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Happy Memorial Day everybody! There’s no better way to celebrate than with a full 15 games on Monday. We’ve got two slates for us on FantasyDraft – seven games on an early slate starting at 1pm eastern and an afternoon slate with nine games starting at 4pm. This article will cover both slates.
Must Play SP: Jacob deGrom, NYM ($21,400) at ATL
For a day with all 30 teams playing, there aren’t many aces on the hill. Even with a tough matchup, deGrom is my top pitcher to roll with. If there’s any bright side to his matchup, it’s that Ronald Acuna, Jr. likely isn’t playing today with an injury – also, the Braves are playing the Mets in a double-header today, so they may be sitting a few regulars in each game. deGrom has been bulletproof this year, putting up a stellar 33.3% K-rate with just a 1.89 FIP. Even in a tough ballpark, deGrom is matchup-proof, and he can anchor your staff on Monday.
Honorable Mention: Justin Verlander, HOU ($25,100) at NYY
Value SP: Marco Gonzales, SEA ($13,700) vs TEX
Gonzales has pitched much better than his ERA would suggest this year. He’s got a 3.22 FIP and a 3.48 Deserved Run Average, much because of his 16.8% K-BB. He hasn’t allowed a run in his last two starts, and he brings a ton of strikeout upside against the Rangers. Texas strikes out 26.4% of the time against left-handed pitching, which is the third-highest mark in the league. He’s an attractive target in GPP tournament contests, where his high upside and low price could be a winning combination.
Honorable Mention: Caleb Smith, MIA ($16,100) at SD
IF Eugenio Suarez, CIN ($8,200) at ARI (RHP Matt Koch)
Suarez looks to be in full breakout mode in his age 26 season this year, as he’s got a .382 wOBA and a career-low 18.4% K-rate. He has a .933 OPS with four homers in his last 15 games and already has 40 RBI this year as the Reds five-hitter. Suarez should be able to add to that total against Matt Koch, who is a major regression candidate. Koch has just a 14.3% K-rate and is rocking a 5.71 FIP. He’s particularly susceptible to home runs, giving up 1.88 per nine. Suarez should provide you with big power numbers today.
Honorable Mention: IF Rafael Devers, BOS ($7,300) vs TOR (Sanchez)
OF Juan Soto, WAS ($7,400) at BAL (RHP Alex Cobb)
Soto has impressed in his first week in the majors, posting a .971 OPS and moving up to the five spot in the Nationals order. He’s got a drool-worthy power/speed combo that makes him an attractive DFS play on any given day. Today is a particularly good matchup for Soto and the Nats against Alex Cobb in Baltimore. Camden Yards is an extremely hitter-friendly ballpark and Alex Cobb continues to get trashed every time he pitches. Cobb just gave up six earned runs to the White Sox in his last time out and now has an ERA of 7.32. Even if you’re not running an entire Nats stack, Soto is worth a play.
Honorable Mention: OF Justin Upton, LAA ($7,300) at DET (Boyd)
Value: OF David Peralta, ARI ($7,300) vs CIN (RHP Homer Bailey)
If you get multiple plate appearances against Homer Bailey, you’re probably going to have a productive game. As the Diamondbacks leadoff hitter, Peralta should have lots of chances to score against one of the worst pitchers in baseball. Bailey has a 6.21 ERA and a 2.02 HR/9. This is the perfect matchup to buy low on Peralta, in hopes that he can bust out of his slump today.
Honorable Mention: IF Yonder Alonso, CLE ($7,300) vs CWS (Covey)
Top Stack: Giants at Rockies (RHP Chad Bettis)
It’s not often that I recommend Coors Field stacks, as hitters in Coors are usually price-adjusted, and other fantasy players commonly get them in their lineups. However, I feel that the Giants hitters are cheap enough to warrant a stack tonight. Colorado is the ultimate run-scoring environment – just ask Chad Bettis, who has a 6.89 home ERA this year. Andrew McCutchen ($7,300), Buster Posey ($7,500), and Evan Longoria ($7,700) are all at insane values. Any Giants hitter is worth their price tonight.
Honorable Mention: Indians vs White Sox (Covey)