This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
We can thank MLB since they decided to cancel the Boston game due to inclement weather the day before, which rarely happens in baseball. Yesterday, they made a lot of DFS owners angry by postponing the Angels/Royals game only 20 minutes before the first pitch despite canceling four other games well ahead of time. As a result, the main slate Monday starts at 7:05 EST and contains a lofty 10 games. Let's take a look at who to target tonight.
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PITCHER
Tyler Chatwood, CHC vs. STL ($7,400): Chatwood has come out of the gate a little slowly with a 11:7 K:BB and 4.91 ERA. However, he's managed 31 and 21 fantasy points over his first two outings despite the subpar numbers. Last season he gave up only a .297 wOBA (3.49) on the road when he played for the Colorado Rockies. This season he's in a more pitcher-friendly environment on home soil and has a good shot at both the win and quality start against Adam Wainwright (5.06 ERA).
GPP Fade: Dallas Keuchel, HOU at SEA ($8,100): Keuchel is a better real-life pitcher than he is in DFS considering he doesn't strike out many batters. He's struck out under 21 percent over his last two seasons and while that's not bad, it's not an elite number either. Going into Seattle is a tricky task, as they have some right-handers who can mash and have the highest team wOBA against lefties so far this season.
Cheap GPP Consideration: Blake Snell, TB vs TEX ($7,100): Snell appears to be learning on the job once again this season with a 17:10 K:BB in only 15 innings. The overall results the last two seasons show a prospect on the rise, and he has pitched better at home than on the road. He gave up only a .274 wOBA (3.32 ERA) at home last season while striking out over a batter an inning. Texas has been hit by the injury bug this season and has the worst road wOBA this season against left-handed pitching after being the eighth-worst last season with a .305 mark.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Anthony Rizzo, CHC vs STL ($2,000): Rizzo is expected to be activated off the DL today and for some reason comes in at the minimum due to his recent absence. There's a chance he won't play even if he's activated, but this is likely the only time this season he'll be below the $3,000 mark, let alone at the minimum. Wainwright is not the same ace he once was, and he has allowed a .412 and .376 wOBA to lefties on the road the last two seasons, putting Kyle Schwarber and Ian Happ in play as well.
SECOND BASE
Whit Merrifield, KC at TOR ($3,100): Merrifield has scuffled to start the season with a .255 average and no home runs. He still possesses a nice power/speed combo (19 HR/34 SB last season) and has always hit southpaws better than right-handed pitchers. He'll move into a better hitter's park in Toronto tonight and get that lefty matchup against Jaime Garcia. For his career, Merrifield owns a .353 wOBA against that handedness.
THIRD BASE
Christian Villanueva, SD vs LAD ($3,300): Villanueva had good power numbers in the minors but hasn't gotten a shot at regular playing time in the majors until now. He's responded nicely to a regular role with a .293 batting average and five home runs in 13 games. He's a fixture in the cleanup spot for the Padres and faces a lefty in Hyun-Jin Ryu.
SHORTSTOP
J.P. Crawford, PHI at ATL ($2.500): Crawford appears to be adjusting to the big leagues, as he has home runs in two of his last three games to go along with two doubles and two walks. Considered one of the top prospects for the Phillies, he'll get to face Julio Teheran tonight who has been a disaster. After a promising 2016 season, Teheran took a huge step backward a year ago, finishing with a 4.49 ERA and a .342 wOBA to left-handed hitters. Through the early part of this season he has a 7.07 ERA.
OUTFIELD
Adam Duvall, CIN at MIL ($2,400): Duvall's .160 batting average has dropped his price to this level, but the matchup tonight makes him an attractive option. Coming off a game with a home run and a double Sunday, Duvall takes on lefty Brent Suter in Milwaukee as the Reds come into town for a three-game series. Last season Duvall had a .382 wOBA against lefties, including a .293 ISO.
Jay Bruce, NYM vs WAS ($3,300): Anytime he faces a right-handed pitcher Bruce is in play, and that's the case tonight in New York against Jeremy Hellickson. Bruce owns a .348 wOBA against righties for his career with .361 and .369 marks in each of his last two seasons.
UTILITY
DJ LeMahieu, COL at PIT ($3,800): He's not cheap by any means and won't be hitting in Coors Field for tonight's game. That being said, LeMahieu is going against a lefty (Steven Brault) and while Nolan Arenado (suspended) is usually the first player on the Rockies that comes to mind, LeMahieu has also been incredibly effective. While his numbers are better at Coors, DJ still carried a .344 and .363 wOBA against lefties on the road the last two seasons.
