Thanks to everyone who has served our country to provide and protect our freedom and to the families who have lost loved ones on this Memorial Day.
The Monday slates on Fanduel and DraftKings are a little catawampus, so this article will focus on the DraftKings 10-game early slate. We’ll make it free for the freedom we have in this country. Have a safe Memorial Day!
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Let’s mow down the competition 3 Up and 3 Down…
3 Up
Ace
Max Scherzer (FD-$11,800 / DK-$11,100)
Scherzer has recorded at least seven strikeouts in all 11 of his starts this season. He has also allowed three or fewer runs in nine of his 11 outings. It is that kind of consistency that you love to get into your cash game lineups. Scherzer always has upside but that upside could be even higher than normal pitching at home as a huge Vegas favorite against the Marlins. The Marlins rank dead last in wOBA (.273) and wRC+ (71) against righties this season while also posting the fourth highest strikeout rate (25.8%). Scherzer has had some trouble against Marlins hitters at times during his career but pitching at home in Washington D.C. on Memorial Day seems like a perfect spot for a dominant performance.
Value
Yonny Chirinos (FD-$5,500 / DK-$7,900)
Chirinos is often the long reliever after an opener for the Rays but he will get the start on Monday at home against the Blue Jays. Chirinos has done very well when he is given the ball for the opening pitch this year with a 2.49 ERA in four starts. He won’t wow you will gaudy strikeout numbers, but he could see an uptick on Monday against a Blue Jays squad that has the sixth highest strikeout rate (25.4%) against righties this season.
Darkhorse
Matt Strahm (FD-$8,300 / DK-$8,500)
Strahm has been incredibly consistent this season allowing two or fewer runs in eight straight starts. I expect many to shy away from him pitching against the Yankees on the road, but he has survived other tough spots already this season. Meanwhile, the Yankees only rank 23rd in wOBA (.294) and 24th in wRC+ (80) against lefties this season with a 26.7% (5th) strikeout rate. I would limit my exposure to him to just GPPs but he could be worth it.
3 Down
Top Stacks
Royals vs. Ivan Nova
Nova has allowed five or more runs in four of his last seven outings. Left-handed hitters have posted a .423 wOBA off him this season and he has been crushed at home in this three starts with a 16.36 ERA.
Hunter Dozier (FD-$3,500 / DK-$4,900)
Alex Gordon (FD-$3,400 / DK-$5,000)
Adalberto Mondesi (FD-$3,900 / DK-$5,700)
Nicky Lopez (FD-$3,000 / DK-$3,600)
Reds vs. Nick Kingham
I think there is value to stay away from the game at Coors Field on Monday. So, give me the Reds at home against Kingham. Kingham has allowed a .505 wOBA and 3.27 HR/9 to lefties this season.
Derek Dietrich (FD-$2,700 / DK-$4,900)
Jesse Winker (FD-$2,500 / DK-$4,000)
Joey Votto (FD-$2,900 / DK-$3,700)
Tucker Barnhart (FD-$2,600 / DK-$3,400)
Contrarian Stack
Padres vs. Luis Cessa
The Yankees will look to deploy a “bullpen” game on Monday with Luis Cessa potentially getting the bulk of the innings. The Padres should benefit from a favorable park adjustment in a game that matches the highest Vegas total on the slate.
Franmil Reyes (FD-$3,300 / DK-$4,200)
Manny Machado (FD-$3,600 / DK-$4,000)
Eric Hosmer (FD-$3,300 / DK-$4,200)
Wil Myers (FD-$3,000 / DK-$4,100)
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