Monday night brings us a 10-game slate of MLB action. We have a game at Coors Field to consider, a few high-priced pitchers to choose between, and some potential weather issues that could screw everything up. So, keep a close eye on the weather reports leading up to game time and be ready to pivot to other options as needed, especially if the rain comes to Colorado.
As always, be sure to pay close attention to the lineups when they are released and monitor the weather leading up to game time. For reference throughout the season, be sure to bookmark our overview of MLB Park Factors and how to Use Weather to Your Advantage in MLB DFS.
Create Optimal DraftKings lineups using our DFS Lineup Optimizer tool
Pitchers
Lucas Giolito (CWS): $11,200 @ KC
The White Sox have been pulling back a little bit with Giolito prior to the All-Star break with his pitch counts coming in under 100 in four straight starts while his walk rate has increased. With the long break between starts, look for Giolito to be fresh for a favorable matchup against the Royals on Monday night in Kansas City. The Royals rank 23rd in wOBA (.309) and 22nd in wRC+ (91) over the last 30 days. Meanwhile, Giolito has shut down Royals hitters over his career with a .229 wOBA allowed with a 27.3% strikeout rate in 139 plate appearances.
Monday night brings us a 10-game slate of MLB action. We have a game at Coors Field to consider, a few high-priced pitchers to choose between, and some potential weather issues that could screw everything up. So, keep a close eye on the weather reports leading up to game time and be ready to pivot to other options as needed, especially if the rain comes to Colorado.
As always, be sure to pay close attention to the lineups when they are released and monitor the weather leading up to game time. For reference throughout the season, be sure to bookmark our overview of MLB Park Factors and how to Use Weather to Your Advantage in MLB DFS.
Create Optimal DraftKings lineups using our DFS Lineup Optimizer tool
Pitchers
Lucas Giolito (CWS): $11,200 @ KC
The White Sox have been pulling back a little bit with Giolito prior to the All-Star break with his pitch counts coming in under 100 in four straight starts while his walk rate has increased. With the long break between starts, look for Giolito to be fresh for a favorable matchup against the Royals on Monday night in Kansas City. The Royals rank 23rd in wOBA (.309) and 22nd in wRC+ (91) over the last 30 days. Meanwhile, Giolito has shut down Royals hitters over his career with a .229 wOBA allowed with a 27.3% strikeout rate in 139 plate appearances.
Joe Musgrove (PIT): $5,800 @ STL
The Pirates/Cardinals game in St. Louis is one of the spots with the highest chance of rain, so have a backup plan ready if Musgrove becomes a risky option with a potential PPD. That said, if the rain stays away, then Musgrove is in a great spot at a low salary against a Cardinals team that has struggled mightily with right-handed pitching over the last 30 days. During that stretch, they rank dead last in wOBA (.271) and wRC+ (66). Musgrove has pitched well recently with a 1.64 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 22 innings pitched over his last four starts. There is not a good pivot in Musgrove’s price range, so you may have to find the money to shift to Max Fried if the game in St. Louis is a washout.
Other Notables
Hitters
Charlie Blackmon (OF – COL): $5,500 vs. SF
Big shock, I know, but you should play Blackmon at home in Coors Field with righty Dereck Rodriguez on the hill for the Giants. Blackmon has posted a .587 wOBA and .512 ISO at home versus righties this season. While Rodriguez will be making a spot start in the second game of the doubleheader bringing his .416 wOBA and 3.27 HR/9 rate versus lefties on the road with him.
Yoan Moncada (3B – CWS): $4,900 @ KC
Moncada has done well against righties during his career including putting up a .388 wOBA and .241 ISO this season. He’ll face a familiar foe on Monday with righty Jakob Junis taking the mound for the Royals. Junis has allowed seven hits in 14 career at-bats to Moncada including a pair of long balls. He has allowed a .360 wOBA and 1.55 HR/9 to lefties this season.
Brandon Belt (1B – SF): $4,400 @ COL
Of course, you will want to get some exposure to Coors Field through the Giants hitters as well with a huge park adjustment and a favorable matchup against righty Chi Chi Gonzalez. Gonzalez has allowed a .426 wOBA to lefties through his first two starts this season. Belt has been good against right-handed pitching, especially on the road this season with a .399 wOBA and .276 ISO. He is reasonably priced for a hitter at Coors Field as are numerous Giants bats.
Joc Pederson (1B/OF – LAD): $4,200 @ PHI
Pederson has been struggling at the plate recently but should resume his spot at the top of the Dodgers lineup on Monday with righty Zach Eflin on the hill for the Phillies. Pederson’s price tag has dropped making him a very affordable option with plenty of upside. He has posted a .375 wOBA and .310 ISO versus righties this season. Eflin has served up six homers and 12 runs over his last three starts before the All-Star break and lefties have a .357 wOBA and 2.28 HR/9 rate off him this season. Not a good combination when facing the Dodgers left-handed power hitters.
Scooter Gennett (2B – CIN): $3,100 @ CHC
There are favorable weather conditions for hitting in Chicago on Monday with the warm temperatures and the winds blowing out at Wrigley. The Reds hitters a very cheap as they face Cubs righty Kyle Hendricks. Second base is a good spot to save some salary with either Scooter Gennett or Derek Dietrich ($3,300) depending on who is in the lineup. Gennett posted a .375 wOBA and .196 ISO versus righties last season, while Dietrich has a .383 wOBA and .361 ISO versus righties this year.
Other Notables
- Cody Bellinger (OF – LAD): $5,100 @ PHI
- David Dahl (OF – COL): $4,900 vs. SF
- Max Muncy (1B/2B – LAD): $4,600 @ PHI
- Cavan Biggio (2B/OF – TOR): $4,500 @ BOS
- Corey Seager (SS – LAD): $4,200 @ PHI
- Jose Ramirez (3B – CLE): $4,100 vs. DET
- Brandon Crawford (SS – SF): $3,700 @ COL
- Kyle Schwarber (OF – CHC): $3,600 vs. CIN
- Joey Votto (1B – CIN): $3,400 @ CHC
- Robinson Chirinos (C – HOU): $3,100 @ LAA
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Brad Richter is a Featured Writer and correspondent at FantasyPros and a contributor at DailyOverlay. For more from Brad, you can view his archive or follow him @RotoPilot.