Monday's MLB schedule features a split slate, but it’s not a conventional split. There is a matinee of the Mets and Braves that they couldn’t get in over the weekend. The regularly scheduled six-game MLB DFS main slate is our target. Veteran daily fantasy baseball owners know that sleepers and values can change once lineups come out, so keep track of all MLB starting lineups and Hitter Matchups (BvP) on RotoBaller to add to the research below.
Value picks are always relative, but for this piece, we'll try to target hitters under $4,000 on DraftKings and under $3,000 on FanDuel and pitchers under $6,000 on DK and $7,000 on FD. We'll also point out any player we feel is sorely underpriced for his expected production.
The main slate locks at 7:10 p.m. ET., so get those lineups ready. Good luck!
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Best SP values, sleepers for Monday's MLB DFS contests
Luke Weaver, Reds at Padres ($7,000 DK, $7,800 FD)
Weaver is really a DK-only play. He hasn’t been great in his two starts this season, but he has struck out eight in each. Perhaps most important, he doesn’t seem to be on a pitch count, so I’ll roll with Weaver for the strikeout upside. He’ll give up some runs, but what do you expect for $7,000?
Tony Gonsolin, Dodgers vs. Phillies ($6,800 DK, $9,000 FD)
Gonsolin is reasonably priced on DK since he is likely still on a pitch count, but we hope it’s more than the 65 he threw in his season debut last week. He was a little rusty and only struck out one batter in 3.1 innings. Still, we know what Gonsolin is capable of. He’s worth the risk on DK. On FD, it's unlikely he returns value. Due to the massive pricing discrepancies on FanDuel and DraftKings today, the value plays are really on DraftKings.
Best infield values, sleepers for Monday's MLB DFS contests
Joey Meneses, Nationals vs. Cubs ($3,200 DK, $2,600 FD)
We started to see the other shoe drop for Drew Smyly last week. I’m not saying that Washington can hit him as San Diego did, but there are a lot of righties in this lineup. Meneses stands out because he's reasonably priced and has six hits in his past two games alone. He's also hitting .378 over the past 10 games. Hop on now while he’s still affordable.
Whit Merrifield, Blue Jays @ Red Sox ($3,300 DK, $3,100 FD)
Toronto’s lineup is loaded, so it’s not a shock that Merrifield hasn’t moved up in the order despite his .320 average and 10 RBIs. We’ll have to settle for Whit playing nearly every day. The three steals don’t hurt, and neither do his nine hits, including two homers, in his career against Corey Kluber. Most of that was from when Kluber was good, so I’ll take any cheap piece of this Toronto lineup.
Matt Carpenter, Padres vs. Reds ($2,600 DK, $2,700 FD)
Look out below! Carpenter is starting to heat up once again. He has seven hits and nine RBIs over his past five games alone. Carpenter doesn’t have much power anymore, but he’s cheap and driving in runs.
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Best OF values, sleepers for Monday's MLB DFS contests
Jarren Duran, Red Sox vs. Blue Jays ($3,300 DK, $3,300 FD)
Duran is still a steal on DK even though he's hitting .405 over the past 10 games. He doesn’t offer much power, but he’s on a heater and Jose Berrios is always one pitch away from disaster. Expect Duran to extend his five-game hitting streak.
Trent Grisham, Padres vs. Reds ($3,200 DK, $2,800 FD)
Grisham hasn’t found his stroke this year since, hitting just .198, but he does have four homers. On top of that, he is 5-for-9 with a pair of dingers in his career against Weaver. Yeah, it sucks that Grisham bats ninth, but he is at least getting on base a little more lately.
Nelson Velasquez, Cubs @ Nationals ($2,600 DK, $3,100 FD)
Velasquez feels overpriced on FD, but I’ll buy in on DK. He’s on the short side of a platoon right now, but with lefty MacKenzie Gore on the bump tonight, expect Velasquez to draw the start. He's 7-for-20 with three homers, two doubles, and six RBIs this year. All aboard!
