Monday’s action in MLB features 14 games in total with six games falling under the early slate and the other eight obviously being part of the late slate. The weather is generally good all around the league, although there is a chance of light rain in the Miami/Atlanta game as well as the Texas/Los Angeles Angels game. With all of this in mind lets take a look at some players I like on FanDuel and DraftKings today.
Pitchers
Jacob deGrom vs Phillies (FD: 8,900 DK: 9,000)
Typically I like to suggest guys who are on the cheaper side but there are not very many enticing options down in the cheaper ranks for today’s games. DeGrom is pricey — tied for fourth most expensive — but he gets a poor Phillies lineup. DeGrom has shown above average strikeout ability and that has made him a valuable fantasy asset. Expect solid results from the right-hander today.
Danny Duffy vs Twins (FD: 7,500 DK: 7,200)
There is a very good chance that the Twins finish 2015 as the worst team in baseball. Their rotation is not very good but to begin the year their offense has been brutal. They hit for basically no power, .061 ISO, and have scored the least runs in baseball tied with the Nationals who are missing half of their lineup. Duffy is not anything particularly special but he could get some strikeouts and put up a low runs allowed number making him a potentially valuable starting pitcher play.
Also Consider: Michael Pineda, Brandon McCarthy
Hitters:
Lucas Duda vs Phillies (FD: 3,400 DK: 4,300)
For basically his entire career, Aaron Harang has not shown any signs of a platoon split as both lefties and righties has posted near a .330 wOBA against him. He walks more lefties than righties, so that could be a positive sign for Duda, but you are not rostering the big lefty in hopes of him walking. Duda has had a quiet start to his season as have many of the Mets’ bats but today is a good day for them to break out. A talented power hitter in the middle of a lineup, Duda should get his chances to both drive in and score runs today.
Alcides Escobar vs Twins (FD: 3,100 DK: 4,200)
The Royals have been one of the best teams in baseball to begin the season and have scored the third-most runs of all teams to this point in the season. Escobar slots in at the top of this now potent lineup, and he’s going today against Trevor May, a young right hander who struggled with control and with home runs in 45 MLB innings. At the top of the order, Escobar should find himself on base a lot and could steal bases and score a couple runs in today’s contest.
Wil Myers vs Diamondbacks (FD: 3,100 DK: 3,900)
Myers has been hitting in the leadoff spot so far for the Padres and their new look lineup has been pretty good as they rank in the top 10 for runs scored. Myers has good power potential and like Escobar as a lead off hitter he should have opportunities to score runs. Diamondback starter Rubby De La Rosa had an ERA over four last season so the Padres should have no problems scoring on him.
Also Consider: Marcus Semien, Kevin Kiermaier, Michael Cuddyer
Stacks
Mets hitters vs Phillies
As shown with Duda above and my mentioning of Cuddyer as a potential option to consider, I like the Mets’ offense against the Phillies today. The Mets are due for a big game and I think Harang is the perfect pitcher for that breakout to come against. Many of the Mets’ players are cheap for their positions and I believe that having multiple Mets in a lineup today will pay off. Travis d’Arnaud and Wilmer Flores are cheap flier options and Daniel Murphy is a nice option.
Royals vs Twins
As I highlighted when talking about Escobar, the Royals and their piping hot offense are taking on May and the Twins. Stacking Escobar with the guys in the middle of the order, like Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas, should pay off extremely well. Like the Mets, the Royals’ players are relatively cheap and a stack including the three players mentioned should not break your bank.
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