There is value galore on Monday night’s 10-game slate on FanDuel. There are a couple low priced pitchers that are interesting but with so many inexpensive bats to choose from, there is really no need to save money on the mound. So, lock in one of the top high-priced aces and accumulate those value hitters when building your cash game lineups on Monday evening.
As always, be sure to pay close attention to the lineups when they are released and monitor the weather leading up to game time. For reference throughout the season, be sure to bookmark our overview of MLB Park Factors and how to Use Weather to Your Advantage in MLB DFS. Also, check out our GPP and Cash Games Primers to learn more about different daily fantasy game types specific to MLB.
Win cash playing in FanDuel’s MLB Squeeze
Pitcher
Justin Verlander (HOU): $11,700 vs. TOR
As I stated in the intro with so many value hitters on the slate there is really no need to get too cute when selecting your starting pitcher. So, you might as well just go right to the top and plug in Verlander. He has been sensational all season long with his lowest effort still resulting in 34 FanDuel points. A couple of the Blue Jays hitters have had some success against Verlander during his career but he still maintains a strong 32.4% strikeout rate in 136 career plate appearances by current Blue Jays hitters.
There is value galore on Monday night’s 10-game slate on FanDuel. There are a couple low priced pitchers that are interesting but with so many inexpensive bats to choose from, there is really no need to save money on the mound. So, lock in one of the top high-priced aces and accumulate those value hitters when building your cash game lineups on Monday evening.
As always, be sure to pay close attention to the lineups when they are released and monitor the weather leading up to game time. For reference throughout the season, be sure to bookmark our overview of MLB Park Factors and how to Use Weather to Your Advantage in MLB DFS. Also, check out our GPP and Cash Games Primers to learn more about different daily fantasy game types specific to MLB.
Win cash playing in FanDuel’s MLB Squeeze
Pitcher
Justin Verlander (HOU): $11,700 vs. TOR
As I stated in the intro with so many value hitters on the slate there is really no need to get too cute when selecting your starting pitcher. So, you might as well just go right to the top and plug in Verlander. He has been sensational all season long with his lowest effort still resulting in 34 FanDuel points. A couple of the Blue Jays hitters have had some success against Verlander during his career but he still maintains a strong 32.4% strikeout rate in 136 career plate appearances by current Blue Jays hitters.
Other Notables
Catcher/First Base
Justin Bour (MIA): $3,000 vs. ARI
First base is one of those positions that you could look to pay up at with either Freddie Freeman or Joey Votto if you want to roster a cheaper pitcher than Verlander. However, there are still solid options in the value range, led by Bour. Bour didn’t have the success many expected during his series at Coors Field over the weekend but he is returning home to face the Diamondbacks which may actually be a good thing. Bour has his best splits at home against righties this season with a .415 wOBA and .377 ISO. He’ll face right-hander Shelby Miller making his first start back from Tommy John surgery who has yielded a 4-for-8 mark including a homer to Bour during his career.
Other Notables
Second Base
Jose Pirela (SD): $2,300 @ TEX
You noticed Padres bats sprinkled throughout Monday’s recommendations due to their significantly positive park adjustment going from San Diego to the heat in Texas. Their salaries are also a big reason with the top of the order all priced under $3,000. Pirela hasn’t been hitting well which explains his near minimum salary. He received a day off on Sunday to clear his head and will face lefty Cole Hamels on Monday who has struggled at home this season especially against righties allowing a .365 wOBA and 2.68 HR/9.
Other Notables
Third Base
Kyle Seager (SEA): $2,900 @ BAL
Third base is another position you could opt to fit in a value Padres hitter with Christian Villanueva who is priced the same as Seager. While Villanueva has a higher ceiling, he is also more likely to put up a goose egg than Seager. Seager will face Orioles righty Andrew Cashner who has allowed a .358 wOBA and 1.64 HR/9 to lefties this season. Seager has hit Cashner well during his career going 7-for-21 with a pair of long balls. Seager or Villanueva, pick your favorite depending on your lineup construction and risk tolerance.
Other Notables
Shortstop
Elvis Andrus (TEX): $3,200 vs. SD
The Padres side of the Rangers/Padres matchup isn’t the only team to consider. The Rangers will also benefit from the heat of Texas while facing Padres rookie left-hander Joey Lucchesi. Lucchesi was hit hard in his first game back from the DL last Wednesday giving up four runs including two homers in 1 2/3 innings. Andrus has found himself routinely hitting in the two-hole of the Rangers lineup since his own return from the DL a week ago. He is still trying to find his rhythm at the plate but with a .357 wOBA and .210 ISO against lefties last season, Andrus could start dropping a beat on Monday night.
Other Notables
Outfielders
Nelson Cruz (SEA): $3,900 @ BAL
Part of the reason, I lean toward Seager at 3B is because I want to pair him with Cruz in the middle of the Mariners lineup. Cruz is my favorite high-priced OF on the slate. He is currently mashing the ball with an eight-game hitting streak that has included a .452 batting average and four home runs. The opposing pitcher, Cashner, has allowed a .404 wOBA to righties this season and has struggled to get Cruz out during his career allowing a .462 average including three doubles and a homer in 13 at-bats.
Delino DeShields (TEX): $2,800 vs. SD
This spot on Monday’s lineup advice is contingent on Delino hitting near the top of the Rangers lineup. He hit second in the order the last time the Rangers faced a lefty but that also came before they got Elvis Andrus back from the DL. If Deshields occupies the leadoff spot ahead of Andrus against the lefty on Monday he provides a nice value 1-2 punch atop the Rangers lineup for a team with the highest implied run total on the slate. DeShields has been great against lefties this season with a .398 wOBA. Watch the Rangers lineup carefully and be ready to pivot to someone like Adam Jones or Denard Span or get creative if needed.
Wil Myers (SD): $2,700 @ TEX
Myers is another cheap Padres right-handed hitter to give strong consideration to on Monday’s slate. Myers recently returned from the DL and has been inserted right into the top of the Padres lineup. He’ll face the aforementioned Cole Hamels who has struggled against righties at home this season. Also, consider using Padres righty Hunter Renfroe in the Utility spot to give you a three or four-man Padres stack depending on who you deploy at 3B.
Other Notables
My Lineup
Brad Richter is a Featured Writer and correspondent at FantasyPros and a contributor at DailyOverlay and GoingFor2. For more from Brad, you can view his archive or follow him @RotoPilot.