This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
It won't be the busiest of nights in baseball Monday with only eight games making up the main evening slate on Yahoo. However, there are not only a few top-tier pitchers set to take the mound, but there are also some lineups that could be in line for big nights. Let's break things down and highlight some players to target for your entry.
Pitching Overview
The most expensive pitcher on the slate is Patrick Corbin ($56). He's $10 more than any other option, which is a wide gap. The Nationals have to be happy with Corbin's start with the team since he has a 3.56 xFIP and a 1.04 WHIP across his first nine starts. This will be his fourth start of the year already against the Mets, who he has held to six runs while recording 24 strikeouts across 20 innings during their first three meetings. With their left-handed heavy lineup, expect Corbin to thrive once again.
Mike Soroka ($42) is off to a crazy start for the Braves, posting a 0.98 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP through his first six outings. He has been a bit lucky when you consider his .230 opponents' BABIP and 3.96 xFIP, but it's particularly impressive that he hasn't allowed a single home run over 36.2 innings. Since he'll be facing a Giants team that has scored the fifth-fewest runs (175) in the league, this is another prime opportunity to deploy him in DFS.
Working our way down the price scale, Luke Weaver ($39) jumps out as a cheaper option with upside. One of the key players that the Diamondbacks received in the deal that sent Paul Goldschmidt to the Cardinals, Weaver has a 3.69 xFIP and a 1.11 WHIP through nine starts. He's also increased his strikeout rate to 26.1 percent, which is over six percentage points higher than last season. That number could be key considering he'll be facing the Padres, who struck out the third-most times (460).
Key Values/Chalk
Despite their massive amount of injuries, the Yankees enter the day in first place in the AL East. They've continued to find ways to put runs on the board, including hanging 13 runs on the Rays on Sunday. They certainly have a chance to keep things rolling against Andrew Cashner, who has a 4.61 xFIP to go along with a meager 19.3 percent strikeout rate. Expect to see the Yankees among the ownership leaderboard.
Another team that should be popular is the Rangers against Mike Leake. This game will be played at Globe Life Park in Arlington, so that's a big plus for them. Leake has not been good this year with his 4.54 xFIP and was lit up for nine runs (five earned) across five innings the first time he faced the Rangers this season. He's also given up 11 home runs in 54 innings, which could spell disaster since the Rangers have hit the sixth-most homers (69).
Looking for help in their starting rotation, the Giants will turn to Andrew Suarez to make his season debut. He wasn't exactly lighting up Triple-A with his 5.58 xFIP and 1.70 WHIP, but he'll still get the call for this game. He doesn't have overpowering stuff since he had just a 19.6 percent strikeout rate with the Giants last season, so don't be surprised if the Braves score plenty in this contest.
Stacks
Yankees vs. Cashner (Orioles)
Luke Voit (1B - $22), Aaron Hicks (OF - $17), Brett Gardner (OF - $14)
Cashner allowed 1.5 HR/9 last year and has already given up eight homers over 48.1 innings this year. That makes the powerful Voit a dangerous matchup. Hicks went deep for the first time this season Sunday and thrived against right-handed pitching last year with a 132 wRC+. Gardner is also a viable cheaper option who currently has a career-high .204 ISO.
Rangers vs. Leake (Mariners)
Joey Gallo (OF - $26), Shin-Soo Choo (OF - $18), Willie Calhoun (OF - $13)
With how many home runs Leake has allowed, Gallo should be the cornerstone of any Rangers stack. Choo also makes for a great option based on his career .384 wOBA versus right-handed pitchers. The Rangers are giving Calhoun a chance to play regularly right now and he's made a case to stick with the team by hitting 10-for-21 (.476) with two home runs and a double since being called up.
Braves vs. Suarez (Giants)
Ronald Acuna Jr. (OF - $17), Ozzie Albies (2B - $15), Austin Riley (OF - $18)
Acuna and Albies are extremely appealing at these prices. Albies might be best Brave to build a stack around considering he has a career .392 wOBA versus left-handed pitchers. Riley seems a bit expensive when you consider how much Acuna and Albies cost, but he's certainly making an instant impact since he's 8-for-19 (.421) with two home runs and a double since being called up.
Nationals vs. Wilmer Font or Drew Gagnon (Mets)
Anthony Rendon (3B - $22), Juan Soto (OF - $18), Trea Turner (SS - $20)
The Mets are likely to start Font or Gagnon in this game, so either one of them is a matchup to exploit. Font has been awful in two starts since being acquired from the Rays, allowing seven runs and a 1.74 WHIP in 6.1 innings. Gagnon did throw 97 pitches in a relief appearance in the middle of April, but he hasn't thrown more than 26 pitchers in any outing since, so he might not pitch too many innings even if he does start. Rendon is 10-for-23 (.435) with two home runs and four doubles during his current six-game hitting streak, so he could be one of the top targets for this slate. While expensive, Soto and Turner round out what could be a very productive trio.
