It’s Tuesday, which means a loaded MLB slate on DraftKings is in store. For this evening’s edition, we’ve got 14 games scheduled, along with the possibility of rain in Minnesota, Chicago and Kansas City. So, you’ll have to keep an eye on those spots as we inch closer to lineup lock.
Aside from that? Let’s go position-by-position and break down everything you’ll need to know to get in on tonight’s action.
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PITCHER
Stud
Blake Snell, San Diego Padres vs. Colorado Rockies, $8,900 - I’ve wanted very little to do with Snell so far in 2021, but I do think the left-hander provides an interesting GPP option for this evening’s slate. He won’t be as popular as Brandon Woodruff ($10,200) or Zack Wheeler ($10,000) — and while there’s good reason for that — I’m mostly just concerned about Snell’s matchup. The Rockies have been hideous on the road this season, sitting dead-last in the league in wRC+ (65) and ISO (.091). Snell’s had his issues working deep into games, but Colorado shouldn’t put up too much of a fight and the former AL Cy Young winner has mustered a 31.0% strikeout rate. This is also the cheapest he’s been all year.
Value
Kris Bubic, Kansas City Royals vs. Milwaukee Brewers, $4,000 - I really, really hope this game doesn’t get rained out. While there hasn’t been anything jaw-dropping about Bubic’s first 62.2 innings in the majors, there’s no rational reason for the lefty to be this inexpensive. In fact, Bubic has a career 3.73 ERA and he’s thrown 10.2 innings of scoreless baseball in his most recent two outings for the Royals — a span where he’s only allowed four opponent hits. There’s also some pedigree here, as Bubic is a former first-round pick and a top prospect for Kansas City. While there’s a chance that Christian Yelich ($4,700; back) is recalled prior to tonight’s contest, the Brewers aren’t really a lineup to fear. So far in May, the team has posted the league’s third-lowest wRC+ (81). I truly believe Bubic has a shot as 5x or 6x value.
CATCHER
Stud
Willson Contreras, Chicago Cubs vs. Washington Nationals, $5,200 - While Patrick Corbin ($6,100) has pitched better as of late, he’s still a left-handed starter that’s allowed opponents to register a whopping .395 expected wOBA so far this season. Meanwhile, Contreras has destroyed southpaws in 2021, slashing .326/.375/.698 with a 180 wRC+ in 48 plate appearances. I’ll side with the Cubs’ backstop here.
Value
James McCann, New York Mets at Atlanta Braves, $3,300 - McCann has not come close to living up to his new contract from an offensive perspective; however, part of this issue might be that he’s only seen 19 plate appearances against left-handed pitching in 2021. McCann has always performed better within the split, with a career 123 wRC+ against lefties. He’ll draw a southpaw this evening in the form of Tucker Davidson ($4,000), a 25-year-old that conceded seven runs in his lone MLB start. This could be a good spot to get McCann going at the dish.
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FIRST BASE
Stud
Editor’s Note: Marlins SP Cody Poteet will start tonight’s game vs. the Phillies.
Rhys Hoskins, Philadelphia Phillies vs. Miami Marlins, $4,700 - Hoskins is coming off a wonderful series against the Blue Jays, a weekend set where the veteran went 5-for-12 with a pair of doubles and three RBI. It might not seem like much, but Hoskins was off to a slow start in 2021 and he’s now rocking a .400 OBP so far in May. Tonight, he’ll draw Nick Neidert ($5,300), who has had his issues pitching above Triple-A. To wit, Neidert possesses a 9.35 expected ERA through three starts with the Marlins this season. That’s some ugly stuff.
Value
Matt Olson, Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros, $4,000 - I’m slightly confused as to why Olson is so inexpensive on Tuesday’s slate. The first baseman comes into tonight’s matchup with Cristian Javier ($9,200) sporting a .392 wOBA and a 159 wRC+ when getting the chance to face right-handed pitching in 2021. Those are elite figures and Javier’s certainly had his struggles pitching to LHBs. Houston’s starter has surrendered 1.65 home runs per nine within the split, as his nasty slider is nullified in right-on-left matchups.
SECOND BASE
Stud
Marcus Semien, Toronto Blue Jays vs. Boston Red Sox, $5,800 - In the month of May, Semien has been virtually unstoppable in the batter’s box. In fact, the infielder comes into tonight’s matchup with Eduardo Rodriguez ($8,800) slashing .361/.400/.672 with a 195 wRC+ since the calendar flipped past April. Combine that hot streak with Semien’s position as the Jays’ leadoff man and Toronto owning the slate’s highest implied total, and suddenly $5.8K doesn’t seem that outlandish.
Value
Michael Chavis, Boston Red Sox at Toronto Blue Jays, $2,900 - Speaking of leadoff hitters, Chavis has batted atop Boston’s order the past three times the team has faced an LHP. On Tuesday, the Sox draw Hyun Jin Ryu ($8,600) — not exactly an enticing lefty, yet Chavis has to be considered viable if he’s up in the No. 1 slot once again. The 25-year-old is 3-for-10 within the split so far in 2021, with all three hits going for extra-bases. It’s also important to note that Enrique Hernandez ($3,400; hamstring) could be activated from the IL prior to tonight’s contest, and he also would be viable hitting leadoff.
THIRD BASE
Stud
Editor’s Note: Dodgers 3B Justin Turner is not in the lineup for tonight’s game vs. the Diamondbacks.
Justin Turner, Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks, $5,000 - Turner is generally reserved for the Dodgers’ games versus a left-handed starter, but I’ll make an exception for Merrill Kelly ($7,200). The right-hander has been flat-out bad in 2021, sitting 15th percentile in expected slugging percentage and 12th percentile in whiff rate. Kelly has also been specifically awful on the road, where he’s allowed opponents to register a .376 wOBA. I think Los Angeles is going to score some runs on Tuesday, and Turner should be in the middle of it all.
Value
Brad Miller, Philadelphia Phillies vs. Miami Marlins, $3,000 - Miller could find himself in an interesting situation on Tuesday. The Phillies are hurting. Bryce Harper ($5,400; shoulder), J.T Realmuto ($5,000; wrist) and Didi Gregorius ($3,600; elbow) are all game-time decisions, which could vault Miller into the middle of the batting order out of necessity. It would be a nice matchup for the veteran, too, as Neidert has allowed LHBs to compile a .505 wOBA so far in 2021.
SHORTSTOP
Stud
Bo Bichette, Toronto Blue Jays vs. Boston Red Sox, $5,600 - It’s always a good idea to use Bichette in a matchup with a left-handed opponent, as the shortstop owns a career 153 wRC+ within the split. However, this spot is about more than handedness. Toronto has mashed when getting to play in Dunedin this season, leading the majors with a 132 wRC+ at home. Bichette has been leading the charge in this regard, as he’s slashing .345/.391/.690 with a .452 wOBA at TD Ballpark.
Value
Ha-Seong Kim, San Diego Padres vs. Colorado Rockies, $2,200 - Kim hasn’t showcased a lot of upside so far in his rookie campaign, but he has looked his best when facing off with a left-handed starter like Austin Gomber ($5,400). In fact, Kim’s batting .300 with a .391 OBP within the split in a limited sample. Kim’s also just looking more settled with consistent at-bats, as the shortstop has posted a .211 ISO and four RBI in San Diego’s past six games. It’s not much, but it doesn’t have to be a $2.2K.
OUTFIELD
Stud
Ronald Acuna, Atlanta Braves vs. New York Mets, $6,300 - This is a heck of a price tag, but if you can afford it, I have a lot of faith that Acuna will bring back value this evening. The young phenom has had his way with almost every left-handed pitcher he’s seen so far in 2021, with Acuna coming into Tuesday owning a 1.139 OPS and a 197 wRC+ within the split. Those have been MLB-quality LHPs, too. The same can not be said about Thomas Szapucki ($5,100), who will be making just his second profession start above Double-A. Seeing Acuna in the batter’s box must be a terrifying way to begin your big league journey, right?
Value
Jarred Kelenic, Seattle Mariners vs. Detroit Tigers, $2,900 - Kelenic’s really only had the one good game since making his debut last week, but a 30.0 DKFP ceiling is nothing to scoff at. That’s the type of power that the top prospect brings to the table, and he’s going to be viable every night he sees a right-handed starter if he continues to hit atop the Mariners’ order at less than $3K. Spencer Turnbull ($7,100) has actually been steady to begin 2021, but at some point Kelenic will get a chance to eat against a Tigers’ bullpen that owns a league-worst 6.13 ERA.
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