MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/11/18

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

July special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

There are a few day games Wednesday, but there are still 11 games to choose from for the main evening slate in 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

Chris Sale vs. Texas Rangers
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $12,600
DraftKings = $13,000

Sale has finished in the top-five for the Cy Young voting in five straight seasons but has yet to take home the award. He’s making another excellent case for consideration this season with a 2.36 ERA, 2.27 FIP, and a 0.89 WHIP. He has recorded at least 11 strikeouts in four straight games and has a career-high 13.0 K/9. It’s no surprise that he dominated the Rangers in their first meeting this season, allowing one run and recording 12 strikeouts in seven innings. The Rangers have struck out the third-most times (870) in baseball, so expect another great performance in their rematch.

Vince Velasquez vs. New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $8,200
DraftKings = $8,100

Velasquez was struck on his right forearm by a line drive in his last outing, landing him on the DL. He ended up missing just one start as he plans to return for this game Wednesday. He hasn’t pitched as poorly as his 4.69 ERA indicates as he has a 3.84 FIP and he has done a better job keeping runners off base with a 1.29 WHIP. Strikeouts are his strong suit as he has a 10.9 K/9 this year and a 10.0 K/9 for his career. The Mets have scored the third-fewest runs (344) in baseball and are a mess right now, making Velasquez a cheaper option to consider in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

Paul Goldschmidt vs. German Marquez, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $5,900

Marquez has been excellent on the road this season with a 2.62 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP across nine starts. However, he’s been hammered at Coors Field with a 7.93 ERA and a 1.95 WHIP over nine outings. He’s made two starts against the Diamondbacks already this season. It’s no coincidence that he allowed one unearned run over five innings in the one start on the road, but he allowed five earned runs in four innings against them during his start at Coors Field. The Diamondbacks will likely be a popular stack Wednesday with Goldschmidt one of their key hitters to target. He is 8-for-15 (.533) with two doubles and three home runs in his career against Marquez.

Jose Martinez vs. Carlos Rodon, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,900

Martinez came through with three hits Tuesday and now has six hits and three RBI in his last two games. He was the designated hitter Tuesday and should found himself in that same spot Wednesday against the left-handed Rodon. Martinez’s defense has come into question, but he’s a reliable bat who has plenty of upside at this cheap price on both sites.

Others to consider: Jesus Aguilar (first base) and Yadier Molina (catcher)

SECOND BASE

Jonathan Schoop vs. Sonny Gray, New York Yankees
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,700

Schoop couldn’t have started off much worse this season, but he appears to be finally finding himself at the plate. He had two more hits Tuesday and is 16-for-37 (.432) with two home runs during his current nine-game hitting streak. Gray has been a mess this season with a 5.85 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP, leaving Schoop with an excellent opportunity to extend his streak.

Jedd Gyorko vs. Carlos Rodon, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,600

With Paul DeJong healthy, Gyorko may start to see less playing time. The use of the DH may help with that Wednesday, but it would also be a wise move for the Cardinals to put him in their lineup considering he has a 185 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers this year.

Others to consider: Dee Gordon and Brock Holt

THIRD BASE

Justin Turner vs. Joey Lucchesi, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $3,700

Turner is still looking for his first home run in July and he has only five home runs overall this season. His wrist injury at the start of the season might be contributing to his lack of power, but he’s also batting just .266. The good news is he is still showing an excellent eye at the plate with 20 walks compared to just 18 strikeouts. He also has a .406 wOBA against lefties, making him someone to consider facing Lucchesi.

Rafael Devers vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $4,000

Colon has allowed three runs or fewer in four straight games, but he only recorded 11 strikeouts across 26 innings during that stretch. He’s not an overpowering pitcher by any means and can be prone to giving up runs in bunches as a result. The Red Sox scored four runs against him in seven innings earlier this season when all four runs came on solo homers. Devers has been much better against righties this year and is a cheaper option with upside based on this matchup.

Others to consider: Nolan Arenado and Kyle Seager

SHORTSTOP

Trevor Story vs. Shelby Miller, Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $5,300

Story hasn’t hit well on the road this year with a .260 average and only three home runs. He’s been a force at Coors Field, though, batting .320 with 13 homers. He’s been better against left-handed pitchers, but he’s still had enough success against righties with a .352 wOBA. Miller has looked awful in his return from Tommy John surgery, making Story a great option despite his lack of platoon advantage.

Paul DeJong vs. Carlos Rodon, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,900

DeJong chipped in during the Cardinals offensive outburst Tuesday, finishing 2-for-6 with three runs scored. He now has at least one hit in all four games since returning from a lengthy DL stint and could provide value again Wednesday considering he had a .392 wOBA against lefties last year.

Others to consider: Manny Machado and Chris Taylor

OUTFIELD

Charlie Blackmon vs. Shelby Miller, Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $5,400

This could be a very high scoring game considering both pitchers on the mound. Blackmon is having a down season by his standards, but he’s still putting up valuable numbers by hitting .277 with 17 home runs. He has a .365 wOBA against righties and has fared well against Miller in his career, hitting 7-for-23 (.304) with a home run.

David Peralta vs. German Marquez, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $5,200

Peralta is in the middle of the best season of his career, batting .290 with 16 home runs and 52 RBI. He has already hit two more home runs this year than he did in 140 games in 2017 and is only two homers away from setting a new career best. He’s yet another Diamondbacks hitter who has great numbers against Marquez as he is 7-for-17 (.412) with three doubles and a home run against him.

Harrison Bader vs. Carlos Rodon, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $3,700

Bader sat out Tuesday’s blowout against the White Sox, but he is 14-for-37 (.378) with a home run and four doubles in his last 11 games. He might not have played due to his .293 wOBA against righties, but he could be back in the lineup against Rodon since he has a .389 wOBA against lefties. If he plays, he could be worth the risk in tournament play.

Others to consider: Andrew Benintendi and Christian Yelich