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On a day dominated by pitching, daily fantasy baseball players will distinguish themselves by picking profitable hitters on DraftKings.

It doesn’t take a DFS genius to play Clayton Kershaw, Felix Hernandez, Madison Bumgarner or David Price. Don’t fill out a lineup without one of those aces as the anchor, particularly in cash contests. That of course, will compel gamers to get more creative with their sluggers.

With elite pitchers setting the table, the likes of Giancarlo Stanton, Dee Gordon, Paul Goldschmidt and Josh Donaldson will prove tougher to work into a budget. (Even at $5,700, Stanton warrants a long look while spending the weekend at Coors Field.) Let’s take a look at some affordable bats for Saturday.

Chicago Cubs at Washington Nationals

The Washington Nationals tweaked their rotation with Stephen Strasburg sidelined, causing the Chicago Cubs to all come at user-friendly price tags for Saturday’s bout with Joe Ross. The 22-year-old will make his MLB debut after notching a 2.81 ERA in Double-A.

Although Lance McCullers has recently skipped Triple-A with no repercussions, Ross’ first start presents an interesting opportunity with the Cubs all discounted:

Guys hitting .325/.445/.602 don’t cost $4,700 unless they’re facing a Cy Young-caliber ace. Yet Anthony Rizzo is there for the taking for $900 less than Goldschmidt. Kris Bryant, who has lived up to the hype with an .863 OPS against righties, costs less than 10 third basemen. He’s probably better than the identically priced yet shelved Adrian Beltre and Daniel Murphy. 

For those who can’t choose between the top aces and sluggers, have it all by inserting Junior Lake, who requires a minimal $2,500 investment despite sliding into Jorge Soler’s starting gig. Anyone who wants to stack Chicago must act fast, as the game starts at 12:05 p.m. ET. 

1B Justin Bour ($3,500), Miami Marlins, and OF Brandon Barnes ($3,300), Colorado Rockies

This isn’t to dissuade anyone from using the likes of Stanton, Gordon, Troy Tulowitzki, Charlie Blackmon and Nolan Arenado. David Phelps and Chris Rusin will pitch at Coors, so it’s no secret to target the Colorado Rockies and Miami Marlins. Just be prepared to pay up for almost all of them.

A resounding replacement for the ineffective and injured Michael Morse, Justin Bour is hitting .333/.383/.573 with five homers through 33 games. Facing a weak righty at Coors Field is a dream come true for the lefty raker.

On Colorado’s side, Brandon Barnes is the cheap play if given the start. The 29-year-old has made the most of Coors plate appearances, going 15-for-30 at home while collecting three hits on the road. Leave it to Coors to turn a journeyman into a hit machine.

OF Andrew McCutchen ($4,600) and 1B/3B Pedro Alvarez ($3,300), Pittsburgh Pirates at Atlanta Braves

The Pittsburgh Pirates are weirdly underpriced against the Atlanta Braves’ Julio Teheran, he of the 5.54 fielding independent pitching (FIP). Take advantage with their two top sluggers, a discounted superstar and bargain-bin masher.

Andrew McCutchen‘s struggles are long behind him. Erasing his rough start, the former National League MVP is now hitting .295/.382/.497, yet he costs the same amount as Rajai Davis. While everyone else hopes Marcell Ozuna and Christian Yelich heat up in Coors Field, take the superstar for $4,600 against a subpar pitcher.

As for Alvarez, he carries a .497 slugging percentage against righties this season, hitting nine homers off of them through 169 plate appearances. Someone with such massive pop is a steal at $3,300.

C James McCann ($3,000), Detroit Tigers at Chicago White Sox

Selecting a catcher is usually as exciting as a tooth cleaning, but there are a few intriguing options on Saturday’s slate. Russell Martin and Salvador Perez are both high-level plays against lefties, and Brian McCann is worth a look when teeing off at Yankee Stadium. 

But come on, who wants to spend money on catcher when Kershaw and Felix are on the mound, Stanton’s swinging at Coors, and Rizzo and McCutchen are on sale? Save some cash with James McCann, who is 9-for-29 with two homers and three walks against southpaws.

A small sample indeed, but he’s worth a try against John Danks, who has a .584 opposing slugging percentage against right-handed batters this year. Don’t shy away because of his complete-game shutout over the erratic Houston Astros last weekend.

SS Brad Miller ($3,500) and OF Seth Smith ($3,600), Seattle Mariners vs. Tampa Bay Rays

Whenever the Seattle Mariners face an unimposing righty, Brad Miller and Seth Smith are worth a look. Each entered Friday night hitting .254 with five homers against right-handed pitching, and the power particularly makes them names to circle against Alex Colome’s 5.01 ERA and 27.4 line-drive percentage.

A high-upside hitter tailored for DFS, Miller boasts a .480 slugging percentage against right-handers with a .352 on-base percentage. A pure platoon bat, Smith holds a .465 slugging percentage against righties. This cheap pairing gives gamers a chance to purchase a star slugger elsewhere.

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Advanced stats courtesy of FanGraphs.

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Whether you plan to spend a lot of money on pitching or you want to look for the bargains, you can’t win in daily fantasy baseball unless you get a lot of value from your pitchers. This doesn’t mean you need to draft one of the top names such as Felix Hernandez or Clayton Kershaw, but you better get someone who can get points.

Here is a look at those who should provide the most value in both the early and late contests for June 6.

Early Contests

Madison Bumgarner, San Francisco Giants ($10,500)

The last two games have been relatively pedestrian, just barely getting a quality start in each. However, he is still one of the more talented pitchers in the game and can still come through with a huge fantasy performance at any time.

Against the Philadelphia Phillies, who have the worst scoring offense in the league and are led by mostly lefty hitters, Bumgarner is certainly worth the price.

Danny Salazar, Cleveland Indians ($8,800)

The last few outings have caused some concern for Danny Salazar, as he has only finished the sixth inning in one of his last four starts. Even with a few great performances in May, he could only manage a 4.04 ERA for the month.

Still, Salazar continues to get swings and misses, and he currently leads the majors with 11.69 strikeouts per nine innings. The Baltimore Orioles have struggled on the road this year and could be susceptible to a high-scoring fantasy game for the Indians star.

Jesse Chavez, Oakland Athletics ($6,600)

It might be easy to look past the journeyman pitcher who never truly got a chance to start until last season, but Jesse Chavez has been incredible this season. So far in 12 appearances (eight starts), he has a 2.11 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP.

After allowing just one unearned run over 16 innings in his last two starts, you might as well ride the hot streak while it lasts. 

Late Contests

David Price, Detroit Tigers ($10,200)

The Chicago White Sox love using their left-handed starters, but the offense hasn’t fared well against southpaws this year. The White Sox currently rank 29th in the league in batting average against lefties, just ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers.

With David Price being much better on the road this year (2.34 ERA compared to 4.22 at home), the left-handed starter could be in for a strong performance.

Jaime Garcia, St. Louis Cardinals ($7,700)

It will be difficult to earn a win in a matchup against Clayton Kershaw, but Jaime Garcia will come much cheaper and should give you plenty of points regardless.

The 28-year-old starter has only made three starts this season but has a 2.70 ERA and is coming off his best performance yet in which he allowed just three hits and one run in seven innings. He also hasn’t walked a batter in two games since giving five free passes in his first start.  

If he can slow down the big lefties such as Adrian Gonzalez and Joc Pederson, he could have another solid start.

Adam Warren, New York Yankees ($5,200)

With so many top pitchers available, going cheap might cause you to be left behind. However, if you want to save money for the hitters, you can get some decent value with Adam Warren.

The New York Yankees starter has produced four quality starts in a row while going seven full innings in two of them, giving him an average of 18.3 fantasy points per game on DraftKings in this stretch. Adding in his 2.05 home ERA in four starts, Warren should provide owners with a good outing against an inconsistent Los Angeles Angels lineup.

Note: All prices courtesy of DraftKings. Unless otherwise noted, all stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com. 

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If you jumped on our FanDuel train yesterday, you were in the 80th percentile or better (in most June 4 daily leagues) with 36.75 points.  Our best offensive performers were Dustin Pedroia and Joey Butler, who combined for 15.25 FanDuel points.  It is only fitting that we keep them in the lineup.

As always, confirm that your chosen players are in their respective lineups, and stay away from games that may be rained out. An excellent website for lineups and weather is Rotowire.com.  

The following ideal lineup is for June 5 and will be for FanDuel leagues starting at 7:05 p.m. EDT.

P Carlos Martinez, $9100

With no real studs on the mound today, Martinez is our best bet.  The 23-year-old has averaged 16.44 FanDuel points in his last three starts.  The better news is that in his last start, he scored 19 points against the Dodgers, the same team he will face tonight.

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For fans playing DraftKings‘ daily fantasy baseball on Tuesday, there are a number of excellent starting pitcher possibilities.  The trick, obviously, is getting the most bang for your buck.  With so many quality options to chose from, how does one decide which two pitchers to go with?

Here are five of the best MLB pitcher picks for June 2, coming in at a variety of different price levels.

Max Scherzer ($12,000) vs. Toronto Blue Jays

At $12,000, Max Scherzer is the most expensive pitcher on the board—but his performance to this point easily backs up his cost.

Through 10 starts in 2015, Scherzer is averaging 29.2 fantasy points per outing.  By that rate, he’ll give you 2.43 points per $1,000.  For comparison, Johnny Cueto‘s $10,400 price is Tuesday’s second-highest.  With an average of 21.4 fantasy points per game, Cueto produces 2.06 points for every $1,000 spent.

Scherzer‘s 1.51 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 85 strikeouts all rank in the top three in baseball for each category.  Among the 20 league leaders in innings pitched, his 10 total walks are also the third-fewest.

If you’re still not sold on Scherzer, his career numbers against the Blue Jays are quite difficult to ignore.

 Scherzer will take up a huge chunk of your payroll, but his value is worth the risk.

Chris Archer ($8,900) at Los Angeles Angels

With an average of 24.0 fantasy points per game this year, Chris Archer is a bargain at under $9,000.  There are four starting pitchers on Tuesday that cost more than Archer, despite the fact that there are also only four pitchers in all of baseball who are holding opposing hitters to a lower batting average than he is.

Archer’s 82 strikeouts are the fifth-most in MLB, while his 0.99 WHIP ranks 10th.

In his last start, Archer outdueled Felix Hernandez with a spectacular eight scoreless innings, in which he surrendered two hits and zero walks while striking out 12.  If it weren’t for the hard-luck no-decision, Archer’s fantasy points, and subsequent price tag this week, would be even higher.  His performance that afternoon put Archer in DraftKings‘ daily perfect lineup. 

Shelby Miller ($8,300) at Arizona Diamondbacks

 Given his stats so far this year, Shelby Miller is a steal for $8,300.  As noted in the above graphic, Miller’s .175 batting average against is the lowest in baseball.  His 1.48 ERA is also tied with Zack Greinke for No. 1 in that category, while his 0.88 WHIP is second only to Greinke‘s 0.87.

If there’s one thing you can be absolutely certain of, Miller will put his team in position to win.  He’s lasted at least six innings in eight straight starts and has yet to allow more than two earned runs in any outing this season.

Miller doesn’t strike a lot of guys out—just 49 in 67 innings—but his other numbers more than make up for it.

Alfredo Simon ($6,100) vs. Oakland A’s

Over nine starts in 2015, Alfredo Simon is scoring an average of 16.6 fantasy points per game.  At $6,100, he’s good for 2.72 points for every $1,000—a higher production value than Scherzer.

After becoming a regular starter for the first time with the Cincinnati Reds last year, Simon has blossomed into a highly effective pitcher.  In 41 games since the beginning of 2014, he’s 20-12 with a 3.26 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP.

On Tuesday, Simon will have the added bonus of taking the mound at home.

Also worth noting, this will be Simon’s first game back in action following time on the bereavement list for the death of his father.  Don’t be surprised if there’s a little extra juice on his fastball.

Mike Wright ($4,800) at Houston Astros

If you’re in need of a pitcher at a bargain price, Mike Wright may be just what you’re looking for.  The 25-year-old rookie’s entire major league career consists of only three starts—the first two, however, were nothing short of spectacular.

In his third time out, Wright yielded three earned runs on six hits in five innings, but he didn’t walk a batter.  Over 19.1 innings, he’s given up a total of 13 hits and only three walks.

Despite the first-place Astros’ 32-20 record, a visit to Houston is not as daunting a task for an opposing starting pitcher as it may seem.  The club has a better winning percentage on the road, .652, than it does at home, .586.  Houston’s .225 home batting average is also the worst of any team in baseball.

Statistics courtesy of MLB.com unless otherwise noted. 

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A deep list of top pitching options gives daily fantasy baseball competitors plenty of choices for Tuesday’s contests. If you don’t want to spend all of your budget on the true superstars on the mound, you can find worthwhile replacements on the next tier.

You can succeed with a variety of strategies in a full slate of action for June 2.

Pitchers to Draft

Chris Archer, Tampa Bay Rays ($8,900)

There are reasons to doubt the top pitching options available Tuesday, whether it is due to difficult matchups (Max Scherzer vs. Toronto Blue Jays), tough locations (Zack Greinke at Coors Field) or uncertainty following an injury (Johnny Cueto).

However, Chris Archer has provided some of the best individual performances of the year with one run or fewer allowed in seven of his 11 starts. He has at least eight strikeouts in four of his last five games, which should give fantasy players faith in another big day.

Shelby Miller, Atlanta Braves ($8,300)

A lack of strikeouts over the past couple of starts has limited Shelby Miller’s impact, and the Arizona Diamondbacks possess a dangerous lineup. That said, this is great value for a pitcher who is currently tied for the major league lead with a 1.48 ERA and is second with a 0.88 WHIP.

Miller hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in a single start and already has two complete-game shutouts. Don’t overthink it.

Chris Heston, San Francisco Giants ($5,300)

Despite his inconsistency this year, Chris Heston has been much more successful at AT&T Park, which, according to ESPN.com, ranks as the most pitcher-friendly stadium in the majors in 2015.

After pitching 7.1 scoreless innings in his most recent home start, Heston has shown he can provide a lot of fantasy value for a low cost.

Pitcher to Avoid

Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals ($12,000)

It’s hard to bet against one of the top pitchers in baseball, but for this price you better be certain a great game is coming. You simply cannot do that against the Blue Jays, which have the No. 1 scoring offense in the majors this season.

Scherzer still can come through with a strong effort, although it is not worth risking almost one-quarter of your budget.

Hitters to Draft

Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels ($4,800)

Although he’s usually an obvious name, Mike Trout has rare value with his price dropping from its usual level of well over $5,000. Even in a slump, he’s still one of the most feared hitters in baseball and is always a threat for a truly extraordinary performance.

While Archer remains a quality option on the mound, it’s hard to pass up this opportunity to get Trout for relatively cheap.

Josh Donaldson, 3B, Toronto Blue Jays ($4,300)

Even a matchup against Scherzer shouldn’t deter you from drafting the hottest hitter in baseball. Josh Donaldson has been unstoppable over the past week, hitting home runs against starters, closers, righties and lefties.

The value and upside are simply too great to ignore regardless of the opposing pitcher.

Addison Russell, 2B, Chicago Cubs ($3,900)

While he still lacks the consistency the Chicago Cubs are looking for, Addison Russell has shown flashes of greatness at the plate with a lot of extra-base power. A matchup against southpaw Brad Hand—who will make just his second start of the season for the Miami Marlins—could set the stage for more big-time hitting.

Hitter to Avoid

Todd Frazier, 3B, Cincinnati Reds ($5,100)

A red-hot hitter against a pitcher with a 1-4 record and 4.81 ERA seems like a slam dunk bet. However, Sean O’Sullivan’s struggles this year have stemmed from his inability to get lefties out (.372 batting average, 1.300 OPS) as opposed to righties (.225 batting average, .600 OPS).

The right-handed Todd Frazier isn’t necessarily going to take advantage of the seemingly weak matchup.

Team to Stack

Cleveland Indians

It’s hard to imagine Kansas City Royals starter Jeremy Guthrie being as bad as he was in his last start when he allowed 11 runs and got just three outs, but his 4.75 ERA going into that game proved he wasn’t pitching well anyway.

With Jason Kipnis and Michael Brantley leading a Cleveland Indians lineup heavy on lefties and switch-hitters, things could get even worse for the right-handed Guthrie.

Note: All prices courtesy of DraftKings. Unless otherwise noted, all stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com. 

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UPDATE: Yasmani Grandal and Andre Ethier will not be playing in the early LA vs COL game.  I will replace them in my lineup with Mike McKenry ($2800) and Alex Guerrero ($3300).  We can’t let the thin air go to waste!

After our 51.75-point explosion on June 1, we will continue to ride the Mets’ pitching and the Dodgers’ hitting.  Keep in mind that we will be relying heavily on the game at Coors Field (LA vs COL), which is slated for 3:10 p.m. EDT.  The second game between these two teams (8:40 p.m. EDT) will not count for FanDuel points.

As always, confirm that your chosen players are in their respective team’s lineup, and stay away from games that may be rained out. An excellent website for lineups and weather is Rotowire.com.

P Noah Syndergaard, $8300

Thor has averaged 13.77 FanDuel points in his last three starts.  Syndergaard will also be pitching to the Padres, who are now second in the majors with 433 strikeouts.  Petco Park also helps.

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Whether you want to play early or late contests on Saturday, there are plenty of top options available to help you succeed in daily fantasy baseball. Although it’s difficult to sort through all the players in 15 MLB games, here is a look at some of the best picks to help you on your way.

Pitchers to Draft

Yordano Ventura, Kansas City Royals ($7,500)

Watching Yordano Ventura has been frustrating this season as the talented young pitcher seems to be all over the place. Every time it seems like he’s ready to break out, he falls back into a rut and ends up allowing too many runs.

However, Ventura can help fantasy teams with his consistent ability to get swings and misses. In each of the last three starts he has gone at least seven innings while striking out at least six. With the Chicago Cubs striking out more than anyone else in baseball, the Royals starter can at least put up decent numbers with the potential for a truly great day.

Wade Miley, Boston Red Sox ($6,300)

After a couple of poor starts earlier in the season, Wade Miley has gotten back on track with three straight impressive performances. He has allowed just three runs in the past 21.2 innings and hasn’t given up a home run in this stretch.

Although the Texas Rangers have an intimidating lineup at times, Miley could provide some sleeper value if he keeps the ball in the park.

Kyle Gibson, Minnesota Twins ($5,700)

The morning contests might be better spent putting a lot of money on your hitters, which means you will have to save money on pitching. This makes Kyle Gibson a quality option thanks to his 1.32 ERA in May. In four out of five starts this month he has allowed just one run or fewer.

Against a right-hand heavy Toronto Blue Jays lineup and pitching at home, he could provide some more big numbers for a small cost.

Pitcher to Avoid

Tyson Ross, San Diego Padres ($9,400)

The Pittsburgh Pirates have been one of the hottest teams in baseball over the past week and are getting it done both offensively and defensively. This could be bad news for Tyson Ross, who got away with a quality start last time out despite giving up a season-high 10 hits.

With Ross surprisingly having worse stats at home (4.70 ERA compared to 3.28 on the road), you might be better off avoiding the high-priced pitcher for someone with better value.

Hitters to Draft

Jose Altuve, 2B, Houston Astros ($4,700)

A relatively unproductive May has seen Jose Altuve‘s cost drop a bit, but this means it’s a good time to get more value for the second baseman.

Chicago White Sox left-handed starter Jose Quintana has terrible splits against righties (.318 batting average versus .154 against lefties), and Altuve has consistently crushed left-handed pitchers over the past few years. This could all equal at least a few hits on Saturday.

Kyle Seager, 3B, Seattle Mariners ($4,100)

Nelson Cruz is finally getting some help in the Seattle Mariners offense in the form of Kyle Seager, who has shown plenty of power over the past week. A matchup against Shaun Marcum—who has allowed five home runs in three starts this season—could lead to a couple more home runs for the 27-year-old third baseman.

Billy Burns, OF, Oakland Athletics ($3,200)

With Coco Crisp on the disabled list, Billy Burns has taken over as centerfielder and leadoff hitter for the Athletics and doesn’t want to give it back. He has hit for average, hit for power and stolen bases, giving fantasy owners production in a variety of ways.

Although he is hard to trust with just six career at-bats coming into the season, you can keep picking him until he slows down.

Hitter to Avoid

Edwin Encarnacion, 1B, Toronto Blue Jays ($5,300)

While teammate Josh Donaldson can provide home runs as well as consistent hitting, Edwin Encarnacion is pretty much long ball or bust. This is not worth the high cost when you can get a safer pick, especially against a right-hander who has fared well this year like Kyle Gibson.

Team to Stack

Arizona Diamondbacks

Milwaukee Brewers starter Kyle Lohse has struggled for much of the season, allowing at least four earned runs in six of his 10 starts. This doesn’t bode well for his chances against one of the more underrated lineups in baseball in the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Paul Goldschmidt is always worth the high price while guys like A.J. Pollock, Ender Inciarte and Yasmany Tomas have high averages and good chances to get hits, runs and RBI.

Note: All prices courtesy of DraftKings. Unless otherwise noted, all stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com. 

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Looking for a little extra spending cash for the coming weekend? Friday’s slate of games presents that opportunity for DraftKings daily fantasy owners with a wealth of big bats and consistent players to choose from.

Before the Friday games get underway, here’s a look at the best MLB position player picks for May 29.

First Baseman: Lucas Duda, New York Mets ($4,600)

Lucas Duda is absolutely crushing fools over his last six starts. But the Mets first baseman has mashed at home in four games during that stretch. In those four games, Duda has seven hits, five homers, eight RBI and nine runs.

“I’m getting a little more comfortable. Just trying to elevate a pitch and put a good swing on it,” Duda said, via Michael Baron of MLB.com. “I was looking for a fastball up and I was able to get it and put a pretty good swing on it.”

He’s seems pretty comfortable with some of the tape-measure shots he’s hit lately.

Don’t expect him to slow down against Dan Haren. While Haren has cruised at home in hitter-friendly Marlins Park, he’s struggled on the road with six homers allowed in four starts. He also has a 5.18 ERA on the road and will face a volatile New York lineup on Friday.

Second Baseman: Brian Dozier, Minnesota Twins ($4,600)

The Minnesota Twins have been a truly surprising team this season, and Brian Dozier has been a huge part of that success. Dozier isn’t hitting a high average, but he still has a .364 OBP at home with an average of 9.2 fantasy points at Target Field.

His sample against Mark Buehrle is limited, but he has two hits with a double in three at-bats. As the leadoff man for the Twins, Dozier is getting several opportunities to thrive and will continue to do so for fantasy owners on Friday.

Third Baseman: Matt Carpenter, St. Louis Cardinals ($4,500)

I know what you’re thinking: “With Mike Bolsinger on the mound, why play a Cardinals batter?” Sure, Bolsinger has gotten off to a solid start, but he hasn’t faced a lineup like the one St. Louis presents. He’s also only faced one team on the road to this point.

Matt Carpenter has picked apart pitchers in myriad ways this year. Whether it’s through his power—26 extra-base hits and eight homers—or his methodical approach—21 walks and .389 OPS—Carpenter is a player every owner needs in his or her lineup. Even against Bolsinger, this lineup will get the job done.

Shortstop: Jhonny Peralta, St. Louis Cardinals ($4,100)

Keeping with the theme of Cardinals sluggers who should finally crack Mike Bolsinger, Jhonny Peralta is another position player to target. The veteran shortstop is enjoying a solid season and has shown plenty of pop in his bat recently.

During his six-game hitting streak, Peralta has one home run, four RBI, a walk and four runs. That all equates to an average of 9.3 fantasy points per game over that stretch. His strikeouts are lower and walks higher at home, making Peralta a consistent middle infielder to lock into a lineup.

Outfielder: Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals ($5,200)

“I don’t always hit pop-ups. But when I do, they’re home runs.” These are the (fake) words of the most interesting batter in the world, Bryce Harper.

Yes, I’m aware he’s the second-highest salary player for Friday. Yes, I’m aware he’s playing on the road. But even at a high price, Harper is a can’t-miss player with the surge he’s been on in recent weeks.

There are several unreal stats for Harper recently, but here are some of the best from Aaron Gleeman of NBC Sports and Mark Zuckerman of CSN:

Simply put, Harper has been an animal over his last 19 games. With 13 homers over that stretch, no one is even close to the same realm as Harper in May. Going up against right-handed Anthony DeSclafani, Harper should continue his stretch of phenomenal play for owners as a No. 1 outfielder.

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All the stars align perfectly for MLB aces to dominate Tuesday’s top-heavy daily fantasy slate.

Three premier lefties face teams that struggle mightily against southpaws. They’re not the only hurlers benefiting from a fortuitous matchup. Two strikeout artists with stellar peripherals face opponents who aren’t as tough as they appear. A trustworthy arm gets a strikeout-prone offense, and a youngster who flourishes at home pitches in front of his fans.

This is the wrong day to get cute at starting pitcher. There are no clearance bargains, but nearly every top name is a strong DraftKings play. 

1. Madison Bumgarner, San Francisco Giants ($9,600) at MIL

Compared to Clayton Kershaw and David Price, Madison Bumgarner represents the frugal pick at $9,600. All three are studs with a great matchup, so gamers might as well ascertain the most value with the cheapest choice.

Against left-handed pitchers, the Milwaukee Brewers have registered a .253 on-base percentage and 25.1 strikeout percentage, both MLB lows. Their 5.6 walk rate ranks second worst behind the Kansas City Royals.

Bumgarner has shown no signs of fatigue after last year’s busy October, generating a 2.84 ERA, 52 strikeouts and 10 walks through 57 innings. His opponent, Milwaukee’s Matt Garza, has not fared as well with a 5.71 ERA, and the San Francisco Giants quietly boast a top-five weighted runs created plus (wRC+) against righties. 

2. Clay Buchholz, Boston Red Sox ($7,700) at MIN

Sure, Clay Buchholz carries a 4.58 ERA, and the Minnesota Twins have scored 42 runs over their last eight games. Both seem like solid reasons to shy away from the Boston Red Sox’s righty.

Hopefully, the competition agrees. Behind Buchholz‘s misleading ERA lies 9.85 strikeouts and 2.55 walks per nine innings, giving him a 3.15 fielding independent pitching (FIP). His poor luck is starting to fade; he holds a 2.49 ERA and 0.92 WHIP during his last three starts.

The Twins are hot, but they remain one of baseball’s least productive offenses against right-handed pitchers. Against lefties, they lead MLB in runs scored. 

Sure, they just shelled righty Joe Kelly for seven runs on Monday, but nobody said anything about playing Joe Kelly. Since a disastrous start at Yankee Stadium on April 12, Buchholz has performed like a legitimate ace, and it will begin to show on the surface.

3. David Price, Detroit Tigers ($10,600) at OAK

Lefty David Price mitigates Stephen Vogt and Josh Reddick, the Oakland Athletics’ two most dangerous bats who inflict all of their damage against righties. As a result, Oakland has registered a dreadful .283 slugging percentage against southpaws, and gamers don’t have to worry about the patient offense reaching base against an ace with a 1.47 BB/9 rate since 2013.

The 29-year-old created some early concern with lacking strikeout totals, but he has quelled everyone’s fears by amassing 21 punchouts through his past two outings. Price would top the list if Oakland whiffed more, but he’s still intriguing inside a spacious park against a club struggling to generate power.

4. Jacob deGrom, New York Mets ($10,000) vs. PHI

Since joining the New York Mets last May, Jacob deGrom has decimated the opposition at Citi Field:

The 2014 National League Rookie of the Year gets a home start against the Philadelphia Phillies, who rank last in wRC+ against righties. Following last week’s one-hit, 11-strikeout gem against the St. Louis Cardinals, he certainly doesn’t come cheap at $10,000, but the price hike is justified given the circumstances.

5. Jordan Zimmermann, Washington Nationals ($8,600) at CHC

Harnessing more pop than any other targeted offense, the Chicago Cubs aren’t the easiest offense for Jordan Zimmermann to combat, but they strike out in droves. Offsetting Zimmermann‘s one weakness keeps him relevant with far more exciting options.

Since surrendering seven earned runs during his second start of the season, the 29-year-old has posted a 2.58 ERA. He has also lasted at least six innings in all seven outings, and he’s affordable enough to pair with a high-profile ace in cash contests.

6. Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers ($12,200) vs. ATL

This is nothing against Clayton Kershaw. He’s still wielding an 11.26 K/9 and 2.91 FIP despite a disappointing 4.32 ERA. There’s no reason to panic. Unfortunately, DraftKings agrees, keeping his price tag at a sizable $12,200.

The Atlanta Braves have proved peskier than expected, but that performance doesn’t extend to left-handers. They lose any semblance of discipline against southpaws, striking out more and walking less:

But as silly as this sounds, considering Kershaw costs significantly more than other top aces, is a 2.91 FIP good enough? Elite for a mere mortal’s standards, it still represents his worst rate since 2010. Given the bounty of options available for consumption, paying top dollar for him isn’t necessary on Tuesday.

Tournament Plays

Danny Salazar, Cleveland Indians ($9,100) vs. TEX

With so many top arms sharing the dais, Danny Salazar isn’t worth the headache in cash contests. Despite his mouth-watering 12.37 K/9 and 1.85 BB/9, he implodes far too often, allowing five earned runs during his last tango with the Texas Rangers.

His massive upside, however, makes him a high-reward tournament play in a rematch against Texas, whose hot bats may cause others to shy away from the Cy Young talent.

Matt Shoemaker, Los Angeles Angels ($7,300) vs. SD

Despite his 8.53 K/9 and 1.83 BB/9 rates, Matt Shoemaker is saddled with baseball’s second-highest FIP (5.81) among qualified starters behind Kyle Kendrick. His struggles are baffling, as he’s great one day but abysmal the next.

For those willing to stomach the risk, Shoemaker has the arsenal to break open Tuesday tournaments. Buchholz, however, is a much safer bet around the same price range.

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Advanced statistics, updated as of Monday, courtesy of FanGraphs.

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