Three MLB bets headline Monday’s slate: Cardinals host Colorado with Miles Mikolas on the mound, while Chase Dollander faces the Red Birds in a card that skews toward STL’s run-line appeal. In the Boston-Houston matchup, Cristian Javier returns from Tommy John rehab for a playoff-hunting Astros squad, but Garrett Crochet has been a snapback, giving Boston a chance to keep things tight. The Pirates-Brewers clash projects more runs than a sleepy night would suggest, setting up three distinct fantasy angles: pitcher reliability, bullpen leverage, and timely offense.

Cardinals minus 1.5 looks solid given Colorado’s road woes and Mikolas’ recent form against a rebuilding lineup. Under 7.5 in Boston-Houston hinges on Javier’s readiness and Crochet’s bullpen dominance, while Over 8.5 in Milwaukee-Pittsburgh leans on Brewers’ recent scoring surge. These bets shape daily fantasy contours: target locked-in starters, hunt for cheap Cubs-like stacks in favorable matchups, and monitor bullpen setup for saves or holds.

Fantasy takeaway: lean Cardinals bats against Dollander’s early struggles, pick Astros power against a tempered Rockies lineup, and exploit Brewers’ bullpen depth for late innings. The slate rewards pitchers who command soft contact, catchers with runners, and versatile outfield stacks lighting up the scoreboard when leveraged correctly.