Get ready for a wild night in the majors with 15 games on the schedule Tuesday.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/13/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
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All 15 games Friday start in the evening, leaving one of the last big slates in DFS before the All-Star break. 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
Rick Porcello vs. Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $9,600
DraftKings = $9,800
Porcello already has 11 wins for the Red Sox, matching his total from all of 2017. Having a stellar lineup behind him certainly helps, but he’s also made significant improvements. He had a 1.40 WHIP and a 1.7 HR/9 last year, but this season he has a 1.17 WHIP and a 0.9 HR/9. His 3.58 ERA is supported by a 3.48 FIP and a career-high 22.7% strikeout rate. He also pitches deep into games, logging at least six innings in all but four starts. The Blue Jays have a .749 OPS at home this year, but only a .703 OPS on the road. Porcello has already faced them twice this season, allowing six runs (five earned) and recording 14 strikeouts across 13.2 innings. On a night that is lacking many top-tier pitchers, Porcello is one of the best options available.
Brad Keller vs. Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $6,100
DraftKings = $6,400
The Royals pitching staff has been a mess this season as their 5.35 team ERA is worst in the majors. Keller has been one of their few bright spots, though, recording a 2.52 ERA, 3.38 FIP and a 1.25 WHIP in 28 appearances, seven of which were starts. He doesn’t have much strikeout upside with a 5.2 K/9, but he’s only allowed one home run in 60.2 innings. He allowed 0.5 HR/9 during his career in the minors, so look for this to be a trend that continues. The White Sox have scored the sixth-fewest runs (365) in baseball and lost one of their hottest hitters to injury in Avisail Garcia, leaving Keller as a cheap option to consider in tournament play.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Brandon Belt vs. Edwin Jackson, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,400
Jackson continues to find a way to work himself into a major league rotation. He’s made three starts since joining the Athletics, giving up just six runs (five earned) in 18.1 innings. It’s hard to have much confidence in him, though, since he has finished with an ERA of 5.21 or higher in three of the last four years. Belt has a .410 wOBA against right-handed pitching this season, so don’t be surprised if he gives Jackson trouble.
Carlos Santana vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,000
Chen has been awful with a 6.14 ERA. His FIP is a little better at 5.09, but it’s still the highest of his career. He hasn’t been able to keep runners off base with a 1.55 WHIP and he has already allowed 11 homers in 66 innings. Strikeouts have been hard to come by for him as well with a 6.7 K/9. Santana hasn’t exactly thrived in his first season with the Phillies, either, but he’s priced low enough to be a viable option for your entry.
Others to consider: Wilson Ramos (catcher) and Yonder Alonso (first base)
SECOND BASE
Ozzie Albies vs. Zack Godley, Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,200
Albies is red hot again as he is 38-for-91 (.418) with four home runs, 13 RBI and 20 runs scored in his last 20 games. He’s slowed down from the torrid home run pace he was on earlier this season, but it’s very encouraging to see him adjust and come out of the slump he was mired in from the middle of May through the middle of June. Godley allows a ton of batters to reach base with a 1.56 WHIP, so look for Albies to continue his hot streak Friday.
Rougned Odor vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,500
Odor has finally shown signs of life again, going 14-for-44 (.318) with three home runs in his last 12 games. His overall average has improved to .242 as a result, but he only has six home runs. He has a lot of catching up to do if he is going to hit at least 30 homers for the third straight season. Cobb has a 1.62 WHIP and a 1.7 HR/9 in his first season with the Orioles, making Odor an excellent option at a reduced price, especially on FanDuel.
Others to consider: Dee Gordon and Jonathan Schoop
THIRD BASE
Jose Ramirez vs. Domingo German, New York Yankees
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $5,800
Ramirez homered against Thursday and has four home runs in his last three games. The fact that it came off of Luis Severino was especially impressive since Severino has only allowed 0.7 HR/9. He’ll face a much easier opponent in German on Friday, who has had problems keeping hitters inside the park with a 1.7 HR/9.
Mike Moustakas vs. James Shields, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,600
The Royals have already started to trade off some veterans and it makes sense that they look to move Moustakas as well. His batting average has regressed from .272 last season to .256 this year, but he’s still provided plenty of power with 19 home runs. Even though the Royals don’t score much, he still has 58 RBI. Lefties give him trouble, but he has a .358 wOBA against right-handed pitchers.
Others to consider: Nolan Arenado and Travis Shaw
SHORTSTOP
Trevor Story vs. Christian Bergman, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,300
Bergman made one start for the Mariners back in May but has mostly pitched in the minors this season. The fact that he had a 4.78 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP at Triple-A doesn’t really bode well for his chances pitching at Coors Field on Friday. Story mashes at home and is one of several Rockies’ hitters to target for your entry.
Elvis Andrus vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,100
Andrus only has 153 plate appearances this season due to injury, but he’s been a disappointment with just two home runs and one stolen base. After attempting 35 steals last year, he only has two attempts this season. His strikeout rate is down and his .281 BABIP is well below his .313 career mark, so he does have room for improvement in the second half. Considering Cobb’s struggles, this might be just what he needs to get back on track.
Others to consider: Xander Bogaerts and Scott Kingery
OUTFIELD
Charlie Blackmon vs. Christian Bergman, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $5,500
Blackmon has historically hit about the same amount of home runs on the road as he has at home, but he has a career .343 batting average at Coors Field compared to .263 on the road. He also has a career .371 wOBA against righties, making him an outfielder worth paying up for versus Bergman.
Carlos Gonzalez vs. Christian Bergman, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,700
As we continue to target lefties against Bergman, Gonzalez presents another excellent option at a favorable price. He’s not nearly the hitter that he was in his prime, but he’s quietly batting .275 with 10 home runs in 73 games. He also has a .357 wOBA against right-handers.
Steven Duggar vs. Edwin Jackson, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $2,300
DraftKings = $3,700
Duggar only had four home runs in Triple-A this year before being called up, but he did slug 27 doubles to go along with a .354 OBP. He’s not likely to play much against left-handed pitching, but he should be in the lineup against the right-handed Jackson. He could be worth the gamble in tournament play based on the salary relief he can provide for your budget.
Others to consider: Mookie Betts and Christian Yelich
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/11/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
July special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout
There are a few day games Wednesday, but there are still 11 games to choose from for the main evening slate in DFS. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
STARTING PITCHERS
Chris Sale vs. Texas Rangers
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $12,600
DraftKings = $13,000
Sale has finished in the top-five for the Cy Young voting in five straight seasons but has yet to take home the award. He’s making another excellent case for consideration this season with a 2.36 ERA, 2.27 FIP, and a 0.89 WHIP. He has recorded at least 11 strikeouts in four straight games and has a career-high 13.0 K/9. It’s no surprise that he dominated the Rangers in their first meeting this season, allowing one run and recording 12 strikeouts in seven innings. The Rangers have struck out the third-most times (870) in baseball, so expect another great performance in their rematch.
Vince Velasquez vs. New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $8,200
DraftKings = $8,100
Velasquez was struck on his right forearm by a line drive in his last outing, landing him on the DL. He ended up missing just one start as he plans to return for this game Wednesday. He hasn’t pitched as poorly as his 4.69 ERA indicates as he has a 3.84 FIP and he has done a better job keeping runners off base with a 1.29 WHIP. Strikeouts are his strong suit as he has a 10.9 K/9 this year and a 10.0 K/9 for his career. The Mets have scored the third-fewest runs (344) in baseball and are a mess right now, making Velasquez a cheaper option to consider in tournament play.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Paul Goldschmidt vs. German Marquez, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $5,900
Marquez has been excellent on the road this season with a 2.62 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP across nine starts. However, he’s been hammered at Coors Field with a 7.93 ERA and a 1.95 WHIP over nine outings. He’s made two starts against the Diamondbacks already this season. It’s no coincidence that he allowed one unearned run over five innings in the one start on the road, but he allowed five earned runs in four innings against them during his start at Coors Field. The Diamondbacks will likely be a popular stack Wednesday with Goldschmidt one of their key hitters to target. He is 8-for-15 (.533) with two doubles and three home runs in his career against Marquez.
Jose Martinez vs. Carlos Rodon, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,900
Martinez came through with three hits Tuesday and now has six hits and three RBI in his last two games. He was the designated hitter Tuesday and should found himself in that same spot Wednesday against the left-handed Rodon. Martinez’s defense has come into question, but he’s a reliable bat who has plenty of upside at this cheap price on both sites.
Others to consider: Jesus Aguilar (first base) and Yadier Molina (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Jonathan Schoop vs. Sonny Gray, New York Yankees
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,700
Schoop couldn’t have started off much worse this season, but he appears to be finally finding himself at the plate. He had two more hits Tuesday and is 16-for-37 (.432) with two home runs during his current nine-game hitting streak. Gray has been a mess this season with a 5.85 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP, leaving Schoop with an excellent opportunity to extend his streak.
Jedd Gyorko vs. Carlos Rodon, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,600
With Paul DeJong healthy, Gyorko may start to see less playing time. The use of the DH may help with that Wednesday, but it would also be a wise move for the Cardinals to put him in their lineup considering he has a 185 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers this year.
Others to consider: Dee Gordon and Brock Holt
THIRD BASE
Justin Turner vs. Joey Lucchesi, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $3,700
Turner is still looking for his first home run in July and he has only five home runs overall this season. His wrist injury at the start of the season might be contributing to his lack of power, but he’s also batting just .266. The good news is he is still showing an excellent eye at the plate with 20 walks compared to just 18 strikeouts. He also has a .406 wOBA against lefties, making him someone to consider facing Lucchesi.
Rafael Devers vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $4,000
Colon has allowed three runs or fewer in four straight games, but he only recorded 11 strikeouts across 26 innings during that stretch. He’s not an overpowering pitcher by any means and can be prone to giving up runs in bunches as a result. The Red Sox scored four runs against him in seven innings earlier this season when all four runs came on solo homers. Devers has been much better against righties this year and is a cheaper option with upside based on this matchup.
Others to consider: Nolan Arenado and Kyle Seager
SHORTSTOP
Trevor Story vs. Shelby Miller, Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $5,300
Story hasn’t hit well on the road this year with a .260 average and only three home runs. He’s been a force at Coors Field, though, batting .320 with 13 homers. He’s been better against left-handed pitchers, but he’s still had enough success against righties with a .352 wOBA. Miller has looked awful in his return from Tommy John surgery, making Story a great option despite his lack of platoon advantage.
Paul DeJong vs. Carlos Rodon, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,900
DeJong chipped in during the Cardinals offensive outburst Tuesday, finishing 2-for-6 with three runs scored. He now has at least one hit in all four games since returning from a lengthy DL stint and could provide value again Wednesday considering he had a .392 wOBA against lefties last year.
Others to consider: Manny Machado and Chris Taylor
OUTFIELD
Charlie Blackmon vs. Shelby Miller, Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $5,400
This could be a very high scoring game considering both pitchers on the mound. Blackmon is having a down season by his standards, but he’s still putting up valuable numbers by hitting .277 with 17 home runs. He has a .365 wOBA against righties and has fared well against Miller in his career, hitting 7-for-23 (.304) with a home run.
David Peralta vs. German Marquez, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $5,200
Peralta is in the middle of the best season of his career, batting .290 with 16 home runs and 52 RBI. He has already hit two more home runs this year than he did in 140 games in 2017 and is only two homers away from setting a new career best. He’s yet another Diamondbacks hitter who has great numbers against Marquez as he is 7-for-17 (.412) with three doubles and a home run against him.
Harrison Bader vs. Carlos Rodon, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $3,700
Bader sat out Tuesday’s blowout against the White Sox, but he is 14-for-37 (.378) with a home run and four doubles in his last 11 games. He might not have played due to his .293 wOBA against righties, but he could be back in the lineup against Rodon since he has a .389 wOBA against lefties. If he plays, he could be worth the risk in tournament play.
Others to consider: Andrew Benintendi and Christian Yelich
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/6/18
Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/6/18
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This will be an usually quiet Friday in the majors with only nine games on the schedule, which particularly hurts in terms of options at starting pitcher 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
Lance McCullers Jr. vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $8,600
DraftKings = $12,300
McCullers’ overall numbers don’t look great on the surface, finishing with a 4.25 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 2017. However, his FIP was 3.10 and he was a bit unlucky with opposing batters posting a .333 BABIP. He had a 10 K/9 and a 0.6 HR/9, making him a candidate for significant improvement in 2018. McCullers had a brief scare when he was hit by a comebacker in his first start of the season against the Rangers, but stayed in the game, finishing with 10 strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. The Padres lineup isn’t great, to begin with, but it’s even thinner right now with Wil Myers (elbow) on the DL. McCullers could be in line for another strong performance Friday as a result.
Luis Castillo vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $7,100
DraftKings = $8,700
Castillo had a great start to his career during his brief time in the majors last year, posting a 3.12 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 9.9 K/9 in 89 1/3 innings. He showed excellent control for a young power pitcher, allowing just 1.8 BB/9. He induced a lot of grounders as well with a 58.8% ground-ball rate. Castillo had to face the Nationals in his first start of the season, who have one of the best lineups in the league. He allowed six earned runs in five innings, but he did still record six strikeouts. Friday brings an easier opponent in the Pirates, leaving Castillo as a tournament play option at this price.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Freddie Freeman vs. German Marquez, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $5,700
Freeman has started off about as well as anyone so far this season, batting .421 with two home runs and nine RBI. He has a crazy .621 OBP and has only struck out three times. He’ll face the righty Marquez on Friday, which should benefit him greatly since he had a ridiculous .422 wOBA against righties in 2017.
Kendrys Morales vs. Matt Moore, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $2,900
Morales is only 2-for-14 to start the season and has yet to record an extra-base hit. Friday might be the day his fortunes change though against Moore and the Rangers. A switch-hitter, Morales is much better from the right side of the plate, posting a 165 wRC+ in 2017 compared to a 77 wRC+ from the left side. Moore struggled with a 1.53 WHIP last year and doesn’t have overpowering stuff, making Morales an option to consider at this cheap price.
Others to consider: Justin Smoak (first base) and Brian McCann (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Scooter Gennett vs. Trevor Williams, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,500
Gennett had the best season of his career in 2017, hitting .295 with 27 home runs and 97 RBI. His previous career-highs were 14 home runs and 56 RBI, so the leap that he made was significant, to say the least. He’s not off to a hot start with his counting stats this year, but he is batting .429 in the early goings. Right-handed pitching provided little troubles for Gennett as he posting a .388 wOBA against them last year compared to just .296 against lefties. Based on those extreme splits, he might be worth taking a chance on in tournament play Friday.
Kike Hernandez vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,500
The injury to Justin Turner (wrist) has opened up some playing time for Hernandez, but he is only hitting .188 so far this season. He has dominated left-handed pitching though, posting a .390 wOBA against them in 2017. He’ll face the lefty Holland for the second time of the season on Friday after going 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI in their first matchup. Of note, Hernandez is only listed at second base on FanDuel as he is listed as an outfielder on DraftKings.
Others to consider: Joe Panik and Jed Lowrie
THIRD BASE
Josh Donaldson vs. Matt Moore, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $4,800
Donaldson has battled through a dead arm to start the season, but it has really only limited him in the field. He has two home runs and a double so far to go along with a .400 OBP. He owned lefties last year, finishing with a 171 wRC+. In limited plate appearances against Moore in his career, Donaldson is also 3-for-8 with a home run, one double and one walk. Expect him to give Moore troubles again Friday.
Luis Valbuena vs. Daniel Gossett, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $3,000
Valbuena is off to a terrible start this season, hitting .167 with just two extra-base hits. The good news is that he is getting plenty of playing time with Ian Kinsler (groin) on the DL, which moved Zack Cozart from third to second base. Gossett struggled with a 6.11 ERA and 1.61 WHIP last year while also recording just 7.1 K/9. Valbuena is a much better hitter against righties, posting a .324 wOBA against them in 2017 compared to just .194 against lefties.
Others to consider: Nolan Arenado and Ryan Flaherty
SHORTSTOP
Carlos Correa vs. Luis Perdomo, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $5,000
Correa suffered a minor toe injury and sat out Wednesday, but he should return Friday after receiving two days of rest. He was hot before the injury, batting .474 with two home runs and eight RBI. Although he hits lefties extremely well, righties don’t really give him problems either, finishing with a .380 wOBA against them in 2017. The right-hander Perdomo had a WHIP of at least 1.51 in both of the last two seasons and his K/9 did not exceed 6.5 in either year, which doesn’t exactly make him an imposing force for Correa to face.
Manny Machado vs. C.C. Sabathia, New York Yankees
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,200
Machado has yet to drive in a run and is hitting only .222 this season, so he doesn’t exactly come into Friday swinging the bat well. He’s had good numbers against Sabathia in his career though, batting .316 with three home runs and six doubles in 57 career at-bats. Sabathia is still a serviceable starting pitcher, but he’s not nearly as overpowering as he was earlier in his career. This might be just the matchup that Machado needs to get going.
Others to consider: Addison Russell Andrelton Simmons
OUTFIELD
Charlie Blackmon vs. Brandon McCarthy, Atlanta Braves
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $5,300
DraftKings = $5,800
Blackmon has yet to play a single game in the friendly confines of Coors Field, yet he is still batting .345 with four home runs. He finally returns home Friday, a place where he batted .391 and hit 24 of his 37 home runs last season. He also destroyed righties last year with a 145 wRC+, so don’t hesitate to pay up to get him into your lineup against McCarthy on Friday.
Josh Reddick vs. Luis Perdomo, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,000
Reddick was hitless in his first two games of 2018 but has gone 6-for-10 with two home runs in three games since. The Astros lineup is loaded with excellent right-handed hitters and Reddick provides an important compliment from the left-hand side, posting a wOBA of at least .356 against righties in each of the last four seasons. He has an excellent chance to extend his recent hot streak Friday.
Nomar Mazara vs. Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,400
Mazara is swinging a hot bat right now, recording at least two hits in four of his last six games. He batted a disappointing .253 in 2017, but a lot of that was because he hit only .228 against lefties. Most of his power came against right-handers as well, hitting 19 of his 20 home runs against them. At this cheap price, he’s worth taking a chance on in tournament play against a righty in Estrada who doesn’t have overpowering stuff.
Others to consider: Mike Trout and Preston Tucker
2018 MLB Fantasy Baseball Season Preview: Outfield
*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
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
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
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.
DraftKings FanDuel MLB Lineup Picks for June 15, 2017
*Chris Durell*
DraftKings / FanDuel MLB Lineup Picks for June 15, 2017
Welcome back to another day of daily fantasy baseball. Tonight we have a mid-sized seven-game slate including the start of another series in Coors Field as Matt Moore and the San Francisco Giants come to town. The interesting part about this slate is that for pitching we have Chris Sale at the top with a big gap down to the next tier. This will make the decisions very interesting for tournaments as there is no way to fit them all.
Put your favorite Draftkings / Fanduel MLB Lineup Picks from the article below in our lineup optimizer and hit calculate. You can let it fill in the rest of the spots for you or choose your personal favorites from the MLB Player Lab.
Like I mentioned above, Chris Sale is the elite arm on the slate and while his price has stayed consistent on FanDuel all season, it has reached a season high $14,100 on DraftKings. It makes sense as he is arguably the best pitcher in the game at the moment. Sale leads the league in strikeouts rate(12.5 K/9), swinging strike rate (16%), and xFIP (2.57). He is an elite play in all formats vs. the Phillies. If you are looking to pivot off Sale tonight, I like what Jordan Montgomery brings to the table. He has an above average strikeout rate (8.7 K/9) and has held opponents under three earned runs in four straight starts. He gets a park upgrade in Oakland facing an A’s team that ranks near the bottom in hitting vs. lefties and strikes out over 25% of the time. If you are looking to pay down at the position, especially on DraftKings to pair with Sale, I suggest Michael Wacha tonight. The Cardinals are currently -145 favorites at home where Wacha can really only be considered in fantasy right now with a 2.95 ERA vs. 7.52 on the road. There is a definite risk of a blowup as he has given up six earned runs twice in his last four starts but the upside and price are in the right spots for consideration in all formats.
Hitting
Whenever there is a game in Coors Field it takes center stage from a fantasy perspective. That holds even truer today as Matt Moore and Jeff Hoffman go head to head. Hoffman has shown upside with 7+ strikeouts in four straight starts but the last three have been on the road. The side I like best tonight is obviously the Rockies who get to face one of the worst pitchers on the slate. Moore comes in with a 5.24 xFIP, average K rate(7.0 K/9) and has given up 49% hard contact on the year. This will also be the third time he will face the Rockies this season and the first two didn’t go so well as he gave up 11 earned runs(4 HR) in 9.2 innings pitched. Nolan Arenado, DJ Lemahieu, and Charlie Blackmon are my top choices but Mark Reynolds, Ian Desmond are also in play tonight.
After the Rockies, I like pivoting to the Tigers hitters vs. Alex Cobb who has struggled on the road this season with a 5.01 ERA and .357 wOBA against. I will lean on their leaders in hitting vs. right-handed pitching with Alex Avila, Miguel Cabrera, JD Martinez, and Justin Upton. All of them have a wOBA greater than .330 and outside of Miggy, who has dropped some power this season, all have an ISO over .260 for the year vs. righties.
If you are looking for a value stack to make it easier to roster Sale, consider the Angels in one of the two late games. They have been mid-pack in hitting over the last seven days and specifically vs. left-handed pitching this season. Tonight they face a young pitcher in Matt Strahm who will be making his first major league start on a pitch count. In 20 appearances out of the pen this season, Strahm has shown upside with a 10.6 K/9 rate but the walks have been a problem(7.4 BB/9) and so has the long ball (21.1% HR/FB rate). Even if they don’t fully get to Strahm they should get a healthy sample of the Royals bullpen that sits in the bottom third of the league. Target C.J. Cron who leads the team in hitting vs. southpaws with a .499 wOBA and 225 wRC+ and combine him with leadoff hitter Cameron Maybin, cleanup hitter Yunel Escobar and future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols.