This article is part of our FantasyAces MLB series.
Fantasy Aces recommendations for Monday.
SP - Dallas Keuchel $6,250 - When you pitch for the hottest team in baseball and you have been rock solid in each of your five outings in 2015, this is a good value selection, instead of paying $8,000 for Felix Hernandez. Keuchel has dominated throughout his career the heart of the Rangers' to boot, save, perhaps, Adrian Beltre. .
SP - Jake Odorizzi $6,250 - Odorizzi has allowed only 21 hits in 33.2 IP this season, with nine coming in his last outing (6.3IP). That means he's been almost untouchable in his other starts. Even though he doesn't have a big sample size against any of the Bosox hitters, the early returns (i.e. 1/12 for David Ortiz, 1/12 for Allen Craig, 2/10 for Dustin Pedroia) are favorable.
C - Yadier Molina $4,750 - One of the premier hitting catchers gets a favorable matchup as the Cards face the visiting Travis Wood. Molina has a 1.121 OPS in 38 AB, including four HR and 13 RBI. In fact, many of his teammates have fared almost as well against this same hurler. It should be a good day for the Cards.
2B/SS - Stephen Drew - $4,000 - Drew has fared well in general the last two years as a visitor to the Rogers Centre, regardless of his uniform. In the matchup against Dickey he has also enjoyed some success, only striking out once in 18 AB. Dickey has not yet harnessed his knuckler, which has lacked much movement, and he's paid the price. At $4,000, this looks like a good value play that should give you some roster flexibility elsewhere.
2B/SS - Troy Tulowitzki - $5,400 - Tulowitzki is normally going to be good value as a higher-priced middle infielder, but that may be especially the case against Josh Collmenter, who has a high H/9 ratio in his starts this season. Tulo has seen the ball well in this matchup, only striking out twice in 22 AB. He also has the benefit of the home park, where balls fly.
1B/3B - Alex Rodriguez $4,850 - Arod is among the most prolific power hitting opponents in the history of the Rogers Centre and has a nice ledger against the aforementioned Dickey. He has seven strikeouts in 24 AB against Dickey, but that aspect can be discounted because, as we said, the Knuckler is not dancing.
1B/3B - Adrian Gonzalez $5,400 - Kyle Lohse, Gonzo's opposing pitcher is having a rough start to the 2015 season, with a 7.28 ERA in 29.2 IP. His H/9 is an unsightly 10.3. Gonzalez should be confident in this matchup at any time, given his nice 10-for-26 record, including seven extra-base hits. There are too many favorable numbers to ignore.
OF - Matt Holliday $4,950 - Another Cardinal who has a nice resume against Travis Wood, Holliday has one of the most favorable and significant sample sizes on Monday's list. He has hammered Wood (nice pun, huh?) to the tune of 15 hits in 40 AB, including four HR and and eight extra-base hits.
OF - Angel Pagan $4,750 - Pagan has been very consistent and productive out the gate in 2015, with a .343 BA and .368 OBP. The switch-hitter is seeing the ball well with just 15 strikeouts in 106 PA, but has seen a spike in his BABIP, up to .395, which is about 85 points higher than his career norm. Ride the hot stick while you can.
OF - Justin Upton $5,200 - Upton has enjoyed a nice uptick in his first season in SD, with a career high .942 OPS through his first 100 PA this season. He can also feel good about the head-to-head matchup Monday to extend that trend. He is 11-for-27 against Madison Bumgarner and has been a better contact hitter against the veteran lefty than his career norms indicate. This looks like a true lefty-righty matchup that favors the batter.
Util - Jon Jay $4,000 - With tempting big-money plays above, we have to fill with a quality value play or two. That's where Jay comes in. He is another Cardinals hitter who has fared well against Monday's mound opponent. He has 13 hits in 32 AB in this matchup and is carrying a hot bat with 11 hits in his last 29 AB.
