We made it, folks. After a six-month grind to reach the postseason, fantasy managers will be treated to a quartet of intriguing playoff matchups as the AL and NL Wild Card Series get underway on Tuesday afternoon.
The schedule
- Rangers at Rays, 3:08 p.m. ET
- Blue Jays at Twins, 4;38 p.m. ET
- Diamondbacks at Brewers, 7:08 p.m. ET
- Marlins at Phillies, 8:08 p.m. ET
Weather Report
There's a batch of light-to-moderate rain passing through Minnesota this afternoon, which might be enough to trigger a late start or in-game delay. There's enough of a gap for the Blue Jays and Twins to get a game in before the heavy precipitation arrives later this evening. Still, this amplifies some of the risk for utilizing both Kevin Gausman and Pablo López.
MLB Wild Card Preview: Expect Surprises
Injury Report
Carlos Correa, Twins SS (plantar fasciitis) -- Correa has been on the shelf since mid-September following a plantar fasciitis flare-up in his left foot, but it sounds like he has a strong chance to be ready.
Jorge Polanco, Twins 2B (ankle) -- Polanco is expected to be ready after dealing with right ankle soreness in the final weekend of the regular season.
Royce Lewis, Twins 3B (hamstring) -- The Twins hope to bring Lewis back in a DH-only type role, but that decision is unlikely to be finalized until some point prior to first pitch.
Byron Buxton, Twins OF (hamstring) -- Buxton is the least likely to return, but he is making progress from a right hamstring strain and could be an option at some point.
Jose Siri, Rays OF (hand) -- Siri has progressed to taking live batting practice and could be an option Tuesday. He’s been out since mid-September with a fractured right hand.
Luke Raley, Rays OF (neck) -- Raley might be ready in time for the opener as he continues to recover from a neck strain that he suffered a couple weeks ago during a pregame collision during batting practice.
Luis Arraez, Marlins 2B (ankle) -- Arraez is expected to return after missing the final seven regular-season game with a left ankle injury. The central issue here is how effective he’ll be at the plate, especially if his ankle isn’t 100 percent. We’re unlikely to have any clarity until we see him in game action, so fantasy managers should proceed cautiously when considering him for Tuesday’s slate.
Trea Turner, Phillies SS (elbow) -- Turner sat out Sunday's regular-season finale with a minor elbow issue and is expected to be good to go.
Top Priced Starting Pitchers (DraftKings)
- Kevin Gausman (TOR) at MIN: $9,800
- Tyler Glasnow (TB) vs. TEX: $9,300
- Pablo López (MIN) vs. TOR: $9,100
- Zack Wheeler (PHI) vs. MIA: $8,600
- Corbin Burnes (MIL) vs. ARI: $8,000
- Jordan Montgomery (TEX) at TB: $7,100
- Jesús Luzardo (MIA) at PHI: $6,800
- Brandon Pfaadt (ARI) at MIL: $5,300
Minnesota boasts a potent lineup, but they also led the majors in strikeouts, which makes it a tasty matchup for Blue Jays ace Kevin Gausman, who led the American League with a whopping 237 strikeouts. If there's an obvious building block, it's Gausman.
Glasnow, López, Wheeler and Burnes also represent strong options Tuesday. The Diamondbacks, who posted a lackluster .672 OPS over the final month of the season, don’t look like a major obstacle for Burnes, who should get plenty of run support from Milwaukee's offense.
Sneaky Option
Jesús Luzardo, Marlins LHP, at Phillies: $6,800
If there’s a potential vulnerability for the Phillies, it’s that most of their biggest over-the-fence power threats are left-handed -- Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper being the most notable. The Phillies have been among the better teams against southpaws, but Luzardo offers enough strikeout potential to mitigate the risk of an implosion, and hasn't faced Philadelphia since July 9. The 26-year-old southpaw is coming off a 10-strikeout gem in his final regular-season start, and easily represents the most promising low-cost starting pitcher Tuesday.
Stack Attack
Brewers vs. Diamondbacks (RHP Brandon Pfaadt)
With Arizona forced to play until virtually the conclusion of the regular season to secure a spot in the postseason, they’re ostensibly forced to hand the ball to Brandon Pfaadt on Tuesday. The 24-year-old right-hander has pitched much better of late, allowing three earned runs or fewer in nine of his final 12 starts.
However, he's also surrendered a staggering 2.06 homers per-nine across 96 innings -- the sixth-worst mark of any pitcher with at least 90 innings. Combined with Milwaukee’s hitter-friendly American Family Field, Pfaadt is the obvious target for fantasy managers to stack against Tuesday.
It’s not hyperbolic to suggest that the Brewers most likely need to do some damage against Pfaadt if they’re going to win the series.
- OF Christian Yelich: $4,900
- C William Contreras: $4,600
- SS Willy Adames: $4,400
- 1B Carlos Santana: $4,100
- OF Sal Frelick: $4,000
- 3B Josh Donaldson: $3,800
- OF Mark Canha: $3,600
- OF Tyrone Taylor: $3,100
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