Eight games fill up the Monday night MLB slate on this Cinco de Mayo. With 16 teams in the player pool, there are many good options to consider from all across the salary spectrum. If you are targeting some expensive pay-up plays, you will need to balance them out with some lower-priced options as well. If you are looking for some value plays that still bring a high ceiling, check out these three top MLB DFS Bargain Plays for this Monday, 05/05/25.
The main DFS fantasy baseball slate begins this Monday at 7:05 p.m. ET, when the Yankees host the Padres. Five more of the matchups start before 8:00 p.m. ET, with two late games from Phoenix and Sacramento closing out the action. With six of the eight games outdoors, be sure to check back on the weather before first pitch.
As you make out your lineup card for Monday’s contests, be sure to check out the full range of MLB DFS coverage from the team at DKNetwork, since these bargain values are just one piece of the MLB DFS picture to consider.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $200K Sinker de Mayo [$50K to 1st]
SP Griffin Canning, New York Mets at Arizona Diamondbacks, $7,200
The Mets are in Arizona in one of the later games on the slate, and Canning gets the ball for his seventh start of the season. He’s 4-1 in his first six starts, with an exceptional 2.61 ERA, 3.25 FIP and 31 strikeouts in his 31 innings.
Canning has always had a high ceiling during his career, but struggled with inconsistency while he was with the Angels. He refined his pitch mix with the Mets and has looked impressive throughout spring training and the first month of the season. He has won four straight starts with at least 18 fantasy points in three straight outings. His best game during that stretch was against the Cardinals, who he held to one run over six innings with eight strikeouts for 28.5 fantasy points.
On Monday, Canning’s matchup isn’t ideal against Arizona, but he has enough upside to potentially overcome the matchup and still be an outstanding MLB DFS value at his salary just over $7,000.
3B/OF Jonathan India, Kansas City Royals vs. Chicago White Sox, $2,900
The Royals’ offense has struggled early in the season, but India continues to be locked into the leadoff spot, and he is a great play under $3K as the Royals come home and take on the White Sox in an AL Central series to start the week. Despite his slow start, I still like him as a sleeper at the top of the lineup if he can get going.
On the year, India is hitting only .220 with one homer and no stolen bases. His one home run came on Sunday in the series finale in Baltimore, when the Royals finished their road trip 5-1 by beating the O’s, 11-6. India has shown signs of shaking off his slow start, hitting safely in six of his last seven games while going 8-for-27 (.296) with five walks, a double, a home run and six runs scored for an average of 8.4 fantasy points per game
He and the Royals will take on Shane Smith ($7,000) on Monday, who has been one of the White Sox’ better starting pitchers even though he only has one win. Going against Chicago while playing at home sets the Royals up to be one of the best offenses on the board, and getting India at the leadoff spot just ahead of the always-productive Bobby Witt Jr. ($5,800) is a value play that makes sense. The fact that he can slot at either 3B or in the outfield makes him even easier to include in roster builds.
C Luis Campusano, San Diego Padres at New York Yankees, $2,000
Campusano isn’t just a punt play, but since he comes at the minimum salary, he leaves lots of salary cap space for other spots. Campusano fills in a tricky catcher spot with minimal investment, allowing you to pick the sluggers of your choice to fill the rest of your roster.
The Padres called up Campusano on Saturday and he started both Saturday and Sunday against left-handed pitchers as the team’s designated hitter. With lefty Carlos Rodon ($9,500) starting Sunday for the Yankees, Campusano will likely get another start. He went 0-for-3 with three walks in his first two games of the season. The 26-year-old hit only .227 with eight homers and a .282 wOBA last season in 91 games for the Padres, but he was much better in 2023, hitting .319 with seven homers and a .364 wOBA in 49 games. At Triple-A this season, Campusano smashed six home runs and hit .322 with a .454 wOBA in 25 games with the El Paso Chihuahuas.
Campusano has the potential to be a huge bargain if he can translate some of that minor-leauge success back to the majors, and his rock-bottom price makes him a great bargain to consider including this Monday.
