This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
DFS baseball starts at 1:07 p.m. EDT Monday with an all-day slate to include the first contest (Boston at Toronto) and the 6:05 p.m. EDT Oakland at Cleveland assignment.
The main slate of games starts at the usual 7:05 p.m. EDT and features eight clashes, including those in Houston, Texas and San Diego. There are also three single-games slates running, headlined by the 1:07 game.
PITCHING
Two of the three pitchers with salaries of $10,000 or more (Padres' Chris Paddack, Braves' Mike Soroka) weren't even on the fantasy radar a year ago, and here they are with enormous price tags. However, Patrick Corbin ($10,800) is the best option for cash games despite carrying the highest tag. He's been absolutely filthy this season with four of his nine starts hitting at least 55 fantasy points. The Mets have struck out a whopping 29 percent of the time this season against left-handed pitching.
Looking at the middle-tier options, the Rangers' Mike Minor ($8,800) stands out in GPPs due to his upside. The matchup at home is less than ideal against the Mariners, though they strike out 26.1 percent of the time against left-handed pitching, the 10th-highest mark in the league. Surprisingly, Minor has been better in Arlington than on the road since joining the Rangers with a 3.07 home ERA with a 8.0 K/9. At Globe Life Park this season, Minor has games of 55, 58, 52 and five fantasy points (first start of the season against the Cubs).
The lowest-priced pitcher worth considering on the slate is the Astros' Brad Peacock ($7,800), who'll be home against the White Sox. Peacock is the perfect pitcher for tournaments given he's been hit-or-miss this season with a high ceiling but a low floor. He has 34 or more fantasy points in four of his nine starts this season but had 12 or fewer fantasy points in four starts as well. The White Sox have a league-average .316 wOBA against right-handed pitching, but their 25.7 strikeout rate is the fourth-highest mark in baseball.
KEY VALUES/CHALK
If Mike Minor isn't going to be your lineup, building around Mitch Haniger ($3,700) is a good place to start. He gets a park upgrade playing in Texas and has been stout for the last year and a half against left-handed pitching. Last season, his best split was on the road against lefties, where he had a .411 wOBA. For fans of Batter versus Pitcher stats, he's gone 6-for-12 (1.405 OPS) against Minor.
Spending up at shortstop is always recommended, but Gleyber Torres ($3,500) won't totally break the bank. The Yankees youngster been a completely different player over the last three weeks (1.043 OPS) and gets a favorable matchup in Baltimore against Andrew Cashner. Cashner has had bad reverse splits this season, giving up a .361 wOBA to right-handed hitters. Remember, Torres has the upside to put up 30-plus fantasy points on any given night, something few players at the position possess.
To spend up at pitcher and the other bats, some spots are going to need to be punted. A good choice for that tonight is the Orioles' Renato Nunez ($2,200), who will likely be the cheapest cleanup hitter on the slate. Nunez has hit lefties better this season and has a good history against Yankee starter J.A. Happ. Nunez has gone 7-for-15 with three home runs against him, including one May 15.
Another viable GPP punt play at second base is Ty France ($2,200), who's essentially holding the place for Fernando Tatis Jr. until he returns. France had a 1.385 OPS at Triple-A El Paso before his callup and has some pop in his bat, as evidenced by three 20-plus-point performances in May. He's also endured plenty of goose eggs, though, which is why he's better left for tournaments.
If Kendrys Morales ($2,200) goes into the Hall of Fame, he most likely will go in as a Yankee now, right? The Yankees seem to be ahead of the curve finding players off the scrap heap who contribute immediately. A streaky hitter, Morales has a home run and reached base safely six times over his last three games. He also has a good history against Andrew Cashner, going 7-for-14 against him with three home runs and a 1.745 OPS; he's scored fantasy points in 11 straight contests.
STACKS
Nationals at Wilmer Font (Mets)
Howie Kendrick (1B - $3,000), Anthony Rendon (3B - $4,100), Juan Soto (OF - $3,900), Trea Turner (SS - $4,300)
This could easily end being Drew Gagnon who gets the call over Font, but either way, the Nationals get a fifth-starter type Monday. Any of the four players listed are capable of scoring over 30 fantasy points, and it wouldn't be surprising if more than one of them accomplished that considering the matchup.
Rangers vs Mike Leake (Seattle)
Rougned Odor (2B - $2,900), Nomar Mazara (OF - $3,500), Joey Gallo (OF - $4,200), Willie Calhoun (OF - $3,000), Shin-Soo Choo (OF - $3,800)
This is one of the safer stacks to use. All of these guys are in play for cash games. The key here is finding the right four to use and figuring out who's the odd man out. If the Rangers rotate their outfield, they might make that an easy decision if one of those players is sitting.
