We’ve got a seven-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 $150K Extra Inning [$50K to 1st]
PITCHER
Stud
Parker Messick, Cleveland Guardians at Los Angeles Angels ($9,500) — Messick has had a solid season. Through 149 innings, the ERA is 2.54 with a 19 K-BB% while allowing only 14 home runs. The FIP is slightly higher at 3.11, though, but still very good. The average exit velocity allowed is 87.2 mph with a 5% barrel rate. He’s put up double-digit FPTS in all but two starts this season with 13 over 20 FPTS. Two of those were over 30 FPTS, so there’s upside here for sure. And the matchup portends towards the upper range of outcomes as the Angels are third in strikeouts and 22nd in wRC+ against left-handed pitching.
Value
George Klassen, Los Angeles Angels vs. Cleveland Guardians ($6,500) — Pitchers duel in Los Angeles? It’s possible. DraftKings Sportsbook has the total at 8 runs. The season-long numbers for Klassen aren’t great, as the walk rate is 17.8% and the FIP is 4.97. That said, he does average 96.7 mph on the fastball and has allowed only two homers. In addition, it’s only been 21.2 innings. After only pitching four or fewer innings in the first three outings, Klassen has gone six and seven innings, putting up 19.3 and 31.4 FPTS. The matchup is a good one as Cleveland is 27th in ISO and 25th in wRC+ against right-handed pitching.
INFIELD
Stud
Royce Lewis, Minnesota Twins at Athletics ($4,900) — Lewis has been relatively quiet lately, failing to score fantasy goodies in three of the last four games. The last time he went for double-digit FPTS was nine games ago. Lewis has had some monstrous streaks, though, and is in play to go bonkers on any given night as long as he’s healthy. The launch angle is 20.7 degrees, barrel rate is 11.5% and the bat speed is 75.2 mph. Against left-handed pitching, the wRC+ is 115 with a .200 ISO. Jeffrey Springs has struggled with righties, allowing 21 home runs with a 6.13 FIP. This game is also in Sacramento.
Value
Donovan Walton, Athletics vs. Minnesota Twins ($2,900) — In 176 plate appearances, Walton is slashing .283/.374/.454 with a 10.8% walk rate and 17% strikeout rate. The Statcast numbers are meh, but he has racked up four home runs, 28 runs, 18 RBI and two stolen bases. Against right-handed pitching, the wRC+ is 143 with a .167 ISO. Three of the four home runs have come off a righty. Zebby Matthews is allowing an average exit velocity of 90.7 mph with an 11.5% barrel rate. The FIP is 5.1 against lefties. Walton has put up at least 7 FPTS in seven of the last eight games with four of those in double digits.
OUTFIELD
Stud
Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago Cubs at Arizona Diamondbacks ($6,600) — PCA is slashing .279/.377/.554 in 579 plate appearances. The walk rate is 11.9% and strikeout rate is 26.6%. He has 32 home runs, 91 runs, 80 RBI and 31 stolen bases with around 50 games left to play. Last season, he finished with 31 home runs and 35 stolen bases in 647 plate appearances. The average exit velocity is 90.2 mph with a 22.1 degree launch angle and 12.2% barrel rate. The bat speed is 74.8 mph. 23 of the 32 home runs have come off a righty while the wRC+ is 148 with a .292 ISO against right-handed pitching. Merrill Kelly allows an average exit velocity of 90.3 mph with a 12.6% barrel rate. Lefties have hit 18 home runs off him while the FIP is 6.72 with a 0.9 K-BB% against them.
Value
Tristan Peters, Chicago White Sox vs. Texas Rangers ($2,800) — Peters has an 18.3% strikeout rate with eight home runs, 47 runs, 44 RBI and six stolen bases in 383 plate appearances. The Statcast numbers are meh but he is very good against right-handed pitching. All eight home runs have been hit off a righty while the wRC+ is 128 with a .181 ISO. He’s put up 22 and 16 FPTS in the last two contests. Kumar Rocker has allowed 11 home runs and a .287/.361/.490 slash to lefties. The FIP is 4.87.
