This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
Monday's seven-game main slate features some high-cost hurlers who may not be worth the price, forcing us to go a bit further down the line to fill our two pitching spots. On the offensive side, we have a few struggling pitchers against high-powered offenses we can easily target for stacking opportunities.
Pitching Overview
Sonny Gray ($11,200) has been unstoppable in the month of August, allowing just one run and striking out 34 batters in 24 innings. He will look to put a bow around this phenomenal run when he takes on the Marlins, who have notched the lowest wOBA in the league against righty pitching to go along with a 25 percent strikeout rate.
Dustin May ($8,500) will return to the starting rotation Monday, which makes him someone to take a look at heading into his matchup against the Padres. May will likely never be the strikeout artist he showed during flashes in the minor leagues but his pinpoint control and heavy groundball rate should be enough to get the job done against the Friars, who have logged a bottom-10 wOBA against righty hurlers in 2019.
Gio Gonzalez's ($8,200) penchant for losing the zone will always be a concern in DFS contexts but he is cheap enough for prospective owners to take a shot against the Cardinals, who will head into the contest sporting a bottom-10 wOBA against left-handed pitching. It is also worth noting that the Cardinals hold the second-lowest RAA in the league against the changeup, a pitch Gonzalez has thrown 32 percent of the time this year.
With the number of walks and homers Jason Vargas ($7,900) gives up, it's worth wondering how long he can keep his ERA below 4.00. He may have an easier time than usual against the Pirates, who have notched the lowest wOBA (.280) and walk rate (5.0%) in the league against left-handed pitching.
Alex Young ($7,500) hasn't shown much at the major league level aside from the ability to get groundballs but that may be enough against the Giants, who have combined a bottom-10 wOBA against southpaws with a groundball rate of more than 44 percent.
Key Values
DJ LeMahieu ($4,900) should fare well enough against opener Matt Wisler but the real target here is Tommy Milone, who has allowed a .487 slugging percentage to right-handed hitters in 61 innings. Lemahieu has starched southpaws in 2019, notching a .279 ISO and a .461 wOBA in 122 at-bats.
Matt Olson ($4,700) has tallied a .255 ISO against right-handers but should have another advantage against the groundball-throwing Brad Keller, as Olson has hit grounders at a 46 percent clip in 2019.
It's early days in the career of Austin Nola ($4,500), but he has been a force against left-handed pitching so far this year, logging a .408 ISO and .472 wOBA in 49 at-bats. Meanwhile, J.A. Happ has struggled mightily against right-handed pitching this season, allowing a .522 slugging percentage and 25 homers in 98 innings.
Evan Longoria ($4,200) has quietly been on fire since the beginning of July, logging a .357 batting average with 10 homers in 98 at-bats. He represents a fine option for those who aren't sure about Alex Young, who has kept a 5.00 xFIP against right-handed hitting.
Stacks
Yankees against Matt Wisler and Tommy Milone (Mariners)
DJ LeMahieu (2B/3B - $4,900) Gio Urshela (3B - $4,300) Aaron Judge (OF - $4,600)
Wisler has done better against righty hitters than is ideal for our purposes but the 26-year-old has thrown more than one inning just twice in his last 10 appearances, which means our hitters should get plenty of swings against Milone.
Phillies against Joe Musgrove (Pirates)
Cesar Hernandez (2B - $3,800) Rhys Hoskins (1B - $4,500) J.T. Realmuto (C - $4,900)
Musgrove's nightmarish August will come to an end one way or the other Monday when he brings the 7.71 ERA he has logged in 21 innings this month against a powerful Phillies lineup. This gives us the opportunity to roster Hernandez on the cheap in order to fit in big bats capable of doing real damage.
