The DraftKings Monday Slate features some of MLB’s best pitchers. They’re not cheap. Hitter-friendly parks are in play. Bad pitchers are taking the mound. The top bats come at a cost. DraftKings DFS MLB lineups will require fantasy baseball value picks. It’s time to dive into the bargain bin and score some ROI.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $225K Knuckleball [$50K to 1st]
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SP David Festa, Minnesota Twins at Chicago Cubs, $6,100
Wasn’t Festa-vus last week? No one celebrated. No one took a chance on the featured MLB DFS value pick in Tuesday’s edition of Bargain Plays. Festa went under-owned, so he’s still at a discount price. The holiday is over. DraftKings is begging DFS players to get him off their shelves. But the holiday isn’t over. It’s just begun. Festa held the Mets to two earned runs on three hits while striking out six on July 30. Monday’s matchup with the Cubs is a holiday in comparison — 24% K-Rate, .150 ISO, .303 wOBA and 95 wRC+ vs. RHP.
Who is David Festa? Didn’t read last week’s article? Didn’t read today’s MLB DFS Targets article? He’s the real deal. Minnesota’s No. 4 Prospect (No. 56 MLB Prospect) has impressed in his first four major league starts. The back of his Minor League Baseball card is phenomenal — 89 K in 60.1 IP. The back of his Major League Baseball card is a problem — 6.98 ERA. The problem is traditional stats do not reflect a pitcher’s actual worth. BABIP got him in his first start and homers ruined game two. Festa can’t control what happens once the bat meets the ball. Before contact — delivering the pitches — he’s been in control (9.8 K/9, 1.9 BB/9 and 3.87 xFIP).
1B, Josh Bell, Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Cleveland Guardians, $3,300
Two undervalued first basemen cannot stop hitting home runs. Former Marlins first baseman Josh Bell continues to homer with his new team in Arizona. 1B Jake Burger ($4,000) is still making burgers in South Beach. Burger King and Taco Bell are making fast food of opposing pitchers.
Burger has homered in four of the last six games. Since the beginning of July, Burger has a .343 ISO, .428 wOBA and 179 wRC+. Bell has homered seven times in the last 10 games (.595 ISO and .579 wOBA). The better matchup lies with Bell. SP Logan Allen ($8,400) was optioned to Triple-A in early July. The Guardians brought him back due to rotation injuries. The southpaw is surrendering a .249 ISO and .390 wOBA to right-handed batters.
2B/SS Casey Schmitt, San Francisco Giants at Washington Nationals, $2,600
SP Patrick Corbin ($6,800) had a moment. That moment has passed. The carriage turned back into a pumpkin. From June 24 to July 25, Corbin was serviceable. He ate innings without getting blown up (4.66 ERA and 3.50 xFIP). That ended in his last start. He didn’t eat innings. He ate it — 13 hits and 10 earned runs in 3.0 IP.
Schmitt is the Giants No. 7 Prospect. In two seasons at Triple-A, Schmitt posted a .348 and .357 wOBA. On July 26, he returned to the Big Leagues and so far is proving his place. In 17 PA, his wOBA is .375 and his ISO is .533. In 19 MLB at-bats this season, Schmitt has a .487 wOBA vs. LHP.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $225K Knuckleball [$50K to 1st]
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
