This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
After a few heavily segmented days, DraftKings is back Monday with a 10-game main slate, which begins at 7:05 PM ET. The caliber of pitching takes a steep dip after the top three names, which should encourage players to choose between one of those hurlers when putting together a lineup.
For those interested, we've started an MLB DFS Slack channel for paid RotoWire subscribers. (There is a season-long one as well.) To join those channels, e-mail support@rotowire.com.
Pitcher
Noah Syndergaard, NYM at MIA ($12,300): Syndergaard's 5.40 ERA through his first two starts of the season may make some players shy away, but it is worth noting that he has notched a 17:2 K/BB ratio in 10 innings over that span. The Marlins seem like the perfect matchup for Thor to right the ship, as they lead the league in ground ball percentage and carry a bottom-5 RAA against the slider, a pitch Syndergaard has thrown nearly 28 percent of the time to begin the year.
GPP Fade: Miles Mikolas, STL vs. MIL ($7,300): There was a certain amount of buzz around Mikolas to open 2018 after his three fantastic seasons with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan, but the 29-year-old has never been much of a strikeout pitcher and was tagged for three homers in his first start of the year. While it is premature to say that Mikolas won't cut it as a Major League starter, it's difficult to see much upside here, even at a reduced price.
Cheap GPP Consideration: Jon Gray, COL vs. SD ($7,900): Some may bristle at the idea of taking a starter in Colorado, but Gray was downright dominant at Coors Field last season, pitching to a 3.13 ERA and allowing just four homers in 46 innings. Gray tallied seven strikeouts through seven scoreless innings when he met the Padres in San Diego last week and should have an opportunity to post similar results, as the Friars have opened the year as a bottom-10 team against right-handed pitching according to wOBA.
Catcher
Caleb Joseph, BAL vs. TOR ($2,800): Joseph boasted strong numbers against left-handed pitching in a small sample last year, notching a .226 ISO and 39.5 percent hard contact rate over 62 at-bats. His penchant for striking out is a cause for concern, but he remains a decent value play against J.A. Happ, who allowed 15 homers to righties over 115 innings in 2017.
First Base
Ryan Braun, MIL at STL ($4,300): Braun swung the bat better against left-handers last season but still showed good power against righties, as evidenced by his .208 ISO over 289 at-bats. We spoke about Mikolas' lack of strikeout prowess above, which should serve Braun well, as he has opened the year by fanning 12 times in his first 32 at-bats.
Second Base
Scooter Gennett, CIN at PHI ($3,200): Gennett appears to be something of a kept secret in DFS, as he finished 2017 with a .261 ISO and a .388 wOBA against right-handed pitchers over 352 at-bats. Opposing starter Ben Lively struck out just 19 lefty hitters while allowing a .512 slugging percentage over 43.1 innings last year.
Third Base
Maikel Franco, PHI vs. CIN ($4,000): Franco appears to have joined the fly-ball brigade to begin 2018, as he has notched a 65 percent rate over his first seven games. This has contributed to a blistering .391 ISO over that span. While small sample caveats apply, we know that an increase in lift generally means an increase in power, and Reds starter Cody Reed has allowed a .580 slugging percentage to right-handed hitters in 49.2 career innings.
Shortstop
Trevor Story, COL vs. SD ($4,400): I generally wouldn't advise paying this much for a shortstop, but Story notched a superb .353 ISO in 133 at-bats against lefties in 2017 while opposing starter Clayton Richard allowed a .527 slugging percentage to his opposite hand. Story's tendency to strike out remains an issue, but that problem should be mitigated in the matchup with Richard, who fanned just 89 right-handed hitters in 145.2 innings last year.
Outfield
Dexter Fowler, STL vs. MIL ($3,100): Fowler's struggles to begin the season may make him the most interesting value play on the slate against Jhoulys Chacin, whose low strikeout and high walk totals contributed to a 5.55 xFIP against lefty hitters in 2017. Fowler notched a .243 ISO against righties over 313 at-bats last season and should be able to do damage against Chacin, who allowed six runs (three earned) against the Cardinals in 5.2 innings last week.
Jay Bruce, NYM at MIA ($3,600):Jose Urena bounced back against the Red Sox after a rough start to 2018 but should still be vulnerable to left-handed hitting, as he kept a 1.3 HR/9 rate with just an 11 percent strikeout rate against the platoon in 2017. Bruce has continued his righty-mashing ways to begin the year, tallying a .250 ISO in 24 at-bats.
Marwin Gonzalez, HOU at MIN ($3,900): Opposing starter Lance Lynn kept a 1.8 HR/9 rate against lefty batters last season while notching a 58:53 K/BB ratio over 85 innings. Meanwhile, Gonzalez tallied a .230 ISO and a 10 percent walk rate against right-handed pitching.
