This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
Monday's eight-game main slate features a few pitchers who arguably shouldn't be in starting rotations, making it a viable strategy to roster a few cheap players simply based on matchups. While there may not be a ton of value pitchers to choose from, prospective owners should be able to find at least a couple of options in the mid-range.
Pitching Overview
The Tigers are a DFS player's dream when facing a right-handed pitcher due to the .285 wOBA and 27 percent strikeout rate they have logged against righties this season. Jake Odorizzi ($10,500) bounced back from an abysmal month of July to post a 2.86 ERA with 32 strikeouts in 28.1 innings in August, making him someone to take a strong look at as the most expensive player on the board.
Noah Syndergaard ($10,000) will face a top-10 offense for the second time in as many starts Monday. The Nationals can be seen as an even stiffer test than the Cubs thanks to their miuiscule 21 percent strikeout rate against right-handed pitching, which may make Syndergaard a fade at this price.
Ryan Yarbrough ($9,400) may not seem like a pitcher worthy of this kind of price but he may have something of a secret weapon against the Orioles, who have logged the lowest RAA in the league against the cutter this season. Yarbrough has leaned on his cut fastball heavily in 2019, throwing it more than 36 percent of the time.
Mike Soroka ($9,200) has put up a fantastic 2.44 ERA in 24 starts for the Braves this season but his low-strikeout style doesn't always play well for DFS purposes, as evidenced by the fact that he has eclipsed 20 DraftKings points just twice in his last 10 starts. This could be an issue against a powerful team like the Blue Jays, though it is worth noting that they will be without a designated hitter at SunTrust Park.
I will always point out that Kyle Hendricks ($8,900) should be in player pools while at home, thanks to the 1.79 ERA he has logged at Wrigley Field in 75.1 frames. The Mariners are a bottom-half team against right-handers according to wOBA and also carry a 25 percent strikeout rate.
Speaking of pitchers who are excellent at home, Adam Wainwright ($7,600) has logged a 2.67 ERA in 70.2 innings at Busch Stadium this year. The Giants are much better on the road than at home but have kept a bottom-5 wOBA against right-handed pitching overall.
Key Values
The .518 slugging percentage Jacob Waguespack has allowed against righty hitters in 2019 makes Josh Donaldson ($4,800) a strong play at this price, as he has tallied a .273 ISO against right-handed pitching in 370 at-bats.
Asher Wojciechowski has been absolutely torched by opposite-handed hitters this year, allowing a slugging percentage of close to .600 in 25.1 frames. This puts Austin Meadows ($4,700) and the .372 ISO he has logged against right-handed pitching in a great spot Monday.
Eddie Rosario ($4,600) hasn't had the most productive season overall but he has shown more than ample power against righty pitchers, notching a .237 ISO in 337 at-bats. Meanwhile, Jordan Zimmermann has allowed a .529 slugging percentage and a .384 wOBA against lefty hitters in 41 innings.
We need to take advantage of favorable pricing with regard to Kris Bryant ($4,200) whenever he is facing a lefty due to the .368 ISO and .464 wOBA he has logged in 95 at-bats. This is especially the case when it comes to Justus Sheffield, who held a 6.87 ERA in 55 innings at Triple-A, and has allowed 10 runs in 11.1 frames with the big club.
Freddy Galvis ($4,000) has looked like a different player since joining the Reds, having logged a .518 slugging percentage in 65 at-bats. Drew Smyly has struggled mightily against both sides of the platoon this year, which has resulted in an ERA approaching 7.00 in 89.1 innings.
Stacks
Cubs against Justus Sheffield (Mariners)
Kris Bryant (3B - $4,200) Victor Caratini (C -$3,900) Addison Russell (2B/SS - $3,200)
We spoke about Sheffield's poor numbers this year but the former top prospect has never performed well at the highest level, as we can see from the three runs he allowed in 2.2 innings (three games) with the Yankees last year. This should allow prospective owners to plug in struggling players like Russell in order to save money.
Reds against Drew Smyly (Phillies)
Freddy Galvis (2B/SS - $4,000) Phillip Ervin (OF - $3,600) Nick Senzel (OF - $4,400)
One of the advantages of the Reds drawing a weak lefty is we should get at least a few part-time players with strong numbers to choose from. Ervin certainly falls into this category, as he has logged a .333 ISO and .487 wOBA against southpaws in 57 at-bats.
