This article is part of our FantasyAces MLB series.
Here are my recommendations for games on Monday, July 6:
P – John Lackey ($6450) – He heads into Monday's game on the heels of four straight quality starts in which he has allowed a total of seven earned runs (no more than two in one game), with 20 strikeouts and only eight walks. I should also remind you that his Cardinals have the best record in all of baseball at 53-28, too.
P – Mark Buehrle ($5800) – The veteran lefty may be making his last visit to Chicago to face his former White Sox squad and goes into this matchup riding a hot streak that includes six straight quality starts with no more than two earned runs in any outing. Oh yeah, and he is backed by the most prolific offense in the majors.
C – James McCann ($3500) – McCann has been making a name for himself as the Tigers' regular catcher of late. He has a 10-for-21 ledger in the past week, along with two homers and four extra-base hits. Despite the spike in productivity he comes in at a bargain rate that provides me with cap flexibility elsewhere.
2B/SS – Ian Kinsler ($4800) – The veteran Tigers middle infielder is on an 11-for-32 tear in the past week, which includes three extra-base hits and seven RBI. He gets a shot at Hisashi Iwakuma on Monday, a pitcher who is making a return to the Mariners rotation after a lengthy injury absence.
2B/SS – Carlos Correa ($5000) – The rookie sensation just keep on churning out impressive numbers. He was 9-for-25 last week, including two homers and four extra-base hits. Those numbers and the early display of power (16 XBH in his first 108 AB) as a big leaguer are quickly pushing him to the front of the line among major league shortstops.
1B/3B – Adam Lind ($5200) – Lind is enjoying a fine first year in the NL, matching his 32 XBH from last season and with 14 homers already under his belt. He faces an inexperienced soft-tossing righty, Matt Wisler, at home on Monday night. Lind mashes righties.
1B/3B – Cesar Hernandez ($4000) - In his third season with the Phillies, it looks like Hernandez has a firm grip on the starting gig at 2B. He is currently riding the wave of a 13-for-30 week in which he scored six runs and drove in four more. He is one of the hottest hitters with corner infield eligibility over the last month of play, yet comes in at a modest $4000 on Monday.
OF – Melky Cabrera ($4650) – Cabrera is a lefty hitter who faces lefty Mark Buehrle tonight and feels confident with that matchup, on the basis of a 17-for-30 sample size over his career which includes eight XBH, seven RBI and only two strikeouts. He also knows him from the time they spent together in Toronto.
OF – Yoenis Cespedes ($4850) – We are going heavy on Tigers today, based on the combination of some hot hitting and the fact that they are facing a pitcher who is returning from an injury to start tonight (Iwakuma). Cespedes has eight XBH and six RBI in 24 AB in his career against Iwakuma.
OF – Jason Heyward ($4850) – Heyward has put together an 8-for-26 week to boost his season long average to a career high .281. He also has an 8-for-15 mark against lefty Jon Lester, the Monday starter for the Cubs.
Util – Buster Posey ($5600) – This veteran C/1B continues to be one of the most consistent hitters in the majors. He had three homers in a 9-for-23 sample last week and he has a favorable 8-for-22 history against the Mets' Monday starter, Jon Niese.
Other favorable batting/pitching options, based on career splits against their Monday opponents include – C Yan Gomes ($4500), 1B/3B Jose Abreu ($5500), 2B/SS Brian Dozier ($5250), 1B/3B Miguel Sano ($3500) and OF Gregory Polanco ($4750)
