We have another busy Monday with nine games on the main DFS slate of both FanDuel and DraftKings. At least both sites are on the same page tonight! 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.
The main slate locks at 7:05 p.m. ET tonight. Good luck, everyone!
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Best SP values, sleepers for Monday's MLB DFS contests
By Mike Marteny
Seth Lugo, Padres @ Rockies ($6,600 DK, $8,600 FD)
I will preface this by saying that I likely won’t pay for Lugo on FanDuel. Nick Pivetta and Kyle Gibson are both better options that are below the "value" threshold over there. That said, Lugo’s best game of this season came against the Rockies in San Diego. Lugo’s only career start at Coors Field was a solid one, and the home team just lost a lot of power with C.J. Cron and Randal Grichuk dealt to the Angels. We can do worse at this price.
Nick Pivetta, Red Sox @ Mariners ($6,600 DK, $8,000 FD)
Pivetta is 4-2 with a 1.53 ERA in his past 10 appearances, six of those coming in long relief after an opener. He was roughed up a bit by Seattle earlier this season, but we have seen a different Pivetta of late. He has allowed just 10 hits and five earned runs while striking out 44 in those 29.1 innings of relief. That hot streak should continue in Seattle.
Best infield values, sleepers for Monday's MLB DFS contests
Ryan O’Hearn, Orioles @ Blue Jays ($3,100 DK, $2,900 FD)
O’Hearn is enjoying the best season of his career, in part because the Orioles have mostly sat him against lefties. This trend is working. O’Hearn is hitting .311 with seven of his nine homers and 23 RBIs since the beginning of June. He is also 2-for-4 with a homer in his career against Chris Bassitt. I’ll chase another long ball from O’Hearn at this price.
Abraham Toro, Brewers @ Nationals ($2,900 DK, $2,600 FD)
Toro is 4-for-10 with a walk, three runs scored, a homer, and four RBIs since being summoned from Nashville on Thursday. The Brewers are chock full of value plays tonight against a very hittable Jake Irvin. I really like Andruw Monasterio as a value play, as well.
CJ Abrams, Nationals vs. Brewers ($4,000 DK, $2,600 FD)
This price for Abrams on FanDuel is absurd. He has hit leadoff for most of July and is batting .326 with four doubles, two triples, three homers, eight RBIs, a staggering 23 runs scored, and has swiped 15 bags without being caught. There are few more productive hitters at any price right now.
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Best OF values, sleepers for Monday's MLB DFS contests
Joc Pederson, Giants vs. Diamondbacks ($4,000 DK, $3,100 FD)
Pederson has three homers in his past eight games, so maybe he is finding his power stroke. That is good news since Arizona starter Ryne Nelson has allowed seven homers in his past four starts. Pederson is a little over the "value" threshold on FD, but he should still be worth it.
Jake Bauers, Rays @ Yankees ($2,500 DK, $2,400 FD)
Bauers has batted leadoff against righthanders since coming off the IL last week. He's 4-for-13 with a double, a homer, two RBIs, and two runs scored in that stretch. This is a tough matchup for Bauers, but he’s worth a flier if he’s going to keep leading off at this price.
Gabriel Arias, Guardians @ Astros ($2,200 DK, $2,300 FD)
Arias isn’t eligible at OF on FD and neither is David Fry, so that hurts the value plays a little bit. However, Ryan O’Hearn can be used in the OF on FD, so it’s all good. You can use Arias all over the infield, which isn’t a bad idea. He's 5-for-14 with a walk, a run scored, and a steal since taking over the everyday SS job with the trade of Amed Rosario to the Dodgers. Arias isn’t providing much for counting stats, but getting consistent production at a price shouldn't be overlooked.
