MLB Monday Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for July 27, 2026
Last updated: Jul 26, 2026, 4:34PM | Published: Jul 26, 2026, 8:35AM
Draftstars Australia's MLB Monday DFS contest commences at 3:35am AEST on July 27, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for every player on the slate to help you create winning line-ups.
A reliable Draftstars cheat sheet is a must for MLB fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you put together your fantasy teams for Draftstars' MLB contests and improve your season-long fantasy line-ups on Monday and beyond.
Featured MLB Games
Draftstars' MLB Monday slate includes these match-ups:
- Chicago White Sox vs Houston Astros
- Boston Red Sox vs Toronto Blue Jays
- Detroit Tigers vs Kansas City Royals
- Washington Nationals vs Arizona Diamondbacks
- Miami Marlins vs San Diego Padres
- Milwaukee Brewers vs Colorado Rockies
- St. Louis Cardinals vs Cincinnati Reds
- San Francisco Giants vs Los Angeles Angels
- Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs
- New York Mets vs Los Angeles Dodgers
- Minnesota Twins vs Athletics
- Baltimore Orioles vs Atlanta Braves
- Texas Rangers vs Seattle Mariners
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to come up with some of the most accurate DFS projections available.
With the latest MLB fantasy insights and DFS strategies from Fantasy Insider, you're set to win in more MLB fantasy contests.
Cheat Sheet and Projections
We have reviewed every player from every team to help you find the best selections on Monday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jacob deGrom (TEX, P) | $21,030 | 19.2 | 0.9 |
| Value | Reynaldo López (ATL, P) | $12,130 | 18.3 | 1.5 |
| Fade | Christian Encarnacion-Strand (BAL, 1B/3B) | $10,880 | 2.1 | 0.2 |
| Cheapie | Nolan Schanuel (LAA, 1B) | $5,000 | 6.5 | 1.3 |
According to Fantasy Insider's DFS model, our "stud" is the highest projected scorer across the slate, while "value" picks offer the most "bang for your buck," meaning they are expected to perform well relative to their salary.
Conversely, a "fade" is a player considered to offer lower value for money, based on their expected score relative to their salary. For those needing to stay under the salary cap, "cheapie" options highlight the best value players at lower price points not already mentioned.
In fantasy sports, understanding value—assessing a player's potential output against their salary—is crucial, as players scoring high relative to their cost are key in crafting the optimal line-up.
The "Pts/$1K" metric shows the predicted points for every $1,000 of a player's salary. A higher number indicates better value, making it easier to spot players who could outperform their cost.
Positional Breakdown
C (Catcher)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Caleb Raleigh (SEA) | $6,890 | 8.3 | 1.2 |
| Value | Caleb Raleigh (SEA) | $6,890 | 8.3 | 1.2 |
| Fade | Harrison Ford (WSH) | $9,220 | 3.3 | 0.4 |
| Cheapie | Salvador Perez (KC) | $7,340 | 6.7 | 0.9 |
SS (Shortstop)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Gunnar Henderson (BAL) | $9,990 | 9.3 | 0.9 |
| Value | Andrés Giménez (TOR) | $5,000 | 6.1 | 1.2 |
| Fade | Cooper Pratt (MIL) | $8,950 | 2 | 0.2 |
| Cheapie | Markus Betts (LAD) | $7,650 | 7.8 | 1 |
OF (Outfielder)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Shohei Ohtani (LAD) | $11,420 | 11.2 | 1 |
| Value | Julio Rodríguez (SEA) | $8,220 | 9 | 1.1 |
| Fade | Esmerlyn Valdez (PIT) | $9,080 | 2.1 | 0.2 |
| Cheapie | Randy Arozarena (SEA) | $7,270 | 8 | 1.1 |
3B (Third Base)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Manuel Machado (SD) | $9,430 | 7.7 | 0.8 |
| Value | Caleb Durbin (BOS) | $5,990 | 5.8 | 1 |
| Fade | Christian Encarnacion-Strand (BAL) | $10,880 | 2.1 | 0.2 |
| Cheapie | Ke'Bryan Hayes (CIN) | $5,000 | 4.8 | 1 |
2B (Second Base)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Ketel Marte (AZ) | $10,620 | 7.8 | 0.7 |
| Value | Jeffrey McNeil (ATH) | $5,000 | 5.5 | 1.1 |
| Fade | Pedro Ramirez (CHC) | $8,920 | 2.2 | 0.2 |
| Cheapie | Nicholas Hoerner (CHC) | $7,450 | 7.4 | 1 |
1B (First Base)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Vladimir Guerrero (TOR) | $9,300 | 9 | 1 |
| Value | Nolan Schanuel (LAA) | $5,000 | 6.5 | 1.3 |
| Fade | Christian Encarnacion-Strand (BAL) | $10,880 | 2.1 | 0.2 |
| Cheapie | Luis García (WSH) | $5,000 | 5.7 | 1.1 |
P (Pitcher)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jacob deGrom (TEX) | $21,030 | 19.2 | 0.9 |
| Value | Reynaldo López (ATL) | $12,130 | 18.3 | 1.5 |
Conclusion
When building your MLB Monday teams, consider starting with a value player like Reynaldo López. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Jacob deGrom is a strong option. If you're seeking budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, check out our cheapie options, including Nolan Schanuel.
On the other hand, according to our model, Christian Encarnacion-Strand is one of the lowest value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if entering multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' MLB Monday slate closes at 3:35am AEST on Monday. ENTER NOW!
As with all MLB DFS contests, whether you start with our studs or build around our value picks, leveraging Fantasy Insider's data-driven MLB fantasy news and strategies, combined with your own research, can enhance your chances of winning in the MLB Monday contest. The unique insights here can give you an edge when you make your MLB DFS line-ups.
For the latest projections and optimised MLB Monday line-ups, check out the Fantasy Insider Cruncher on Draftstars! It's free to use when you're logged in.
Please note that if you use our DFS tips for betting purposes, ensure you gamble responsibly and keep track of your money. For free and confidential support, call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
