This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
Although games are spread out throughout the day Monday, all 14 ]will make up the main slate on Yahoo. That leaves us with a bevy of options from which to choose, so let's dive in and highlight some players and stacks to consider.
Pitching
The most expensive pitcher is Max Scherzer ($62), and rightfully so. His 3.41 ERA might be high for his standards, but he has a 2.88 xFIP and has been extremely unlucky with opponents recording a .356 BABIP against him. He's still a strikeout machine with his 32.4 percent strikeout rate and will be facing a Marlins team that has the lowest OPS (.615) in baseball, leaving him with tremendous upside.
Another big name with a favorable matchup is Clayton Kershaw ($52) against the Mets. He's brushed off injury concerns to record a 3.20 xFIP and a 0.98 WHIP. His control has been impeccable with him walking one or no batters in six of his seven starts. With Robinson Cano (quadriceps), Jeff McNeil (hamstring) and Brandon Nimmo (neck) all on the injured list, the Mets have a depleted lineup to exploit.
The Reds and Pirates will be playing a doubleheader with Sonny Gray ($34) expected to start in the nightcap. His record stinks at 1-4, but that's been mostly due to a lack of support from his teammates. He's actually pitched well with a 3.38 xFIP and a 1.22 WHIP. He even has a 27.4 percent strikeout rate that is more than 6 percentage points higher than his career mark. At this price, he could be worth a chance.
Key Values/Chalk
The Red Sox should be a popular stack against Jefry Rodriguez and the Indians. Rodriguez has been thrust into the starting rotation due to injuries and has not fared well with a 4.08 ERA and 4.96 xFIP. He's certainly not an overpowering force based on his 15.2 percent strikeout rate, so don't be surprised if the Red Sox hang a crooked number in this contest.
The Diamondbacks will clash with the inconsistent Jon Gray at Coors Field, so they could be in line for a big night. Gray has already allowed 11 home runs across 60.1 innings and hasn't done a great job of keeping runners off base with his 1.34 WHIP. The Diamondbacks are certainly coming into this game hot after scoring 34 runs during their three-game sweep of the Giants over the weekend.
With Ivan Nova starting for the White Sox, the Royals become an interesting play. Nova has a staggering 1.77 WHIP and has allowed 11 home runs through 54.1 innings. He's never been much of a strikeout pitcher, but he's been especially poor in that department this season with a 14.1 percent punchout rate.
Stacks
Red Sox vs. Rodriguez (Indians)
Mookie Betts (OF - $24), Rafael Devers (3B - $24), Mitch Moreland (1B - $16)
Betts' numbers have declined considerably this season, especially in the power department, where his ISO is 103 points lower than last year. However, he's still an excellent option with his .377 wOBA. He's also 15-for-52 (.333) with a home run and four doubles over his last 11 games. Devers is in the midst of a breakout campaign with his .381 wOBA and has hit four home runs over his last six games. Moreland isn't as expensive as Betts and Devers, but he still carries plenty of upside with his .322 ISO.
Diamondbacks vs. Gray (Rockies)
Eduardo Escobar (3B - $27), Ketel Marte (OF - $21), Jarrod Dyson (OF - $15)
Escobar and Marte come into this game swinging hot bats with Marte even homering in three straight contests. Gray has followed up his .354 wOBA allowed to left-hand hitters last year with a .356 wOBA against them this season, which also brings Dyson into the discussion. He's turned out to be a valuable contributor for the Diamondbacks, especially on the base paths with his 12 steals.
Royals at Nova (White Sox)
Alex Gordon (OF - $21), Nicky Lopez (2B - $18), Ryan O'Hearn (1B - $13)
Nova has allowed a wOBA of at least .353 to left-handed hitters in four straight seasons and has been even worse this year with a .423 wOBA against them. That makes this an intriguing trio who won't destroy your budget. Lopez has recorded at least one hit in eight of 11 games since being called up from the minors while Gordon is one of the better hitters in the Royals lineup. O'Hearn's .210 BABIP is partially to blame for his .182 average, but he is at least a viable power threat.
Tigers at Gabriel Ynoa (Orioles)
Miguel Cabrera (1B - $15), Nicholas Castellanos (OF - $15), JaCoby Jones (OF - $14)
The Orioles have removed Dan Straily from the starting rotation, opening up a spot for Ynoa. He has a 1.59 WHIP in nine relief appearances, so the Tigers are a stack that might still be worth pursuing despite their lackluster offensive numbers. Castellanos is their most dangerous hitter, so he's hard to resist. Cabrera hasn't hit for much power, but he's 11-for-27 (.407) with seven walks across his last nine games. Jones is another hot hitter to consider after he went 12-for-36 (.333) with three home runs over his last 11 games.
