This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
Monday's DFS actually kicks off at 3:10 p.m. EDT with the Blue Jays visiting the Rays. There's an early-only slate that begins at that time and the only other game offered on it is the Marlins at the Nationals. The main slate begins at 7:10 p.m. EDT and features only seven games.
Pitchers
Trevor Bauer, CIN at MIL ($12,000): While it feels like grabbing the low-hanging fruit suggesting the pitcher with the highest salary, there are a few reasons why Bauer is usable tonight. He's been extremely consistent with at least 52 fantasy points in each start and has allowed only two earned runs in 26.1 innings. He's gotten the quality start bonus in all four and has an excellent matchup against the Brewers. Milwaukee has the second-lowest wOBA (.270) and the third-highest strikeout rate (26.9 percent) against right-handed pitching.
Casey Mize, DET vs. CHC ($6,800): There are six pitchers at $9,000 or more, so there's a limited number of values at the position. Mize is something of a wild card tonight who is best left to use in tournaments due to a low floor but potentially high ceiling. He managed seven strikeouts in his debut while helped mitigate the three earned runs he gave up. The Cubs are actually a good team for Mize to face as they have a 29.1 percent strikeout rate against right-handed pitching.
Top Targets
Nick Castellanos, CIN at MIL ($4,200): Castellanos was a left-killer last season with a .460 wOBA against the handedness. He'll face lefty Brett Anderson tonight who allowed a .325 wOBA to right-handed hitters last season. There's a good chance Castellanos adds to his nine home runs in Milwaukee this evening.
George Springer, HOU vs. LAA ($3,900): Springer is a fixture in the leadoff spot and has always hit southpaws well. He has a career .384 wOBA against lefties and will oppose lefty Patrick Sandoval in Houston. Sandoval has had issues with the long ball to start the season, giving up five home runs in only 20 innings.
Best Values
David Peralta, ARI vs. COL ($2,900): Peralta should be in his usual cleanup spot tonight, and the Diamondbacks could put up a big number against Ryan Castellani. Peralta has a career .374 wOBA against right-handed pitching, and that number balloons to .397 when at home. Nothing in his pedigree suggests Castellani is an elite pitching prospect, and he was roughed up for five runs in 5.2 innings in his last outing.
Todd Frazier, TEX vs. OAK ($2,700): Like Peralta, Frazier will be hitting in a good RBI spot as the No. 4 hitter for the Rangers. Frazier crushed left-handed pitching last season with a .382 wOBA and has a .432 wOBA in a limited sample this season. Jesus Luzardo is a decent pitching prospect but only has logged 39 big league innings and was lit up by the Giants for six runs in 3.1 innings a couple of games ago.
Stacks To Consider
Reds vs. Brett Anderson: Castellanos, Eugenio Suarez ($3.100), Matt Davidson ($2,700), Phillip Ervin ($2,400)
Ervin is a bit questionable here given his slow start of the season, but being an unpopular play may help as a contrarian play in GPPs; he has a .367 wOBA for his career against lefties. Davidson has three home runs in limited play this season in only 26 plate appearances and has a career .359 wOBA against left-handed pitching. Suarez has a career .379 wOBA but that number last season was at .406. Given those numbers, Suarez could have been much earlier in this column.
Diamondbacks vs. Ryan Castellani: Peralta, Starling Marte ($3,600), Kole Calhoun ($3,100)
The case for Peralta has already been made, and did you know he was originally signed as a pitcher by the Cardinals? Marte had a .365 wOBA last season against right-handed pitching and is averaging just under 11 fantasy points per game this season. Calhoun should be hitting leadoff and has scored positive fantasy points in 14 straight games.
