Major League Baseball has a solid MLB DFS slate to start the last week in August, with 10 games on tap for under the lights. The slate gets rolling at 7:05 p.m. ET when the Yankees host the Nationals. Most of the action is early, but there are a few games from the West Coast to close out the night as the Reds visit the Dodgers and the Tigers stop in Sacramento. With 20 teams of players available in the player pool, several star players are in smash spots and worth consideration. If you are running short on salary cap space as you round out your roster, check out these bargain options with low salaries, who also bring high ceilings. These three options stand out as strong MLB DFS value picks on Monday’s slate.
As we approach the end of the summer, the weather is always a factor to consider since warm temperatures can boost offense, especially when the wind is blowing out, and rain can cause postponement or delays. The weather in Cleveland looks messy, but that game isn’t on the main slate due to its early start time. The rest of the night looks fairly clear with favorable conditions for offense in the forecast for New York, Sacramento, and Chicago.
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SP Michael McGreevy, St. Louis Cardinals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, $6,300
The Cardinals open the week with an NL Central matchup against the Pirates and will give the ball to McGreevy for his 10th start of the year. The 25-year-old righty was one of the team’s top prospects coming into the season and has had mixed results since moving to the majors. He is 5-2 with a 4.42 ERA and 3.39 FIP overall, and his recent results have looked better than his overall numbers. He’s averaging 11.6 fantasy points per game on the year, but has over 17 fantasy points in two of his last three starts.
McGreevy has been very efficient in his most recent outings, working six innings in four straight games. He didn’t issue a single walk in his last two starts and matched his season-high with five strikeouts in his last start, which was on Tuesday against the Marlins, finishing with 17.3 fantasy points.
He gets a great matchup on Monday against the Pirates, who have scored the second-fewest runs in the majors over the last two weeks, with 3.4 runs per game and a .238 team batting average. They have struggled all season on the road, with the second-lowest road wRC+ in the majors, ahead of only the Rockies. The team’s wRC+ away from PNC Park is only 71, meaning they are 29% below the league average in run creation on that side of the splits. McGreevy is a very affordable option in this favorable matchup for Monday’s series opener.
3B Ke’Bryan Hayes, Cincinnati Reds at Los Angeles Dodgers, $2,600
Hayes was traded from the Pirates to the Reds at the MLB Trade Deadline, and the 28-year-old seems to have benefited from the change of scenery. In his 22 games with the Reds, Hayes is hitting .275 with five doubles, a triple, two homers, and two stolen bases. He has posted a .354 wOBA and 47.5% hard-hit rate since his Reds’ debut on July 31.
Most of his production has come in his last 10 games. He’s gone 12-for-31 (.387) in those contests with six extra-base hits and both of those stolen bases. Over those 10 games, Hayes averaged 10.2 fantasy points per contest, compared to just 5.6 fantasy points per game for the season.
He’s trending in the right direction and will look to stay hot on Monday against Emmet Sheehan ($7,500), who has allowed nine runs in 11 innings over his last two starts and has a 4.17 ERA on the year. Hayes is a great value at the hot corner since he’s found such a good groove, bringing good upside in the late game.
OF Joc Pederson, Texas Rangers vs. Los Angeles Angels, $2,300
Pederson has had a brutally disappointing season in Texas, but he has shown some recent signs of life. The veteran lefty has been streaky throughout his career, but this season has been limited by injury to just 70 games and is hitting only .162 when available.
He does have six home runs on the season, so he still brings a little bit of pop for a cheap outfield option who is barely more than the minimum salary. He has hit safely in five straight games coming into Monday’s matchup, going 6-for-20 (.300) with two homers, four RBI and an average of 9.2 fantasy points per game. In August, Pederson is hitting .269 with four homers and a .378 wOBA.
He and the Rangers take on Jose Soriano ($5,700), who has a 4.00 ERA on the season and has given up seven homers in his last six starts with a 4.71 FIP and 54.3% hard-hit rate against over that stretch. Since he’s heating up a little bit, it seems like time to cue up the Joc Jams if you need a bargain outfield option Monday night.
