This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
Monday offers us a shorter six-game slate, which features interesting pitching options across the price spectrum. This may make offense in general a bit tougher to find but there are three solid stack targets that we can draw from to round out our lineups.
Pitching Overview
Robbie Ray ($10,000) has cut down on homers allowed in 2019 but remains a high-strikeout, high-walk hurler. The Pirates will head into the contest with the lowest wOBA in the league against left-handed pitching, but it's worth noting that all of those whiffs and free passes make it difficult for Ray to go deep in games.
Jose Berrios ($9,400) has used an excellent fastball to help secure a 2.53 ERA in eight starts this year but doesn't quite get enough strikeouts to be viewed as an elite DFS option. The Angels are a top-10 team when it comes to wOBA against right-handed pitching, making this something of an interesting matchup.
Aaron Nola ($9,200) has managed to turn his season around after a tough start and will now face a middle-of-the-road Brewers team at home. While they have undeniable power, Milwaukee has performed significantly worse away from Miller Park this year, which may make Nola a high-priced contrarian option.
Shane Bieber's ($9,000) strikeout rate has risen to 27 percent in his sophomore season. This should pay dividends against a White Sox offense that holds the fifth-highest strikeout rate in the league against right-handed pitching.
Matthew Boyd ($8,800) is practically unrecognizable in 2019, as he has drastically cut down on homers and walks while raising his strikeout rate more than 10 percent from his career average (31 percent). He will face his stiffest test to date against the Astros, who have logged the highest wOBA in the league against left-handed pitching.
Brad Peacock ($8,500) is coming off a 40.8-point performance in his last outing against the Royals. He will take his strikeout talents into a matchup against the Tigers, who have tallied a bottom-5 wOBA against right-handed hurlers.
Mike Fiers ($8,000) is bound to be popular after throwing a no-hitter in his last start against the Reds. As exciting as the moment was, Fiers combines low strikeout numbers with a general inability to keep the ball in the yard, which shouldn't inspire confidence from a DFS perspective. I will be leaving him alone in a matchup against the Mariners.
Yusei Kikuchi ($7,500) is coming off back-to-back strong outings but his non-overpowering style makes him a risky play against the A's, who are one of the best teams in the league against left-handed pitching.
Power pitcher Reynaldo Lopez ($6,800) is our GPP-only play of the night. The talented yet flawed 25-year-old will take on an Indians offense that strikes out more than 24 percent of the time while also holding a bottom-5 wOBA against right-handed pitching.
Key Values
Rhys Hoskins ($5,400) has the opportunity to do real damage against Freddy Peralta, who has allowed a .530 slugging percentage to right-handed hitters this season.
Most D-Backs will be expensive heading into a matchup against Nick Kingham (5.94 ERA) but if you can only afford one high-priced bat, David Peralta ($5,100) may be your man. Peralta has tallied a .265 ISO and .401 wOBA against right-handed pitching in 2019.
Edwin Encarnacion ($4,800) is a perfect candidate to take advantage of Fiers due to the .294 ISO he has logged against righty pitchers in 109 at-bats.
Mitch Garver ($4,700) has been unconscious at the plate, logging a .423(!) ISO in 71 at-bats. Meanwhile, Tyler Skaggs has allowed a .452 slugging percentage against right-handed hitters.
Matt Chapman ($4,400) has absolutely destroyed lefty pitching in 2019, as evidenced by the five homers and two doubles he has tallied in just 32 at-bats. Kikuchi has thrown the ball reasonably well this year but still holds a 4.47 xFIP against right-handed batters.
Those unwilling to roster Lopez as a GPP-punt might consider taking a shot against him with Leonys Martin ($4,000) who has tallied a .214 ISO against right-handed pitchers in 98 at-bats.
Stacks
Phillies against Freddy Peralta (Brewers)
Rhys Hoskins (1B - 5,400) Cesar Hernandez (2B - $4,300) Maikel Franco (3B - $4,000)
Peralta has had some decent results this season but remains an interesting stack target due to the fact that he has put up negative DK totals in three of his six outings. I have focused mainly on righties here but prospective owners should have no problem taking a lefty-centered approach, as Peralta has allowed a .360 wOBA against his opposite hand this year.
D-Backs against Nick Kingham (Pirates)
David Peralta (OF – $5,100) Eduardo Escobar (3B/SS $5,000) Alex Avila (C - $4,100)
As noted above, the D-Backs will be a fairly expensive (and popular) stack against the struggling Kingham. We can find a bit of salary relief in Avila, who has made one start since being activated from the injured list after recovering from a quad injury.
Mariners against Mike Fiers (A's)
Edwin Encarnacion (1B- $4,800) Jay Bruce (OF - $4,400) Omar Narvaez (C - $4,300)
Now may be the perfect time to stack against Fiers, as it's reasonable to expect an ownership spike after his last performance. Bruce, in particular, may be sort of a sneaky option here, as he won't have to worry about strikeouts against the soft-tosser.
