All 30 teams will be in action Tuesday, leaving us with plenty of players to pick from in DFS. From top-tier pitchers to lineups with tremendous upside, there are a few different routes to consider when constructing your entry.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/22/2019
There’s no shortage of options to pick from Monday with 11 games across the majors. Plenty of series will have playoff implications, including the Red Sox taking on the Rays and the Astros hosting the A’s.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/15/2019
Monday brings a nine-game evening slate across DFS that will feature some of the better starters in the league. There are also plenty of stacking situations to target with some teams trotting out a member of the back of their rotation.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/23/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout
With only four games making up the main evening slate in DFS, there are far fewer options to choose from than normal for your entry Thursday. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t end the night a winner. 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
Cole Hamels vs. Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Wrigley Field
FanDuel = $9,200
DraftKings = $10,400
To say Hamels has pitched well since joining the Cubs is an understatement. In his first four starts since being traded, Hamels has a 0.72 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and an 8.3 K/9. While that ERA is obviously unsustainable, his 2.40 FIP supports his improved performance. He really struggled at Globe Life Park in Arlington as a member of the Rangers, so it’s not all that surprising that the change of scenery has boosted his value. On a night with very limited pitching options, Hamels stands out as one of the top choices.
Tyler Glasnow vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $8,400
After spending most of this season in the Pirates bullpen, the Rays have done a nice job building Glasnow back up to start. His pitch count has increased in each of his four outings with the Rays, topping out at 94 pitches in his most recent start. He shouldn’t have any limitations going forward. He provides excellent strikeout upside with an 11.6 K/9 and he’s shown improved control with a 2.9 BB/9 since being traded. The Royals have scored the fewest runs (463) in baseball, leaving Glasnow with the potential to provide significant value at this cheap price.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Freddie Freeman vs. Elieser Hernandez, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,000
There are two stacks that stand out Thursday with the Braves being one of them. Hernandez has mostly pitched in relief this season with only five starts in his 26 appearances. He has struggled with a 5.08 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP, overall. He doesn’t strike out many hitters, either, with a 6.2 K/9. With Freeman’s .401 OBP this year, expect him to be on base plenty of times in this game.
Joe Mauer vs. Trevor Cahill, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,800
Cahill has done a great job for the Athletics this season, but most of his success has come at home, where he has a 0.85 ERA and a 0.76 WHIP. However, he’s been hammered on the road with a 6.62 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. Mauer doesn’t have much power upside, but he is batting .343 with a .410 OBP across his last 10 games.
Others to consider: J.T. Realmuto (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Jed Lowrie vs. Kohl Stewart, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,900
The other stacking opportunity that stands out is the Athletics against Stewart. They have a .706 OPS at home, but their .804 OPS on the road is the highest in baseball. Stewart has pitched at both Double-A and Triple-A this season, recording a 4.47 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP combined across both levels. In two starts with the Twins, he’s allowed six runs and recorded only three strikeouts across seven innings. The switch-hitting Lowrie has a .370 wOBA against righties this year.
Ozzie Albies vs. Elieser Hernandez, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,500
Albies has had a rough month of August by batting only .235 with one home run. After he slugged 14 home runs in his first 56 games this season, he has just seven homers across his last 66 contests. He has had better success against left-handed pitching this year, but Albies has a .517 slugging percentage on the road compared to .423 at home. He’s someone to consider with Hernandez on the mound, although Lowrie would be my first choice at second base.
Others to consider: Daniel Murphy
THIRD BASE
Matt Chapman vs. Kohl Stewart, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,600
Chapman has shown an improved eye at the plate this year, reducing his strikeout rate from 28.3% in 2017 to 23.0% this season. He’s still hitting for plenty of power, too, with 17 home runs and 30 doubles across 407 at-bats. Chapman has actually hit better against right-handed pitchers (.378 wOBA) than he has lefties (.348 wOBA), so he could prove to be a tough out for Stewart.
Brian Anderson vs. Sean Newcomb, Atlanta Braves
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,500
After an excellent start to his season, Newcomb has a 6.00 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP since July 1. He has an 11.3% walk rate and a 21.7% strikeout rate for the year, but he has a 12.6% walk rate and a 17.4% strikeout rate since his struggles began. Anderson could be worth considering in tournament play since he has a .349 wOBA against lefties and is 5-for-10 with two walks against Newcomb in his career.
Others to consider: Johan Camargo
SHORTSTOP
Javier Baez vs. Anthony DeSclafani, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Wrigley Field
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,700
Baez has at least two hits in three straight games and has eight multi-hit performances so far in August. He’s made a case to be considered for the NL MVP award as he is batting .292 with 26 home runs, 92 RBI, and 20 steals. He has fairly similar numbers against both lefties and righties, so don’t shy away from using him Thursday just because he doesn’t have the platoon advantage against DeSclafani.
Jorge Polanco vs. Trevor Cahill, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,900
Polanco quietly had a productive 2017 campaign with 13 home runs, 74 RBI and 13 steals across 488 at-bats. He didn’t play his first game this season until July due to suspension, but he’s provided the same sort of production with three home runs, 25 RBI and four steals in 173 at-bats. He has just a 34 wRC+ against lefties this year, but he’s been far more successful with a 137 wRC+ against righties.
Others to consider: Marcus Semien
OUTFIELD
Khris Davis vs. Kohl Stewart, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,700
Davis has put the Athletics on his back as they make a push for the playoffs, hitting .313 with 18 home runs and 10 doubles since July 1. He has hit four home runs in his last four games and is one of the most dangerous power hitters in baseball when he’s locked in like this. He’s pricey, but he also has one of the highest upsides of anyone playing Thursday due to this matchup against Stewart.
Max Kepler vs. Trevor Cahill, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,900
Kepler has struggled to hit for average again this season, but he’s managed to hit 17 home runs and 26 doubles. He’s been terrible with a .197 average and a .640 OPS on the road, but he has a .275 average and a .886 OPS at home. He doesn’t cost much on either site and could provide value when you combine his success at home with Cahill’s struggles on the road.
Stephen Piscotty vs. Kohl Stewart, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $3,900
Piscotty is coming off of a productive three-game series against the Rangers where he finished 6-for-13 with a home run and two doubles. He has already tied his career-high with 35 doubles this year and has chipped in 16 homers as well. He has similar numbers against both lefties and righties, making him one of the better cheap options if you are going with an Athletics stack.
Others to consider: Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ender Inciarte
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/27/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
June special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout
Wednesday’s main evening slate in DFS is light on excellent starting pitchers, so there could be plenty of runs scored throughout baseball. 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
Kyle Gibson vs. Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $8,300
DraftKings = $8,500
Gibson entered 2018 having finished with an ERA of 5.07 and a WHIP of at least 1.53 in both of the last two seasons. This year has been a different story as he enters Wednesday with a 3.25 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. He has been aided by a .254 opponents BABIP, but he also has an 8.7 K/9 after posting a 6.5 K/9 for his career. He has allowed two runs or fewer in five straight games and had success in his first start against the White Sox this season, allowing three runs and recording eight strikeouts in 6.2 innings. On a night short of elite pitchers, Gibson is shaping up to be one of the best options available.
Wade LeBlanc vs. Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $6,500
DraftKings = $7,800
LeBlanc pitched exclusively out of the bullpen for the Pirates last year, posting a 4.50 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. Without much starting pitching depth, the Mariners have had to turn to LeBlanc to fill out the back end of their rotation. He’s exceeded expectations so far, posting a 2.91 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP across 10 starts. His .292 opponents BABIP is right in line with his career numbers, so he hasn’t exactly been getting lucky. One big reason for his improvement is getting opponents to swing at 36.3% of his pitches outside of the strike zone, which is six percentage points higher than his career mark. The Orioles have scored the second-fewest runs (285) and have the third-worst OPS against left-handed pitchers (.664) in baseball, so LeBlanc might be worth the risk in tournament play at this cheap price.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Paul Goldschmidt vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,400
Goldschmidt is currently on an eight-game hitting streak and has done a great job rebounding from an abysmal start. He’s batting .380 with 10 home runs in June while finally providing owners in season-long fantasy with the type of production they expected when they selected him in the first round. He has a 197 wRC+ against lefties and will get to face a struggling one in Chen, who has a 6.70 ERA and a 1.69 WHIP.
Buster Posey vs. Kyle Freeland, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,200
Posey doesn’t put up flashy numbers, but he’s not exactly hitting poorly with a .285 average and a .364 OBP. He has just five home runs and has only hit at least 20 home runs in a season twice in his career, so don’t expect him to go on a power surge anytime soon. He can still provide a lot of value, though, against Freeland since Posey has a .390 wOBA against lefties.
Others to consider: Matt Olson (first base) and Carlos Santana (first base)
SECOND BASE
Brian Dozier vs. James Shields, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $3,800
Dozier traditionally struggles in the first half of the season and this year has been no different. He has yet to go on a big run, but he does have at least one hit in five of his last six games. Dozier doesn’t have the platoon advantage against Shields, but he has actually performed better this year against righties. He has also had success against Shields in his career, hitting 13-for-42 (.310) with four home runs and a 1.114 OPS.
Ketel Marte vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,600
With Chen on the mound for the Marlins, it’s a good idea to target Diamondback hitters for your entry. Although their lineup is predominantly left-handed, the switch-hitting Marte has an edge because Chen has allowed a .398 wOBA to righties. Marte is also significantly better from the right side of the plate, posting a .366 wOBA against lefties compared to a .261 wOBA against righties.
Others to consider: Javier Baez and Dee Gordon
THIRD BASE
Matt Carpenter vs. Shane Bieber, Cleveland Indians
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,700
Carpenter hit .155 with two home runs in his first 105 plate appearances this season. He’s been a different hitter since then, especially of late as he is batting .319 with eight home runs in his last 104 plate appearances. He has great numbers overall against righties with a .384 wOBA this year, so look to ride is hot bat again Wednesday.
Kyle Seager vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,800
Seager is hitting only .225 this year in large part because of a career-high 22.2% strikeout rate. He’s still provided value in the power department with 14 home runs, but he’s going to need to cut down on his strikeouts if he’s going to turn things around. The good news for Wednesday is that Cobb doesn’t strike out many hitters and has been prone to giving up crooked numbers as he has allowed at least five earned runs in a game six times already this season.
Others to consider: Max Muncy and Jed Lowrie
SHORTSTOP
Jean Segura vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,000
Jumping on the Mariners bandwagon against Cobb, Segura is another player to consider for your entry. He recently missed some time with a forearm infection, but he went 3-for-4 in his second game back Tuesday. He’s been one of the Mariners most consistent hitters this season with a .337 batting average and continues to be aggressive on the basepaths with 14 steals. Cobb allows a lot of baserunners with a 1.63 ERA, setting Segura up nicely for a productive game.
Scott Kingery vs. Luis Cessa, New York Yankees
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $3,000
The Yankees called up Cessa to give their starters an extra day of rest in preparation for a series against the Red Sox this weekend. He’s pitched both out of the bullpen and in the starting rotation during his career in the majors, posting a 4.41 ERA, 5.40 FIP, and a 1.22 WHIP. He’s an average pitcher even on his best day and doesn’t have overwhelming stuff with a 6.6 K/9. A Phillies stack could pay off Wednesday and Kingery is priced so low that he can really help your budget while still providing some upside in tournament play.
Others to consider: Didi Gregorius and Elvis Andrus
OUTFIELD
Odubel Herrera vs. Luis Cessa, New York Yankees
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $5,200
Herrera was one of the hottest hitters in baseball heading into this series against the Yankees but he went 0-for-7 with a walk in the first two games. Don’t expect that slump to last long with Cessa on the mound Wednesday. Hererra also loves hitting at home with a .325 average and eight home runs at Citizens Bank Park compared to a .275 average and five home runs on the road.
Eddie Rosario vs. James Shields, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $5,300
Speaking of hot hitters, Rosario is batting .353 with 14 home runs and a .437 wOBA since May 1st. Maybe one of the most impressive things about Rosario’s excellent first half is that not only are his power numbers up, but he’s also cut his strikeout rate down to 16.9% compared to his 21.3% career mark. He’s particularly excelled against righties with a .416 wOBA.
Brian Anderson vs. Robbie Ray, Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,600
Ray will be making his first start since April after suffering an oblique injury. He only threw 66 pitches in his last rehab outing, but with Clay Buchholz getting injured, the Diamondbacks are going with Ray probably one start sooner than they would have liked to. He could be on a pitch limit in this game as a result. Ray can be a dominating pitcher, but he also has a 1.36 WHIP for his career. Anderson has a .369 wOBA against lefties this season and is cheap enough to warrant consideration in tournament play.
Others to consider: Leonys Martin and Manuel Margot
MLB 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 6/14/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
June special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout
Thursday brings only nine games in the baseball that are spread out throughout the day. Let’s take a look at some players in both the early and evening slates for DFS. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
STARTING PITCHERS
Mike Clevinger vs. Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $8,800
DraftKings = $9,700
After posting a 10.1 K/9 last year, Clevinger hasn’t been nearly as successful in that department this season with a 7.4 K/9. His swinging-strike rate is pretty close to last year’s and hitters are actually swinging at more pitches outside of the strike zone, so don’t be surprised if he starts to make gains in that area throughout the summer. Even with fewer strikeouts, he’s still been excellent this season with a 3.31 ERA, 3.46 FIP, and a 1.21 WHIP. He allowed one run and recorded seven strikeouts over 6.2 innings in his first start against the White Sox this year and has the potential for another valuable outing in their rematch.
Anibal Sanchez vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $5,500
If you are playing the evening slate, it’s slim pickings in terms of starting pitchers. After Blake Snell and David Price, there is a big drop off to the next tier of options. If you want to take a chance on a cheap option with upside in tournament play, Sanchez might be your man. Injuries have limited him to six appearances this year, five of which were starts. His 2.37 ERA likely won’t hold based on his 4.81 FIP, but he has done a good job limiting baserunners with a 1.06 WHIP. The Padres don’t have a great lineup, to begin with, but they especially struggle against right-handed pitchers with second-lowest OPS against them (.659) in baseball.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Freddie Freeman vs. Tyson Ross, San Diego Padres
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $5,400
Freeman has at least one hit in 23 of his last 24 games, batting 37-for-96 (.385) with six home runs during that stretch. He’s shown an excellent eye at the play this season, drawing 41 walks and striking out only 47 times. Ross has allowed a .364 wOBA to lefties this year, helping to make Freeman one of the better plays at any position.
Wilson Ramos vs. Domingo German, New York Yankees
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,500
Catcher may be one of the weakest positions in fantasy baseball, but Ramos has established himself as one of the best players at the position this season. He’s hitting .284 with eight home runs in the early going after being limited to just 64 games last year due to injury. He has at least one hit in five of his last six games and will get to face one of the Yankees weaker starting pitchers in German, who has a 5.32 ERA and is only starting because Jordan Montgomery (elbow) is out for the season.
Others to consider: Paul Goldschmidt (first base) and Ryon Healy (first base)
SECOND BASE
Cesar Hernandez vs. German Marquez, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,900
Hernandez batted exactly .294 in both of the last two seasons but has been held to .264 this year. His .326 BABIP isn’t bad, but it is below his career mark of .350. The good news is that he already has seven home runs, which is only two shy of his total from last year. Marquez allows a lot of baserunners with a 1.48 WHIP and even though this game won’t be played in Coors Field, Hernandez is still a viable option for the limited slate.
Joey Wendle vs. Domingo German, New York Yankees
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $3,200
Wendle doesn’t play much against lefties, but that won’t be a problem against the right-handed German. Wendle doesn’t hit many home runs, but he’s been a pleasant surprise for the Rays this year by hitting .280 with five steals. His upside isn’t great, but if you want to save money at second base, he is someone to consider in tournament play.
Others to consider: Ozzie Albies and Joe Panik
THIRD BASE
Rafael Devers vs. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $3,400
Devers hit an impressive .284 with 10 home runs over 58 games in his first taste of the majors last year. He does have 10 home runs already this season, but he’s been a disappointment overall with just a .231 average. His strikeout rate has increased over three percentage points this year and his BABIP has also fallen to .284 after it was .342 last season. He is finally starting to show signs of coming around, though, and is currently on an eight-game hitting streak. It also helps his cause Thursday that Hernandez has allowed a .351 wOBA to lefties this season.
Brian Anderson vs. Dereck Rodriguez, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,200
Anderson wasn’t able to log another hit Wednesday, but he still had two walks, two runs scored and an RBI. His .311 average and .384 OBP has made him one of the better hitters in an otherwise lackluster lineup for the Marlins. Although his numbers are better against left-handed pitchers, he’s not exactly struggling with a .350 wOBA against righties.
Others to consider: Jose Ramirez and Jeimer Candelario
SHORTSTOP
Jean Segura vs. David Price, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,900
Segura logged another three hits Wednesday and now has at least two hits in six of his last nine games. His average is all the way up to .347, which has also helped him score 51 runs in 65 games. He’s been especially valuable against lefties as he has a .401 wOBA against them this season. Keep riding his hot bat Thursday.
Brock Holt vs. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,400
The Red Sox continue to find ways to play Holt every day and even started him at first base Wednesday. While he’s obviously not going to be taking Mitch Moreland’s job, it shows that the Red Sox are determined to find ways to keep Holt’s hot bat in their lineup. He went 2-for-3 in that game, raising his average to .309. Expect him to play against the righty Hernandez on Thursday since Holt has a .342 wOBA against righties.
Others to consider: Xander Bogaerts and Ketel Marte
OUTFIELD
Andrew Benintendi vs. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $5,700
Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez might get all the headlines, but Benintendi is having a heck of a season. He has hit a home run in three of his last four games and already has 12 on the season overall. His batting average has improved to .302 and he’s still been aggressive on the base paths with 11 stolen bases. He only has a 98 wRC+ against lefties but has crushed righties with a 168 wRC+.
Nelson Cruz vs. David Price, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,400
Price appears to have righted the ship after a tough start to the season as he has allowed two runs or fewer in five of his last six starts. He’ll face a tough old nemesis in Cruz on Thursday, who is 14-for-41 (.341) with four home runs against him in his career. Cruz has a 203 wRC+ against lefties this year as well and could put up big numbers against Price once again.
Leonys Martin vs. Lance Lynn, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,400
Martin hit a putrid .172 for the Cubs and Mariners combined last season, but he has found himself batting leadoff for the rebuilding Tigers. The move has paid off so far with Martin hitting .263 with a career-high .332 OBP. His walk rate is up and his strikeout rate is down, which will only help him hang onto the role moving forward. Left-handed pitchers still give him a lot of problems, but his .371 wOBA against righties this year makes him a viable option against Lynn.
Others to consider: Eddie Rosario and Mitch Haniger
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/13/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
June special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout
There are a lot of games with early start times Wednesday, but since the majority of the games will be played at night, let’s focus on that 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
Trevor Bauer vs. Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $10,200
DraftKings = $11,500
Bauer has shown the potential to be an excellent starting pitcher, but he had never finished with an ERA better than 4.18 heading into this season. He has had problems keeping runners off base with a 1.34 WHIP for his career. His WHIP is much better this year at 1.15, leading to a 2.62 ERA and a 2.47 FIP. Opponents have a .305 BABIP against him, so the improvement is not due to him being lucky. He has only allowed five home runs in 86 innings and his 12.8% swinging-strike rate has helped him post an 11.4 K/9. This is a great matchup for Bauer as the White Sox have struck out the sixth-most times (612) in baseball.
Caleb Smith vs. San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $7,700
DraftKings = $9,100
The Marlins starting rotation certainly leaves a lot to be desired, but Smith has done a great job through his first 13 starts. His 3.70 ERA is supported by a 3.50 FIP and a 1.19 WHIP, even though he does walk too many batters. He makes up for that in the strikeout department with a 10.8 K/9. Although he doesn’t always pitch deep into games, he’s allowed more than three runs in a start only three times. You generally want to play him for his strikeout upside, which is even greater Wednesday since the Giants are tied for the third-most strikeouts (624) in baseball.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Joey Votto vs. Jason Hammel, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,600
Votto continues to hit for a high average at .309 and draw a ton of walks. He is on pace to have more walks than strikeouts for the third time in the last four years. One area he is lacking in this season is the power department as he has only six home runs, four of which he hit towards the end of April. Even if he doesn’t go deep again Wednesday, his ability to get on base still makes him a great option to consider.
Austin Romine vs. Erick Fedde, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $2,800
Draft Kings = $3,600
Romine is the Yankees backup catcher, but he’s locked in a Sonny Gray’s personal catcher and will start Wednesday. Romine only has 76 plate appearances this year, but he is batting .348 with a 1.027 OPS. That’s obviously not going to last, but he does have 20 RBI and has been great with runners in scoring position. He gets plenty of those opportunities in the loaded Yankees lineup and is a cheap option with upside for your entry.
Others to consider: Jose Martinez (first base) and Tucker Barnhart (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Brian Dozier vs. Matthew Boyd, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,100
Dozier was starting to turn things around, but he’s hitless in his last three games. He’s batting only .235 this season but has been a much better hitter in the second half of seasons in recent years. This might be just the matchup he needs to get his bat going again since he is 13-for-32 (.406) with three home runs and three doubles in his career against Boyd.
Jedd Gyorko vs. Eric Lauer, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,400
Whenever a lefty is on the mound against the Cardinals, Gyorko is someone to target. He has just a 62 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers this year but has owned lefties with a 246 wRC+. Lauer has been awful with a 6.64 ERA and a 2.06 WHIP, making Gyorko an excellent budget-friendly option.
Others to consider: Scooter Gennett and Starlin Castro
THIRD BASE
Miguel Andujar vs. Erick Fedde, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,200
The young talent the Yankees have offensively is truly impressive. Their first wave of young stars was Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez and now it is Andujar and Gleyber Torres. Andujar is an excellent all-around hitter and even though he doesn’t walk much, he is still batting .310. He gets a lot of extra-base hits and doesn’t strikeout out much either with a 17.4% strikeout rate. Fedde will be called up to make his second start of the season for Nationals after recording an unimpressive 4.92 ERA and 1.48 WHIP in Triple-A.
Brian Anderson vs. Andrew Suarez, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,000
The Marlins have scored the second-fewest runs in baseball, so they don’t exactly have a lot of players you want to seek out in DFS. Anderson is one of the few who is having a good season as he is batting .311 with a .384 OBP. He’s even hotter right now, batting 25-for-59 (.424) in his last 15 games. He has a .350 wOBA overall this season against lefties and is someone worth playing even with his lack of power.
Others to consider: Jose Ramirez and Mike Moustakas
SHORTSTOP
Didi Gregorius vs. Erick Fedde, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,100
Gregorius had a big game Tuesday, finishing 2-for-4 with two home runs. He is only batting .231 on the road this season, but he has a .263 average at Yankee Stadium. He has hit 11 of his 13 home runs at home as well. This is a good opportunity to stack Yankees with Fedde on the mound, Gregorius included.
Jose Peraza vs. Jason Hammel, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,400
There aren’t a lot of great cheap options at shortstop, but Peraza is someone to consider if you want to save money at the position. He has at least one hit in 13 of his last 14 games and is 19-for-55 (.345) during that stretch. Hammel allows a lot of baserunners with a 1.44 WHIP and only has a 6.1 K/9, which will only help Peraza’s cause to keep his hot streak going for at least one more game.
Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Chris Taylor
OUTFIELD
Aaron Judge vs. Erick Fedde, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $5,500
Judge is hitting just .197 with six home runs on the road, but he is batting .348 with 12 home runs at Yankee Stadium. He also has a staggering .500 OBP at home. Add in the fact that he actually hits better against righties (.422 wOBA) than he does lefties (.359 wOBA) and he could be in for a big night.
Marcell Ozuna vs. Eric Lauer, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,000
Keep riding Ozuna’s hot streak. He went 1-for-3 with an RBI Tuesday and is now 14-for-37 (.378) in his last 10 games. He’s not just getting hits, either, as he has at least one RBI in five of his last six games. His .343 wOBA against lefties this year despite his early struggles makes him another Cardinals’ righty with significant upside against Lauer.
Brett Gardner vs. Erick Fedde, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,400
With all the superstars, power bats and impressive young players on the Yankees, Gardner sometimes gets overlooked. He’s having another solid season, batting .263 with five home runs and six steals. He also has 41 runs scored as their leadoff hitter and has an excellent opportunity to score at least 100 runs for the first time in his career. If the Yankees put up a crooked number Wednesday, Gardner hitting at the top of the lineup could be in for a valuable night. His price isn’t great on DraftKings, but it’s very favorable if you are playing on FanDuel.
Others to consider: Tommy Pham and Scott Schebler
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/30/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
May special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout
There are a few early games in baseball Wednesday, but let’s focus on 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. Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $11,800
DraftKings = $13,900
Scherzer’s last start against the weak Marlins lineup seemed like a slam dunk, but he allowed four runs and only recorded four strikeouts in six innings. He came away with the win, but that’s certainly a disappointing start by his standards. He had logged at least 11 strikeouts in each of his previous three starts and has a 13.6 K/9 this season that would be the highest mark of his career. The Orioles have struck out the sixth-most times (499) in baseball, so look for Scherzer get back to his dominant ways Wednesday.
Ross Stripling vs. Philadelphia Phillies
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $7,300
The Dodgers starting rotation has been hampered by injuries yet again this season, forcing Stripling to start after beginning the year in the bullpen. Only two of his 49 appearances last year were starts as well. The move to the rotation has been a success so far, recording a 2.42 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 11.4 K/9 across five outings. Two of those games did come against the lowly Padres, but those are still impressive numbers. The Phillies offense has struggled with a .677 OPS on the road this season compared to a .757 OPS at home. Stripling won’t bust your budget either, making him a viable option in tournament play.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Anthony Rizzo vs. Joe Musgrove, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,500
Rizzo is finally coming out of his slump and is currently on an 11-game hitting streak. He’s had three multi-hit games over that stretch, going 15-for-42 (.357) and homering in both of his last two games. He still has a .342 wOBA against right-handed pitchers this year despite his early struggles, so look for him to continue his recent hot streak against Musgrove.
Ryon Healy vs. Matt Moore, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,300
The Rangers will activate Moore from the DL on Wednesday, bringing back one of the better pitchers to stack against this season. Through his first 10 games (nine starts), Moore has been atrocious with a 7.99 ERA and a 2.02 WHIP. Righties have hit him particularly well with a .394 wOBA. Healy also has a .373 wOBA against lefties for his career, making him an excellent cheap option to consider.
Others to consider: Salvador Perez (catcher) and Max Muncy (first base)
SECOND BASE
Ozzie Albies vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $5,200
Vargas has really fallen off after a making the All-Star team with the Royals last year, posting a 10.62 ERA and a 2.16 WHIP through five starts. He has only pitched 20.1 innings but has already allowed six home runs. He does have a 9.3 K/9, but don’t expect that to hold considering he has a 6.1 K/9 for his career. With a .430 wOBA against left-handers, Albies could be in line for a big performance Wednesday.
Jed Lowrie vs. Nathan Eovaldi, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,100
Lowrie got off to a scorching hot start this season but is only hitting .258 with three home runs in May. He had a .388 BABIP leading up to the month but has only posted a .296 BABIP since. He’s still someone to target against Eovaldi, though, who will be making his first start of the season after having elbow surgery. He has always allowed a lot of base runners with a career 1.38 WHIP and has never been a big strikeout pitcher either. Lowrie’s price has been dropping, especially on FanDuel, so this might be a good time to take advantage and get him into your lineup.
Others to consider: Asdrubal Cabrera and Starlin Castro
THIRD BASE
Nolan Arenado vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $5,400
Arenado is normally someone to target when the Rockies are playing at home as he has a .968 OPS at Coors Field for his career compared to a .795 OPS on the road. Add that to the fact that he is facing the lefty Holland and he becomes an even juicier option. Not only does Arenado have a 220 wRC+ against lefties this year, but Holland’s wOBA against righties is 134 points higher than it is against lefties.
Brian Anderson vs. Clayton Richard, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,200
The Marlins have scored the fewest runs (187) in baseball, but Anderson has been one of their few bright spots offensively. He has only hit two home runs, but he does have 13 doubles to go along with a .279 average and a .360 OBP. Anderson has a .365 wOBA against lefties this year while Richard has allowed a .350 wOBA to righties, so he could be someone to consider if you don’t want to pay up for Arenado.
Others to consider: Anthony Rendon and Jacob Turner
SHORTSTOP
Trevor Story vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $4,800
Stacking righties on the Rockies against Holland could be a great move Wednesday. Story has actually never had a wOBA below .409 against lefties in any season of his career. He also rakes at Coors Field with a career .962 OPS compared to a .694 OPS on the road.
Jean Segura vs. Matt Moore, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,600
Segura was inadvertently kicked in the head while playing the field Saturday but returned to the lineup Tuesday to go 3-for-5 with a double. He now has at least two hits in six of his last nine games and his batting .324 overall this season. With a .364 wOBA against lefties this year, he’s another Mariner to target against the struggling Moore.
Others to consider: Trea Turner and Dansby Swanson
OUTFIELD
Bryce Harper vs. David Hess, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $5,300
DraftKings = $5,700
Harper is hitting .238 this season, but that’s mainly because of an incredibly low .213 BABIP. To put that into perspective, even when he hit a disappointing .243 in 2016, his BABIP was .264. He is still hitting for a ton of power with 17 home runs and has as many walks as he does strikeouts. He has a .406 wOBA against righties this year despite his struggles, making him an excellent option against the inexperienced Hess.
Juan Soto vs. David Hess, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $3,800
Soto has only appeared in nine games for the Nationals this season but already has four multi-hit performances. He has shown a good eye at the plate by drawing as many walks as he has strikeouts. He had 58 walks compared to 66 strikeouts in his career in the minors as well, so this could be a trend that he can sustain. He’s one of the bright young players in all of baseball and could provide plenty of value at this reasonable price.
Nelson Cruz vs. Matt Moore, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,400
A career .275 hitter, Cruz is only batting .227 this year. He’s been unlucky with a .234 BABIP that is significantly lower than his .306 career mark. His strikeout percentage is actually down this season and he still has a 35.8% hard-hit rate, making him an excellent buy-low candidate if you play season-long fantasy. With a career .389 wOBA against lefties, he also makes for a great option against Moore on Wednesday.
Others to consider: Eddie Rosario and Brandon Nimmo