This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
Monday's slate is full of top-level pitching, with six hurlers coming in at $9,000 or more. This could make it tough for prospective owners to sacrifice salary but a look in the basement may provide all the salary relief necessary to work big bats with juicy matchups into our lineups.
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Pitcher
Mike Foltynewicz, ATL vs. MIA ($10,500): Foltynewicz has been a bit inconsistent with his strikeout pitch of late but has still notched a 28 percent rate in 124 innings (22 starts) this season. The 26-year-old owns a slider that has yielded 14.7 RAA. This could come in handy against the Marlins, who have registered the lowest RAA in the league against the pitch (-39.9).
Cheap GPP Consideration, Sean Reid-Foley, TOR at KC ($4,400) Reid-Foley has been pitching with power in Toronto's minor league system this season, having struck out 146 batters in 126.2 innings in time split between double-A New Hampshire and Triple-A Buffalo. The Royals have been able to keep strikeouts down against right-handed pitching but have notched the third lowest wOBA in the league against orthodox hurlers.
GPP Fade, Madison Bumgarner, SF at LAD ($9,900): Bumgarner has experienced a significant drop in his strikeouts this season, which has forced him to rely on length and run prevention in order to put up big scores. The Dodgers have struggled against lefties in general but I am still hesitant to pay the price for the 29-year-old who has notched a 4.32 xFIP and a walk rate approaching 10 percent in 73.2 innings (12 starts).
Catcher
Jose Briceno, LAA at SD ($3,000): We keep the value plays coming with Briceno, who has logged a .231 ISO and a .446 wOBA in 26 at-bats against left-handed pitching this season. The sample size is small but we have seen Briceno hit for power in 88 at-bats at Triple-A Salt Lake (.239 ISO). He will also have a soft matchup to work with as opposing starter Clayton Richard has allowed a .440 slugging percentage to right-handed hitters in 111 frames.
First Base
Yonder Alonso, CLE at CIN ($4,200): DraftKings has done its best to price us out of the matchup with Homer Bailey but we can still comfortably roster Alonso, who has notched a .212 ISO against right-handed pitching in 2018. It is also worth noting that Alonso has logged a 13.1 RAA against the fastball, while Bailey's heater has registered -9.7 RAA in 80 innings.
Second Base
Jedd Gyorko, STL vs. WAS ($4,100): Gyorko has been a nightmare for left-handed pitchers this season as evidenced by the .271 ISO and .424 wOBA he has tallied against them in 70 at-bats. Tommy Milone has shown an improved strikeout rate in 2018 but has logged a 5.50 ERA in 18 innings with the big club and kept a pedestrian 4.19 ERA in 109.2 frames while with Triple-A Syracuse.
Third Base
Eduardo Escobar, ARI at TEX ($4,600): Escobar has shown tremendous power against right-handed pitching in 2018, logging a .299 ISO to go along with a .384 wOBA in .284 at-bats. Bartolo Colon should be seen as a potential stack target whenever he is pitching at Globe Life Park, as he has allowed a .565 slugging percentage in 63.2 innings at home.
Shortstop
Manny Machado, LAD vs. SF ($4,500): Our value plays should allow us to spend up for Machado, who has logged a .215 ISO and a 38 percent hard contact rate against left-handed pitching in 121 at-bats. Bumgarner's fastball has been woefully ineffective in 2018 (-7.9 RAA), while Machado has logged an 8.7 RAA against the heater in 456 at-bats.
Outfield
Nelson Cruz, SEA at OAK ($4,800):Sean Manaea has had some trouble keeping the ball in the yard against right-handed hitters as we can see from the 1.3 HR/9 rate he has kept in 114.2 innings. He has surrendered a 40 percent hard contact rate to his opposite hand over that span. Meanwhile, Cruz has logged a monstrous .354 ISO against southpaws in 96 at-bats.
Nick Markakis, ATL vs. MIA ($4,800):Merandy Gonzalez hasn't had much success with the Marlins in 2018, logging a 5.71 ERA in 17.1 innings. While he was marginally better in his time spent with Double-A Jacksonville, his 4.32 ERA still left something to be desired. This is good news for Markakis, who has tallied a .382 wOBA against right-handed pitching in 290 at-bats this season.
Hunter Renfroe, SD vs. LAA ($4,800): Renfroe doesn't garner much attention in San Diego, but the 27-year-old is having an excellent year against right-handed pitching, notching a .244 ISO and a .359 wOBA in 86 at-bats. This penchant for power should give him an edge in the matchup against Andrew Heaney, who has allowed 16 homers and a .440 slugging percentage to right-handed hitters in 98 innings.
