This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
Monday brings a bevy of options to choose from on DraftKings with 12 games making up the main slate. Let's get right down to business and highlight some players to consider when building your lineups.
Pitchers
Tyler Glasnow ($10,400) has been lights out in his first two starts, allowing one run and recording 15 strikeouts across 12 innings. He allowed a total of seven base runners, which made his outings even more impressive. He'll look to keep things rolling against the Rangers, who had the second-worst OPS in baseball last season. They've had trouble making contact in the early going this season, recording the sixth-most strikeouts.
Speaking of pitchers with strikeout upside, Freddy Peralta ($7,700) can do plenty of damage in that department. He finished with a 37.6 percent strikeout rate last season and has stormed out of the gate with 14 strikeouts across seven innings this season. If you can't squeeze Glasnow's salary into your lineup, then Peralta is a viable option against the Cubs, who he shut out across five innings in his last start.
If you're hunting for strikeouts, then you probably won't find many from Chris Bassitt ($7,400). For his career, he only has a 20.0% rate in that category. However, he generally does a good job of limiting baserunners, posting a WHIP below 1.20 in back-to-back seasons. He's also allowed only 0.9 HR/9 for his career. Although he won't have the advantage of starting at the A's pitcher-friendly home park Monday, he will be facing a Diamondbacks lineup that will be without Ketel Marte (hamstring).
Top Targets
It's not difficult to make a case to roll with Juan Soto ($5,400), regardless of his opponent. He excels in so many different areas, thanks in large part to his excellent eye at the plate. For his career, he has a 17.0 percent walk rate compared to just a 19.1 percent strikeout rate. He could feast against John Gant ($5,700), who has allowed a 1.34 WHIP for his career. Also, with Gant's general inability to keep men off base, Trea Turner ($5,400) is also someone to strongly consider.
The Mariners are expected to start Justus Sheffield ($6,800) against the Orioles, which could be a matchup to exploit with Trey Mancini ($4,800). Once a top prospect in the Yankees' system, Sheffield has not been able to live up to the hype, mainly because he has a bloated 1.53 WHIP for his career. Mancini has proven to be a tough out, recording just a 23.2 percent strikeout rate for his career, which is impressive considering his power.
Bargain Bats
Evan Longoria ($4,300) is far from the hitter that he was in his prime with the Rays. However, he's still been productive against left-handed pitchers. Case in point, he's recorded a wOBA of at least .359 against them in both of the last two seasons. That means he should at least be on your radar for a matchup with Wade Miley ($7,100).
Brandon Nimmo ($3,600) may not bring a lot of power to the plate, but he has an excellent eye, which has helped propel him to a career .393 OBP. He's off to a hot start this season with his seven hits and six walks, leaving him with a .565 OBP. Tack on his career .402 OBP versus right-handed pitchers and he could provide value versus Chase Anderson ($6,300).
Stacks to Consider
Athletics vs. Madison Bumgarner ($7,900), Diamondbacks: Matt Chapman ($4,400), Ramon Laureano ($3,800), Mark Canha ($3,900)
The A's haven't been the most prolific of offenses in the early going, but it's difficult to resist and opportunity to stack against Bumgarner. He's followed up his abysmal 2020 campaign by allowing 11 runs and 18 base runners across nine innings in his first two starts. Dating back to the start of last season, he's allowed 15 home runs across 50.2 innings. That could be a recipe for disaster against Chapman, who has a career .245 ISO.
Phillies vs. David Peterson ($6,400), Mets: J.T. Realmuto ($5,100), Rhys Hoskins ($4,600), Alec Bohm ($3,800)
Peterson also faced the Phillies in his first start and was touched up for six runs across four innings. He's in the early stages of his career given that he had never even pitched above Double-A prior to last season. Although he finished with a 3.44 ERA with the Mets last season, his 4.52 FIP and 11.7 percent walk rate indicate things could have been much worse. Hoskins could be a key part of any Phillies stack given his career .390 wOBA against left-handed pitchers.
Astros vs. Casey Mize ($6,100), Tigers: Yordan Alvarez ($4,700), Michael Brantley ($4,500), Kyle Tucker ($4,100)
Mize only made it through four innings in his season debut against the Twins. He was lucky to allow just one run given that he allowed five hits and two walks. He also had trouble keeping men off base last season, posting a 1.48 WHIP across seven starts. Left-handed hitters have recorded a .425 wOBA against him early in his career, which could make this a potent trio.
