Happy Monday, Pitcher List fam! We’ve got a simple start to the week on our hands, with DraftKings and FanDuel giving us the same 10 games for their featured contests. We’ve got two East Coast games kicking things off, but don’t think your lineups are safe before you go to sleep, as there are four West Coast games to stay up and watch late into the evening. All contests will lock at 7:05 pm Eastern, so double-check those squads before they throw the first pitches in Washington and New York.
Pitching Kings on DraftKings
| Pitcher | Opp | DK Salary | ERA | WHIP | K% | BB% | DK PPG |
| Zack Wheeler | at ATL | $9,900 | 3.49 | 1.14 | 25.9 | 6.3 | 17.0 |
| Luis Garcia | vs. CLE | $8,700 | 3.35 | 1.06 | 26.6 | 7.8 | 16.2 |
| Alex Cobb | vs. NYM | $7,900 | 5.61 | 1.52 | 28.1 | 7.9 | 13.1 |
After a couple of early-season bumps in the road, Zack Wheeler is back to being the ace we all love. In his previous four starts, the Phillies right-hander rocked a 1.04 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and a 31.3 percent strikeout rate while dominating the Rockies, Rangers, Dodgers, and Padres. In all four of those outings, Wheeler also struck out at least seven batters, and that streak should continue tonight versus the Braves. This month, Atlanta sports the highest strikeout rate in the league (28 percent) and is also producing a measly .295 wOBA and 87 wRC+ versus right-handed hurlers. So on DraftKings, take the $600 savings over Gerrit Cole and spread it among the rest of your roster.
For Monday, Astros pitcher Luis Garcia is quite the conundrum in DFS circles. I usually think of him as a FanDuel play because he’s more known for his length than his strikeout upside. However, his DK price is far more attractive than his FD cost today, so I’m getting a bit contrarian and playing him here. The man with the rocking windup faces a Guardians lineup producing a .242/.314/.378 slash line to righties in May, but they really don’t strike out that much (16.6 percent). Still, Garcia’s gone at least six innings in three of his last four starts. Plus, he’s struck out at least six batters in three of six starts this season, and they all came when he pitched at Minute Maid Park. I love Garcia as a high-end SP2 in tournament formats, but I would avoid him in cash games.
Yes! Yes! A thousand times, yes! Oh, sorry. I assumed you just asked if I liked Alex Cobb as an SP2 option tonight. Coming off a classic, Coors Field shellacking, I’m hoping the Giants right-hander comes in with a lower-than-usual roster percentage on Monday. He missed almost three weeks in April before returning to a rough game against the Nationals. However, Cobb was really good between that first start back and the Mile High meltdown. In two starts, he struck out 14 batters over 10.1 innings, as his strikeout rate went up and his walk rate went down to produce a 2.61 ERA backed up by a 2.14 SIERA and 2.51 FIP. So buy the bounce-back with Cobb in cash games or tournaments, and watch the profits roll in.
These Dudes Rule on FanDuel
| Pitcher | Opp | FD Salary | ERA | WHIP | K% | BB% | FD PPG |
| Gerrit Cole | vs. BAL | $11,000 | 2.89 | 1.08 | 28.5 | 6.7 | 35.75 |
| Miles Mikolas | vs. TOR | $9,600 | 1.68 | 0.99 | 18.7 | 4.7 | 33.0 |
| Alex Cobb | vs. NYM | $7,200 | 5.61 | 1.52 | 28.1 | 7.9 | 23.83 |
Gerrit Cole grabs the top spot on FanDuel because his strikeout upside and the likelihood of a quality start are slightly higher than Zack Wheeler’s odds. The Yankee’s ace is on an incredible run right now, and I expect him to mow down the Orioles in Yankee Stadium. He’s logged five consecutive quality starts, going 4-0 and striking out 39 batters in 32.1 innings. As the season moves along, Cole is producing more groundballs and limiting hard contact but maintaining his deadly strikeout rate. You don’t have to overthink this one, as the four-time All-Star is a standout option in tournaments and cash games.
Miles Mikolas used to be the cover photo for anyone debating the scoring of DraftKings versus FanDuel. While he’s giving us a little more strikeouts than usual (18.7 percent strikeout rate), he’s still a premium and safe option on FD. He’s logged a quality start in five of his previous seven starts and averages 36.57 FD PPG over that stretch. He will never be the most exciting option on a slate, but I think DFS managers can take advantage of some preconceived notions on Monday. Everyone expects the Blue Jays to turn around their offense, but we should keep exploiting it until it happens. Toronto is looking at a .621 OPS versus RHPs and an elevated 23.4 percent strikeout rate in May. So go against the grain and grab Mikolas in tournaments.
No, your eyes are not deceiving you. I am recommending Alex Cobb on both sites. The price tags don’t match the skills and the potential for a massive day. Have fun loading up on bigger bats on FD because of the discounts on (corn on the) Cobb. It is in season.
Tasty Stacks
Los Angeles Dodgers at Washington Nationals (Joan Adon, RHP)
- Joan Adon is a second-year pitcher with a 6.38 ERA, 5.47 FIP, and 13.5 percent walk rate going up against the best offense in baseball. Los Angeles leads the league in OPS, runs scored, and walks. They will eat poor Joan Adon alive and then finish the evening off with Washington’s bullpen for dessert.
Houston Astros vs. Cleveland Guardians (Triston McKenzie, RHP)
- Triston McKenzie is a young, exciting pitcher but a massive fade for me in DFS this evening. Houston is smashing right-handed pitching in May with a .817 OPS and .215 ISO. Michael Brantley, Kyle Tucker, and Yordan Alvarez should be considered explosive and expensive stacking options.
Milwaukee Brewers at San Diego Padres (Nick Martinez, RHP)
- Vegas disagrees with me here, as they have San Diego as a 1.5-run favorite for Monday’s series-opening battle. However, in May, the Brew Crew is crushing RHPs, and I see a big night ahead for Rowdy Tellez and Christian Yelich. Nick Martinez has allowed six home runs in four starts at Petco Park this year, and it’s produced a 5.23 ERA and 1.50 WHIP. His $8,700 price tag on DraftKings makes him another pitcher to fade on tonight’s 10-game slate.
Value Bats
| Player | Position | Opponent | DK Salary | FD Salary |
| Jose Trevino | C | vs. BAL (Lyles) | $2,800 | $2,300 |
| Josh Naylor | 1B/OF | at HOU (Garcia) | $3,300 | $3,800 |
| Nolan Gorman | 2B | vs. TOR (Berrios) | $2,000 | $2,500 |
| Sheldon Neuse | 1B/3B | at SEA (Gonzales) | $2,600 | $2,700 |
| Brendan Donovan | 2B/SS | vs. TOR (Berrios | $3,500 | $2,400 |
| David Peralta | OF | vs. KC (Greinke) | $3,800 | $2,600 |
| Darin Ruf | 1B/OF | vs. NYM (Peterson) | $3,600 | $2,900 |
| Julio Rodríguez | OF | vs. OAK (Logue) | $3,400 | $3,200 |