Welcome to another Monday edition of DraftKings bargain shopping. I’m going to comb through the dozen games we have on tap for tonight’s main slate and uncover salary saving options for you. There are four aces on the mound tonight, all priced over $10,000, and Gerrit Cole is just $100 shy of that mark. Here are some solid value plays to help you get the high-priced arms and bats you need to make it a profitable evening. Let’s go!
Check out today’s MLB Moonshot contest at DraftKings 
Pitcher
Francisco Liriano (TOR): $5,800 vs. OAK
Liriano (-148) has been inconsistent this year with his salary as high as $9,700 in April. Now, he’s the cheapest he’s been all year. The last time he had a matchup and price like this, he gave you 25+ DK points against the Rays. Next up, the A’s offense, ranked bottom-four or lower versus lefties in ISO, wOBA, and wRC+ from a team perspective with an AL-leading 25.5% K rate against southpaws. Liriano isn’t missing bats like he once did, but Oakland should help him there, boosting his upside to twirl a gem as an SP2 candidate in GPPs. His salary should allow you to pair him with a top-tier SP1 and incorporate a couple expensive hitters. Roster him in cash games at your own risk. If you do, you should at least play an A’s hedge stack.
Hyun-Jin Ryu (LAD): $7,700 vs. MIN
Ryu continues the Dodgers trend of being heavily favored (-230) while also being at risk of tossing less than six innings. Ryu will face a Twins offense that has nearly struggled as much as Oakland when it comes to LHP, ranking 22nd in both team wOBA and wRC+ and just behind the A’s in team ISO at 28th. Similar to Liriano, his price also spiked in late April making the salary very interesting in comparison. I could endorse him in GPP, but not in cash, although he has only issued six walks in his last six outings. The park factor also gives Ryu a boost here, but he still needs to make his pitches to have a shot at going deep into the game.
Other Notables
- Mike Leake (STL): $5,700 vs. COL
- Justin Verlander (DET): $8,700 vs. KC
Catcher
J.T. Realmuto (MIA): $3,400 @ TEX
Realmuto is the fastest catcher in the league and occasionally gets to hit from the two hole like Russel Martin. I like both backstops today, but the way Realmuto has been crushing lefties this year gives him the edge. He’s sporting a .271 ISO, .444 wOBA, and 176 wRC+ versus LHP that’s hard to ignore. Coming off a double-dong game this weekend, the price is right against Martin Perez and the Rangers bullpen as one of the only catchers out there who can hit a bomb and swipe a bag which makes him a great play in all formats.
Other Notables
- Russel Martin (TOR): $3,100 vs. OAK
First Base
Matt Carpenter (STL): $3,800 vs. COL
Carpenter left Sunday’s game with tightness in his quad. It sounds like it was only precautionary. If Carpenter is in the lineup on Monday, you should trust the Card’s medical staff and also trot him out there. He’s killing it since moving back to the leadoff spot and has fantastic numbers versus RHP this season (.224 ISO, .374 wOBA, and 130 wRC+). He has an elite fly ball rate and serious batted ball distance the last couple weeks. If game time temps are around 90 degrees in St. Louis, the next one could go out. If he sits, Matt Adams is an equal-priced pivot.
Other Notables
- Miguel Cabrera (DET): $3,400 vs KC
Second Base
Brian Dozier (MIN): $3,900 vs LAD
Dozier versus a lefty is something I like to default to if I can’t make up my mind at second base. Dozier’s wOBA and wRC+ versus lefties are currently both above his career marks and he’s one of only a few Twins I’d consider tonight if I don’t pay up at the keystone. Dozier just went deep yesterday and could be heating up. Tonight, he’s about the only play I like at 2B that’s under $4,000. If you go the opposite route with roster construction and really need to save, you may be able to look to teammate Ehire Adrianza, who is SS eligible for a middle infield punt play for just $2,500.
Other Notables
- Asdrubal Cabrera (NYM): $3,600 @ SD (also SS eligible)
Third Base
Manny Machado (BAL): $3,600 @ TB
I mentioned last week how Machado’s price was too low until DraftKings adjusted it. One week later, Manny’s salary has plummeted once again. He makes an excellent cash game play at this price, an excellent one-off play, or in an O’s stack if you want exposure to hitter against the volatile Blake Snell. Machado’s still hitting the ball harder than ever and the last two weeks have been no different with him smashing the ball as his salary has fallen off a cliff from the $4,700 price tag. The opportunity cost will likely have me overweight on him compared to the field.
Other Notables
- Matt Chapman (OAK): $2,000 @ TOR (GPP punt only)
Shortstop
Paul DeJong (STL): $3,600 vs. COL (also 2B eligible)
DeJong has been a surprise, already blasting eight HRs off of righty arms since being called up. His .257 ISO may not be sustainable, but he took Jose Quintana yard last night, and his bat seems to be legit with six homers in the last two weeks. There are other cheaper shortstops. Marcus Semien is $100 less if you fade Liriano or even stack against him. Should you find yourself with $100 left over…
Other Notables
- Xander Bogaerts (BOS): $3,900 @ SEA
Outfield
Scott Schebler (CIN): $3,300 @ CLE
The Schebs has been a little underwhelming as of late, but he’s still knocking around righties pretty well. Even with his recent regression, his ISO versus RHP is still a very respectable .260 on the year and he gets a fly ball pitcher in Josh Tomlin who he took deep in their last meeting. I would probably stay away in cash, but you could do worse for the price, and he’s someone you need to consider if stacking against Tomlin. I personally won’t be, but he is a cheap piece of a Reds stack and absolutely has the power and RBI upside for a nice one-off in GPP.
Nick Williams (PHI): $3,500 vs. HOU
The rookie has a small sample size, but we’re starting to get a picture of what he can do and that is consistently make solid contact against right-handed pitching. He’s riding an eight-game hitting streak and has gone deep in four of his last 10, including yesterday. Williams is at home in a hitter’s park versus a righty putting his .348 wOBA and 113 wRC+ in play. He’s best suited as a one-off play with excellent power upside.
Yoenis Cespedes (NYM): $3,600 @ SD
The consensus on Yo is that he’s having a down year. That may be true, but only due to health and certainly not against southpaws. Cespedes boasts a ridiculous .347 ISO, .378 wOBA and 136 wRC+ against them so far in his injury-shortened 2017. He had the day off Sunday along with teammate Asdrubal Cabrera (mentioned above), but he’s also been dealing with a sore hip. He and Cabrera should both be ready to roll against Clayton Richard on Monday. The park could be better, but it’s not enough to scare me away from either of them at this price.
Other Notables
- Rajai Davis (OAK): $3,700 @ TOR
- Matt Kemp (ATL): $3,500 @ ARI
- Carlos Gomez/Nomar Mazara (TEX): $3,600 each vs. MIA
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Josh Dalley is a correspondent at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, follow him @JoshDalley72.
