MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/11/18

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

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STARTING PITCHERS

Madison Bumgarner vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $8,800
DraftKings = $10,400

Bumgarner finally made his season debut last week against the Diamondbacks and allowed two runs to go along with three strikeouts in six innings. He threw just 82 pitches, but he had only made two minor league rehab starts before he returned. He gets a great matchup against a Marlins team that has scored the fewest runs (224) in baseball and should be able to throw more pitches, making him a great option Monday.

Sam Gaviglio vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $7,300

Gaviglio has done an excellent job with Marcus Stroman (shoulder) out, recording a 2.59 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and a 7.4 K/9 across four starts. He was very impressive in his last start against the Yankees as he finished with four strikeouts in seven shutout innings.  You shouldn’t be counting on Gaviglio for a lot of strikeouts, but that doesn’t mean he can’t provide value at this cheap price. The Rays don’t hit for a lot of power and have scored the sixth-fewest runs (260) in baseball, setting Gaviglio up as someone to consider in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

Jose Martinez vs. Jordan Lyles, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,300

Martinez is in the midst of an eight-game hitting streak that has seen him hit 14-for-28 (.500) with four home runs and nine RBI. He was off to a slow start in the homer department, but his batting average has been excellent and is now up to .320. He’s done a great job cutting down on his strikeouts this season, following up his 19.5% strikeout rate last year with a 13.4% mark this season. He’s had no problems against right-handed pitchers this year either with a .388 wOBA against them.

Yonder Alonso vs. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,700

An Indians stack could provide a hefty return Monday. Giolito has been awful this season, posting a 7.08 ERA, 6.20 FIP, and 1.66 WHIP. He has actually allowed more walks (39) than he has strikeouts (31). Lefties have a .409 wOBA against him, making Alonso a cheaper option with upside to target.

Others to consider: Anthony Rizzo (first base) and Buster Posey (catcher)

SECOND BASE

Ian Kinsler vs. Wade LeBlanc, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,600

Kinsler’s long slump to start the season appears to finally be in his rearview mirror. In his last 12 games, Kinsler is 19-for-49 (.388) with six home runs and four doubles. He also struck out only twice during that stretch. LeBlanc is doing a fine job at the back end of the Mariners rotation, but it’s still worth riding Kinsler’s hot bat since he also has a .374 wOBA for his career against lefties.

Daniel Descalso vs. Joe Musgrove, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,800

Descalso is well on his way to having the best season of his career. He’s never hit more than 10 home runs in a season, but he already has seven in 57 games. He’s batting .261 as well with a career-high .360 OBP. His 42.1% hard-hit rate might not be easy to sustain over the course of the season, but he’s established himself as an important part of a Diamondbacks offense that has largely disappointed. He also has a .391 wOBA against righties, bringing him into the discussion against Musgrove.

Others to consider: Jonathan Schoop and Ben Zobrist

THIRD BASE

Jose Ramirez vs. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $5,600

The only reason you shouldn’t play Ramirez against Giolito is if you can’t make his hefty price tag work into your budget. He has a 1.007 OPS and is well on his way to hitting at least 30 home runs in a season for the first time in his career. He has almost even splits against righties and lefties, which only further illustrates his well-rounded hitting abilities.

Evan Longoria vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,700

Chen’s season hasn’t been as bad a Giolito’s, but he’s not exactly pitching well with a 5.86 ERA and a 6.19 FIP. Combine his 1.56 WHIP with a 2.0 HR/9 and you get the potential for disastrous outings whenever he takes the mound. Longoria has struggled with a .262 wOBA against righties this season but has hit lefties much better with a .380 wOBA.

Others to consider: Kris Bryant and Matt Carpenter

SHORTSTOP

Francisco Lindor vs. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $5,000

Lindor is expensive too, but not quite as much as Ramirez, which might make him easier to fit into your entry. He was slumping heading into Sunday but broke out of it by hitting 3-for-5 with a double and two steals. He has dominated left-handed pitching this year, but he’s not exactly struggling against righties with a .358 wOBA.

Jean Segura vs. Andrew Heaney, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,800

Segura might not get a lot of headlines due to his lack of power, but he’s been a big reason why the Mariners enter the day tied for first place in the AL West. His .337 average has been aided by an abnormally high .377 BABIP and he doesn’t walk much, but he has hit a least .300 in both the last two seasons and should continue to provide value in that department. He has a .379 wOBA against lefties as well, which could leave him as a difficult out for Heaney.

Others to consider: Xander Bogaerts and Brock Holt

OUTFIELD

Michael Brantley vs. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,800

Brantley has been able to stay healthy after playing only 101 games in the last two seasons combined. He’s provided excellent all-around production by batting .319 with 10 home runs. He only has 20 strikeouts in 236 plate appearances and has never struck out more than 76 times in a season, so expect that trend to continue. His .312 BABIP is right in line with his career mark as well. He’s certainly towards the top of the list of Indians to stack against Giolito.

Marcell Ozuna vs. Jordan Lyles, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,800

Cardinals fans and fantasy owners watched Ozuna get off to a slow start this year as he entered May hitting only .250 with two home runs. He’s still lacking in the power department with just six home runs and six doubles this season, but he’s been able to work his batting average up to .278. Lyles has allowed at least four runs in three of his last four starts, so although Ozuna doesn’t have the platoon advantage in this game, he’s still a viable option at this price.

Andrew McCutchen vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium = Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,000

McCutchen isn’t exactly having a banner year with the Giants, batting only .260 with six home runs. His strikeout rate is also 22.8%, which would be the highest of his career. He has traditionally hit lefties very well, posting a .407 wOBA against them in his career. With Chen’s struggles already detailed, McCutchen is another Giants righty to consider working into your lineup.

Others to consider: Nelson Cruz and Teoscar Hernandez