This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
If you want to go big at pitcher for Monday's slate, there are two options that tower above the rest, but I found a couple cheaper ones that helped create a balanced batting lineup. I also avoided the Nationals-Marlins game with rain likely all day in D.C.
PITCHER
Cole Hamels, CHC vs. PIT ($42): Hamels hasn't looked great in his last four starts, but there's reason for hope as he's allowed only one run and eight hits in two prior starts against the Pirates, both in August. Pittsburgh doesn't have good numbers against southpaws in the last month with a .287 wOBA standing out.
Derek Holland, SF vs. SD ($36): If you want to throw money down, Corey Kluber ($58) makes the most sense, but my goal is to find value. Holland provides that and while he may not have a huge outing, he's hit 12 fantasy points in his last 11 starts showing that he won't get completely shelled. Per usual, the Padres are near the bottom of most charts with a 23.2 K% and .291 wOBA against lefties in the last month.
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CATCHER
Chris Iannetta, COL vs. PHI ($13): Iannetta's been most useful at home against righties with a .366 OBP and 11 extra-base hits in 76 at-bats. For the price, that's enough and while Zach Eflin is coming off a couple nice outings, a trip to Coors Field should change that. Prior to Eflin's two recent wins, he was struggling to reach six innings and gave up 20 runs in five starts.
FIRST BASE
Yuli Gurriel, HOU at TOR ($18): Gurriel has better numbers against lefties for the season, yet it's hard to ignore what he's done as of late hitting safely in 16 of his last 17 games to go with 10 hits in the last four. At the least, his OBP is up to .364 against righties in September (55 plate appearances). Marco Estrada is conveniently worse against righties with a 5.92 xFIP and .388 wOBA allowed
SECOND BASE
Alen Hanson, SF vs. SD ($10): This is more of a play against Bryant Mitchell as he gave up nine hits and four runs in his last start against the Giants, though Hanson was rested. Either way, Hanson still has decent numbers against righties with a .347 wOBA despite slowing down in the last month. Mitchell doesn't have good numbers against either side of the plate with his 6.21 xFIP against lefty bats one of the worst.
THIRD BASE
Evan Longoria, SF vs. SD ($16): Longoria homered when he saw Mitchell last week and is one of San Francisco's only useful bats as of late against righties with a .400 OBP this month (55 plate appearances). Mitchell also has an ugly 2.10 HR/9 and .396 wOBA allowed to righty hitters.
SHORTSTOP
Scott Kingery, PHI at COL ($9): If Kingery starts, he's worth a shot even though his numbers don't stand out. He's cheap and Tyler Anderson hasn't been good at home this season with a .334 wOBA allowed to righties to go with 16 runs given up in his last four starts at Coors. If Kingery doesn't make the lineup, Tim Beckham and Brandon Crawford are at the same price in decent matchups.
OUTFIELD
David Dahl, COL vs. PHI ($18): Similar to Iannetta, Dahl's numbers stand out at home against righty arms with a .384 OBP and 13 extra-base hits (5 HR) in only 79 at-bats. Eflin hasn't faced the Rockies this year and his .352 wOBA allowed to lefty bats won't help.
Marwin Gonzalez, HOU at TOR ($16): Gonzalez has been up-and-down this season, but still has a respectable .169 ISO against righty arms to go with a .348 wOBA in his last 82 plate appearances. Estrada hasn't had much success with a 5.57 ERA and 5.53 xFIP against lefties.
Melky Cabrera, CLE at CWS ($14): Even after Dylan Covey went six scoreless in his last start against the Indians, I'm betting he doesn't do that again considering he didn't make it more than five innings in his other three outings against them. Cabrera is a cheap play in a good situation with a .393 OBP in his last 61 plate appearances against righty hurlers. Covey rarely had success as a starter and has a .334 wOBA allowed to lefty bats.
