With 16 games on tap for Tuesday evening, it’ll be a busy one for fantasy managers. However, there are plenty of attractive spots for both pitchers and hitters, which creates some stacking opportunities to build around.
Weather Report
There aren’t a ton of trouble spots, with the best chance for a possible early postponement being in Chicago where rain could trigger a late start. They’ll try to get it in, but the teams could opt for a doubleheader Wednesday or Thursday.
Injury Report
Luis Robert Jr., White Sox OF (knee)
Robert Jr. is day-to-day heading into Tuesday’s series opener against the Diamondbacks after being lifted from Sunday's series finale against the Red Sox with left knee soreness. There’s a chance he gets another night off with precipitation in the forecast on Tuesday night.
Bo Naylor, Guardians C (thumb)
Naylor sat out a pair of contests over the weekend after being lifted from Friday's contest against the Orioles with a right thumb contusion.
Michael Brantley, Astros OF (shoulder)
Brantley has been held out of Houston’s lineup for seven consecutive games due to shoulder soreness.
Yandy Díaz, Rays 1B/3B (hamstring)
Díaz is day-to-day entering Tuesday’s series opener at Fenway Park against the Red Sox after being removed from Sunday's series finale against the Blue Jays with right hamstring tightness.
Randy Arozarena, Rays OF (quad)
Arozarena sat out a pair of contests over the weekend following an early exit from Friday's game due to right quad tightness. Fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day entering Tuesday’s series opener against the Red Sox at Fenway Park.
Ketel Marte, Diamondbacks 2B/OF (illness)
Marte sat out Monday's series finale in New York after being scratched from Sunday's lineup due to illness. Fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day heading into Tuesday's series opener against the White Sox.
Luis Arraez, Marlins 2B (ankle)
Arraez sat out Sunday's series finale against the Brewers following an early exit from Saturday's contest after twisting his left ankle while going down the dugout steps at the conclusion of the eighth inning. There should be some clarity on his status heading into Tuesday's series opener against the Mets, but fantasy managers shouldn’t count on him being ready to return.
Jake Burger, Marlins 3B (quad)
Burger was removed from the sixth inning of Sunday’s series finale against the Mets due to right quad tightness, which has been a lingering issue for him over the past few days. Fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day for now.
Brandon Nimmo, Mets OF (leg)
Nimmo sat out Sunday's game with lingering right leg soreness, but is expected to be ready for Tuesday's series opener against the Marlins.
Francisco Alvarez (finger)
X-rays came back negative after Alvarez made an early exit from Sunday’s series finale against the Phillies with a left middle finger contusion.
Top Priced Starting Pitchers (DraftKings)
- Kevin Gausman (TOR) vs. NYY: $11,500
- Zach Eflin (TB) at BOS: $10,300
- Justin Steele (CHC) at ATL: $9,900
- George Kirby (SEA) vs. HOU: $9,700
- Bailey Ober (MIN) vs. OAK: $9,100
- Bobby Miller (LAD) at COL: $8,900
- Braxton Garrett (NYM) vs. MIA: $8,600
- Seth Lugo (SD) at SF: $8,400
- Kyle Harrison (SF) vs. SD: $8,200
- Cristian Javier (HOU) at SEA: $8,000
With Justin Steele scuffling of late and other high-priced options like George Kirby and Bobby Miller facing a challenging opposing lineup and a daunting ballpark, respectively, Kevin Gausman and Zach Eflin are the consensus top starting pitching options Tuesday.
Gausman, who has two double-digit strikeout performances in two of his last three outings, faces a rebuilding Yankees’ lineup comprised of unproven rookies. It’s the type of favorable matchup that should enable him to pile up a prodigious strikeout total. Meanwhile, Eflin has been one of MLB's most consistent pitchers in his Rays debut, compiling a career-best 3.44 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 182/24 K/BB ratio across 172 2/3 innings (30 starts). He'll square off against a Red Sox' lineup that ranks 27th with a calamitous .684 OPS in September.
Fantasy managers searching for an alternative in the upper-echelon section of the starting pitcher price range should consider Bailey Ober almost entirely because of an extremely tasty home matchup against the Athletics. The 28-year-old right-hander is unlikely to work too deep into the contest, but he's allowed two earned runs or fewer in back-to-back starts since September 15. At this juncture it’s difficult to recommend Giants top prospect Kyle Harrison, especially given his recent inability to keep the ball in the yard, but he possesses arguably the highest strikeout potential of any pitcher on this slate.
Sneaky Option
Paul Blackburn, Athletics RHP, vs. Twins: $6,700
Typically, we try to target starting pitchers against the Athletics in this space, but Blackburn is one of the more appealing under-the-radar options Tuesday since there isn’t much risk of a blow-up. The 29-year-old righty has allowed two earned runs or fewer in nine of his 12 starts since the All-Star break back in mid-July. With a playoff spot already locked up, there's a chance most of Minnesota's regulars get the night off -- especially with some potential rain in the forecast -- to ensure they're healthy and ready to go next week.
Stack Attack
Dodgers vs. Rockies (TBD)
One of the best offenses at Coors Field is an appealing stacking proposition, so load up on Los Angeles sluggers. The Rockies haven’t revealed their pitching plan for Tuesday’s twin bill yet, so it be a bullpen game in the nightcap. Regardless of who Colorado throws, there’s a strong likelihood the Dodgers do serious damage.
- OF Mookie Betts: $6,800
- 1B Freddie Freeman: $6,700
- C Will Smith: $5,900
- OF J.D. Martinez: $5,700
- 3B Max Muncy: $5,500
- OF James Outman: $4,300
- 2B/SS Amed Rosario: $4,000
Rangers vs. Angels (LHP Reid Detmers)
Winners of six consecutive games, the Rangers will square off against Angels southpaw Reid Detmers. The 24-year-old southpaw has pitched extremely well of late, but Texas has plenty of dangerous right-handed bats. As they showed Monday, the Rangers are also capable of doing serious damage against Los Angeles’ relievers as well.
- SS Corey Seager: $6,600
- 2B Marcus Semien: $6,000
- OF Adolis García: $5,200
- 3B Josh Jung: $4,800
- 1B Nathaniel Lowe: $4,500
- Mitch Garver: $4,400
- Jonah Heim: $3,900
- Leody Taveras $3,500
- Robbie Grossman $3,100
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