Today’s MLB slate gets rolling at 6:40 p.m. EST with seven total games on the schedule. Some of the league’s brightest stars are in action and fantasy baseball players have plenty of options when constructing DFS lineups for the evening.
Let’s start the week on a high note with three must-start MLB DFS picks for Monday’s contests.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $200K Knuckleball [$50K to 1st]
SP Ryan Pepiot, TB Rays vs. BAL Orioles; $7,600
Hear me out here. The four highest-priced pitchers on this slate all average between 16.1-21.5 FPPG and come with salaries ranging from $8,400-$9,700. Big names like Gilbert and Cease should be popular picks today, but there’s a hurler with less flash and similar production to that upper tier at a cheaper price point.
The Rays’ Ryan Pepiot doesn’t have the same star power, but with an average of 16.1 FPPG, he’s one of the top performers on the slate. However, his $7,600 salary means you can save significant cash and still deploy a guy with a nice combo of floor and celing. With a 3.31 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 73 strikeouts in 81.2 innings, Pepiot’s numbers look plenty good. He also sees the benefit of a soft matchup at home against the Orioles, who are 6-4 across their last 10 games but still fall 21st or worse in team AVG, OPS, and runs scored. Pepiot’s a no-brainer here.
C Cal Raleigh, SEA Mariners vs. BOS Red Sox; $6,000
Where fantasy baseball studs at the top of the salary list are concerned, Cal Raleigh looks like a bona fide top option tonight. The Mariners catcher keeps slugging away this season with a .263/.374/.616 slash line and 26 home runs, tied for the MLB’s best mark. Raleigh also has 54 RBIs and 45 runs scored on the season, and with sky-high upside at a position typically lacking superstar bats, he’s an easy pick here.
He also faces Red Sox starter Lucas Giolito, whose 5.45 ERA and 1.54 WHIP across eight games look pretty ugly. Opposing batters also hit .304 against the righty with his 10.66 H/9. Notably, 18 of Raleigh’s homers have come against right-handers.
SS Jeremy Pena, HOU Astros @ Athletics; $4,500
The Astros enter today with an 8-2 record across their last 10 games — Jeremy Pena is a huge part of that recent hot streak. The shortstop slashes .395/.409/.921 over his last 10 outings with 17 hits, 10 runs and a couple of homers to go along with five stolen bases.
Pena averages nine FPPG this season overall and has provided pretty reliable production. He’s very quietly paced among the top MLB WAR leaders and bats .325 on the campaign, showing vastly improved process at the plate that should make him quite a bit of money on his next contract. Against J.P. Sears and the Athletics tonight, the matchup looks solid enough and Pena presents a cost-effective way to snag one of the league’s hottest players.
