Welcome to MLB DFS, Money Monday edition. It’s me, Cousin Timmy, and I’m here to keep your Monday nights raw (wrestling fans know). If you ate too many Cadbury eggs last night you are likely reading this on the toilet. Just keep your phone clean for the sake of the rest of us. The main slate starts today with first pitch at 7:05 PM ET, and 4:05 PM PT for me. I’ll be on my third caffeine intake by then and ready to watch my phone light up green during my kid’s soccer practice. Yes, they practice every Monday.
We have a nine-game main slate on FanDuel with a little bit of rain to monitor and a number of good pitching options, including Mr. Perfect, Clayton Kershaw. If you think he’ll continue his streak against the Braves it’s going to cost you. $11,000 to be precise, the most expensive pitcher on the slate. We have Bryce Harper and the Phillies in Coors Field, and two subpar offenses going head-to-head in Oakland, the Orioles and A’s. Let’s dive into to my favorite plays for tonight.
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Sean Manaea, SP: $9,700 –Padres
Manaea has good stuff, good enough to have a no-hitter on his resume. Manaea has pitched 6+ innings in both of his two starts recording 13 strikeouts and two quality starts. His fastball sits about 92 MPH, but he has an impressive 34% CSW on it. Manaea gets the Reds at home tonight and they may be missing Jonathan India. Bad for my fantasy team, good for Manaea. Nick Senzel has been placed on the IL leaving Aristides Aquino in line to start, who strikes out a lot. The Reds have a good amount of LHH with Votto, Naquin, and Moustakas. All good signs for Manaea. Cincinnati is bottom five in multiple hitting categories when playing on the road. Manaea should have a good chance to get the W as well with rookie Nick Lodolo on the mound for the Reds.
Cobb is a nice mid-tier arm I like tonight. This game is in New York and is expecting a little rain so keep an eye on it. Assuming they play, I’ll have Cobb in a few lineups. Cobb is coming off a 83 pitch, 10 strikeout game. He should be stretched out now to 90+ pitches allowing for another high strikeout game. This game has the lowest implied run total on the slate at 6.5 and starters Brandon Nimmo and Mark Canha are OUT for the Mets. Although they have some sexy names, the Mets have been far from impressive this season with a .307wOBA and a 24% K rate.
J.T. Realmuto, C/1B: $4,100 – Phillies
The Real Deal is back in my write up, this time likely batting leadoff for the Phillies. The Phillies are visiting Coors Field and Chad Kuhl, I expect a lot of runs to be scored. Vegas does too, as they set the run total at 11. Kuhl had four walks and a 40% hard hit rate in his first start of just four innings. I’ll take the lead-off man and his four ABs in Coors any day.
Luke Voit, C/1B: $2,900 –Padres
I’m all in on the Padres grabbing a victory tonight and that means they need to score some runs. Luke Voit is going to contribute that total. LHP rookie Nick Lodolo is on the hill for the Reds and Voit as a career 131 WRC+ vs LHP. Teammate Austin Nola is also a cheaper bat at this position I like.
Ketel Marte, 2B/OF: $3,000 –Diamondbacks
Marte does not strike out much and has a nice .368wOBA while Arizona has a good chance to score some runs off of Josiah Gray. Gray has five walks in nine innings so far and has shown command issues. Marte should have no problem getting on base vs. the young pitcher.
Didi Gregorius, SS: $2800 – Phillies
One of the cheaper Phillies tonight, Didi is 6-for-15 in his last four games. There should be some men on base when he gets up in the 6th hole. Didi is +115 to record an RBI tonight, I like those odds in this game environment. The Phillies have an incredible lineup and sooner or later things are going to click. Tonight could be it.
Taylor Ward, 3B: $2,400 –LA Angels
Ward saw himself in batting third in the Angels lineup on Sunday and had quite the weekend recording 45.9 FanDuel points in two games. Luis Garcia is on the hill for Houston who should be in line for a good year but only through 4 innings in his first start. With Ohtani and Trout in the top of the lineup Ward should get plenty of pitches to hit. It’s hard to pass up a guy batting third in the order for this price, regardless of the opposing pitcher.
Nick Castellanos, OF: $4,100 – Phillies
Nick is planning to produce this series, he told me himself. He has a career batting average of .520 in 25 ABs. Chad Kuhl is a below average pitcher and we already discussed the game environment here. Colorado is in the running for worst bullpen in the league so even when Kuhl gets pulled, Castellanos should see plenty of plus matchups.
Brandon Lowe, OF/2B: $3,500 – Rays
Lowe has shown his power surge in 2021 is no joke. He’s already hit three homers in the first 10 games and is primed to knock another out of the park tonight against Kyle Hendricks in Wrigley. Hendricks surrendered 11 home runs and a .399wOBA to LHH in 2021 and got tagged for six runs by the Pirates in his last start. Don’t be surprised if we see a lead-off dinger from Lowe.
I’m Only Happy When It Rains
There is some rain in the Northeast that could impact Washington and New York. We have two dome games on the slate. Everything else looks clear at the moment.
Doing Lines In Vegas
This is as close as I’ve got to doing lines in Vegas in over six years, so let’s make it count. I like the Padres Money line vs. Cincinnati (-178) and Nick Castellanos to record 2+ hits in Coors (+145). You can bet these lines on FanDuel Sportsbook.
Good luck tonight and feel free to hit me up @TimmySperos on Twitter with any questions!
