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There will be 10 games on Monday’s MLB slate, and start times will range from 7:05 p.m. ET to 10:10 p.m. ET. This week’s first night of baseball has quite a few interesting matchups, and we’ve identified some of the best games, fantasy targets, and rookies to keep an eye on.
Best Games To Watch
The Kansas City Royals have climbed to the top of the American League Central standings and will face off against the Cleveland Indians. Cleveland is three games back and will start Aaron Civale, who is 4-0 on the year and boasts a .92 WHIP. The Royals have called up Daniel Lynch to make his MLB debut, and the 6’6” lefty will look to impress on baseball’s biggest stage.
Two big names will start on the mound in Monday’s matchup between the Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Angels. Tyler Glasnow will go head to head with Shohei Ohtani. Glasnow has notched double-digit Ks in three of his last four starts and has a .80 ERA. Ohtani is blossoming as one of baseball’s most interesting talents and has impressed as pitcher, batter, and base runner this season. Glasnow doesn’t have the same hitting skills as Ohtani, but seeing which one of the two puts together a better performance should be fun.
Fantasy Spotlight
Los Angeles Dodgers batters are almost always ideal fantasy plays, but their Monday matchup against the Chicago Cubs is especially enticing. The Cubbies have given up the most earned runs in baseball and Kyle Hendricks has given up multiple home runs in three straight starts. It won’t be surprising if the third-most productive scoring offense in MLB baseball runs up the score. Hendricks will have to be at his best to prevent that, and his 7.54 ERA doesn’t make it seem likely that he’ll turn things around.
Rookies to Watch
There aren’t a ton of big-name rookies to keep an eye on for Monday, but the Baltimore Orioles Ryan Mountcastle is starting to turn things around. The 24-year-old outfielder and first baseman is riding a solid seven-game hitting streak. While he hasn’t been able to score during that stretch, his consistency makes him an under-the-radar play worth taking a flier on.
MLB regular season schedule for Monday, May 3
If no streaming option is listed, game is available on MLB.tv pending blackout restrictions.
Milwaukee Brewers vs. Philadelphia Phillies, 7:05 p.m. ET
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs, 7:40 p.m. ET
Texas Rangers vs. Minnesota Twins, 7:40 p.m. ET
New York Mets vs. St. Louis Cardinals, 7:45 p.m. ET ESPN+
Cleveland Indians vs. Kansas City Royals, 8:10 p.m. ET
San Francisco Giants vs. Colorado Rockies, 8:40 p.m. ET
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Los Angeles Angels, 9:38 p.m. ET
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Oakland Athletics, 9:40 p.m. ET
Baltimore Orioles vs. Seattle Mariners, 10:10 p.m. ET
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. San Diego Padres, 10:10 p.m. ET
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