This article is part of our FantasyAces MLB series.
Fantasy Aces recommendations Monday.
SP James Shields $7,000 - Shields is off to great start in his maiden voyage around the NL, with a 29 strikeouts in 25 innings and a tidy 1.12 WHIP. He has only surrendered one homer and two RBI to the active batters on the Astros' roster over 83 at-bats with 25 strikeouts and six walks.
SP Yovani Gallardo $5,600 - With the exception of Nelson Cruz, Seattle batters with history against Gallardo have six hits in 61 at-bats with 15 strikeouts and 7 walks. That's not a lot of success. Rangers bats are due to come alive in support of him at home Monday night.
C Yadier Molina $4,750 - This is a favorable lefty vs. righty clash against Cole Hamels. Molina is off to a great start, typical of his steady career as one of the best-hitting catchers in baseball.
2B/SS Alberto Callaspo $3,950 - Callaspo's contact rate is 91 percent, and he's struck out just four times in 51 at-bats this season. Those skills could pay off against Doug Fister, who's strikeout rate has declined three consecutive years to this season's anemic 3.79 (eight in 19 innings). Callaspo has a good chance reaching base against a pitch-to-contact hurler.
2B/SS Adeiny Hechavarria $4,350 - Hechavarria has shown steady progress as a hitter since arriving in Miami. Now starting his third season with the Marlins, he is producing at an elite level (a .333 BA and .355 OBP) in 72 AB. He is on a nine-game hitting streak, collecting 16 hits in his last 35 AB.
1B/3B Matt Carpenter $5,100 - Carpenter is swinging a hot bat, but his price hasn't adjusted much yet. He leads the majors in multi-hit games with 12 and has reached base in every game this season. While he doesn't have the home-run power of some corner infielders, he's hit a league-leading 10 doubles. He also doesn't strike out much (nine in 78 PA), an important factor to consider in the Fantasy Aces game. His price, though, is still only the 10th highest among first/third basemen.
1B/3B Pedro Alvarez $4,650 - The power-hitting Alvarez finds himself in a hitter's park Monday at Wrigley. He has four homers this season and is slugging .475. He has two homers off Cubs starter Jason Hammel in 18 at-bats.
OF Ryan Braun $4,850 - Braun only has 28 at-bats against Reds starter Jason Marquis, but he has 15 hits in that span, including six extra-base hits and a 1.415 OPS. Braun is off to a sluggish start this season, though he has a couple multi-hit games in his last five outings.
OF Giancarlo Stanton $5,800 - Stanton is in a real groove over his last seven games with four mutli-hit games and six extra-base hits, including three homers. In just 11 at-bats against Mets start Dillon Gee he has two home runs.
OF Nick Markakis $4,650 - Markakis' first season in the NL has started well as he has 21 hits and 11 walks in 73 plate appearances (.339 AVG, .438 OBP). And he's only struck out nine times. That's good production for a cheap outfield price.
Util Adam Jones $5,450 - Jones is tearing the cover off the ball to the tune of a .403 average and 1.158 OPS in 2015. Meanwhile, White Sox starter Hector Noesi is barely a major-league starter. Jones has only faced Noesi 10 times, but he has six hits against him, including two homers. He should have a confident glow at Camden yards on Monday.
