Although it is April 1st, this list of FanDuel picks for the first Monday of the MLB season is no joke. What might make you laugh though is the pitching options for the main slate. The pitching is very thin with few options to feel really good about. The list certainly will leave you desiring more.
But while the pitching stinks, there are plenty of bats and stacks to choose from as you look to build your winning FanDuel lineup for Monday. To help you navigate those options and more, let’s dive right into the DFS picks for Monday, April 1st.
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Julio Urias, SP: $7,200 – Las Vegas has the Dodgers’ as the biggest favorite on Monday’s main slate. This makes Urias a solid cash game option as the quality start and win bonus should be within reach for the Los Angeles’ starter. Urias faces a Giants’ offense that has mustered up a lousy .206/.280/.309 slash line to start the 2019 season and he gets to do it in a pitcher-friendly park.
Matt Strahm, SP: $6,400 – The reliever turned start finds a very favorable matchup on Monday against a struggling Diamondbacks’ offense. Arizona is striking out in over 25% of their at-bats while producing just a .226 batting average. The sportsbooks give Strahm the advantage here as the Padres opened up as the third biggest favorite for Monday.
David Price, SP: $9,300 – His price tag probably doesn’t fit the expected outcome in terms of production, but Price is a safe play on a night where there is no sure thing on the mound. Boston should score the southpaw enough runs that a win bonus is certainly within reach. While Price may not have the highest ceiling on the slate, he has one of the safest floors.
Steven Matz, SP: $8,300 – The Mets’ starter has held the current Marlins’ roster to a .194 batting average with 15 strikeouts in 62 at-bats in his career. His run of success should continue tomorrow in the pitching-friendly Miami ballpark.
Willson Contreras, C: $2,900 – The Cubs’ catcher is off to a nice start in 2019 with a 1.125 OPS through three games. Look for the early season success to continue on Monday. Contreras faces a lefty in Atlanta’s Sean Newcomb. The southpaw owned a 4.47 xFIP against righties in 2018. While Contreras has a .348 wOBA and a 119 wRC+ against lefties since the start of the 2018 campaign.
Danny Jansen, C: $2,500 – Jansen was slotted in the leadoff spot on Sunday, and if he is there again on Monday the catcher will be in a great spot to provide salary relief. The backstop will square off with the Orioles’ David Hess. The Baltimore righty has struggled to find success in his career. He has allowed a .346 wOBA vs. righties. That plays well into Jansen’s strength as he has a .209 ISO against righties since the beginning of the 2018 season.
Other catchers to consider: Chirinos, Ramos
Justin Smoak, 1B: $3,600 – The Toronto first baseman should be the starting point for your cash game lineups. Since the start of last season, Smoak has crushed righties to the tune of a .261 ISO. With Baltimore’s Hess allowing 2.53 HR/9 to lefties in his career, look for Smoak to go yard in this one.
Mitch Moreland, 1B: $2,900 – While the other Boston bats will get most of the attention on today’s slate, Moreland is a cheap option worth considering. Not only does he own a .213 ISO against right-handed pitching since the start of the 2018 season, but Moreland also has a plus matchup against Oakland’s Brooks. The A’s starter is a career minor leaguer that has allowed a .360 career wOBA to lefties.
Others first basemen to consider: Bour, White, Tellez
Rougned Odor, 2B: $3,600 – Houston’s Brad Peacock struggled with left-handed bats in 2018. The Astros’ starter allowed a .394 wOBA to lefties last season. While Odor has done well against righties with a 101 wRC+ versus them since the start of 2018. It certainly doesn’t hurt Odor’s chances on Monday that he has been successful against Peacock in the past. In 12 career at-bats against the righty, the Rangers’ second baseman has seven hits, two of which left the yard.
Enrique Hernandez, 2B: $3,300- Kike has scored at least 9.2 FanDuel points in each game he has played this season. The success should continue on Monday against the Giants’ Drew Pomeranz. The San Francisco lefty allowed a .401 wOBA versus right-handed batters in 2018.
Other second basemen to consider: Jose Altuve
Justin Turner, 3B: $4,000 – The Dodgers’ red-headed slugger finds himself in an excellent position to pay off value on Monday. Turner owned a 174 wRC+ versus lefties in 2018.
Kris Bryant, 3B: $4,500 – Anytime the former MVP faces a lefty he has to draw serious DFS consideration. Going back to the start of the 2018 season, Bryant has a ridiculous .333 ISO and a .442 wOBA versus lefties.
Other third basemen to consider: Bregman, Machado, A. Cabrera
Xander Bogaerts, SS: $4,000 – Fresh of getting a new contract, the Red Sox’s shortstop will look to pay immediate dividends on Monday. Bogaerts and his .255 ISO versus righties will face the Athletics’ Brooks and his career .443 wOBA allowed to righties.
Javier Baez, SS: $4,500 – Baez has not scored less than 18.7 FanDuel points in a game this season. The hot start to the 2019 campaign should continue on Monday. The shortstop loves facing southpaws. Since the start of last season, Baez has destroyed lefties with a .287 ISO and .395 wOBA.
Other shortstops to consider: Correa
Mike Trout, OF: $4,900 – Not that you need a reason to play Trout, but the Angels’ superstar has terrorized the Mariners’ Felix Hernandez throughout his career. The Los Angeles outfielder has a .373/.419/.759 slash line in 83 at-bats against the Seattle starter.
J.D. Martinez, OF: $4,700 – Both Martinez and teammate Mookie Betts are in play for Monday’s DFS action as they take on the Athletics’ Brooks. Martinez homered yesterday and will look to do it again on Monday as he owns a .309 ISO versus righties since the start of the 2018 season.
Joey Gallo, OF: $3,600 – The slugging outfielder should provide plenty of power on Monday. Not only does Gallo crush righties, as shown by his .280 ISO against them, but the Astros’ Peacock allowed 3.13 HR/9 to lefties last season.
A.J. Pollock, OF: $3,500 – Don’t be surprised to see Pollock hit a long ball or two on Monday. The new Dodgers’ outfielder lands in a great spot. Not only does he have a 45.9% hard contact versus lefties since the beginning of last season, but Pollock also will face Drew Pomeranz, who allowed 1.88 HR/9 to righties in 2018.
Other outfielders to consider: McKinney, Grichuk, Renfroe, Pham, Springer, Reddick, Choo
I’m Only Happy When It Rains
For it being just April 1st on the calendar, the weather looks pretty good for Monday and should have little to no impact on DFS builds via precipitation or wind.
Doing Lines In Vegas
The Astros/Rangers game has the highest o/u of the main slate at 9.5, which should be no real surprise as a lot of players from this game have made the list of picks for today.
