The key to success in daily fantasy baseball is fielding a lineup with the right mix of high-priced talent and low-budget players who may outperform their expectations. Tuesday night’s MLB schedule has all 30 teams in action, allowing for a wide variety of options to choose from in DraftKings contests.
Below are the top three names at each position, as well as five bargain picks to help fill out your roster.
Value Picks
SP Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers ($9,700) at Kansas City Royals
Justin Verlander is cheaper than five other starting pitchers, but lately he’s looked a lot like the player who won both a Cy Young and an MVP in 2011. The above video features highlights of Verlander’s most recent start, in which he took a no-hitter into the ninth inning before finishing with a one-hit shutout.
Verlander has allowed one earned run or fewer in six of his past seven games. Spanning his last four appearances, he’s surrendered just one earned run in 29 innings, while striking out 31 batters and lowering his season ERA from 5.05 to 3.45.
The Tigers righty is also averaging 28.3 fantasy points per game over his past six outings.
SS Didi Gregorius, New York Yankees ($3,300) at Boston Red Sox
Didi Gregorius has hit safely in five straight games, while driving in at least one run in each contest. He’s a ridiculous 13-for-21 during the stretch, with two homers, four runs and 11 RBI. Not only that, but after starting the evening 4-for-4 in a loss in Boston Monday, Gregorius narrowly missed a go-ahead grand slam while flying out on the game’s final at-bat.
WNYT’s Mike Gwizdala pointed out how close it was:
There are 15 shortstops with higher salaries than Gregorius’ on Tuesday, but he’ll take the field hotter than any of them.
C Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals ($3,200) vs. Detroit Tigers
Salvador Perez owns a four-game hitting streak, with a run scored in three of his last four contests. However, that modicum of recent success pales in comparison to what he’s done in his career against Verlander. Perez has 18 hits in 38 at-bats when facing the Detroit veteran.
In their only previous matchup this season, Perez went 3-for-3 with a home run and three RBI on August 4.
With a price tag of just $3,200, Perez comes cheaper than 16 other catchers.
2B Scooter Gennett, Milwaukee Brewers ($3,000) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
The 25-year-old second baseman has seven hits and six runs in his last five games. On Saturday, Scooter Gennett went 4-for-5 with three RBI. As Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel noted, the four hits equaled Gennett‘s career best:
It’s likely a wise move to stay away from most Brewers hitters versus Pittsburgh’s Gerrit Cole, but Gennett has actually fared quite well against him, notching seven hits in 14 career at-bats.
The left-handed-hitting Gennett was out of the lineup Sunday when the Brewers took on a lefty starter, but he should be back Tuesday for the right-handed Cole.
SS/OF Eduardo Escobar, Minnesota Twins ($2,900) vs. Chicago White Sox
Eduardo Escobar is a career .267 hitter when facing Chris Sale—while that’s not a reason to play him, it doesn’t mean Escobar needs to be avoided, either.
The Twins utility man has scored a run in nine straight contests, slugging .853 in that time with nine extra-base hits.
Among a relatively weak field of shortstops, Escobar represents a much better value than several of the pricier choices available. He can also fill your last outfield spot if you’re running low on cash.
All prices courtesy of DraftKings. Statistics via MLB.com unless otherwise noted. Mark Vandeusen is an MLB Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @LucidSportsFan.
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