This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
The number of quality pitchers available on Monday's six-game main slate may make finding hitters to lock in a bit of a tough task, but there are still a few struggling hurlers we can zero in on to stack against.
Pitching
Zac Gallen, ARI at SF ($9,200): The Giants are one of the best offensive teams in the league, but it is almost impossible not to spotlight Gallen at this price due to the 1.80 ERA and 28 percent strikeout rate he has tallied in eight starts. The 28-year-old features three pitches that have amassed an RAA of 5.0 or greater. He has also scored over 20 DraftKings points in five of his eight starts this year, giving him an extremely safe floor along with a decent amount of upside.
Dinelson Lamet, SD vs. COL ($8,800): The Rockies have been a poor offensive team away from Coors Field yet again in 2020, logging the third-lowest RAA and eighth-highest strikeout rate on the road. Lamet has notched at least six strikeouts in seven of his eight starts this year and will carry a 2.62 ERA into the matchup.
Zach Plesac, CLE vs. KC ($7,600): This price almost feels like a misprint, as Plesac has tallied a 1.33 ERA in four starts this year. The 25-year-old showed in his last performance that his demotion due to breaking COVID-19 protocols didn't hamper his progress, as he put up 25.1 DraftKings points against the Royals at Kauffman stadium. Plesac should have a similarly easy time on Monday, as the Royals currently hold the fourth-lowest wOBA in the league against righty pitchers.
Top Hitters
Fernando Tatis, SD vs. COL, ($5,800): It will be difficult to fit multiple high-priced Padres into our lineups Monday, but Tatis may be someone to stretch for as a result of the .295 ISO he has tallied against left-handed pitching in 44 at-bats. Kyle Freeland, who has allowed a .495 slugging percentage to righty hitters, is just one start removed from allowing four runs and 11 hits in 4.1 innings against the Padres at Coors Field.
Trea Turner, WAS vs. TB ($5,500): Turner has been one of the major standouts on a Nationals teamthat hasn't had much to crow about offensively in 2020, having notched a .264 ISO and .429 wOBA against same-handed opposition in 121 at-bats. Charlie Morton has primarily taken his licks from left-handed hitters this year, but we can still look to exploit him with righty batters thanks to the 4.44 xFIP he has logged against such hitters in 10 frames.
Matt Olson, OAK vs HOU ($4,800): The .486 slugging percentage Cristian Javier has allowed against right-handed hitters makes him a decent target Monday, but the 5.31 xFIP he carries makes the prospect of lining up lefties against him seem incredibly inviting. Olson hasn't done much besides hit the ball out of the yard in 2020, but that's just fine for our purposes. He has notched a .235 ISO against righty pitching in 102 at-bats.
Best Values
Kyle Tucker, HOU at OAK ($4,500): Tucker seems to have flown under the radar in Houston despite tallying a .281 ISO and .364 wOBA against right-handed hurlers in 96 at-bats. Frankie Montas is one of several pitchers who has been knocked around in 2020 despite having good stuff. It's unfortunate that the Astros don't have more quality lefty hitters we can select, as the 27-year-old's 5.40 xFIP against his opposite hand tells us that the cracks in the dam should result in a deluge soon.
Randal Grichuk, TOR vs. NYY ($4,200): Grichuk may not be a household name when it comes to DFS, but prospective owners will want to take a close look at him whenever he is facing a southpaw, as he has logged a .348 ISO and .444 wOBA against lefties in 46 at-bats. Jordan Montgomery has thrown the ball well against lefty hitters in 2020 but has been absolutely torched by right-handed bats, as evidenced by the .603 slugging percentage he has allowed in 17.1 frames.
Kole Calhoun, ARI at SF ($3,500): Kevin Gausman's xFIP tells us that his numbers will improve at some point, but that doesn't mean we can't take a few cheap shots at him with lefty hitters, against whom he has allowed a .513 slugging percentage in 20 frames. Calhoun's power remains a well-kept secret due to his unsightly .186 batting average. He has tallied a robust .293 ISO against righty hurlers in 99 at-bats.
Stacks to Consider
Blue Jays against Jordan Montgomery: Vladimir Guerrero ($4,500) Lourdes Gurriel ($4,300) Randal Grichuk ($4,200)
We mentioned Calhoun earlier, but Guerrero may be the all-time champion of disparity between power and batting average, as he holds a mammoth .341 ISO against left-handed pitchers despite hitting just .195 against them in 41 at-bats. All told, the Blue Jays remain a sneaky powerful stack we can use to take advantage of Montgomery's struggles against righty bats.
Astros against Frankie Montas: George Springer ($4,600) Kyle Tucker ($4,500) Michael Brantley ($3,600)
Montas' struggles are more easily identifiable against left-handed bats due to the .484 slugging percentage he has allowed in 15.2 frames, but the 4.69 xFIP he has kept against righties means we should be able to select hitters from both sides of the platoon. Brantley represents a nice value option in this stack thanks to the .386 wOBA he has tallied against his opposite hand in 76 at-bats.
