Welcome! It’s a busy 13-game slate this Monday as just four teams get the day off after the All-Star break. There is an abundance of high-end pitching on the slate and some solid mid-tier arms as well. Luckily, there are a bunch of cheaper options out there to make it affordable. Due to personal time constraints and having more options than usual for a Monday, I’ll simply give you a brief rundown of my top value play at each position rather than including a couple thoughts on pivot options. Short, sweet and only the very best bargain bin guys to make your budget a little more manageable.

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Pitcher

Jose Urena (MIA): $6,500 vs. ATL

With very few cheap pitchers that we can actually consider, I think Urena is worth a look at this price. He’s put together a season worth noticing and someone I consider running out there any time he pitches at home. Even though the Braves are a powerful offense, the negative park shift and possibly not having Ozzie Albies at their disposal could come into play here as indicated by the small four-run implied team total. Atlanta has done most of their damage against lefties this season, but Urena was useful the last time he faced this lineup in Miami. Aside from a two-run HR to Ender Inciarte, he put together a solid outing and I expect a similar showing tonight. I really don’t trust any of the other arms below this price range.

Catcher

Matt Wieters (WAS): $3,300 @ MIL

The switch-hitting Wieters is a good play tonight considering his excellent batted ball data since returning to the Nats lineup. With spiked exit velocities, and increased hard hit and flyball rates. The 2018 sample size is pretty small with just 26 PAs, but I like matchup tonight and wouldn’t be surprised if he went deep. Besides, I had to write up someone other than Yan Gomes for a change. Gomes is also an option tonight for $400 more.

First Base

Justin Bour (MIA): $3,700 vs. ATL

Bour is a guy that I’ve only seen a few times this year, but every time I do, he seems to go yard. While others may shy away from the lefty-on-lefty matchup, the price is still very reasonable and Sean Newcomb has exhibited reverse splits with a 5.69 FIP vs. LHP this season. While the reverse splits may be more of a reason to play Bour than not, his power is simply ridiculous. He may only have one HR against southpaws, but that’s why it’s my favorite play, he should be extremely low-owned against Newcomb who is giving up much more hard contact of late.

Second Base

Yangervis Solarte (TOR): $3,400 vs. MIN (also 3B eligible)

The switch-hitter has been producing from the right side of the plate with a .242 ISO and .317 wOBA against southpaws this season. Solarte should also slot in the two-hole tonight and he’s my favorite cheap guy at the keystone. The matchup versus Adalberto Mejia and the Twins is one to exploit as Mejia was blown up to the tune of -14.97 DraftKings points in his only other start of 2018 at the end of last month.

Third Base

Luis Valbuena (LAA): $2,900 vs. CHW (also 1B eligible)

Valbuena is one of my favorite platoon guys to play anytime his price is this low when he draws a righty on the bump. The RHP for tonight’s matchup is Lucas Giolito, who has been better of late, but still someone I’m picking on tonight with some Angels bats. Both he and teammate Kole Calhoun have hard hit rate and exit velocities that are looking great lately, Luis V. is firmly in play today in all formats. More on his teammate in a moment…

Shortstop

Greg Garcia (STL): $3,000 @ CIN (also 2B eligible)

If you don’t want to play Solarte, or use him at 3B and still need savings, look to Garcia. I don’t think I’ll have any exposure to him tonight, but he’s by far the cheapest bat in the best spot at the position. I’ll personally be paying up at SS, at least in early roster builds. If you find yourself in a pinch and need a punt play, he’s in a fantastic hitters park against Luis Castillo who has surrendered a .391 wOBA and 5.70 FIP versus lefty bats so far in 2018.

Outfield

Kole Calhoun (LAA): $3,600 vs. CHW

I already mentioned some of the batted ball metrics that are perked up for the Halos leadoff man, but you should know both his batted ball distances and flyball rate are also elevated recently. After a major rough ride to start the year, Calhoun has normalized of late and is finally producing since it officially became Summer on the calendar. I’ll also mention that Lucas Giolito has given up a .379 wOBA to lefties this season and hasn’t been striking anyone, especially lefty bats. Giolito’s FIP and xFIP against both sides are terrible, so stack away…just make sure you include the Angles I mentioned.

Other Notables:

Jorge Bonifacio (KC): $3,600 vs. DET
Matt Kemp (LAA): $3,800 @ PHI

Inexpensive Stacks

Oakland Athletics @ Texas Rangers – 8:05 PM EST

Both sides of this game are sitting above a five-run implied run team total and a game total of 11. This game is basically a pick ’em and it’s loaded with options to fill in lineups with one-off plays or even full five-man stacks. The guys under $4,000 are enticing as well and can help you carve out some cap space to fit in the high-end pitching or premium bats. Don’t be scared to roster anyone in this game in cash games either, most notably in the outfield spots. It will be hot in Texas tonight, very hot, so the ball should be flying.

Josh Dalley is a DFS correspondent at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, follow him on Twitter @JoshDalley72.