We have a packed slate of night games across the majors on Tuesday, leaving us with plenty of options to choose from in DFS. Whether it’s ace pitchers or lineups facing favorable matchups, there’s a little bit of something for everyone.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/20/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
June special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout
Wednesday’s schedule is split evenly between day and night games, so let’s examine some favorable options for both slates 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
Corey Kluber vs. Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $12,100
DraftKings = $12,600
Kluber had his worst start of the season against the Twins in his last outing, allowing four runs in five innings. He had pitched at least six innings and allowed three runs or fewer in each of his previous 14 starts, so expect him to rebound quickly. He has a 2.24 ERA and his 0.84 WHIP is partly aided by his insanely low 0.9 BB/9. In his last start against the White Sox, he allowed three hits and recorded 10 strikeouts in six scoreless innings. Don’t hesitate to pay up for him in their rematch.
Frankie Montas vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $8,200
DraftKings = $6,700
Montas really struggled in his last start against the Astros, allowing seven runs (five earned) and recording only one strikeout in 5.1 innings. He was pitching well before that outing, allowing three runs across 21.2 innings in his first three starts. He’ll certainly get a much easier matchup in this game against a Padres team that has scored the sixth-fewest runs (285) in baseball. Montas hasn’t shown big strikeout upside, but the Padres do have the second most strikeouts (710), so he’s a viable cheap option in tournament play.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Brandon Belt vs. Jose Urena, Miami Marlins
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,700
Injuries have plagued Belt during his career, limiting him to 137 games or fewer in three of the last four seasons. He’s already made one trip to the DL this season, but he’s still managed to play in 57 games. He’s putting up excellent numbers when he’s on the field, batting .296 with 12 home runs. Facing the right-handed Urena makes Belt someone to target for your entry since he has a .409 wOBA against righties this year.
Devin Mesoraco vs. Chad Bettis, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,900
Bettis has been excellent on the road this season with a 2.70 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. He’s been on the opposite end of the spectrum pitching in Coors Field, recording a 7.76 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP. Bettis gives up plenty of homers with a 1.5 HR/9, leaving Mesoraco as a cheaper option with upside.
Others to consider: Ian Desmond (first base) and Yuli Gurriel (first base)
SECOND BASE
Asdrubal Cabrera vs. Chad Bettis, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,400
The Mets don’t have a great lineup, but going against Bettis in Coors Field makes them a stacking option to consider for your entry. Cabrera has enjoyed hitting in Coors Field so far as he is 4-for-10 with two RBI in the first two games of this series. He was in a slump to start the month of June, but he’s showing signs of turning things around during his current four-game hitting streak. He only has a .308 wOBA against lefties this year, but he has a .351 wOBA against righties.
Whit Merrifield vs. Austin Bibens-Dirkx, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,900
The Royals are clearly sellers heading into the trade deadline as they have already moved Jon Jay and Kelvin Herrera. Merrifield is one of the building blocks of their team, though, batting .290 with 16 steals this season. He only has four home runs, but he already has 22 doubles in 269 at-bats after finishing with 32 doubles in 587 at-bats last year. Bibens-Dirkx has only made two starts for the Rangers this season, but he wasn’t impressive in either outing as he allowed 10 runs (eight earned) in 11 innings combined.
Others to consider: Scooter Gennett and Dee Gordon
THIRD BASE
Matt Carpenter vs. Jake Arrieta, Philadelphia Phillies
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,200
Carpenter is red-hot right now, hitting 13-for-43 (.302) with five home runs in his last 10 games. His overall numbers still aren’t great, but his .282 BABIP is still significantly lower than his career mark. He has a .351 wOBA against right-handed pitchers this season despite his struggles, leaving him with the opportunity for a big game against Arrieta, who only has a 6.0 K/9.
Brian Anderson vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,700
Anderson has taken full advantage of being given an everyday role with the Marlins, batting .294 with a .373 OBP. His BABIP is high at .363, but his 41.1% hard-hit rate is encouraging. Holland has allowed a .360 wOBA to righties this year, making Anderson a viable option for your entry despite his lack of home run upside.
Others to consider: Nolan Arenado and Anthony Rendon
SHORTSTOP
Didi Gregorius vs. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,800
Gregorius has officially busted out of his prolonged slump as he is 13-for-33 (.394) across his last nine games. Not only does he have a .359 wOBA against righties this year, but 12 of his 14 home runs have come at Yankee Stadium. Once one of the most dominating pitchers in baseball, Hernandez has had trouble getting left-handed hitters out as he has allowed a .350 wOBA to them this year.
Amed Rosario vs. Chad Bettis, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,500
Rosario is 7-for-21 (.333) during his current five-game hitting streak. It’s no coincidence that streak has come on the road as Rosario is batting .282 away from Citi Field this year. With Bettis’ considerable struggles in Coors Field, Rosario could provide value based on his cheap price on both sites.
Others to consider: Manny Machado and Marcus Semien
OUTFIELD
Brandon Nimmo vs. Chad Bettis, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,000
Nimmo has been one of the bigger surprise success stories in baseball this year as he is batting .287 with 12 home runs and seven stolen bases. His BABIP is high at .358, but his 12.6% walk rate and 43% hard-hit rate are good signs for his continued success. His .454 wOBA against right-handers makes him someone you can build your entry around with Bettis on the mound.
Juan Soto vs. Andrew Cashner, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,600
Cashner will be activated from the DL to start this game, but he wasn’t pitching well before going down with a back injury. He allows a lot of base runners with a 1.69 WHIP and has had troubles keeping hitters in the ballpark with a 1.6 HR/9, which has lead to his 4.98 ERA and 5.17 FIP. Soto continues to shine since being recalled from the minors, posting a .326 batting average and 1.013 OPS.
Lonnie Chisenhall vs. Reynaldo Lopez, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,200
Chisenhall still doesn’t have a home run this year, but he’s been an asset to the Indians with a .339 average and a .439 OBP. His .404 BABIP won’t hold, but his .385 wOBA against righties makes him someone to consider in tournament play against Lopez, who doesn’t exactly have an overpowering arsenal with a 6.6 K/9 for his career.
Others to consider: Aaron Hicks and Nomar Mazara
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/19/18
*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
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
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
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
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
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
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 6/15/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
June special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout
Friday night brings a packed slate in baseball with 15 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
Corey Kluber vs. Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $12,000
DraftKings = $13,600
Kluber’s consistency gives him an extremely high floor in DFS. He hasn’t allowed more than three runs in any start this season and he has pitched at least seven innings in 10 of his 14 outings. As good as his 0.87 WHIP was in 2017, he’s been even better so far this year with a 0.83 WHIP. He’s shown great control with a 0.9 BB/9, which certainly helps his pitch count and allows him to log so many innings each game. He thrives pitching in Progressive Field as well, recording a 1.26 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 10.3 K/9 there this season. He’s costly, but he should be worth it.
Seth Lugo vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $7,100
Lugo has pitched primarily out of the bullpen this season, but he should start until Noah Syndergaard (finger) returns from the DL. He pitched very well against a potent Yankees lineup in his last outing, striking out eight batters and allowing only two hits in eight scoreless innings. He has a career-high 9.3 K/9 this season with some of that possibility attributed to his average fastball velocity of 93.8 mph, which is up significantly from 91.8 mph last year. Some of that might be because he is giving max effort in short relief appearances, so it will be interesting to see if he can maintain that increased velocity as a starter. The Diamondbacks lineup has been much better lately, but they still have the third-lowest OPS against righties (.664) in baseball.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Matt Adams vs. Aaron Sanchez, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,900
The Nationals have been using Adams and Mark Reynolds to fill in at first base for Ryan Zimmerman (back), with Adams normally playing against righties. With the DH in Toronto, both could play Friday anyways. Adams had an excellent .367 wOBA against righties last year but has been even better this season with a .415 wOBA against them. Left-handed hitters have had a lot of success against Sanchez as well with a .406 wOBA this year.
Greg Bird vs. Nathan Eovaldi, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,100
Bird is finally healthy, but he’s only batting .200 in his first 14 games. His .229 BABIP certainly isn’t helping his cause, but he is hitting for power with three home runs and four doubles. Eovaldi is not a big strikeout pitcher and he has allowed a .342 wOBA against lefties for his career, so this could be the matchup that Bird needs to start turning things around.
Others to consider: Anthony Rizzo (first base) and Wilson Ramos (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Scooter Gennett vs. Chad Kuhl, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,700
Gennett is off to a scorching start with a .347 average, but his .397 BABIP indicates a bit of luck has been involved. That might be bad news if you own him in season-long leagues, but we can continue to ride his hot streak in DFS. Kuhl allows a lot of base runners with a 1.36 WHIP and also gives up a lot of homers with a 1.5 HR/9. He has held right-handed hitters to a .313 wOBA, but lefties have had a lot of success against him with a .363 wOBA.
Jedd Gyorko vs. Jon Lester, Chicago Cubs
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,400
Gyorko is one of my favorite cheap players to target when he is facing a lefty since he has a 239 wRC+ against them this season. He has also owned Lester during his career, batting 9-for-22 (.409) with three home runs. Gennett may have a higher upside, but the savings you can get with Gyorko might make him just as valuable.
Others to consider: Gleyber Torres and Josh Harrison
THIRD BASE
Justin Turner vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,000
Normally an excellent hitter for average, Turner is batting just .253 this season. He may still be shaking off some rust after missing the start of the year with a wrist injury, but it’s a good sign that he has a 37.5% hard-hit rate. He still has a 173 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers despite his struggles, making him a great option against the underwhelming Holland.
Colin Moran vs. Matt Harvey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $3,200
The Pirates try to limit Moran’s exposure to lefties, but that won’t be an issue against Harvey. Harvey is also horrid against left-handed hitters, allowing a .406 wOBA against them. Moran doesn’t have a lot of power upside, but all five of his home runs this year have come off of righties.
Others to consider: Nolan Arenado and Miguel Andujar
SHORTSTOP
Didi Gregorius vs. Nathan Eovaldi, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,600
Gregorius couldn’t have been much worse in May, batting .151 with just one homer. He’s turned things around since the calendar flipped to June, batting .270 with two home runs. He loves hitting at Yankee Stadium as 11 of his 13 homers have come there this season. He has the opportunity for plenty of counting stats in the middle of the loaded Yankees lineup, making him a great option now that he is swinging a hot bat again.
Chris Taylor vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,100
Holland isn’t much more than a journeyman starter at this point in his career, but he still has an excellent .195 wOBA against left-handed hitters this season. Righties have a .351 wOBA against him, though, bringing Taylor into the discussion for Friday. Taylor also hit lefties well with a .363 wOBA, leaving him as someone to consider if you don’t want to pay up for Gregorius.
Others to consider: Trevor Story and Trea Turner
OUTFIELD
Juan Soto vs. Aaron Sanchez, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,400
Soto is only 19 years old and has played just 20 games in the majors, but the numbers he is putting up are staggering. He is batting .344 with a 1.088 OPS and actually has more walks (12) than strikeouts (11). Considering his young age, that walk to strikeout rate is even more impressive. With Sanchez’s struggles against left-handed hitters already detailed, Soto is someone to target for your outfield.
Matt Kemp vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,200
Kemp’s second stint with the Dodgers couldn’t be going much better as he is batting .335 with 10 homers. He has cooled off some since hitting .361 in May, but he’s not exactly struggling with a .300 average in June. He’s another Dodger righty who hits lefties well considering he has a 183 wRC+ against them this season.
Brandon Nimmo vs. Zack Godley, Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,000
The Mets lineup has been terrible, but Nimmo has been one of their few bright spots. He’s shown a nice combination of power and speed with nine home runs and six steals. His .265 average isn’t off the charts, but he gets on base a lot with a .403 OBP. He has a .452 wOBA against right-handers pitchers and since Godley has a bloated 1.54 WHIP, Nimmo could find himself on base plenty in this game.
Others to consider: Yasiel Puig and Austin Meadows
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/5/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
May special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout
Outside of a doubleheader between the Twins and White Sox, we’ve got a full slate of night baseball in the majors 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
Max Scherzer vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $12,000
DraftKings = $13,300
Scherzer mowed down the Orioles in his last start, allowing just three base runners and recording 12 strikeouts in eight shutout innings. In his 12 starts this season, Scherzer has allowed one or no runs six times. His 1.92 ERA is supported by a strong 1.94 FIP and 0.85 WHIP. Keeping runners off base continues to be a strength for Scherzer as this would mark his fourth straight season with a WHIP of 0.97 or lower. The Rays have scored the sixth-fewest runs (238) in baseball and won’t have the benefit of the designated hitter either, so don’t hesitate to pay up for Scherzer.
Sean Newcomb vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $8,900
DraftKings = $9,200
The Braves rotation has been much improved this year with Newcomb becoming one of the best pitchers on the staff. Other than a 4.3 BB/9, there is a lot to like about his numbers. In his 11 starts, he has a 2.73 ERA, 3.13 FIP, and a 1.21 WHIP. He’s only allowed three home runs in 62.2 innings and is getting plenty of strikeouts with a 9.2 K/9. His numbers are even better on the road, recording a 2.06 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and a 10.8 K/9 across seven outings. The Padres have struck out the second-most times (581) in baseball, leaving Newcomb with the potential for a valuable performance.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Mitch Moreland vs. Artie Lewicki, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,600
Moreland is now locked in at first base for the Red Sox with Hanley Ramirez no longer with the team. Moreland is off to great start, hitting for both average and power. Not only is he batting .305, but his .631 slugging percentage would be by far the highest of his career. With a lofty .442 wOBA against right-handed pitching this year, Moreland is an excellent option against the underwhelming Lewicki, who will be making his first start of the season.
Greg Bird vs. Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,100
After going hitless in his first game of the season, Bird has at least one hit in each of his last six games. He adds another power bat to an already loaded Yankees lineup as he already has two home runs and two doubles. Estrada gives up a ton of homers, following up his 1.5 HR/9 in 2017 with a 1.8 HR/9 this season. A Yankees stack could provide a lot of production Tuesday, Bird included.
Others to consider: Anthony Rizzo (first base) and Gary Sanchez (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Whit Merrifield vs. Andrew Heaney, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,300
Merrifield is a bright building block for the Royals, hitting .288 with 19 home runs and 34 stolen bases in his first full season in the majors last year. He only has four homers this season, but he’s batting .291 with 14 steals. He’s also shown an improved eye at the plate, already recording 26 walks in 258 plate appearances after drawing just 29 walks in 630 plate appearances last year. With a career .389 wOBA against lefties, he’s a prime target facing Heaney.
Jonathan Schoop vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,500
Schoop was a force in the Orioles’ lineup last year, batting .293 with 32 home runs. He hasn’t been able to follow that up with a good start this season as he is batting just .238 with five homers. His hard-hit rate is way down at 22.3%, which is almost 14 percentage points lower than last year. Even with all of his struggles, he still has a .320 wOBA against lefties. Vargas has been getting hammered this season, so this might be the time to take a chance on Schoop in tournament play.
Others to consider: Gleyber Torres and Jed Lowrie
THIRD BASE
Eugenio Suarez vs. Kyle Freeland, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $5,100
After providing reliable production the last two seasons, the Reds locked up Suarez to a long-term deal this spring. He has rewarded their faith in him, batting .297 with 11 home runs and 44 RBI. Although the .297 average is the highest of his career, his .308 BABIP is actually slightly lower than his career mark. His 244 wRC+ against lefties this year is especially impressive, which could make him a tough out for Freeland.
Matt Chapman vs. Matt Moore, Texas Rangers
Stadium = Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $4,100
Moore is one of my favorite pitchers to stack against. He is having a terrible year with a 7.85 ERA and a 2.00 WHIP. He has allowed fewer than three runs in only one of his starts and doesn’t carry much strikeout upside. Righties have a .390 wOBA against him as well, so Chapman is someone to consider even though he has cooled off after a red-hot start.
Others to consider: Jose Ramirez and Miguel Andujar
SHORTSTOP
Manny Machado vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,200
Machado is thriving in a contract year and could end up being one of the highest paid players in baseball this winter. He requested to be moved back to shortstop likely to increase his value, so he’s well aware of the impact an excellent season could have on his next deal. He has a 1.030 OPS this season after never posting an OPS above .876 in his career. You could go on for days about his excellent numbers, but another key stat is that he has a .405 wOBA against left-handed pitchers.
Brock Holt vs. Artie Lewicki, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,300
Holt is in line for more playing time with Dustin Pedroia (knee) back on the DL. Holt has dealt with his fair share of injuries during his career as well, but he’s healthy right now and batting a career-high .319. He’s been boosted by a .364 BABIP, but his strikeout rate is also down significantly. He has a .350 wOBA against righties this year, leaving him as a cost-effective option with upside.
Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Xander Bogaerts
OUTFIELD
Aaron Judge vs. Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $5,100
DraftKings = $5,400
Judge had a day to forget in a doubleheader against the Tigers on Monday, striking out a combined eight times. There’s no question that Judge is going to strike out a lot, but he still has a .271 average for his career. Considering Estrada gives up a lot of home runs and doesn’t have overpowering stuff, it’s no surprise that Judge is 8-for-20 (.400) with two home runs and two doubles against him.
Khris Davis vs. Matt Moore, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,900
Davis’ .230 average leaves a lot to be desired, but he hasn’t disappointed in the power department with 13 home runs already despite spending 10 days on the DL. His .248 BABIP is also 30 points below his career mark, so he has some room for improvement with his average. Davis has pretty close splits against lefties and righties for his career and is an excellent option against Moore.
Brandon Nimmo vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,400
Cobb was hammered in his first three starts with the Orioles and while he has shown improvement, he has allowed 16 runs (15 earned) in his last 22.2 innings. He has allowed at least one home run in seven of his nine starts as well. Nimmo has played his way into the Mets leadoff role, batting .271 with a .421 OBP. He has seven home runs and six stolen bases and should continue to play every day even when Yoenis Cespedes (hip) does eventually return. Righties have found it very difficult to get Nimmo out as he has a .475 wOBA against them.
Others to consider: Nelson Cruz and Adam Jones
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/29/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
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Baseball brings a full night of action Tuesday, leaving a lot of options to choose from in DFS. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
STARTING PITCHERS
Charlie Morton vs. New York Yankees
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $9,900
DraftKings = $12,100
Starting a pitcher on the road against the Yankees powerful lineup isn’t usually a good idea. However, you may want to do just that Tuesday. Morton continues to be a key part of the deepest rotation in baseball, recording a 2.04 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in 10 starts. He is likely in line for some regression with his 3.32 FIP and .235 BABIP allowed, but he’s an excellent source for strikeouts with a 10.9 K/9. He has already faced the Yankees once this season, allowing one run to go along with 10 strikeouts in 7.2 innings. On a night lacking elite pitching options, Morton may have the highest upside of anyone available.
Luis Castillo vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $7,800
DraftKings = $8,000
Castillo was horrible out of the gate, allowing 25 runs in 28.2 innings across his first six starts. He’s been a different pitcher since, though, allowing 10 runs (nine earned) in 28.2 innings over his last five starts. The key is after posting a 1.67 WHIP in those first six outings, he’s had a 1.22 WHIP in the last five. Add that with his excellent strikeout upside and he’s returning to the type of pitcher that showed so much promise last year. The Diamondbacks lineup is struggling to produce offense, recording the fewest hits (370) in baseball by a wide margin while also scoring the second-fewest runs (200).
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Mitch Moreland vs. Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,100
The Red Sox decided to part ways with Hanley Ramirez and while a lot of that was financially motivated, it’s also because Moreland has been so reliable. Not only would his .317 average be the highest of his career, but he’s hitting for a ton of power as well with a .642 slugging percentage. He’s not likely to keep up this pace, though, with a .349 BABIP that is 61 points higher than his career average. He doesn’t always have success against left-handed pitching, but he is dominating righties with a .454 wOBA against them this season.
Wilson Ramos vs. Daniel Gossett, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,300
Ramos made the All-Star team with the Nationals in 2016 but only played 64 games in his first season with the Rays last year due to injury. He’s already played 41 games this season and has returned to his form with the Nationals, batting .310 with six home runs. He’s currently on an eight-game hitting streak, recording four multi-hit performances over that stretch. At this cheap price, it might be worth taking a chance on him continuing to swing a hot bat Tuesday.
Others to consider: Freddie Freeman (first base) and Joey Votto (first base)
SECOND BASE
Ozzie Albies vs. Steven Matz, New York Mets
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $5,100
The Braves lineup suffered a big loss with Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee/back) landing on the DL, but they still have another young phenom in Albies. He’s slowed down a bit in the power department, hitting just one home run in his last 13 games. That was to be expected considering the pace he was on, but he’s still a dangerous hitter. He’s someone you normally want to target when facing lefties as well considering he has a .433 wOBA against them in his brief career.
Brian Dozier vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $3,900
Dozier had made significant improvements with his batting average the last two seasons but is hitting just .243 so far this year. His .271 BABIP is in line with his career mark, but he’s historically been a better hitter in the second half of the season. He’s already starting to show signs of heating up, hitting 9-for-28 in his last seven games. Duffy is really struggling and has been hit hard by righties, making Dozier a viable option for your entry.
Others to consider: Scooter Gennett and Joey Wendle
THIRD BASE
Matt Carpenter vs. Zach Davies, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $3,800
Carpenter dug himself a huge hole this season, batting .155 through his first 25 games. He was extremely unlucky, though, with just a .190 BABIP. He’s rebounded nicely in May, batting .291 on the strength of his .373 BABIP. Davies allows plenty of baserunners and doesn’t have an overpowering arsenal with only a 6.5 K/9 for his career, so look for Carpenter to keep his hot streak alive.
Kyle Seager vs. Austin Bibens-Dirkx, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,500
Seager has never been a great hitter for average, but at only .226 this season, he’s been a major disappointment. He has been unlucky with a .241 BABIP, but it’s not a good sign that his strikeout rate is up while his walk rate is down. He’s been a much better hitter against right-handers in his career and faces an underwhelming one in Bibens-Dirkx, who has spent most of this season in Triple-A. If you want to go cheap at third base, Seager is someone to consider.
Others to consider: Rafael Devers and Miguel Sano
SHORTSTOP
Jurickson Profar vs. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,600
DratfKings = $3,600
Hernandez has been in a downward spiral the last couple of years. He’s hit a new low through 11 starts this season with a 5.58 ERA, 5.08 FIP, and a 1.39 WHIP. His average fastball velocity is down to 90.5 mph this season, significantly below his career average of 93.8 mph. Profar has been a better hitter against lefties, but Hernandez’s lack of overpowering stuff still makes him a viable option for your entry.
Dansby Swanson vs. Steven Matz, New York Mets
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,300
Albies isn’t the only Braves hitter who is better against lefties as Swanson has a .368 wOBA against them this season compared to .293 against righties. Swanson doesn’t hit for a ton of power and his batting average has been on the decline as his BABIP has normalized, but he might be worth taking a chance on in tournament play at this price.
Others to consider: Xander Bogaerts and Carlos Correa
OUTFIELD
Andrew Benintendi vs. Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $5,100
Benintendi only has a .275 wOBA for his career against lefties but has had much more success against righties with a .365 wOBA. He’s been even better against righties this season with a .405 wOBA. His batting average is also 32 points higher at Fenway Park than it is on the road for his career, making him another Red Sox to target against Estrada.
Nomar Mazara vs. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,200
It’s hard to believe that not only is Mazara already in his third season in the majors at only 23 years old, but he also hit exactly 20 home runs in both of his first two seasons. He’s well on his way to that threshold again this year with 12 homers. Stacking Rangers hitters against Hernandez could yield excellent results, Mazara included.
Brandon Nimmo vs. Anibal Sanchez, Atlanta Braves
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,800
Nimmo has done a great job getting on base with a .408 OBP this year, helping him secure the leadoff job for the Mets. He’s provided some pop as well with four doubles, four triples, and five home runs. His 194 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers makes him a great cost-effective option against Sanchez, who is making his first start for the Braves in over a month.
Others to consider: Michael Conforto and Adam Jones
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/25/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
May special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout
With only one day game Friday, there is a bevy of options to choose from for the main evening slate in DFS. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
STARTING PITCHERS
Max Scherzer vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $12,000
DraftKings = $14,000
Scherzer has won the Cy Young Award in both of the last two seasons and three times overall in his career. With the way he’s been pitching so far, he’s making a strong case to win it once again. He does an excellent job keeping runners off base with a 0.85 WHIP, which would be his fourth-straight season with a WHIP of 0.97 or lower. He also has a staggering 17.2% swinging-strike rate that has led to a career-high 14.3 K/9. What might be just as impressive is that he has only issued 16 walks in 65.2 innings. He’s a great option regardless of who he is facing, but especially against a Marlins team that has scored the fewest runs (167) in baseball.
Sean Manaea vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $8,300
DraftKings = $8,600
Manaea began the season by allowing two runs or fewer in each of his first six starts, highlighted by a no-hitter against the Red Sox. His last four starts haven’t gone nearly as well, allowing 16 runs (15 earned) in 22.2 innings. One of the main reasons for his recent struggles has been a regression in his BABIP allowed, which was .148 in those first six starts and was .301 in the last four outings. However, this might be the matchup he needs to get back on track since the Diamondbacks have scored the second-fewest runs (180) and they sorely miss A.J. Pollock (thumb).
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Matt Adams vs. Jose Urena, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,000
The Nationals have been decimated by injuries this season, opening up significant playing time for Adams. He’s come through in a major way, batting .273 with 11 home runs and 28 RBI. He even has those numbers despite his .264 BABIP being 50 percentage points lower than his career mark. He has followed up his .367 wOBA against lefties last year with a .441 wOBA this year, so Urena could have difficulty getting him out Friday.
Salvador Perez vs. Mike Minor, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,000
Minor’s transition back to being a starting pitcher has not gone well, allowing a 5.59 ERA and 1.32 WHIP across nine starts. His FIP has been a little better at 4.41, but he’s already allowed eight home runs in just 48.1 innings. He still gives left-handed hitters a lot of problems, but his .384 wOBA allowed to righties brings Perez into the discussion Friday.
Others to consider: Eric Hosmer (first base) and Edwin Encarnacion (first base)
SECOND BASE
Ozzie Albies vs. Eduardo Rodriguez, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $5,300
After hitting nine home runs in his first 27 games, Albies has slowed down a bit with five homers in his last 21 contests. He only hit 16 total home runs during his career in the minors, so it’s no surprise that he’s started to regress in that department. One interesting note is that 12 of his 14 home runs this year have come on the road. He is crushing lefties as well, posting a 232 wRC+ against them this season.
Whit Merrifield vs. Mike Minor, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,300
Stacking righties against Minor could be a path to success Friday. Merrifield broke out of his recent slump with two hits Thursday and is batting .286 this season. Not only has he shown a nice combination of speed and power this year, but he also has a 226 wRC+ against lefties.
Others to consider: Cesar Hernandez and Josh Harrison
THIRD BASE
Jose Ramirez vs. Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $5,300
Ramirez is officially over his early-season slump, batting .338 with seven homers and five steals in May. He only had a .241 BABIP heading into the month, so you knew he was bound to improve as the season progressed. Keuchel is certainly a good pitcher, but his wOBA against righties is 50 percentage points higher than it is against lefties in his career. This might not be an obvious matchup to take advantage of, but Ramirez has upside.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa vs, Eric Skoglund, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,500
Skoglund is getting his first chance to be a permanent member of the Royals starting rotation and it’s not going well as he has a 6.15 ERA and 1.32 WHIP across eight starts. He doesn’t carry strikeout upside with a 6.9 K/9 and has allowed a .357 wOBA against right-handed hitters, making Kiner-Falefa a cheap option who could provide value.
Others to consider: Nolan Arenado and Miguel Andujar
SHORTSTOP
Jurickson Profar vs. Eric Skoglund, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $3,700
With Skoglund and all of his struggles, the Rangers are another team to consider stacking. Profar is finally getting consistent playing time with all of the Rangers injury woes and although he is batting just .237, he is hitting 7-for-22 with a home run, three doubles and 11 RBI in his last six games. He received the day off Thursday and missed out on a prime matchup against Danny Duffy, but facing Skoglund is just as favorable.
Dansby Swanson vs. Eduardo Rodriguez, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,200
Swanson couldn’t capitalize on his first opportunity to be an everyday player in the majors last year, batting only .232 with six home runs. He’s still not hitting for much power this year, but his .273 batting average is much improved. His .374 BABIP is high, so his average could decline as the season progresses. However, that might not start against Rodriguez since Swanson has traditionally had much more success against lefties.
Others to consider: Manny Machado and Trevor Story
OUTFIELD
Austin Meadows vs. John Gant, St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $3,800
Meadows has wasted no time making his mark in six games with the Pirates, batting .440 with three home runs and two doubles. He already has four multi-hit games and is creating a hard decision for the Pirates to make when Starling Marte (oblique) returns. Until then, continue to ride his hot streak.
Juan Soto vs. Jose Urena, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $3,400
Another one of the hot young prospects in baseball, Soto is 3-for-10 with a home run since being called up by the Nationals. Down some key outfielders, Soto should at least stay in the majors for the foreseeable future. Urena’s wOBA against lefties is 64 percentage points higher than it is against righties, making Soto another Nationals hitter to target.
Brandon Nimmo vs. Junior Guerra, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,600
With Yoenis Cespedes (hip) and Juan Lagares (toe) on the DL, regular playing time has opened up for Nimmo. He hasn’t let the opportunity go to waste, batting .294 with a .450 OBP. His .394 BABIP screams regression, but he did hit .280 with a .388 OBP in his career in the minors. He also has a .476 wOBA against righties this year, so he might be worth taking a chance on against Guerra.
Others to consider: Bryce Harper and Charlie Blackmon