Did we make it out of the weekend alive? Overall, yes, but just by the skin of my teeth in some contests. I think the fantasy gods were kind to me for the most part but there were certainly some lessons to be learned about taking a full week off from studying all things MLB. You need to pay attention at all times and if you haven’t checked in with MLB regularly, then maybe you should take a time out from playing as well. Better safe than sorry as even missing out on a day’s worth of news can adversely affect your lineup construction.

Here’s a look at the data for Monday’s starting pitchers and, as always, some DFS recommendations for you:

                 vs Lvs R   
PlayerTmHandH/AOppIPK/9BB/9HR/9BAASwStr%ERAxFIPWHIPGB%FB%GB/FBwOBAwOBA$FD$DK$Aces
Jake ArrietaCHIRACWS121.19.573.190.52.19711.9%2.603.351.0854.6%24.9%2.190.2760.234$10600$12400$7950
Drew PomeranzBOSLHDET102.010.143.440.71.18412.1%2.473.381.0649.8%35.2%1.420.2770.260$10100$10300$6800
Noah SyndergaardNYMRHSTL111.111.001.620.49.24616.4%2.432.461.1153.9%23.6%2.290.3090.245$10100$11100$7750
Aaron SanchezTORRHSD125.17.762.660.72.2338.9%2.873.611.1758.3%20.7%2.810.3030.265$9600$10900$7100
Carlos MartinezSTLRANYM114.17.562.910.63.22110.4%2.833.711.1360.6%21.8%2.780.3280.203$9500$11400$6850
Justin VerlanderDETRABOS132.19.452.521.16.21913.4%3.743.691.0838.4%41.9%0.920.2790.303$8800$9400$6900
Dallas KeuchelHOULHNYY126.17.842.781.07.26810.3%4.703.631.3659.3%20.1%2.950.2780.344$8600$8000$6650
Hector SantiagoLAALAKC110.17.833.831.47.23310.5%4.324.471.2941.8%44.7%0.940.3040.326$8300$7900$6150
Michael PinedaNYYRAHOU106.110.752.451.52.27015.2%5.253.241.3545.6%31.1%1.470.3400.349$8100$8800$6450
Ian KennedyKCRHLAA109.19.392.962.14.23211.0%4.284.081.2135.0%47.3%0.740.3430.319$8000$7300$6350
Anthony DeSclafaniCINRASF50.17.161.430.89.27810.5%2.503.981.2143.6%30.9%1.410.3750.237$7500$9300$6200
Jeremy HellicksonPHIRAMIA119.27.972.031.43.24712.4%3.843.791.1644.5%30.3%1.470.3490.300$7300$8300$6650
Jake PeavySFRHCIN99.27.052.621.08.27911.0%5.154.581.4138.4%40.3%0.950.3780.330$6900$6100$5900
Daniel MengdenOAKRATEX44.09.004.700.82.26211.0%5.524.661.5544.2%32.6%1.360.3380.317$6600$6000$5400
Martin PerezTEXLHOAK119.14.153.850.91.2747.4%4.375.091.4655.5%24.1%2.300.2480.352$6400$4600$5750
Miguel GonzalezCWSRHCHI81.26.833.200.88.2559.6%4.414.541.3444.9%32.8%1.370.3220.307$6400$6,600$5850
Yovani GallardoBALRHCOL55.16.025.041.14.2966.8%5.695.401.7041.8%36.7%1.140.4020.336$6400$4200$5750
Jorge De La RosaCOLLABAL72.27.554.091.49.29711.5%6.074.661.6750.4%28.5%1.770.3650.379$6200$4000$5700
Jarred CosartMIARHPHI14.24.917.980.00.2815.8%7.986.282.1166.7%5.9%11.330.3260.378$5900$4900$5500
Chase AndersonMILRHARI90.06.903.501.80.2719.2%5.504.891.4438.9%38.2%1.020.2860.435$5800$4300$5500
Colin ReaSDRATOR93.16.943.471.16.2647.0%5.014.841.4648.3%25.2%1.920.3280.353$5700$5300$5700
Braden ShipleyARIRAMILN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A$5,700$5,000N/A

Jake Arrieta, CHC – If you’re going to invest this heavily in a starting pitcher, then I like Arrieta over both Drew Pomeranz (facing Tigers in 2nd start for Boston) and Noah Syndergaard (poor match-up and questions regarding IP). The White Sox have been swinging the sticks a little better lately but they’ve still lost eight of their last 11 games and are sitting on a 24th-ranked .305 wOBA with a 21.1-percent strikeout rate over the past week. Not to mention Miguel Gonzalez pitching for the Pale Hose is pretty close to an automatic win for the Cubbies!

Aaron Sanchez, TOR – Rarely do I ever like to recommend a Blue Jays starter at home, but Sanchez has looked strong with five quality starts in his last six outings which included one outstanding and one decent outing at home. The Padres obviously have one of the worst team wOBAs with a .290 mark against righties and that comes with a 24.6-percent strikeout rate. Also a big fan of the Padres’ 44.6-percent ground ball rate against righties matching up with Sanchez’ 58.3-percent ground ball mark.

Carlos Martinez, STL – The Mets are averaging fewer than three runs per game over their last 10 and over the past week, they’ve posted a depressing .275 wOBA with a 20.5-percent strikeout rate and a feeble .095 ISO. For the season, the Mets have posted a 22.4-percent K-rate against right-handed pitching so look for C-Mart to, at the least, post a strikeout per inning.

Dallas Keuchel, HOU – Been a long, long time since I recommended Keuchel for a DFS game, but he’s looked re-born with six-straight quality starts and a 2.79 ERA over those 38.2 innings. The Yankees bats have a 27th-ranked .304 wOBA against southpaws this season and over their last seven days, they’ve posted just a .291 wOBA with a .379 slugging percentage.

Anthony DeSclafani, CIN – He’s definitely turned some heads with six-straight quality starts, a 2.50 ERA and a 10.5-percent swinging strike rate, and now he gets the Giants in pitcher-friendly AT&T Park. The Giants are right about league average against righties all season, but over the past week, they’ve posted  a very mundane .300 wOBA with a 21-percent strikeout rate and just a .103 ISO. If Jake Peavy is his usual gas-can self, then DeSclafani should have no trouble picking up the win.

Jorge De La Rosa, COL – You like darts? Here’s one for the ages! De La Rosa?? Never in a million years would I feel confident in using him, but the price tag and the match-up just might be too tasty to not play him in a GPP. The Orioles rank 25th in the league with a .309 wOBA against southpaws and to make matters worse, they own a .272 wOBA over the past week with a 21.2-percent strikeout rate and just a .112 ISO. For a buck on FanDuel? Why the hell not?