As part of a new daily feature at MLB.com, we'll be breaking down every matchup on the schedule to help give fantasy players an edge, whether it's in daily contests or season-long leagues. The "Fantasy Daily Dish" will break down every starting pitcher on the slate, as well as all of the notable hitters in that particular game. We'll dive into all the specifics of a given matchup looking for everything from batters who thrive against certain pitch types to hot/cold streaks to platoon splits -- and everything in between.
Though there's not quite a full slate of games on Monday, fantasy players will still have plenty of tough calls.
Corbin Burnes has 40 strikeouts without walking a single batter this season, but who are some of the alternative pitching options for those looking to pivot off the most obvious starter on the schedule? Can Shohei Ohtani be trusted in his third start of the year?
As for hitters, Mike Trout is expected to return, while Giancarlo Stanton seems to be finding his power stroke after some early struggles.
Here's a closer look at each of Monday's games:
Royals (Keller) at Tigers (Turnbull), 1:10 p.m. ET
Royals SP: Brad Keller, RHP
Key stat(s): .386 opponents' BA (second-highest among SP)
2021 stats: 1-2, 12.00 ERA, 13.0 K%
Breakdown: Keller held opponents to a .236 wOBA last season, the sixth-best among starting pitchers. The only starters with a lower wOBA were Kenta Maeda, Shane Bieber, Dinelson Lamet, Trevor Bauer and Tony Gonsolin. It's been a different story this season, however, as Keller has been hit hard through his first four starts. He enters with a .444 wOBA this season, while ranking in the third percentile in xBA, xwOBA and xERA. Opponents are hitting .353 vs. his four-seamer, .400 vs. his sinker and .385 against his slider.
Notable Tigers hitters
Akil Baddoo: 4-for-27 (.148) 17 strikeouts over last eight games after hitting .391 with four homers and six K's in first eight games.
Miguel Cabrera: Returned from left biceps strain on Sunday; 4-for-12 (.333) in his career vs. Keller.
Tigers SP: Spencer Turnbull, RHP
Key stat(s): .151 BA, 43.1% whiff rate vs. slider in 2020
2021 stats: 1-0, 1.80 ERA, 31.6 K%
Breakdown: Turnbull, who missed the first few weeks of the season after testing positive for COVID-19, made his 2021 debut on Wednesday, allowing just one run off two hits over five innings (62 pitches) against the Pirates. Turnbull held Bucs hitters to just 1-for-8 with five K's against his slider, picking up right where he left off last season. Opposing batters hit just .151 with a 43.1% whiff rate against the offering in '20.
Notable Royals hitters
Jorge Soler: .204 career hitter with more than twice as many strikeouts (188) than hits (92) vs. sliders
Whit Merrifield: Hitting .208 with three home runs and 97 strikeouts vs. sliders since 2018.
Salvador Perez: Hitting .182 (31-for-170) with six homers and 48 strikeouts vs. sliders since 2018.
Twins (Berríos) at Indians (Plesac), 6:10 p.m. ET
Twins SP: José Berríos, RHP
Key stat(s): 47.5% whiff rate vs. curveball
2021 stats: 2-2, 3.00 ERA, 38.0 K%
Breakdown: Berríos has been sharp this season, racking up 30 strikeouts in just 21 innings of work through four outings. Opposing hitters are just 2-for-27 (.074) with 17 strikeouts and a 47.5% whiff rate against his curveball.
Notable Indians hitters
José Ramírez: Only 4 of his 131 career homers have come against curveballs; 4-for-27 (.148) in his career vs. Berríos.
Roberto Pérez: 1-for-11 (.091) in his career vs. Berríos.
Indians SP: Zach Plesac, RHP
Key stat(s): .333 opponents' BA vs. four-seamer since 2020
2021 stats: 1-3, 6.75 ERA, 17.5 K%
Breakdown: Plesac will face an AL Central foe for the fifth time in as many starts this season. After allowing just two runs over 13 innings (1.38 ERA) in his first starts (both against the Tigers), Plesac was tagged for 12 runs in just 5 2/3 frames (19.06 ERA) in his next two outings (both against the White Sox). Opposing hitters are 9-for-24 (.375) with a .708 SLG against his four-seamer this season, continuing a trend from last year when they hit .321 with a .577 SLG vs. the pitch.
Notable Twins hitters
Byron Buxton: 6-for-14 (.429) with three homers and a 1.214 SLG vs. four-seamers this season after hitting .182 with six homers and .335 SLG vs. four-seamers from 2018-20.
Nelson Cruz: MLB-leading 1.070 road OPS since 2019 (.979 home OPS).
Josh Donaldson: 8-for-14 (.571) vs. fastballs this season (3-for-13 vs. other pitches).
Yankees (García) at Orioles (Harvey), 7:05 p.m. ET
Yankees SP: Deivi García, RHP
Key stat(s): Opposing hitters went 5-for-25 vs. changeup last season
2021 stats: N/A
Breakdown: García will be making his first start of the season after coming up short in his bid for a rotation spot this spring. The 21-year-old had some ups and downs in his six starts as a rookie last season, striking out at least six batters in five of his six outings, though he allowed 10 runs over 9 2/3 innings in his final two starts. García has a solid changeup, but he has said he hopes his slider can be more of a weapon for him this year after hitters went 5-for-10 with a pair of homers against the offering in 2020.
Notable Orioles hitters
Cedric Mullins: Hitting .346 with eight multi-hit games this season.
Ryan Mountcastle: 1-for-25 (.040) with seven strikeouts over last eight games.
Orioles SP: Matt Harvey, RHP
Key stat(s): 3.79 xERA this season
2021 stats: 1-1, 5.12 ERA, 18.2 K%
Breakdown: Harvey obviously hasn't returned to his former All-Star form, but he's been a serviceable option for the O's through four starts. Though he has a 5.12 ERA, his xERA is far more respectable (3.79) -- and both are a far cry from the numbers he put up in 2020 (11.57 ERA, 10.77 xERA). He's made improvements across the board, lowering his average exit velocity allowed (89.1 mph; down from 93.5 mph), hard-hit percentage (36.8%; down from 54.0%), home run rate (2.3%; down from 9.2%) and walk rate (3.4%; down from 7.7%).
Notable Yankees hitters
Giancarlo Stanton: 97.5 mph average exit velocity (best in MLB); has five of the six hardest-hit balls in Majors this season.
Aaron Judge: 5-for-30 (.167) with zero home runs since two-homer game on April 14; ranks second in MLB behind Stanton with 97.3 mph average exit velocity.
Gary Sánchez: 2-for-24 (.083) with eight K's and zero extra-base hits in last eight games.
Athletics (Manaea) at Rays (Hill), 7:10 p.m. ET
A's SP: Sean Manaea, LHP
Key stat(s): 60.5% sinker usage
2021 stats: 2-1, 3.04 ERA, 22.7 K%
Breakdown: Manaea has always relied heavily on his sinker, and this year has been no different. He's throwing it 60.5% of the time, though he's already allowed three homers off the pitch this year (on just 50 balls in play) after serving up only three homers on the 96 sinkers that were put in play last season. The rest of the numbers are pretty similar to last year, however, with the average velocity (91.4 mph) actually up from last season (90.4 mph).
Notable Rays hitters
Randy Arozarena: 1.186 career OPS vs. left-handed pitchers (.772 OPS vs. RHP); 16-for-33 (.485) with seven home runs and a 1.152 SLG in his career vs. sinkers, including postseason.
Joey Wendle: 0-for-8 last two games; 3-for-17 (all singles) with a .440 OPS vs. LHP this season compared to 20-for-50 (.400) with a 1.124 OPS vs. RHP.
Rays SP: Rich Hill, LHP
Key stat(s): 41.5% hard-hit rate
2021 stats: 1-0, 8.82 ERA, 19.4 K%
Breakdown: After allowing a hard-hit rate of just 28.6% from 2019-20 -- fourth-best among starting pitchers -- Hill has served up a 41.5% hard-hit rate to this point in 2021. The southpaw has allowed four earned runs in each of his four outings, the most recent of which lasted only two innings on Tuesday against the Royals. Hill's average exit velocity allowed is also up to 89.7 mph after sitting at 86.8 mph each of the last two seasons.
Notable A's hitters
Matt Olson: Hitting .395 with five homers and a 1.321 OPS in last 10 games, but has a .736 career OPS vs. LHP (.896 vs. RHP).
Matt Chapman: Has reverse splits in his career, posting a higher slugging percentage (.504) and OPS (.835) against right-handers than left-handers (.476 SLG, .812 OPS); 87.9 mph average exit velocity (down from 93.6 mph in 2020).
Ramón Laureano: Hitting .154 with zero stolen bases over last 10 games (hit .306 with eight steals in first nine games).
Cubs (Davies) at Braves (Morton), 7:10 p.m. ET
Cubs SP: Zach Davies, RHP
Key stat(s): 11 walks, 10 K's
2021 stats: 1-2, 8.80 ERA, 12.8 K%
Breakdown: Davies has issued multiple walks in each of his four appearances, while allowing 21 hits over just 15 1/3 innings. He's not missing many bats (10 strikeouts, 17.2% whiff rate), especially with his sinker. In fact, opposing hitters have not registered a single swing and miss against the 152 sinkers thrown by Davies (his most-used pitch). He ranks in the bottom-10 percentile in xBA, xwOBA, whiff rate, fastball velocity and xERA.
Notable Braves hitters
Ronald Acuña Jr.: 10-for-27 (.370) with four homers in his career against sinkers 90 mph or slower (Davies' sinker averages 87.3 mph).
Ozzie Albies: 15-for-36 (.417) against sinkers 90 mph or slower.
Marcell Ozuna: .349 career hitter against sinkers 90 mph or slower; 9-for-23 (.391) against Davies.
Freddie Freeman: 92.9 mph average exit velocity (up from 92.4 mph last season when he won NL MVP Award). Freeman has a .457 SLG this season despite a .679 xSLG; the .222-point differential is fourth-highest among players with at least 50 batted balls.
Braves SP: Charlie Morton, RHP
Key stat(s): 46.9% whiff rate with curveball
2021 stats: 1-1, 3.91 ERA, 28.7 K%
Breakdown: Morton served up five runs in his April 14 outing vs. the Marlins, but he's been solid otherwise, allowing just five runs over 17 innings (2.65 ERA) in his other three starts. Opponents have done most of their damage against Morton off his hard stuff, while his curveball has been a dominant pitch. Opposing batters are just 3-for-29 (all singles) with 13 strikeouts and a 46.9% whiff rate against his curve this season.
Notable Cubs hitters
Anthony Rizzo: Hitting .322 with a .636 SLG vs. curveballs since 2018.
Javier Báez: Hitting .311 with a .588 SLG vs. curveballs since 2018.
Kris Bryant: 12-for-81 (.143) with two homers and 28 K's vs. curveballs since 2018.
Marlins (Rogers) at Brewers (Burnes), 7:40 p.m. ET
Marlins SP: Trevor Rogers, LHP
Key stat(s): 23 K's with four-seamer (second-most in MLB)
2021 stats: 2-1, 1.64 ERA, 35.6 K%
Breakdown: Only one pitcher has racked up more strikeouts with a four-seam fastball this season than Rogers: Jacob deGrom. The pitch has been a significant weapon for Rogers, with opponents hitting .176 (9-for-51) with 23 K's and a 38.7% whiff rate against it. Rogers' success with his fastball has also helped his changeup, a pitch against which opponents are just 2-for-18 (.111) this season. Overall, the 23-year-old Rogers has a 39% whiff rate.
Notable Brewers hitters
Kolten Wong: 6-for-12 (.500) with a home run and a stolen base in three games since returning from strained left oblique.
Keston Hiura: 9-for-62 (.145) with 25 strikeouts this season; though he's a right-handed hitter, Hiura has a .694 career OPS vs. left-handers (.849 vs. RHP).
Avisaíl García: .877 OPS vs. LHP since start of last season (.592 OPS vs. RHP).
Brewers SP: Corbin Burnes, RHP
Key stat(s): 40 K's, 0 walks this season
2021 stats: 2-1, 0.37 ERA, 47.1 K%
Breakdown: Burnes' transformation into one of the most dominant pitchers in the big leagues has continued this season, with the right-hander racking up 40 strikeouts without issuing a single walk through four starts. He's turned in three consecutive scoreless outings of six innings apiece, while allowing just seven hits in those 18 innings. He has a 39.4 K% since the start of last season, third-best in the Majors behind only deGrom and Shane Bieber.
Notable Marlins hitters
Jazz Chisholm: Hitting .317 with three homers, two stolen bases and a 1.050 OPS in last 12 games.
Phillies (Wheeler) at Cardinals (Wainwright), 7:45 p.m. ET
Phillies SP: Zack Wheeler, RHP
Key stat(s): 3 HR allowed in last start (matches 2020 total)
2021 stats: 1-2, 3.80 ERA, 26.3 K%
Breakdown: Wheeler was lights out in his 2021 debut, striking out 10 while allowing just one hit over seven scoreless innings against the Braves -- but he's had some uncharacteristic struggles since. He has a 5.40 ERA with eight walks over his last three starts, while allowing four home runs (one more than he served up all of last season).
Notable Cardinals hitters
Nolan Arenado: Hitting .171 (7-for-40) vs. fastballs and .231 (6-for-26) vs. breaking balls this season. He's done most of his damage against changeups, going 8-for-13 (.615) with two homers -- but Wheeler throws his change just 7.3% of the time (his No. 5 pitch).
Paul Goldschmidt: 55.0% hard-hit rate this season (fifth in NL).
Cardinals SP: Adam Wainwright, RHP
Key stat(s): 28.6% whiff rate (career high: 24.1% in 2020)
2021 stats: 0-2, 5.03 ERA, 26.7 K%
Breakdown: Wainwright's season has unfolded in the exact opposite manner from Wheeler. After giving up six runs in just 2 2/3 innings in his 2021 debut, Wainwright has a 2.65 ERA over his three starts since -- nad he's coming off a 10-strikeout performance on Tuesday against the Nationals. Wainwright has induced whiff rates of 35.1% with his curveball, 34.9% with his cutter and 30.0% with his four-seamer.
Notable Phillies hitters
Bryce Harper: Hitting .383 with a 1.303 OPS and six homers in his last 13 games; 11-for-23 (.478) with five extra-base hits in his career vs. Wainwright.
Rhys Hoskins: 19-for-109 (.174) with 44 strikeouts in his career against curveballs.
Nick Maton: Has reached base in each of his first six career games; hitting .500 with a 1.178 OPS.
Angels (Ohtani) at Rangers (Lyles), 8:05 p.m. ET
Angels SP: Shohei Ohtani, RHP
Key stat(s): Opponents are 1-for-15 with 11 K's vs. his splitter
2021 stats: 0-0, 1.04 ERA, 34.2 K%
Breakdown: Ohtani has flashed his elite strikeout potential in first two starts, though he's also struggled with his command while dealing with a blister. He's racked up 14 strikeouts -- including 11 with his splitter -- and walked 11 batters in just 8 2/3 innings. Ohtani has conceded only three hits (all singles), and he's yet to allow a barrel on the 15 balls put in play against him. His fastball has averaged 97.2 mph, and has maxed out at 101.1 mph. If he cleans up the walks, watch out.
Notable Rangers hitters
Joey Gallo: 15-for-75 (.200) with five homers and 45 K's in his career against pitches 97 mph or faster.
Nate Lowe: 1-for-14 with seven K's in his career against pitches 97 mph or faster.
Rangers SP: Jordan Lyles, RHP
Key stat(s): .321 opponents' BA vs. four-seamer since 2020
2021 stats: 1-1, 4.64 ERA, 20.7 K%
Breakdown: Lyles has allowed three runs or fewer in each of his first four starts this season, though he continues to give up some big hits off his four-seam fastball. Four of the five homers he's allowed in 2021 have come against his four-seamer, and opponents are slugging .676 against the offering. That comes after Lyles allowed opposing batters to hit .330 with a .651 SLG and nine homers against his four-seamer last season.
Notable Angels hitters
Mike Trout: Expected to return Monday after missing last three games with a left elbow contusion. Leads MLB with .521 OBP and 1.325 OPS; 5-for-15 with four extra-base hits (including two homers) vs. Lyles.
Justin Upton: 6-for-13 (.462) in his career vs. Lyles.
Mariners (Sheffield) at Astros (Urquidy), 8:10 p.m. ET
Mariners SP: Justus Sheffield, LHP
Key stat(s): Opponents are 3-for-23 (.130) vs. his slider
2021 stats: 1-1, 4.86 ERA, 22.2 K%
Breakdown: Sheffield's success is typically dictated entirely by his feel for his slider. Though he deploys a three-pitch mix -- four-seamer (45.2% of his pitches), slider (35.0%) and changeup (17.1%) -- his slider is the only offering with real swing-and-miss stuff. Not only have 13 of his 16 strikeouts this season come on his slider, but the offering has induced an impressive 42.6% whiff rate, while his fastball (6.8% whiff rate) and changeup (5.6%) have been a different story. Opponents are hitting .130 vs. that slider (3-for-23), compared to .300 (12-for-40) against the other two offerings.
Notable Astros hitters
Carlos Correa: 5-for-15 with a home run, four RBIs and five runs scored in three games since moving to leadoff spot for first time in career.
Alex Bregman: 1.013 career OPS vs. LHP (.859 OPS vs. RHP).
Yordan Alvarez: Though he's a left-handed hitter, Alvarez has similar splits vs. LHP (.310/.386/.634) and RHP (.308/.409/.632).
Yuli Gurriel: Three homers and 10 RBIs in last five games.
Astros SP: José Urquidy, RHP
Key stat(s): 67.7% career strike percentage
2021 stats: 0-2, 5.14 ERA, 22.5 K%
Breakdown: Urquidy is going to attack hitters early and often. He threw 69% of his pitches for strikes last year, and he's at 66% through four starts this season. His four-seamer is sitting at jusy 91.6 mph this season, down from 93.1 mph in 2020. Still, his strikeout percentage has jumped to 22.5% in 2021 after Urquidy ranked among the bottom of the league with a 14.7 K% last year.
Notable Mariners hitters
Kyle Lewis: 2-for-16 (.125) with five K's in four games this season (missed first few weeks with deep bone bruise in right knee)
Ty France: Hitting .382 with seven extra-base hits, eight RBIs and a 1.097 OPS in last 10 games.
Rockies (Gomber) at Giants (DeSclafani), 9:45 p.m. ET
Rockies SP: Austin Gomber, LHP
Key stat(s): Opponents are 4-for-38 vs. his breaking ball
2021 stats: 1-2, 3.38 ERA, 23.0 K%
Breakdown: Gomber has held opposing hitters to a .143 average this season, but he has handed out multiple walks in each of his four outings -- including seven over just three innings in his 2021 debut. Overall, he's issued 15 free passes in 21 1/3 innings. That's a 17.2% walk rate for Gomber, who had a 10.4% career walk rate entering this season. Opposing hitters are 1-for-15 against his slider and just 3-for-23 with 12 K's vs. his curveball, so the key will be whether he can limit the walks.
Notable Giants hitters
Evan Longoria: 8-for-16 with four homers vs. LHP this season; he has a 1.143 OPS vs. LHP since start of last season (.636 OPS vs. RHP).
Mike Yastrzemski: Hitting .273 with eight extra-base hits over last 11 games (hit .121 with two extra-base hits in first 10).
Giants SP: Anthony DeSclafani, RHP
Key stat(s): .426 opponents' BA vs. four-seamer since 2020
2021 stats: 1-0, 2.14 ERA, 23.4 K%
Breakdown: After allowing just two runs over 17 innings in his first three starts, DeSclafani was tagged for three runs in just four innings against the Phillies on Wednesday. The right-hander has been working in his sinker more this season (23.6% usage rate in 2021; 18.1% usage rate in 2020), with opponents going just 2-for-26 (.077) against the pitch. The more sinkers have come at the expense of his four-seamer, which he's throwing only 26.3% of the time (33.2% last season). That's understandable, considering opponents hit .436 against the offering last season, and are 6-for-15 (.400) against it so far this year.
Notable Rockies hitters
Trevor Story: Two homers in last three games after going career-long 29 games without a HR (dating to last season).
Raimel Tapia: 10-for-25 (.400) with four extra-base hits and a 1.280 OPS during seven-game hitting streak.
Reds (Mahle) at Dodgers (Urías), 10:10 p.m. ET
Reds SP: Tyler Mahle, RHP
Key stat(s): 38.8 K%
2021 stats: 1-1, 1.74 ERA, 38.8 K%
Breakdown: Mahle has raised his strikeout percentage every year of his big league career, going from 15.2% in 2017 to 21.7% in '18 and 23.2% in '19 before setting another career high at 29.9% last season. With his four-seam fastball sitting at 94.7 mph so far this year (up from 93.9 mph last season), he's upped that K% to a whopping 38.8% in the early going. He'll throw that fastball more than 50% of the time, while also working a slider and splitter into his three-pitch mix. Opponents are just 5-for-40 (.125) with 19 K's against his fastball, and they haven't been any more successful against his other offerings (.150 opponents' BA vs. slider, .111 vs. splitter).
Notable Dodgers hitters
Mookie Betts: 8-for-38 with zero homers, one RBI and one stolen base in last 10 games.
Corey Seager: 54.3% hard-hit rate (fifth in NL).
Justin Turner: 4-for-24 (.167) with nine K's in last seven games after hitting .426 with five homers and 10 K's in first 13 games.
Chris Taylor: Has reached base in 16 of his 17 starts; ranks eighth in MLB with a 17.1 barrel percentage, directly between Ronald Acuña Jr. (18.3%) and Giancarlo Stanton (17.0%).
Dodgers SP: Julio Urías, LHP
Key stat(s): Opponents are 0-for-23 vs. his changeup
2021 stats: 3-0, 2.81 ERA, 26.0 K%
Breakdown: Urías is coming off the best start of his young career, striking out 11 over seven innings of one-hit ball on Tuesday against the Mariners. Hitters are 0-for-23 with eight strikeouts against his changeup -- the one pitch that gave Urías problems (.316 opponents' BA) last season. He'll need to clean up his fastball, though, as opponents are hitting .349 (15-for-43) against it after hitting just .193 against that offering in 2020.
Notable Reds hitters
Nick Castellanos: Seven home runs (tied for most in MLB); 32 hard-hit balls this season (tied for sixth). Has a .886 career OPS vs. LHP (.773 vs. RHP).
Joey Votto: 92.8 mph average exit velocity (up from 87.4 mph in 2020); also has higher barrel percentage (14.3%, up from 9.1%) and hard-hit percentage (47.6%, up from 35.7%). Votto has a .646 OPS vs. LHP since 2019 (.815 vs. RHP)