Daily Fantasy: Best options for Monday's MLB games
SI's FanNation app has arrived, offering daily fantasy sports games that let you put your skills on the line for money or just for bragging rights, leading off with the launch of Baseball Throwdown. Every day, SI's Michael Beller will release his lineup for that day's Baseball Throwdown contest and offer up other recommendations to get your team ready for the day's slate of games. Download the FanNation app today and get started challenging your friends.
Pitcher
Chris Sale, White Sox (vs. Royals) -- Sale may carry the highest projected score with 16 points, but who cares? He hasn’t allowed more than two runs in a start for a month, and has 27 strikeouts in 29 2/3 innings in that span. In his lone start against the Royals this year, he tossed eight shutout innings, fanning six while surrendering just four hits. This is a lineup he can dominate and easily outpace that projection, and the White Sox match up well with Jeremy Guthrie.
Infielder
Freddie Freeman, Braves (vs. Marlins, Tom Koehler) -- Freeman came out of the All-Star break slowly, going just 1-for-11 in Atlanta’s weekend series with Philadelphia. He’s a hitter not usually befallen by prolonged slumps, though, and could find his way on Monday night against Koehler. Freeman is 4-for-13 with a double and a triple against the Marlins’ righty in his career.
Outfielder
Jayson Werth, Nationals (@ Rockies, Franklin Morales) -- Rarely can you go wrong picking someone playing at Coors Field, and Werth has been raking of late. In his last eight games, he’s 11-for-30 with four homers, four doubles and 11 RBI. Werth is also slashing .370/.452/.531 against lefties this year, while Morales has allowed righties a .292/.370/.533 line with 14 homers.
Other recommendations
Pitchers
• Roenis Elias, Mariners (vs. Mets) -- Elias can miss bats (96 strikeouts in 113 innings), and the Mets love to swing and miss, evidenced by a 21.1-percent strikeout rate.
• Julio Teheran, Braves (vs. Marlins) -- Teheran has made two starts against Miami this year, allowing a total of three runs on 10 hits with 13 strikeouts in 14 1/3 innings.
Infielders
• Lonnie Chisenhall, Indians (@ Twins, Kris Johnson) -- Johnson has already proved susceptible to the longball, allowing two in his first 8 1/3 innings. Chisenhall has a great chance to break his 15-game home-run drought.
• Chris Davis, Orioles (@ Angels, Matt Shoemaker) -- A risky pick given Shoemaker’s strikeout bona fides, but Davis is dangerous in a stadium with short porches.
Outfielders
• Mike Trout, Angels (vs. Orioles, Bud Norris) -- Trout has a six-point projection, but he’s 5-for-12 with three doubles and a walk against Norris in his career.
• Jose Bautista, Blue Jays (vs. Red Sox, John Lackey) -- Bautista has two homers and seven walks in 28 career plate appearances against Lackey.
