This has been yet another extraordinary season for the Nationals’ Max Scherzer. He’s 14-7 with a 2.92 ERA and 227 strikeouts. On Tuesday night he faces the Phillies for the fourth time this season. In three starts against Philadelphia, Scherzer has 25 strikeouts in 21 innings pitched and has picked up two wins. It’s easy to overthink things in DFS, especially when an exceptionally high salary comes into play. Priced at $13,600, using Mad Max won’t allow for much wiggle room with the rest of your lineup. With that said, it doesn’t really matter because there is no other option on Tuesday that is nearly as safe. Slot Scherzer in as your top arm and get creative. He will be heavily owned in cash games–and rightfully so–but consider him in GPPs as well.
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Cole Hamels, SP: $11,500 – If you don’t want to pay up for Scherzer, Hamels is easily your best bet, plus you will save over $2,000 in salary in the process. He’s a great cash game option.
J.A. Happ, SP: $9,300 – Given the way he’s pitched the entire season, it’s hard to shy away from Happ. Hell, he’s a top contender for the AL Cy Young! Whodathunkit? He’s had success against the Orioles this season and has been the poster boy for consistency this season.
Kendall Graveman, SP: $5,900 – Something has changed in Graveman’s game, but it certainly hasn’t been his ability to strike batters out. He’s pitched well recently and faces a strikeout-happy team in Houston, so we could see a slight uptick in the K department. Use him in GPPs.
Gary Sanchez, C: $4,900 – What really needs to be said here? Sanchez is white hot and faces a weak righty. Sign me up.
Tony Wolters, C: $3,200 – There are no guarantees that Wolters will get the start, but if he does, he makes for a fine punt play while giving you Coors exposure.
Edwin Encarnacion, 1B: $5,200 – If there is one first baseman I want to own on Tuesday night, it’s my man E5. He has only hit Ubaldo Jimenez at a .243 clip over his career, but Jimenez is worse now than he’s every been and Toronto should put plenty of runs on the board.
Carlos Santana, 1B: $4,100 – Indians exposure is a must tonight and Santana will give you that without breaking the bank. He is batting .265 against LHP this season, though he’s only hit three of his 27 homers against southpaws. He’s more of a cash game option.
Trea Turner, 2B/OF: $5,000 – Another article, another Turner recommendation. Turner is absolutely slaughtering opposing pitching right now with 16 hits in his last 32 at-bats. Use him until further notice.
Jonathan Schoop, 2B: $3,300 – Yes, I like J.A. Happ tonight, but Schoop is criminally underpriced. He’s always a threat to go deep even though he’s mustered just three hits in 16 at-bats in his career against Happ.
Adrian Beltre, 3B: $4,700 – Beltre has clobbered LHP at a .322 clip this year and faces James Paxton. The grizzled veteran is 4-for-7 lifetime against Paxton and he’s going deep tonight.
Alex Bregman, 3B: $4,200 – I like Graveman for GPPs, but in cash games, I want some exposure to Houston bats. Bregman continues to hit after his struggles at the start of his big league career. He’s batting .304 with two homers over the last seven days.
Tim Anderson, SS: $4,000 – Anderson loves hitting against lefties (19-for-54). He’ll bat at the top of the order and makes for a fine cash game option.
Didi Gregorius, SS: $3,800 – We are going to play the BvP game here. Gregorius has four hits in nine at-bats against Edinson Volquez, two of which have been home runs.
Khris Davis, OF: $4,400 – Power wins GPPs. Davis will get a major positive park shift on Tuesday night and is recommended against Collin McHugh.
Yoenis Cespedes, OF: $4,400 – Cespedes is on a tear lately and should be considered in both cash games and GPPs. Yes, Tom Koehler has pitched well lately, but Cespedes is on another planet right now, plus he’s priced quite well.
Nelson Cruz, OF: $4,100 – Cruz is a nice play on Tuesday night because his ownership will likely be down against Cole Hamels. I have no problem using Hamels and Cruz in the same lineup.
I’m Only Happy When It Rains
Outside of Chicago, the weather looks great across the entire country.
Doing Lines In Vegas
No surprise the Nationals and Max Scherzer are -220 favorites on the road against Philadelphia. Toronto is my favorite stack on Tuesday night followed by the Tigers, Rockies, and Cardinals. If you want something completely off the radar, use the Phillies! Your odds aren’t great, but if Scherzer has an off night, you never know what can happen.
