This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
For the first time in weeks, we have a normal Monday with no early games. This Monday has a nine-game slate starting at 7:05 p.m. EDT. The Mets travel to Yankee Stadium while adding a designated hitter, and the Cubs make the trip to Colorado to face the Rockies.
Pitching
The cash game conversation for a pitcher starts and ends with the Red Sox's Chris Sale ($11,800). While he's really expensive, he has a great matchup at home against the Rangers. Texas has a 26.4 percent strikeout rate against left-handed pitching this season, the fourth-highest mark in baseball. The team's .310 wOBA is merely league average, and Sale has found his stride with nine straight games of at least 31 fantasy points. Included in that span were games of 58, 67, 70 and 73 fantasy points, showing the upside he has.
Looking at the mid-priced pitching options, the Yankees' Masahiro Tanaka ($8,900) stands out. He's had an ERA 1.29 runs lower at home than on the road since 2017, and the Mets are a decent matchup. Their 23.2 percent strikeout rate against right-handed pitching is 15th in the league, and their .314 wOBA is 17th in the league. At home this season, Tanaka is averaging 33.9 fantasy points, and if he hits 34 fantasy points, Sale would have to hit 45 fantasy points to be the same value, considering their prices.
Looking at the cheap long shots, the Cardinals' Michael Wacha ($6,300) and the Braves' Kevin Gausman ($6,000) stand out. Wacha has the better matchup against the Marlins, but it's tough to see him pitching past the fifth inning even if he's effective. Gausman has been getting shelled but will at least be home when he faces the Pirates. Gausman was filthy at home after being traded to Atlanta last season with a 2.81 ERA and allowing only a .267 wOBA. The Pirates just lit him up this past week, but overall they have a .316 wOBA against right-handed pitching, which is 15th in baseball. The nod here goes to Gausman but not by a lot.
Key Values/Chalk
Facing a right-handed pitcher at home, the Rockies' David Dahl ($3,900) is going to be a popular play -- and rightfully so. This game has the highest over/under at 11, and with German Marquez on the mound against Yu Darvish, the Rockies bats should be more targeted than the Cubs. Dahl had a .449 wOBA at home against right-handed pitching last season, and Darvish brings a 4.88 ERA into the contest. It's possible to use both Sale and Dahl in the same lineup, but the rest of the lineup will have to average $2,757 per player.
In cash, the Pirates' Kevin Newman ($2,600) makes a lot of sense for a few different reasons. He fits in nicely with a "Sale" lineup and typically hits leadoff for Pittsburgh. Gausman has gotten crushed over his last two starts and could be hurt or tipping his pitches. Newman has a .334 wOBA against right-handed pitching this season, which is a really good stat considering the position and cost.
After a slow start, the Marlins' Brian Anderson ($2,900) has heated up since the beginning of May. He's averaged 13.6 fantasy points over his last 21 games and has a respectable .334 wOBA against right-handed pitching at home in his short career. Wacha has had a terrible reverse split this season, surrendering a .417 wOBA to right-handed hitters.
Philadelphia's Cesar Hernandez ($2,800) is in a good spot at home against the Diamondbacks' Taylor Clarke, a good pitcher to target. Clarke had a 7.22 ERA at Triple-A Reno before being called up and had never had big strikeout numbers in the minors. Hernandez is raking against right-handed pitching at home with a .362 wOBA.
It seems that most days, the Nationals' Howie Kendrick ($2,900) flies under the radar despite being in the middle of a big fantasy season. He just hit his 11th home run, is batting .327 and has 30 runs and 39 RBI. Kendrick has a .365 wOBA against right-handed pitching, and White Sox righty Odrisamer Despaigne is a plus matchup for hitters.
Stacks
Yankees vs. Mets (Jason Vargas)
Gary Sanchez (C/1B - $4,200), Luke Voit (C/1B - $4,200), Aaron Hicks (OF - $3,500), DJ LeMahieu (2B - $3,700)
All of these players crush left-handed pitching, and this should be a tough game for Vargas. Some thought the move out of Coors Field would affect LeMahieu, but he has a .393 wOBA against southpaws this season. Sanchez has actually hit right-handed pitching better this season, but his career wOBA against lefties (.363) is a point higher than against righties (.362).
Nationals at White Sox (Odrisamer Despaigne)
Kendrick, Trea Turner (SS - $3,900), Juan Soto (OF - $3,900), Anthony Rendon (3B - $4,400)
This stack is all about fading Despaigne, who on the wrong side of 32 likely hasn't figured out the mystery of pitching. He had a 6.69 ERA last season in limited work and this is pretty much a desperate call-up by Chicago. With the game in Coors and the Yankees against Vargas, this should be one of the lower-owned stacks despite the favorable matchup.
