This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
There are more than a few starters with favorable matchups on Monday's nine-game main slate, which may compel players to look for cheap pitching options while focusing on one or two vulnerable hurlers to stack against.
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Pitcher
Trevor Bauer, CLE vs. CWS (12,400): Bauer has been mowing down hitters without prejudice lately, having notched at least 11 strikeouts in each of his last four starts. The White Sox hold the fifth highest strikeout rate against right-handed pitching, which allowed Bauer to put up 31.7 DraftKings points against the Pale Hose in his start in Chicago last week.
GPP Fade: Kenta Maeda, LAD at CHC ($9,300): Maeda didn't look quite right in his first start since suffering a hip injury at the end of May, allowing two runs while striking out just one batter through five innings against the Rangers last week. While he will likely have a longer leash than the 76 pitches he threw in that outing, the Cubs may be a tough team for the 30-year-old to find his footing against, as they hold the fourth highest wOBA against right-handed pitching in 2018 (.326).
Cheap GPP Consideration: Ian Kennedy, KC vs. TEX ($5,600): Kennedy has been all over the map this season as far as performance goes but this may be a good opportunity to work him into lineups as a low-cost option, as the Rangers have tallied the third lowest wOBA in the league on the road (.290) while also notching a strikeout rate greater than 25 percent.
Catcher
Yasmani Grandal, LAD at CHC ($3,900): Opposing starter Tyler Chatwood has walked more left-handed batters than he has struck out this season, contributing to a 5.77 xFIP in 33.1 innings. He has also had issues with his fastball, which has registered a -8.1 RAA over that span. Meanwhile, Grandal has logged a .242 ISO against right-handed pitching and a 7.2 RAA against the heater in 59 games.
First Base
Eric Thames, MIL at PIT ($4,800):Trevor Williams is another pitcher who has issued more free passes than strikeouts to southpaws. The inability to keep the ball in the zone will be part of the reason he will enter the contest sporting a 5.77 xFIP against lefty hitters in 32.2 innings. This should give Thames a substantial advantage in the matchup, as he has notched a .250 ISO in 28 at-bats on the road with nine strikeouts over that span.
Second Base
Daniel Descalso, ARI at LAA ($3,900): It may interest some DFS players to learn that Descalso is tied with Freddie Freeman for the sixth highest RAA against the fastball (15.9) among hitters who have a minimum of 200 plate appearances. This makes him an interesting play in the matchup against Jaime Barria, whose heater has registered a -4.3 RAA in 41.1 innings this season.
Third Base
Mike Moustakas, KC vs. TEX ($3,900):Bartolo Colon has combined a below average strikeout rate with an elevated home run rate against both sides of the platoon, making him a reliable stack target against most offenses. Moustakas qualifies as someone who should be able to take advantage of the veteran's deficiencies, as he has posted a .257 ISO and a .371 wOBA against right-handed pitching in 183 at-bats.
Shortstop
Amed Rosario. NYM at COL ($2,800): Shortstop skews fairly top-heavy Monday, so I don't have a problem taking a cheap flyer in a high run-scoring environment. Rosario has cooled a bit in June after a solid month of May but still holds a .167 ISO and a 35.7 percent hard contact rate against left-handed pitching in 54 at-bats. Tyler Anderson has understandably struggled at home this season, allowing a .546 slugging percentage in 28 innings.
Outfield
Odubel Herrera, PHI vs STL ($3,500): Herrera has excelled at Citizens Bank Park in 2018, logging a .202 ISO and a .394 wOBA in 119 at-bats. Miles Mikolas has been successful overall this season but has struggled to keep the ball in the yard on the road, as evidenced by the 1.46 HR/9 rate he has logged in 37 innings.
Justin Upton, LAA vs. ARI ($4,400): Upton has kept a reverse split in 2018, notching a .226 ISO and a .355 wOBA against right-handed pitching in 208 at-bats. Zack Greinke has surrendered nine long balls against righty hitters in 49 innings and has continued to struggle away from Chase Field, tallying a 5.91 ERA in 35 frames.
Andrew McCutchen, SF vs. MIA ($4,300): Opposing starter Caleb Smith has used his strikeout pitch to great effect this season but a lack of control against righties (11.6 percent walk rate) combined with a 37.5 percent hard contact rate could spell trouble going forward. McCutchen has kept a .204 ISO against lefties to go along with a 48.5 percent hard contact rate in 93 at-bats.
