Baseball is back! Check back here throughout the day for updated blurbs as teams confirm their lineup. We’ll keep you updated on some of the day’s highest-impact trends by utilizing our Models and Vegas dashboard. Projected and confirmed lineups for every game can be found on our MLB Daily Lineups page.
Nationals (-108) at Pirates (+100) — 7:05 PM EST
Pirates out: Josh Bell
Pirates in: David Freese
After hitting leadoff in the previous three games, Josh Bell will receive a day off on Monday as David Freese enters the lineup at first base. Corey Dickerson will slide up to the leadoff spot for the first time this season and Austin Meadows will be held out of the lineup for the third time in the last four games, as the Pirates currently have a crowded outfield. Opposing pitcher Jefry Rodriguez has the second-worst HR/9 rate (1.901) out of all starters in Monday’s slate. The Pirates set up well for stacking opportunities with an implied total of 4.8 runs, and five hitters carry a Bargain Rating above 92% on FanDuel. Dickerson provides salary cap relief at just $2,500 and has benefitted from a 43% hard-hit rate over the last 15 days.
Rangers (+178) at Red Sox (-194) — 7:10 PM EST
Rangers out: Shin-Soo Choo
Rangers in: Rya Rua
Lefties Shin-Soo Choo, Joey Gallo, and Ronald Guzman will sit against the Red Sox and lefty Eduardo Rodriguez on Monday. Delino DeShields Jr. will bat leadoff, Ryan Rua will move into the outfield, and Elvis Andrus will return to the lineup after resting on Sunday. The Rangers are presently implied to score 4.2 runs, a mark which has increased 0.3 runs since the line opened. Only three Rangers claim a recent positive batted ball distance, and Rodriguez has limited his last two opponents to a 29% hard hit rate. Rodriguez also possesses the third-highest SO/9 rate (10.171) on the main slate, but his 5.5 K Prediction is mediocre. However, pitchers with a similar K Prediction, Opponent implied total, and SO/9 rate have historically averaged 27.44 FanDuel points per start. The Rangers have the fifth-lowest wOBA and fifth-highest strikeout rate on the road this season, creating an instance to consider Rodriguez at $8,000 on FanDuel.
Brewers (-137) at Marlins (+126) — 7:10 PM EST
Marlins out: J.T. Realmuto
Marlins in: Bryan Holaday
J.T. Realmuto was placed on the paternity leave list, and he should return to action later this week. Bryan Holaday will replace Realmuto behind the plate and Martin Prado will move up to the cleanup spot in the order against the Brewers and right-hander Chase Anderson. The Marlins are one of several teams implied to score fewer than 4.0 runs in the main slate, but their total has increased by 0.3 runs since the line opened. Their 62 Team Value Rating on DraftKings is the sixth-highest mark currently, and the last time they faced Anderson, they homered off him twice and struck out just thrice in 5.1 innings. Anderson is facing a lineup with the lowest team wOBA and sixth-highest SO/AB mark, and he is projected to be fairly high owned in tournaments.
