Monday night’s MLB slate is buzzing with anticipation as nine games kick off, spotlighting some intriguing pitching matchups and prop bets that fans and fantasy players alike won’t want to miss. Among the standout storylines is the Chicago Cubs’ pitching conundrum, the Yankees’ spot start gamble, and a veteran pitcher looking to rebound against a familiar foe. Let’s dive into the key narratives shaping the evening.
First up, the New York Yankees are rolling the dice by starting Allan Winans in Cincinnati. Winans, 29, is making a spot start to fill in for the sidelined Ryan Yarbrough, who is out with an oblique injury. The Yankees are hopeful that Winans’ dominance at Triple-A will translate to the major league mound, even at the hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park. His Triple-A stats are eye-popping: a spotless 7-0 record across 11 games, a microscopic 0.90 ERA, and a 2.41 FIP. Over 50 innings, he surrendered only five earned runs while fanning 59 batters and limiting opponents to a 33.3% hard-hit rate. With Marcus Stroman expected back soon from a knee injury, Winans’ time in the rotation might be brief, but for now, he’s a promising arm the Yankees are banking on to steady the ship after a recent slump. The team has bounced back with three wins in their last four games following a six-game skid, and with lefty Nick Lodolo toeing the rubber for the Reds, the Yankees have a solid shot at giving Winans the run support he needs for a win, even at the long-shot +240 odds.
Meanwhile, in the National League Central, the Cubs are facing a pivotal four-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals, who trail them by 4.5 games in the division race. The Cubs’ recent form has been wobbly, having lost three of their last four series and going just 5-4 in nine home games, which has trimmed their division lead to 3.5 games. The pitching staff, once a strength, is now under scrutiny, particularly right-hander Ben Brown. Brown has been a rollercoaster this season, showing flashes of brilliance with a 26.3% strikeout rate and 10.6 K/9, but also bouts of inconsistency. On Monday, he took the mound against the Cardinals but struggled, surrendering nine hits and eight earned runs in five innings. This outing followed a previous rough start on June 11 against the Phillies, where he gave up six runs in a 7-2 loss. Brown entered Monday’s game with a 5.57 ERA and has become a hot topic among Cubs fans, many of whom are calling for him to be sent down to Triple-A Iowa to refine his pitching arsenal. Social media buzzed with comments like, “Time for Ben Brown to head back to Iowa. Good velocity & decent curveball, but can’t locate his pitches & loses focus during innings,” and “Brown stinks. Been bad, stayed bad. Hard to be a successful starter with only 2 pitches. Needs a reset at Iowa to develop another pitch or become an asset in the bullpen.”
Despite the criticism, Brown remains a favored pick in fantasy circles, especially for strikeout props. Chalkboard Fantasy highlights him as a top MLB pick for more than 4.5 strikeouts, noting his consistent ability to miss bats. He has recorded over 4.5 strikeouts in 13 of his 15 outings this year, including four straight games. This is particularly promising given the Cardinals’ offense has struggled lately, posting a .668 OPS over the last month—the fourth-worst in baseball—and striking out 22.6% of the time during that span. Brown’s strikeout prowess could be a silver lining for the Cubs as they try to hold onto their division lead.
The Cubs’ lineup for Monday’s game featured Ian Happ leading off, with Kyle Tucker in right field and Seiya Suzuki at DH. Dansby Swanson was slotted in the cleanup spot at shortstop, followed by Pete Crow-Armstrong in center, Carson Kelly behind the plate, Nico Hoerner at second base, Justin Turner at first, and Matt Shaw batting ninth at third. They faced 25-year-old lefty Matthew Liberatore of the Cardinals, who is enjoying a breakout full-time starting season after spending most of his career as a reliever. Liberatore’s six-pitch mix, especially his changeup—which accounts for just 13% of his pitches but has generated significant run value—has been key to his success. However, he has been a bit spotty recently, allowing five of his seven home runs in four of his last five games. Liberatore’s limited experience against the Cubs lineup, with only 22 total at-bats faced, adds an element of unpredictability to the matchup. Ian Happ, notably, has homered against him before.
On the West Coast, the Boston Red Sox are visiting the Anaheim Angels, handing the ball to veteran Walker Buehler. Buehler’s season has been a tale of ups and downs. While he started strong, his recent outings have been rough, posting a 10.50 ERA and 7.35 FIP over his last four starts and giving up 31 hits in 18 innings. In each of those games, he allowed at least six hits, underscoring his struggles to contain opposing offenses. The Angels, though not known for power, have been hitting for average recently, compiling 56 hits over their last seven games. Buehler’s matchup against Jack Kochanowicz on the mound for the Angels promises to be a test of endurance and adjustment. Chalkboard Fantasy recommends betting on Buehler to allow more than six hits, given his recent form and the Angels’ offensive resurgence. Additionally, Mike Trout is highlighted as a top fantasy pick for more than 1.5 combined hits, runs, and RBIs against Buehler. Trout’s strong underlying stats against right-handed pitching make him a dangerous foe, especially in a home run-friendly park.
As the MLB action unfolds Monday evening, fans can expect a mix of high-stakes pitching duels and offensive fireworks. The Yankees are hoping their Triple-A ace can hold his own on a tough road, the Cubs are battling to maintain their division lead despite pitching inconsistencies, and the Red Sox are counting on a veteran to right the ship against a potent Angels lineup. Fantasy players will be eyeing strikeout numbers from Ben Brown and run production from Mike Trout, while bettors will be weighing the odds on spot starters and struggling veterans.
With nine games on the docket starting at 6:35 PM ET, there’s plenty of baseball to keep eyes glued to the diamond. Whether it’s the drama of a division race tightening in the NL Central or the strategic gambles by teams nursing injuries and form slumps, Monday’s MLB action promises to deliver a little something for every baseball fan.
