Yahoo DFS Baseball: Monday Picks

Yahoo DFS Baseball: Monday Picks

This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.

PITCHER

Ervin Santana, MIN vs. MIL ($42): Jake Arrieta ($49) is the safe play, but Santana provides a bit more upside, albeit with a wider range of outcome. Santana is coming off a dominant nine-strikeout complete game against the Padres and would be a solid play if he can do half that well against the Brewers. I like Santana because Milwaukee is struggling at the plate with the worst K rate (28.4 percent) against righties in MLB since the All-Star break, along with a .295 wOBA.

Jordan Zimmermann, DET at PIT ($31): I may be testing my luck with another shaky play, but Zimmermann was great in his last start, not allowing a run in seven innings. In fact, he's reached 6.2 innings in three of his last four starts. I'll take him at this price against the Pirates, who have been far from consistent against righties with a .296 wOBA since the beginning of July.

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CATCHER

Willson Contreras, CHC at SF ($23): I'm going big at catcher as I have little confidence in the other options. Contreras has roped lefties this season with a .405 wOBA and that goes up to .547 with a .440 ISO in his last 32 at-bats. Matt Moore is better against righties, but still has a 4.98 xFIP.

FIRST BASE

Wil Myers, SD at CIN ($15): I want to get at least two Padres in my lineup with Tim Adleman returning to the mound due to Robert Stephenson's injury. Adleman was already demoted after allowing 11 runs in his last two starts. Myers isn't overwhelming against righties but still has some power with a .329 wOBA and .219 ISO. Adleman has better numbers against righties, yet still is allowing a .346 wOBA.

SECOND BASE

Wilmer Difo, WAS vs. MIA ($12): Most of Difo's success comes against lefties so he's a reasonable cheap play here. He has a .387 wOBA for the season and that number jumps to .522 with a .270 ISO in his last 25 at-bats. I backed some Nationals the last time Chris O'Grady pitched (Aug. 1) and their offense responded with six runs. O'Grady is bad against righties with a .425 wOBA allowed and 5.69 xFIP. Of note, there is some rain expected in D.C. on Monday so if this game gets called, I'd look at Cory Spangenberg ($17) or Ian Happ ($12) instead.

THIRD BASE

Kris Bryant, CHC at SF ($21): Bryant is another Cub I'll take against Moore, who has given up seven runs and seven walks in his last two starts. Bryant has slightly better numbers against lefties this season with a .411 wOBA and .262 ISO.

SHORTSTOP

Carlos Asuaje, SD at CIN ($13): Asuaje is the lefty I'll throw at Adleman, and he can only hit righties so it works out. Asuaje has a .375 wOBA against them with that number at .385 since the start of July. Adleman is even worse against lefties with a 6.01 xFIP and K rate that's 10 points lower at 15.4 percent.

OUTFIELD

Mikie Mahtook, DET at PIT ($13): Mahtook has quietly been a stud for the Tigers since J.D. Martinez's departure and he's worth a shot against Trevor Williams. Mahtook has an impressive .396 wOBA against righties in his last 77 at-bats. As for Williams, he's cruising with three runs allowed in his last two outings, yet doesn't strike out many with a 19.8 percent K rate against righties and an even lower mark against lefties (13.7 percent).

Ben Revere, LAA vs. BAL ($10): The price for Revere doesn't make sense with him coming into play riding an 11-game hitting streak. In his last 58 at-bats against righties, he has a .383 wOBA and while his ISO is minimal, I'll take him for pennies. Adding to that, Dylan Bundy struggles against lefties with a 6.11 xFIP and 12.8 percent K rate.

Howie Kendrick, WAS vs. MIA ($14): I had Robbie Grossman ($12) here initially but couldn't pass up Kendrick, who crushed O'Grady last week, hitting a homer and finishing with five hits. O'Grady struggles against righties and Kendrick has a .443 wOBA and .209 ISO in 50 plate appearances against lefties this season. Again, if weather is an issue in D.C., Grossman gets the call.

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. Adam Zdroik plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: zdroik, DraftKings: rotozdroik, Yahoo: StreakMaster.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Adam Zdroik
Adam, a 2019, 2018 and 2017 Finalist for FSWA's Soccer Writer of the Year, is RotoWire's soccer editor. He also runs RotoWire's Bracketology, as well as writes on other various college basketball content. He has previously worked at ESPN and Sporting Kansas City, and he is a former Streak for the Cash winner and Michigan State graduate.
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