The weekend is unfortunately over as we start a a new week, but there’s no better way to fight the Monday blues than with some MLB action. Today’s featured slate for DraftKings DFS contests comprises nine games beginning at 7:10 p.m. or later, so we’ve got a pretty wide selection of players in the lineup pool. With that said, we’re diving right on in.
Check out these three must-start players for Monday’s MLB DFS lineups.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $200K Knuckleball [$50K to 1st]
SP Nick Lodolo, Reds @ Cubs; $8,700
Today’s pool of pitchers doesn’t look like a particularly exciting one without much truly elite fantasy production as the headliners. Nick Lodolo averages the second-most points with 18.1 per game, but he ranks sixth on the salary sheet at just $8,700. What’s the deal there?
Well, the left faces a tough matchup on the road against the Cubs at Wrigley, but there’s some hope he can still provide better production than the other options for tonight’s lineup (and at a more affordable salary than many). Lodolo posts a respectable 3.09 ERA this year but his 1.05 WHIP looks even better. He’s also struck out 123 batters across 128 innings and went for at least seven K’s in four of his last five starts, including 11 and eight punchouts in his last two against the Dodgers and Nationals. The Cubs’ lefty split is their lesser one at .251/.316/.431, so while there’s some risk with Lodolo tonight, he does bring upside at a nice price point with 23.7 points or more in each of his last three starts.
SS Geraldo Perdomo, Diamondbacks vs. Padres; $4,700
The Diamondbacks sold off at the Trade Deadline, but that doesn’t mean we can’t target some of their batters in DFS contests. Luckily, their shortstop is one of my favorite picks this season against lefties.
Geraldo Perdomo generally brings steady fantasy production with 8.7 FPPG. The switch-hitter slashes .278/.378/.426 on the season and his one fault is a lack of legit power, but he can do plenty of other things on the field and brings some stolen-base ability as well to score major points. Tonight, he takes on lefty JP Sears who the Padres acquired last week. The matchup looks great, especially since Sears shows some issues with consistency and Perdomo bats .331 against left-handed pitchers with an .826 OPS. He also averages 10.9 FPPG against the Padres in seven games this year and scored 11, 18 and 22 points in three of his last four contests. Perdomo brings serious value.
1B Warming Bernabel, Rockies vs. Blue Jays; $3,700
Before you do the Snoop Dogg “WHO?!?” meme, walk with me here. This Rockies rookie has played well in a small sample size and sometimes these picks are the ones that can win you a contest.
Just a couple of weeks ago, I put Astros rookie Brice Matthews in my must-starts column at a salary below $3,000 — he proceeded to hit two homers that night in a massive fantasy performance. Now, I’ve been looking at Bernabel’s name for the last few days and waiting for a couple more solid outings before I included him in a blurb. Well, the time has come. The right-handed infielder averages 13.2 FPPG through his first eight MLB appearances with a .438/.455/.906 slash line and three homers in 32 at-bats. He’s settled in quite nicely thus far, and while Blue Jays lefty Eric Lauer isn’t an easy matchup, Bernabel hit .369 with a .922 OPS against southpaws in the minor leagues. With performances of 17, 36, 10, 21 and 16 points under his belt, the reward of this selection outweighs the risk.
