This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
There are quite a few value plays to take a look at with respect to pitchers on Monday's 12-game slate, which could provide players with a golden opportunity to stack against struggling rookies and laboring veterans.
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Pitcher
Zack Wheeler, NYM at PHI, ($10,500): Wheeler has been on quite a roll of late, having posted at least 20 DraftKings points in his last five starts. He has broken the 30-point barrier twice over that span. It is also worth noting that the Phillies hold a bottom-11 RAA against the fastball, while Wheeler's heater (21.7 RAA) ranks as the fourth most effective in the league among qualified pitchers.
Cheap GPP Consideration, Erick Fedde, WAS at MIA ($5,300): Fedde's 5.12 ERA likely won't turn any heads but those interested in digging deeper will find a 3.46 xFIP in 38.2 frames. The 25-year-old also boasts a spectacular 54 percent groundball rate, which should come in handy against the Marlins, who hold the highest groundball percentage in the league (47.6 percent). While he is not without his flaws, Fedde provides a tremendous amount of flexibility where salary is concerned and has a legitimate chance to put up a big score.
GPP Fade, Patrick Corbin, ARI vs. CHC ($11,900): Corbin's high strikeout rate could make him a cash option at this price but I don't see much of a ceiling for the 29-year-old against the Cubs, who fall just outside the top 10 when it comes to wOBA against southpaws this season. He would likely be in play if this were a smaller slate but with so many options to choose from it's difficult to justify paying up.
Catcher
Yasmani Grandal, LAD vs. COL ($4,100): Grandal is having another productive season at the plate for the Dodgers, as evidenced by the .240 ISO and .356 wOBA he has tallied against right-handed pitching in 312 at-bats. Opposing starter Jon Gray's fastball has yielded an RAA of -11.4 this season, while Grandal has registered a 17.0 RAA against the pitch.
First Base
Tyler White, HOU vs. SEA ($4,700): White has mashed against everyone that has been put in front of him in 2018, which has resulted in a .305 ISO and a .413 wOBA in 174 at-bats. Wade LeBlanc has been a serviceable backend rotation option for most of the year but carries a 4.60 xFIP against right-handed hitters in 110.1 frames.
Second Base
Brandon Lowe, TB at TEX ($3,800): Lowe should be a name DFS players recognize at this point in the season due to the .230 ISO and .362 wOBA he has tallied against right-handed pitchers in 74 at-bats. He has kept a 41 percent hard contact rate over that span. There isn't much we can glean about Adrian Sampson from his two appearances with the Rangers but he did finish his season in Triple-A Round Rock with a 4.74 xFIP in 126.2 innings.
Third Base
Mike Moustakas, MIL vs. CIN ($4,500): Moustakas has shown good power against right-handed hurlers in 2018, notching a .239 ISO in 360 at-bats. Meanwhile, opposing starter Anthony Desclafani has been crushed by lefty hitters, surrendering a .569 slugging percentage and 14 homers in 47 innings.
Shortstop
Amed Rosario, NYM at PHI ($3,900): Rosario is spreading his wings in the final month of the season, having notched a .270 ISO and a .394 wOBA in 63 September at-bats. Opposing starter Jake Arrieta seems to be going in the opposite direction, having logged a 4.69 ERA in his last 40.1 innings (seven starts).
Outfield
Mitch Haniger, SEA at HOU ($4,600):Framber Valdez's 2.66 ERA through 23.2 innings this season may have some marking him as a low-cost option but I have some concerns about the 24-year-old going forward. Valdez consistently posted high walk rates in his minor league career and has tallied a 10:10 K/BB ratio in 18.1 frames against righty hitters with the big club. Haniger has shown a bit more power against same-handed pitchers but still holds a .363 wOBA and a 39.3 percent hard contact rate against lefty hurlers in 160 at-bats.
Nick Castellanos, DET vs. MIN ($4,300): Castellanos has put on a show against left-handed pitchers this season, as we can see from the .206 ISO and .439 wOBA he has tallied in 136 at-bats. Prospect Gabriel Moya was given a shot with the Twins after a sparkling season with Triple-A Rochester but he has failed to produce on the road, where he owns a 6.11 ERA in 17.2 innings.
Alen Hanson, SF at SD ($4,100): Opposing starter Bryan Mitchell has walked more batters than he has struck out this season and holds a 6.07 ERA in 59.1 innings. Hanson would be an excellent candidate to include in a stack, as he has tallied a .227 ISO against righty pitchers in 203 at-bats.
