No shortage of MLB action on Monday. Luckily, DraftKings Sportsbook has bets that’ll keep us in on the action from the first couple games at 1:05 p.m. ET until the very last one at 9:40 p.m. ET.
If you want to sweat out these picks with me, follow me on Twitter: @Nick_Friar.
Tampa Bay Rays at New York Yankees
Rays over 4.5 runs +110
The Rays are fifth in runs per game, averaging exactly five per contest. Combine that with the fact they’re at Yankee Stadium, which always boosts offensive output, and they shouldn’t have a problem scoring five times Monday. In fact, Tampa has done so twice in three games at Yankee Stadium already this season. The one time the Rays didn’t, Gerrit Cole was on the bump for New York.
Jameson Taillon hasn’t exactly been a frontline starter this season, never mind done as well as Cole, and it’s going to take a top-tier pitcher to slow down this Tampa offense. The Rays have the second-best OPS against right-handed pitching over the last two weeks and the third-best ISO against righties during the same span.
Last time the Rays faced Taillon, they almost hit Monday’s over in his 4 2/3 innings of work alone. Don’t be fooled by his recent five innings of shutout ball vs. the White Sox. The Yankees righty is still likely to give up at least one home run in this one (1.9 HR/9), and it could come from either side of the plate (four homers allowed to right-handed hitters this season, five to lefties).
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $200K Check Swing [$50K to 1st]
Chicago White Sox at Cleveland Indians GAME 1
White Sox -1.5 +110
Triston McKenzie should average a strikeout per inning vs. the White Sox on Monday, but he may also give up a run per inning. In his two outings vs. Chicago this season, the Cleveland right-hander has given up eight runs — all earned — in six innings (three runs over four innings on April 12, then five in just two frames on May 1).
Compound his recent history with the White Sox being one of the hottest teams against righties over the last two weeks (fourth in OPS and 10th in ISO during the span), and McKenzie should be in for a rough day.
Carlos Rodon, on the other hand, hasn’t exactly struggled vs. Cleveland this season. After he no-hit them, Rodon struck out eight over five innings of one-run ball. The White Sox lefty has been dominant of late, striking out 23 and only allowing one run over his last 12 innings. The White Sox haven’t provided Rodon with much offense this month, but McKenzie gives them a great chance to do so — much like Chicago did for Rodon throughout April.
And remember, this is only a seven-inning game. We won’t have to rely heavily on the Chicago bullpen, if at all.
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Kansas City Royals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Mike Minor over 5.5 strikeouts -120
Minor has hit the over on Monday’s strikeout prop five times in his last seven starts. He’s thrown very well in two of his last three outings, but that seven-game stretch has featured some rough appearances — some of which he still struck out at least six. One of those bad starts came against the Pirates on April 28, where he gave up four earned runs over 4 ⅓ innings. But, Minor still struck out six that day.
The Pirates may not be striking out frequently against left-handed pitchers now, but they weren’t when they faced Minor at the end of April, either.
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. New York Mets
Merrill Kelly over 5.5 hits allowed +110
Mets hitters doing anything right on Jacob deGrom’s behalf doesn’t seem possible, I know. And yes, Kelly only gave up three hits to the Mets earlier in the month. But New York’s offense is hot right now. The Mets are squaring up righties over the last week, posting the second-highest ISO against right-handed pitchers during that span, along with the third-highest OPS and average against righties.
We’re not relying on the Mets to actually score — we all know that’s a lot to ask on deGrom day. We just need them to continue their strong stretch by getting six hits against a starter who’s allowed that many in three out of five May starts.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $200K Check Swing [$50K to 1st]
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