Kris Bryant and the Cubs could do some damage against their cross-town rivals Monday
We have a pretty big 11-game slate to digest. There’s a lot of good pitching options to choose from. Now, onto the picks…
FantasyPros users get a 100% match for deposits up to $600 at DraftKings 
Pitchers
Carlos Martinez (STL): $11,400 @ NYM
I know it’s a tough matchup against Noah “Thor” Syndergaard, but Martinez gets to face a weaker offense than the one one his opponent sees. Over his past nine starts, Martinez has a 1.61 ERA while giving up just three home runs over 61 ⅓ innings. He’s also gone at least six innings in all but one of those nine starts. He has one of the highest floors for any pitcher on this slate.
Jeremy Hellickson (PHI): $8,300 @ MIA
Like Martinez, Hellickson is on a very nice run as of late. He’s got a 2.42 ERA in the month of July. He’s also coming off an eight-strikeout game against Miami last time out. Although I don’t think he’s likely to duplicate this performance, he should put up similar numbers. This game is also at Marlins Park, which is more favorable than Citizens Bank Park for pitchers.
Also Consider
- Jake Arrieta (CHC): $12,400
- Noah Syndergaard (NYM): $11,100
- Dallas Keuchel (HOU): $8,000
- Braden Shipley (ARI): $5,000
Catcher
Salvador Perez (KC): $3,000 vs LAA
Perez has done extremely well against lefties this year, compiling a .328 wOBA. The most impressive stat for Perez is that he’s hit four home runs in just 73 at-bats against lefties this season. With Hector Santiago being an extreme flyball pitcher, Perez could do some damage.
Also Consider
- Matt McBride (OAK): $3,200
- Sandy Leon (BOS): $2,600
First Base
Joey Votto (CIN): $4,800 @ SF
There aren’t too many hitters as hot as Votto right now. Votto is on a nine-game hitting streak where he has hit three home runs. Votto is also hitting over .400 this month and gets to face Jake Peavy, who has a 5.15 ERA this year.
Also Consider
- Anthony Rizzo (CHC): $5,300
- Hanley Ramirez (BOS): $3,700
Second Base
Dustin Pedroia (BOS): $4,000 vs DET
Pedroia has collected 10 hits over his past four games, including three doubles and a home run. He also has a .362 wOBA this season against righties. Pedroia is facing Justin Verlander, who has looked better on the mound as of late. However, Verlander does seem to be the beneficiary of weaker opponents. I think when he faces Pedroia and the rest of this red-hot Boston lineup, he should be hit hard.
Also Consider
- Jose Altuve (HOU): $5,400
- Jose Peraza (CIN): $3,300
Third Base
Cheslor Cuthbert (KC): $3,700 vs LAA
Cuthbert was hitless yesterday, but before that did have hits in 17 of his 18 previous games. Cuthbert is hitting close to .400 in the nine games since the All-Star break. Cuthbert has hit lefties well this season with a .374 wOBA and a .245 ISO.
Also Consider
- Jake Lamb (ARI): $5,500
- Hernan Perez (MIL): $3,700
Shortstop
Xander Bogaerts (BOS): $4,300 vs DET
Bogaerts is in a very similar position to Pedroia. This Red Sox offense has really turned it on, and Bogaerts is one of the main reasons. Bogaerts is on a mini six-game hitting streak, batting .538 in that span. Bogaerts has also compiled a .365 wOBA against righties this season. In his short career, Bogaerts is 2-for-5 against Verlander.
Also Consider
- Trevor Story (COL): $5,300
- Jonathan Villar (MIL): $4,500
Outfield
Kris Bryant (CHC): $4,700 @ CWS
Miguel Gonzalez has been somewhat serviceable, but he still can get hit hard, allowing a .304 wOBA this season. He’s also been prone to the long ball. Bryant has hit righties to a tune of .377 wOBA this year. July has also been his best month to date, hitting over .310 in the month. He’s also done better on the road, hitting 14 of his 25 home runs away from Wrigley Field.
Paulo Orlando (KC): $2,800 vs LAA
Orlando has hit lefties well this year with a .333 batting average. Although he hasn’t shown much power against southpaws, he does have a nice matchup against Santiago. He also is hitting over .350 at Kauffman Stadium.
Preston Tucker (HOU): $2,800 vs NYY
In his short three games since his return, Tucker has hit a home run, triple, and double. Before he was demoted, he didn’t have many positive statistics, so I won’t go in depth on Tucker. I mainly like him for salary relief. You’ll get him at a low ownership level since Michael Pineda is coming off one of his best starts of the season. As long as Tucker hits sixth or better, he’s at a fantastic price for his potential production.
Also Consider
- Khris Davis (OAK): $5,000
- Michael Saunders (TOR): $4,900
- Ian Desmond (TEX): $4,700
- Billy Hamilton (CIN): $4,100
- Brock Holt (BOS): $3,300
- Yasmany Tomas (ARI): $2,900
My Lineup
- SP-Carlos Martinez
- SP-Jeremy Hellickson
- C-Salvador Perez
- 1B-Joey Votto
- 2B-Dustin Pedroia
- 3B-Cheslor Cuthbert
- SS-Xander Bogaerts
- OF-Kris Bryant
- OF-Preston Tucker
- OF-Paulo Orlando
Check out our DraftKings MLB Lineup Optimizer
Nick Tasso is a correspondent at FantasyPros. Find his other work at FantasyPros here. He also contributes to Daily Fantasy Cafe. Follow him on Twitter @theinefficient2.
