This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
Monday brings a fairly light schedule consisting of only eight games. Two teams vying for an AL Wild Card spot will face each other with the Tampa Bay Rays hosting the Seattle Mariners. We'll see the Yankee debut of Andrew Heaney, who will start against the Orioles. Josiah Gray will also be making his first start as a member of the Nationals, taking the hill against the Phillies. Let's dive into the seven-game evening slate and highlight some players to consider for your DraftKings lineups.
Pitchers
Injuries forced Tylor Megill ($9,600) into the Mets' starting rotation, but it's his stellar performance that will likely keep him there moving forward. Through seven starts, he has a 2.04 ERA and a 3.44 FIP to go along with an impressive 1.10 WHIP. He missed plenty of bats throughout the minor leagues and has carried that over into the majors with a 27.1 percent strikeout rate. Up next is an excellent matchup against the Marlins, who have the third-worst OPS in baseball.
The Nationals decided to tear down their roster at the trade deadline with their headline move being the trade of Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to the Dodgers. One of the key players that they received in return was Gray ($7,600). He provided plenty of strikeouts throughout his time in the minors, so it's not a huge surprise that he recorded 13 strikeouts across eight innings with the Dodgers before the deal. The Phillies have struck out the 12th-most times in baseball, so Gray could once again be productive in that department.
With Shohei Ohtani (thumb) set to have his start pushed back, indications as of early Monday morning were that Jose Suarez ($6,300) would garner the start against the Rangers. He's coming off of back-to-back poor outings, allowing 12 runs (eight earned) across nine innings against the A's and Rockies. Still, he could be in line for a bounce-back performance since the Rangers have the worst OPS in baseball.
Top Targets
There isn't much left around Juan Soto ($6,100) in the Nationals' lineup. While that could lead to fewer RBI opportunities, he's still having a good season with a .398 wOBA. He also has a .804 slugging percentage since the All-Star break. He could keep rolling in what might amount to a bullpen game for the Phillies. They have moved Ranger Suarez ($4,600) into the starting rotation, but he might not last very long considering he hasn't pitched more than three innings in any of his 27 relief appearances.
Willy Adames ($5,100) has proven to be a great addition for the Brewers, providing a power jolt for their lineup. Across the last 40 games, he has a .593 slugging percentage and a .992 OPS. He'll look to stay hot against Bryse Wilson ($6,000), who will be making his first start since being traded to the Pirates. He didn't exactly shine with the Braves, allowing 1.9 HR/9 on his way to a 5.65 FIP.
Bargain Bats
The Yankees needed to add depth to their starting rotation and did so with the acquisition of Heaney ($8,600). He's not exactly having a great season, though, with a 5.27 ERA. His FIP is much better at 4.05, but he's also allowed 1.5 HR/9, which hasn't helped his cause. This could be a matchup to take a chance on Ryan Mountcastle ($3,600), who has a .225 ISO against left-handed pitchers this season.
Abraham Toro ($3,200) has made a great first impression with the Mariners, hitting 9-for-18 with two home runs and three doubles across five games with the team. He also homered in his last two games as a member of the Astros, so he's on quite the hot streak. He could provide value in a matchup against Michael Wacha ($8,400), who has allowed 1.8 HR/9 on his way to a 4.79 ERA and 4.74 FIP.
Stacks to Consider
Mets vs. TBD, Marlins: Pete Alonso ($5,500), Javier Baez ($5,400), Kevin Pillar ($2,400)
While the Marlins hadn't officially named their starting pitcher as of early Monday morning, they could roll with Jesus Luzardo ($6,900), who would be making his debut with the team. The highly-touted former A's prospect has really struggled to find his way in the majors this season, posting a 6.08 FIP and a 1.63 WHIP. If he doesn't start, this could end up being a bullpen game for the Marlins. Either way, the Mets are an appealing team to stack. If Luzardo does start, Baez is even more appealing given his 160 wRC+ versus left-handed pitchers this season.
Yankees vs. Jorge Lopez ($5,100), Orioles: Aaron Judge ($4,800), Anthony Rizzo ($4,700), Joey Gallo ($5,400)
This is a rough matchup for Lopez, who has allowed 1.6 HR/9 for his career. He's once again struggled this season, recording a 6.19 ERA and a 4.98 FIP. This powerful trio could do plenty of damage in what will be the Yankees first home game with their new-look lineup. Rizzo has paid immediate dividends, hitting 5-for-9 with two home runs in his first three games with the team.
Giants vs. Taylor Widener ($8,000), Diamondbacks: Brandon Crawford ($4,700), Kris Bryant ($5,000), Mike Yastrzemski ($4,200)
Widener's last two starts were two favorable matchups against bad hitting teams in the Pirates and Rangers. He couldn't take advantage, though, giving up 10 runs across 8.1 innings. His WHIP is up to 1.42 for the season and now he'll have to try and bounce back against a Giants lineup that is much more dangerous after the addition of Bryant. Crawford also continues to swing a hot bat, leaving him with a .253 ISO and a .382 wOBA for the season.
