This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Monday's DFS action starts with an all-day slate at 1:05 p.m. EDT, with the Orioles heading to the Bronx to take on the Yankees for the first contest of their doubleheader. That's the only day game, and the main slate starts at the usual 7:05 p.m. EDT. The main slate has eight matchups, including the second half of the Baltimore-New York doubleheader.
Pitching
The most popular cash game pitcher will likely be the Astros' Zack Greinke ($10,800), who takes on the White Sox. There isn't another pitcher above $8,900 (Eduardo Rodriguez), but he faces an Indians team who has a .346 wOBA against lefties and only a 17.6 percent strikeout rate since July 1. Greinke has a fantastic matchup against Chicago, a team with a .293 wOBA (third lowest) and a 26.5 percent strikeout rate (the highest) against right-handed pitching.
The next-best option in cash games who's also a good GPP play is the Padres' Joey Lucchesi ($7,600). Lucchesi has a 2.17 ERA at home this season, supported by a 1.03 WHIP, while maintaining a 8.5 K/9 rate. His opponents, the Rays, have a league-average .319 wOBA against left-handed pitching, but their 26.4 percent strikeout rate to that handedness is the highest in the league. Unsurprisingly, this game has the lowest over/under (8.5 runs) of the night and the Padres are slightly favored (-128).
The cheap pitching option to consider for GPPs is the Angels' Jose Suarez ($5,700). Suarez's ceiling is limited (no games above 26 fantasy points), but in his 10 starts, he's hit 23 or more fantasy points six times. To put that in perspective, if he hits 25 fantasy points, Greinke would have to hit 47 fantasy points to be the same value.
Plus, Suarez is the best answer if looking to fit a stack of Coors Field hitters into your lineup.
Key Values/Chalk
If you can afford the Rockies' Charlie Blackmon ($4,700), go ahead and use him for sure. However, pairing him with Greinke leaves only $2,786 per player for the rest of the team. A more economical player is teammate Raimel Tapia ($3,100), who leaves $3,025 per player for the rest of the lineup. Tapia has his best splits at home against right-handed pitchers sporting a .382 wOBA. Of course, both can be used with Greinke, and $2,733 would be left per player for the rest of the squad.
I'll once again preach to spend up at shortstop, so the Nationals' Trea Turner ($3,500) should be on the radar. He's priced down a little from his usual $4,000 mark and has a good home matchup against Cincinnati right-hander Anthony DeSclafani. Turner's best split is at home against right-handed pitching (.382 wOBA).
The Pirates' Jose Osuna ($2,600) is a great value considering the price and the matchup with Suarez. While Suarez was written up as a GPP play, there's no reason to fade the hitters going against him for cash games. In a limited sample, Osuna has a .431 wOBA against lefties and should be hitting in the middle of the order, a good RBI spot.
The Rockies' Ryan McMahon ($3,200) is another left-handed bat in Coors facing Arizona right-hander Merrill Kelly. Kelly has struggled much more on the road (5.21 ERA) than at home (3.84 ERA), although his .321 wOBA to left-handed hitters isn't terrible. McMahon's best split is at home against right-handed pitchers, in which he has a .368 wOBA.
Switching gears and getting away from the Colorado game, the Blue Jays' Justin Smoak ($2,700) is at a reasonable price at home facing Texas' Ariel Jurado. Smoak has a .357 wOBA at home against righties this season while Jurado brings a 4.74 ERA to this contest. Fading the Colorado game (or using only one or two batters) could be the contrarian play to take down a big GPP.
Stacks
Nationals vs. Reds (Anthony DeSclafani)
Trea Turner (SS - $3,500), Matt Adams (C/1B - $2,800), Juan Soto (OF - $4,100), Adam Eaton (OF - $3,000)
The Rockies/Diamondbacks clash will be the most popular one to target for stacks, so let's look at the Nationals to think outside the box. DeSclafani has his worst split on the road against lefties, allowing a .410 wOBA. Outside of Turner, the other three are the main left-handed bats for the Nationals. Check on the status of Soto before using him; he left Sunday's game with an ankle injury.
Reds at Nationals (Erick Fedde)
Joey Votto (C/1B - $3,400), Jesse Winker (OF - $3,000), Josh VanMeter (OF - $2,600), Eugenio Suarez (3B - $4,100)
Too bad Derek Dietrich is on the injured list; he'd be a consideration with his .375 wOBA against right-handed pitching, However, these Reds' bats have also done well against right-handed pitching. Erick Fedde has been less than consistent as a starting pitcher and is a prime target in this sneaky road stack.
