FanDuel MLB: Monday Value Plays

FanDuel MLB: Monday Value Plays

This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.

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PITCHER

Gio Gonzalez, WAS vs SD ($8,800): Gio is still the same pitcher he's always been, a guy who's going to nibble at the corners and walk at least a couple of batter per game but generally limit the damage while racking up some strikeouts in the process. While the Padres are better against left-handed pitching than righties in most categories, they still own the ninth-lowest wOBA (.304) and the sixth-highest strikeout rate (25.7 percent) against that handedness. Both of those numbers get worse on the road (wOBA .266, strikeout rate 29.0 percent) making this an ideal matchup for Gio, who hasn't given up more than three runs in any start this season.

GPP Fade: Nick Pivetta, PHI vs ATL ($7,600): Some may jump on the bandwagon here after Pivetta has put up 18 strikeouts in his last two starts (12 innings). He won't have as easy of a time against the Braves tonight, and this being the fourth time he's faced them in this short season, it's a situation conventional wisdom says will favor the offense. The Braves have the sixth-best wOBA (.323) against righties while striking out at the sixth-lowest rate (20.1 percent) in the league.

Cheap GPP Consideration: Chase Anderson, MIL vs ARI ($6,100): Anderson (illness) is coming off the DL and his latest outings could be the reason behind his low price. However, he still is averaging 25 fantasy points per start and his ERA is under 4.00. Last season, Anderson had a 2.51 ERA at home (.283 wOBA against) with a 22.2 percent strikeout rate. The Diamondbacks have the second-worst wOBA against right-handed pitching (.283) while strikeout out at the third-highest rate (26.3 percent). Plus Arizona will be without one of their best hitters in A.J. Pollock.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

Tyler Austin, NYY at TEX ($3,300): Austin comes in swinging a hot bat, and a Yankees stack is in play tonight in Arlington against Bartolo Colon. Austin has homered three times in his last three games and has a .382 wOBA this season. Colon's 2.52 ERA suggests he's pitched well but his 4.48 FIP says he's been very lucky. It's tough to see Bartolo dominating this offense.

SECOND BASE

Jonathan Schoop, BAL at CWS ($3,200): Many of the Orioles are in play tonight against lefty Hector Santiago, but only Schoop will be hitting cleanup. Schoop had a .397 wOBA last season against southpaws, and that's carried over into this season as evidenced by his .346 mark. Santiago has struggled with an ERA north of 5.00 the past three seasons and has allowed right-handed batters a .323 wOBA over his career.

THIRD BASE

Brian Anderson, MIA at NYM ($3,000): Jason Vargas has been a gas can since joining the Mets with a 13.86 ERA over three starts (five home runs in 12.1 innings). Anderson has the righty-vs-lefty advantage tonight and has a lofty .412 wOBA against that handedness this season. His 21 RBI shows the ability to drive in runners when given the opportunity, and he usually hits in the middle of the lineup against lefties.

SHORTSTOP

Jedd Gyorko, STL vs KC ($2,700): The injury to Paul DeJong should give Gyorko everyday playing time, which should help him get into a groove. He's done a good job with the bat this season, hitting .290 with four home runs, and at home the last two seasons he has wOBAs of .336 and .340 against right-handed pitching. Tonight's opponent, Ian Kennedy, has allowed a .346 wOBA on the road to right-handed hitters since joining the Royals in 2016.

OUTFIELD

Michael Taylor, WAS vs SD ($2,400): Taylor, along with teammates Anthony Rendon, Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman (DL), typically do pretty well against left-handed pitchers. The difference is that Taylor is much cheaper than the other available options. Taylor had a .356 wOBA against lefties last season, and his .286 ISO this season shows his power potential.

Jay Bruce, NYM vs MIA ($2,900): A few of the lefty Mets are in play tonight, including Michael Conforto ($3,400) and Brandon Nimmo ($3,100). Bruce is the cheapest of the trio and has a longer track record of success against right-handed pitchers with a career .348 wOBA. Elieser Hernandez, a Rule 5 pick out of the Astros' system, has logged only eight innings so far with the Marlins.

UTILITY

Cody Bellinger, LAD vs COL ($3,800): Bellinger had a .395 wOBA last season at home against right-handed pitching and gets German Marquez in Chavez Ravine tonight. Marquez has given up a .337 wOBA to left-handed hitters away from Coors for his career, and his 19.7 percent strikeout rate is below league average.

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Kevin Payne plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: Fanduel: kevinccp, Draft Kings: kevinccp, Yahoo: kevinccp.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kevin Payne
Kevin has worked for RotoWire over a decade and has covered basketball, baseball and football. A glutton for punishment, he roots for his hometown Bills, Sabres and the New York Yankees. You can follow him on Twitter @KCPayne26.
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