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FanDuel MLB Lineup Advice: Monday (5/8)

FanDuel MLB Lineup Advice: Monday (5/8)

Ten games await us on Monday, and there’s a little bit of everything after taking a glance at the slate. Weather could be an issue in Denver, which could compound an already troubling possibility of rest issues after the Cubs were stuck playing an 18-inning marathon last night. Let’s take a look at a lineup for FanDuel.

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Pitcher

Trevor Cahill (SD): $7,200 vs. TEX
Cahill was set to make his regular start in the rotation yesterday, but a rare rainout nixed that plan. Assuming he simply has his start moved to this evening, I think he’s a strong option at home against the Rangers. Cahill remains too cheap given his recent success, as he’s been pitching very well. He’s generating a high amount of ground balls (60%), while striking out an incredible 11.1 batters per nine innings. The Rangers rank 29th in terms of wRC+ against right-handed pitching, and they are striking out 26.1% of the time. Toss in a negative park shift, and everything sets up for another good outing from a resurgent Cahill.

Other Notables

  • Jacob deGrom (NYM): $10,700 vs. SF
  • Gio Gonzalez (WAS): $8,900 @ BAL (GPP)
  • Nate Karns (KC): $7,000 @ TB (GPP)
  • Antonio Senzatela (COL): $6,700 vs. CHC (GPP; weather risk; risky opponent; Cubs had late flight in)

Catcher

Yasmani Grandal (LAD): $2,900 vs. PIT
The Pirates are sending Trevor Williams to the mound to fill in for Jameson Taillon, and the Dodgers have a high implied team run total as a result. Grandal’s power has been lacking thus far (.155 ISO), which is a result of him driving the ball into the ground at a high rate (54.1%) through the first five weeks of the season. Hopefully things get turned around soon for Grandal, and a home date with a minor league call up could be just what he needs to get rolling.

Other Notables

First Base

Yonder Alonso (OAK): $3,300 vs. LAA
Alonso is white hot right now, as it appears he’s sacrificed being a contact oriented hitter (21.8% K rate) for more power (.356 ISO/51.5% FB rate). While a 25.7% HR/FB rate is unsustainable over the long haul, facing a bad fly ball pitcher in Ricky Nolasco certainly doesn’t appear to much of a threat to that for now. Nolasco has allowed a ton of hard contact to lefties over the last couple of seasons (32.2%), and that trend has certainly continued this season (33.9%).

Other Notables

Second Base

Dee Gordon (MIA): $3,500 vs. STL
Carlos Martinez is certainly a high strikeout pitcher, but he can also struggle with command at times (3.75 BB/9). This means extra chances for a speedster like Gordon to get on base and wreak havoc. While Yadier Molina being behind the dish is less than ideal, I still don’t mind taking a chance on Gordon, who appears to be rounding back into form after missing half of the 2016 season.

Other Notables

Third Base

Manny Machado (BAL): $4,000 vs. WAS
Machado has put a dreadful start behind him, having collected 14 hits over his last 45 at-bats (.311 AVG), which includes five home runs. Gio Gonzalez has been playing with fire through his first six starts, as command issues have resurfaced (4/23 BB/9). He’s managed to dance out of these troubles (92.2% LOB), but with an average 7.98 K/9 and an xFIP of 4.31, choppy waters could be on the horizon. Machado is an elite fantasy option, and he is playable across all formats virtually on a nightly basis.

Other Notables

Shortstop

Corey Seager (LAD): $3,800 vs. PIT
I noted the favorable position that the Dodgers are in tonight, so targeting Seager at a fair asking price seems to make sense. Seager has excellent overall skills against right-handed pitching, and he should see plenty of opportunities to produce in the heart of this lineup. Shortstop is ugly tonight, so paying up for a stud like Seager is a prudent move.

Other Notables

Outfielders

Billy Hamilton (CIN): $4,000 vs. NYY
Since the calendar flipped to May, Hamilton has managed to collect 11 hits in 31 at-bats, which has afforded him the ability to swipe nine bases over that span. While Hamilton didn’t suddenly become a .350 hitter, it’s encouraging to see his success at the dish. Masahiro Tanaka has not been striking a bunch of hitters out (6.44 K/9), and while he’s not issued a free pass in 19 straight innings, the lack of strikeouts makes him less imposing to face. You chasing the steals with Hamilton, but when he gets on base, he’s a threat to steal multiple bases, giving him great GPP upside.

Cody Bellinger (LAD): $3,300 vs. PIT
Bellinger rounds out my trio of Dodgers’ hitters against Trevor Williams, and he is ridiculously cheap relative to his production. He recorded consecutive 47 FDP outings over the weekend, and he stands to benefit yet again from a plus matchup tonight. Bellinger has lived up to the hype, and it’s tough to not like his chances at continued success tonight.

Hunter Renfroe (SD): $2,700 vs. TEX
There’s no doubting the raw power that Renfroe possesses, but he certainly is not without some flaws that will need to be corrected in order to get his overall statistics in line. An ugly 30.1% strikeout rate is certainly to blame, but he’s also been subject to a bit of bad luck with a .260 BABIP. Enter tonight’s opposing pitcher, Nick Martinez, and Renfroe is in a good position to club his first home run since April 26th. Nick Martinez is a gas can who doesn’t strike out any hitters (4.91 K/9), so hopefully that temporarily suppresses Renfroe’s propensity to swing and miss.

Other Notables

My Lineup

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Adam Sutton is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Adam, follow him @DraftStars_Adam. You can find more of Adam’s work at DraftStars.net.

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