MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/12/2019

We’re finally back from the All-Star break with a full slate of games across the majors Friday. There are only two early start times, leaving us with 13 games to choose from in DFS. Let’s dive right in and highlight some of the better options to consider. 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

Danny Duffy vs. Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $7,900
DraftKings = $6,800

This is a slate where you might not need to pay up at starting pitcher in order to finish in the money. Duffy wouldn’t normally stand out as a great option based on his 4.28 ERA and 1.35 WHIP. However, this is a great matchup for him against the Tigers, who have scored the fewest runs (311) in baseball. The last time Duffy faced them, he allowed two runs and recorded seven strikeouts across seven innings. I can envision him once again providing excellent value.

Yonny Chirinos vs. Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $6,800
DraftKings = $8,400

The Rays continue to use the opener strategy and use it well. However, the few traditional starters that they deploy have been excellent as well, including Chirinos. He’s recorded six straight quality starts and hasn’t allowed more than three earned runs in 11 of his 12 starts this season. Now he’ll receive the benefit of facing an Orioles team that is in the bottom-five in both runs scored and OPS. In his first two starts against them this season, he only allowed three runs over 12.1 innings. While I like his price on both sites, he could be an absolute steal on FanDuel.

CATCHER

Omar Narvaez vs. Taylor Cole, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel=$2,600
DraftKings= $4,200

Narvaez was swinging a hot bat heading into the break, hitting 17-for-52 (.327) with four home runs across his last 15 games. He’s in the midst of the best offensive season of his career with a 132 wRC+. Cole will serve as the opener for this game with Felix Pena likely to follow. That would be good news for Narvaez considering Pena has allowed a .392 wOBA to left-handed hitters.

Others to consider: Yasmani Grandal

FIRST BASE

Matt Olson vs. Ivan Nova, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $5,100

The A’s have a right-handed heavy lineup, so they really missed the lefty Olson when he went down early with an injury. He’s certainly making up for lost time with 19 home runs in only 58 games, giving him a .315 ISO. This matchup couldn’t get much better against Nova, who has allowed 1.7 HR/9 and a .375 wOBA against lefties.

Others to consider: Edwin Encarnacion and Joey Votto

SECOND BASE

Mike Brosseau vs. Dylan Bundy, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $2,500

With Brandon Lowe (shin) and Ji-Man Choi (ankle) on the shelf, the Rays depth chart has been tested. Brosseau has proven to be a valuable fill-in, hitting 10-for-26 (.385) with a home run and four doubles since being recalled. Right-handed hitters have a .358 wOBA versus Bundy and he’s also prone to giving up a lot of home runs, making Brosseau someone to consider in tournament play at such a cheap price.

Others to consider: Gleyber Torres and David Fletcher

THIRD BASE

Yuli Gurriel vs. Jesse Chavez, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $5,400

Heading into the break, Gurriel was 18-for-45 (.400) with nine home runs over 11 games. He now has 14 home runs for the season, putting him just five away from setting a new career-high. Chavez certainly isn’t an overwhelming pitcher with his career 20.9 percent strikeout rate and he comes into this start having allowed nine runs (seven earned) over 11 innings in his last two outings. Gurriel has become expensive on both sites, but he is still a great player to target.

Others to consider: Eugenio Suarez and Yandy Diaz

SHORTSTOP

Didi Gregorius vs. Aaron Sanchez, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,300

The Yankees are a popular lineup to stack more often than not. That should be the case once again versus Sanchez, who has a 5.56 FIP and a 1.75 WHIP. The likes of Aaron Judge, D.J. LeMahieu and Gary Sanchez won’t come cheap. If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, Gregorius could be your man. He hasn’t skipped a beat since missing the start of the season due to injury and has been especially hot of late, hitting 14-for-45 (.311) with three home runs across his last 10 games.

Others to consider: Fernando Tatis Jr. and J.P Crawford

OUTFIELD

Mike Trout vs. Mike Leake, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $5,300

It’s not hard to make a case for playing Trout on any given night. He’s been a monster once again this season, posting a .344 ISO and a 186 wRC+. Leake has had trouble limiting home runs, already allowing 23 in 114.2 innings. Trout has also given him problems in that area, taking him deep three times in two previous meetings. With a couple of viable cheaper starting pitchers to help your budget, this is the time to build your lineup around Trout.

Shohei Ohtani vs. Mike Leake, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,800

While not as lethal as Trout, Ohtani has been no slouch himself with a .268 ISO. He was also hitting extremely well heading into the break, going 17-for-43 (.395) with five home runs and five doubles over his last 11 games. While a Trout-Ohtani duo is expensive, their upside is off the chart, so it could be worth it.

Brett Gardner vs. Aaron Sanchez, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,700

When the Yankees initially traded for Encarnacion, it looked like Gardner’s days as an everyday player might be numbered. However, another injury suffered by Giancarlo Stanton (knee) has thrust him right back into a regular role. While he might not be the sexiest of names, he does have four home runs over his last nine games and is set up nicely with this matchup against Sanchez, making him a great option to consider, especially on FanDuel.

Others to consider: Aaron Judge and Kole Calhoun

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.