We have another busy Monday with eight games on the main MLB DFS slate of both FanDuel and DraftKings. The earlier games are left off of both sites, but we still have plenty of options to choose from. 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 target hitters under $4,000/$3,000 on DraftKings/FanDuel and pitchers under $6,000/$7,000 DK/FD. We'll also point out any player we feel is sorely underpriced for his expected production.
This article will provide my DFS value picks for DraftKings and FanDuel. The main slate locks at 7:05 p.m. ET. Some weather concerns might be around Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and New York tonight. As of now, the games look safe, but we are too far out to make that kind of assessment. Keep an eye on those locations as we near lock time.
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Best SP values, sleepers for Monday's MLB DFS contests
By Mike Marteny
Gavin Williams, Guardians vs. Blue Jays ($7,400 DK, $7,900 FD)
Williams has looked good so far in his brief major league career, but tonight will present one of his tougher tests. I have Williams here since FanDuel jacked up the price on Dane Dunning after he went all Nolan Ryan on the White Sox last week. Look, those 11 strikeouts are a fluke from Dunning. For my money, Williams is less volatile and has a higher strikeout floor. He hasn’t allowed more than three runs in a game since his third start in the majors back on July 3.
Peter Lambert, Rockies @ Brewers ($5,000 DK, $6,500 FD)
Lambert’s numbers aren’t particularly good. However, they're skewed thanks to his atrocious record at Coors Field. In fact, Lambert has been more than serviceable on the road this year. He hasn’t allowed a run in either of his road starts and has a 2.13 ERA in 25.1 road innings. The knock on Lambert is a lack of strikeouts. That's a valid complaint, but if he’s not giving up runs, I don’t care when he’s this cheap.
Best infield values, sleepers for Monday's MLB DFS contests
Wilmer Flores, Giants @ Angels ($3,400 DK, $3,100 FD)
Flores had his seven-game hit streak snapped yesterday, but he's still hitting .341 with two homers, four RBIs, and five runs over his past 10 games. Flores is smashing lefties at a .342 clip on the season with five homers and 14 RBIs in just 114 at-bats. He will occupy a prominent spot in this lineup tonight at a very affordable price.
Luis Urias, Red Sox vs. Royals ($3,000 DK, $2,300 FD)
Urias played his way out of Milwaukee to Nashville, then ultimately to Boston at the trade deadline. The change of scenery has worked. Urias has four hits, an RBI, and a run scored in three games with Boson. Second base has been a black hole for Boston with Trevor Story out. Urias is going to keep playing so long as he’s doing anything.
Gabriel Arias, Guardians vs. Blue Jays ($2,700 DK, $2,300 FD)
Arias is hitting .303 with a homer, four RBIs, four runs scored, and a steal since Amed Rosario was dealt to the Dodgers. Hyun-Jin Ryu was rusty in his return from Tommy John Surgery last week, so I’ll trust a semi-hot Arias against him on the cheap.
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Best OF values, sleepers for Monday's MLB DFS contests
Mike Tauchman, Cubs @ Mets ($3,800 DK, $3,200 FD)
Maybe it’s time to quit acting like the Cubs are a fluke. They just took two of three at Wrigley from the Braves for Harry Caray’s sake! Spurring this along has been Tauchman, who is hitting .362 with three homers, 19 RBIs, 18 runs scored, and two steals in just 69 at-bats over the past month. He only starts against righties, but he bats leadoff and baseballs look like beach balls to this lineup right now. Tauchman is still too cheap for the production we’re getting.
Seth Brown, Rangers @ A's ($3,300 DK, $2,500 FD)
Brown is hitting .370 with a homer, four RBIs, and a pair of runs over his past 10 games. That's not bad for a guy at this price, especially on FanDuel. Brown is 4-for-10 so far in his career against Dane Dunning with two doubles and a homer. Expect more of the same tonight.
Austin Slater, Giants @ Angels ($3,200 DK, $2,800 FD)
The Giants are going to throw a plethora of righthanded bats at Patrick Sandoval. Slater is guaranteed to be one of them and might even land in the leadoff slot. Slater is slumping of late, but he is a perfect 2-for-2 with a walk, a single, and a homer off of Sandoval so far. I like the upside here.
