This article is part of our FantasyAces MLB series.
Here are my Fantasy Aces recommendations for the 10-game slate on Monday, September 28, 2015. Note that player prices are from the Rotowire Optimizer tool.
P – Marco Estrada ($8900) – This pick is as much about Estrada's impressive run of 10 starts in which he has limited opponents to two runs or less in his last 11 appearances, as it is about the Jays mastery over Chris Tillman, who starts for the Orioles on Monday. Tillman has been knocked around badly in each of his five starts in 2015 vs. the Jays (31 ER in 18 IP, if you can believe it!).
P – Yordano Ventura ($8700) – This young righty has risen up to the challenge and corresponding high stakes of a pennant race by saving his best efforts for his six most recent outings, in which he has struck out 43 batters (against only 16 walks over 35 IP) and produced a 3.60 ERA, which is almost one run lower than his full season mark.
C – Yan Gomes ($2400) – Gomes continues to be among MLB's top power hitting catchers and is currently riding a six-game batting streak, in which he has eight hits in 24 at-bats. He opposes Phil Hughes, who has given up 29 long balls in 154 IP this year. Gomes is also 4-for-11 in a small career sample against the big righty.
1B/3B – Edwin Encarnacion ($4900) – He has had a torrid second half and is considered by many to be the best hitter in the potent Jays lineup. He also has a healthy 15-for-46 sample against Tillman, which includes two HR and five extra-base knocks.
1B/3B – Josh Donaldson ($4900) – The AL's likely MVP has to be in your lineup today. He is heating up again after a bit of a dry spell in recent weeks. He has five hits in his last 14 at-bats and I remind you of the notes on Tillman above.
2B/SS – Neil Walker ($3000) – As with Jays batters, today is a good day to stack Pirates hitters because a number of them have fared very well against Cards starter Lance Lynn. For instance, Walker is 14-for-38 in this matchup, with three HR, eight extra-base hits and 10 RBI.
2B/SS – Jordy Mercer ($2600) – Mercer is 7-for-15 against Lynn, with three extra-base hits and four RBI in the small sample. He also heads into Monday's game on a tear, with 10 hits (five for extra bases) in his last 27 at-bats against all comers.
OF – Starling Marte ($4000) – Marte is the third Pittsburgh batter who is in today's lineup card, because of his nice numbers against Lynn (eight hits in a 21 at-bat sample) and his own current 14-for-33 string that includes a homer, three doubles and eight RBI.
OF – Carl Crawford ($2300) – The veteran outfielder makes the grade today because he has carried a hot stick over the last 30 days, with 20 hits in his last 66 at-bats. He also gets a favorable matchup against fellow vet Jake Peavy, against whom he has a nice 8-for-24 sample.
OF – Kevin Pillar ($3300) – Pillar has enjoyed a nice breakout campaign and is punctuating it with a strong finish during the Jays run to the AL East pennant. He is currently enjoying a power surge with five extra-base hits (including two homers) as part of a hot 12-for-25 run in his last seven starts. He has three homers in 13 at-bats versus Tillman.
Util – David Ortiz ($4500) – Big Papi makes my list on Monday because he has 10 homers and 28 RBI over the past 30 days in a strong finish to another season. Another consideration is the matchup against the Yankees' Ivan Nova who has served up four HR over his last 19.1 IP and, oh yeah, there's that short porch in Yankee Stadium's right field to consider.
Other favorable batting/pitching options, based on career splits against their Monday opponents include: C Tucker Barnhart ($2200), 1B/3B Todd Frazier ($2600), 2B/SS Jose Altuve ($3500), 2B/SS Carlos Correa ($3700) and OF Michael Taylor ($2500)
