This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
Monday doesn't exactly bring a ton of action with just eight games scheduled across baseball. With that being said, there are two key series that could bring plenty of excitement. First, the surging Blue Jays will try to stay hot at home against the Rays. The other noteworthy series features the Giants hosting the Padres, who will need a strong performance from Yu Darvish as they chase a Wild Card spot in the National League. There are also a couple of teams that could score in bunches, including the Yankees in a game at home against John Gant. Let's break down some players to target for your DraftKings lineups.
Pitchers
In what was a tough matchup against the Dodgers in his last start, Adam Wainwright ($9,000) allowed four runs across 8.1 innings to snap his streak of nine straight quality starts. He's had a fantastic season, posting a 2.98 ERA that is supported by a 3.51 FIP. He should have an easier matchup Monday against the Mets, who rank inside the bottom-10 in baseball in OPS.
Eduardo Rodriguez ($8,800) was hit hard by the Rays in his last start, giving up six runs over 3.2 innings. His 1.39 WHIP would be the highest mark of his career and he has been somewhat unlucky given his .358 BABIP allowed. An indication that he hasn't pitched as terribly as his 5.15 ERA would lead you to believe is his 3.54 FIP. Don't be surprised if he takes advantage of a matchup against the Mariners, who have the fourth-worst OPS in baseball.
The Astros haven't received much length from Jake Odorizzi ($7,600), who hasn't logged at least six innings in a start since July. However, he has pitched at least five innings and allowed two runs or fewer in five of his last six starts. He's taken advantage of favorable matchups, facing the Rockies (at home), Royals, Rangers and Mariners (three times) over that span. Given that the Rangers have the second-worst OPS in baseball, Odorizzi could be someone to consider at his budget-friendly salary.
Top Targets
Logan Gilbert ($6,700) has a respectable 1.23 WHIP during his rookie campaign, yet his ERA sits at 5.10. One of his main issues has been an inability to keep hitters inside the ball park given that he has allowed 14 home runs over 95.1 innings. That could put him in a tough spot in a matchup against the Red Sox, who have hit the eighth-most home runs in baseball. Two of their better power hitters have been Rafael Devers ($4,900) and Kyle Schwarber ($4,800). Schwarber has provided added power for his new squad, hitting four home runs and six doubles across 26 games.
Bargain Bats
Ketel Marte ($4,300) has once again proven to be a tough out, posting a 15.4 percent strikeout rate on his way to a .381 wOBA. His power has also returned this season with his .524 slugging percentage across 73 games. He'll try to keep things rolling against Clayton Kershaw ($10,400), who will be making his first start since early July. The lefty being on the mound is significant because Marte has a .481 wOBA versus southpaws this season.
One of the reasons why Darvish ($9,300) was so successful in 2020 was that he only allowed 0.6 HR/9. He's taken a step backward this season, which can be somewhat attributed to him allowing 1.4 HR/9. That could lead to a difficult matchup for him against Brandon Belt ($3,800), who enters with a .309 ISO.
Stacks to Consider
Padres vs. Dominic Leone ($4,000), Giants: Fernando Tatis Jr. ($5,900), Manny Machado ($5,400), Wil Myers ($3,900)
Leone is expected to serve as the opener for this game with Jose Quintana ($) possibly set to follow and pitch the bulk of the innings. It's basically a bullpen game for the Giants, but Quintana could be the pitcher that the Padres score in bunches against given his 1.70 WHIP. While his salary will do a number on your budget, Tatis should be at the center of any Padres stack given his .348 ISO.
Astros vs. A.J. Alexy ($6,700), Rangers: Yordan Alvarez ($5,200), Kyle Tucker ($5,000), Jake Meyers ($3,200)
With the Rangers deploying a six-man rotation, it's been a while since we've seen Alexy on the mound. He's certainly made an impact in his first two starts, though, throwing 11 shutout innings. This will be his toughest matchup yet given that the Astros have the second-highest OPS in baseball. One of the more appealing options for an Astros stack is Tucker, who has shown a combination of power and speed with a .251 ISO and 13 stolen bases.
Blue Jays vs. TBD, Rays: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. ($6,000), Marcus Semien ($5,600), Teoscar Hernandez ($4,700)
The Blue Jays' lineup is flying high enter this game after a series in which they dismantled the Orioles. While the Rays had yet to officially name a starter for this game as of early Monday morning, it will likely be Drew Rasmussen ($6,300), who has pitched well considering his 3.25 ERA and 3.02 FIP. Still, with the Blue Jays' lineup filled with talented hitters and the limited options for this slate, they remain an attractive team to stack. One of their hitters who hasn't been talked about as much is Hernandez, who has amassed 97 RBI to go along with his .219 ISO and .368 wOBA.
