We have a full, 12-game slate for Monday on DRAFT. If you can’t set your lineup before the first pitch, the site has you covered with two options: 12 games (3:10 pm EST first pitch) and 10 games (7:05 pm EST start).
Four games have an over/under of at least nine total runs. From those eight teams, Texas is the strongest favorite (-150 odds) in a matchup with a combined projected total of 9.5 runs. As for pitchers, Justin Verlander and the Astros are the heaviest favorites at -250 in a game with the lowest over/under (seven total runs).
This article is posted well before lineups are released by the managers. If you have a question, feel free to reach me on Twitter @CharlieSideHstl.
Special Offer: Get a FREE FantasyPros upgrade
Pitchers
1. Justin Verlander, HOU (vs. TOR)
2. Jameson Taillon, PIT (@ NYM)
3. Tyler Skaggs, LAA (@ KC)
4. Mike Foltynewicz, ATL (vs. CIN)
5. J.A. Happ, TOR (@ HOU)
6. Blake Snell, TB (vs. WSH)
7. Shelby Miller, ARI (@ MIA)
8. Jonathan Loaisiga, NYY (@ PHI)
9. Kenta Maeda, LAD (vs. CHC)
10. Mike Clevinger, CLE (@ STL)
Verlander is in a tier all by himself on Monday. Vegas loves his team (Houston is -250). His game is projected to have the lowest over/under of the slate (seven total runs). Plus, he’s dominating this season. JV has struck out at least seven batters in three straight games and hasn’t allowed more than three earned runs in any outing in 2018. While pitching at Minute Maid Park this year, he’s only 2-1, but he owns a 1.86 ERA and has punched out 75 batters in 53.1 innings of work.
If you decide to take a walk on the wild side and don’t stick to the “Dream Team” contests on DRAFT, then I suggest you add Taillon to your team. He’s notched at least six strikeouts in five of the past six appearances and hasn’t allowed more than three earned runs in five consecutive outings. Also, the Mets are 26th in runs scored (292 runs in 74 games).
Infielders
1. Nelson Cruz, SEA (@ BAL)
2. Francisco Lindor, CLE (@ STL)
3. Jose Ramirez, CLE (@ STL)
4. Ozzie Albies, ATL (vs. CIN)
5. Freddie Freeman, ATL (vs. CIN)
6. Khris Davis, OAK (@ DET)
7. Paul Goldschmidt, ARI (@ MIA)
8. Jose Altuve, HOU (vs. TOR)
9. Manny Machado, BAL (vs. SEA)
10. Eugenio Suarez, CIN (@ ATL)
11. Shin-Soo Choo, TEX (vs. SD)
12. Joey Votto, CIN (@ ATL)
13. Giancarlo Stanton, NYY (@ PHI)
14. Jurickson Profar, TEX (vs. SD)
15. Christian Villanueva, SD (@ TEX)
16. Jake Lamb, ARI (@ MIA)
17. Matt Olson, OAK (@ DET)
18. Alex Bregman, HOU (vs. TOR)
19. Anthony Rizzo, CHC (@ LAD)
20. Anthony Rendon, WSH (@ TB)
We have a new No. 1 in our infielder rankings department. Cruz is set for a massive day against his former club. He’s 13-for 27 (.481) with four home runs in the past week. Cruz also leads Seattle with a .273 ISO against right-handed pitchers. In his career, Cruz is 6-for-13 (.462) with one home run (four extra-base hits) against Andrew Cashner. Finally, his Mariners are projected to score the second-most runs on Monday (5.1 implied run total).
Another hitter whose bat has caught fire, again, is Albies. He’s 11 for his last 26 (.432) with two doubles. Albies’ .195 ISO isn’t quite the .200 benchmark that we aim for, but I’m willing to make an exception in a smaller slate.
Outfielders
1. Mike Trout, LAA (@ KC)
2. Aaron Judge, NYY (@ PHI)
3. Justin Upton, LAA (@ KC)
4. Mitch Haniger, SEA (@ BAL)
5. Bryce Harper, WSH (@ TB)
6. Cody Bellinger, LAD (vs. CHC)
7. David Peralta, ARI (@ MIA)
8. George Springer, HOU (vs. TOR)
9. Rhys Hoskins, PHI (vs. NYY)
10. Nicholas Castellanos, DET (vs. OAK)
11. Joey Gallo, TEX (vs. SD)
12. Joc Pederson, LAD (vs. CHC)
13. Wil Myers, SD (@ TEX)
14. Derek Dietrich, MIA (vs. ARI)
15. Michael Brantley, CLE (@ STL)
16. Leonys Martin, DET (vs. OAK)
17. Nomar Mazara, TEX (vs. SD)
18. Jon Jay, ARI (@ MIA)
19. Tommy Pham, STL (vs. CLE)
20. Scott Schebler, CIN (@ ATL)
I feel obligated to put Trout as No. 1, given his ceiling, but I actually prefer Upton on Monday. Sure, his .232 ISO against righties trails Trout’s .347 ISO by quite a bit, but Trout is dealing with a sprained finger and hasn’t been himself. The Angels are tied with the Mariners at 5.1 implied runs for Monday, so it’s wise to add some of their bats to your lineup. Upton is batting .304 in the month of June, too.
One outfielder on my list who doesn’t get a lot of attention is Dietrich for the Marlins. In the past week, he’s 10-for-21 (.476) with three doubles and three home runs. He’s actually homered in three straight games and has produced at least three hits in two of the past three contests.
Get a FREE baseball contest entry with your 1st deposit at DRAFT.com
Adam Meyer is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Adam, check out his archive and follow him @CharlieSideHstl.