We’ve got a 14-game slate for Monday’s MLB action.
Let’s find some studs and values for your MLB DFS lineups on DraftKings. This article was written before lineups were announced.
Make your DraftKings MLB DFS picks here: MLB $200K Knuckleball [$50K to 1st]
PITCHER
Stud
Jacob Misiorowski, Milwaukee Brewers vs. New York Mets ($12,000) — Nobody Beats the Mis! Really, that should be enough analysis, but we are a full service establishment here at DraftKings. Misiorowski averages 100.5 mph on the fastball! The K-BB% is an insane 33.2% and he’s only allowed nine home runs in 111 innings. The average exit velocity allowed is 87.3 mph with a paltry 3.2% barrel rate. The FIP is 2.09. He’s failed to produce at least 20 FPTS only three times this season. Two of those came in the first four starts of the season, finishing with 15 and 19.3 FPTS. The other occurred four starts ago – 19.9 FPTS. As for upside, he’s put up at least 30 FPTS 10 times with two over 40 and a high of 58.6 FPTS! Yeah, he’s expensive but I imagine it’s like paying for a Ferrari – life will be good.
Value
Andrew Abbott, Cincinnati Reds at Seattle Mariners ($7,600) — Abbott is the mirror image of Misiorowski. He’s a lefty that averages only 92.6 mph on the fastball. The FIP is 4.85 while the K-BB% is only 7.9%. He’s also allowed 16 home runs in 105 innings. In addition, he’s not that cheap and has put up single digit FPTS in two of the last three outings. In the last start before the break, Abbott only lasted four innings. I’m really writing myself out of this recommendation. Take a deep breath. Ok. Prior to that four-inning start, Abbott went at least five innings in 13 straight with six of those at least six innings. Double-digit FPTS were scored in all but one of those games, with three over 20 FPTS. T-Mobile Park is pitcher friendly and the Mariners haven’t been the most robust offense this season – ninth in strikeouts, 24th in ISO, 26th in wOBA and 17th in wRC+.
INFIELD
Stud
Kyle Stowers, Miami Marlins at Houston Astros ($4,100) — Stowers has a huge strikeout problem, posting a 32.3% mark on the season. That said, he has tremendous power, posting a .210 ISO. The average exit velocity is 91.8 mph, barrel rate is 11.8% and the bat speed is 75.2 mph. Against right-handed pitching, the wRC+ is 119 with a .231 ISO. 11 of the 12 home runs hit have come off a righty. Ronel Blanco has a 7.8 FIP and 1.2% K-BB% against lefties. Six of the seven home runs allowed have come off the bat of a lefty.
Value
Miguel Andujar, San Diego Padres at Atlanta Braves ($2,800) — Andujar is slashing .264/.302/.430 with a 4% walk rate, 15.3% strikeout rate and .166 ISO. He has five home runs, 23 runs, 22 RBI and two stolen bases in 248 plate appearances. Against right-handed pitching, the wRC+ is 103 with a .184 ISO. Four of the five home runs have come off a righty. Bryce Elder has a 4.44 FIP against righties. They are slashing .297/.342/.455. In the six games prior to the break, Andujar put up over 20 FPTS in two of those contests without stealing a base or hitting a home run.
OUTFIELD
Stud
Esmerlyn Valdez, Pittsburgh Pirates ($4,000) — It’s only been 113 plate appearances, but Valdez has 12 home runs with an ISO over .400! It comes with a 37.2% strikeout rate, though, and the BABIP is .400. That said, the power is real and all the Statcast numbers back it up – 92.8 mph exit velocity, 20.4 degree launch angle, 27.9% barrel rate and 74.9 mph bat speed. Against righties, the wRC+ is 144 with a .304 ISO. Against lefties? A 270 wRC+ and .636 ISO! Now, Ryan Weathers does miss bats and is sporting a 26.9% strikeout rate, but he’s allowed 16 home runs, 13 to righties. The FIP is 4.05 and the K-BB% is 19.2% against righties. In his last seven games, Valdez has put up double digits in six, including a 20 and 39 FPTS game.
Value
Brewer Hicklen, Atlanta Braves vs. San Diego Padres ($2,500) — Hicklen was called up three games ago due to Ronald Acuna being out due to injury. All he’s done is put up 10, 11 and 12 FPTS. The righty has collected five hits, three of those doubles, with two RBI, two walks and three strikeouts. Acuna will likely be back later this week, but Hicklen should get another start or two. JP Sears has a 5.49 FIP and 7.4% K-BB% against righties.
