There were some ridiculously high scores in Tuesday’s games as we saw 11 of the teams in action score double digit run totals. The Cubs scored a whopping 17 runs at Wrigley Field with 14 of those runs coming in the last two home innings. There were some potential playoff previews in the AL with Rays-Rangers and in the NL with Diamondbacks-Braves. We saw Austin Riley and Christian Walker both with point totals over 45 last night. Elsewhere, the Mets did their damnedest to blow another game in embarrassing fashion, but their fans were spared after they barely held on to their seven run lead.

This is for the 7/19 4:05 PM PST classic slate on Draftkings.

Writer’s Record

37-21-1

Minnesota Twins @ Seattle Mariners o7.5 (+100)

Despite the intriguing pitching matchup in this one, Kenta Maeda and Luis Castillo have not been consistently effective this season. Maeda has a short leash, as indicated by him being pulled after only three innings against the Royals in his last start. Luis Castillo has given up seven combined runs in his last two home starts. The Twins have the second highest amount of runs scored since we returned from the All-Star break.

DFS Pillar Plays

Yu Darvish

Position: P

Salary: $8,000

The higher priced pitchers in this slate come with a considerable amount of risk, which makes Yu Darvish an attractive mid-tier option. Darvish looked much improved in his last start, striking out nine batters in Philadelphia. On Tuesday, Toronto fell victim to a poor Alek Manoah start and Joe Musgrove was able to work out of some early trouble to continue his positive momentum this season. Darvish’s last time out was the first time his CSW% had eclipsed 30% since June 3rd. Given his struggles on the road this year, this is cause for optimism that Darvish could be trending in a positive direction. 

Gleyber Torres

Position: 2B

Salary: $4,900 

Torres has quietly been producing of late, capped off by a home run he hit on Tuesday that turned out to be the only run the Yankees would score that evening. Shohei Ohtani will be missing a start he was previously expected to make on Wednesday, which means the Angels will be calling up Chase Silseth to start in his place. Silseth had a brief stint in the majors earlier this year, but was ultimately sent down and has been with the minor league team for over a month. Gleyber Torres has an .833 OPS with a .339 batting average in July. He is currently on a nine-game hit streak with 16 hits over that stretch.

Cody Bellinger

Position: OF

Salary: $4,400

The former MVP is red-hot at the moment, yet is potentially going to be on the move in the next few weeks. In July, Bellinger has a .453 batting average with 24 hits and 16 runs scored in 14 games. Four of Belli’s last five games have been multi-hit affairs. Trevor Williams takes the mound for the Nationals with a July ERA of 5.27. Bellinger tied the game for Chicago at 3-3 on Tuesday and the Cubs never looked back, scoring 14 unanswered runs after that. 

DFS Value Plays (<$3000 Salary)

Mike Yastrzemski

Position: OF

Salary: $3,000

While there may not be 21 runs scored, the second game of this series should yield another high score with the pitching matchup of Graham Ashcraft for the Reds and Ross Stripling for the Giants. Yaz is a left-handed bat and has done most of his damage this year against right-handed pitching. Lamonte Wade Jr. left with a hamstring issue on Tuesday, but hopefully will be able to avoid joining Thairo Estrada on the IL. Yastrzemski got a two RBI double in the fifth inning of the Giants’ 11-10 victory against the Reds.

Kevin Pillar

Position: OF

Salary: $2,300

With Eddie Rosario currently out injured, Sam Hilliard has been starting in his place. Unfortunately, Hilliard only lasted until the fourth inning on Tuesday before going out injured himself with an apparent ankle problem. Kevin Pillar came in for Hilliard and was able to register an RBI double to put the Braves within two runs of the Diamondbacks. With the firepower Atlanta has around Pillar in their lineup, he will have plenty of opportunities to score points. At the price of $2,300, any warm body is worth playing in this Braves team. The matchup comes against young Ryne Nelson, who has faced the Braves before this year. In that game, Nelson lasted 4.2 innings and gave up three runs on six hits.

Christian Encarnacion-Strand

Position: OF

Salary: $2,500

The man with the longest name in the league registered his first major league hit on Tuesday, which was a two-run home run. Fans have been clamoring for CES to join the major league lineup, and so far so good for the newest rookie addition to this Reds team. While he may not make as immediate of an impact as Elly De La Cruz, this is still a great price for a young talent who is going up against an aging Ross Stripling for the Giants.