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MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/5/18

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

July special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

After a packed holiday schedule Wednesday, there are only eight games in the majors Thursday. All of them are at least at night, leaving plenty of quality 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 7/5/18

Justin Verlander vs. Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $12,200
DraftKings = $13,400

Verlander has shown that he is human in his last two starts, allowing nine runs in 11.2 innings. Even with that very brief rough patch, his numbers are outstanding this season with a 2.12 ERA, 2.65 FIP, and a 0.86 WHIP. He did strike out a total of 14 batters in those two poor outings and has a stellar 10.9 K/9 for the year overall. The White Sox have scored the seventh-fewest runs (345) in baseball, setting Verlander up to rebound with a big performance.

Jeremy Hellickson vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $7,700

Hellickson doesn’t get much publicity in a Nationals rotation that includes Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg, but he hasn’t allowed more than three runs in any of his 10 starts this season. He hasn’t pitched as well as his 2.63 ERA indicates, but he still has a 3.51 FIP. He has allowed a .269 opponents BABIP, which is exactly the same as his career mark. One of the key reasons for his improved numbers is that he only has a 0.9 HR/9 compared to 1.9 HR/9 that he allowed last year. The Marlins have hit the second-fewest home runs (69) and scored the third-fewest runs (323) in baseball, making Hellickson an intriguing cheap tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/5/18

Paul Goldschmidt vs. Eric Lauer, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,200

Goldschmidt has carried over his hot streak from June, hitting 7-for-14 with two home runs in four games since the calendar turned to July. He’s been crushing lefties with a .452 wOBA on the season overall, making him a great option against Lauer and his bloated 1.76 WHIP.

Eric Hosmer vs. Shelby Miller, Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,800

The addition of Hosmer hasn’t done much to spark the Padres lineup as he is only batting .270 with nine home runs. His .325 BABIP is actually slightly higher than his career mark, but he’s hurt himself with a career-high 21.2% strikeout rate. That being said, Miller has looked awful in two starts since returning from Tommy John surgery and Hosmer does have a .351 wOBA against righties. He won’t cost much, so he could be worth the risk in tournament play.

Others to consider: Brandon Belt (first base) and John Hicks (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/5/18

Jurickson Profar vs. Matthew Boyd, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,900

The Rangers continue to find playing time for Profar, who is 8-for-21 with three doubles during his current five-game hitting streak. With the Rangers nowhere near a playoff spot, it would make sense for them to play Profar as much as possible to help further his development. He’ll likely be in the lineup Thursday against Boyd considering he has a .363 wOBA against lefties this season. Of note, Profar is only eligible at second base on FanDuel as he is listed at shortstop on DraftKings.

Joe Panik vs. Luke Weaver, St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,500

After showing a lot of promise for the Cardinals last year, Weaver has struggled mightily with a 5.16 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP this season. He’s done a good job holding righties to a .293 wOBA, but he has a .373 wOBA against lefties. Panik has hit right-handed pitchers well again this year, leaving him as a viable option who might even have more upside than Profar does.

Others to consider: Jose Altuve and Dee Gordon

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/5/18

Alex Bregman vs. Carlos Rodon, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $5,500

Bregman is one of the hottest hitters in baseball of late, hitting 16-for-37 (.432) with five home runs during his nine-game hitting streak. With Carlos Correa (back) on the DL, it couldn’t have come at a better time for the Astros. Bregman has a .416 wOBA against left-handed pitching, so look for him to continue his hot streak against Rodon.

Kyle Seager vs. Jaime Barria, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,800

Speaking of third baseman playing well right now, Seager is 12-for-28 (.429) with three home runs in his last eight games. He still has a long ways to go to improve his .239 batting average, but his recent run of success has boosted him up to 16 homers this season. Barria has a 3.40 ERA, but his 4.81 FIP and 1.6 HR/9 could be troublesome against Seager.

Others to consider: Anthony Rendon and Eduardo Escobar

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/5/18

Brandon Crawford vs. Luke Weaver, St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,500

With how poorly Weaver has pitched against left-handed hitters this season, targeting Giants’ lefties could provide significant production for your entry. Crawford is in the middle of the best offensive season of his career by hitting .310 with 10 home runs and a .373 OBP. He has also recorded a .376 wOBA against righties.

Jorge Polanco vs. Andrew Cashner, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,000

Polanco has missed most of this season due to suspension and his return is probably too late to help the Twins make a push for the playoffs. He quietly had a very good campaign last year when they earned a Wild Card spot, hitting .256 with 13 home runs, 74 RBI and 13 steals in only 133 games. Polanco logged his first multi-hit game Wednesday and could provide value at this dirt cheap price on both sites considering Cashner has 1.57 WHIP.

Others to consider: Manny Machado and Andrelton Simmons

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/5/18

Nicholas Castellanos vs. Yovani Gallardo, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $5,000

Gallardo actually had a strong performance in his last outing by allowing three runs and recording seven strikeouts in 7.1 innings. It did come against the White Sox, though, so he didn’t exactly face a tough opponent. The Tigers lineup isn’t great either, but Castellanos has been a bright spot by batting .309 with 14 home runs and 54 RBI. Gallardo has finished with an ERA of at least 5.42 in both of the last two seasons, making Castellanos an excellent option despite the lack of a platoon advantage.

A.J. Pollock vs. Eric Lauer, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,900

Pollock was off to a great start this season before landing on the DL with a thumb injury. He has shown the ability to put up big numbers, but he hasn’t been able to stay healthy in recent years. He’s still looking for his first hit since being activated, but this is a matchup to exploit since Lauer has allowed a .387 wOBA to righties.

Wil Myers vs. Shelby Miller, Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,300

Myers had his own injury issue that has left him to play only 22 games this year. He was coming off of two straight seasons where he finished with at least 28 home runs and 20 steals, but that streak seems likely to end with only half the season left to play. He’s starting to heat up by hitting 8-for-27 (.296) with a home run and six RBI in his last seven games and is another Padre to consider with Miller on the mound.

Others to consider: Eddie Rosario and Justin Upton

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/28/18

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

June special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

Only four of the 10 games in baseball have evening start times Thursday, so let’s examine some players with favorable matchups throughout the day 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 6/28/18

Aaron Nola vs. Washington Nationals
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $9,700
DraftKings = $12,100

Nola had a very good campaign for the Phillies in 2017, but his numbers are off the charts this year. His 2.58 ERA is supported by a 2.83 FIP and a 1.02 WHIP despite the fact that his strikeout rate is actually down from 26.6% last year to 25.1% this season. His swinging-strike rate is actually up, though, at 11.2% and he’s done a great job keeping hitters in the ballpark with a 0.5 HR/9. He’s also been stellar pitching at home with a 1.86 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP. The Nationals lineup is finally getting healthy, but they have still only averaged 2.1 runs across their last seven games. One of those contests was against Nola, who held the Nationals to two runs while recording five strikeouts in six innings.

Chris Stratton vs. Colorado Rockies
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $6,900

Stratton’s numbers are very average this season with a 4.14 ERA, 4.00 FIP, and a 1.36 WHIP. Normally if you want to take a chance on a cheap pitcher in tournament play, you want to target someone with strikeout upside. That’s not Stratton’s strong suit as he only has a 6.9 K/9. However, he has pitched well in June with a 2.48 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP in five starts. The Rockies are juggernauts at Coors Field with a .804 OPS, but they only have a .676 OPS on the road. Stratton might still be worth the risk at this price despite his lack of strikeouts.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/28/18

Jesus Aguilar vs. Anthony DeSclafani, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $5,200

Aguilar was presented with an opportunity to play every day when Eric Thames went down with an injury earlier this season and has played so well that he is still starting regularly even though Thames has returned. He has a ton of power with 18 home runs, four of which have come in his last four starts. His nine home runs in June are impressive, but equally as impressive is that he is hitting .300 in the month despite only having a .286 BABIP. He has shed his stigma of not being able to hit righties with a .399 wOBA against them this year, making him a great option again Wednesday.

Evan Gattis vs. Ryne Stanek, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,200

Stanek will start for the Rays, but this will be one of their bullpen games as Stanek hasn’t pitched more than two innings in a game this season. Lefty Ryan Yarbrough is expected to follow Stanek and should eat up several innings. He hasn’t exactly been lights out with a 3.96 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP and could have plenty of trouble with Gattis, who is batting .279 with eight home runs and a staggering 30 RBI in June, five of which have come in his last two games.

Others to consider: Mitch Moreland (first base) and Chris Herrmann (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/28/18

Scooter Gennett vs. Junior Guerra, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,600

Gennett is 13-for-40 (.325) with three doubles, a home run and 10 runs scored during his current 10-game hitting streak. He has shown no signs of struggling after a breakout season in 2017, batting .336 with 13 home runs and 53 RBI this year. With a .377 wOBA against righties, Gennett is one of the best options available at his position Wednesday.

Dee Gordon vs. Jimmy Yacabonis, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,400

As if the Orioles starting rotation wasn’t bad enough, they’ll turn to Yacabonis to start against the Mariners. His 16 career appearances in the majors over the last two seasons have all come out of the bullpen and resulted in a 5.48 ERA and a 1.74 WHIP. His 3.14 ERA and 1.10 WHIP as a starter in Triple-A look nice, but it’s concerning that he only posted a 6.8 K/9. Gordon doesn’t strike out much and can do a lot of damage when he gets on base, giving him upside against the inexperienced Yacabonis.

Others to consider: Ian Kinsler and Brock Holt

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/28/18

Alex Bregman vs. Ryne Stanek, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $5,300

Bregman must be sad to see the Astros series against the Blue Jays come to an end as he was 9-for-14 with three home runs in five doubles in the three contests. He’s shown a much better eye at the plate this season and actually has more walks (47) than strikeouts (46). With a .400 wOBA against left-handed pitchers, he could put up some big numbers again once Yarbrough enters this game.

Kyle Seager vs. Jimmy Yacabonis, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,100

Seager has taken advantage of the Orioles’ mediocre pitching in this series, hitting 5-for-16 with two home runs in three games. His average still sits at an ugly .230, but he’s up to 15 home runs and 20 doubles. He’s not overly expensive on either site and could be a valuable part of any Mariners stack.

Others to consider: Jed Lowrie and Justin Turner

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/28/18

Jean Segura vs. Jimmy Yacabonis, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,900

A Mariners stack against Yacabonis will probably be one of the most popular plays of the day. Add Segura into the mix, who appears to be fine after missing some time with a forearm infection as he is 5-for-9 with four runs scored in the last two games. Segura only has six home runs this year, but he’s hitting .338 and could score plenty of runs if the Mariners do explode offensively.

Kike Hernandez vs. Jose Quintana, Chicago Cubs
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,600

Hernandez has made a compelling case to start more regularly, hitting 17-for-51 (.333) with six home runs, 10 RBI and 13 runs scored in his last 15 games. Chris Taylor’s hamstring injury has opened up playing time for Hernandez, but he is expected to rejoin the lineup Thursday. Hernandez is much better against lefties with a .349 wOBA, so he still might find his way into the lineup.

Others to consider: Xander Bogaerts and Andrelton Simmons

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/28/18

Andrew Benintendi vs. Jaime Barria, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $5,000

Benintendi’s success is sometimes lost in the crazy seasons that Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez are having, but he’s been excellent as well by hitting .290 with 13 home runs and 13 steals. With so many potent bats around him in the Red Sox lineup, he’s racked up the counting stats with 51 RBI and 56 runs scored. Barria’s 4.77 FIP indicates he is not pitching as well as his 3.40 ERA might make you think. Benintendi only has a .297 wOBA against lefties but is much better against righties with a .404 wOBA.

Eddie Rosario vs. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $5,500

One of the key pieces of the trade that sent Adam Eaton to the Nationals, Giolito has been awful this year with a 7.01 ERA and a 1.61 WHIP. Not only does he have a 5.4 BB/9, but he’s allowed 12 home runs in 78.1 innings. He has allowed a .403 wOBA to left-handed hitters and will have to face one of the hottest ones in baseball in Rosario. He’s expensive on DraftKings, but his price on FanDuel provides the potential for excellent value.

Denard Span vs. Jimmy Yacabonis, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $4,100

Span has been a great addition for the Mariners, batting .296 with three home runs in 89 plate appearances since joining the team. He usually doesn’t provide much in the power department, but he is batting .282 for his career. He has a .347 wOBA against right-handed pitchers since the start of the 2015 season and is yet another Mariner worth considering for your entry.

Others to consider: Christian Yelich and Justin Upton

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/31/18

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
May special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout

Thursday brings a relatively light schedule with only 11 games in baseball, nine of which are night games. 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 5/31/18

Aaron Nola vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $9,500
DraftKings = $11,100

Nola has quietly become one of the more reliable pitchers in baseball. He’s not an elite strikeout pitcher like Max Scherzer or Chris Sale, but his 9.3 K/9 isn’t exactly poor either. He has allowed two runs or fewer in nine of his 11 starts this season, resulting in a 2.27 ERA and a 2.72 FIP. He has thrown a first-pitch strike to a career-high 66.2% of the batters that he has faced while also holding opponents to a 25.1% hard-hit rate. This should be a fun pitchers duel with Clayton Kershaw returning from injury to take the hill for the Dodgers. Based on his cheaper price, especially on FanDuel, Nola may be the one who provides the most value.

Shane Bieber vs. Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $7,300

Bieber will make his big league debut Thursday, but may only get the one start before being sent back down to the minors. He has started in both Double-A and Triple-A this season, posting a combined 1.10 ERA and 0.70 WHIP. He’s not a big strikeout pitcher with a career 8.4 K/9, but he’s also shown excellent control with a 0.5 BB/9. Home runs haven’t been a problem for him either with a career 0.4 HR/9. The Twins have scored the fifth-fewest runs (210) in baseball, so it might be worth taking a chance on Bieber in tournament play at this cheap price.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/31/18

Greg Bird vs. Andrew Cashner, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,100

Bird has been limited to four games due to injury this season, logging at least one hit in each of his last three contests. He has a ton of talent, but injuries have really hampered his career after bursting onto the scene with 11 homers in 46 games in 2015. Including this season, Cashner has allowed a wOBA of at least .378 to left-handed hitters in three of the last four years. Bird won’t destroy your budget either, making him a viable option to consider.

Ryon Healy vs. Mike Minor, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,600

Healy didn’t cash in a prime opportunity against Matt Moore on Wednesday, but he’ll get to face another struggling lefty in Minor on Thursday. Not only does Minor have a 5.63 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP, but he has already allowed 10 home runs in only 54.1 innings. Righties have a .380 wOBA against Minor so far this year, making Healy an excellent option when you also consider he has a .368 wOBA against lefties for his career.

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

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/31/18

Jose Altuve vs. Drew Pomeranz, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $4,900

After hitting exactly 24 home runs in each of the last two seasons, Altuve hasn’t found his power swing yet with only four long balls this year. He is still batting .335 with 16 steals, making him an extremely valuable asset. Pomeranz has been horrid this season with a 6.75 ERA and a 1.88 WHIP while also allowing a .415 wOBA against righties, so this might be the day to pay up for Altuve.

Jonathan Schoop vs. Sonny Gray, New York Yankees
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,700

Gray has been almost as bad as Pomeranz, recording a 5.98 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP across 10 starts. The Yankees have tried making Austin Romine has personal catcher since they have had some success together in the past, but Gray has still allowed five runs each in two of his last three starts. There is no righty/lefty advantage for Schoop with this matchup, but he’s still someone to consider based on how poorly Gray has been pitching.

Others to consider: Gleyber Torres and Starlin Castro

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/31/18

Alex Bregman vs. Drew Pomeranz, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKinga = $4,100

The Astros present a prime stacking opportunity against Pomeranz with Bregman also being someone to target. He hasn’t been hitting a lot of home runs, but Bregman does have at least one hit in 12 of his last 13 games. He had a stellar .406 wOBA against lefties in 2017 but has struggled with a .311 wOBA against them this year. Now that he’s showing signs of coming out of his early slump, look for that number to start climbing.

Miguel Andujar vs. Andrew Cashner, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,200

The Yankees have so many power bats and Gleyber Torres has been so hot since being called up that Andujar doesn’t get a lot of headlines. His contributions should not go unnoticed, though, as he is batting .290 and looks ready to be the Yankees third baseman of the future. He doesn’t walk much and only has five home runs, but he does already have 17 doubles. His numbers have been better against right-handed pitchers this year as well, so don’t shy away from him just because he doesn’t have righty/lefty advantage facing Cashner.

Others to consider: Jose Ramirez and Christian Villanueva

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/31/18

Manny Machado vs. Sonny Gray, New York Yankees
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $5,400

Machado has loved hitting at home, posting a .362 average there this season compared to a .296 mark on the road. 10 of his 16 home runs have also come at home despite having 23 more plate appearances on the road. With the way Gray has been pitching, Machado could be in for a huge night.

Jean Segura vs. Mike Minor, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,600

Segura is swinging a hot bat as he is 12-for-21 with two doubles and one home run in his last five games. He’s helped keep the Mariners offense afloat with Robinson Cano (suspension) and Dee Gordon (toe) out, but they will get some reinforcements with Gordon expected to return Thursday. With a .367 wOBA against lefties this year, he’s a great option if you don’t want to pay up for Machado.

Others to consider: Carlos Correa and Didi Gregorius

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/31/18

Michael Brantley vs. Jake Odorizzi, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,900

Injuries have limited Brantley to 101 games in the last two seasons combined, but he’s shown this season that he can still be a very valuable player when healthy. He’s already played 44 games and is batting .343 with nine home runs. He is currently on a 19-game hittings streak with seven of his nine home runs coming in May as well. He has been a better hitter against righties with .352 wOBA against them for his career.

Mitch Haniger vs. Mike Minor, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,400

Haniger entered the month of May batting .309 with 10 home runs. He’s dropped off dramatically since, batting .242 with just one homer. His BABIP has remained relatively the same, so it’s not as if his poor performance can be chalked up to bad luck. The good news is that he is crushing lefties with a 188 wRC+, so don’t sleep on him against Minor.

Nelson Cruz vs. Mike Minor, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,000

Cruz is 6-for-13 with a home run in this series against the Rangers and will look to close things out strong Thursday. His numbers this season aren’t great overall, but he has still managed a .372 wOBA against left-handed pitchers. He makes for a great option on both sites, but especially on FanDuel at such a low price.

Others to consider: George Springer and Brett Gardner