today, tonight sets up as a bullpen game for the Red Birds. St. Louis's relievers have pitched well this year. Nonetheless, the Cardinals will probably use some of their less talented low-leverage relievers early in the game, creating an opportunity for Baltimore's hitters to score points. In addition, the O's are cheap to stack. So, there's some appeal to the value they offer.
- Pete Alonso has had a .306 ISO against lefties in his career, making him a nightmare matchup for Corbin.
- Aaron Judge is a lefty-killer, and he's obliterating baseballs in 2022 with a .324 ISO and 185 wRC+.
- This year, Manny Machado has been a one-person wrecking crew, tallying a wRC+ north of 200.
- Mark Canha is an excellent value as the No. 2 hitter in a plus matchup.
- J.D. Davis has been used sporadically this year, but he should get the nod against a southpaw tonight. He has had a 129 wRC+ in 48 plate appearances this year.
- Gleyber Torres hasn't been flawless this year. Nonetheless, he's packed a punch with a .215 ISO. Additionally, he has been an above-average hitter against lefties, owning a 131 wRC+ since 2019.
Tuesday's Hitter Strategy
Investing heavily in hitters from both of New York's baseball clubs is the correct move tonight. However, the O's are an enticing value stack in GPPs, as long as Waino doesn't return from the COVID-19 list.
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Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.