This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
Monday's eight-game evening slate on Yahoo is really lacking quality pitching options. With a lot of bad starters set to take the mound, there is the potential for plenty of scoring throughout the league. Let's break down the matchups and discuss some of the better players to target for your entry.
Pitching Overview
The chalk pitcher of the night figures to be Zack Greinke ($53) against the White Sox. His first start as a member of the Astros didn't go well with him allowing five runs across six innings against the Rockies. However, he still has an excellent 3.29 FIP and a 0.97 WHIP, so he's been one of the more reliable starting options all season. It also helps his cause that the White Sox have scored the third-fewest runs in baseball.
There really isn't a lot to get excited about after Greinke. Joey Lucchesi ($35) could be a viable secondary target for his matchup with the Rays. While his stats don't jump off the page, he's posted a respectable 4.19 ERA and an even better 3.95 FIP. However, it is concerning that his strikeout rate has dropped from 26.5 percent last year to 23.4 percent this season. The good news is that his WHIP has dropped to 1.18 and he's only allowed 1.2 HR/9. While not an ideal matchup, Lucchesi has a chance to provide a quality start.
If you're looking for a dart throw in tournament play, Zach Plesac ($32) likely won't be included in a lot of lineups for his start against the Red Sox. However, the Red Sox haven't been quite as potent on the road, recording a 104 wRC+ there compared to a 114 wRC+ at Fenway Park. When Plesac faced them earlier this season, he allowed only one run over 5.1 innings. He's pitched well, in general, of late, allowing two earned runs or fewer in five of his last six games.
Key Values/Chalk
The Rockies figure to be one of chalk stacks of the night at home against Merrill Kelly. They've already hit him hard this season, scoring 10 runs (nine earned) over 12.2 innings. It's also not a good sign for Kelly that he recently allowed 14 runs over a two-game stretch against two bad lineups in the Orioles and Marlins. This is a prime opportunity to deploy the likes of Charlie Blackmon ($20), Daniel Murphy ($17) and Ryan McMahon ($17).
The Angels have been a more potent team in their home park, recording a 112 wRC+ there compared to a 97 wRC+ on the road. That could spell trouble for Mitch Keller, who has allowed 16 runs (14 earned) across 12 innings in his only three appearances in the majors this season. While he hasn't given up a ton of home runs, his 2.25 WHIP isn't helping his cause. Expect to see a lot of Mike Trout ($28) across contests while Shohei Ohtani ($20) is also worth considering.
Staying in that same game, the Pirates have a chance to score in bunches themselves against Jose Suarez. He was shelled in his last start against the Reds, bringing his FIP up to 6.58 for the season. His problem has been with the long ball, giving up 14 of them over 46.1 innings. Josh Bell ($15) is someone to build a Pirates stack around while Bryan Reynolds ($20) and Jose Osuna ($17) are also worth targeting. Osuna has started to heat up lately and has a .364 wOBA against left-handed pitchers.
Stacks
Diamondbacks vs. Peter Lambert (Rockies)
Ketel Marte (OF - $25), Christian Walker (1B - $21), David Peralta (OF - $16)
Lambert hasn't been able to help stabilize the Rockies' rotation, posting a 5.78 FIP and a 1.58 WHIP across 11 starts. He's allowed 2.1 HR/9, which isn't going to help his cause any for this game at Coors Field. Marte continues to thrive for the Diamondbacks and is now hitting 13-for-34 (.382) with a home run and two triples during his current eight-game hitting streak. Walker carries plenty of power upside into this matchup having already gone deep 20 times this season.
Yankees vs. TBD (Orioles)
Gio Urshela (3B - $25), Mike Tauchman (OF - $27), Brett Gardner (OF - $18)
After destroying the Orioles' pitching staff last week at Camden Yards, the Yankees will look to continue to produce against them at Yankee Stadium. This will be the nightcap of their doubleheader and the Orioles have yet to announce who will start as of Monday morning. Regardless of who they decide to deploy, this is a great spot to stack the Yankees. Urshela and Tauchman have been key injury fill-ins while Gardner has heated up by hitting 13-for-31 (.419) with two home runs and five doubles over his last nine games.
Astros vs. Dylan Cease (White Sox)
Yordan Alvarez (OF - $27), Alex Bregman (3B - $25), Jose Altuve (2B - $27)
The Astros were able to beat up on the Orioles' pitching staff over the weekend and will look to keep things rolling against Cease, who has struggled to the tune of a 5.03 FIP during his first taste of action in the majors. He showed control issues in the minors with a 10.5 percent walk rate and has posted a nearly identical mark in the majors. Alvarez is the big power threat here while Bregman is sporting a career-high .273 ISO. Altuve is arguably one of the hottest hitters in the league, hitting 43-for-106 (.406) with a 1.216 OPS over his last 25 games.
