Major League Baseball is back in action to start the work week with a six-game slate on Monday, June 30. With new series starting across the country, some great early-week series stuff the slate. Of the six in play on Monday night, two are divisional clashes and two are interleague series. Looking at the available options, a few MLB DFS value plays stand out that bring the potential to be great bargain options on Monday night. Each of these three MLB DFS value picks has a favorable matchup and strong recent form, indicating a good chance of delivering elite value.
The two early games in Pennsylvania are not on the slate and bring the biggest weather concerns, with the only other potential trouble spot in Tampa, where the Rays host the A’s. Be sure to check back for weather and lineup updates before the games begin.
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SP Trevor Rogers, Baltimore Orioles at Texas Rangers, $6,300
In his last start, Rogers shut out the Rangers for eight innings, allowing just three hits and no walks while only one runner reached scoring position. Rogers earned an impressive 28.2 fantasy points with four strikeouts in his eight innings of work, and that gives him a high enough ceiling to run him back out there in this rematch.
Rogers has only made three starts this season but has a 1.62 ERA and 2.25 FIP. Things haven’t gone as well in the minor leagues, where he is 0-3 in eight starts with a 5.51 ERA and 4.17 FIP in 32 2/3 innings. Last year, the lefty split time between the Orioles and the Marlins and struggled with his command, but this year he has cut his walk rate from 4.05 BB/9 to 1.62 BB/9 in his small sample size.
The Rangers couldn’t solve the lefty last week at Camden Yards, and they continue to rank in the bottom third of the league in almost every offensive category and split. They have the third-lowest batting average and the second-lowest wOBA in the league along with an 85 wRC+ as a team that puts them 15% below league average in run creation. They’re a favorable matchup, especially with how much they struggled against Rogers in their last meeting.
1B/OF Luke Raley, Seattle Mariners vs. Kansas City Royals, $3,200
Raley missed nearly two months of action with an oblique strain, but he has been hitting the ball well since his return and brings good upside to his home matchup Monday night against Michael Wacha ($7,200) and the Royals. Raley has gone 8-for-29 (.276) in his eight games since returning with a home run, two doubles, and a .361 wOBA. He has a 47.8% hard-hit rate over that span with a couple of barrels. He has averaged 7.6 fantasy points per game and had over 15 fantasy points twice since returning.
He’ll be on the strong side of the splits against Wacha, since lefties have hit .271 with a .306 wOBA against Wacha this season. The veteran righty has been solid overall for KC but has a 3.98 ERA and 4.14 FIP on the road and allowed four homers over his last three road outings.
2B/3B Christian Koss, San Francisco Giants at Arizona Diamondbacks, $2,600
Koss is another versatile piece who can fit into multiple spots in your lineup as a bargain play, and he’s the third of my MLB DFS Value Picks. The 27-year-old righty is in a nice groove at the plate and has picked up multiple hits in four straight games and at least one hit in seven of his last 10 games. He had two hits in each of the last four games, going 8-for-15 (.533) with two doubles, three runs scored, a walk and a stolen base. In those four games, he averaged 10.25 fantasy points per game and is coming off 17 fantasy points on Sunday.
Over the last few days, Koss has been filling in at 3B for Casey Schmitt (wrist), who has an MRI on Monday. When Schmitt does return, Koss could move to 2B and contend for playing time with Brett Wisely.
He hit leadoff against a lefty on Saturday but dropped to seventh in the order on Sunday. On Monday, the Giants face righty Ryne Nelson ($6,700) in Arizona, and wherever Koss is in the lineup he is on enough of a heater to be a solid look at this bargain salary.
