This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
In writing up this slate, I found it to be slightly more difficult than a typical Tuesday.
While weather shouldn't lead to as many postponements today as we've seen throughout the last week, it's still a factor that is largely steering me away from matchups in colder settings.
Fortunately, with the Braves at home against the Phillies, the Rangers/Rays and Reds/Brewers matchups indoors, a hopefully closed roof in Seattle for the Mariners and Astros, and the Twins/Indians two-game set getting underway at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in Puerto Rico, there are a handful of games that stand out as particularly hitter-friendly setups.
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PITCHER
Corey Kluber, CLE vs. MIN in P.R. ($12,100): Kluber is the one true ace available Tuesday, and while the price is steep, his projected output significantly outpaces the field thanks to a difficult (but still playable) home matchup for Shohei Ohtani against Boston. With Kluber getting a full week off between starts, and the Twins missing three weekend games because of poor weather, a rested Klubot facing a Minnesota offense that hasn't been in a game situation since Thursday is a favorable spot.
Also in play among the pricey starters: Patrick Corbin, ARI vs. SF ($9,800), Shohei Ohtani, LAA vs. BOS ($10,900)
GPP Fade: Trevor Williams, PIT vs. COL ($6,700): The surface numbers look great, and Williams' success at PNC Park last season made him appealing as a late-round dart in season-long formats this draft season as a potential home streamer. With Nolan Arenado serving his five-game suspension, the Rockies' lineup is easier to navigate. Before I can trust Williams in tournaments, I need to see an uptick in fastball velocity (at 90.2 mph through three starts, he's down 1.9 mph from last season), or at least an increase in his swinging-strike rate. Tread carefully.
Cheap GPP Consideration: Yonny Chirinos vs. TEX ($4,700): The Rays will be careful to limit Chirinos' exposure to opposing lineups a third time, so his chances of going deeper than six innings in any particular start are low. Still, this is a bargain-basement price for an arm that looks capable of handling big-league hitters when he's used correctly. If he trends up toward the low $7,000 range in the coming weeks, he may be an easy pass, but facing a Texas lineup that is without Elvis Andrus, Rougned Odor and Delino DeShields Jr. – at home, no less – is a great spot for Chirinos.
CATCHER
Evan Gattis, HOU at SEA ($4,000): Catcher is my least favorite position in fantasy baseball. Gary Sanchez gets pulled into the earlier evening slate thanks to the 6:35 p.m. EDT start in New York, and extremely cold conditions along with a righty-righty matchup make me less interested in Willson Contreras. When Sanchez and Contreras are gone, and a cheap GPP consideration doesn't pop, Gattis has become my third option to consider. Weather won't be a factor in Seattle, that is to say, a postponement should not occur. Gattis and the Astros draw Seattle lefty Ariel Miranda, whose 2.18 HR/9 against righties the last two seasons makes him particularly vulnerable to a Houston lineup packed full of power bats from the right side.
FIRST BASE
C.J. Cron, TAM vs. TEX ($2,800): I have no argument against Joey Votto at $4,400 in Milwaukee with a matchup against Junior Guerra. However, if the goal is to save cash at first base Tuesday while getting power upside in a favorable spot, Cron checks those boxes. With a hit in six consecutive games, Cron has lifted his season OPS from .519 to .672 over the last week. More important, he squares off against Matt Moore and the Rangers at the Trop, whose ongoing struggles include a 1.24 HR/9 against righties last season (oddly enough, Moore's two-year splits are even worst against lefties). The supporting cast around Cron is terrible, so he's better utilized as a one-off play than as a part of a small stack.
SECOND BASE
Scooter Gennett, CIN at MIL ($3,000): Gennett will be a DFS hero for the small handful of owners who had him in their lineup last season when he swatted four homers against the Cardinals on June 6. The Reds continue to give him chances to hit in prominent spots in their lineup, and the most consistent usage has been directly behind Joey Votto in the clean-up spot. A two-man combo with Votto and Gennett is very appealing against Junior Guerra, but those interested in passing on Wilmer Flores against a lefty have a very nice alternative available.
THIRD BASE
Alex Bregman, HOU at SEA ($4,100): Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve are in a great spot again Tuesday with lefty Ariel Miranda pitching for Seattle, but like the constant attention I pay to Gattis, Bregman is a slightly cheaper building block with a steady role near the top of the Houston lineup. With a .313/.383/.531 line against lefties since the start of last season, Bregman is one of five third baseman on the slate Tuesday with a .900 OPS in his splits against the handedness of the opposing starter. (Christian Villanueva, Kris Bryant, Jake Lamb and Jose Ramirez are the others.)
SHORTSTOP
Marcus Semien, OAK vs. CHW ($3,500): My usage of Semien might be higher than most. Until his place in the A's lineup changes, or more likely, until the price goes up, that will probably continue. Even with a righty-righty matchup against Miguel Gonzalez, I'm interested Tuesday, since Carlos Correa might be out of reach ($4,800) for any lineups that spend up on pricey arms (i.e. a Corey Kluber and Patrick Corbin combo). I expect Semien to be more productive than his current .260/.321/.370 line (7:24 BB:K) as 2018 unfolds, and it's surprising that he hasn't offered much power (one homer) or speed (no attempted steals) to this point.
OUTFIELD
Preston Tucker, ATL vs. PHI ($2,900): Nick Pivetta's overall improvements might be real, as he's shaping up to be an early season pickup capable of making a difference this season. Even if there is genuine skills growth taking place, I don't believe he's made enough of a leap to where I would pass up on good value left-handed power bats in favorable spots against him. As we saw in Year 1 of SunTrust Park, lefties get a nice boost in Atlanta, and Tucker figures to hold down the sixth spot in the order against right-handed pitching until the Braves decide to install Ronald Acuna as a fixture in their outfield in the coming weeks.
Nick Williams, PHI at ATL ($3,200): The Braves have to be pleased with the mileage they've received from Mike Foltynewicz in his first three starts – especially with two of those turns coming against the Nationals. He pitched well against the Phillies in his first start of 2018 on March 30 (two solo homers were the bulk of the damage), but I would still like to see sustained improvement against left-handed hitters (.355 wOBA against since 2016, 1.41 HR/9) before I stop picking on him as an arm to target with tournament bats. A slow start of the season for Aaron Altherr should help Williams collect the start Tuesday, but the usual caveat of expecting the unexpected with the Phillies' lineup applies, so be sure to double check that manager Gabe Kapler pencils Williams into the lineup.
Chris Taylor, LAD vs. SD ($3,700): Taylor has chipped in three homers through the first 15 games, but his .213/.232/.409 line is backed by a 2:17 BB:K. As a whole, the Dodgers' offense has struggled out of the gate, but Taylor lines up against Bryan Mitchell and the Padres at Petco on Tuesday, likely as the leadoff man for Los Angeles. The over/under is on the lighter side at 7.5 for this matchup, but considering the Dodgers are -195 road favorites, the expectation should be that Taylor and company will scratch out four or five runs. Plus, he should be low-owned with a righty-righty matchup in San Diego likely steering interest elsewhere.
