MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/14/18

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

June special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout

Thursday brings only nine games in the baseball that are spread out throughout the day. Let’s take a look at some players in both the early and evening slates for DFS. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

Mike Clevinger vs. Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $8,800
DraftKings = $9,700

After posting a 10.1 K/9 last year, Clevinger hasn’t been nearly as successful in that department this season with a 7.4 K/9. His swinging-strike rate is pretty close to last year’s and hitters are actually swinging at more pitches outside of the strike zone, so don’t be surprised if he starts to make gains in that area throughout the summer. Even with fewer strikeouts, he’s still been excellent this season with a 3.31 ERA, 3.46 FIP, and a 1.21 WHIP. He allowed one run and recorded seven strikeouts over 6.2 innings in his first start against the White Sox this year and has the potential for another valuable outing in their rematch.

Anibal Sanchez vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $5,500

If you are playing the evening slate, it’s slim pickings in terms of starting pitchers. After Blake Snell and David Price, there is a big drop off to the next tier of options. If you want to take a chance on a cheap option with upside in tournament play, Sanchez might be your man. Injuries have limited him to six appearances this year, five of which were starts. His 2.37 ERA likely won’t hold based on his 4.81 FIP, but he has done a good job limiting baserunners with a 1.06 WHIP. The Padres don’t have a great lineup, to begin with, but they especially struggle against right-handed pitchers with second-lowest OPS against them (.659) in baseball.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

Freddie Freeman vs. Tyson Ross, San Diego Padres
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $5,400

Freeman has at least one hit in 23 of his last 24 games, batting 37-for-96 (.385) with six home runs during that stretch. He’s shown an excellent eye at the play this season, drawing 41 walks and striking out only 47 times. Ross has allowed a .364 wOBA to lefties this year, helping to make Freeman one of the better plays at any position.

Wilson Ramos vs. Domingo German, New York Yankees
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,500

Catcher may be one of the weakest positions in fantasy baseball, but Ramos has established himself as one of the best players at the position this season. He’s hitting .284 with eight home runs in the early going after being limited to just 64 games last year due to injury. He has at least one hit in five of his last six games and will get to face one of the Yankees weaker starting pitchers in German, who has a 5.32 ERA and is only starting because Jordan Montgomery (elbow) is out for the season.

Others to consider: Paul Goldschmidt (first base) and Ryon Healy (first base)

SECOND BASE

Cesar Hernandez vs. German Marquez, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,900

Hernandez batted exactly .294 in both of the last two seasons but has been held to .264 this year. His .326 BABIP isn’t bad, but it is below his career mark of .350. The good news is that he already has seven home runs, which is only two shy of his total from last year. Marquez allows a lot of baserunners with a 1.48 WHIP and even though this game won’t be played in Coors Field, Hernandez is still a viable option for the limited slate.

Joey Wendle vs. Domingo German, New York Yankees
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $3,200

Wendle doesn’t play much against lefties, but that won’t be a problem against the right-handed German. Wendle doesn’t hit many home runs, but he’s been a pleasant surprise for the Rays this year by hitting .280 with five steals. His upside isn’t great, but if you want to save money at second base, he is someone to consider in tournament play.

Others to consider: Ozzie Albies and Joe Panik

THIRD BASE

Rafael Devers vs. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $3,400

Devers hit an impressive .284 with 10 home runs over 58 games in his first taste of the majors last year. He does have 10 home runs already this season, but he’s been a disappointment overall with just a .231 average. His strikeout rate has increased over three percentage points this year and his BABIP has also fallen to .284 after it was .342 last season. He is finally starting to show signs of coming around, though, and is currently on an eight-game hitting streak. It also helps his cause Thursday that Hernandez has allowed a .351 wOBA to lefties this season.

Brian Anderson vs. Dereck Rodriguez, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,200

Anderson wasn’t able to log another hit Wednesday, but he still had two walks, two runs scored and an RBI. His .311 average and .384 OBP has made him one of the better hitters in an otherwise lackluster lineup for the Marlins. Although his numbers are better against left-handed pitchers, he’s not exactly struggling with a .350 wOBA against righties.

Others to consider: Jose Ramirez and Jeimer Candelario

SHORTSTOP

Jean Segura vs. David Price, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,900

Segura logged another three hits Wednesday and now has at least two hits in six of his last nine games. His average is all the way up to .347, which has also helped him score 51 runs in 65 games. He’s been especially valuable against lefties as he has a .401 wOBA against them this season. Keep riding his hot bat Thursday.

Brock Holt vs. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,400

The Red Sox continue to find ways to play Holt every day and even started him at first base Wednesday. While he’s obviously not going to be taking Mitch Moreland’s job, it shows that the Red Sox are determined to find ways to keep Holt’s hot bat in their lineup. He went 2-for-3 in that game, raising his average to .309. Expect him to play against the righty Hernandez on Thursday since Holt has a .342 wOBA against righties.

Others to consider: Xander Bogaerts and Ketel Marte

OUTFIELD

Andrew Benintendi vs. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $5,700

Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez might get all the headlines, but Benintendi is having a heck of a season. He has hit a home run in three of his last four games and already has 12 on the season overall. His batting average has improved to .302 and he’s still been aggressive on the base paths with 11 stolen bases. He only has a 98 wRC+ against lefties but has crushed righties with a 168 wRC+.

Nelson Cruz vs. David Price, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,400

Price appears to have righted the ship after a tough start to the season as he has allowed two runs or fewer in five of his last six starts. He’ll face a tough old nemesis in Cruz on Thursday, who is 14-for-41 (.341) with four home runs against him in his career. Cruz has a 203 wRC+ against lefties this year as well and could put up big numbers against Price once again.

Leonys Martin vs. Lance Lynn, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,400

Martin hit a putrid .172 for the Cubs and Mariners combined last season, but he has found himself batting leadoff for the rebuilding Tigers. The move has paid off so far with Martin hitting .263 with a career-high .332 OBP. His walk rate is up and his strikeout rate is down, which will only help him hang onto the role moving forward. Left-handed pitchers still give him a lot of problems, but his .371 wOBA against righties this year makes him a viable option against Lynn.

Others to consider: Eddie Rosario and Mitch Haniger