This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
Most of the league is off Monday with just five games on the schedule. Several of the teams who are scheduled to play have been eliminated from playoff contention, which doesn't exactly make for the most exciting of slates. The one bright spot should be a matchup between the Mariners and A's, both of which are trying to secure a Wild Card spot in the American League. Let's dig into the three-game afternoon slate and discuss some players to consider for your lineups.
Pitchers
Cal Quantrill ($8,600) has been extremely reliable down the stretch, allowing two or fewer earned runs in 11 of his last 13 starts. During that stretch, he recorded a 1.04 WHIP and allowed just nine home runs over 82 innings. He'll try to keep things rolling against the Royals, who he has limited to four runs over 14.2 innings this season.
With Wade Miley (neck) landing on the IL, Reiver Sanmartin ($6,300) is expected to make his Major League debut for the Reds. This year marked his first stint at Triple-A and he's performed well, recording a 3.94 ERA and an even better 3.06 FIP. He's also missed plenty of bats, posting a 25.9 percent strikeout rate. Considering there are only three games to choose from and that he'll be facing a Pirates team that has the second-worst OPS in baseball, he could be worth considering.
Top Targets
One of the few bright spots for the Tigers this season has been Jonathan Schoop ($4,200), who has hit at least 20 home runs for the fifth time in his career. His 19.8 percent strikeout rate would also be the lowest mark of his career. Another valuable stat line could be forthcoming against Dallas Keuchel ($7,300), who has struggled to the tune of a 1.50 WHIP. Also, Schoop has a 151 wRC+ versus left-handed pitchers this season. It could also be a wise move to roll with his teammate Robbie Grossman ($4,400), who has a 132 wRC+ versus southpaws.
Bargain Bats
Overall, it's been a quiet season for Miguel Cabrera ($3,400). He only has a 96 wRC+ and his .133 ISO would be the second-lowest mark of his career. However, at this salary, he could be worth considering against Keuchel. Not only has Keuchel struggled mightily, but Cabrera has been a little better versus lefties this year with his 106 wRC+ against them.
Another underwhelming pitcher who is a part of this slate is Jackson Kowar ($5,300). Through his first 22 innings in the majors, he's allowed five home runs while recording a bloated 2.23 WHIP. While his numbers don't jump off the page, Bobby Bradley ($3,300) does have a .239 ISO, so there is the potential for him to take advantage of this matchup.
Stacks to Consider
White Sox vs. Matt Manning ($7,800), Tigers: Luis Robert ($5,600), Tim Anderson ($5,500), Jose Abreu ($4,600)
The advanced metrics suggest Manning hasn't been as bad as his 5.73 ERA would lead you to believe, especially given his 4.63 FIP. However, his lack of swing-and-miss stuff isn't helping his cause. He only has a 13.5 percent strikeout rate, which is a bit surprising given that he never had a strikeout rate below 25.0 percent during any of his stops in the minors. This could be a tough matchup for him against the White Sox, who have the eighth-highest OPS in baseball. One hitter who stands out for a White Sox stack is Robert, who enters with a .401 wOBA.
Reds vs. TBD, Pirates: Nick Castellanos ($5,400), Jonathan India ($5,200), Kyle Farmer ($4,300)
As of late Sunday night, the Pirates had yet to officially name their starter for this game. With that being said, it's not like they have a lot of talented options to choose from. This could still be a great spot to roll with the Reds, who have scored the ninth-most runs in baseball. They have received significant contributions from their rookie second baseman India, who has a .362 wOBA.
