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MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/27/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

July special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

Friday is loaded with excellent starting pitching options, so selecting the right hitters might be the difference in creating a winning entry 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 7/27/18

Chris Sale vs. Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $12,800
DraftKings = $13,500

Sale has completely shut down opposing hitters lately, allowing one run and recording 57 strikeouts in 33 innings across his last five starts. He only allowed 24 baserunners during that stretch and has a career-low 0.87 WHIP overall. His 16% swinging-strike rate has led to a 13.1 K/9, giving him elite upside in DFS. This is a great matchup against a Twins team that has hit right-handed pitching well, but only has a .677 OPS against lefties. In Sale’s first start against them this year, he allowed two runs and recorded 11 strikeouts over seven innings. Don’t hesitate to pay up for his services.

Wade LeBlanc vs. Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $7,000
DraftKings = $7,900

LeBlanc didn’t start a single game for the Pirates last year, but he’s made 15 starts in his 20 appearances this season. The Mariners couldn’t have asked for much more from him during his second stint with the franchise as he has a 3.44 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. He’s not going to provide a lot of strikeouts with his 7.1 K/9, but he’s shown excellent control with a 1.8 BB/9. He’s had success against the Angels in his first two starts this year, allowing three runs and recording nine strikeouts over 12 innings. That shouldn’t come as much of a surprise considering they have the second-lowest OPS against lefties (.647) in baseball.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/27/18

Paul Goldschmidt vs. Luis Perdomo, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,600

The fact that Perdomo is in the Padres starting rotation says more about their lack of depth than anything else. He’s having a terrible season with a 6.99 ERA and a 1.90 WHIP. His FIP is better at 4.66, but his 4.6 BB/9 isn’t exactly a recipe for success. Goldschmidt has better numbers against left-handed pitching, but he still has a .368 wOBA against righties and is 8-for-20 (.400) with three home runs in his career against Perdomo.

Greg Bird vs. Brad Keller, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,100

The Yankees suffered a big blow Thursday when Aaron Judge was lost for at least three weeks with a wrist injury. They still have time before the trade deadline to add a bat, but improved play from Bird could go a long way in helping to fill the void with Judge sidelined. Bird has hit better of late, batting 16-for-54 (.296) across his last 15 games. Keller has a 1.42 WHIP as a starter for the Royals and doesn’t strike out many batters, leaving Bird with some upside.

Others to consider: Josh Bell (first base) and Yadier Molina (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/27/18

Gleyber Torres vs. Brad Keller, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,100

The Yankees just got Torres back from an injury of his own. He’s only 1-for-7 in two games since his return, but he’s been a force in the Yankees lineup since being called up from the minors. Not only is he batting .289 with a .347 OBP, but he’s also slugged 15 home runs after never topping 11 in a full season in the minors. Like many hitters who play for the Yankees, he loves hitting at home with a .308 average and eight home runs there in 120 at-bats.

Josh Harrison vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,800

Vargas has been on the DL for over a month with a calf injury, but he is expected to start Friday. He’s having a dreadful first season with the Mets, posting an 8.60 ERA and a 1.83 WHIP across nine starts. Harrison doesn’t have a lot of power, but he has hit two home runs in his last three contests. Although you shouldn’t count on him to go deep again Friday, he can still provide value in tournament play at this cheap price.

Others to consider: Whit Merrifield and Joey Wendle

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/27/18

Matt Chapman vs. Kyle Freeland, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,300

Chapman is coming off of a great series against the Rangers where he finished 7-for-15 with two home runs, two doubles, five RBI and seven runs scored. The Athletics had a fantastic series as a team, which helped lead to plenty of counting stats for Chapman. They have been a very good hitting team on the road this season, leaving them with significant upside for this game in Coors Field. Freeland is having a strong campaign, but Chapman has had plenty of success with a .351 wOBA against left-handed pitching.

Adrian Beltre vs. Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,500

The Rangers have already started to trade away some of their better players, but it’s unclear if Beltre will be dealt based on his desire to eventually end his career with the team. Injuries have hampered him this season, leaving him with a .405 slugging percentage. He’s still batting .288 despite his lack of power and he’s had success against Keuchel, going 22-for-71 (.310) with two home runs and seven doubles against him during his career.

Others to consider: Alex Bregman and Miguel Andujar

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/27/18

Trevor Story vs. Sean Manaea, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $5,700

Manaea has pitched well, but Story has two significant splits that make him a great option Friday. He’s crushed the ball at Coors Field, batting .322 with 16 of his 20 home runs coming there this season. He also has a .416 wOBA against left-handed pitchers overall.

Didi Gregorius vs. Brad Keller, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,800

Speaking of players with extreme home and road splits, enter Gregorius. He started off this series against the Royals in grand fashion Thursday, hitting 2-for-5 with a home run and a double. He’s now batting .289 with 13 of his 18 home runs coming at Yankee Stadium. His low price stands out on FanDuel, but he’s a great option on both sites.

Others to consider: Jean Segura and Xander Bogaerts

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/27/18

Andrew Benintendi vs. Lance Lynn, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $5,900

Lynn has had control issues throughout his career, including an unsightly 5.7 BB/9 this year. That has been a major contributing factor to his 1.66 WHIP, which has resulted in a 5.23 ERA and a 4.69 FIP. He’s been even worse on the road with a 7.58 ERA and a 1.85 WHIP over 10 starts. The Red Sox will likely be a popular stack Friday, including Benintendi, who has a 158 wRC+ against righties.

David Peralta vs. Luis Perdomo, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,500

Stacking Diamondbacks could be a wise move Friday as well with how poorly Perdomo is pitching. Peralta excels versus right-handed pitchers with a .392 wOBA against them this season. He’s having a great year in general, batting .290 with 16 home runs, which is only two homers away from setting a new career best.

Nick Williams vs. Anthony DeSclafani, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,900

Williams’ overall numbers don’t jump off the page with a .260 batting average and a .336 OBP. However, he’s raking in July, batting .333 with a .412 OBP and five home runs. DeSclafani has struggled mightily with a 5.40 ERA and a 6.23 FIP, setting Williams up with a favorable opportunity to continue his recent run of success.

Others to consider: Khris Davis and Michael Conforto

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 Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/3/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

July special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

Baseball gets back to a busy schedule Tuesday with all 30 teams in action. 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 7/3/18

Zach Eflin vs. Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $9,100
DraftKings = $9,900

Eflin made just 11 starts for the Phillies last year and didn’t pitch well with a 6.16 ERA and a 6.10 FIP. A lot of his struggles can be attributed to his 1.42 WHIP and 2.2 HR/9. He also didn’t help his cause with a lowly 4.9 K/9. However, he seems to have put those issues behind him with an excellent first half that resulted in a 3.02 ERA and a 2.86 FIP across 10 starts. He’s cut his WHIP down to 1.13 and has allowed only four home runs in 55.2 innings. His average fastball velocity is up from 93.7 mph last year to 95.1 mph this season to go along with a career-high 10.5% swinging-strike rate, helping him post a 9.1 K/9. The Orioles have scored the second-fewest runs (305) in baseball and won’t have the use of the DH in Philadelphia, making Eflin one of the better pitching options available for the night.

Chris Bassitt vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $7,000
DraftKings = $6,300

Bassitt hadn’t pitched in the big leagues since 2016 and even that year he only made five appearances. His last significant stretch in the majors came in 2015 when he finished with a 3.56 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP in 18 outings, 13 of which were starts. The Athletics have dealt with multiple injuries to their starters this season, leaving Bassitt with another chance to join their rotation. He’s had mixed results in four starts, but he’s also been done in by the Athletics defense as five of the 12 runs he has allowed have been unearned. He handled two bad offenses in the Royals and Tigers, allowing just one run and recording 11 strikeouts across 13 innings. The Padres have scored the fifth-fewest runs (321) in baseball, leaving Bassitt as someone to consider in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/3/18

Brandon Belt vs. Antonio Senzatela, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $5,500

After a hot start to the season, Belt cooled off in June by hitting .226 with two home runs. A lot of that had to do with his .238 BABIP. Even with his slump, he’s still hitting .295 with 13 homers for the season overall. He has a .419 wOBA against right-handed pitchers this year and gets the benefit of hitting in Coors Field on Tuesday, so this could be just the matchup he needs to start another hot streak.

Yan Gomes vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,200

Duffy can be tough to hit when he’s on top of his game, evident by the fact that he has allowed one or no runs in three of his last four starts. The problem is when he’s off, he’s really off as he has allowed at least five earned runs in a game six times this season. Gomes is 9-for-23 (.391) with two home runs against Duffy in his career and hits lefties well in general, making him a cost-effective option with upside.

Others to consider: Edwin Encarnacion (first base) and Carlos Santana (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/3/18

Joe Panik vs. Antonio Senzatela, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,400

Coors Field sure makes it hard for the Rockies to develop young starting pitchers. Senzatela has put up impressive numbers as a starter in the minors, but he’s struggled with the Rockies this year with a 6.23 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP in 10 relief appearances. Panik only has a .223 wOBA against lefties this year, but he’s a great option against Senzatela considering his .345 wOBA against righties.

Joey Wendle vs. Trevor Richards, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $3,000

Wendle sits against lefties. but should be in the lineup against the right-handed Richards. Richards’ 3.90 FIP indicates he hasn’t pitched as bad as his 5.06 ERA would lead you to believe, but he’s allowed a ton of baserunners with a 1.48 WHIP. Wendle doesn’t have much power upside with only two home runs, but if you want to go really cheap at second base in tournament play, he is someone to consider.

Others to consider: Scooter Gennett and Yoan Moncada

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/3/18

Max Muncy vs. Ivan Nova, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,700

Muncy hit another home run Monday, leaving him 11-for-33 (.333) with five homes in his last 10 games. He’s been one of the biggest surprises in all of baseball this season as he didn’t even play in the majors in 2017 and entered 2018 with only five career home runs. With his recent run of success, he is now batting .271 with 18 long balls. Look for him to keep things rolling against Nova, who doesn’t have an overpowering arsenal by any means with a 6.7 K/9 for his career.

Adrian Beltre vs. Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,800

Hamstring injuries have limited Beltre to only 54 games this year. It may also have something to do with his power drought as he only has four home runs. He still has a .309 average, though, and is drawing walks with a .373 OBP. He has a .376 wOBA against lefties so far and is 21-for-68 (.309) with two home runs and seven doubles against Keuchel in his career, so he has some upside at this price.

Others to consider: Jose Ramirez and Jed Lowrie

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/3/18

Francisco Lindor vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $5,700

Lindor launched two homers Monday, marking his third-straight game with a home run and his third multi-hit game in his last four contests. The AL MVP race is loaded with great candidates, but Lindor should also be towards the top of the list since he is hitting .298 with 23 home runs, 55 RBI, and 73 runs scored. He has crushed lefties with a 185 wRC+ this year and should be a part of any Indians stack against Duffy.

Elvis Andrus vs. Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,900

Andrus missed over two months with an elbow injury and got off to a slow start when he did finally return. However, he’s shown signs of turning things around by hitting 8-for-29 (.276) across his current five-game hitting streak. He finished with a wOBA against lefties of at least .357 in both of the last two seasons and is someone to consider if you can’t make Lindor’s high salary work with your entry.

Others to consider: Brandon Crawford and Marcus Semien

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/3/18

Rhys Hoskins vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $5,200

Cobb has allowed at least five runs in three of his last four starts and seven times this season overall. His first year with the Orioles has been a disaster overall with a 6.75 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP. Hoskins has rebounded from his slow start to hit at least one home run in four of his last eight games. Considering all the baserunners Cobb allows, Hoskins could have plenty of opportunities to drive in runs in this game.

Scott Schebler vs. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,300

Giolito has been as bad as Cobb, recording a 6.59 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP in 16 starts. He’s allowed as many walks as he has strikeouts and has given up 13 home runs in only 84.2 innings. Lefties have posted a .397 wOBA against him, setting up Schebler with the potential for a big performance. Schebler not only has 11 home runs this season, but his .283 batting average and .357 OBP are both career highs.

Mark Canha vs. Clayton Richard, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,700

When a lefty is on the mound, it’s time to target Canha. He’s having a nice season overall with a .255 average and 10 home runs, but he is crushing left-handed pitching with a .422 wOBA. Eight of his 10 homers have come off lefties as well.

Others to consider: Ronald Acuna Jr. and Avisail Garcia

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/25/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

June special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout

Baseball kicks off the week with 12 games on the schedule Monday, 10 of which 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 6/25/18

Cole Hamels vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $8,900
DraftKings = 9,900

Hamels has a 3.41 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP, but his 5.14 FIP indicates he hasn’t pitched that well. He’s been aided by a .253 opponents BABIP, which is 30 points lower than his career mark. He has also allowed 1.8 HR/9, which is by far the highest of his career. On the plus side, his strikeout percentage is up from 17.1% last year to 23.4% this season. He has also allowed two earned runs or fewer in three of his last four starts, two of which were tough matchups against the Angels and Dodgers. This will be a much more favorable matchup against the Padres, who are tied for the sixth-fewest runs scored (300) in baseball.

Jameson Taillon vs. New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $7,800
DraftKings = 7,900

Taillon’s 4.03 ERA isn’t great, but it should be noted that a lot of the damage done to his ERA came in three starts where he allowed 18 runs in 11 innings. He has allowed three runs or fewer in each of his other 12 starts, including in five straight outings. His career-high 9.7% swinging-strike rate has also resulted in an 8.5 K/9. The Mets have scored the fifth-fewest runs (299) in baseball and could be without Brandon Nimmo, who was hit in the finger on Sunday. If he’s not in the lineup, this matchup really leans heavily in Taillon’s favor.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/25/18

Paul Goldschmidt vs. Dan Straily, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $5,300

Goldschmidt is on an amazing run right now, batting .393 with a .490 OBP in June. He’s not just hitting for a high average, slugging 10 home runs over that stretch after having only seven total entering the month. Straily not only allows a lot of base runners with a 1.50 WHIP, but he’s also allowed a staggering 2.2 HR/9. Goldschmidt is expensive, but this matchup might be too good to pass up.

Justin Bour vs. Shelby Miller, Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,500

It’s been a long road back for Miller after he appeared in only four games last year before undergoing Tommy John surgery. His first season with the Diamondbacks in 2016 was a disaster, finishing with a 6.15 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP. Bour has a .382 wOBA against right-handed pitchers this season and is a viable cheap option if you don’t want to pay up for Goldschmidt.

Others to consider: J.T. Realmuto (catcher) and Yonder Alonso (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/25/18

Cesar Hernandez vs. Jonathan Loaisiga, New York Yankees
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,700

Hernandez has largely had a disappointing season as he is batting .265 after hitting exactly .294 in both of the last two years. He has a career-high 15.3% walk rate, but his 21.5% strikeout rate is up over three percent from last year. His numbers are better against left-handed pitchers, but Loaisiga was pitching in Double-A this season before the Yankees had to call him up due to injuries. He has allowed 15 baserunners in his first 8.2 innings in the majors, so Hernandez is someone to consider even though he doesn’t have the platoon advantage.

Dee Gordon vs. Andrew Casher, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $4,300

Gordon has provided pretty much what you should have expected from him to start the season, batting .287 with 19 steals. He has only one home run, but that’s not surprising since he only has 12 in his entire career. Cashner has been hit hard with a 4.72 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP this season, leaving Gordon with some upside despite his lack of power.

Others to consider: Daniel Descalso and Asdrubal Cabrera

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/25/18

Jose Ramirez vs. John Gant, St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $5,100
DraftKings = $5,500

It will be a tough task considering the seasons Mike Trout and Mookie Betts are having, but Ramirez is putting up numbers that should at least put him in the MVP discussion. He is hitting for a high average again at .296, but he also has 23 home runs and 20 doubles. He has shown an excellent eye at the plate as well with 50 walks compared to only 40 strikeouts. To top it all off, he has 12 stolen bases. He’s someone to target for your entry most nights, but especially against Gant considering he has a .447 wOBA against right-handed pitchers.

Adrian Beltre vs. Joey Lucchesi, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,300

If Beltre can just stay healthy, he is going to put up numbers. He’s already made two trips to the disabled list this season, but he is still batting .314. His power numbers are down, but two of his four home runs have come in his last six games. He has traditionally thrived against left-handed pitchers as he has a .381 wOBA against them for his career.

Others to consider: Max Muncy and Kyle Seager

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/25/18

Francisco Lindor vs. John Gant, St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $5,400

As crazy as Ramirez has been this season, Lindor is giving his teammate a run for his money by hitting .296 with 19 home runs and 24 doubles. He hasn’t shown the same stellar eye at the plate, but he’s done damage on the base paths as well with 10 steals. He wasn’t exactly playing at his best earlier in June, but he is 8-for-18 with three home runs in his last five games.

Elvis Andrus vs. Joey Lucchesi, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,200

Andrus has missed most of the season with an elbow injury and is only 2-for-21 since being activated from the disabled list. He is coming off the best season of his career when he hit .297 with 20 home runs and 25 steals in 2017. He has finished with a wOBA of at least .357 against lefties in both of the last two years and Lucchesi has allowed a .350 wOBA to righties, so this might be just the matchup Andrus needs to get back on track.

Others to consider: Manny Machado and Willy Adames

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/25/18

Nelson Cruz vs. Andrew Cashner, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FannDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $5,200

The Red Sox must be happy to see Cruz leave town after he finished a three-game series against them 8-for-13 with two home runs. Cruz has hit 10 home runs in June overall, raising his total to 20 for the season. He is once again on pace to slug at least 40 home runs for what would be the fourth time in the last five seasons. The only time he didn’t reach that mark was when he hit 39 homers last year. When he’s hot like this, Cruz can win you a lot of money.

Odubel Herrera vs. Jonathan Loaisiga, New York Yankees
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $5,100

Herrera is one of the hottest hitters in baseball, batting .422 with six home runs in his last 10 games. Last year he only had 14 home runs, but he showed power potential with 42 doubles. He’s been able to convert more of those doubles into homers this year as he has already left the ballpark 13 times. He obviously won’t be able to keep up his recent blistering pace, but this is a great matchup to take advantage of against Loaisiga.

Derek Dietrich vs. Shelby Miller, Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,800

You don’t hear about him much, but Dietrich is batting .302 with 11 home runs in a bad Marlins lineup. He’s hitting a robust .392 in June, but a lot of that can be attributed to his abnormally high .471 BABIP. The power numbers are encouraging, though, and he does have a career-high 38.8% hard-hit rate on the season overall.  With a .371 wOBA against righties, he’s a cheap option to take a chance on in tournament play.

Others to consider: David Peralta and Joc Pederson

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/19/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

June special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout

There are a few aces taking the mound Tuesday, but there are also a lot of bad pitchers projected to start that could lead to some big offensive numbers. 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 6/19/18

Justin Verlander vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $11,500
DraftKings = $13,300

Verlander has not allowed more than three earned runs in a start this season and he has four starts where he hasn’t allowed a single run. The end result has been a 1.61 ERA, 2.48 FIP and a 0.76 WHIP in 15 outings. He has thrown a first-pitch strike to 65.2% of the batters that he has faced and has a 12.8% swinging-strike rate, which has helped result in a 10.8 K/9. The Rays don’t score many runs, leaving Verlander with the potential for another excellent outing.

Vince Velasquez vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $8,800
DratfKings = $8,600

Velasquez’s 4.74 ERA is a bit deceiving. He allowed 10 runs over 3.2 innings in one start against the Brewers but has allowed three runs or fewer in 10 of his 14 outings. A lot of his struggles last year were due to his 1.50 WHIP and a 1.9 HR/9, but he’s improved in both areas with a 1.30 WHIP and a 1.2 HR/9 this season. His strikeout rate is up significantly at 28.3%, mirroring his 2016 campaign when he finished with a 27.6% strikeout rate and looked like a promising young piece the Phillies could build their rotation around. He doesn’t always pitch deep into games because of elevated pitch counts, but his strikeout upside is significant enough to make him a viable option in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/19/18

Paul Goldschmidt vs. Felix Pena, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $5,700

Goldschmidt buried himself in a deep hole by batting .144 with three home runs in May. He’s trying to make up for lost time in a hurry, batting .426 with eight home runs so far in June. He has boosted his overall batting average to .265 in the process and his .523 slugging percentage isn’t far off from his .531 career mark. Pena will be making his first start of the season after posting an underwhelming 3.78 ERA and 1.38 WHIP in Triple-A, leaving Goldschmidt with an excellent opportunity to continue his recent success.

Dominic Smith vs. German Marquez, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,000

This could be a high scoring game with two bad pitchers in Marquez and Jason Vargas taking the mound. Marquez has a 5.13 ERA and 1.48 WHIP in 14 starts and has struggled even more with a 7.71 ERA and a 1.90 WHIP at Coors Field. If you’re stacking Mets on Tuesday, Smith is a great option based on his price.

Others to consider: Ian Desmond (first base) and Devin Mesoraco (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/19/18

DJ LeMahieu vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,900

Stacking Rockies will probably be the most popular play of the night. Vargas has been awful this year with a 7.39 ERA and a 1.70 WHIP across eight starts. He hasn’t thrown more than five innings in any of his starts and has allowed eight home runs in 35.1 innings. LeMahieu has a .433 wOBA against lefties this year, which would mark his third straight season with a wOBA of at least .397 against left-handed pitchers.

Jed Lowrie vs. Eric Lauer, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,800

Lowrie was one of the hottest hitters in baseball over the first month of the season as he entered May batting .339 with six home runs. He’s cooled off dramatically since, batting .255 with three home runs in May and .228 with no home runs so far in June. He is 6-for-13 with two doubles in his last three games and this matchup is in his favor against the struggling Lauer, who has a 6.20 ERA and a 1.98 WHIP. If you can’t squeeze LeMahieu into your lineup based on his price tag, Lowrie is a cost-effective option with upside.

Others to consider: Asdrubal Cabrera and Daniel Descalso

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/19/18

Nolan Arenado vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $5,700

Arenado has significant home and road splits. He is hitting .276 with a .868 OPS on the road, but he is batting .339 with a 1.020 OPS at Coors Field. He also destroys left-handed pitching, posting a 211 wRC+ against them this season after finishing with a 220 wRC+ last year.

Adrian Beltre vs. Jason Hammel, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,700

Beltre is locked in since returning from his second stint on the DL this season, batting 16-for-47 (.340) with two home runs and 10 RBI in 14 games. The Rangers lineup is finally at full strength with Elvis Andrus back from the DL as well, opening up the possibility of more counting stats for Beltre. Arenado has significantly more upside based on his power, but Beltre is also someone to consider against Hammel, who hasn’t been impressive with a 4.89 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP.

Others to consider: Jeimer Candelario and Colin Moran

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/19/18

Trevor Story vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $5,500

Story looked like one of the best young players in baseball after hitting .272 with 27 home runs in only 97 games in 2016. He took a step backward last year, finishing with a .239 average and 24 home runs in 145 games. One reason for his struggles was his 34.4% strikeout rate. He’s cut that down to 26.4% this season, which has helped lead him to a .268 average. He hasn’t sacrificed his power numbers, either, as he has 15 homers. His home and road splits are even more dramatic than Arenado’s since 12 of Story’s 15 home runs this season have come at Coors Field.

Amed Rosario vs. German Marquez, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,600

Rosario is batting only .207 at Citi Field this season but he has been much better on the road with a .283 average. He took advantage of the friendly confines of Coors Field on Monday, finishing 3-for-5 with two doubles. He’s not exactly having a great season with a .246 average and four home runs, but he sticks out as a nice value play based on this matchup.

Others to consider: Elvis Andrus and Freddy Galvis

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/19/18

Brandon Nimmo vs. German Marquez, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,800

The Mets have struggled to score runs, but that certainly hasn’t been Nimmo’s fault. He couldn’t have had a better start to this series against the Rockies, finishing 4-for-6 with two home runs and four RBI Monday. He has been one of the Mets most consistent hitters and he has a .459 wOBA against righties, making him someone to build your lineup around Tuesday.

Odubel Herrera vs. Luke Weaver, St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,100

Herrara is heating up, hitting 9-for-23 with three home runs in his last five games. Weaver is going in the opposite direction, allowing 13 runs (11 earned) over 19.1 innings in his last four starts. Righties only have a .281 wOBA against Weaver this season, but lefties have had much more success with a .340 wOBA.

Mark Canha vs. Eric Lauer, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,600

Canha’s overall numbers aren’t very good with a .244 average and a .758 OPS this season. He especially struggled in May, hitting just .183 with a .226 BABIP. However, he is a cheap option to target against lefties since he has a .384 wOBA against them this year.

Others to consider: Juan Soto and Nomar Mazara

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/18/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

June special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout

There are only 10 games in the majors Monday, but there are still a lot of great 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 6/18/18

Trevor Bauer vs. Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $11,200
DraftKings = $12,400

On many other teams, Bauer would be considered a staff ace. He doesn’t get that distinction in Cleveland with Corey Kluber ahead of him, but his 2.69 ERA and 2.32 FIP this year are impressive. His 1.12 WHIP has been a big reason for his success. His .303 BABIP allowed is right in line with his career mark, which makes his hot start even more encouraging for his long-term value. He also has at least 10 strikeouts in five of his last six starts, leading to an 11.6 K/9 overall. He faced these same White Sox in his last start, allowing three runs and recording 12 strikeouts in 7.2 innings. Look for him to have another great game Monday.

Andrew Suarez vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $6,600
DraftKings = $6,800

Suarez’s 4.92 ERA leaves a lot to be desired, but his 3.85 FIP indicates he isn’t pitching that poorly. He has a respectable 1.26 WHIP and an 8.5 K/9, but he’s been done in by a 1.4 HR/9. Most of his struggles have come on the road this season with a 6.18 ERA and a 1.66 WHIP, compared to a 3.55 ERA and a 0.83 WHIP at AT&T Park. Not only does he have the home start working in his favor, but he is also facing a Marlins team that has scored the second-fewest runs (253) and has hit the fewest home runs (56) in baseball. Suarez is a cheap option with upside in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/18/18

Evan Gattis vs. Ryne Stanek, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,300

Gattis is on a crazy run right now, hitting 17-for-44 (.386) with six home runs and 21 RBI in his last 11 games. The Astros lineup has been hot as a whole, which helped lead to that lofty RBI total. This will be another bullpen day for the Rays since Stanek has not pitched more than two innings in a game this season. Keeping riding Gattis’ hot bat until he shows signs of slowing down.

Yuli Gurriel vs. Ryne Stanek, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,800

Gurriel was batting only .224 entering May, but he batted .310 that month and has been even better with a .362 average in June. He only has two home runs this season overall, but he does have 13 RBI in his last 14 games with the Astros scoring in bunches. He doesn’t have the upside that Gattis does, but he’s still someone to consider at this reasonable price.

Others to consider: Paul Goldschmidt (first base) Cody Bellinger (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/18/18

Josh Harrison vs. Jhoulys Chacin, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,900

Harrison doesn’t put up flashy numbers, but he’s been a valuable part of the Pirates lineup this season. He’s batting .294 and although he doesn’t hit for a lot of power, he also doesn’t strike out much with a 13.7% strikeout rate. He is batting 15-for-41 (.366) in his last 10 games and has similar numbers against both lefties and righties, so don’t shy away from him because he doesn’t have the platoon advantage against Chacin.

Daniel Descalso vs. Jaime Barria, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,900

The Diamondbacks lineup struggled at the start of the season but has really turned things around of late. Descalso has been one of their constants this year, batting .281 with eight home runs. He is swinging at fewer pitches outside of the strike zone and has a 44.4% hard-hit rate, two factors that have been driving forces to his success. He also has a .407 wOBA against right-handed pitchers, making him someone to target against Barria

Others to consider: Jose Altuve and Asdrubal Cabrera

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/18/18

Mike Moustakas vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $3,900

Colon was pitching surprisingly well to start the season, but opponents had a crazy low BABIP against him and he wasn’t recording many strikeouts, so it was only a matter of time before his numbers started to decline. He’s been destroyed in his last five starts, allowing 25 runs in 23.2 innings. He also allowed 10 home runs during that stretch, setting up a nice matchup for the power-hitting Moustakas.

Adrian Beltre vs. Ian Kennedy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $3,700

Beltre has been bothered by hamstring problems this year, leaving him to play only 42 games. He’s performed well when he has been on the field, batting .326 with a .388 OBP. His power numbers aren’t great, but he has at least two hits in four of his last five starts. Kennedy allows a lot of baserunners and has had equal problems against both lefties and righties, so look for Beltre to continue to swing a hot bat in this game.

Others to consider: Max Muncy and Justin Turner

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/18/18

Carlos Correa vs. Ryne Stanek, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,800

It’s amazing to think what numbers Correa could have put up last season if he didn’t get hurt. Despite playing only 109 games, he still had 24 home runs and 84 RBI. He also hit a career-high .315, but that was partly aided by his .352 BABIP. His .273 average this year is more in line with his first two seasons in the majors as a result of his BABIP dropping to .318. Like several of the Astros hitters, Correa is playing well right now, hitting 12-for-36 (.333) with three homers in his last nine games.

Jurickson Profar vs. Ian Kennedy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $3,900

Profar is finally getting a chance to play every day with Elvis Andrus (elbow) on the DL. His numbers aren’t great, but with the Rangers buried in the standings, it might be a wise idea for them to continue to find at-bats for him even when Andrus returns. Profar is 7-for-23 (.304) with two home runs during his current five-game hitting streak and is a viable option if you don’t want to pay up for Correa.

Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and  Chris Taylor

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/18/18

David Peralta vs. Jaime Barria, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,800

Peralta couldn’t find his way at the plate in May, batting .211 with two home runs. He’s making up for that lack of production in June, batting .350 with seven home runs in 60 at-bats. With a career .370 wOBA against right-handed pitchers, he’s someone you want to target for your entry, especially considering his price on FanDuel.

Joey Gallo vs. Ian Kennedy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,900

Gallo is a risky play because he’s an all-or-nothing hitter. He’s hitting .198 with a 37.1% strikeout rate, but he also has 18 home runs. Kennedy is on pace to allow at least 1.5 HR/9 for the fourth straight season, so this might be the night to take the gamble and roll with Gallo.

Joc Pederson vs. Tyler Chatwood, Chicago Cubs
Stadium – Wrigley Field
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,400

Pederson has had problems striking out in his career, but he’s made significant improvement with just a 14.2% strikeout rate this season. It’s no coincidence that his .276 average is by far the highest of his career. His improved plate discipline hasn’t come at the expense of his power numbers, though, as he still has eight homers and 14 doubles. He also has a .406 wOBA against righties and gets a struggling one in Chatwood on Monday.

Others to consider: Matt Kemp and Lonnie Chisenhall

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/9/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/9/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

We’ve got a good mix of day and night games in baseball Wednesday, so let’s take a look at some options to consider for both slates. 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 5/9/18

Gerrit Cole vs. Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $12,000
DraftKings = $13,400

Cole has been dominant for the Astros and has helped them to have one of the best, if not the best, starting rotation in baseball. Through seven starts with his new squad, he has a 1.42 ERA, 1.55 FIP, and 0.69 WHIP. After allowing 1.4 HR/9 last season, which was almost double his career mark, he has corrected that issue by allowing only three home runs in 50.2 innings. The biggest difference for Cole has been a massive increase in strikeouts with a 13.7 K/9. His ERA is unlikely to stay this low over the course of the entire season, especially considering his opponents only have a .247 BABIP. However, he is still going to provide a ton of strikeouts and is the best starting pitcher available if you are playing the afternoon slate.

Chris Stratton vs. Philadelphia Phillies
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $7,600
DraftKings = $5,900

Stratton didn’t have spectacular numbers in the minor leagues, recording a 4.07 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 7.9 K/9 in 623.2 innings. He only pitched 58.2 innings for the Giants last year and while he finished with a respectable 3.68 ERA, his 1.48 WHIP and 4.3 BB/9 were reasons for concern. One area that Stratton has excelled in during his brief Major League career is keeping batters in the ballpark, allowing 0.8 HR/9. He’s done a better job limiting baserunners this season with a 1.23 WHIP. His 3.99 ERA isn’t great, but a lot of that is because he gave up six earned runs in just 1.1 innings in one start against the Dodgers. He has allowed three earned runs or fewer in each of his other six outings. His strikeout upside isn’t great, but he’s someone to consider if you’re looking for a cheap starter for the night slate.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/9/18

Brandon Belt vs. Nick Pivetta, Philadelphia Phillies
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,000

Injuries limited Belt to 104 games last year, but he’s healthy now and putting up big numbers, batting .297 with six home runs and a .951 OPS. His .365 BABIP would seem to be very high, but with a career BABIP of .335, he might not actually be in line for that much of a regression over the course of the season. He had a wOBA of at least .362 against right-handers in each of the last three seasons and has a lofty .446 wOBA against them this year, making him a great option against Pivetta.

Ryon Healy vs. Jaime Garcia, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,800

Healy doesn’t walk much, drawing only 23 free passes last year in 605 plate appearances. Although he only has two walks so far this year, he’s batting a respectable .262 with five home runs. He showed he can hit for power in the minors and followed that up with 25 homers in his first full season in the majors last year. He recorded a .369 wOBA against left-handed pitchers in 2017, so he could provide value against the underwhelming Garcia.

Others to consider: Joey Votto (first base) and Wilson Contreras (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/9/18

Alen Hanson vs. Nick Pivetta, Philadelphia Phillies
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $3,000

Hanson has taken over at second base with Joe Panik (thumb) on the DL and the Giants really couldn’t have asked for much more from him so far. Not only is he batting .286, but he’s hit for power with a .571 slugging percentage. He didn’t show that kind of power upside in the minors, but he did hit .284 over eight seasons. He has a .400 wOBA against righties in limited action this season, so he might be worth the risk in tournament play.

Jonathan Schoop vs. Eric Skoglund, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,500

Schoop made his return from the DL on Tuesday, going 1-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored. He wasn’t hitting well before injuring his oblique, some of which can be attributed to just a 21.3 percent hard-hit rate. Despite his struggles, he still has a .324 wOBA against left-handers this year after posting a .397 wOBA against them in 2017. Skoglund hasn’t pitched well with a 6.84 ERA and 1.41 WHIP across five starts, making Schoop someone to consider at this cheap price.

Others to consider: Ozzie Albies and Whit Merrifield

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/9/18

Kris Bryant vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Wrigley Field
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $5,200

Bryant is batting .284 this season despite his .313 BABIP that is 31 points lower than his career mark. He’s hitting the ball hard with a 42 percent hard-hit rate and continues to draw plenty of walks, helping lead him to a .415 OBP. He’s finished with a wRC+ of at least 150 against lefties in back-to-back seasons and if off to an even better start this season with a 258 wRC+ against them. You’ll have to pay up to get him into your lineup, but he also carries significant upside.

Adrian Beltre vs. Francisco Liriano, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,400

Beltre wasted no time in his first game back from the DL on Tuesday, going 3-for-4 with two RBI. He has batted at least .300 in five of the last six seasons and is showing no signs of slowing down this year with a .330 average. He has fared very well against Liriano during his career, batting .314 with a home run and four doubles in 42 plate appearances.

Others to consider: Mike Moustakas and Colin Moran

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/9/18

Manny Machado vs. Eric Skoglund, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $4,900

Machado is in the midst of a power drought, homerless in nine straight games. He has just two doubles over that stretch as well. He only went hitless in two of those games though, so it’s not like he is in the middle of a prolonged slump in general. Facing Skoglund could be just what he needs to get his power swing back on track as he has a 1.4 HR/9 and has allowed a 50.6 percent hard-hit rate this season.

Jean Segura vs. Jaime Garcia, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,000

Segura has a prime spot in the Mariners lineup, hitting behind Dee Gordon with Robinson Cano and Nelson Cruz providing protection after him. It’s helped him score 23 runs and record 24 RBI in only 34 games. He’s only scored at least 100 runs in a season once in his career and has never had more than 64 RBI, so he could be on his to a special season. With Garcia allowing a .383 wOBA to righties this season, Segura is another Mariner to consider putting into your lineup.

Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Andrelton Simmons

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/9/18

Justin Upton vs. Tyler Anderson, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,800

Upton wasted no time in hitter-friendly Coors Field, hitting a home run in the first game of this series Tuesday. Upton demolished left-handers last year with a .472 wOBA. Considering Anderson allowed a .358 wOBA to righties last year, Upton could be in for another productive performance Wednesday.

Nelson Cruz vs. Jaime Garcia, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,200

If you are panicking because the normally reliable Cruz is batting only .255, you shouldn’t be. His BABIP sits at .254, which is over 50 percentage points lower than his career mark. He’s still hitting the ball well with a 43.6% hard-hit rate and his K% is actually down. With Garcia’s struggles against righties already detailed, Cruz isn’t someone to sleep on Wednesday.

Alex Gordon vs. Andrew Cashner, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,400

Just when you thought Gordon’s days of being a viable fantasy option were well behind him, he’s batting .321 so far this season. He’s not walking much, but he does have a career-low 15.7% K%. His .355 BABIP probably won’t hold up, so don’t run out and grab him off waivers if you play in a season-long league. However, Cashner allows a lot of base runners and struggles against left-handed hitters, so you may be able to take advantage of Gordon’s hot start in DFS.

Others to consider: Mike Trout and Jorge Soler

Fantasy Baseball Season Preview: Third Base

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner – @rotomikebarner*

Fantasy Baseball Season Preview: Third Base

Third base is loaded in fantasy baseball again this season with many of the premier players in the league manning the position. Several of the elite options are young as well, providing even more value if you play in a keeper or dynasty league. Let’s not only take a look at the cream of the crop but also at some third basemen who are overvalued and undervalued heading into 2018.

The Top Three

Fantasy Baseball Season Preview: Third Base

Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies

Arenado is one of the safest first-round picks in fantasy. He enters this season at only 26 years old but has hit at least 37 home runs to go along with at least 130 RBI and 97 runs scored in three straight seasons. His batting average and OBP have increased each of the last three years as well, topping out at .309 and .373, respectively, in 2017. He certainly benefits from playing in Coors field, batting .336 with 18 home and 76 RBI in 78 home games last year. While his batting average was lower on the road, he did still manage to slug 18 home runs last year away from Coors field. Arenado is not only the best option at third base, but he is arguably a top-five player in fantasy.

Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs

Bryant was on his way to pushing Arenado for the best third baseman in fantasy after a monster 2016 season that saw him hit .292 with 39 home runs, 102 RBI and 121 runs scored. He took a step backward in 2017 though, hitting .295 with 29 home runs, 73 RBI, and 111 runs scored. The main reason for his decline in RBI was because he moved up in the batting order. In 2016, he batted third in 62 games and recorded 50 RBI. He hit second in 83 games, providing only 45 RBI. Bryant batted second in 110 games in 2017, finishing with just 59 RBI in those contests. With Bryant expected to bat second again this season, it will be difficult for him to reach his 2016 RBI total again. He’s still an elite talent though who hits for average and power, making him worthy of a late first-round, early second-round pick depending on the size of your league.

Manny Machado, Baltimore Orioles

Machado was expected to be one of the best players in fantasy in 2017 after batting at least .286 with at least 35 home runs, 86 RBI and 102 runs in back-to-back seasons. While his powers numbers were there last year with 33 home runs and 95 RBI, he batted just .259. Much of that can be attributed to a horrid first half where he hit just .230 in large part because of a .230 BABIP. He has a career .301 BABIP, so it’s no surprise that he improved to a .290 BABIP in the second half of the season. The result was a .290 average over that same stretch. He should see a significant improvement in batting average this season and could end up pushing Bryant for being the second-best fantasy option at third base. He is also moving to shortstop, which will give him a boost in value when he gains that added eligibility.

 

Overvalued Players

Fantasy Baseball Season Preview: Third Base

Mike Moustakas, Free Agent

Moustakas finally had his breakout season in 2017, hitting 38 home runs to go along with a .272 average. He finished with just 85 RBI and 75 runs scored though as 27 of his home runs were of the solo variety. He did appear to take a more aggressive approach at the plate, seeing only 3.78 pitchers per plate appearance, the second fewest of his career. Also, he struck out swinging on 96.8% of his strikeouts, by far the highest percentage of his career. He has yet to sign with a team, but it’s going to be hard for him to match his homer total from last season wherever he signs considering he had never hit more than 22 home runs in a season previously. His current ADP in the NFBC is too high at 118.30. Fellow third basemen Kyle Seager (137.64) and Adrian Beltre (158.42) could provide very similar numbers and are still available later in most drafts.

Jake Lamb, Arizona Diamondbacks

Lamb set career-highs last year with 30 home runs, 105 RBI, and 89 runs scored. His average was still poor though at just .248, the second straight season he hit below .250. Lamb tends to get off to a hot start before cooling off in the second half. He has batted .284 for his career in the first half of the season but has followed it up with a career average of just .220 in the second half. Home runs are becoming easier to find in fantasy, making Lamb less valuable than he may have been previously. There are no signs that he is going to improve his batting average this year, which should limit his overall value. His current ADP of 118.35 is right behind Moustakas, which is hard to justify based on his numbers.

Undervalued Players

Fantasy Baseball Season Preview: Third Base

Adrian Beltre, Texas Rangers

Injuries plagued Beltre in 2017, limiting him to 94 games. He was excellent when he was on the diamond, batting .312 with 17 home runs, 71 RBI, and a .383 OBP. Although he will turn 39 this year, injuries had not been a recent problem with Beltre playing at least 143 games in each of the previous five seasons. A career .287 hitter, Beltre had also hit at least 28 home runs in five of his last seven seasons entering 2017. With his consistent power and a high batting average now being at a premium in fantasy, Beltre should be going higher than his current ADP of 158.42. Don’t sleep on him in your league.

Matt Chapman, Oakland Athletics

Chapman got his first taste of the majors in 2017, batting .234 with 14 home runs and 40 RBI in 84 games. He only batted .244 for his career in the minors, so don’t expect to see any significant improvement from him in that area this year. However, he provides plenty of power, slugging .518 in the minors. He’ll strike out a lot, but he did have a walk percentage of at least 10.6% in each of his stops in the minors since 2015. His current ADP is only 284.97, which is 25th amongst players eligible at third base. He could provide 25 home runs and 80 RBI in a full season, leaving him as someone with value even with his poor average that late in a draft.