Our MLB Breakdown offers data-driven analysis using the FantasyLabs Tools and predictive metrics to highlight notable players.
Monday features a nine-game main slate starting at 3:10 p.m. ET.
Pitchers
Studs
Two pitchers on today’s slate are priced above $10,000 on FanDuel:
- Trevor Bauer (R) $12,000, CIN @ MIL
- Jack Flaherty (R) $10,000, STL vs KC
Bauer headlines the Monday slate as the highest-priced pitcher.
Bauer has been lights out in 2020 and will look to continue his brilliant play on Monday against the Milwaukee Brewers. The 29-year-old has a 0.68 ERA and 0.57 WHIP in 26 innings. Bauer’s strikeout per nine innings pitched (K/9) has risen to a career-high 14.01 in 2020.
His opening showings against Milwaukee, Kansas City and Detroit show he is no fluke. Bauer comes into his fifth start of 2020 with 41 strikeouts and a 202 Base Performance Value (BPV). He has the highest ceiling on today’s slate at 62.4 per our MLB Models.
Milwaukee has been struggling and was just swept by the last-place Pittsburgh Pirates. The Brewers are tied for second to last in the MLB in runs scored per game and have an implied run total of 4.0. Bauer has proven that he is back to his 2018 form and looks to build his resume in search of his first career Cy Young Award.Jamie Sabau/Getty Images. Pictured: Trevor Bauer
Bauer went six innings and gave up one run earlier this year to Milwaukee and there is no reason to expect anything but the same on Monday. Back Bauer with confidence.
Another stud pitcher on the slate is Ryan Flaherty, who will face off against the Kansas City Royals. The 24-year-old is off to another great start in 2020. He has a 3.12 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 132 BPV in nine innings pitched. Due to some of the Cardinals players testing positive for COVID-19, Flaherty has only made two starts so far in 2020. Those starts came against the Pirates and the Cubs.
The Royals are implied to score 3.4 runs, which is the lowest on today’s slate. Flaherty has the second-highest ceiling on today’s slate at 56.7 per our MLB Models. Flaherty is a strong option today and according to the Bales Model has the second highest rating of 67.08.
Values
Blake Snell is only one year removed from a Cy Young and will look to build on his strong start to 2020. The 27-year-old comes into his sixth start of 2020 with a 3.00 ERA and 3.55 xFIP. Snell has been eased into 2020 as he had an arm injury that sidelined him during spring training.
Snell is being undervalued due to the fact that he has not gone deep into games. The training wheels are starting to come off as Snell faces off against The Toronto Blue Jays on Monday. The Blue Jays are implied to score 3.5 runs, which is tied for the second lowest on today’s slate.
Joe Robbins/Getty Images. Pictured: Blake Snell of the Tampa Bay Rays.
Snell is projected for 34.84 points, which is the third highest on today’s slate. Snell is a strong option today and according to the Bales Model has the highest rating of 68.26.
Jesus Luzardo has a 3.67 ERA and 3.79 xFIP. He is thriving in his first full year in the MLB and looks to build on his strong start to the 2020 campaign. The 22-year-old will face off against The Texas Rangers on Monday. The last time Luzardo faced Texas he shut them out over five innings.
The Rangers are averaging 3.74 runs per game (last in MLB). Luzardo is the third-highest rated pitcher in the Bales Model at 56.65. The Rangers are implied to score 3.5 runs, which is tied for the second lowest on today’s slate. Luzardo can be found on FanDuel at $7,700.
Fastballs
Patrick Sandoval has not been very good in 2020, illustrated by his 5.40 ERA and 1.30 WHIP. The 23-year-old has been unlucky as he has a 4.71 xFIP on the year. He faces off against a Houston Astros team that will be without its best player in Alex Bregman. Sandoval can be found at FanDuel as the third-cheapest pitcher on Monday’s slate at $6,400.
Notable Stacks
With the Lineup Builder, it’s easy to incorporate stacks into DFS lineups. Today’s top four-man FanDuel stack (per the Bales Model) belongs to the Chicago Cubs:
- Ian Happ (S)
- Anthony Rizzo (L)
- Javier Baez (R)
- Kyle Schwarber (L)
Total Salary: $12,200
The Cubs are implied for 5.1 runs, which ranks second on Monday’s slate. Moreover, they are facing a Detroit Tigers team that is ranked 26th in runs allowed this season.
Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports. Pictured: Chicago Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo
Rizzo stands out as a value at $3,300 and boasts a bargain rating of 97%. The 30-year-old has five home runs and is hitting .213 in 2020, but has been unlucky at the plate in 2020 per his xBA is .270. Rizzo has the fifth-highest rating on the Bales Model at 74.86.
Rizzo is projected to hit second against Casey Mize, who has a 6.23 ERA. Look for Rizzo to get on base early and often.
On DraftKings, the Arizona Diamondbacks are a strong four-man stack:
- Kole Calhoun (L)
- Ketel Marte (S)
- Starlind Marte (R)
- David Peralta (L)
Total Salary: $16,600
The Diamondbacks are implied for 5.4 runs, which ranks first on Monday’s slate.
Ketel Marte stands out as a value at $4,700 and boasts a ceiling of 33.70. The 26-year-old is off to a strong start in 2020, hitting .336 with one home run. Marte is projected to hit second, which will give him ample opportunities against Ryan Castellani and the Rockies. Castellani was lit up by the Astros in his last start, and the Rockies have one of the worst bullpens in the league.
Other Batters
Juan Soto stands out on FanDuel as he is priced at $4,800 against Miami right-hander Pablo Lopez. Soto has two home runs and has hit .461 against Lopez in 11 career at-bats. Look for Soto to continue his hot hitting ways against Lopez and the Miami Marlins.
Brandon Lowe is another strong option and can be found on FanDuel at $4,100. The 26-year-old is hitting .313 with nine home runs in 2020 and faces off today against Blue Jays righty Tanner Roark.
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