On Tuesday, Major League Baseball continues a busy week with 11 games on the featured main slate on DraftKings. With the Trade Deadline almost a week behind us, playoff races are heating up and teams are jockeying for position coming into the stretch. In the late-night hammer, we have a potential playoff preview between the Phillies and the Dodgers in Los Angeles after an important series for the AL Wild Card race continues as the Red Sox visit the Royals. Coors Field is also in play as the Mets visit the Mile High City.
With 22 teams in the player pool, there are many ways to consider building your roster. If you find yourself short on salary cap space, check out these three bargain plays that come extremely cheap but still bring nice upside in their Tuesday night matchups.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $200K Knuckleball [$50K to 1st]
For up-to-the-minute news, analysis and lineups, download the DK Live app. You also can follow DraftKings Network on Twitter @dknetwork.
SP Kyle Freeland, Colorado Rockies vs. New York Mets, $6,000
Using staring pitchers at Coors Field is always a risky strategy with so much offense always potentially in play, but Freeland has been very strong since returning from two months on the shelf with an elbow injury. He had an absolutely disastrous start to the season, allowing 25 runs in 15 2/3 innings before landing on IL. After being sidelined, Freehand came back a totally different pitcher and has allowed more than two runs in only one of his seven starts since returning. He has gone 3-1 in those seven outings with a 2.91 ERA, 3.65 FIP and 8.1 K/9 rate.
The 31-year-old usually relies on his sinker to keep the ball in Coors Field, and has a 1.88 home ERA in Denver this year while racking up 15 strikeouts in 24 innings and holding opponents to a .211 batting average. Freeland has posted over 17 fantasy points in of his last five starts and in each of his three home outings since coming off IL. With his salary at only $6,000, he’s a great per-dollar option and has shown the upside to go off for a big number. There is risk due to the Coors Field factor, but Freeland is way underpriced given his recent success.
1B Justin Turner, Seattle Mariners vs. Detroit Tigers, $3,200
The Mariners acquired Turner from the Blue Jays in a deal at the Trade Deadline, and he has slotted right into their cleanup spot in four games with his new team. He went 5-for-18 (.278) with a home run, six RBI and a .331 wOBA in that small sample size and is now hitting .257 on the season with seven homers and a .323 wOBA.
The veteran should be able to provide a stabilizing force for the M’s offense as they chase an AL Wild Card spot, and he should be in a good spot to return value against Keider Montero ($5,400) and the Tigers. The rookie has gone 1-5 with a 6.18 ERA and 5.85 FIP in his first taste of the MLB and has given up a .396 wOBA to right-handed hitters like Turner. Getting a middle-of-the-order bat at just over $3,000 in what should be one of the most productive matchups of the night is a great option to consider.
3B/OF Miguel Vargas, Chicago White Sox at Oakland Athletics, $2,800
Another player on the move at the Trade Deadline who offers good value on Tuesday is former Dodger Miguel Vargas, who was sent to the White Sox in the three-way trade for Erick Fedde and Michel Kopech. Vargas has slotted right into a prominent role for the talent-starved White Sox and has hit leadoff in his four most recent games. He has gone 3-for-16 (.188) in the leadoff spot but has a double and a home run while averaging 7.0 fantasy points per contest. While the White Sox are literally setting records for ineptness, they should be able to put some runs on the board against Ross Stripling ($5,900) and the A’s in Oakland on Tuesday. Stripling is 2-10 in his 13 starts the season with a 5.64 ERA and a .309 batting average against.
Vargas hit .290 with eight home runs and eight stolen bases in his time in Triple-A with the Dodgers before the trade, and he was ranked No. 37 in the MLB Pipeline’s top 100 prospects in all of baseball last season. He has good long-term potential and should get plenty of opportunities to prove he can be part of the White Sox plan for the rest of this season. At under $3,000 with multi-position eligibility, Vargas is a nice piece to fit in this Tuesday since he brings power and speed potential to this favorable matchup in a premium spot in the batting order.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $200K Knuckleball [$50K to 1st]
The Crown Is Yours: Sign up for DraftKings and experience the ultimate host for games and betting experiences!
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.
