The main slates at DraftKings and FanDuel are different tonight. At DK, all 15 games starting at 7:05 pm ET and later are included. However, at FD, the second game of the Pirates at Cardinals doubleheader is excluded.
Tuesday's Starting Pitcher Strategy
The upper-middle tier is overflowing with pitching talent that fits all game types. However, the top two pitchers on the table are the cash game recommendations, and the last two players on the table are the GPP picks.
The main slates at DraftKings and FanDuel are different tonight. At DK, all 15 games starting at 7:05 pm ET and later are included. However, at FD, the second game of the Pirates at Cardinals doubleheader is excluded.
Tuesday's Starting Pitcher Strategy
The upper-middle tier is overflowing with pitching talent that fits all game types. However, the top two pitchers on the table are the cash game recommendations, and the last two players on the table are the GPP picks.
Cash Game Recommendations:
Logan Webb (SF) vs. KC
Webb has found his strikeout groove lately. After striking out six batters or more in just three of his first seven starts, he's done so in four of his last five, striking out a season-high 10 on May 30. According to FanGraphs, in Webb's previous five starts, he's had a humdrum 4.15 ERA. However, his 2.75 xFIP was much better.
The righty is in a great spot to succeed tonight. The visiting Royals are 22nd in wRC+ (91) against right-handed pitchers this year. Further, Oracle Park has the sixth-lowest park factor for runs (0.908). Finally, the Giants are -250 favorites, per Betting Pros. Thus, Webb is an excellent DFS option in all game types.
Sean Manaea (SD) at CHC
Manaea is having an outstanding first season with the Padres. In 11 starts totaling 69.0 innings, he's had a 3.52 ERA, 3.47 xERA, 1.09 WHIP, 25.6 K% and 28.3 CSW%. Tonight, the veteran lefty is a -134 favorite with a good matchup. The Cubs are tied for 19th in wRC+ (99) against southpaws with a 22.5 K% against them. He's a little pricey relative to the other pitchers on the table at FD, but he's a bargain as the cheapest of the quartet at DK.
GPP Recommendations:
Nick Pivetta (BOS) vs. OAK
Pivetta has been locked in. In his previous seven starts, he's chewed up 46.0 innings, spinning a sterling 1.96 ERA, 3.31 SIERA, 0.83 WHIP, 5.6 BB% and 27.1 K%. Pivetta had a quality start in six of those, striking out 11 in the lone non-quality start.
Thankfully, he has a tasty matchup tonight. The A's are 29th in wRC+ (75) against righties with a sizable 24.2 K%. So, predictably, the Red Sox are -225 favorites. However, because the game is at hitter-friendly Fenway Park, the total is 9.5 runs. Therefore, a dash of risk is attached to Pivetta due to the park factors.
Dylan Cease (CHW) at DET
Cease would rank ahead of all the pitchers tonight if his control hadn't been so shaky lately. Sadly, he's had an eye-popping 15.7 BB% in his previous five starts. Cease has worked around the wildness, but it's a legitimate concern.
Regardless, Cease has elite bat-missing stuff, evidenced by his 32.7 K% and 15.5 SwStr%. Therefore, he has the goods to clown MLB's worst offense against righties. The Tigers are dead last in wRC+ (65) against righties, punching out at an exploitable 24.7% clip. Moreover, over the last 14 days, they're last in wRC+ (58) while striking out in 24.3% of their plate appearances. As a result, Cease's ceiling is sky-high.
Top Lineup Stacks
The Blue Jays teed off on the Orioles last night, and they should do the same tonight. Jordan Lyles is a below-average pitcher, owning a 4.97 ERA and 5.58 xERA this season. Further, the veteran righty has struggled mightily in same-handed matchups. So, Lyles is unlikely to have success against Toronto's righty-laden lineup.
- Home (Fenway Park)
- Value: Low
- Risk: Low
- Game Type: Both
- Game Total/Moneyline: 9.5 Runs/BOS -225
The Red Sox greet a veteran journeyman pitcher making only his second big-league start at Fenway Park. Does that sound like a recipe for success for a crafty lefty? Of course, it does not. In Jared Koenig's first big-league start, he lasted only four innings, walking two and striking out only three of the 18 batters he faced. The lefty's lack of swing-and-miss stuff will probably be his undoing tonight.
- Vladimir Guerrero had a three-hit effort last night, including clubbing a dong. This year, in 252 plate appearances, he's had a .235 ISO, .341 OBP, 131 wRC and 15 homers.
- Trevor Story has crushed lefties. Since 2019, he's had a .373 OBP, .283 ISO and 139 wRC+ against them.
- Xander Bogaerts has been another lefty-killer. Since 2019, he's had a .383 OBP, .204 ISO and 138 wRC+ against southpaws.
- Like Vladito, Teoscar Hernandez had a three-hit game on Monday night. The multi-hit effort was Hernandez's sixth in his last 12 games.
- Oscar Gonzalez is a steal at Coors Field. He's seamlessly transitioned from raking in the upper minors to doing the same in The Show. Through his first 65 plate appearances, he's had a .400 OBP and 169 wRC+.
- Darin Ruf smashes southpaws. Since returning to MLB from the KBO in 2020, he's had a .376 OBP, 294 ISO and 152 wRC+ against lefties.
Tuesday's Hitter Strategy
The Blue Jays and Red Sox are the runaway top offenses to invest in tonight. However, Gonzalez and Ruf are a pair of values gamers should also mix in on offense.
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio
Whether you're new to fantasy baseball or a seasoned pro, our Fantasy Baseball 101: Strategy Tips & Advice page is for you. You can get started with our Sabermetrics Glossary or head to a more advanced strategy - like Maximizing Your Potential in Multi-Lineup Contests - to learn more.
Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.
