MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/18/2019

There is no shortage of options in DFS Tuesday with 15 games on the schedule. With plenty of big names both at the plate and on the mound, filling out a lineup when there are this many quality options can be a bit tricky. Let’s try to make that task a little easier by highlighting some of the best matchups. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our MLB Lineup Optimizer to help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

Justin Verlander vs. Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $12,000
DraftKings = $11,900

I could go on and on with all of the great stats that Verlander is compiling once again this season. He’s an elite source for strikeouts with his 32.8 percent strikeout rate and he’s allowed three runs or fewer in 13 of his 15 starts. He’s also had just one outing in which he threw fewer than six innings. The Reds are in the bottom third of the league in runs scored and OPS, so this is another great opportunity to add Verlander to your entry.

Jack Flaherty vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $8,000
DraftKings = $8,700

Flaherty has been bitten by the home run bug this season, allowing 13 across 73.2 innings. The good news is that he’ll be facing the Marlins, who have hit the fewest long balls (51) in the league. They’ve also scored the second-fewest runs (240), so this is a lineup to exploit. Flaherty still has a respectable 26.3 percent strikeout rate and isn’t overly expensive on either site, leaving him as a viable target in tournament play.

CATCHER

Willson Contreras vs. Ivan Nova, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Wrigley Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,600

Get ready to roll out the Cubs against Nova, who has a 5.18 FIP and a 1.60 WHIP. He’s allowed 14 home runs across 77.1 innings and doesn’t strike out many hitters, so this outing could get ugly. A rough patch has helped reduce Contreras’ price tag, but he’s showing signs of coming out of it by hitting 10-for-34 (.294) with a home run and two doubles over his last nine games.

Others to consider: Yasmani Grandal

FIRST BASE

Max Muncy vs. Shaun Anderson, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $5,100

The Dodgers let a golden opportunity against Tyler Beede go to waste Monday by scoring only two runs. Muncy didn’t disappoint, though, going 2-for-3 with a home run and a walk. He was also robbed of what looked like another hit with runners on base by Brandon Crawford, who made a stellar play to just get him out at first base. After hitting 18-for-53 (.340) with six home runs over his last 15 games, Muncy is one of the top first basemen to consider.

Others to consider: Anthony Rizzo and Miguel Cabrera

SECOND BASE

Tony Kemp vs. Anthony DeSclafani, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $4,100

If you want to save a few bucks at second base, taking a chance on Kemp isn’t a crazy idea. He’s shown some power while filling in for the injured Jose Altuve (hamstring), hitting three home runs and three doubles over his last 11 games. DeSclafani has allowed an unsightly .401 wOBA versus left-handed hitters, leaning this matchup even more in Kemp’s favor.

Others to consider: Gleyber Torres and Kolten Wong

THIRD BASE

Matt Chapman vs. Gabriel Ynoa, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,200

The Orioles pitching staff is simply a mess. Ynoa is yet another struggling starter who can’t keep hitters inside the ballpark, allowing 1.9 HR/9. Chapman is well on his way to setting a new career-high with 16 homers already, although he hasn’t gone deep in 13 straight games. His price on FanDuel might be a little high, but he could turn out to be a bargain on DraftKings.

Others to consider: Kris Bryant and Matt Carpenter

SHORTSTOP

Javier Baez vs. Ivan Nova, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Wrigley Field
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,600

Despite his strikeout rate skyrocketing to 30.7 percent, Baez is still having a fantastic season with a .258 ISO and a .357 wOBA. He’s slumping right now after hitting 7-for-42 (.167) over his last 10 games, but he did just play a four-game series against a tough Dodgers’ pitching staff. The same nice things can’t be said about Nova, making this a unique opportunity to take advantage of Baez at a cheaper price.

Others to consider: Ketel Marte and Didi Gregorius

OUTFIELD

Yordan Alvarez vs. Anthony DeSclafani, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,800

The Astros’ rookie phenom has wasted no time making his mark on the league, slugging four home runs across seven games. Even without the DH in Cincinnati, the Astros will continue to make sure that he’s included in the starting lineup. With the aforementioned struggles that DeSclafani has had against left-handed hitters, Alvarez is still a great option despite his rapidly increasing price tag.

Kyle Schwarber vs. Ivan Nova, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Wrigley Field
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,400

There’s no secret around what you are going to get from Schwarber. He’s going to hit for a poor average, but he’s a threat to go deep whenever he steps inside the batter’s box. He’s on one of his power binges right now with four home runs and two doubles over his last nine games. At this price, he’s one of the top mid-tier outfielders to consider adding to your entry.

Jason Heyward vs. Ivan Nova, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Wrigley Field
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $4,000

Heyward might not be a sexy option, but with how much Nova has struggled against lefties, he could provide some important salary relief while also registering a hit or two. He has produced three multi-hit efforts over his last six games and has shown a little more power this year with his .166 ISO.

Others to consider: Shin-Soo Choo and Alex Verdugo

Author Bio:

Mike has been covering fantasy sports since 2007, joining Lineup Lab in 2017. An avid player of both season-long fantasy leagues and DFS, Mike’s work has appeared on numerous sites, including RotoWire, SportsLine and Sports Illustrated. He’s also been featured on DraftKings’ nightly show, The Sweat, and was a finalist for the 2018 FSWA Basketball Writer of the Year award. Follow Mike on Twitter @rotomikebarner.