This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
Monday's featured evening contest may be a difficult one to navigate, as there is an $1,800 price gap between the second and third pitcher on the five-game slate. Players will encounter two openers and two arms making their way back from the disabled list, which may encourage them to select two high-priced options in order to reduce uncertainty.
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Pitcher
Zack Godley, ARI vs. SD ($9,700): Godley was tagged with five runs in five innings during his last start against the Padres but that seems to be an outlier, as he had allowed just three runs in his previous three games (12.1 innings) against the squad combined while striking out 17 batters over that span. The right-hander features an excellent curveball (12.2 RAA), which should come in handy against the Friars, who have logged the lowest mark in the league against the pitch (-23.4 RAA).
Cheap GPP Consideration, Erasmo Ramirez, SEA vs. BAL ($6,200): Those hunting for cheap upside may want to take a flyer on Ramirez, who logged 23.3 DraftKings points in an August 24 start against the Diamondbacks. The 28-year-old carries an unsightly 6.28 ERA in six starts this season but did show good form in the minors, allowing just 10 runs in 25.2 innings across three levels. Meanwhile, the Orioles have notched the lowest wOBA (.282) in the league on the road to go along with a 25.2 percent strikeout rate.
GPP Fade: Matt Shoemaker, LAA at TEX ($7,400): It's tough enough to take a shot on a pitcher in Globe Life Park without the added baggage Shoemaker brings, as he has not thrown a pitch with the big club since going on the disabled list with a nerve issue in early April. He has thrown just four innings of rehab in the minor leagues. This almost certainly means the 31-year-old will be on a pitch count, making it difficult to predict what kind of outing we will get.
Catcher
Jose Briceno, LAA at TEX ($3,200): Briceno will likely only have the platoon advantage in this contest for the first few innings against Rangers' opener Jeffrey Springs but we will be looking to take advantage of his numbers on the road, where he has logged a .256 ISO and .410 wOBA in 43 at-bats. Ariel Jurado, who will likely be brought on as the team's second pitcher, has logged a 6.69 ERA while notching just 13 strikeouts in 35 innings.
First Base
Paul Goldschmidt, ARI vs. SD ($5,100): Opposing starter Bryan Mitchell has struggled mightily against same-handed opposition, surrendering a .622 slugging percentage and .443 wOBA in 26 innings. Mitchell hasn't pitched since being activated from the disabled list Saturday and put up negative DraftKings points in four of his last six outings before being injured in early June.
Second Base
Brandon Lowe, TB at TOR ($3,200): Lowe has seemingly come out of nowhere to place himself on the radar against right-handed pitching, as he has tallied a .240 ISO and .391 wOBA in 50 at-bats against his opposite hand. Marcus Stroman will make his first start since August 17 after recovering from a finger injury. He had notched a 5.27 ERA in 18 starts this year prior to landing on the disabled list.
Third Base
Eduardo Escobar, ARI vs. SD ($4,400): We will head back to Arizona for our selection at the hot corner due to Escobar's .266 ISO against right-handed pitching in 323 at-bats. It is also worth noting that Mitchell's fastball has yielded -6.9 RAA, while Escobar has registered 9.4 RAA against the heater this season.
Shortstop
Willy Adames, TB at TOR ($4,000): Adames finished the month of August with a .205 ISO and .385 wOBA and seems intent on keeping pace in September, logging three hits in his first six at-bats. Adames has had a bit of an issue with the strikeout this season but that shouldn't be much of a concern against Stroman, who has tallied a punchout rate of under 20 percent against right-handed hitters this season.
Outfield
Trey Mancini, BAL at SEA ($4,300): Mancini came to life in August after what had been a mostly mediocre season, tallying a .264 ISO and a .363 wOBA in 110 at-bats. Those who are inclined to build a mini stack against Ramirez will find justification to do so, as he has allowed nine homers in 28.2 innings with the Mariners.
Nelson Cruz, SEA vs. BAL ($4,700): Cruz has done serious damage against left-handed pitchers this season, as evidenced by the .301 ISO he has tallied in 113 at-bats. The veteran slugger should have a comfortable matchup against Josh Rogers, who struck out just 101 batters in 139.2 minor league innings.
Joey Gallo, TEX vs. LAA ($4,700): We may not know what we are going to get from Shoemaker but we can be sure that Gallo will bring the power, as he has logged a .267 ISO against right-handed pitching in 307 at-bats. Texas is a harrowing place to play for most pitchers, which might encourage prospective owners to stack in order to take advantage of a hurler coming back from a long layoff.
