This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
Monday's night slate can be exploited as both of the top aces (Clayton Kershaw and Gerrit Cole) have been in a bit of a funk. I chose to go with the arm just below them combined with a value pitcher with both in good positions against beatable lineups. Throw in some mid-range bats and a power hitter and it's a balanced squad.
PITCHER
Aaron Nola, PHI at NYM ($52): Nola makes the most sense of the high-end pitchers with a nice matchup and at least 32 fantasy points in his last two starts and three of his last five. He hasn't faced the Mets since early May and that could come in useful because New York has fallen further in the last month with a 23.8 K% and .301 wOBA against righties.
Chase Anderson, MIL at MIA ($39): Anderson's been a solid mid-range play for the last month with at lest 23 fantasy points in four of his last five starts. He's consistent at hitting six innings and five strikeouts and that's enough to make value at his price. The Marlins have picked up their bats in the last month, but a 21.3 K%, .163 ISO and .326 wOBA against righties are all middle of the pack.
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CATCHER
Wilson Ramos, TB vs. DET ($16): This pushes the limit on what I usually spend on catcher, but Ramos fits the bill for production. He has nine extra-base hits (4 HR) in 81 at-bats against southpaws to go with a .339 BABIP. Francisco Liriano hasn't won a game since April and has at least three walks in his last seven starts to go with a 5.26 xFIP against righties, which wasn't better a year ago at 5.54.
FIRST BASE
Brandon Belt, SF vs. CHC ($16): Belt's price is down a few bucks, but he's still producing, especially against righties with a .355 BABIP and .261 ISO. Those are worthwhile numbers against Kyle Hendricks, who has given up at least three runs in his last four starts and has a 1.90 HR/9 and 4.68 xFIP against lefties.
SECOND BASE
Daniel Robertson, TB vs. DET ($14): Robertson's best trait against lefties is his power with eight extra-base hits (3 HR) in 66 at-bats. That could come into play against Liriano, who has allowed nine homers and a .343 wOBA to righty bats.
THIRD BASE
Jose Ramirez, CLE vs. CIN ($25): If you have money to burn, Ramirez is a good place to go with double-digit fantasy points in five of his last eight games to go with a .342 ISO and .433 wOBA against righty arms. There's little reason to trust Anthony DeSclafani against the Indians with nine runs allowed in his last two starts, rounding out his 5.08 ERA.
SHORTSTOP
Scott Kingery, PHI at NYM ($12): This is more of a value play because money has to be saved somewhere and Kingery has gotten contact on righties with a .314 BABIP. That number isn't great, but it's worth a try against Corey Oswalt, who hasn't made it five innings in his three starts and has 10 earned runs and only seven strikeouts.
OUTFIELD
Marwin Gonzalez, HOU vs. OAK ($13): The Astros will be a popular play in this spot because Frankie Montas hasn't pitched well and gave up 11 hits and five runs to Houston less than a month ago. Gonzalez managed a triple and walk in that game and is often a good place to go for cheap power with all six of his homers against righties after a .230 ISO in 2017.
Robbie Grossman, MIN vs. KC ($11): Someone has to be used against Danny Duffy and Grossman gets the call at a great price. He's sporting a .327 BABIP against southpaws this season and his career .332 wOBA is good enough in the right matchup. Duffy is extremely hit-or-miss, but a 5.19 ERA stands out and his 1.95 HR/9 and 5.48 xFIP against righty bats is a problem.
Michael A. Taylor, WAS at PIT ($11): Taylor is a good place to go for cheap that can get on base against any kind of pitcher. He has a .328 BABIP against righties, which is near average, but should come in handy against Ivan Nova, who just gave up nine hits and seven runs in his last outing. Nova has been all over the place and a .320 wOBA allowed to righties doesn't help.
