Monday begins the busiest week of the year to date. This is relevant because it's not necessary to take risks early since there will be more games than normal on Thursday to add to stats. As it turns out, that's a good thing, as there aren't many viable streaming options, so hopefully you already have some of the slate's better starters already on your roster.
One of the top pitchers on the card is Mike Clevinger, making his first start since April 7. Clevinger has been sidelined with a bad back after starting the season on fire, fanning 22 in two starts, spanning 12 innings.
Here's some help getting your fantasy week off to a strong spot, with everyone available in more than half of ESPN leagues. Well, almost everyone, as there is one option barely missing the cut who is in too good of a spot to ignore.
Pitching
Lance Lynn (R), rostered in 37 percent of ESPN leagues, Texas Rangers vs. Cleveland Indians: Lynn will be hard-pressed to maintain his current excellent pace with respect to allowing homers once the weather really warms in Arlington. That said, Lynn only allowed 14 in 156⅔ innings last season split between Yankee Stadium and Target Field, a pair of venues generous to homers, so maybe the veteran has figured out how to combat the elevated swing revolution.
Danny Duffy (L), 6 percent, Kansas City Royals at Seattle Mariners: Duffy was in good shape facing the Mariners even before Seattle dealt Edwin Encarnacion to the Bronx. Injuries have curtailed the lefty's once promising career as he's settled into a mid-rotation role. Duffy is coming off his best outing of the season, allowing just a pair of runs to the Tigers in seven frames, fanning seven along the way.
Felix Pena (R), 4 percent, Los Angeles Angels at Toronto Blue Jays: Chances are Pena will serve as the primary pitcher, but that's not a bad thing since he can notch a win tossing fewer than five frames. Pena's season has been uneven, though he's in a good spot for a strong effort, drawing a Blue Jays offense sitting third from the bottom in terms of production with a righty on the hill, fanning an aggressive 25 percent of the time in that scenario.
Bullpen
After murmurings that Jose Leclerc could return to ninth inning duties in Arlington, Shawn Kelley seems to have secured the closer role, at least for now, and is available in 86 percent of ESPN leagues. The Texas Rangers are at home for seven games this week with a pair of division foes on the docket as the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox visit Globe Life Park
Hitting
Catcher -- Chance Sisco (L), 1 percent, Baltimore Orioles at Oakland Athletics (RHP Mike Fiers): After slashing .289/.383/.530 for Triple-A Norfolk, Sisco was promoted to the majors a week ago for his third stint. Sisco has responded with a pair of homers. Baltimore recently selected catcher Adley Rutschman first overall but Sisco has a chance to lay claim to the starter's job before the Oregon State product is ready. On Monday, Sisco enjoys the platoon bump of a homer-prone hurler.
First base -- Ji-Man Choi (L), 3 percent, Tampa Bay Rays at New York Yankees (RHP Masahiro Tanaka): Choi has one job -- crushing right-handed pitching. Seven of the 12 homers Tanaka has surrendered this season are courtesy of lefty swingers, so expect Choi to take aim at the short right field porch in the Bronx.
Second base -- Cavan Biggio (L), 6 percent, Toronto Blue Jays vs. Los Angeles Angels (RHP Felix Pena): Biggio took a modest three-game hitting streak into Sunday's action, including two homers and a double. He's warming up at the right time as Pena is vulnerable to lefty power.
Third base -- Marwin Gonzalez (S), 47 percent, Minnesota Twins vs. Boston Red Sox (RHP Rick Porcello): Porcello's control is finally back though it's come at the expense of fewer strikeouts and an above average home run rate. The veteran can shut down an opposing offense, but he's not dominant enough to be avoided. With four homers in June, Gonzales is beginning to resemble the version so useful in Houston the past few seasons.
Shortstop -- Tim Beckham (R), 32 percent, Seattle Mariners vs. Kansas City Royals (LHP Danny Duffy): J.P. Crawford was recently activated from the IL but with a southpaw on the hill, Beckham is likely to play with either Crawford or Kyle Seager on the bench. Since 2017, 36 of the 41 homers Duffy has allowed have been to righty swingers.
Corner infield -- Matt Olson (L), 56 percent, Oakland Athletics vs. Baltimore Orioles (RHP Andrew Cashner): Apologies for featuring a batter available in more than 50 percent of ESPN leagues, but he narrowly missed the cut and is in a fantastic spot against Cashner. Olson's power strike is in gear as he's cracked four long balls since June 8.
Middle infield -- Orlando Arcia (R), 6 percent, Milwaukee Brewers at San Diego Padres (LHP Joey Lucchesi): The rule of thumb is avoiding National League hitters in the 8-hole, with Arcia the exception. He's not hitting for average, but the shortstop has eight homers with three steals along with 30 runs and 29 RBIs though Saturday's gameplay.
Outfield -- Jake Bauers (L), 36 percent, Cleveland Indians at Texas Rangers (RHP Lance Lynn): Lynn has been pitching well so it's not an ideal matchup, however Bauers is beginning to find a groove, slamming three homers in June including one as part of a cycle last week.
Outfield -- Franmil Reyes (R), 44 percent, San Diego Padres vs. Milwaukee Brewers (RHP Jhoulys Chacin): After serving up just 18 homers in 192⅔ frames last season, Chacin has already authored 11 in 58 innings this year. Reyes and teammate Hunter Renfroe have combined for 40 long balls, adding much needed punch to an improving Padres lineup.
Outfield -- Garrett Cooper (R), 10 percent, Miami Marlins at St. Louis Cardinals (RHP Miles Mikolas): Admittedly, it's better to attack Mikolas with lefty bats but the Marlins are devoid of power bats from that side. Cooper isn't a bad consolation, batting second in a lineup scoring a few more runs lately.
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