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MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/24/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

July special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

The weather might be an issue for a few games again Tuesday, but there is still a packed schedule to take advantage of 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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/24/18

James Paxton vs. San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $9,300
DraftKings = $10,200

Paxton left in the first inning of his last start due to lower-back stiffness. His bullpen session went well Saturday and he is expected to be activated from the DL to start Tuesday. He wasn’t even sidelined two weeks, so he’s unlikely to be on any sort of a pitch count. Although his ERA isn’t as good as last year, he’s pitched well with a 3.70 ERA that is supported by a 3.16 FIP. His 1.09 WHIP and 11.7 K/9 would also be the best marks of his career. The Giants are in the bottom third of baseball in runs scored and only have a .690 OPS against left-handed pitching, so look for Paxton to have a successful return.

Carlos Rodon vs. Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $7,900
DraftKings = $7,300

Rodon has a 3.56 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP through seven starts, which is impressive considering four of those starts came against the Red Sox, the Astros, and the Indians. He’s been somewhat lucky, though, as he has a 5.04 FIP and opponents have just a .225 BABIP against him. He has upside with a 9.0 K/9 for his career, so he can be a viable option in tournament play in the right matchup. That might be the case Tuesday considering the Angels have the fourth-lowest OPS against lefties (.661) in baseball.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/24/18

Anthony Rizzo vs. Clay Buchholz, Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Wrigley Field
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,500

Rizzo had a lackluster first half, but he’s 16-for-31 (.516) with eight walks in his last nine games. He hasn’t homered during that stretch, but he did record five doubles and a triple. With a career .373 wOBA against right-handed pitchers, look for Rizzo to keep his hot streak going against Buchholz, who has been lucky so far with opponents posting just a .236 BABIP against him.

Yadier Molina vs. Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,300

Bailey has been on the DL since the end of May, but he is expected to take the mound Tuesday. He was terrible before suffering a knee injury, posting a 6.68 ERA and a 6.29 FIP across 12 starts. His bloated 1.69 WHIP was a big reason why he struggled and he doesn’t miss many bats with a 5.5 K/9. He hasn’t finished with an ERA below 5.56 or a WHIP below 1.69 since 2014, leaving the Cardinals as one of the premier stacks Tuesday. Molina has owned Bailey in his career, hitting 18-for-44 (.409) with three home runs.

Others to consider: Matt Adams (first base) and Jose Martinez (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/24/18

Rougned Odor vs. Frankie Montas, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,400

Odor got off to a horrible start this year, but he is 27-for-79 (.342) with five home runs across his last 22 games. His batting average is up to .259 overall as a result and he also has a .331 OBP, which would be the highest mark of his career. Montas allows a lot of baserunners with a 1.39 WHIP and he doesn’t record many strikeouts, either, with a 7.8% swinging-strike rate and a 5.6 K/9.

Daniel Murphy vs. Junior Guerra, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,100

Murphy came through with a home run Monday, only his second long ball of the season. However, he is now 13-for-30 (.433) in his last 10 games. Guerra’s wOBA against lefties is almost 40 points higher than it is against righties this season, leaving Murphy as a viable cheaper option on both sites.

Others to consider: Brian Dozier and Jed Lowrie

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/24/18

Matt Carpenter vs. Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $5,400

Carpenter should be the centerpiece of any stack against Bailey. He had two more hits Monday and is currently on an eight-game hitting streak that has seen him hit eight home runs. Not only does he have a .402 wOBA against righties this season, but he is 19-for-39 (.497) in his career against Bailey.

Matt Chapman vs. Mike Minor, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,900

Chapman burst onto the scene with 14 homers in 84 games last year, but he batted only .234 in the process. He has 11 home runs through 85 games this season, but his batting average is also much improved at .261. A big reason for his improvement is that he has dropped his strikeout rate by five percentage points. Minor has held lefties to a .292 wOBA, but righties have had much more success against him with a .346 wOBA.

Others to consider: Miguel Andujar and Adrian Beltre

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/24/18

Elvis Andrus vs. Frankie Montas, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,000

Not only did Andrus extend his hitting streak to five games Monday, but he also hit his third home run of the season. He’s still got a big hole to climb out of in terms of his batting average and home run total, but his .330 OBP isn’t far off from his .337 mark last year. With Montas’ inability to keep runners off base, Andrus could be in line for another productive game.

Paul DeJong vs. Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,000

Get as many Cardinals hitters into your lineup as you can. DeJong is batting just .218 since he returned from the DL, but he’s also been the victim of a .250 BABIP. He has hit for a lot of power and shown even splits against righties and lefties during his brief career in the majors, so this matchup against Baily could be just what he needs to get back on track.

Others to consider: Jean Segura and Marcus Semien

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/24/18

Giancarlo Stanton vs. Yonny Chirinos, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,700

Stanton went 4-for-4 with a walk Monday to raise his batting average to .285 for the season, which is actually higher than his .281 mark last year. A lot was made of his struggles to start his career with the Yankees, but Stanton has put those fears to rest and is batting .378 in July. His strikeout rate is still high at 30.5%, but he can go on power streaks like few others can around baseball.

Khris Davis vs. Mike Minor, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $5,100

Look out, here comes Davis. After a lengthy power drought, he has three homers in his last two games. He finished 3-for-6 Monday and looks primed for a big series in hitter-friendly Globe Life Park in Arlington against a horrid Rangers pitching staff. Minor has allowed 16 home runs this season, 14 of which have come against right-handed batters.

Mark Canha vs. Mike Minor, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $3,800

Canha didn’t play Sunday due to hamstring cramps, but he returned Monday and finished 2-for-5 with a double. He’s already played more games for the Athletics this season than he did the last two years combined and is usually a cheap option to target versus lefties since he has a 170 wRC+ against them.

Others to consider: Shin-Soo Choo and Marcell Ozuna

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/23/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

July special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

Monday brings a busy schedule with 13 games across the majors, but keep an eye on the weather as it could cause issues for a few games once again. 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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/23/18

Jacob deGrom vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $11,500
DraftKings = $12,200

deGrom was supposed to face a tough matchup against the Yankees on Sunday, but a rainout pushed him back to a much easier game against the Padres. He’s been one of the few bright spots on the Mets, posting a 1.68 ERA, 2.33 FIP, and a 0.97 WHIP. He continues to be an elite source for strikeouts with a 10.9 K/9 and has allowed only seven home runs over 123.1 innings. The Padres have scored the fourth-fewest runs (380) in baseball, so don’t hesitate to pay the premium required to get deGrom into your entry as long as the weather holds up.

Sean Newcomb vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $7,100
DraftKings = $8,200

Newcomb has been battered around in his last three starts, allowing 13 runs across 12 innings. He gave up four homers during that stretch after allowing just three home runs in his first 12 starts. He’s had problems with walks, but his WHIP is still down significantly overall this season at 1.28 compared to 1.57 in 2017. This will be his third start of the season against the Marlins after he held them to one run over 12 innings in the first two. Considering the Marlins’ offensive deficiencies, Newcomb has some upside at this cheap price in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/23/18

Yonder Alonso vs. Trevor Williams, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,700

Williams has done a nice job for the Pirates with a 4.36 ERA and a 4.45 FIP, but he doesn’t have a large major for error with only a 6.5 K/9. The Indians are a much better hitting team at home than on the road and Williams will have to deal with the DH with this game being in Cleveland. Alonso is one of several Indians’ to consider based on his .353 wOBA against right-handed pitchers.

Robinson Chirinos vs. Brett Anderson, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $4,100

Chirinos has had a disappointing season as he is batting only .209 with a .319 OBP. The big reason for his struggles is an ugly 37.4% strikeout rate. He’s still hitting for power, though, with 12 home runs and he has a .363 wOBA against lefties for his career. Anderson is not an overpowering pitcher with a 6.6 K/9 for his career, leaving Chirinos as a cheap option with upside.

Others to consider: Freddie Freeman (first base) and Greg Bird (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/23/18

Whit Merrifield vs. Francisco Liriano, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,700

After slugging 19 home runs last year, Merrifield has only five homers this season. He’s managed to still provide some power with 30 doubles, which is only two away from his mark in 2017. He’s hit for a high average as well at .302 and has almost doubled his walk rate. This matchup against Liriano is one to target since Merrifield has a 182 wRC+ against lefties.

Daniel Murphy vs. Jhoulys Chacin, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,300

Murphy is still hitting for very little power, but he is 12-for-26 (.462) with four walks and just one strikeout across his last nine games. He has paltry 14.6% hard-hit rate this season, which is a big reason why he only has a .337 slugging percentage. His upside is limited right now, but his recent hot streak and his career .353 wOBA against righties makes him someone to consider, especially at his cheap price on FanDuel.

Others to consider: Scooter Gennett and Ian Kinsler

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/23/18

Matt Carpenter vs. Luis Castillo, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $5,500

Carpenter had gone deep in six straight games before failing to hit a home run Sunday. He has put up some staggering numbers in July, batting .355 with 1o home runs and a 1.432 OPS. He has a .399 wOBA against righties overall, so keep riding his hot bat against Castillo and his 1.38 WHIP.

Adrian Beltre vs. Brett Anderson, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $3,900

Beltre has been one of the more consistent hitters in baseball in recent years, but injuries have taken a toll on him this season. Not only is his slugging percentage down significantly at .408, but he has an uncharacteristic 21.1% strikeout rate. He still has a .352 wOBA against lefties despite his struggles and with this favorable matchup against Anderson, don’t be surprised if he puts up a vintage performance.

Others to consider: Jose Ramirez and Matt Chapman

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/23/18

Elvis Andrus vs. Brett Anderson, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,300

Andrus has dealt with his own injury problems this season, limiting him to 39 games. It’s taken him some time to get back on track, but he’s showing signs of life by going 9-for-27 (.333) with three doubles and four steals across his last seven games. His 20 home runs last year appear to be an abnormality, but that doesn’t mean Andrus still can’t have a productive evening against Anderson.

Marcus Semien vs. Cole Hamels, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,300

Hamels has been excellent on the road this year, but he has a 5.83 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP at home. It’s possible the Rangers move him before the trade deadline, so that’s a stat to keep in mind if you play season-long fantasy. He’ll run into the buzzsaw that is the Athletics on Monday, who have won 17 of their last 22 games. Semien’s overall numbers don’t jump off the charts, but he is batting .267 with a .362 OBP in July.

Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Xander Bogaerts

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/23/18

Andrew Benintendi vs. Kevin Gausman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $5,600

Gausman has trouble keeping hitters in the park with a 1.5 HR/9, which would be the fourth straight season he has finished with an HR/9 of at least 1.4. Add in his 1.37 WHIP and uninspiring 7.8 K/9 and Gausman could be in for a long night against the Red Sox. Benintendi is scorching hot right now, hitting 19-for-37 (.514) with 12 runs and six RBI in his last 10 games. He also has a .410 wOBA against righties for the year.

Khris Davis vs. Cole Hamels, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,600

Davis has been in a homer drought, but he launched two Sunday to bring his total to 23 for the season. Although the power numbers haven’t been there, he is batting .328 with a .364 OBP in July. He’s got a ways to go if he is going to hit at least 40 home runs for the third consecutive season, but he can hit them in bunches when he gets hot. With Hamels’ struggles at home, Davis carries significant upside.

Jesse Winker vs. Daniel Poncedeleon, St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,700

Winker has shown an excellent eye at the plate, drawing 49 walks compared to 46 strikeouts. He only has a 5.7% swinging-strike rate to go along with a 44.2% hard-hit rate, which has helped him bat .300 in his first full season in the majors. His excelled with a .382 wOBA against righties and will be facing one in Poncedeleon who will be making his first appearance in the majors. Winker’s price is high on DraftKings, but he could provide excellent value on FanDuel.

Others to consider: Bryce Harper and A.J. Pollock

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
July special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

If you are playing in a head-to-head fantasy league, using starting pitchers that have two starts in a week can give you a significant edge over your opponent. Here are some starters who will each start two games in the week ahead that you should either target or avoid for your lineup.

Starters With Favorable Matchups

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 18

Luis Severino, New York Yankees: at TB, vs. KC

Severino hasn’t pitched well in his last two outings, allowing four home runs and seven runs across 10 innings. To show how dominant he was in the first half, he still has a 2.31 ERA and a 2.74 FIP overall. He doesn’t normally allow a lot of home runs with a 0.7 HR/9, so expect him to right the ship in that department sooner rather than later. Not only does he have a 10.1 K/9, but he does a great job limiting baserunners with a 1.01 WHIP. He has dominated the Rays in two previous starts this season, allowing two runs and recording 16 strikeouts over 15.1 innings. The Royals have scored the fewest runs (352) in baseball, setting up Severino for a big week.

Rick Porcello, Boston Red Sox: at BAL, vs. MIN

The Blue Jays hammered Porcello for eight runs across two innings in his last start, increasing his ERA from 3.58 to 4.13. He’s pitched better this year overall, though, in large part because he lowered his WHIP from 1.40 last year to 1.24. His 38.3% percent hard-hit rate in 2017 was significantly higher than his career mark, but that has normalized this season at 31.4%. He doesn’t have the same strikeout upside that Severino does, but he has a respectable 8.6 K/9. The Orioles have already traded away their best hitter in Manny Machado, leaving their lineup even more in shambles. The Twins lineup isn’t great either and they, too, could be looking to trade away some of their better players for prospects. Even if that doesn’t happen before Porcello faces them, look for him to quickly get back on track with two valuable performances for Week 18.

Zack Wheeler, New York Mets: vs. SD, at PIT

Wheeler’s 4.44 ERA isn’t inspiring, but his 3.74 FIP indicates he’s actually having a nice rebound campaign. His 1.34 WHIP is much improved from 1.59 last year and he hasn’t allowed a lot of home runs with a 0.9 HR/9. His 8.9 K/9 is bolstered by his 11% swinging-strike rate and hitters swinging at 31.5% of his pitches outside of the strike zone, both of which would be career-highs. The Padres have scored the fourth-fewest runs (380) in baseball, setting up Wheeler to start off Week 18 on a high note. The Pirates will be a tougher matchup, but Wheeler recorded seven strikeouts over seven scoreless innings against them earlier this year. Still available in 72% of Yahoo! leagues, Wheeler has upside, even though there is some risk he might be traded.

Carlos Rodon, Chicago White Sox: at LAA, vs. TOR

Rodon has come back from injury to record a 3.56 ERA in seven starts, but don’t get overly confident in him just yet. His FIP is 5.04 and opponents have been unlucky with a .225 BABIP. He’s also allowed seven home runs over 43 innings. He has a career 9.0 K/9, though, and has shown enough upside that you can still gain some value if you start him in the right situation. That could be the case for Week 18 as his first start comes against an Angels squad with the fourth-lowest OPS (.663) against lefties. The Blue Jays haven’t struggled as much with a .708 OPS against left-handers, but they are much better against righties with a .742 OPS. Rodon is still available in 74% of Yahoo! leagues and presents another viable streaming opportunity.

Starters to Avoid

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 18

Kevin Gausman, Baltimore Orioles: vs. BOS, vs. TB

Gausman has trouble keeping hitters in the park with a 1.5 HR/9, which would be the fourth straight season he has finished with an HR/9 of at least 1.4. Add in his 1.37 WHIP and uninspiring 7.8 K/9 and Gausman enters Week 18 with a 4.33 ERA and a 4.48 FIP. The Red Sox have scored by far the most runs (540) in baseball and destroyed Gausman for six runs in 4.2 innings earlier this season. The Rays are a better matchup, but they have scored nine runs over 10 innings in two games against Gausman. Keep him anchored to your bench.

Jose Urena, Miami Marlins: vs. ATL, vs. WAS

Urena finished with a 3.82 ERA in 2017, but he was lucky considering his 5.20 FIP. The opposite can be said for him this year as he has a 4.39 ERA, but a 3.71 FIP. He’s allowed a .304 BABIP, which is over 20 points higher than his career mark. The problem is he’s not fooling many batters with an 8.6% swinging-strike rate and a 7.4 K/9. The Braves are in the top third of baseball in runs scored and have scored seven runs over 12 innings against Urena this season. The Nationals lineup has been disappointing, but they still have plenty of potent hitters that can cause problems. With Urena’s limited strikeout upside, he’s not worth taking a chance on for Week 18.

Mike Minor, Texas Rangers: vs. OAK, at HOU

Minor was shelled by the lowly Orioles in his last start, allowing six runs (five earned) in 2.2 innings. He’s been able to stay healthy in his first season as a starting pitcher since 2014, but he hasn’t pitched well with a 4.89 ERA. He doesn’t walk many batters, but he doesn’t strikeout out many, either, with a 7.2 K/9. The Athletics are red-hot right now and have the second-highest road OPS (.788) in baseball. Minor has faced the Astros three times already, allowing 12 runs (11 earned) across 17 innings. You may have streamed him earlier this season, but stay away this week.

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/20/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

July special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

Friday brings the first packed schedule in baseball since the All-Star break, leaving plenty of options to choose from 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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/20/18

Trevor Bauer vs. Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $12,200
DraftKings = $13,600

Bauer was selected to be an All-Star for the first time in his career, but he did not appear in the game because he last pitched Sunday. He was fantastic in the first half, posting a 2.24 ERA, 2.23 FIP, and a 1.08 WHIP. Not only does he have an 11.6 K/9, but he’s allowed just six home runs in 136.1 innings. He was on top of his game heading into the break, allowing seven runs (six earned) and recording 54 strikeouts across 42.2 innings in his last six starts. The Rangers have struck out the second-most times (916) in baseball this season and didn’t do much against Bauer in their first meeting, scoring two runs and striking out 11 times over 6.2 innings.

Kyle Gibson vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $8,600
DraftKings = $8,600

The Twins disappointing start might turn them into sellers as we approach the trade deadline, but Gibson has been one of their few bright spots. After posting underwhelming numbers the last two seasons, he has a 3.42 ERA this year. His FIP is improved as well at 3.79 in large part because of his 1.23 WHIP, which is significantly lower than his 1.41 career mark. He also has an 8.9 K/9 after never posting a K/9 higher than 6.9 previously in his career. This is a great matchup against a Royals team that has scored the fewest runs (337) in baseball. Gibson had no trouble handling them in their first meeting when he recorded eight strikeouts across seven shutout innings.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/20/18

Steve Pearce vs. Matthew Boyd, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,000

The Red Sox couldn’t have asked for a better start to Pearce’s tenure with the team as he is 11-for-26 (.423) with a home run and four doubles in 10 games. He has a .433 wOBA against lefties this season, which is nothing new since he has a .364 wOBA against them for his career. Boyd pitched well to start the season for the Tigers, but he has allowed at least five runs in four of his last five outings.

Yan Gomes vs. Martin Perez, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,300
DraftKings = $4,300

The Indians appear to be confident enough in Gomes moving forward that they traded top catching prospect Francisco Mejia to the Padres on Thursday. Gomes’ offensive numbers aren’t flashy, but he has a .422 wOBA against left-handed pitchers this season. Perez has a tendency to give up plenty of runs in large part due to his 1.47 career WHIP.

Others to consider: Paul Goldschmidt (first base) and Brandon Belt (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/20/18

Brian Dozier vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,700

Dozier is starting to heat up as he is 13-for-40 (.325) with four home runs and three doubles in his last 10 games. He’s shown a trend of being a better hitter in the second half of the season and could be in for a strong finish, although it might not be as a member of the Twins. Duffy gives left-handed hitters plenty of problems, but he’s allowed a .345 wOBA to righties.

Joey Wendle vs. Dan Straily, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $4,000

Speaking of hot hitters, Wendle is 17-for-42 (.405) with two home runs and eight RBI in July. He tends to sit against lefties, but he’s someone to target against righties. Straily’s 4.29 ERA doesn’t look terrible, but his 5.43 FIP indicates he has been a bit lucky. He allows plenty of base runners with a 1.35 WHIP despite opponents posting just a .250 BABIP against him, so his numbers could be even worse.

Others to consider: Jed Lowrie and Dee Gordon

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/20/18

Jose Ramirez vs. Martin Perez, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $5,800

Stacking against Perez will likely be a popular strategy Friday. Not only does he allow a lot of hitters to reach base, but he’s not a strikeout pitcher with just a 5.4 K/9 for his career. Ramirez is making a case for AL MVP honors this season with his power, speed and ability to hit for a high average. Although he’s expensive, he’s one of the top options available at any position.

Kyle Seager vs. James Shields, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,300

Seager is only batting .233 this season in large part because of his career-high 21.9% strikeout rate and career-low 5.5% walk rate. He’s still hitting for power, though, with 16 home runs and 23 doubles, making him a viable cheap option with upside in tournament play. He’s also 8-for-22 (.364) with three homers in his career against Shields.

Others to consider: Justin Turner and Colin Moran

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/20/18

Xander Bogaerts vs. Matthew Boyd, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $5,000

Bogaerts has certainly regained his power stroke, posting a .535 slugging percentage after a disappointing .403 mark last year. He also has 64 RBI in a loaded Red Sox lineup and should easily surpass his career-high of 89 RBI as long as he stays healthy. The Red Sox should be another popular stack Friday with Bogaerts someone to key in on at shortstop.

Jorge Polanco vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,800

Polanco has yet to leave the yard since returning from suspension, but he’s flashed his speed on the base paths again with three steals in only 14 games. It’s hard to read too much into 60 plate appearances, but his walk rate has been much improved at 11.7%. His upside isn’t close to that of Bogaerts, but he can still provide value if you need to save money at shortstop.

Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Tim Anderson

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/20/18

J.D. Martinez vs. Matthew Boyd, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $5,300

It seemed nearly impossible for Martinez to keep up the torrid pace he was on as a member of the Diamondbacks last year, but he’s been just as good since joining the Red Sox. His homer rate isn’t as high, but he’s not exactly struggling with 29 dingers in 92 games. He had 104 RBI last year and is going to blow by that with 80 RBI this season already. He also has a .393 wOBA against lefties, so expect him to give Boyd plenty of problems.

Matt Kemp vs. Wade Miley, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,000

The Brewers sure could use another starting pitcher. They will continue to try and get by with Miley in the rotation for now, who has been injured for most of the season. Miley had a 5.61 ERA and a 1.73 WHIP with the Orioles last year and usually allows a lot of base runners with a 1.40 career WHIP. Kemp has a .402 wOBA against lefties this year, making him a great option at a reasonable price on both sites.

Steven Duggar vs. Edwin Jackson, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $3,600

Jackson continues to find his way onto a major league roster, making four starts for an Athletics team that has seen their rotation decimated by injuries. He’s posted a 2.59 ERA, but it’s hard to have much confidence in a journeyman pitcher who has finished with an ERA of at least 5.21 in both of the last two seasons. The left-handed Duggar should be in the lineup Friday and won’t cost much, leaving him as someone to consider in tournament play.

Others to consider: Rhys Hoskins and David Peralta

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/13/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

July special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

All 15 games Friday start in the evening, leaving one of the last big slates in DFS before the All-Star break. 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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/13/18

Rick Porcello vs. Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $9,600
DraftKings = $9,800

Porcello already has 11 wins for the Red Sox, matching his total from all of 2017. Having a stellar lineup behind him certainly helps, but he’s also made significant improvements. He had a 1.40 WHIP and a 1.7 HR/9 last year, but this season he has a 1.17 WHIP and a 0.9 HR/9. His 3.58 ERA is supported by a 3.48 FIP and a career-high 22.7% strikeout rate. He also pitches deep into games, logging at least six innings in all but four starts. The Blue Jays have a .749 OPS at home this year, but only a .703 OPS on the road. Porcello has already faced them twice this season, allowing six runs (five earned) and recording 14 strikeouts across 13.2 innings. On a night that is lacking many top-tier pitchers, Porcello is one of the best options available.

Brad Keller vs. Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $6,100
DraftKings = $6,400

The Royals pitching staff has been a mess this season as their 5.35 team ERA is worst in the majors. Keller has been one of their few bright spots, though, recording a 2.52 ERA, 3.38 FIP and a 1.25 WHIP in 28 appearances, seven of which were starts. He doesn’t have much strikeout upside with a 5.2 K/9, but he’s only allowed one home run in 60.2 innings. He allowed 0.5 HR/9 during his career in the minors, so look for this to be a trend that continues. The White Sox have scored the sixth-fewest runs (365) in baseball and lost one of their hottest hitters to injury in Avisail Garcia, leaving Keller as a cheap option to consider in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/13/18

Brandon Belt vs. Edwin Jackson, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,400

Jackson continues to find a way to work himself into a major league rotation. He’s made three starts since joining the Athletics, giving up just six runs (five earned) in 18.1 innings. It’s hard to have much confidence in him, though, since he has finished with an ERA of 5.21 or higher in three of the last four years. Belt has a .410 wOBA against right-handed pitching this season, so don’t be surprised if he gives Jackson trouble.

Carlos Santana vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,000

Chen has been awful with a 6.14 ERA. His FIP is a little better at 5.09, but it’s still the highest of his career. He hasn’t been able to keep runners off base with a 1.55 WHIP and he has already allowed 11 homers in 66 innings. Strikeouts have been hard to come by for him as well with a 6.7 K/9. Santana hasn’t exactly thrived in his first season with the Phillies, either, but he’s priced low enough to be a viable option for your entry.

Others to consider: Wilson Ramos (catcher) and Yonder Alonso (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/13/18

Ozzie Albies vs. Zack Godley, Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,200

Albies is red hot again as he is 38-for-91 (.418) with four home runs, 13 RBI and 20 runs scored in his last 20 games. He’s slowed down from the torrid home run pace he was on earlier this season, but it’s very encouraging to see him adjust and come out of the slump he was mired in from the middle of May through the middle of June. Godley allows a ton of batters to reach base with a 1.56 WHIP, so look for Albies to continue his hot streak Friday.

Rougned Odor vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,500

Odor has finally shown signs of life again, going 14-for-44 (.318) with three home runs in his last 12 games. His overall average has improved to .242 as a result, but he only has six home runs. He has a lot of catching up to do if he is going to hit at least 30 homers for the third straight season. Cobb has a 1.62 WHIP and a 1.7 HR/9 in his first season with the Orioles, making Odor an excellent option at a reduced price, especially on FanDuel.

Others to consider: Dee Gordon and Jonathan Schoop

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/13/18

Jose Ramirez vs. Domingo German, New York Yankees
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $5,800

Ramirez homered against Thursday and has four home runs in his last three games. The fact that it came off of Luis Severino was especially impressive since Severino has only allowed 0.7 HR/9. He’ll face a much easier opponent in German on Friday, who has had problems keeping hitters inside the park with a 1.7 HR/9.

Mike Moustakas vs. James Shields, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,600

The Royals have already started to trade off some veterans and it makes sense that they look to move Moustakas as well. His batting average has regressed from .272 last season to .256 this year, but he’s still provided plenty of power with 19 home runs. Even though the Royals don’t score much, he still has 58 RBI. Lefties give him trouble, but he has a .358 wOBA against right-handed pitchers.

Others to consider: Nolan Arenado and Travis Shaw

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/13/18

Trevor Story vs. Christian Bergman, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,300

Bergman made one start for the Mariners back in May but has mostly pitched in the minors this season. The fact that he had a 4.78 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP at Triple-A doesn’t really bode well for his chances pitching at Coors Field on Friday. Story mashes at home and is one of several Rockies’ hitters to target for your entry.

Elvis Andrus vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,100

Andrus only has 153 plate appearances this season due to injury, but he’s been a disappointment with just two home runs and one stolen base. After attempting 35 steals last year, he only has two attempts this season. His strikeout rate is down and his .281 BABIP is well below his .313 career mark, so he does have room for improvement in the second half. Considering Cobb’s struggles, this might be just what he needs to get back on track.

Others to consider: Xander Bogaerts and Scott Kingery

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/13/18

Charlie Blackmon vs. Christian Bergman, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $5,500

Blackmon has historically hit about the same amount of home runs on the road as he has at home, but he has a career .343 batting average at Coors Field compared to .263 on the road. He also has a career .371 wOBA against righties, making him an outfielder worth paying up for versus Bergman.

Carlos Gonzalez vs. Christian Bergman, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,700

As we continue to target lefties against Bergman, Gonzalez presents another excellent option at a favorable price. He’s not nearly the hitter that he was in his prime, but he’s quietly batting .275 with 10 home runs in 73 games. He also has a .357 wOBA against right-handers.

Steven Duggar vs. Edwin Jackson, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $2,300
DraftKings = $3,700

Duggar only had four home runs in Triple-A this year before being called up, but he did slug 27 doubles to go along with a .354 OBP. He’s not likely to play much against left-handed pitching, but he should be in the lineup against the right-handed Jackson. He could be worth the gamble in tournament play based on the salary relief he can provide for your budget.

Others to consider: Mookie Betts and Christian Yelich

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/12/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

July special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

Only seven games make up the main evening slate in DFS on Thursday, but the night is loaded with pitching as Max Scherzer, Corey Kluber, Luis Severino, Blake Snell and James Paxton are all scheduled to start. 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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/12/18

Max Scherzer vs. New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $12,000
DraftKings = $13,300

Scherzer had a subpar performance by his standards in his last start against the Marlins, allowing four runs in seven innings. He gave up three home runs and only recorded three strikeouts. He has allowed 0.9 HR/9 and has a 12.5 K/9 for the season overall, so don’t read too much into one bad outing. After winning the Cy Young award in both of the last two seasons, he’s going for three straight with his 2.33 ERA, 2.60 FIP, and 0.89 WHIP. The Mets have scored the third-fewest runs (347) in baseball, setting Scherzer up for a potentially dominant outing.

Steven Matz vs. Washington Nationals
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $7,800
DraftKings = $5,900

With so many aces taking the mound Thursday, there is no shortage of top options. However, if you want to go the cheap route, Matz is someone to consider. He has allowed three earned runs or fewer in eight of his last nine starts, lowering his ERA to 3.31 overall. He had problems keeping runners off base last year with a 1.53 WHIP, but he has made significant progress this season with a 1.23 WHIP. His strikeouts are back up as well with an 8.1 K/9. The Nationals lineup had a couple of good games recently against the Marlins, but have scored four runs or fewer in nine of their last 12 games. The Mets probably won’t be able to get him a win facing off against Scherzer, but that doesn’t mean Matz can’t provide value.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/12/18

Jesus Aguilar vs. Jameson Taillon, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $4,800

Aguilar racked up three more hits Wednesday and is now 25-for-72 (.347) with 10 home runs in his last 20 games. He’s put to rest any fears people had about him against right-handed pitching, posting a .409 wOBA against them this season. He’s expensive, but he carries significant upside again Thursday.

Steve Pearce vs. J.A. Happ, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,500

Pearce is off to a hot start with his new team as he is 11-for-24 (.458) with a home run and four doubles. He’s normally someone you want to target against lefties considering his career .363 wOBA against them. He is 10-for-28 (.357) with five home runs in his career against Happ as well.

Others to consider: Yasmani Grandal (catcher) and Josh Bell (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/12/18

Max Muncy vs. Tyson Ross, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $4,900

Muncy logged two more hits Wednesday, bumping his average up to .276 this season. He’s done a great job of getting on base in general with a .416 OBP, not to mention his 21 homers in only 262 plate appearances. He presents a very tough matchup for Ross, who has allowed a .381 wOBA to lefties this year. Of note, Muncy is only eligible at second base on FanDuel as he is listed at first base and third base on DraftKings.

Joey Wendle vs. Kyle Gibson, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,500

Wendle doesn’t play against left-handed pitchers, but he’ll likely be in the lineup Thursday against Gibson. He doesn’t provide much power, but he’s currently on a seven-game hitting streak and is batting .278 overall this season. Gibson has pretty even splits against lefties and righties, but Wendle is someone to consider if you don’t want to pay up for Muncy.

Others to consider: Eduardo Nunez and Josh Harrison

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/12/18

Matt Duffy vs. Kyle Gibson, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,100

Third base is a little thin, especially with top options like Jose Ramirez and Eduardo Escobar dealing with tough matchups. It might be a position to target spending less on as a result. Duffy isn’t exactly dirt cheap, but he won’t bust your budget either. He’s 5-for-12 in his last three games to raise his overall average to .310 this year. He also only has a 16.5% strikeout rate. Home runs have been few and far between, but Duffy has proven to be one of the most consistent hitters for the Rays.

David Freese vs. Wade Miley, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $3,200

Miley made just two starts for the Brewers this season before landing on the DL with an oblique injury. He’s been out for over two months but is expected to start Thursday. He allows a ton of base runners with a 1.40 WHIP for his career and was hit hard as a member of the Orioles last season, resulting in a 5.61 ERA. Freese has a career .357 wOBA against lefties and might be worth the risk in tournament play at this price.

Others to consider: Travis Shaw and Yangervis Solarte

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/12/18

Xander Bogaerts vs. J.A. Happ, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,200

Bogaerts’ power stroke is back this season as he has 14 home runs and 25 doubles in only 75 games. The Red Sox offense has been one of the most potent in all of baseball, which has helped Bogaerts amass 57 RBI and 43 runs scored. Happ has allowed 20 runs across 22.2 innings in his last four starts, leaving Bogaerts and the Red Sox with the potential for another big offensive performance.

Jean Segura vs. Tyler Skaggs, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,100

Segura made the All-Star team this year for the second time in his career. The honor was well deserved as he is batting a career-high .329 with seven home runs and 14 steals. He’s also scored 63 runs and is on pace to top 100 runs scored for only the second time in his career. He doesn’t have the power upside that Bogaerts does, but Segura has a .389 wOBA against lefties.

Others to consider: Chris Taylor and Jordy Mercer

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/12/18

Christian Yelich vs. Jameson Taillon, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,800

Yelich is coming off a series against his former team in the Marlins where he finished 6-for-16 with two doubles, five RBI, three runs scored and a steal. That’s the type of well-rounded production we have become accustomed to getting from him. With 11 home runs and 12 steals overall, this could be the season he finally reaches the 20-20 club. He’s had his problems against left-handed pitchers but has been much better with a .368 wOBA against righties.

Starling Marte vs. Wade Miley, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,800

Speaking of players with a great combination of speed and power, Marte already has 11 home runs and 23 steals this year. He’s currently on a seven-game hitting streak, going 12-for-26 (.462) with two home runs and five steals during that stretch. Marte should be one of the top hitters included in any Pirates stack against Miley.

Andrew Toles vs. Tyson Ross, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $2,000
DraftKings = $3,700

With Yasiel Puig (oblique) on the DL, Toles is going to get a chance to play against right-handed pitchers. He has a career .352 wOBA against them in parts of three seasons in the majors. He has a .311 career batting average in the minor leagues and could be worth taking a chance on in tournament play, especially at the minimum price on FanDuel.

Others to consider: J.D. Martinez and Randal Grichuk

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/11/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/11/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/11/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/11/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/11/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/11/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/11/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/10/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

July special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

All 15 games in the majors will be played at night Tuesday, leaving an array of options to choose from 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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/10/18

Trevor Bauer vs. Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $12,000
DraftKings = $13,600

Bauer continues to thrive in what is shaping up to be his breakout campaign. He has allowed two runs or fewer in four straight outings and has allowed more than three earned runs in a start only twice all year. He has a 2.45 ERA as a result, which is supported by his 2.17 FIP and 1.09 WHIP. His 13.1% swinging-strike rate is almost four percentage points higher than last year and has helped him post a career-high 11.6 K/9. After allowing at least 20 home runs in three straight seasons, he has given up just five homers in 121.1 innings. The Reds are in the top-third of baseball in runs scored, but Bauer’s tremendous strikeout upside still makes him a great option.

Jhoulys Chacin vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $7,700
DraftKings = $8,500

Chacin has been a valuable addition to the Brewers starting rotation, recording a 3.63 ERA, 3.84 FIP, and a 1.29 WHIP across 19 starts. He has only allowed 0.6 HR/9, which is no surprise considering he has a 0.8 HR/9 for his career. That’s particularly impressive since he spent six seasons pitching his home games in Coors Field as a member of the Rockies. The Marlins continue to struggle offensively, scoring four runs or fewer in 9 of their last 14 games. They have also hit the third-fewest home runs (77) in baseball overall. Chacin doesn’t provide a lot of strikeouts with a 7.2 K/9, but he this matchup leaves him with potential in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/10/18

Wilson Ramos vs. Matthew Boyd, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,300

Ramos came through with another productive game Monday, finishing 2-for-5 with a home run and two runs scored. His home run came off of Francisco Liriano and he now has a .393 wOBA against left-handed pitchers this season. He’ll face another one in Boyd on Tuesday, giving him significant upside once again.

Jose Martinez vs. Dylan Covey, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $4,300

Martinez’s struggles on defense have started to eat into his playing time. That won’t be an issue Tuesday, though, with the Cardinals getting the benefit of using the DH playing in Chicago. Martinez is certainly having another impressive offensive season, batting .296 with 13 home runs and 53 RBI. Covey started out hot but has regressed to the point where he now has a 5.54 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP for the season overall.

Others to consider: Paul Goldschmidt (first base) and Jesus Aguilar (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/10/18

Whit Merrifield vs. Aaron Slegers, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,300

Merrifield is 21-for-47 (.447) during his current 11-game hitting streak. He’s been one of the few bright spots in the Royals offense as he is batting .303 with a .369 OBP overall. He only has five home runs, but he continues to cause problems on the base paths with 16 steals. Slegers is not an overpowering pitching with a career 6.6 K/9 in the minors, leaving Merrifield with a favorable opportunity to continue his recent hot streak.

Brock Holt vs. Yovani Gallardo, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,400

Gallardo has not pitched well in four starts with the Rangers, posting a 5.87 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. He has allowed four home runs in just 23 innings and finished with three or fewer strikeouts in three of those four outings. Holt is 6-for-17 (.353) in his last four games and is one of the cheap Boston hitters to consider in what could be a high-scoring game.

Others to consider: Brian Dozier and Daniel Robertson

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/10/18

Eduardo Escobar vs. Ian Kennedy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,400

Ian Kennedy has been on the DL with an oblique injury but will be activated to start Tuesday. He’s having another rough campaign for the Royals with a 5.11 ERA, 4.81 FIP, and a 1.42 WHIP. Escobar has a .391 wOBA against right-handers this season and is 9-for-21 (.429) with two home runs in his career against Kennedy.

Matt Carpenter vs. Dylan Covey, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rated Field
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,800

With Covey on the mound, the Cardinals will likely be one of the most popular stacks. Covey has allowed a .364 wOBA to lefties, making Carpenter one of the Cardinals hitters to focus on. He has rebounded from his early-season slump and has a .382 wOBA against righties, which would be his fourth-straight season with a wOBA of at least .378 against them. He’s expensive on DraftKings, but his price on FanDuel is really appealing.

Others to consider: Justin Turner and Matt Duffy

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/10/18

Paul DeJong vs. Dylan Covey, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,100

DeJong missed about a month and a half with a hand injury, but he has at least one hit and one run scored in all three games since his return from the DL. He doesn’t have the platoon advantage in this contest, but he’s hit righties well this season with a .368 wOBA. His numbers were betters against left-handed pitchers last year, but he didn’t exactly struggle against righties then either with a .351 wOBA.

Chris Taylor vs. Eric Lauer, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $4,200

Lauer has a 4.84 ERA and a 4.73 FIP for the season, but he’s been much better lately by allowing three earned runs or fewer in seven straight starts. He still had a 1.51 WHIP during that stretch, though, and has had problems keeping runners off base all season. He has allowed a .386 wOBA to righties, making Taylor a viable option at a reasonable price.

Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Xander Bogaerts

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/10/18

A.J. Pollock vs. Tyler Anderson, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $5,400

Anderson has a 3.48 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP on the road this year, but a 4.37 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP at Coors Field. He has thrown seven fewer innings at home, but he has allowed three more home runs there than he has on the road. Pollock is still working his way back from a lengthy DL stint, but he does have at least two hits in two of his last three games and posted a .356 wOBA against lefties in 2017.

Matt Kemp vs. Eric Lauer, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,500

Kemp’s return to the Dodgers has gone better than anyone could have expected as he is batting .316 with 15 home runs and 58 RBI. He is crushing lefties again with a 170 wRC+ and it should also be noted that nine of the 10 home runs that Lauer has allowed this year have come off of right-handed hitters.

Harrison Bader vs. Dylan Covey, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $3,900

Bader has been forcing his way into the lineup for the Cardinals, hitting 14-for-37 (.378) with a home run and four doubles in his last 11 games. With Dexter Fowler batting only .167 this season, Bader should continue to receive plenty of at-bats. He’s not that cheap on DraftKings, but his low price on FanDuel makes him an intriguing tournament play against Covey.

Others to consider: Andrew Benintendi and Shin-Soo Choo

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/9/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

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Although there are a couple of doubleheaders Monday, only nine games will make up the main 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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/9/18

Jose Berrios vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $10,100
DraftKings = $12,100

Berrios has allowed five home runs in his last two starts and has had problems keeping hitters inside the park this season with a 1.3 HR/9. However, he still has a 3.54 ERA and a 3.39 FIP in large part because of his 1.00 WHIP. He had control issues when he began his career in the majors, but he’s thrown a first-pitch strike to 65.6% of the batters that he has faced and has a 2.0 BB/9 this year. He also has career highs in swinging-strike rate (11.4%) and K/9 (9.0). The Royals have hit the fewest home runs (70) and scored the fewest runs (310) in baseball, making Berrios one of the top pitching options.

Kyle Hendricks vs. San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $7,000
DraftKings = $7,300

Hendricks has never finished with an ERA over 3.96 or a FIP over 3.88 in his career, but he has a 4.27 ERA and a 4.80 FIP this season. Both his 1.25 WHIP and 1.5 HR/9 would also be the highest marks of his career. He’s never been an overpowering pitcher, but he has just a 6.7 K/9. He’s allowed 13 runs over 13.1 innings in his last three starts, but he gave up only one run and recorded seven strikeouts over seven innings in his first start against the Giants this year. The Giants are in the bottom-third of the league in runs scored, so Hendricks is a viable option in tournament play despite his lack of strikeout potential.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/9/18

Yuli Gurriel vs. Frankie Montas, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,700

Gurriel has only hit six home runs this season, but he has followed up his .299 average last year with a .303 mark. He hasn’t been completely devoid of power as he does have 22 doubles on his way to what could be his second-straight season with at least 40 doubles. He doesn’t walk much, but he also only has a 10.6% strikeout rate. Montas has allowed a lot of baserunners with a 1.47 WHIP, so he could be in trouble with Gurriel’s ability to make contact.

Wilson Ramos vs. Francisco Liriano, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKing = $4,200

Ramos has been named to his second All-Star team in the last three seasons. He’s earned the honor to start for the AL by batting .289 with 12 home runs. The Rays have scored the fifth-fewest runs in baseball, that hasn’t stopped Ramos from recording 47 RBI. His .368 wOBA against lefties makes him a great option against Liriano.

Others to consider: Matt Adams (first base) and C.J. Cron (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/9/18

Max Muncy vs. Luis Perdomo, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $5,200

Muncy finished a rough three-game set against the Angels 1-for-11 with six strikeouts. This might be just the matchup he needs to get back on track as Perdomo has followed up his 1.51 WHIP last year with a 2.19 WHIP in five starts this year. He has also allowed a .361 wOBA against lefties for his career. Of note, Muncy is only second base eligible on FanDuel as he is listed at first base and third base on DraftKings.

Eduardo Nunez vs. Mike Minor, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,700

The Rangers starting rotation has been a mess this season. Minor’s numbers aren’t great, but he’s been one of their more reliable pitchers with a 4.63 ERA and a 4.41 FIP. He only has a 1.20 WHIP, but he’s been hurt by allowing 1.4 HR/9. Minor has held lefties to a .308 wOBA, but righties have had more success with a .336 wOBA. Nunez won’t cost much, but he is a viable option to consider in tournament play if you need to save money at second base.

Others to consider: Brian Dozier and Daniel Robertson

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/9/18

Jose Ramirez vs. Anthony DeSclafani, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $5,700

Ramirez already has more steals (19) this year than he did in all of 2017 (17) and his 24 home runs put him only five behind last year’s mark. His batting average remains excellent at .292 and he has 54 walks compared to only 44 strikeouts. He has a lofty .433 wOBA against righties, making him a great option again Monday even at this expensive price.

Matt Duffy vs. Francisco Liriano, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,500

Liriano has dominated lefties this season by holding them to a .207 wOBA, but right-handed hitters have had plenty of success with a .343 wOBA. His ERA looks respectable at 4.03, but his 5.27 FIP indicates he is not having a good year. The Rays don’t exactly have a potent offense, but Duffy hits for a high average and has some upside Monday despite his lack of homers.

Others to consider: Alex Bregman and Colin Moran

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/9/18

Xander Bogaerts vs. Mike Minor, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $5,000

Bogaerts entered Monday 6-for-12 with two home runs, two doubles, and 10 RBI in his last four games. Three of those contests came against the Royals terrible staff, but as already detailed, Minor hasn’t exactly pitched well either. Bogaerts has hit for a ton of power this season with a .520 slugging percentage and his batting average hasn’t suffered either at .281. He only has two stolen bases, but it’s hard to complain about the production he has provided.

Jorge Polanco vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,800

Duffy has been prone to horrendous starts this season, allowing at least five runs in seven of his 18 outings. The end result has been a 5.19 ERA that is supported by a 5.39 FIP. Until he makes major improvements on his 1.50 WHIP and 1.7 HR/9, continue to target hitters against Duffy in DFS. Polanco has only played in seven games this year due to suspension, but he could be one of several Twins to have a valuable performance.

Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Chris Taylor

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/9/18

Mookie Betts vs. Mike Minor, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $6,100

Betts continues to swing a hot bat for the Red Sox as he is 23-for-64 (.359) with four home runs in his last 16 games. He only has six RBI during that stretch, but he scored 16 runs and had 12 walks compared to just eight strikeouts. His 212 wRC+ against lefties overall this year makes him a great option even though he will cost you a ton on both sites.

Juan Soto vs. Ivan Nova, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,800

Nova does a great job limiting walks, but he’s an average starting pitcher at best. He doesn’t have great stuff with just a 6.9 K/9, which is a big reason why he has also allowed 1.7 HR/9. He has allowed a wOBA of at least .361 against lefties in each of the last three seasons and is close to that mark again this year by allowing a .358 wOBA. Stacking lefties against him Monday could be a wise move, Soto included.

Kyle Tucker vs. Frankie Montas, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $2,000
DraftKings = $4,000

Tucker had plenty of success at Triple-A this season before the Astros called him up, batting .306 with 14 home runs, 14 steals and a .371 OBP. He’s 1-for-7 in his first two games with the big club, but he has some potential Monday considering Montas has allowed a .361 wOBA against lefties. His price isn’t great on DraftKings, but at the minimum on FanDuel, he could be worth the risk in tournament play.

Others to consider: Christian Yelich and Joc Pederson

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 16

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
July special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

If you are playing in a head-to-head fantasy league, using starting pitchers that have two starts in a week can give you a significant edge over your opponent. Here are some starters who will each start two games in the week ahead that you should either target or avoid for your lineup.

Starters With Favorable Matchups

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 16

Jose Berrios, Minnesota Twins: vs. KC, vs. TB

Berrios has allowed five home runs in his last two starts and has had problems keeping hitters inside the park, in general, this year with a 1.3 HR/9. However, he still has a 3.54 ERA and a 3.39 FIP because he has kept runners off base with a 1.00 WHIP. He had control issues when he was first called up, but he’s thrown a first-pitch strike to 65.6% of the batters that he has faced and has a 2.0 BB/9 this year. He also has career highs in swinging-strike rate (11.4%) and K/9 (9.0). His first start in Week 16 against the Royals is an excellent matchup considering they have hit the fewest home runs (70) and scored the fewest runs (310) in baseball. The Rays aren’t much better as they have the fifth-fewest home runs (79) and the fifth-fewest runs scored (347).

Kyle Hendricks, Chicago Cubs: at SF, at SD

Hendricks has never finished with an ERA over 3.96 or a FIP over 3.88 in his career, but he has a 4.27 ERA and a 4.80 FIP this season. Not only would his 1.25 WHIP be the highest of his career, but so would his 1.5 HR/9. He’s never been an overpowering pitcher, but he has just a 6.7 K/9. He’s allowed 13 runs over 13.1 innings in his last three starts, but his fortunes could change this week since both the Giants and the Padres are in the bottom-third of the league in runs scored. He has yet to face the Padres this year, but he allowed only one run and recorded seven strikeouts over seven innings in his lone start against the Giants. You shouldn’t count on him for strikeouts, but he can still provide value in Week 16.

Zach Eflin, Philadelphia Phillies: at NYM, at MIA

Eflin was supposed to start twice in Week 15 but left his first start with a blister issue. The Phillies decided to give him an extra day of rest for his next outing, pushing him from Sunday to Monday. He was rolling before suffering the blister against the Orioles, allowing two runs and recording six strikeouts in seven innings. He’s having by far the best season of his young career, posting a 2.97 ERA, 2.92 FIP, and a 1.08 WHIP over 11 starts. Not only does he get to face the aforementioned poor Marlins lineup, but the Mets have been even worse, scoring the third-fewest runs (336). As long as his blister doesn’t cause further issues, this is shaping up to be an excellent week for Eflin.

Jhoulys Chacin, Milwaukee Brewers: at MIA, at PIT

Chacin has been a good addition to the Brewers starting staff, posting a 3.63 ERA, 3.84 FIP, and a 1.29 WHIP across 19 starts. He has only allowed 0.6 HR/9, which is nothing new considering he has a 0.8 HR/9 for his career. That’s especially impressive considering he spent six seasons having to pitch in Coors Field as a member of the Rockies. The Marlins have had a couple of big offensive performances lately, but they have still scored four runs or fewer in 8 of their last 13 games. The Pirates offense is middle of the pack at best, setting up Chacin with the potential for two strong performances. He is still available in 67% of Yahoo! leagues, so pick him up if you are looking to stream someone.

Starters to Avoid

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 16

Mike Leake, Seattle Mariners: at LAA, at COL

Leake was stellar for the Mariners in June, recording a 2.57 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP in six starts. He was aided by a .225 opponents BABIP though and even with that hot stretch, he still has a 4.11 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP for the season overall. He’s never provided many strikeouts and this season has been no different with a 5.6 K/9. Leake has already faced the Angels three times this year and while he did have one good start where he allowed one run in six innings, he allowed seven runs (six earned) over 9.1 innings in the other two. It doesn’t get any easier having to pitch in Coors Field for his second start of the week, so this is not the week to take a chance on putting Leake into your lineup.

Tyler Anderson, Colorado Rockies: vs. ARI, vs. SEA

Like many of the Rockies’ pitchers, Anderson struggles to pitch in Coors Field. He has a 3.48 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP on the road this year, but a 4.37 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP at home. He has thrown seven fewer innings at home, but he has allowed three more home runs there than he has on the road. The Diamondbacks have had much more success against lefties with a .762 OPS this year and hammered Anderson for seven runs over 2.1 innings in their first meeting. The Mariners won’t have the use of the DH playing in the National League, but they still have a potent offense that can score in bunches. Keep Anderson on your bench.

Marcus Stroman, Toronto Blue Jays: at ATL, at BOS

Stroman got off to an abysmal start this season, then landed on the DL with a shoulder issue. He put together two strong starts upon first being activated, but was rocked for six runs over 4.2 innings in his last outing against the Mets. Things get much harder for him this week against the Braves and the Red Sox as both teams are in the top-six in baseball in runs scored. The Red Sox have also hit the second-most home runs (128). This has the potential to be a really rough Week 16 for Stroman.