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Mondays aren't exactly known for their optimism, but I'm bringing a heavy dose to an 11-game slate.

Realism has its place (cash games), but it feels like it's too often imposed on tournament lineups. There's really no difference in tournaments between a so-so performance and complete garbage. Either way you aren't winning that night.

So if the risk is garbage and that's holding down a player's ownership, that makes them a better tournament play. Obviously there's risk, but who cares? If you want safety, stick to cash games.

This line of thinking is made clear with two of my top three hitters, but what does it mean with hitters?

Well, a guy like Chris Davis is a great example. Davis could strike out three times tonight and continue his lack of success at Yankees Stadium. He could also hit three routine fly balls to right field that turn into home runs in that park.

Billy Hamilton is an example on the other end of the spectrum. Hamilton can turn a walk into 15 FanDuel points in two pitches. He also gets on base at a .288 clip. There's certainly risk there.

The point is that when you're building your tournament lineups, you need to consider upside, ownership and the likelihood that it hits. Anything beyond that is just noise.

Starting Pitchers

Jose Fernandez ($12,000, $13,800)

I'm not sure everyone realizes just how good Fernandez has been. His 36.6 percent K rate is 10 percent better than any other starter. Yes, that includes Jose Fernandez. He trails Kershaw in other categories, but still has the second best SIERA in all of baseball at 2.58. The Phillies offense showed some life before the All-Star break, but it is no match for Fernandez.

Corey Kluber ($10,600, $11,900)

You know what you're getting with Kluber in that you have no idea what you're getting. Kluber has topped 48 FanDuel points in five of his past seven starts. In the other two starts, he combined for 19 FanDuel points. That's not to say I don't think Kluber is a cash game play. He is, just know if it goes wrong it may go very wrong.

Brandon Finnegan ($6,300, $5,400)

Speaking of things going very wrong, Brandon Finnegan, everyone! Since the start of June, Finnegan has just one average start, his last one. Before that he either scored 34 FanDuel points or had a disastrous outing. The last time he faced the Braves he scored 42 FanDuel points with 5 Ks. If you want to stack Coors and get a piece of the Orioles, this is the way to do it.

Stack Attack

Today's game at Coors is really interesting. Drew Smyly is a high-variance fly ball pitcher who should get crushed by righties at Coors. Tyler Anderson is a guy who has pitched much better than anyone expected against a team of lefty-mashing Rays. You know me well enough to know that I'll have a big chunk of Ryan Raburn if he's in the lineup. Logan Forsythe, Steven Souza, and Brandon Guyer will also make their way into my lineups.

Orioles @ Yankees

The Orioles provide an excellent means to fade Coors today, with Chris Davis being one of my favorite plays on the slate. Davis' prodigious power at Yankees Stadium against Ivan Nova should play very well. Adam Jones and Manny Machado have both struggled mightily against Nova in the past but I wouldn't fade them.

Tigers vs. Twins

Ricky Nolasco's 5.22 ERA might seem a little unlucky when you look at his FIP, but it's pretty easily explained by a 34-percent hard contact rate. He doesn't miss many bats, and when he gets hit he gets rocked. Since the start of 2014, Nolasco has had reverse splits, surrendering a .360 wOBA to RHH this season. If you aren't going to play Chris Davis, Miguel Cabrera should be Plan B at 1B.

Lineups

I'm going to offer my early take on a cash game lineup, but of course you should always check out our Sportsline projections for lineup changes right up to lock. Also, check out our podcast on iTunes for extended thoughts on each slate from Chris Towers, Mike McClure and myself.

FanDuel

P Brandon Finnegan $6,300
C Nick Hundley $3,300
1B Chris Davis $3,500
2B Logan Forsythe $4,000
3B Nolan Arenado $4,600
SS Javier Baez $2,600
OF Brandon Guyer $3,600
OF Ryan Raburn $3,500
OF Stephen Piscotty

DraftKings

P Jose Fernandez $13,800
P Brandon Finnegan $5,400
C Nick Hundley $3,800
1B Chris Davis $4,300
2B Yangervis Solarte $3,800
3B Manny Machado $4,100
SS Jose Iglesias $2,400
OF Ryan Raburn $4,100
OF Justin Upton $3,300
OF Mark Trumbo $5,000