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MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/17/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

Thursday didn’t bring a lot of great starting pitching options, but that won’t be the case Friday with Max Scherzer, Carlos Carrasco, and Charlie Morton all scheduled to take the mound. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/17/18

Carlos Carrasco vs. Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $11,000
DraftKings = $11,200

Carrasco dominated the White Sox in his last start, recording nine strikeouts across even shutout innings. He’s having a great season with a 3.50 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP, but he’s been even better lately with a 1.59 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP over his last seven outings. He also has a stellar 11.8 K/9 during that stretch. The Orioles have scored the fifth-fewest runs (478) in baseball and have a much shallower lineup after their roster was stripped down at the trade deadline, leaving Carrasco with a favorable chance to provide another excellent performance.

James Shields vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $7,100
DraftKings = $6,300

Shields’ 4.41 ERA and 4.75 FIP aren’t great, but he’s having his best season since joining the White Sox. Although he only has a 7.0 K/9, his 1.29 WHIP is his lowest mark since 2014. He’s struggled with a 5.75 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP on the road this year, but he’s been much better at home with a 3.56 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. The Royals have averaged 3.4 runs across their last 10 games and have scored the fewest runs (447) in the league, making Shields a cheap option with upside in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/17/18

Yonder Alonso vs. David Hess, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,500

The Indians stand out as an excellent stacking play against Hess, who has a bloated 6.25 ERA that is backed by an equally poor 6.42 FIP. He has a 1.51 WHIP and has allowed 2.1 HR/9, which certainly isn’t a recipe for success. With left-handed hitters posting a .371 wOBA against him, Alonso carries significant upside.

Ronald Guzman vs. Odrisamer Despaigne, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $4,400

Recently acquired in a trade with the Marlins, Despaigne will make his first start with the Angels on Friday. He has pitched mostly out of the bullpen this year, recording a 5.31 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. He only has a 5.4 K/9 for his career, which doesn’t leave him with much room for error. Guzman hasn’t hit for a high average, but he’s a power threat to consider in tournament play, especially at his cheap price on FanDuel.

Others to consider: Jose Abreu (first base) and Robinson Chirinos (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/17/18

Rougned Odor vs. Odrisamer Despaigne, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,900

After slugging at least 30 home runs in both of the last two seasons, it appears Odor will fall short of that threshold this year as he only has 14 homers entering Friday. However, his 8.7% walk rate is almost four percentage points higher than his career mark and his .270 batting average has been a major improvement. Add in his .358 wOBA against right-handed pitchers this season and he checks in as another Ranger to consider for your entry.

Scooter Gennett vs. Casey Kelly, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,200

After finishing with 27 home runs and 97 RBI last year, Gennett is proving it was no fluke as he has 18 long balls and 70 RBI this season. He’s also batting .305, which would be his highest mark in any season where he has played at least 100 games. Kelly did not pitch well at Triple-A this season, posting a 4.78 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP over 23 starts.

Others to consider: Jason Kipnis and Daniel Murphy

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/17/18

Jurickson Profar vs. Odrisamer Despaigne, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,800

Profar started off this series with a bang Thursday, finishing 2-for-3 with his 14th home run of the season. He now has at least one hit in nine-straight games at home, slugging three homers and three doubles during that stretch. Even though he has better numbers against lefties, don’t shy away from playing him against the underwhelming Despaigne.

Yandy Diaz vs. David Hess, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $2,300
DraftKings = $3,900

With Edwin Encarnacion on the DL, Diaz will likely see a lot of playing time at DH. He only has 200 career plate appearances in the majors, but he’s posted a .294 average and a .370 OBP. His success isn’t that surprising since he has hit .311 with a .413 OBP in his career in the minors. At this dirt cheap price, he’s a very intriguing tournament play.

Others to consider: Jose Ramirez and Miguel Andujar

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/17/18

Francisco Lindor vs. David Hess, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $5,800

Lindor has hit a brief cold stretch, going 3-for-22 over his last five games. However, he was 13-for-33 during his eight-game hitting streak before his mini-slump started. This might be just the matchup he needs to get back on track. Not only has Hess been horrible, but Lindor is batting .321 at home this year compared to .262 on the road.

Andrelton Simmons vs. Drew Hutchinson, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,100

Mike Minor was supposed to start this game for the Rangers, but he’s been scratched due to a stiff back. Hutchinson will start in his place, marking his third appearance since joining the Rangers. His first two didn’t exactly go well as he allowed nine runs in 8.1 innings. He’s not much more than a journeyman starter at this point in his career, so Simmons is someone to consider if you want to save money at shortstop.

Others to consider: Willy Adames and Elvis Andrus

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/17/18

Bryce Harper vs. Dan Straily, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $5,400

Harper has been a different hitter since the All-Star break, batting .352 with seven home runs and eight doubles across 25 games. He’s been aided by a .453 BABIP, but he was due for some improvement after his abnormally low .226 BABIP before the break. Straily allows plenty of baserunners with his 1.40 WHIP and has given up 1.6 HR/9, setting Harper up with another favorable matchup.

Kole Calhoun vs. Drew Hutchinson, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,200

Calhoun took advantage of a great matchup against Ariel Jurado on Thursday, finishing the night 3-for-4 with a home run. He’s firmly put his slow start in the rearview mirror and now has 17 home runs total, giving him a chance to hit at least 20 for only the second time in his career. He has a .522 wOBA against right-handed pitchers since July 1 and could provide significant value based on his price on both sites.

Nomar Mazara vs. Odrisamer Despaigne, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $4,100

After missing a month with a thumb injury, Mazara hit a home run in his return from the DL on Thursday. He finished with 20 homers and 101 RBI last year and has followed that up with 16 homers and 60 RBI this season despite his stint on the DL. He shouldn’t be priced this low, especially against Despaigne.

Others to consider: Shohei Ohtani and Joey Gallo

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/3/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

After a wild night of offense Thursday, there are several aces taking the mound Friday. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/3/18

Patrick Corbin vs. San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $9,800
DraftKings = $10,400

There has been no slowing down Corbin, who has a 3.26 ERA that is supported by an even better 2.65 FIP. He’s missing plenty of bats with a 14.8% swinging-strike rate, which has helped him record a 1.06 WHIP and an 11.0 K/9. His 42.6% hard-hit rate is substantially higher than his career mark, but opponents haven’t been unlucky with a .292 BABIP against him. He’s already faced the Giants four times this year, giving up five runs and recording 29 strikeouts over 26.2 innings. The Giants are in the bottom third of the league in runs scored, so look for Corbin to provide another valuable performance.

Vince Velasquez vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $8,100
DraftKings = $8,000

Velasquez had a bloated 1.50 WHIP last year, but he’s made significant progress this season with a 1.24 WHIP. His .289 BABIP allowed isn’t low, either, which is encouraging news for his value moving forward. His 4.02 ERA doesn’t stand out, but some of that is due to an awful start against the Brewers towards the beginning of June when he allowed 10 runs over 3.2 innings. Since that outing, he has a 2.48 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP across 40 innings. The Marlins have scored the fourth-fewest runs (421) in the league, making Velasquez an excellent cost-effective option to consider.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/3/18

Edwin Encarnacion vs. Jaime Barria, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,800

Barria hasn’t pitched as well as his 3.74 ERA and 1.20 WHIP would seem to indicate. His FIP stands at 5.12 and opposing hitters only have a .256 BABIP against him, so luck has been on his side. He’s not fooling many batters with a 6.5 K/9 and he’s already allowed 14 home runs in just 77 innings. Encarnacion doesn’t have the platoon advantage in this game, but Barria has allowed a .397 wOBA against right-handed hitters.

Jake Bauers vs. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,400

The White Sox continue to run Giolito out there, but he hasn’t had much success with a 6.26 ERA and a 6.10 FIP. He has an unsightly 1.54 WHIP and has allowed 65 walks compared to just 71 strikeouts. With Giolito’s .384 wOBA against left-handed hitters, Bauers could be in for a big night.

Others to consider: Jose Abreu (first base) and Robinson Chirinos (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/3/18

Rougned Odor vs. David Hess, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $5,100

Stacking against the Orioles is going to be popular more often than not down the stretch. Their starting rotation isn’t great and their bullpen is severely short on talent after they dealt away a couple of key relievers. Odor has been one of the Rangers hottest hitters, going 31-for-89 (.378) with seven home runs over his last 25 games. He’s increased his walk rate significantly this year and can cause trouble on the basepaths as well.

Joey Wendle vs. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,900

Wendle enters Friday 8-for-21 (.381) with three walks and four runs scored during his current six-game hitting streak. He doesn’t hit many home runs, but he’s increased his batting average by 25 points since July 1. With the problems Giolito has limiting baserunners, Wendle is a cheap option to consider in tournament play.

Others to consider: Daniel Murphy and Niko Goodrum

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/3/18

Eugenio Suarez vs. Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $5,000

Suarez drove in two runs Thursday, setting a new career high with 83 RBI. He’s batting .300 with 25 home runs as he tries to establish himself as one of the better young third basemen in baseball. He absolutely destroys left-handed pitching with a 213 wRC+ against them, so don’t hesitate to pay up for him against Gonzalez and his 1.45 WHIP.

Jurickson Profar vs. David Hess, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,600

Profar has been one of the more highly regarded prospects in the Rangers organization, but injuries and limited opportunities for him in the majors had put a damper on his career. With the Rangers having one of the worst records in baseball, Profar is finally getting extended playing time this year. His numbers aren’t great, but he’s hitting a respectable .252 with 11 home runs and eight steals. He loves hitting at home with a .273 average and eight home runs at Globe Life Park in Arlington compared to a .231 average and three homers on the road.

Others to consider: Matt Chapman and Adrian Beltre

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/3/18

Trea Turner vs. Anthony DeSclafani, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $5,200

Turner is scorching-hot right now, hitting 14-for-34 (.412) with two home runs, 12 runs scored, seven RBI and eight steals across his last seven games. He’s not stealing bases at nearly the rate that he was last year, but his recent hot streak bumped his total up to 30 for the season. DeSclafani has a 5.47 ERA and an even worse 6.07 FIP, setting up Turner nicely for another hefty stat line.

Marcus Semien vs. Blaine Hardy, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,200

Hardy has pitched very well out of the bullpen, recording a 1.69 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and a 9.3 K/9 across 10 appearances. He hasn’t had nearly that much success as a starter, though, with a 4.01 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and a 5.9 K/9 over 10 outings. Semien has three straight multi-hit games and is 14-for-43 (.326) across his last 10 contests.

Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Elvis Andrus

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/3/18

Bryce Harper vs. Anthony DeSclafani, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,300

Participating in the Home Run Derby sure hasn’t hurt Harper, who is 14-for-39 (.359) with three home runs and four doubles since taking home the crown. He’s batting a disappointing .230 overall, but he still has a .377 OBP and has slugged 26 homers. The Nationals will also likely be a popular stack against DeSclafani with Harper having the highest upside of the bunch.

Shin-Soo Choo vs. David Hess, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,900

The Rangers scored 17 runs Thursday in the first game of what figures to be a high scoring series against the Orioles. Choo didn’t exactly shine, but he still provided value by finishing the game 2-for-6 with a double and two runs scored. He’s someone to target again Friday with his .398 wOBA against right-handed pitchers. He doesn’t help your budget much on DraftKings, but his price on FanDuel could lead to tremendous value.

Mark Canha vs. Blaine Hardy, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $4,200

If there is a lefty on the mound against the A’s, that means it’s Canha time. He’s having a good season overall by batting .265 with 14 home runs, but he’s been exceptional with a .419 wOBA against lefties. With Hardy’s underwhelming arsenal, make sure Canha is in your lineup.

Others to consider: Nelson Cruz and Joey Gallo

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/30/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/30/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/30/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/30/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/30/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/30/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/30/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/1/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/1/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

If you like ace starting pitchers, you are in luck Tuesday with Max Scherzer, Chris Sale, Clayton Kershaw, Justin Verlander and Noah Syndergaard all scheduled to take the mound. Offense might be hard to come by in those games, but there are still a lot of great hitting options for the night as well. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/1/18

Chris Sale vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $11,300
DraftKings = $12,400

Where to begin? Sale was one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball last year, finishing with a 2.90 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and 12.9 K/9. It marked the third time in the last four seasons that he finished with a K/9 of at least 10.8. He hasn’t slowed down this season, posting a 2.31 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and 11.6 K/9 through six starts. He owns left-handed hitters, holding them to a .234 wOBA last year. Some of the Royals best hitters are left-handed, which is not good news for their offensive potential Tuesday. Their lineup has been bad in general this year, scoring the fewest runs (95) with the sixth-lowest OPS (.681) in baseball. Of all the aces taking the mound Tuesday, Sale might finish with the most impressive performance.

Sean Newcomb vs. New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $7,400
DraftKings = $7,600

The Braves are loaded with young talent, including Newcomb, who they are relying on to be an important part of their starting rotation. He’s had control issues in his brief Major League career, posting a 5.0 BB/9 through 127.2 innings. The good news is he doesn’t allow a lot of solid contact with a 27.4% hard-hit rate for his career. Add in his 9.7 K/9 last year and he can provide value despite his high walk rate. The Mets have the second-lowest OPS (.605) against left-handed pitching this season, so Newcomb might be worth the risk Tuesday.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/1/18

C.J. Cron vs. Matthew Boyd, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $3,900

Cron has provided the Rays with an excellent power bat of late, hitting five home runs in his last eight games. He’s never played more than 116 games in a season, but should easily top that this season if he can stay healthy. Boyd’s 2.74 ERA looks nice, but his 4.72 FIP indicates he has not pitched that well and he’s been lucky with opponents having just a .194 BABIP. Cron might be one player who turns Boyd’s luck around Tuesday.

Albert Pujols vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,600

Pujols isn’t exactly red-hot right now and hasn’t had a multi-hit performance in any of his last 12 games. However, Cobb has been one of the worst pitchers in baseball during the early going, allowing a 13.11 ERA and 2.83 WHIP. He has allowed at least 10 hits in each of his first three starts and only has four total strikeouts. At this cheap price, Pujols could be worth the risk in tournament play.

Others to consider: Joey Votto (first base) and J.T. Realmuto (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/1/18

Robinson Cano vs. Andrew Triggs, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $3,900

Cano only has three home runs this year, but he’s batting .313 with a .422 OBP. He has shown an excellent eye at the plate, drawing 17 walks and striking out just 18 times. With a career .379 wOBA against right-handed pitchers, Cano could be in line for a big performance Tuesday.

Ian Kinsler vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,800

Kinsler has already spent some time on the DL this season, limiting him to only 15 games. He’s struggled to the tune of a .224 batting average, but his abnormally low .218 BABIP and 25% hard-hit rate suggest better things to come. With Cobb’s struggles already detailed, Kinsler is another Angels’ hitter to consider adding to your entry.

Others to consider: Jed Lowrie and Matt Carpenter

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/1/18

Christian Villanueva vs. Andrew Suarez, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,400

The Padres couldn’t have asked for more from Villanueva to start the season, hitting .321 with a 1.103 OPS, eight home runs, and 19 RBI. His .370 BABIP might not be sustainable though and he batted only .269 with a .780 OPS during his career in the minors. While regression is likely in his future, it might not come Tuesday against the left-handed Suarez since Villanueva has a 339 wRC+ (you’re not reading that wrong) against lefties in his brief Major League career.

Martin Prado vs. Zach Eflin, Philadelphia Phillies
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,000

A career .291 hitter, injuries limited Prado to only 37 games last year and only three games this season. He doesn’t hit for a lot of power, but he doesn’t strike out much either with an 11.2% strikeout rate for his career. Eflin will be making his first start of the season after finishing with a 1.42 WHIP and 4.9 K/9 last year, bringing Prado and his cheap price into the conversation for Tuesday.

Others to consider: Alex Bregman and Daniel Robertson

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/1/18

Trea Turner vs. Chad Kuhl, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,300

Turner was in a funk to start the season but has broken out of it, hitting 13-for-30 (.433) in his last seven games. He’s been excellent on the bases as well, recording four steals and five runs scored during that same stretch. Kuhl has struggled to keep runners off base with a 1.43 career WHIP, so don’t be surprised if Turner has another multi-hit performance in this game.

Andrelton Simmons vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,900

Simmons is one of the best defensive shortstops in baseball, but don’t forget that he has batted at least .278 in back-to-back seasons. He’s off to an even better start this season at .312, but a lot of that has to do with his 39.5% hard-hit rate, which is over 13% higher than his career mark. With Cobb on the mound Tuesday though, he’s yet another Angels’ hitter who could provide value.

Others to consider: Carlos Correa and Adeiny Hechavarria

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/1/18

Bryce Harper vs. Chad Kuhl, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $5,300

Harper is hitting just .247 this season, but his .219 BABIP indicates that won’t hold up. He’s still hitting the ball well, posting a 40.3% hard-hit rate. His eye at the plate has been impeccable with 38 walks and only 21 strikeouts this year, leading to a lofty .458 OBP. With Kuhl’s struggles to keep runners off base, Harper might be worth paying up for Tuesday.

Marcell Ozuna vs. James Shields, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,800

After setting career-highs with a .312 average and 37 home runs in 2017, it was going to be tough for Ozuna to duplicate that for his new team this year. He’s off to a slow start batting .250, but his .313 BABIP isn’t that low. It should be noted that his career batting average is .276 and his career BABIP is .326, so he may have just played over his head last year. He’s still someone to consider Tuesday though against Shields, who doesn’t have overpowering stuff and finished with a 1.44 WHIP last year.

Max Kepler vs. Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,400

Kepler is a much better hitter against righties, finishing with a .350 wOBA against them last year compared to .203 against lefties. Of the 19 home runs he hit last year, 17 of them came off of righties. Estrada allowed 31 home runs last year and has already given up seven this season, making Kepler a viable option at a cheap price.

Others to consider: Mike Trout and Christian Yelich

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/3/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/3/18

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STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/3/18

Chris Sale vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $11,400
DraftKings = $12,900

Sale picked up where he left off last year with his first start of 2018, pitching six shutout innings and recording nine strikeouts against the Rays. Sale is one of the most dominant strikeout pitchers in all of baseball, posting a K/9 of at least 10.8 in three of the last four seasons. The Marlins tore down their team over the winter and while they have had a couple of nice offensive showings already this season, facing Sale is a whole different story. Don’t hesitate to pay up to get Sale into your lineup.

Chase Anderson vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $7,800
DraftKings = $10,100

Anderson had a breakout campaign for the Brewers last year, posting a 2.74 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 8.5 K/9. His FIP was 3.58 and opponents did have just a .268 BABIP, so he could be in line for some regression this season, but likely not one that significant. He had control issues by allowing three walks in his first start of the season against the Padres, but by allowing just one hit and striking out eight batters, he did not allow an earned run. He’ll get a tougher opponent in the Cardinals on Tuesday, but he can still provide value at this reasonable price.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/3/18

Freddie Freeman vs. A.J. Cole (Washington Nationals)
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,600

Freeman continues to be an on-base machine for the Braves as he already has eight walks in four games this season. He’s done damage as well, recording a home run and five RBI so far. He’ll face a right-hander in Cole on Tuesday, which is good news considering Freeman dominated righties last year with a .422 wOBA. Cole also allowed a .414 wOBA to lefties last year, so this could be the perfect storm for Freeman.

Willson Contreras vs. Cody Reed (Cincinnati Reds)
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,600

Contreras is off to a slow start this year, hitting 4-for-21 (.190) with just one RBI. Tuesday brings a favorable matchup though against Reed, who had a 5.09 ERA and 1.70 WHIP in 17.2 innings for the Reds last year. He did make 10 starts for the Reds in 2016, but he was even worse with a 7.36 ERA and 1.80 WHIP. Contreras had a .386 wOBA against lefties last year, so it might be worth taking a chance that Tuesday is his first breakout game of the season.

Others to consider: Joey Gallo (first base) and Brian McCann (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/3/18

Ozzie Albies vs. A.J. Cole (Washington Nationals)
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,600

Albies is not off to a great start this season either, recording only two hits in his first four games. He does have a home run, two RBI and three runs scored, helping to salvage some of his lines. The Nationals have a great starting rotation, but he’ll get to face one of their weaker links in Cole on Tuesday. Cole had a 3.81 ERA last year, but his 5.20 FIP suggests that should have been much higher. He also has problems keeping runners off base with a career 1.45 WHIP.

Javier Baez vs. Cody Reed (Cincinnati Reds)
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,000

Baez only has two hits through the first five games of the season and has struck out five times while drawing just one walk. He struck out 144 times in 145 games last year and had just a .317 OBP, so his starts in those departments aren’t all that surprising. He batted .315 with nine home runs against lefties last year though, making him possibly worth the risk for your lineup Tuesday at this price.

Others to consider: Whit Merrifield and Rougned Odor

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/3/18

Anthony Rendon vs. Julio Teheran (Atlanta Braves)
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,300

The Nationals have a potent lineup and Rendon gets the benefit of hitting between Adam Eaton and Bryce Harper on most nights. Teheran will have a tough task ahead of him, especially considering he had a 5.86 ERA and 1.50 WHIP at home last season. He wasn’t any better in his first start at home in 2018 against the Phillies, allowing four runs in 5.2 innings on Opening Day. The Nationals could put up a crooked number Tuesday with Rendon right in the middle of the action.

Jeimer Candelario vs. Jakob Junis (Kansas City Royals)
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = NA

The Tigers are rebuilding and Candelario is considered one of the important parts of their future. He played well in 27 games with the Tigers last year, hitting .330 with a .406 OBP. While he likely can’t keep that up in 2018, he did post a .270 average and .350 OBP during his career in the minors. He’ll bat second and from the left side of the plate against Junis on Tuesday, who allowed lefties to bat .274 against him in 2017 compared to righties batting just .246. He’s only available on FanDuel as DraftKings is not including this game in their early slate.

Others to consider: Kris Bryant and Alex Bregman

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/3/18

Xander Bogaerts vs. Jose Urena (Miami Marlins)
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,400

Bogaerts is red hot to start the season, recording at least two hits in four of his first five games. He’s hit for power as well with one home run and five doubles. He’ll face the default ace for the Marlins in Urena on Tuesday, who allowed five runs in four innings against the Cubs on Opening Day. Urena has a career FIP of 5.07, so Bogaerts could play a big role in a potential offensive explosion for the Red Sox in this game.

Alcides Escobar vs. Matthew Boyd (Detroit Tigers)
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $2,200
DraftKings = NA

Escobar recorded his first hits of the season Monday against the Tigers, going 2-for-3 with a double, triple and a run scored. He only hits eighth in the Royals lineup, which hurts his value in DFS based on the limited amount of at-bats he gets batting that low in the order. However, he gets a favorable matchup against Boyd, who allowed a .357 wOBA against righties last year compared to just .313 against lefties. Escobar is very cheap and could allow you to add a couple of big sluggers to your entry with the savings he will provide. He’s only available on FanDuel as DraftKings is not including this game in their early slate.

Others to consider: Trea Turner and Elvis Andrus

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/3/18

Bryce Harper vs. Atlanta Braves (Julio Teheran)
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $5,300

Harper is off to a torrid start this season, batting .417 with a .550 OBP, three home runs and seven RBI. Talent has never been the question with Harper as he usually produces when he’s healthy.  He has also owned Teheran during his career, batting .459 with seven home runs and 17 RBI in 45 career plate appearances against him. Harper is expensive, but he also has tremendous upside Tuesday.

Adam Eaton vs. Atlanta Braves (Julio Teheran)
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,700

Speaking of hot starts, Eaton is 8-for-13 with two home runs, five RBI and seven runs scored through just three games. He’s hitting leadoff for one of the best lineups in baseball, so he is going to have plenty of opportunities to provide value. The Nationals may be cautious with him to start the season after he was limited to just 23 games last year, but he didn’t play Monday, so expect him to be back in the lineup and providing value Tuesday.

Mitch Haniger vs. Ty Blach (San Francisco Giants)
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,400

Haniger completes today’s trio of outfielders who have started off the season well as he is 5-for-8 with two home runs and a double so far this season. He’ll face a lefty in Blach who struggled to get out righties last year, allowing a .350 wOBA to them compared to just .261 against lefties. If you want to pay up to get Harper in your lineup, Haniger is a viable budget-friendly option to consider pairing him with.

Others to consider: Charlie Blackmon and Carlos Gomez

2018 MLB Fantasy Baseball Season Preview: Outfield

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner – @rotomikebarner*

2018 MLB Fantasy Baseball Season Preview: Outfield

The Outfield position has a lot of high-end talent this year with five players at the position arguably ranked inside the top ten for fantasy baseball. Let’s not only take a look at the cream of the crop but also at some outfielders who are overvalued and undervalued heading into 2018.

The Top Five

2018 MLB Fantasy Baseball Season Preview: Outfield

Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels

Entering 2017, Trout had played in at least 157 games in four straight seasons. He averaged 33 home runs, 100 RBI, 113 runs scored and 23 steals per season during that stretch. Not only that, but he batted at least .299 three times. He was limited to just 114 games last year due to injury, but he still batted .306 with 33 home runs, 72 RBI, 92 runs scored and 22 steals. Those are crazy counting stats in such a limited time frame. He’s only getting better with his pitch selection, lowering his strikeout percentage while also increasing his walk percentage in four straight seasons. He’s not just the best outfielder in fantasy baseball either as I rank him number one overall.

Charlie Blackmon, Colorado Rockies

Blackmon had a monster season in 2017, batting .331 with 37 home runs, 104 RBI, 137 runs scored, 14 steals and a .399 OBP. He led the majors in hits, runs scored, triples and total bases and was second in batting average only to Jose Altuve. To put his season into perspective, only four players had a higher slugging percentage last year than Blackmon. They were J.D. Martinez, Giancarlo Stanton, Mike Trout and Aaron Judge. He did have extreme home and road splits, batting .391 with 24 home runs at Coors Field compared to .276 with 13 homers on the road. It’s going to be tough for him to so many home runs again this year, but he did have 29 homers and 82 RBI in 2016. His ability to hit for power, a high average and steal bases makes him one of the most valuable options in fantasy baseball.

Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox

Betts established himself as an elite fantasy asset in 2016, hitting .318 with 31 home runs, 113 RBI, 122 runs scored and 26 steals. His counting stats were again stellar in 2017, but his batting average dropped to just .264. He had never batted below .291 in a season in the majors, leaving his owners who paid a lofty price for him on draft day somewhat disappointed with his overall production. However, his strikeout percentage, groundball to fly ball ratio and line drive percentage were all almost right on par with his career averages. The big difference is he had only a .268 BABIP last year after never finishing with one below .310 in his career. With a higher BABIP likely on tap for 2018, expect Betts to rebound with his batting average. The addition of Martinez also adds a power dimension that the Red Sox lineup was sorely lacking last year, which should help Betts as well. Get ready for a big season.

Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals

Of all the outfielders not named Mike Trout, Harper might have the highest upside. He showed his immense potential in 2015, batting .330 with 42 home runs, 99 RBI and 118 runs scored on his way to winning the National League MVP. The reason why Harper is fourth on this list though is due to injuries and inconsistencies throughout his career. He has only played at least 147 games twice in his career, one of which was that stellar 2015 campaign. He has also batted above .300 only twice in six seasons. It can be frustrating to own him, but you shouldn’t be disappointed if he ends up being your first round pick. If everything falls right, he could end up finishing in the top three overall in fantasy.

Giancarlo Stanton, New York Yankees

As a testament to how deep the outfield position is, a guy who had 59 home runs and 132 RBI last season if fifth on this list. Stanton was unlike many of the games elite home run hitters too, managing to hit .281 and record a career-low 23.6% strikeout percentage. Injuries have been a concern for Stanton as well, limiting him to 123 games or less in four of the last six years. He mashes when he’s on the field though. The 2015 season might be the perfect example as he hit 27 home runs in just 74 games. Not only does he move to homer-friendly Yankee Stadium, but he’ll also be part of one of the most potent lineups in the league. If he can stay healthy, the sky is the limit. That’s a big if though, which is why he’s fifth on this list.

Overvalued Players

2018 MLB Fantasy Baseball Season Preview: Outfield

Billy Hamilton, Cincinnati Reds

There is no question that Hamilton is one of the premier base stealers in the league, recording at least 56 steals in four straight seasons. The problem is, that’s about all he does well. For his career, he is only batting .248 with a paltry .298 OBP. He’s never scored more than 85 runs in a season and has 17 career home runs. While steals are hard to find, it’s important to remember that it’s only one category. He’ll drag you down just about everywhere else, making it very hard to justify his current ADP in the NFBC of 61.85.

Andrew McCutchen, San Francisco Giants

McCutchen will be playing for someone other than the Pirates for the first time in his career and will be a key part of what the Giants hope is a vastly improved lineup. McCutchen was once an elite fantasy option, hitting at least 20 home runs and stealing at least 20 bases each season from 2011 through 2013. His power numbers are still there, hitting at least 23 homers in four straight years. He’s not the threat that he once was on the basepaths though, stealing a total of 28 bases in the last three seasons. The problem is if he’s not going to steal bases and isn’t a .300 hitter anymore, the ability to hit 25 home runs isn’t nearly as valuable as it used to be. His current ADP is 87.06, ahead of players who could provide similar production like Ryan Braun (113.24) and Adam Jones (146.55). Make sure you don’t overpay for McCutchen.

Ender Inciarte, Atlanta Braves

Inciarte played in a career-high 157 games last year, making his first All-Star team. He’s always hit for a high average, batting .295 for his career.  With at least 21 steals in two of the last three seasons, he can certainly provide value on the basepaths. However, he doesn’t hit for a lot of power, recording just 11 home runs last season. He had never hit more than six home runs in a year entering 2017. He also doesn’t drive in many runs, finishing with just 57 RBI last year. His current ADP of 120.21 seems awfully high for a player of his skillset. Adam Eaton is a reasonable comp in my eyes and his ADP is only 152.76. Buyer beware of Inciarte at his current price.

 

Undervalued Players

2018 MLB Fantasy Baseball Season Preview: Outfield

Brett Gardner, New York Yankees

The Yankees lineup is loaded. They have premier hitters in Stanton, Judge, and Gary Sanchez and have excellent depth when you add in the likes of Greg Bird and Didi Gregorius. Gardner is expected to be the Yankees leadoff hitter again this season, which should leave him with a ton of opportunities to score runs. He has scored at least 90 runs three times in his career, but has the potential to score at least 100 runs for the first time this year. He also brings a nice combination of speed and power, hitting at least 16 home runs and stealing at least 20 bases in three of the last four years. Although it’s not flashy, he has a valuable .264 career batting average as well. His current ADP is 180.67, leaving him with plenty of value on draft day.

Stephen Piscotty, Oakland Athletics

Piscotty was a trendy pick to be a breakout player last year after batting .273 with 22 home runs, 85 RBI and 86 runs scored in 2016. He was a major disappointment though, batting just .235 with nine home runs and 39 RBI in 107 games. He gets a fresh start as a member of the Athletics and shouldn’t be someone you sleep on this season. Batting average was never an area of concern for him in the minors, hitting .287 over 405 games. He’s still just 27 years old and will be part of an Athletics lineup that has a lot of power. His current ADP is 292.2, which is a steal considering his upside.

Mallex Smith, Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays are rebuilding, trading away some key players this offseason. They especially have holes to fill in their outfield after trading both Corey Dickerson and Steven Souza Jr. Their outfield was projected to be Smith, Kevin Kiermaier and Denard Span after those moves, but then they signed Carlos Gomez. Gomez is the only right-handed hitter in the bunch, so he could end up with plenty of at-bats. Smith could work his way into regular playing time still, which would give him a chance to showcase his speed. He played just 81 games last year, but still stole 16 bases. He batted .270 as well, which helps considering he provides no power. His value is mostly limited to stolen bases, but he could steal somewhere between 30 and 40 bases under the right circumstances. With a current ADP of 351.12, Smith could be a very cheap source of steals. I’d much rather get him towards the end of a draft than spend a high pick on Hamilton.