Let’s face it…no one likes Mondays. Unless of course, you have a massive 12-game slate to break down for MLB DFS. So in honor of this being April 12, a 12-game slate starting at 7:00 pm, and the 12th day of the baseball calendar, I dive into 12 players to get in your lineups tonight. It’s a mix of high-priced, mid-range, and value picks so you can mix and match. Without further ado, let’s get into this Massive Monday.
***All Prices are DraftKings***
On The Bump
Gerrit Cole $10,700 at Toronto Blue Jays
The highest-priced pitcher on the slate is no surprise. Cole is also worth the investment, especially in cash games. The Yankees ace dominated his last start, albeit against the Baltimore Orioles, but he looks dialed in after opening day facing these same Blue Jays. Between that start and the two he had against Toronto last season, Cole has given up just four earned runs in 19.1 innings with a 23/4 K/BB rate in his last three bouts with the Jays. On the year so far, Toronto strikes out an even 10 times a game and is in the bottom five in OPS in the American League. Roll with Cole and be confident in at least a 25-30 point output.
Freddy Peralta $7,700 vs. Chicago Cubs
Milwaukee’s young righty has 14 Ks in seven innings so far this year. While that goes along with seven walks, the kid still has electric stuff. Last Tuesday, Peralta faced these same Cubbies and gave up just one hit in five innings. Now back at home, he will look to dominate one of the National League’s worst offenses. Chicago is dead last in OPS in the NL at .592 and runs per game at 2.89. They also strike out nearly 10 times a game. This is a modest price for a guy who could easily hit double digits in Ks and come away with a win.
Huascar Ynoa $6,000 vs. Miami Marlins
In a dogfight to establish himself in the Braves rotation, Ynoa took the ball on Wednesday in the second game of the doubleheader and pitched himself into another start. He’s a hard thrower who will be facing a Marlins squad that has hit just three home runs this season along with a miserable .600 OPS and an equally miserable 24 runs in eight games. Ynoa should take care of business and hold his spot every fifth day for Atlanta after another excellent performance tonight. With all of the choices at pitcher, $6k is a great price with potentially big rewards. I’d have him in GPPs easily.
On The Dirt
DJ LeMahieu 2B/3B $5,500
LeMahit started the season 0-for-5 with a walk in his first six plate appearances. Since then he’s put together a nice little eight-game hitting streak going 11-for-32 and reaching base at least twice in six of those eight battles. The price may be a little steep, but the floor is there and he is facing a lefty in Robbie Ray. LeMahieu batted an even .400 against southpaws last season and Ray is making his first start of the year. You can write in a couple of hits for DJ tonight.
Kyle Seager 3B $4,500
It looks like the older Seager is getting hot. After a slow start, Seattle’s third baseman has gone eight for his last 15 including a two-HR, four-hit night against the Twins. Seager is facing righty Dean Kremer (5 career starts) at Camden Yards tonight. Against a righty on the road? Yep, sign me up. In his career, Seager has a better OPS against righties (.789-.731) and is better on the road (.797-.738). Coming off of a performance like last night, it seems he is locked in right now.
Eduardo Escobar 2B/3B $3,700
Escobar may be the hottest hitter in the big leagues right now. Four straight games with a HR and two RBI. Throw in a couple of doubles and a stolen base for good measure. His price is very affordable if you don’t wanna go with LeMahieu at second base. All four of those bombs have come batting lefty which Escobar will be doing tonight against right-hander Chris Bassitt. Roll with the hot bat.
Elvis Andrus SS $3,100
In the midst of a modest three-game hitting streak, Andrus is somewhat of a dart throw. At this price, you really can’t lose especially when he is set to face Madison Bumgarner. Oakland’s shortstop is 3-for-7 against the southpaw with a double and a HR. More importantly, I could probably hit MadBum right now. He has an 11.00 ERA on the season. He has given up 15 HRs and 62 hits in his last 50.2 innings dating back to last year. Take the low price on Andrus.
On the Grass
Juan Soto $5,400
We will forgive Soto for going 0-for-4 last night against Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers. He is still arguably the best hitter in baseball. Tonight he faces John Gant of the Cardinals who he should destroy. Although Gant seems to dance around trouble, he gets hit and his control is questionable. Soto will bounce back and has put up double-digit points on DraftKings in three of his six games. Plenty of ROI to be had tonight.
Randy Arozarena $5,000
The playoff hero of the Tampa Bay Rays has started off the season on an eight-game hitting streak. The kid has the power/speed combo that can get you points even if he doesn’t blast one over the fence. Although his opponent, Dane Dunning, looked solid in his first start, the Rangers bullpen is horrible. You may have to sit tight for this one but expect Arozarena to come through later in the game.
Ramon Laureano $3,800
I mentioned the shell of a pitcher that is MadBum earlier. I also mentioned power/speed combo just now. Well put that together and Laureano may be the bargain of the night. The dude has five SBs already this season and a HR. He’s also hitting .296 with a .922 OPS. Lock this kid in a bunch of your lineups. The ROI could be huge.
Michael Conforto $3,700
Maybe the extension talks are lingering, maybe it’s just a slow start. Tonight is where Conforto gets it going. After taking that nasty up and in pitch on the elbow (I’m kidding) to bring home the winning run on Thursday, one would’ve thought Conforto would break out. Not so. But tonight offers a new opportunity against a familiar foe in Chase Anderson. While the Mets right fielder is only 3-for-15 against the Phillies righty, all three of those hits have left the yard. At this price, Conforto is a sneaky GPP play.
Dylan Carlson $3,300
Don’t look now but the 2021 Rookie of the Year is on a five-game hitting streak. Carlson has shown the ability also to take a walk (4 in 9 games) and drive in runs (9 in 9 games). The switch-hitting outfielder will be facing Erick Fedde tonight. Fedde has not lived up to his first-round tag at all. He couldn’t get out of the second inning against Atlanta in his first start and likely won’t last long tonight. The Nationals bullpen hasn’t been exactly lights out either. Take this price and run with it.
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