MLB DFS Bargain Bin- Monday, August 20th All Slates

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MLB DFS Bargain Bin – Monday, August 20th All Slates

Welcome to a Monday edition of the MLB DFS Bargain Bin, where the goal is to provide a general overview of the ledger and touch on where the weakest pitching spots might be, and by extension, where there may be some value bats to consider. Additionally, I’ll look to identify where a value arm or two might be intersecting with an offense that’s running cold or is otherwise inefficient against a certain handedness.

Before we go MLB DFS Bargain Bin hunting, a few particulars about format and content:

The nature of the beast with value plays is at least a modest amount (and sometimes substantially more) of risk. After all, these players are usually priced where they are for a reason. Therefore, the Bargain Bin may prove to be a bit more of a rollercoaster ride on some slates than your typical “tout” article!
Naturally, that doesn’t mean there isn’t upside to be had. All of these selections are therefore suitable for GPPs (and usually avoidable for cash games), and they can often help you accommodate multiple higher-priced studs into your lineup.
In this DFS MLB Bargain Bin Quick Hits version, I’ll suggest players that are typically value-priced across all four major DFS sites (Yahoo, FanDuel, DraftKings and FantasyDraft). Naturally, check final pricing before making your lineup decisions, as I am not listing salaries in this edition.
This is not a position-by-position breakdown, but rather, I’m just identifying games where I think there’s value players in potentially favorable fantasy spots.
The goal is to recommend truly affordable players, as opposed to, say, a player priced just $300-$400 away from the highest-priced option at his position. I don’t have set-in-stone price limits in mind for each site, but I do consider legitimate affordability a very important criterion.

With those housekeeping items out of the way, I’ll give you my thoughts on where there may be some value spots to exploit on Monday’s slates!

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MLB DFS Bargain Bin – Monday, August 20th All Slates Bargain Pitcher

Derek Holland, SFG at NYM

Holland has allowed between zero and two earned runs in four of his last five starts, with all of those coming on the road. The veteran left-hander has been better away from AT&T Park all season, sporting a respectable 3.56 ERA and an 80.5 percent strand rate that’s more than 15 percentage points than the one he’s generated at home. Holland has also been on an extended stretch of solid pitching that goes beyond the aforementioned five-start span, as he boasts a 2.92 ERA, 3.29 xFIP and 28.0 percent strikeout rate over the 71 innings he’s pitched since June 4.

The matchup lines up well for him Monday, as the Mets have been struggling versus left-handed pitching at home over the course of the season. New York ranks dead last in all of baseball with a .260 wOBA and -29.4 wRAA versus lefties at Citi Field for the season, along with a 68 wRC+, .101 ISO, .207 average and MLB-high 26.6 percent strikeout rate. They’ve been even worse recently, sporting a .221 wOBA and 27.3 percent strikeout rate versus lefties at home during August. Five of the Mets’ eight position players projected to be in the starting lineup Monday also have an ISO of .160 or lower against lefties, furthering Holland’s case.

In addition to Holland, there’s one other bargain option holding some appeal Monday, although he carries a bit more risk:

ALSO CONSIDER:

Austin Gomber, STL at LAD

Two straight victories and Dodgers sport a .233 wOBA, 51 wRC+, -8.4 wRAA and 23.8 percent strikeout rate against left-handers at home over the last month (130 plate appearances).

MLB DFS Picks /

MLB DFS Bargain Bin – Monday, August 20th All Slates Quick Hits

Given the Orioles’

Andrew Cashner

‘s struggles with hitters from both sides of the plate (.356 wOBA allowed to lefty hitters, .348 wOBA allowed to righty bats), I’d consider all affordable Blue Jays bats Monday. Of particular note is that

Kendrys Morales

(.571 average over nine plate appearances) and

Kevin Pillar

(.400 average over 10 plate appearances) have had plenty of career success against him, while two of

Randal Grichuk

‘s three career hits against Cashner’s have left the yard.

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Meanwhile, Toronto starter Marco Estrada‘s biggest struggles have come against right-handed hitters, especially at home, where he’s allowed them a .371 wOBA. Trey Mancini, Renato Nunez, Tim Beckham and Caleb Joseph are all bargain Orioles bats in play as a result.

The Pirates’ Chris Archer is as inconsistent as ever following his trade to Pittsburgh, and although left-handed hitters have been the biggest issue for him this season, right-handed bats have gotten their share of hard hits against him as well. I’d therefore give bargain bats on the Braves like Johan Camargo and Ender Inciarte consideration from the left side of the plate, and the likes of Tyler Flowers of Kurt Suzuki and Dansby Swanson from the right.

The Braves’ Kevin Gausman has been much more effective of late, but he’s still prone to giving up the long ball at an above-average clip to either handedness of hitter. I’d give the likes of Corey Dickerson, Starling Marte, Gregory Polanco and the switch-hitting Josh Bell (.372 wOBA on the road) particular consideration.

The Royals roll out Jorge Lopez on Monday, and he’s particularly scuffled versus right-handed hitters (.340 average,.378 wOBA allowed). The likes of Matt Duffy, Tommy Pham and Willy Adames look particularly appealing as Rays bargain bats as a result, along with Carlos Gomez and any others that might find their way into the lineup. However, with the Royals bullpen allowing a 5.66 ERA and .348 wOBA to left-handed hitters on the road over the last month, affordable Rays lefty bats are in play as well.

The Rays will use Hunter Wood as an opening pitcher Monday, and he’s been hit hard by right-handed hitters in particular (.397 wOBA, 32.6 percent line-drive rate, 38.3 percent hard contact rate allowed). Although he may only be in there once through the order for the Royals, I’d give Salvador Perez, Whit Merrifield, Jorge Bonifacio, Adalberto Mondesi and Rosell Herrera some consideration.

The Mets’ Zach Wheeler has been very effective over his last five starts in particular, but worth noting that a couple of affordably priced Giants — Brandon Crawford and Andrew McCutchen — have brief but favorable histories against him (combined 5-for-8 with a homer and five RBI).

The Red Sox’s Rick Porcello is always vulnerable to left-handed hitters at Fenway Park (.343 wOBA, including eight homers, allowed), and the short right-field porch makes it a particularly appealing environment for the likes of bargain Indians bats like Yonder Alonso, Melky Cabrera and Jason Kipnis. Unsurprisingly, all three players also have very favorable histories against him, with Cabrera leading the way with a .536 average over 30 plate appearances (with only one strikeout).

MLB DFS Bargain Bin- Monday, August 20th All Slates Quick Hits (cont.)

The White Sox’s Lucas Giolito has considerable control issues (4.42 BB/9 on the road) and is especially vulnerable to left-handed hitters (.374 wOBA, including 10 homers, allowed). Joe Mauer, Jorge Polanco, the just-activated Robbie Grossman, Max Kepler and Jake Cave are among affordable Twins hitters worth rolling out, as is the switch-hitting Ehire Adrianza.

For the Twins,

Stephen Gonsalves

will make his first major-league start Monday, and it’s worth noting the left has actually had more trouble with same-handed matchups. Therefore,

Daniel Palka

and

Omar Narvaez

are two intriguing possibilities as deep tournament plays against the rookie, as is

Nicky Delmonico

if in the lineup.

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Homer Bailey‘s presence on the slate is sure to make the Brewers one of the more popular stacks Monday, and with good reason — the veteran right-hander has been blasted by both sides of the plate. A number of Brewers stand out because of good histories against him — Ryan Braun (.340 average), Manny Pina (.444 average), Lorenzo Cain (.375 average) and Jesus Aguilar (.400 average), but all affordable Milwaukee bats are in play.

Meanwhile, the Brewers’ Chase Anderson has actually been hit hard by both sides of the plate at home (16 homers allowed at Chase Field overall). Tucker Barnhart has a particularly strong history against the right-hander (.364 average), and other cheap bats Preston Tucker, Curt Casali, Mason Williams and Scott Schebler are also worthy of consideration in what could be a high-scoring matchup.

Mike Fiers has been very impressive since arriving in Oakland, but worth noting that Adrian Beltre and Elvis Andrus both have solid track records against the right-hander. Additionally, Fiers has been more vulnerable to left-handed hitters overall (.333 wOBA, including 13 homers, allowed), so cheaper lefty Rangers bats like Ronald Guzman and Nomar Mazara are worth looking at.

On the other side, Bartolo Colon has been more effective overall away from the hitter-friendly conditions of Globe Life Park, but he’s allowed a .353 wOBA — including nine homers — to right-handed hitters on the road. That puts the likes of Matt Chapman, Jonathan Lucroy, Mark Canha, Stephen Piscotty and Marcus Semien in play. Additionally, the switch-hitting Jed Lowrie is particularly appealing because he also has a strong history against Colon (.375 average over 18 plate appearances).

It seems hard to believe, but with Felix Hernandez making a spot start Monday, the Astros instantly become one of the most attractive stacks of the night. Not many cheap bats in their lineup, but any of either handedness who are should be considered.

The Dodgers’ Alex Wood has been solid overall, but he’s been hit a bit hard by righty bats at home (eight homers, 23.9 percent line-drive rate, 44.9 percent hard contact rate). Therefore, Marcell Ozuna, Paul DeJong, Yadier Molina, Jose Martinez and Jedd Gyorko are all worthy of consideration.

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