This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
High-end pitchers dominate Monday's slate, which means value bats will be needed in most lineups. There is rain possible at a few sites, but with most of the forecasts showing scattered storms, it'll be worth it to keep an eye on the radar.
PITCHER
Trevor Bauer, CLE vs. CWS ($53): Bauer cracked 50 bucks two starts ago, yet he still isn't a true ace in terms of price even though he's reached 11 strikeouts in his last four starts. That's led an average of more than 30 fantasy points over that period with three runs allowed in three of the outings. He had 35.6 fantasy points against the White Sox last start and should do that again as Chicago has a 26.1 K% and .291 wOBA against righties over the last month. If rain is an issue, Gerrit Cole ($58) is next in line.
Jaime Barria, LAA vs. ARI ($39): Instead of spending up on someone hard to trust, Barria at least saves money and has hit 28 fantasy points in three of his last five starts. After being surprisingly cheap for most of the season, he's in a good range with a 18.9 K% and 2.61 ERA. As for his opponent, the Diamondbacks have struggled through the last month with a 24.6 K% and .293 wOBA against righty arms.
[Join a Yahoo Daily Fantasy Baseball contest or league today]
CATCHER
Gary Sanchez, NYY at WAS ($11): Sanchez doesn't get on base consistently, as seen in his price, but he still has nine homers against righties and didn't play last time Erick Fedde faced the Yanks. Another positive is his career .362 wOBA against righty arms. Fedde has five career starts and allowed at least three runs in all of them to go with seven home runs.
FIRST BASE
Greg Bird, NYY at WAS ($14): Anytime you can get cheap Yankees against an iffy pitcher, it's usually a good idea. Bird is in the same mold as Sanchez, but is a lefty with nine extra-base hits (3 HR) in 55 at-bats against righty arms. One of those homers came against Fedde, who will again have trouble making it past five innings against this lineup.
SECOND BASE
Kike Hernandez, LAD at CHC ($10): Hernandez is another cheap bat that provides a bit of power with three homers in his last six games. He has a decent .222 ISO against righties this year and that's what you're banking on against Tyler Chatwood. The righty hurler hasn't gone more than 5.1 innings in his last eight starts and has an early 4.67 xFIP against righty bats, which is slightly worse than his career 4.19 xFIP.
THIRD BASE
Travis Shaw, MIL at PIT ($18): Shaw is the perfect power bat that doesn't cost an overwhelming amount. He has 14 homers against righties this year bringing his career ISO to .226 and wOBA to .353. That should work perfectly against a struggling Trevor Williams, who has allowed at least three runs in his last five starts and hasn't made it past three innings in his last two. Williams also has a career 5.00 xFIP against lefty bats.
SHORTSTOP
Didi Gregorius, NYY at WAS ($15): I wasn't going to use another Yankee and then the hot-hitting Gregorious popped up at a good price. He's been a troubling player to recommend this year, but appears back to normal now with 22 extra-base hits (12 HR) against righties and is set to match or surpass 2017's .354 wOBA against them. Fedde has worse numbers against righties, but has allowed nine runs in 16.1 innings against lefties and that isn't good, either.
OUTFIELD
George Springer, HOU vs. TB ($20): Springer is a good Astro to bet on against the Rays, who are expected to use a variety of pitchers. Springer can hit both sides of the plate with seven homers and a career .400 wOBA against southpaws to go with seven homers and a career .347 wOBA against righties. Ryne Stanek is listed as the opener, which means the Astros could face any number of pitchers after him with righty Matt Andriese the likeliest after last appearing on the 13th. Andriese has a career .330 wOBA allowed to righty bats.
Alex Gordon, KC vs. TEX ($7): Gordon is the definition of value play that lacks power with a .339 BABIP and only five homers against righties. It's usually good to grab one bat against Bartolo Colon, who has given up at least six runs in three of his last five starts. His numbers are similar to last season when he finished with a 5.71 xFIP and .381 wOBA allowed to lefties.
Domingo Santana, MIL at PIT ($7): Santana hasn't shown his power this year, but he still has a .438 BABIP against righties after roping a .230 ISO against them last year. Williams is getting rocked in every outing and may have trouble reaching four innings this game if his struggles continue with a career 4.14 xFIP against righty bats.
