MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/24/2019

We have our customary chunk of day games Wednesday, leaving us with eight contests to choose from for the main evening slate in DFS. Despite the limited schedule, there are a lot of appealing matchups to exploit, so here are the best ones to target. 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

Shane Bieber vs. Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $10,100
DraftKings = $10,500

Bieber’s last outing against the Royals did not go well with him allowing five runs over 5.2 innings. That was a rare dud for him considering he has a 3.69 ERA and a 3.29 FIP for the season, overall. His upside has also been much higher in DFS due to his 31.1 percent strikeout rate. Even though he couldn’t cash in his favorable matchup in his last start, he’ll get another chance to thrive against another poor hitting team in the Blue Jays.

Marcus Stroman vs. Cleveland Indians
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $7,800
DraftKings = 9,300

If you don’t want to pay up for Bieber, going with Stroman in that same game is a viable alternative. While he doesn’t provide nearly the strikeout upside that Bieber does, he’s also allowed just 0.8 HR/9, which has helped him record a 3.06 ERA and a 3.62 FIP. This could end up being his final start with the Blue Jays as the trade deadline approaches, so look for him to put forth a strong showing in front of his home crowd.

CATCHER

Mitch Garver vs. J.A. Happ, New York Yankees
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $5,100

After Tuesday’s 26-run effort from these two teams, the Twins could be looking at another high-scoring contest on their end with Happ on the mound for the Yankees. He’s taken a step backward this year, posting a 4.86 ERA and a 5.11 WHIP. His main issue has been that he’s allowed 1.9 HR/9. Garver has plenty of power and has a 238 wRC+ versus left-handed pitchers, so expect him to be one of the most popular options at catcher, and rightfully so.

Others to consider: Jorge Alfaro

FIRST BASE

Howie Kendrick vs. Kyle Freeland, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $2,300
DraftKings = $4,800

The return of Ryan Zimmerman briefly cut into the playing time of Kendrick, but he should be back into a platoon with Matt Adams at first base now that Zimmerman is once again on the IL. That platoon has worked out well for the Nationals so far, especially with Kendrick recording a .424 wOBA versus lefties. While his price on DraftKings isn’t great, he could end up being a tremendous bargain on FanDuel.

Others to consider: Freddie Freeman and Paul Goldschmidt

SECOND BASE

Starlin Castro vs. Reynaldo Lopez, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $2,000
DraftKings = $3,400

The Marlins don’t have a lot of hitters to be excited about, leaving them as a risky team to stack despite their matchup against Lopez and his 5.31 FIP. However, Castro could be an excellent choice in tournament play based on his cheap price on both sites. He’s started to heat up at the plate, hitting 21-for-62 (.339) with three home runs and three doubles over his last 15 games.

Others to consider: Max Muncy and Brian Dozier

THIRD BASE

Anthony Rendon vs. Kyle Freeland, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $5,400

The Nationals are going to be a popular team to stack with Freeland on the mound. He has had a disastrous season with a 7.62 ERA and a 6.12 FIP. He even was demoted to the minors at one point, which is a far cry from last year when he finished with a 2.85 ERA. Rendon is one of the most dangerous hitters on the Nationals and he has a 168 wRC+ against lefties, making him a key cash-game play.

Others to consider: Yoan Moncada and Miguel Sano

SHORTSTOP

Trea Turner vs. Kyle Freeland, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $5,100

Continuing to attack Freeland brings us to Turner, who hit for the cycle against the Rockies on Tuesday. While he had gone 11-straight games without a home run, he did have five doubles and three steals during that stretch. If deploying a Nationals stack, he’s a critical player to target.

Others to consider: Jorge Polanco and Didi Gregorius

OUTFIELD

Ronald Acuna Jr. vs. Brad Keller, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,700

Acuna has been a monster on the base paths lately, swiping 13 bases over his last 25 games. He already has 24 home runs and 22 steals for the season, giving him a realistic shot at becoming a member of the 30-30 club. Look for him to keep up his productive ways against Keller, who doesn’t strike out many hitters and has allowed a 1.40 WHIP.

Victor Robles vs. Kyle Freeland, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,400

Last, but certainly not least, in terms of players for a Nationals stack, is Robles. Overall, he hasn’t really impressed with a .320 wOBA this season. His strikeout rate has spiked to 24.5 percent, which is a big reason for his struggles. He does have a .364 wOBA versus lefties, so this could be just the matchup that he needs to have a strong performance.

Mike Tauchman vs. Jake Odorizzi, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $4,100

When the Yankees were decimated by injuries earlier this season, Tauchman played a key role in keeping them afloat. With Giancarlo Stanton (knee) back on the IL, the Yankees have decided to roll with Tauchman as their fourth outfielder instead of Clint Frazier. Now Brett Gardner is battling a knee injury that has kept him out each of the last three games, opening up more playing time for Tauchman. He hasn’t let the Yankees down, hitting 14-for-28 (.500) with two home runs and three doubles over his last 10 games. If he’s in the lineup, he’s someone to consider in tournament play.

Others to consider: Mike Trout and Aaron Hicks

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.