After a strong start to the work week with walk-offs, homecomings and other heroics on Monday night, Major League Baseball has a jam-packed Tuesday night with 10 games on the featured fantasy baseball slate on DraftKings. The contests using that slate lock at 7:05 p.m. ET and include three divisional contests. There is also a regional rivalry in play as the White Sox and Cubs meet in the latest chapter of the Windy City Showdown. The Rockies and Reds meet again at Coors Field after combining for 16 runs on 27 hits on Monday, so you’ll want to be sure to get some elevation exposure in your lineups. The slate wraps up with three games in the West, where the D-backs host the Giants and the A’s welcome the Mariners in two of the divisional matchups.
As you assemble your winning fantasy baseball squad, the three players highlighted in this post can help you make your lineup work even if you are running short on salary. They offer high ceilings from their affordable salaries and can provide an excellent return on minimal investment. Saving salary with these plays also allows you to afford the big bats you want to build around at Coors or other venues.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $250K Bat Flip [$50K to 1st]
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SP Spencer Arrighetti, Houston Astros vs. St. Louis Cardinals, $6,700
After a slow start to the season, Arrighetti has made some adjustments, and the 24-year-old is starting to settle in at the Major League level. He was close to losing his spot in the rotation but has been much better lately. On the year, he still has a 5.98 ERA but his 3.71 FIP and 4.06 SIERA indicate some of that has been a little unlucky. He’s 3-5 on the season and all three of those wins have come in his last four starts. Over that span, he posted a 3.63 ERA and 2.29 FIP and totaled 26 strikeouts in 22 1⁄3 innings. His most recent start was his best of the season, as he held the Mariners scoreless for six innings with a season-high eight strikeouts for 29.9 DKFP. He has over 14 DKFP in each of his last four outings after failing to reach that level in four of his first five starts in the majors. Arrighetti still struggles with too many walks but has shown enough improvement over his last few starts to be a good value play under $7,000 against the Cardinals. St. Louis is in the bottom 10 in the MLB in team batting average and wOBA and has scored the third-fewest runs so far this season. They should be a favorable matchup for the young righty as he continues to get his rookie year turned around.
OF Stuart Fairchild, Cincinnati Reds at Colorado Rockies, $3,500
Fairchild will likely be in the lineup for the Reds on Tuesday night against the Rockies since he has been regularly starting against lefties like Ty Blach ($5,000). He has even led off in his last two starts, producing 20 and 14 DKFP, and has posted double-digit DKFP in each of his last four starts. Fairchild is hitting .317 against lefties this season with a .398 wOBA. He has three homers and six stolen bases against lefties, and he has shown that he can thrive in the split when he gets the opportunity. The Reds are priced way up, so getting him at $3,500 is actually a great bargain even though it’s more than I usually like to target for my bargain plays. On this slate, Fairchild is a great way to get Coors exposure without totally breaking the bank. His blend of both power and speed potential gives him multiple ways he can return value at this salary. Fairchild brings more upside than people may realize since his per-game averages are depressed by his appearances as a pinch hitter or defensive replacement. If you need other cheap options or can’t quite get the salary together for Fairchild, Heliot Ramos ($3,200) continues to be a great value and personal favorite of mine or you can go ultra-cheap with Jose Azocar ($2,100).
2B Ryan Bliss, Seattle Mariners at Oakland Athletics, $2,000
Bliss has been highlighted in my picks multiple times since he was called up last week, and he continues to be a great option at the minimum salary. While he’s just 1-for-11 (.091), he did deliver great value last Saturday with 23 DKFP with a pair of stolen bases against the Angels. The 24-year-old started on Sunday as well and has been a regular in the lineup since being called up to help fill in for Jorge Polanco (hamstring). In Triple-A, Bliss showed both power and speed potential while hitting .247 with seven homers, a .198 ISO and a .371 wOBA. He also swiped 28 bases in 50 games after totaling 55 in 128 minor league games last season. Bliss has been batting ninth, which has put him on base in front of the heavy hitters in the Mariners lineup. If he’s in the lineup at only $2,000, he brings such a high ceiling that he’s a great way to save serious salary this Tuesday.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $250K Bat Flip [$50K to 1st]
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is z.thompson) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
