Today's slate is as barren as they come for pitching options, and even hitting will have us streaming against aces because of ancillary factors and lack of alternative options. If your league has an innings limit, it may be advisable to simply sit today out, maybe double-stream another day.
If you haven't yet read my primer on how weather can give you a MASSIVE edge in fantasy baseball, be sure to check that out now, as it will help provide context for my player evaluations each week.
Here are Tuesday's choices to bolster your fantasy squad, with everyone available in at least half of all ESPN leagues.
Pitching
Charlie Barnes (L), rostered in fewer than 1% of ESPN leagues, Minnesota Twins vs. Chicago White Sox: Only four pitchers are available in at least half of leagues, and none would come close to making the cut on a full slate. Despite serving as the primary pitcher with Beau Burrows opening, Barnes is the best of what's available to us, and I can't really sell you on him other than "my projection system THE BAT has him as one of the two least bad options". So you know what you're getting yourself into, he projects for a 30% chance of getting a win, a 4.67 ERA, a 1.39 WHIP, and 4.0 strikeouts. Do with that what you will.
Zach Thompson (R), 26%, Miami Marlins at San Diego Padres: I mean, it's the Padres. It's not a good matchup. I'll give you the projection here too and let you decide if it works for you: 19% chance of a win, 4.35 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 4.0 strikeouts.
Bullpen
The Padres are the bullpen to target today, and there are no lack of viable options here. The matchup is clearly the best against the strikeout-heavy and trade deadline-depleted Marlins offense, and this game has the best pitching weather. It's the only game under 80 degrees, and it's even under 70 at 69. Drew Pomeranz (32% rostered) and Emilio Pagan (12%) see the highest usage of the possibly available and are very good pitchers. While lesser used, Tim Hill (2%) is the best bet for ERA if he gets into the game. Austin Adams (1%) and Pierce Johnson (under 1%) are also lesser used but better than Pomeranz and Pagan for ERA. They're worse than Hill for ERA, but better for strikeouts than everyone. Take your pick.
For the latest team-by-team closer situations, please consult our Closer Chart.
Hitting
Catcher -- Mitch Garver (R), 36%, Minnesota Twins vs. Chicago White Sox (RHP Lucas Giolito): I'll be recommending several hitters against aces, so let's get that out of the way right now. Giolito is the weakest of the aces today, and Garver is simply a talented hitter who fills the catcher spot.
First Base -- Rowdy Tellez (L), 15%, Milwaukee Brewers at Chicago Cubs (RHP Alec Mills): The best hitting weather by far is in Wrigley today with close to double-digit winds blowing out to dead center. Tellez has power, and Mills is the second-weakest pitcher on the slate.
Second Base -- Kolten Wong (L), 48%, Milwaukee Brewers at Chicago Cubs (RHP Alec Mills): Wong gets the same great matchup, the same platoon advantage, and is firmly entrenched as the team's leadoff hitter. He's your guy.
Third Base -- David Bote (R), 1%, Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers (RHP Freddy Peralta): On the other side of this game, I have no problem playing Cubs, which is strange because THE BAT thinks Peralta is a top 15 pitcher in baseball, but that's just the way this slate is. The Wrigley wind paired with the lack of options makes Cubs viable. Third is especially shallow, and Bote is likely to find a spot in or near the heart of the order.
Shortstop -- Amed Rosario (R), 35%, Cleveland Indians vs. Cincinnati Reds (RHP Luis Castillo): Castillo is another ace, but he'll be going into the American League where he'll have to face a DH, and he'll be going into a park that's nearly as hitter-friendly as his home digs. It's 90 degrees with 10 mph winds blowing out to right field, so Rosario is a fine play here.
Corner Infield -- Andrew Vaughn (R), 47%, Chicago White Sox at Minnesota Twins (LHP Charlie Barnes): Barnes projects for the worst context-neutral ERA on the slate at nearly 5.00, and Vaughn will hold the platoon advantage against him. He's been hitting fifth a good amount lately, which would buoy his value. If Adam Engel is hitting second, as he has a few times recently, he would be an elite option today. (I can't believe I just wrote that.)
Middle Infield -- Rougned Odor (L), 5%, New York Yankees at Kansas City Royals (RHP Carlos Hernandez): Hernandez is a righty with a significant platoon split so far in his young career, thus Yankees lefties project especially well against him today. This is also the hottest game on the slate at 92 degrees, and there are 12 mph winds forecasted to blow out to left field.
Outfield -- Tyrone Taylor (R), 5%, Milwaukee Brewers at Chicago Cubs (RHP Alec Mills): Don't be afraid to dip back into the Wrigley game in the outfield with lots of viable options. Taylor looks to be the best of them, but Jace Peterson, Jackie Bradley Jr., and Lorenzo Cain work too.
Outfield -- Rafael Ortega (L), 35%, Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers (RHP Freddy Peralta): Ortega has been the Cubs leadoff man since the trade deadline, and he'll get the benefit of that, the platoon advantage, and the wind today.
Outfield -- Michael A. Taylor (R), 11%, Kansas City Royals vs. New York Yankees (RHP Jameson Taillon): Taylor gets the good KC weather today, and Taillon is a favorable pitcher to run on, so there's a chance of a stolen base here as well.