This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
There are some exciting series set to start Monday, including the Cubs hosting the A's, the Braves taking on the Twins and the Cardinals facing the Dodgers. We also have another opportunity to bring home some cash on Yahoo, so here are some players to target while compiling your lineup.
Pitching Overview
With regards to favorable matchups, it doesn't get much better than Lucas Giolito ($48) against the Tigers. While he's already made five starts against another division foe in the Royals, he surprisingly has yet to take on a Tigers' lineup that has scored the fewest runs in baseball. When factoring in his much-improved 29.9 percent strikeout rate this season, expect Giolito to be one of the chalk pitching options for the evening.
Kyle Hendricks ($41) was excellent yet again in his last start, recording seven strikeouts over seven shutout innings against the Cardinals. He's now allowed two runs or fewer in six straight starts, leaving him with a 3.07 ERA and a 3.59 FIP for the season, overall. The A's might not seem like a great matchup, but they are missing one of their best hitters in Ramon Laureano (lower leg) and won't have the benefit of the DH with this game being played in Chicago. If you're looking to fade the chalk Giolito, Hendricks is someone to consider.
For those in the market for a cheap starter in tournament play, Spencer Turnbull ($26) could be worth considering. He's been on the IL since the middle of July with a back injury, but will be activated to start this contest. He's done an excellent job of limiting home runs, which has helped him record a 3.65 ERA and a 4.05 FIP. The White Sox did have a 10-run outburst Sunday, but they had averaged only 2.1 runs across their previous 10 contests, so they haven't exactly been firing on all cylinders. Turnbull is so cheap that the risk might be worth the reward.
Key Values/Chalk
The Yankees are dropping like flies. They still somehow managed to sweep the Red Sox over the weekend, but the series was costly on the injury front. Gleyber Torres ($18) went down Sunday with a core injury and it would be a shame if he can't play in this series against the Orioles considering he is hitting 20-for-43 (.400) with 10 home runs against them in 12 games this season. Still, with the Orioles going with a bullpen game Monday, expect to see Aaron Judge ($21) and DJ LeMahieu ($27) in plenty of entries.
The Giants don't exactly have an exciting lineup, but they are in play here against Erick Fedde, who was destroyed for nine runs over 3.2 innings in his last outing against the Braves. He enters with a 5.53 FIP, 1.46 WHIP and a 13 percent strikeout rate, so the blowup wasn't a rare occurrence. Left-handed hitters have produced a .380 wOBA against him for his career, which makes Mike Yastrzemski ($15) stand out as someone to target. The newly acquired Scooter Gennett ($7) could also provide value at a reduced price.
Rick Porcello has been a disaster for the Red Sox, allowing at least five runs in five of his last seven starts. His ERA has ballooned up to 5.74 and he'll need to get a handle on his 1.46 WHIP if he's going to start bringing that number down. Until he shows signs of turning things around, he's going to be a popular option to stack against. With the Royals facing him in this game, Hunter Dozier ($18), Jorge Soler ($20) and Whit Merrifield ($17) are all worth considering.
Stacks
Red Sox vs. Mike Montgomery (Royals)
Mookie Betts (OF - $27), J.D. Martinez (OF - $23), Xander Bogaerts (SS - $27)
This could get ugly in a hurry for Montgomery, who has allowed 10 runs over 11.1 innings since joining the Royals. His 13.2 percent strikeout rate for the season, overall, certainly isn't helping matters. This trio all carries plenty of upside, especially Martinez with his 239 wRC+ against lefties this year. Bogaerts also has a .380 wOBA versus southpaws.
Reds vs. Taylor Cole (Angels)
Eugenio Suarez (3B - $22), Phillip Ervin (OF - $16), Aristides Aquino (OF- $10)
Cole will serve as the opener for this matchup with lefty Patrick Sandoval set to follow and pitch the bulk of the innings. Considering he had a 4.97 FIP and a 1.97 WHIP at Triple-A, the Reds could be in line for an offensive explosion. Ervin and Aquino stand out as two cost-effective options to target. Ervin has a career 151 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers and Aquino showed plenty of promise at Triple-A with a 142 wRC+.
Rays vs. Jacob Waguespack (Blue Jays)
Austin Meadows (OF - $20), Eric Sogard (2B - $15), Kevin Kiermaier (OF - $13)
Waguespack was lucky to only give up three runs in his last start against the Rays considering he allowed nine baserunners over five innings. That's been a consistent problem for him based on his 1.40 WHIP. Meadows enters with a 152 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers and carrying the highest upside of this trio. Sogard has showed no signs of slowing down, hitting 5-for-13 with two home runs and a double over four games since being acquired from the Blue Jays.
