- There are a dozen games on the Monday docket, with everything played under the lights. The slate begins in the Steel City with the Pittsburgh Pirates hosting the Colorado Rockies. JT Brubaker (3% rostered in ESPN leagues) starts for the home team. The righty is sporting a career high 26.5% strikeout rate, though he's also walking batters at a career worst 11.7% clip. However, as a team the Rockies are not patient and they usually struggle on the road, especially the first series after a long homestand. Brubaker will only be available on select DFS slates, but he's one of the top streamers for traditional fantasy leagues.
- Drew Smyly (3%) is also in play as a spot starter, taking the hill for the Chicago Cubsin the Great American Ballpark. The venue is not ideal, but there are a couple of factors favoring Smyly, though splits against lefthanded pitching are still tenuous, even a quarter of the way through the season. Specifically, the Cincinnati Reds home wOBA facing southpaws is .330, well above average, but they've fanned at a 30% clip, while homering at the 11th lowest pace in these conditions. This is relevant since Smyly's primary issue has been serving up too many long balls.
- Tyler Anderson (3%) is also in play for those looking for an early pitching boost to start the week. His defense comes with the same small sample warnings as Smyly, but the lefthander faces a Washington Nationalslineup with the worst home wOBA facing southpaws, though they don't fan much in that scenario. However, Anderson's win potential helps mitigate the paucity of punchouts as the Los Angeles Dodgersshould be able to tally some runs facing Joan Adon, one of the lowest ranked starters on the Monday ledger.
- The final streaming candidate is Minnesota Twins righty Chris Archer who will take on the Detroit Tigers at home. Other than the pun potential of taking a shot at Archer in Target Field, the opposing lineup has posted the second worst wOBA versus righthanders and will be without Austin Meadows who remains out.
- Turning to hitters, there are two lineups to target for fill-in bats. The lefty-swinging brethren of the Arizona Diamondbacks are in a favorable position at home against Zack Greinke. Josh Rojas (25%), David Peralta(14%) and Pavin Smith lead the way. Rojas is especially attractive since Kansas City Royals catcher MJ Melendez isn't nearly adept at stopping steals as Sal Perez who is on the IL. Next, the righthanded unit for the Philadelphia Phillies face vulnerable Atlanta Braves lefty Tucker Davidson. Alec Bohm(38%) is batting second while Johan Camargo (1%) and Roman Quinn (<1%) are also in play.
What you need to know for Monday's MLB Games
- Thread starter biggins
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