RADIO
Welcome to Monday baseball! We have just eight games on the slate, but plenty to pay attention to. Zack Greinke is the clear top pitcher and it's a case of whether or not you want to pay for him. If you don't, your pickings are extremely thin. We'll dig through the bunch, but just know Greinke is the clear cash game option.
With a game in Coors Field, our focus will be fitting in as many Diamondbacks and Rockies as we can. There are a ton of other options on the board with some terrible pitching, so ownership shouldn't be too big of an issue. Let's dive in and find the top play at each position!
Be sure to also check out all the Vegas Odds for today's slate. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for sites like FanDuel, and other sports too. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to hit me up on Twitter @DFSVarney
Featured Promo: For this week only, take 50% off any full-season or yearly Premium Pass on the site! Just enter discount code THANKS when checking out. Thanks for being a reader, and Happy Holidays! Sign Up Now!
FanDuel DFS Pitchers
Zack Greinke - HOU @ CWS - $10,800
We have just eight games on the board tonight, so pitching is relatively thin. Fortunately, we have Zack Greinke and the Astros facing off with the White Sox in Chicago. The White Sox hold an implied team total of 3.56 as the only squad on this slate expected to put up under four runs. Greinke isn't the high-upside arm he once was, but he's an innings eater and great at controlling damage. This Astros squad is going to put up a ton of runs and the win is safe. You'll have to pay up for Greinke, but the difference between him and number two is huge.
Jose Suarez - LAA vs. PIT - $5,700
Without much after Greinke, you can consider paying down for Jose Suarez. We all know just how terrible the Pirates are, ranking dead last against lefties since the All-Star break with a .279 team wOBA while striking out 25% of the time. Jose Suarez isn't the greatest pitcher, but he's extremely cheap and strikes out a batter per inning. It might not be fair to expect a clean slate, but Suarez should go five or six innings and could get up to seven or eight strikeouts.
FanDuel DFS Infielders
C/1B - Justin Smoak - TOR vs. TEX (Jurado) - $2,700
Justin Smoak has been a disappointment for the Jays. He’s the guy they planned on leaning on as the veteran of a group of young, inconsistent hitters. The fact is that Smoak has been inconsistent and these youngsters are smashing. Still, Smoak has sported a .343 wOBA against righties on the season and has hit 16 of his 18 home runs against them. Ariel Jurado is truly one of the worst pitchers in all of baseball and has allowed a .371 wOBA to opposing left-handed batters. You can pay up for a first baseman, but Smoak is a great way to save if you're paying up elsewhere.
2B - Ketel Marte - ARI @ COL (Lambert) - $4,400
With only eight games on the slate, you want as much exposure to Coors Field as you can get. I won't crowd this article with Diamondbacks and Rockies, but just know that both offenses are fully in play. On the Arizona side, Ketel Marte is the top play. Marte has boasted a ludicrous .401 wOBA on the season with 24 home runs and 33 doubles and triples. He'll now go into Coors Field and face off with Peter Lambert, who's allowed a .362 wOBA to opposing lefties. The D-Backs are the top stack of the night and it just comes down to their price across the board and being able to pair them with Greinke.
3B - Alex Bregman - HOU @ CWS (Cease) - $4,400
The Astros offense is on fire, and Alex Bregman has been a big part of it. He has 12 hits in his last seven games, including eight XBH. Bregman is just as good against righties as he is lefties and has sported a .392 combined wOBA on the season. The 'Stros are facing off with Dylan Cease, who's been absolutely terrible this season. He hasn't had one single good game and has allowed three or more earned runs in five of his six starts. There's no way he'll be able to control this offense in such a friendly hitters park, and Bregman is the most consistent hitter in the lineup.
SS - Elvis Andrus - TEX @ TOR (Thornton) - $3,300
There are always a ton of options at shortstop. I've recommended some expensive bats, however, so we'll take a look at an affordable Elvis Andrus. The Rangers are facing off with Trent Thornton, who's been worse against righties with a 5.41 xFIP and has allowed eight homers in 50 innings. Andrus is just as good against both lefties and righties, and the Rangers are projected to score over five runs. Andrus is cheap on FanDuel and a phenomenal option in all formats.
FanDuel DFS Outfielders
Aristides Aquino - CIN @ WAS (Fedde) - $3,900
Some may consider this point chasing, but pitchers don't know how to pitch to Aquino yet and that's not going to change overnight. Eric Fedde is not a good pitcher, and while he's been better against righties, that's because of a .197 BABIP. His true skill is set with a 5.69 xFIP and he's allowed a 47% hard contact rate. Aquino has been smashing every ball he sees and has as much home run upside as anyone on the slate.
Raimel Tapia - COL vs. ARI (Kelly) - $3,100
With Dahl out, Tapia will be stepping in and manning center field for the near future. Tapia is far from a power hitter, but his .382 wOBA at home vs righties is elite. He's up in the front of the order and is far too cheap on FanDuel. Merrill Kelly is a below average right-handed pitcher that has given up 1.53 HR/9 and a .341 wOBA vs lefties. He now moves into Coors Field, and the Rockies are going to have some fun. Tapia gives you affordable exposure to an explosive offense.
