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On a 15-game MLB Tuesday, DK offers Turbo contests (8:05 Eastern; 4 games) and Late play (10:05; 2 games) but let’s look at the full slate at 7:05, featuring some expensive pitching.
Max Scherzer $13500 needs to be the stopper for the Nationals, who have lost four straight to trail the Mets by a game in the NL East. Chris Sale $12000 and Chris Archer $11700 face each other — both are capable of high-K shutouts. Jake Arrieta $11500 should earn a W against J.A. Happ $6500 in his first start for Pittsburgh.
Among reasonably-priced SP with upside, Justin Verlander $6200 has turned in a pair of 8-inning efforts, fanning 10 Rays last time. Alex Wood $7400 faces the Phillies in his Dodgers debut, a week after ending his Braves career with an excellent effort. I’m using both in today’s sample lineup and loading up on bats.
Plays of the Day
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Lefty Henry Owens $6700 has been called up by the Red Sox; the International League managed a .193 AVG over 122 IP. Masahiro Tanaka $9800 is a tough opponent, but the price is right. Chris Bassitt $4400 gave us another quality start (7 IP, 6 K, 3 ER) on Thursday at a bargain salary.
1B/C Buster Posey $4400 homered last night as our top pick. Off a 3-hit night, Nick Hundley $4100 faces lefty reliever Vidal Nuno $4200, stretching out for a start at Coors Field. The Mariners might get to Jon Gray $5000 in his big-league bow; 1B/C Jesus Montero $3700 has been sharp since his recall.
1B Mark Teixeira $5100 has hit 5 HR in his last four games and can stay hot against Owens. Prince Fielder $4300 also has a good matchup and a better price. Montero and 1B/2B Yangervis Solarte $3000 — who went deep twice on Monday — can be considered.
We were cautious about Robinson Cano $4700 (abdomen) last night, but he went 2-for-5 and handled 2B. Ian Kinsler $4100 has been on a hot streak (.392/.420/.477 last 10) and Solarte is worth using somewhere in his current form.
3B Nolan Arenado $5000 gets top billing at home vs. a lefty on a pitch count and the bullpen. I still like the price on 2B/3B Anthony Rendon $3400 and for extreme bargain-hunters, 3B/OF Adonis Garcia $2000 had a double and a walk-off homer last night; he’s started eight of the last nine games and boasts an OPS of .828 in the Show.
We can’t pick anyone over Carlos Correa $5200, who leads AL SS with 13 HR despite being in the minors until June. Troy Tulowitzki $3900 is leading off for the Jays, who are 5-1 since his arrival. 2B/SS Addison Russell $2900 is a value play off a HR on Monday.
The breakout predicted for Bryce Harper $5500 didn’t happen, and Nelson Cruz $6100 (who went 3-for-4 with his 30th dinger) is even more expensive. We got Shin-Soo Choo $4300 right (HR, 2 BB, 2 RBI) and are bullish on J.D. Martinez $4700 against a struggling southpaw. Jason Heyward $4100 continues to hit, and teammate Stephen Piscotty $3100 has been a bargain since replacing Matt Holliday. If you don’t use Garcia at third, remember he’s OF-eligible.
| Pos | Premium | Bargain |
| SP1 | Max Scherzer $13500 | Justin Verlander $6200 |
| SP2 | Jake Arrieta $11500 | Alex Wood $7400 |
| C | Nick Hundley $4100 | Jesus Montero $3700 |
| 1B | Mark Teixeira $5100 | Prince Fielder $4300 |
| 2B | Robinson Cano $4700 | Yangervis Solarte $3000 |
| 3B | Nolan Arenado $5000 | Anthony Rendon $3400 |
| SS | Carlos Correa $5200 | Troy Tulowitzki $3900 |
| OF1 | Nelson Cruz $6100 | Jason Heyward $4100 |
| OF2 | Shin-Soo Choo $4300 | Stephen Piscotty $3100 |
| OF3 | J.D. Martinez $4700 | Adonis Garcia $2000 |
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