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What’s up everybody! FantasyDraft has two slates for us on this Monday, an early and a late. Almost every team in baseball is playing today, which is rare for a Monday, so let’s take advantage and make some lineups!
Must Play SP: Charlie Morton, HOU ($21,400) vs BAL
Charlie Morton is the most expensive pitcher on either slate today, and it’s for good reason. Morton stands head and shoulders above the rest of today’s starting pitchers, and it’s not just because he’s 6’5″. Morton posted a 3.46 Deserved Run Average in 2017, along with a 26.4% K-rate. Only on a team with an absurd pitching staff like the Astros can he be considered a “five starter.” He’s facing an Orioles lineup that has been absolutely ice cold – they got shredded by Jose Berrios yesterday after nearly getting no-hit on Saturday. They’re simply not a threat when they’re away from Oriole Park, as they posted just a .304 road wOBA in 2017. The Astros should easily provide Morton with enough run support for a win against Chris Tillman, and Morton should rack up plenty of K’s against a lineup that struck out 22.7% of the time against righties last year. Start with confidence.
Honorable Mention: Jordan Montgomery, NYY ($18,000) vs TB
Value SP: Bryan Mitchell, SD ($10,900) vs COL
Bryan Mitchell completely sucked last year in his 20 relief appearances with the Yankees, but his triple-A numbers provide a silver lining. He posted a 2.18 FIP in the minors in 2017 as a starter and has the potential to be a decent major league starter. Don’t expect a huge strikeout rate, but Mitchell can give you some solid innings on Monday for cheap. He’s got an easy matchup in the Rockies, who suck away from Coors Field (.302 road wOBA in 2017,) and Petco Park is arguably the best ballpark in baseball for pitchers. Mitchell is risky, but could pay off nicely. I recommend him primarily for GPP formats.
Honorable Mention: Andrew Triggs, OAK ($15,300) vs TEX
IF/OF Kyle Schwarber, CHC ($8,000) @ CIN (RHP Tyler Mahle)
Skinny Schwarber is here, and he’s raking. The (slightly less) big boy has two homers and a 1.242 OPS through his first four games this year, even though he’s still awful in the field. Luckily, this is just fantasy, and we don’t care about that (unless you’re a Jon Lester owner). Reds starter Tyler Mahle is a somewhat promising 23-year-old, but odds are he isn’t ready to take down a loaded Cubs lineup in his fifth career major league start. Schwarber has the opportunity to rack up lots of runs and RBI from the five-hole. Great American Ballpark has the second highest home run factor in all of baseball for left-handed batters, so if Schwarber gets a hold of one, you can kiss it goodbye.
Honorable Mention: IF Josh Donaldson, TOR ($8,300) vs CHW (Lopez)
OF J.D. Martinez, LAD ($8,000) at MIA (RHP Trevor Richards)
Believe it or not, Trevor Richards is a real Major League pitcher, and not a random name generated by MLB The Show. Then again, does pitching for the Marlins really count as pitching in the majors? Richards has never made a start above double-A, despite nearly being 25. I’d be surprised if he doesn’t crap his pants before he has to face J.D. Martinez. J Dilla is one of the league’s most elite hitters – he put up a 166 wRC+ last year! – and yet he’s still somehow only priced at $8,000. Get him in every lineup you can.
Honorable Mention: OF Yasiel Puig, LAD ($8,500) at ARI (Walker)
Value: IF Matt Carpenter, STL ($6,500) at MIL (RHP Zach Davies)
Marp was spectacular against right-handed pitching last year, posting a nasty .253/.395/.487 line, good for a .378 wOBA. Zach Davies, meanwhile, struggled against lefties, with a 4.78 FIP against them. Miller Park is one of the most batter-friendly parks in baseball, especially for lefties. Carpenter is a great play in cash formats for his high floor, but you can roll him out in any contest, as he’s an absolute steal at this price.
Honorable Mention: IF Neil Walker, NYY ($6,700) vs TB (Austin Pruitt)
Top Stack: Astros vs Baltimore (RHP Chris Tillman)
If you’re rolling with Charlie Morton, you might as well go all in and take an Astros stack. Carlos Correa ($9,400) George Springer ($9,900) and Jose Altuve ($9,500) are all elite plays on Monday, and if you can get one or two of them in your lineups, you’re in a great spot. Evan Gattis ($7,700) and Josh Reddick ($6,400) are cheaper bats to pair them with, as they will also reap the benefits of facing Chris Tillman. Houston is a great hitting environment, and Tillman posted an absurd 2.32 HR/9 last year. Start any and every Astro that you can.
Honorable Mentions: Yankees vs Tampa Bay (Austin Pruitt); Cubs at Cincinnati (Tyler Mahle)