Major League Baseball gets another work week underway with a seven-game Monday night slate on DraftKings. Weather could impact the early two games on the MLB DFS slate with rain possible in New York and wind and snow in the forecast for Chicago at Wrigley Field. The later five games are indoors or in better weather on the West Coast.
As you get your roster together for Monday night’s contests, some strong value plays stand out as excellent options for your MLB DFS lineups. In this post, we’ll take a look at a few of my favorite bargain plays, and be sure to check out the full range of MLB DFS coverage available from the team at DKNetwork.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $300K Bat Flip [$100K to 1st]!
SP Hunter Greene, Cincinnati Reds at San Francisco Giants, $7,900
Greene will be making his third start of the season and already facing the Giants for a second time. San Francisco has started out a sizzling 8-1 for the best record in the MLB, but I still think Greene brings enough ceiling with a high enough floor to be a good play at this price under $8,000.
In his first start against the Giants on Opening Day, Greene had eight strikeouts in five innings and gave up two runs. He finished with 20.9 fantasy points in that outing and was even better in his next start, going seven innings in a loss to the Rangers but again racking up eight strikeouts on his way to 27.4 fantasy points.
With 16 strikeouts in 12 innings and a sparkling 2.25 ERA and 2.00 FIP, Greene has been excellent in both of his outings. He has always had a high ceiling and high floor with his elevated strikeout rate, and the 25-year-old looks ready for a true breakout season.
SS JP Crawford, Seattle Mariners vs. Houston Astros, $3,200
The Mariners lost Victor Robles (shoulder) to a left shoulder injury that he suffered while making an acrobatic catch in the bottom of the ninth inning in San Francisco. Crawford could take over as the new leadoff hitter in the Mariners’ lineup, at least against righties.
So far this season, Crawford is only 4-for-27 (.148) but does have nine walks, four runs scored, a stolen base and a .274 wOBA. He could get things started for Seattle against Hayden Wesneski ($7,500) and the Astros in Seattle on Monday night. Wesneski has been a good matchup for left-handed hitters, who have a .241 batting average and .326 wOBA against him in his career. If he takes over as the team’s new leadoff hitter, this could be a great chance to get him at a discount in a favorable matchup.
1B/OF Gavin Sheets, San Diego Padres at Athletics, $2,600
We’re still just getting used to Sutter Health Park, the new temporary home of the Athletics, but so far it has been a great spot for hitters. The Padres are averaging 4.6 runs per game this year with a .285 team batting average, which is the second-highest in the MLB. One affordable way to get a piece of the Padres in Sacramento is by targeting Sheets. The veteran lefty is off to a fast start in his first season with the Friars.
Sheets is 10-for-26 (.285) in his nine games with a pair of doubles, a home run and a .427 wOBA. Luis Severino ($7,300) was much more vulnerable against power from the left side of the plate, which should set up Sheets to continue that fast start on Monday night. Sheets went 2-for-5 on Sunday in Chicago for eight fantasy points and has at least that many fantasy points in three of his last four games with at least three plate appearances.
