DFS Picks: Start an ace or prospect in debut?

With a half-dozen games set for first pitch prior to 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday, the main fantasy slate of games has fewer pitching options than usual -- but that doesn't mean the decisions will be easy.

It's a balanced pitching night, with a pair of aces leading the way followed by a handful of solid options behind them -- and one major wild card.

Let's take a look at the various tiers below:

THE ACES

Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Rays

The stat(s): 87 K's in 62 IP
The matchup: vs. Royals

Breakdown: Glasnow is coming off his worst outing of the season, having allowed five runs over 4 2/3 innings on Friday against the Blue Jays -- all while striking out only two batters. Following a dominant April, the month of May hasn't gone quite as smoothly for Glasnow, who has a 4.81 ERA and has served up seven homers in four starts this month. He had a 1.67 ERA and allowed only two home runs in six April starts. He'll now face a Royals team that doesn't boast the biggest offensive threat, but it does have the third-lowest strikeout rate in the Majors.

Trevor Bauer, RHP, Dodgers

The stat(s): .140 opponents' BA, 36.2 K%
The matchup: vs. Astros

Breakdown: Bauer will undoubtedly be pumped up for this showdown with the Astros, but it's obviously not the most ideal matchup. Houston not only has one of the top offenses in baseball, but the Astros' 17.9% strikeout rate is by far the lowest in the Majors. Still, Bauer is about as matchup-proof as it gets at this point, having allowed two runs or fewer in each of his last nine starts. He has a 1.57 ERA with 78 strikeouts over 57 1/3 innings during that span. The matchup will likely be enough to scare off some fantasy players, so it could be a good opportunity to roll with Bauer on a night when his usage is lower than usual.

TIER TWO

Marcus Stroman, RHP, Mets

The stat(s): .232 opponents' BA
The matchup: vs. Rockies

Breakdown: Stroman is never going to be the most exciting option on any given night, but he's certainly capable of being part of a winning lineup. He's allowed two earned runs or fewer in seven of his nine outings this season, and he matched a season high with eight strikeouts in his last start. This is also an incredibly enticing matchup, as the Rockies average just 2.7 runs per game on the road, easily the worst in the big leagues. Colorado is hitting just .203 with a .303 slugging percentage away from hitter-friendly Coors Field -- again, both are the worst road marks in the Majors.

Nick Pivetta, RHP, Red Sox

The stat(s): 7-0, 3.28 ERA with Red Sox_
The matchup: _vs. Braves

Breakdown: A change of scenery has done wonders for Pivetta, who is 7-0 with a 3.28 ERA in 11 starts since being traded from the Phillies to the Red Sox on Aug. 21. That said, he's cooled off a bit of late, posting a 4.50 ERA in four May starts after putting up a 2.81 ERA in April. Given Pivetta's recent performance and the unfavorable matchup against Ronald Acuña Jr. and Co., there are likely better options out there tonight.

Germán Márquez, RHP, Rockies

The stat(s): 2.37 ERA in last three starts_
The matchup: _vs. Mets

Breakdown: Márquez has turned in three starts of at least six innings, striking out 22 batters over 19 innings during that stretch. That comes on the heels of allowing eight runs in just two-thirds of an inning in a May 4 outing against the Giants. All that aside, rolling with Márquez would be more about the matchup than anything else. He's facing a Mets squad that is currently without Pete Alonso, Michael Conforto, Jeff McNeil, J.D. Davis, Brandon Nimmo and Kevin Pillar, among others.

ROLL THE DICE

Alek Manoah

The stat(s): 0.50 ERA, 27 K in 18 IP at Triple-A Buffalo
The matchup: vs. Yankees

Breakdown: This would be the ultimate risky play, but it could prove to be a difference-maker if things shake out the right way. Look, it's far from an ideal scenario: A 23-year-old with just nine professional starts -- only three of which have come above Low-A -- making his MLB debut at Yankee Stadium. Nonetheless, the 6-foot-6 Manoah, who has a fastball that sits in the mid-90s and touches 97 mph, has the potential to be a force on the mound. In Spring Training, he allowed only one hit while striking out 15 over seven scoreless innings. He's followed that up by striking out 27 batters and posting a 0.50 ERA in 18 innings in three starts at Triple-A Buffalo. The Yankees have a potent offense, but they also strike out a fair amount. If you're up for taking a significant risk, Manoah is your guy.