This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
There are a couple of early start times in baseball Monday, which leaves us with only seven games to choose from for the main slate on Yahoo. The good news is that there is no shortage of viable starting pitching options. The bad news is that offense might be hard to come by. Let's dig into the matchups and discuss some players to target.
Pitchers
Trevor Bauer ($59) has been downright dominant this season. He hasn't allowed more than one run in any of his four starts and he has a whopping 41 strikeouts across 26.1 innings. His WHIP is a microscopic 0.57 and his 1.92 FIP backs up his strong numbers. While his salary is pricey, he could once again be productive against the Brewers, who he recorded 12 strikeouts against while allowing only one run across six innings a couple of weeks ago.
Not much has gone right for the Astros this season, but one bright spot for them has been the performance of Framber Valdez ($35). He struggled while pitching mostly out of the bullpen last season, but he's started four of his five appearances in 2020. The starting role might suit him better considering he has a 1.72 ERA that is supported by a 2.56 FIP. He did a good job of limiting home runs while coming up through the minors and despite his overall struggles last year, he only allowed 1.2 HR/9. This season, he's allowed one long ball over 31.1 innings. At this reasonable salary, he's someone to consider against the Angels, a team that he held to one unearned run while recording eight strikeouts across 6.1 innings earlier this season.
Top Targets
Staying in this game between the Astros and Angels brings us to George Springer ($22), who is off to a disappointing start with a .322 wOBA. He's batting is average is only .200 despite his strikeout rate decreasing from last season. The big difference is that his hard-hit rate has dropped from 41.9 percent last season to 33.8 percent this year. However, even with his struggles, this could be a situation to deploy him in DFS against Patrick Sandoval ($28) given his career .387 wOBA against left-handed pitchers. Sandoval struggled last season and has followed that up with a 5.89 FIP across his first four starts in 2020.
Normally one to hit for a high average, Paul Goldschmidt ($17) regressed in 2019 by batting .260 with a .346 wOBA. He's trying his best to make that a one-year blip, hitting .340 with a .430 wOBA this season. His strikeout rate is down considerably at 16.2 percent and his 22.1 percent walk rate would be by far the highest mark of his career. The Cardinals don't exactly have a deep lineup, so don't be surprised if pitchers continue to be cautious with him. On a night with so many excellent starting pitchers in action, Goldschmidt at least doesn't face an overpowering one in Brad Keller ($43), who has a career 17.2 percent strikeout rate.
Bargain Bats
Goldschmidt's teammate Kolten Wong ($10) might be another viable option. He's currently on a seven-game hitting streak that has seen him hit 9-for-25 (.360) with two stolen bases. While his 101 career wRC+ against right-handed pitchers isn't exactly sparkling, it is significantly better than hi 79 wRC+ against lefties.
The Tigers are one of the few teams who aren't facing an overwhelming pitcher since they will be taking on Alec Mills ($41) and the Cubs. Mills' 2.75 ERA last season was a bit deceiving given his 4.19 FIP. This season, he has a 4.76 ERA and a 4.86 FIP. He also only has 15 strikeouts across 22.2 innings. That could mean a productive night is on the horizon for Victor Reyes ($12), who is 5-for-17 with a home run and two doubles across his last four starts.
Stacks to Consider
Reds vs. Brett Anderson ($27), Brewers: Nick Castellanos ($21), Eugenio Suarez ($12), Phillip Ervin ($7)
Anderson hasn't allowed more than three runs in any of his four starts, but he also pitched 4.1 innings or fewer in three of those outings. He doesn't miss many bats, generating a 16.2 percent strikeout rate for his career. The Reds do have a left-handed heavy lineup, but these three righties could take advantage of this matchup. Ervin is off to a slow start, but he crushed lefties to the tune of a 164 wRC+ last season.
Diamondbacks vs. Ryan Castellani ($32), Rockies: Ketel Marte ($17), Kole Calhoun ($17), David Peralta ($16)
Castellani made his debut at Triple-A last year and struggled with an 8.25 FIP and a 1.94 WHIP. His first couple of starts with the Rockies went well this season, but he came crashing back to reality in his last start against the Astros, giving up five runs across 5.2 innings. The Diamondbacks might be able to exploit the inexperienced righty, especially the duo of Calhoun and Peralta. Across his 43.1 innings at Triple-A last year, Castellani allowed a whopping 14 home runs. That could fit right into the wheelhouse of Calhoun, who has a .268 ISO this season.
