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Tonight’s FantasyDraft slate has eight different games to choose from, starting at 7pm eastern. That means that the Braves-Cubs matchup will not be included.
Must Play SP: Carlos Carrasco, CLE ($24,100) at DET
The Tigers lineup is in real bad shape right now. They’ve resulted to batting Mikie Mahtook leadoff, and he’s got a 19 wRC+ this year (not a typ0). This makes Indians starter Carlos Carrasco a no-brainer to start on Monday. He’s coming off of a ridiculous performance against the Brewers where he struck out 14 in a complete game. Cookie is rocking a career-low 5.4% walk-rate so far this season, along with a 25.9% K-rate. He’s worth starting in all contests.
Honorable Mention: Patrick Corbin, ARI ($24,600) vs MIL
Value SP: Joey Lucchesi, SD ($16,100) vs COL
Lucchesi has been very impressive through the first eight starts of his career, posting a 26.7% K-rate with a 2.98 ERA and a 3.81 FIP. He’s always worth a look when he’s pitching at home in Petco Park, which is arguably the best pitcher’s park in all of baseball. He gets a fantastic matchup against the Rockies tonight, as they’re an awful lineup away from Coors Field, putting up a .295 wOBA on the road this season. They also strike out a ton against lefties – their 25.7% mark is sixth-highest in the league.
Honorable Mention: Tyler Anderson, COL ($14,500) at SD
IF C.J. Cron, TB ($7,400) at KC (LHP Eric Skoglund)
C.J. Cron is an outstanding cheap power play tonight, as he’s already got eight homers and has a terrific matchup against Skoglund. Cron is destroying left-handed pitching this season, with a .381/.435/.619 line, good for a 189 wRC+. He’s facing one of the worst pitchers on Monday’s slate in Skoglund, who has a 6.34 ERA through six starts. Cron is in a great spot batting second for the Rays, where he will get plenty of plate appearances with the opportunity for both runs and RBIs.
Honorable Mention: IF Hanley Ramirez, BOS ($7,600) vs OAK (Manaea)
OF Jorge Soler, KC ($8,200) at TB (LHP Ryan Yarbrough)
Soler is one of the hottest hitters in baseball right now, as he’s batting .356 with a 1.019 OPS in the last 15 days. If the aforementioned C.J. Cron’s numbers against lefties didn’t blow you away, Soler’s certainly will. He’s got a .390/.480/.756 line against southpaws, which gives him a bonkers wOBA of .508. He gets an easy lefty to face in Rays starter Ryan Yarbrough, whose name sounds like something a disappointed pirate would say. Yar, bro… ugh.
Honorable Mention: OF David Peralta, ARI ($7,500) vs MIL (Chacin)
Value: IF Yonder Alsonso, CLE ($6,600) at DET (RHP Mike Fiers)
Alonso is a great buy-low target tonight against Mike Fiers. Fiers has an awful 5.22 FIP this year thanks to a feeble 15.2% K-rate and an incredibly high 1.95 HR/9. That’s great news for Alonso, who already has nine homers this season. Alonso’s poor .223 batting average is partially due to some bad luck, as evidenced by his .220 BABIP, so he should start to turn things around soon. He will have the chance to knock in plenty of RBIs out of the fifth spot in the Indians order.
Honorable Mention: IF Brandon Belt, SF ($7,200) vs CIN (Romano)
Top Stack: Mariners at Twins (RHP Jake Odorizzi)
Twins starter Jake Odorizzi may not jump out at you as a starter to target on Monday, but his peripherals show that he’s someone that you want to target. Odorizzi’s got an awful high 11.2% walk-rate and 1.91 HR/9, and an atrocious 5.96 Deserved Run Average. Nelson Cruz ($7,700) is a near must-start at his price, and pairing him with Mitch Haniger ($8,300) or Jean Segura ($7,500) would likely work out well. Anybody in the M’s lineup tonight is worth a look.
Honorable Mention: Indians at Tigers (Fiers)