To celebrate Memorial Day this Monday, Major League Baseball has a holiday schedule with games spread throughout the day. The afternoon featured slate begins at 1:10 p.m. ET and includes seven games. With 14 teams in action during the day, there are plenty of strong fantasy plays to consider building around, but many come with hefty salaries. To help you balance out your spending, check out these three MLB DFS Bargain Plays for Monday afternoon.
As always for MLB DFS, be sure to double-check weather conditions and lineups before game time. The early forecast looks pretty decent, with the only obvious potential trouble spot in Kansas City. It’s also always important to check back once lineups are released to be sure that the value plays are starting and in good lineup spots.
As you make out your lineup card for this Monday afternoon, be sure to check out the full range of MLB 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 Bat Flip [$50K to 1st]
SP Erick Fedde, St. Louis Cardinals at Baltimore Orioles, $6,500
The Cardinals are in Baltimore for Memorial Day to take on the last-place Orioles, who are 3-10 over their last 13 games while ranking in the top five in K% and the bottom 10 in ISO. The struggling offense should be a good matchup for Fedde to return value from his very affordable price point.
The 32-year-old veteran is 3-3 in 10 starts this season after joining the Cardinals in a trade at the deadline last season. He has a 3.77 ERA, 4.38 FIP and 5.3 K/9 but has been even better on the road with a 2.43 ERA, 4.76 FIP and 5.16 K/9. He showed his upside with an excellent outing in Washington, going six shutout innings against his former team with eight strikeouts and 41.7 fantasy points. That outing was the high point of his recent run of production, but he has at least double-digit fantasy points in six of his last eight.
Fedde was sharp against the Phillies after that sparkling outing against the Nationals but gave up a couple home runs in his last outing against the Tigers. He should be set up to bounce back in Baltimore, though, since his long-term form has been impressive and the Orioles haven’t been hitting well lately. At only $6,500, he doesn’t have to dominate to be a solid play as long as he turns in a good outing and chips in a solid return on his minimal investment.
3B Matt Shaw, Chicago Cubs vs. Colorado Rockies, $3,600
Shaw started the season as the Cubs’ primary 3B but struggled before heading back to the minors. The Cubs brought him back up last Monday, and he has been impressive with three multi-hit games and five doubles while going 9-for-25 (.360) in six games.
In his time in Triple-A, he hit .286 with five doubles, six home runs, five stolen bases, just a 10% strikeout rate and a 43.8% hard-hit rate. He should be in a great matchup on Monday at home against the Rockies and rookie Carson Palmquist ($5,000), who has an 11.88 ERA, 7.52 FIP and a 2.52 WHIP over his first two starts. The Cubs will be a great afternoon stack at Wrigley against the Rockies, and Shaw is a nice affordable way to get some good exposure.
OF Alejandro Osuna, Texas Rangers, $2,500
The Rangers just called up Osuna for his MLB debut on Sunday after Joc Pederson (hand) landed on the injured list. Osuna was ranked No. 7 in the Rangers’ system by MLB Pipeline and is the younger brother of former All-Star closer Roberto Osuna. Osuna signed as an amateur free agent from Mexico, and the 22-year-old lefty posted a .292 batting average with 18 homers and 17 stolen bases in 102 games last year across three levels of the minors.
He started this season in Double-A and hit .283 with seven stolen bases, two homers and a .357 wOBA. He was promoted to Triple-A just eight games ago, and went 7-for-27 (.259) with nine walks, five doubles and two stolen bases with the Round Rock Express.
Osuna went 0-for-3 with a walk but was caught stealing in his MLB debut. If he gets another start on Monday afternoon, he brings good upside at this bargain salary with his ability to swipe bags. He has a very professional plate approach and can produce in a variety of ways if he keeps getting playing time.
