After a quiet Monday, we have a busy Tuesday across the majors with 12 games making up the main evening slate in DFS.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/12/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
June special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout
Baseball is back in full swing with 15 games on the schedule Tuesday. 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
Mike Foltynewicz vs. New York Mets
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $9,000
DraftKings = $11,800
Foltynewicz had 85 career appearances in the majors, 65 of which were starts, heading into this season, but he didn’t have much success. He finished with an ERA of at least 4.31 and a WHIP of at least 1.30 in each of his previous four years. This season has been a different story with his 2.31 ERA, 2.98 FIP and a 1.20 WHIP across 13 starts. He’s still issuing a lot of walks with a 4.0 BB/9, but he’s cut down on allowing homers and has a career-high 10.7 K/9. Look for him to keep things rolling against a Mets offense that is really struggling and just made a shakeup to their lineup by releasing Adrian Gonzalez. They still don’t have a lot of great options, though, and have scored the third-fewest runs (237) in baseball.
Jaime Barria vs. Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $6,800
DraftKings = $9,200
Barria is being recalled from Triple-A to start Tuesday with Shohei Ohtani (elbow) on the disabled list. Barria made seven starts for the Angels previously this year, recording a 2.48 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP. His 3.87 FIP and .248 opponents BABIP suggest he was somewhat lucky, but he also was able to get batters to swing at 37.4% of pitches outside the strike zone. His matchups haven’t been easy either since he has already faced the Yankees, Astros and the Rockies in Coors Field. The Mariners have an excellent .767 OPS on the road, but they only have a .708 OPS at home. Barria isn’t overly expensive on either site, but he is really cheap on FanDuel, making him someone to consider for tournament play.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Jose Martinez vs. Matt Strahm, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,500
Martinez is on one of those streaks where you want to keep plugging him into your lineup and riding the wave. Not only is he on a nine-game hitting streak, but he is 17-for-32 (.531) with five home runs during that stretch. This will likely be a bullpen game with Strahm scheduled to start things off, so don’t hesitate to roll with Martinez again.
C.J. Cron vs. Jaime Garcia, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,100
Right-handed pitchers have held Cron to a .328 wOBA this season, but he has a .398 wOBA against lefties. Garcia has certainly been an underwhelming member of the Blue Jays rotation, posting a 5.57 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP in 11 starts. He walks a lot of batters and gives up plenty of homers as well, potentially setting up Cron and the Rays for an offensive outburst.
Others to consider: Freddie Freeman (first base) and Wilson Ramos (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Whit Merrifield vs. Sal Romano, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,900
The only real negative with Merrifield this year is that he only has four home runs after hitting 19 last year. He hasn’t been totally devoid of power, though, since he does have 20 doubles. He’s still hitting for average at .286 and has been showcasing his speed with 14 stolen bases. He has also doubled his walk rate up to 9.2%. Romano has an unsightly 6.23 ERA this year, so be sure to take advantage with Merrifield.
Daniel Descalso vs. Trevor Williams, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,800
Descalso continued to swing a hot bat Monday, going 2-for-5 with a triple and three RBI. His slugging percentage sits at .510 overall, significantly higher than his .370 career mark. He’s someone you especially want to target against right-handers since he has a 151 wRC+ against them this year. Williams has allowed at least four runs in each of his last four starts, opening up an opportunity for Descalso to excel again Tuesday.
Others to consider: Scooter Gennett and Ben Zobrist
THIRD BASE
Mike Moustakas vs. Sal Romano, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,300
The Royals lineup isn’t normally one you want to target for a stacking opportunity, but you should against Romano. Moustakas is another great option since Romano has a 1.7 HR/9. Moustakas crushed 38 homers in 2017 and has followed that up with 13 in the early going. 11 of those have come against righties, who he has a .378 wOBA against.
Matt Duffy vs. Jaime Garcia, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,200
Duffy is finally healthy and is showing flashes of the success he had with the Giants in 2015 when he batted .295 with 12 home runs. He only has two homers this year, but he’s currently on a seven-game hitting streak that has helped boost his average to .318 overall. His abnormally high .397 BABIP isn’t a good sign for his long-term prognosis, but he’s still someone to consider at this cheap price based on Garcia’s struggles.
Others to consider: Jose Ramirez and Max Muncy
SHORTSTOP
Francisco Lindor vs. James Shields, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $5,000
Lindor couldn’t cash in on a great matchup Monday against Lucas Giolito, finishing o-for-4 with a walk. That marked the sixth time in the last seven games that he has failed to get into the hit column. He was really hot heading into this recent dry spell and is a career .293 hitter, so don’t expect this slump to last too much longer. This could be just the matchup he needs to get back on track considering Shields’ struggles and that Lindor is 4-for-7 with a home run against him in his career.
Brandon Crawford vs. Trevor Richards, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,100
The Giants lineup is filled with plenty of veteran bats, but it hasn’t exactly been stellar this year. One player who has stood out is Crawford, who is batting a career-high .338. He likely won’t be able to keep up his .394 BABIP, but it is encouraging that he has 39.3% hard-hit rate. Richards allows way too many baserunners with a 1.50 WHIP, making Crawford a viable option for your entry if you can’t afford Lindor’s hefty price tag.
Others to consider: Didi Gregorius and Willy Adames
OUTFIELD
Marcell Ozuna vs. Matt Strahm, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $3,800
Martinez is certainly swinging a hot bat for the Cardinals, but he’s not their only hitter who is currently on top of his game. Ozuna is 13-for-34 (.382) with three home runs in his last nine games. He’s shown an excellent eye at the plate with only two strikeouts to go along with three walks during that stretch. He had a 24.1% strikeout rate heading into May, but he only has a 12.8% strikeout rate since, which has helped boost his average from .250 to .278.
Joc Pederson vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $4,300
Colon’s 4.18 ERA doesn’t tell the real story of how he is pitching this season. He does have great control with a 1.3 BB/9, but opponents aren’t going to have just a .231 BABIP against him over the entire season. He doesn’t have strikeout stuff and has allowed 2.0 HR/9, which is going to open him up to some bad games when hitters stop being so unlucky in terms of BABIP. Pederson has a .395 wOBA against righties this year and has six home runs in his last six games.
Alex Gordon vs. Sal Romano, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = #3,100
We’ve already established that Romano has been bad this year, but he’s been even worse against lefties as they have a .400 wOBA against him. Gordon is nowhere near the hitter he was in his prime, but he’s hitting a respectable .269 after really being dominated the last two years. You can’t even consider playing him against lefties, but his .346 wOBA against righties makes him a cost-effective option worth considering against Romano.
Others to consider: Nick Markakis and Lonnie Chisenhall
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/10/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/10/18
Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout
Thursday brings a limited slate of games, but there are still plenty of great options both on the mound and in the batter’s box to take advantage of 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
Walker Buehler vs. Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $8,600
DraftKings = $10,500
With the Dodgers dealing with injuries to their starting rotation, Buehler is here to stay. He’s made an immediate impact in his first three starts, posting a 1.13 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 10.7 K/9. He dominated with a 12.4 K/9 during his career in the minors, so his strikeout upside is legitimate. The only real negative you can say about his first three starts is that they came against the Marlins, Giants, and Padres, who are three of the worst offensive teams in baseball. The Reds haven’t been much better though and have the fifth-worst OPS against right-handed pitchers (.671) in baseball, so Buehler may be able to keep his hot streak alive for at least one more start.
Miles Mikolas vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $8,500
DraftKings = $10,200
Mikolas has been impressive in his first action in the majors since 2014 and clearly made significant improvements during his time in Japan. Through six starts this season, he has a 2.70 ERA and 0.98 WHIP. His 7.0 K/9 isn’t great, but he’s shown impeccable control with 0.5 BB/9. He’s pitching deep into games as well, logging at least 6.1 innings in all but one of his outings. The Padres have the third-lowest OPS against righties (.648) and have had trouble scoring runs in general, leaving Mikolas with the potential to provide value again Thursday.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Cody Bellinger vs. Tyler Mahle, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,200
After bursting onto the scene last year with a .933 OPS, Bellinger hasn’t hit for much power yet this season, resulting in a .794 OPS. He’s still hitting for a high average and has a 39% hard-hit rate, so he should start slugging more long balls sooner rather than later. He finished with a 140 wRC+ against righties last and has a 142 mark against them so far this season, so facing Mahle could lead to a breakout game.
Justin Bour vs. Mike Foltynewicz, Atlanta Braves
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,400
Foltynewicz has made improvements this season, but his 1.35 WHIP is still too high. Left-handed hitters have given him troubles in his career, including Bour, who is 8-for-14 with two home runs against him. Bour is off to a slow start this season, but he still has a .367 wOBA against righties, making him a cost-effective option to consider.
Others to consider: Gary Sanchez (catcher) and Lucas Duda (first base)
SECOND BASE
Whit Merrifield vs. Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,300
Merrifield is batting only .261 this season, but that won’t last for long if he keeps up his 42.6% hard-hit rate. His K% is right in line with his career mark and he’s drawing more walks as well. With Tillman taking the mound, this is going to be a great opportunity to stack Royals in DFS since he has allowed at least four earned runs in all but one of his starts this season.
Jonathan Schoop vs. Ian Kennedy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKinfs = $3,500
In two games since coming off the DL, Schoop is 3-for-9 with a double, two RBI and three runs scored. His slow start and stint on the DL have helped lower his price after a breakout campaign helped plenty of people win money in DFS last year. He doesn’t have the righty/lefty advantage in this matchup, but he’s still priced low enough to potentially use in tournament play.
Others to consider: Gleyber Torres and Eduardo Nunez
THIRD BASE
Mike Moustakas vs. Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,500
Moustakas had the best power season of his career in 2017 with 38 home runs and he hasn’t slowed down this year, slugging 10 homers in 36 games. He’s batting .292 as well and while that seems unsustainable, his .278 BABIP is actually not high. This is a prime opportunity to play him against Tillman, who allowed a .429 wOBA to lefties last year.
Yangervis Solarte vs. Mike Leake, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,900
Solarte has cashed in everyday playing time to bat .271 with nine homers this year. Solarte does a great job limiting his strikeouts, posting an 11.8 K% for his career. He has a .374 wOBA against right-handers this year and Leake has allowed a .366 wOBA to lefties, so Solarte could be an option if you need to save money at third base.
Others to consider: Travis Shaw and Matt Carpenter
SHORTSTOP
Paul DeJong vs. Jordan Lyles, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,000
Lyles has pitched exclusively out of the bullpen this season, logging 19.2 innings across 13 appearances. He did pitch three innings in one appearance earlier this year, but it doesn’t seem like he’ll have built up enough arm strength to pitch deep into this game. He struggled in five starts for the Padres last year, recording a 9.39 ERA and 1.96 WHIP. This could end up being a bullpen day for the Padres, so with several of the top shortstops dealing with difficult matchups Thursday, DeJong becomes a viable option with homer upside.
Chris Taylor vs. Tyler Mahle, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $3,800
Taylor seemed like a regression candidate heading into this season as his .288 average in 2017 was largely aided by a .361 BABIP. He’s had a bigger drop off than expected this year though, batting .235 with a .284 BABIP. He’ll probably end the season somewhere in the middle and is an important player on a Dodgers team that is now missing their star shortstop in Corey Seager (elbow). Mahle has a 4.92 FIP through seven starts and has been prone to giving up the long ball, leaving Taylor as another shortstop worth considering.
Others to consider: Eduardo Escobar and Jean Segura
OUTFIELD
Giancarlo Stanton vs. Eduardo Rodriguez, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $5,100
Stanton normally hits lefties well, posting a .430 wOBA against them for his career. This year has been no different with an incredible .621 wOBA against them so far. He already has six home runs in only 34 plate appearance against lefties as well. He’s stepped up in the first two games of this series against the Red Sox and will look for another big performance against Rodriguez as the Yankees go for the sweep.
Jorge Soler vs. Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,200
Continuing our stack of Royals’ hitters against Tillman, Soler is another great option. He’s on fire right now, recording at least two hits in five of his last 10 games while also hitting three home runs in that same stretch. Even though Soler has much better numbers this season against lefties than righties, he’s not exactly struggling against righties with a .362 wOBA.
Alex Gordon vs. Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,800
Let’s go to the well against Tillman one more time with Gordon, who is batting .313 in the early going. He is still having troubles against left-handed pitching, but righties have not proven to be nearly as difficult, resulting in a .412 wOBA. Since he will help with your budget as well, it makes a lot of sense to try riding Gordon’s hot streak in this game.
Others to consider: Charlie Blackmon and Christian Yelich
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/9/18
*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
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
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
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
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
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
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