DraftKings MLB: Monday Picks

DraftKings MLB: Monday Picks

This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.

Pitcher

Sean Manaea, OAK vs. TOR ($7,800): It may be a bit premature to say that Manaea has arrived after his rough start to the season, but the southpaw appears to be making his case, as he currently holds a swinging strike rate greater than 14 percent, allowing just four homers over 48.1 innings. The Blue Jays are slowly getting back to full strength, but still strike out 23 percent of the time against lefties.

Junior Guerra, MIL vs. SF ($7,600): A shorter slate means fewer choices, but there is a lot to like about Guerra against the Giants, who hold the worst wOBA in the league against right-handed pitching. While it's highly unlikely that Guerra keeps an ERA below 2.00 for very long, he has notched a nearly 14 percent swinging strike rate in his three starts this season, while keeping a 2.2 RAA with his fastball.

Catcher

Tyler Flowers, ATL vs. PHI ($3,700):Nick Pivetta has been stung by same-handed hitters this season, allowing a .776 slugging percentage and a 43 percent hard contact rate over 10.2 innings. Flowers seems to have swapped power for consistency in 2017. He currently holds a .423 wOBA against right-handed pitching to go along with a 36 percent hard contact rate over 105 at-bats.

First Base

Tommy Joseph, PHI at ATL ($3,400):Bartolo Colon's fastball now sits at a stunning -16.0 RAA this season. He throws the pitch 83 percent of the time. Joseph has shown more power against lefties, but is worth a look against righties due to the .154 ISO and 36 percent hard contact rate he has sustained over 123 at-bats.

Second Base

Whit Merrifield, KC vs. HOU ($4,300):Mike Fiers has struggled mightily against righties in 2017, allowing a slugging percentage of .800 along with a 40 percent hard contact rate over 20.2 innings. Merrifield has notched a 6.7 RAA against the fastball, as well as a .180 ISO against righty pitchers.

Third Base

Ryon Healy OAK vs. TOR ($3,800): Healy has snuck under the radar in 2017, but is turning himself into a legitimate power threat, having notched a .298 ISO over 47 at-bats against lefties. Opposing starter J.A. Happ has registered a -6.1 RAA with his fastball, while Healy has kept a 5.5 RAA against the pitch.

Shortstop

Enrique Hernandez, LAD vs. WAS ($3,300): Hernandez has performed well against lefties this season, logging a .354 ISO and a 43 percent hard contact rate over 48 at-bats. Meanwhile, walks and homers have plagued Gio Gonzalez against right-handed hitters. He enters the contest sporting a 12 percent walk rate and a 1.7 HR/9 rate against his opposite hand over 52.1 innings this season.

Outfield

Matt Kemp, ATL vs. PHI ($5,300): Kemp will bring the power against Pivetta that Flowers lacks, as he has notched a .242 ISO against right-handed pitching. The 32-year-old should be able to wreak havoc against the rookie's fastball due to the 11.0 RAA he has compiled against the heater this year.

Josh Reddick, HOU at KC ($4,400):Ian Kennedy has been bitten by the home run from both sides of the platoon this season. Reddick has tallied a .192 ISO against right-handed pitchers over 151 at-bats, striking out just 12 percent of the time over that span.

Michael Taylor, WAS at LAD ($3,600): Taylor has been quietly producing against lefties in the absence of Adam Eaton, slashing .321/.345/.500 over 28 at-bats. Hyun Jin-Ryu has managed to keep a 3.91 ERA despite throwing a fastball that has produced a -11.6 RAA over 46 innings, but he has allowed a 34 percent hard contact rate against righty hitters.

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. Christopher Olson plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: DraftKings: Sommerset, FanDuel: Christop, Yahoo: Martins.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Christopher Olson
Christopher Olson writes DFS articles and blogs for a variety of sports including MLB, NFL and MMA. Follow him on Twitter @RealChrisOlson
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