This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
Prospective owners should really be able to sink their teeth into Monday's eight-game evening slate, as it features several viable stack options, as well as one value pitcher who will be very difficult to go past.
Pitching Overview
Perhaps no team has fallen harder from early-season success than the Mets. After posting a grand total of zero runs in a weekend series against the Marlins, they now hold a bottom-5 wOBA over the last calendar month. Meanwhile, Robbie Ray ($10,900) has used his high strikeout and groundball rates to post a 2.92 ERA in nine starts.
Mike Minor ($9,700) logged a casual 40.8 DraftKings points in his first outing against the Mariners at Safeco Field last month. Minor's ability to get punchouts and limit homers has resulted in a 2.61 ERA but he will still be difficult to trust against a high-powered offense in a hitter-friendly ballpark.
Chris Paddack ($9,500) has combined an excellent changeup with an above-average groundball rate to post a sparkling 1.99 ERA in his first eight major league starts. The D-Backs have been a solid offense against right-handed pitching this year but have hit grounders at a 44 percent clip, which could give the young rookie an edge.
Speaking of groundball rates, Mike Soroka ($9,200) has killed worms at an elite 56 percent clip this season. While his high walk rate is somewhat alarming, he will take a sub-1.00 ERA into a matchup against the Giants, who have tallied a bottom-10 wOBA against right-handed pitchers this year.
Brad Peacock ($8,900) has seen his strikeout rate take a somewhat expected hit as a full member of the rotation but he still sends hitters back to the bench at a 23 percent clip. The White Sox have been a middle-of-the-road offense this season according to wOBA, and Peacock has managed a 40-point performance already this season.
Yu Darvish ($8,600) was finally able to get his walks under control, which yielded strong results in concert with his 11 strikeouts against the Reds. Darvish is always a GPP play due to his ability to get punchouts but his walk rate still stands at a stunning 17 percent in nine starts, making him difficult to trust in cash formats.
Pitchers who have strong strikeout rates will always be worth a look against the Padres, who have tallied the highest punchout percentage of any team in the league this season (27 percent). Luke Weaver ($8,500) certainly qualifies, as he has struck out 26 percent of the batters he has faced this season, which has contributed to a 3.16 ERA.
A mediocre outing against the Angels last week halted an impressive run for Jake Odorizzi ($8,200) that saw him record at least 29 DK points in three consecutive starts. He will face the same squad on the road Monday, and while the Angels have been a tough team against right-handers, Odorizzi is still worth a look at this price due to the 2.63 ERA he has posted in nine starts.
A cursory glance at J.A. Happ's ($8,000) stats paints a not-so-pretty picture but the veteran has been fantastic away from Yankee Stadium, posting a 1.96 ERA in three starts. He will undoubtedly be popular against the Orioles, who hold a bottom-5 wOBA against left-handed hurlers.
Key Values
Luke Voit ($5,200) has hit for power against both sides of the platoon, resulting in a .238 ISO in 160 at-bats. Andrew Cashner has kept an extreme reverse split in 2019, as evidenced by the .527 slugging percentage he has surrendered to righty bats in 27 frames.
Mike Leake has fared reasonably well against lefty hitters this season but he has a tough matchup against Shin-Soo Choo ($4,900) who has notched a .272 ISO at home.
Drew Gagnon got off to a strong start this season in the bullpen but has kept a 4.67 ERA over nine minor league seasons, which doesn't bode well for a start against the Nationals. Trea Turner may be an issue in particular due to the .222 ISO he has logged against right-handed pitching.
Mitch Haniger ($4,600) and his .396 wOBA against southpaws will look to cash in on the 4.20 xFIP Mike Minor has kept against right-handed hitters.
Taylor Cole will open up for the Angels before giving way to Felix Pena. The 2.1 HR/9 rate Pena has kept in 17.1 innings against lefty bats should give Jorge Polanco ($4,400) an opportunity to flex the .299 ISO he has notched against right-handed pitching.
Andrew Suarez has been thrashed to the tune of a 6.33 ERA in six starts (27 innings) for Triple-A Sacramento this season. It's hard to see much downside in this matchup for Ozzie Albies, who has logged a .420 wOBA against left-handed pitching in 46 at-bats.
Bryce Harper ($4,000) may just be finding his stroke, which should make him a fairly popular play at this price. Harper has tallied a .208 ISO against right-handed pitching in 120 at-bats.
Stacks
Braves against Andrew Suarez (Giants)
Ozzie Albies (2B - $4,200) Ronald Acuna (OF - $4,600) Johan Camargo (3B/OF - $3,700)
The Braves have enough powerful righties to make sure Suarez has a long (or maybe, short) night in his return to the big leagues. This includes specialists like Camargo, who has tallied a .276 ISO against right-handed pitching.
Yankees against Andrew Cashner (Orioles)
Luke Voit (1B -$5,200) Clint Frazier (OF - $4,100) Gleyber Torres (2B/SS - $$4,800)
This is a stack specifically designed to exploit Cashner's struggles against right-handed hitters. Even someone like Frazier, who has struggled of late, holds a .211 ISO against same-handed hurlers.
Twins vs. Felix Pena (Angels)
Jorge Polanco (SS - $4,400) Eddie Rosario (OF - $4,300) Max Kepler (OF - $3,800)
They'll see an opener first but once the game reaches the second or third inning, the Twins should be able to capitalize on Pena's issues with keeping the ball in the yard against left-handed hitters.
