It won't be the busiest of days in the majors Monday with only six games on the schedule. Five of them will make up the main evening slate on Yahoo, so we don't have as many options to pick from as usual. Keeping that in mind, here are some players to target based on their favorable matchups.
Pitching Overview
By far the most expensive pitching option is Mike Minor ($48). He's having a great season with a 2.40 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP, although his FIP isn't quite as exciting at 3.72. The key with him has been his consistency since he's allowed three runs or fewer in 12 straight starts. While the Angels might seem like a tough foe, he's held them to one run while recording 12 strikeouts across 15 innings this season. Expect him to be a popular option.
The next player on the price scale is Logan Allen ($39), which says a lot about the limited pitching options. He has been impressive in his first two starts, allowing two runs while recording 10 strikeouts across 13 innings. He certainly has a favorable matchup here against the Giants, who have scored the third-fewest runs (326) in baseball. Don't be surprised if he's included in even more lineups than Minor based on his opponent and cheaper price tag.
If you want to try and differentiate yourself in tournament play, Adbert Alzolay ($28) is at least worth considering against the Pirates. He hasn't pitched at least five innings in either of his first two outings, but he allowed only two total runs over 8.2 innings to go along with nine strikeouts. One of the more exciting prospects in the Cubs system, he had a 36.5 percent strikeout rate at Triple-A before being recalled.
Key Values/Chalk
The Rangers are always a dangerous lineup when they play at home, so they could be popular for this limited slate. With left-hander Jose Suarez on the mound for the Angels, rolling with some of the Rangers right-handed hitters could be key. Elvis Andrus ($17) is certainly the best of that bunch and he's red-hot after hitting 17-for-46 (.370) with a home run and a double over his last 11 games.
It's shaping up to be a bullpen day for the Brewers with Adrian Houser set to start. He did throw a season-high 64 pitches in his last outing against the Mariners, but he lasted only two innings and gave up three runs. That brings the Reds into play, who have a much tougher lineup now that Scooter Gennett ($13) is back. Joey Votto ($19) is also hitting much better of late, going 14-for-40 (.350) with two home runs and three doubles over his last 11 games.
Stacks
Brewers vs. Tyler Mahle (Reds)
Christian Yelich (OF - $27), Mike Moustakas (3B - $22), Eric Thames (1B- $17)
The Brewers have some dangerous left-handed bats. That could be Mahle's downfall considering he has allowed a .399 wOBA against lefties in his career. Yelich and Moustakas obviously both carry tremendous upside, especially when you also factor in that Mahle has allowed 1.6 HR/9 for his career. Thames is also a great option at a more reasonable price who has started to come alive by hitting 9-for-22 with two home runs and three doubles in his last nine games.
Rays vs. Tom Eshelman (Orioles)
Austin Meadows (OF - $13), Brandon Lowe (2B - $17), Kevin Kiermaier (OF - $16)
With the expectation that Eshelman will be called up from Triple-A to start, the Rays are in a position to thrive offensively. He struggled for the Phillies at Triple-A last year, posting a 4.80 FIP and a 1.67 WHIP to go along with a 16.2 percent strikeout rate. Meadows has cooled off considerably, but this might be just the matchup that he needs to get back on track. He's certainly attractive at such a reduced price. The same can be said for Lowe, who has gone 11 straight games without a home run.
Padres vs. Jeff Samardzija (Giants)
Manny Machado (3B - $22), Fernando Tatis Jr. (SS - $26), Eric Hosmer (1B - $18)
Samardzija is having another subpar campaign with a 4.52 ERA and a 4.73 FIP. He's also allowed 1.5 HR/9, which is troublesome when you factor in how hot Machado and Tatis are right now. Machado has 10 homers across his last 15 games while Tatis has gone deep in three of his last five contests. Hosmer is on quite the heater of his own, hitting 18-for-45 (.400) with three home runs and two doubles over his last 10 games.
