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MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/24/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

July special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

The weather might be an issue for a few games again Tuesday, but there is still a packed schedule to take advantage of 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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/24/18

James Paxton vs. San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $9,300
DraftKings = $10,200

Paxton left in the first inning of his last start due to lower-back stiffness. His bullpen session went well Saturday and he is expected to be activated from the DL to start Tuesday. He wasn’t even sidelined two weeks, so he’s unlikely to be on any sort of a pitch count. Although his ERA isn’t as good as last year, he’s pitched well with a 3.70 ERA that is supported by a 3.16 FIP. His 1.09 WHIP and 11.7 K/9 would also be the best marks of his career. The Giants are in the bottom third of baseball in runs scored and only have a .690 OPS against left-handed pitching, so look for Paxton to have a successful return.

Carlos Rodon vs. Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $7,900
DraftKings = $7,300

Rodon has a 3.56 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP through seven starts, which is impressive considering four of those starts came against the Red Sox, the Astros, and the Indians. He’s been somewhat lucky, though, as he has a 5.04 FIP and opponents have just a .225 BABIP against him. He has upside with a 9.0 K/9 for his career, so he can be a viable option in tournament play in the right matchup. That might be the case Tuesday considering the Angels have the fourth-lowest OPS against lefties (.661) in baseball.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/24/18

Anthony Rizzo vs. Clay Buchholz, Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Wrigley Field
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,500

Rizzo had a lackluster first half, but he’s 16-for-31 (.516) with eight walks in his last nine games. He hasn’t homered during that stretch, but he did record five doubles and a triple. With a career .373 wOBA against right-handed pitchers, look for Rizzo to keep his hot streak going against Buchholz, who has been lucky so far with opponents posting just a .236 BABIP against him.

Yadier Molina vs. Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,300

Bailey has been on the DL since the end of May, but he is expected to take the mound Tuesday. He was terrible before suffering a knee injury, posting a 6.68 ERA and a 6.29 FIP across 12 starts. His bloated 1.69 WHIP was a big reason why he struggled and he doesn’t miss many bats with a 5.5 K/9. He hasn’t finished with an ERA below 5.56 or a WHIP below 1.69 since 2014, leaving the Cardinals as one of the premier stacks Tuesday. Molina has owned Bailey in his career, hitting 18-for-44 (.409) with three home runs.

Others to consider: Matt Adams (first base) and Jose Martinez (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/24/18

Rougned Odor vs. Frankie Montas, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,400

Odor got off to a horrible start this year, but he is 27-for-79 (.342) with five home runs across his last 22 games. His batting average is up to .259 overall as a result and he also has a .331 OBP, which would be the highest mark of his career. Montas allows a lot of baserunners with a 1.39 WHIP and he doesn’t record many strikeouts, either, with a 7.8% swinging-strike rate and a 5.6 K/9.

Daniel Murphy vs. Junior Guerra, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,100

Murphy came through with a home run Monday, only his second long ball of the season. However, he is now 13-for-30 (.433) in his last 10 games. Guerra’s wOBA against lefties is almost 40 points higher than it is against righties this season, leaving Murphy as a viable cheaper option on both sites.

Others to consider: Brian Dozier and Jed Lowrie

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/24/18

Matt Carpenter vs. Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $5,400

Carpenter should be the centerpiece of any stack against Bailey. He had two more hits Monday and is currently on an eight-game hitting streak that has seen him hit eight home runs. Not only does he have a .402 wOBA against righties this season, but he is 19-for-39 (.497) in his career against Bailey.

Matt Chapman vs. Mike Minor, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,900

Chapman burst onto the scene with 14 homers in 84 games last year, but he batted only .234 in the process. He has 11 home runs through 85 games this season, but his batting average is also much improved at .261. A big reason for his improvement is that he has dropped his strikeout rate by five percentage points. Minor has held lefties to a .292 wOBA, but righties have had much more success against him with a .346 wOBA.

Others to consider: Miguel Andujar and Adrian Beltre

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/24/18

Elvis Andrus vs. Frankie Montas, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,000

Not only did Andrus extend his hitting streak to five games Monday, but he also hit his third home run of the season. He’s still got a big hole to climb out of in terms of his batting average and home run total, but his .330 OBP isn’t far off from his .337 mark last year. With Montas’ inability to keep runners off base, Andrus could be in line for another productive game.

Paul DeJong vs. Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,000

Get as many Cardinals hitters into your lineup as you can. DeJong is batting just .218 since he returned from the DL, but he’s also been the victim of a .250 BABIP. He has hit for a lot of power and shown even splits against righties and lefties during his brief career in the majors, so this matchup against Baily could be just what he needs to get back on track.

Others to consider: Jean Segura and Marcus Semien

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/24/18

Giancarlo Stanton vs. Yonny Chirinos, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,700

Stanton went 4-for-4 with a walk Monday to raise his batting average to .285 for the season, which is actually higher than his .281 mark last year. A lot was made of his struggles to start his career with the Yankees, but Stanton has put those fears to rest and is batting .378 in July. His strikeout rate is still high at 30.5%, but he can go on power streaks like few others can around baseball.

Khris Davis vs. Mike Minor, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $5,100

Look out, here comes Davis. After a lengthy power drought, he has three homers in his last two games. He finished 3-for-6 Monday and looks primed for a big series in hitter-friendly Globe Life Park in Arlington against a horrid Rangers pitching staff. Minor has allowed 16 home runs this season, 14 of which have come against right-handed batters.

Mark Canha vs. Mike Minor, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $3,800

Canha didn’t play Sunday due to hamstring cramps, but he returned Monday and finished 2-for-5 with a double. He’s already played more games for the Athletics this season than he did the last two years combined and is usually a cheap option to target versus lefties since he has a 170 wRC+ against them.

Others to consider: Shin-Soo Choo and Marcell Ozuna

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
July special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

If you are playing in a head-to-head fantasy league, using starting pitchers that have two starts in a week can give you a significant edge over your opponent. Here are some starters who will each start two games in the week ahead that you should either target or avoid for your lineup.

Starters With Favorable Matchups

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 18

Luis Severino, New York Yankees: at TB, vs. KC

Severino hasn’t pitched well in his last two outings, allowing four home runs and seven runs across 10 innings. To show how dominant he was in the first half, he still has a 2.31 ERA and a 2.74 FIP overall. He doesn’t normally allow a lot of home runs with a 0.7 HR/9, so expect him to right the ship in that department sooner rather than later. Not only does he have a 10.1 K/9, but he does a great job limiting baserunners with a 1.01 WHIP. He has dominated the Rays in two previous starts this season, allowing two runs and recording 16 strikeouts over 15.1 innings. The Royals have scored the fewest runs (352) in baseball, setting up Severino for a big week.

Rick Porcello, Boston Red Sox: at BAL, vs. MIN

The Blue Jays hammered Porcello for eight runs across two innings in his last start, increasing his ERA from 3.58 to 4.13. He’s pitched better this year overall, though, in large part because he lowered his WHIP from 1.40 last year to 1.24. His 38.3% percent hard-hit rate in 2017 was significantly higher than his career mark, but that has normalized this season at 31.4%. He doesn’t have the same strikeout upside that Severino does, but he has a respectable 8.6 K/9. The Orioles have already traded away their best hitter in Manny Machado, leaving their lineup even more in shambles. The Twins lineup isn’t great either and they, too, could be looking to trade away some of their better players for prospects. Even if that doesn’t happen before Porcello faces them, look for him to quickly get back on track with two valuable performances for Week 18.

Zack Wheeler, New York Mets: vs. SD, at PIT

Wheeler’s 4.44 ERA isn’t inspiring, but his 3.74 FIP indicates he’s actually having a nice rebound campaign. His 1.34 WHIP is much improved from 1.59 last year and he hasn’t allowed a lot of home runs with a 0.9 HR/9. His 8.9 K/9 is bolstered by his 11% swinging-strike rate and hitters swinging at 31.5% of his pitches outside of the strike zone, both of which would be career-highs. The Padres have scored the fourth-fewest runs (380) in baseball, setting up Wheeler to start off Week 18 on a high note. The Pirates will be a tougher matchup, but Wheeler recorded seven strikeouts over seven scoreless innings against them earlier this year. Still available in 72% of Yahoo! leagues, Wheeler has upside, even though there is some risk he might be traded.

Carlos Rodon, Chicago White Sox: at LAA, vs. TOR

Rodon has come back from injury to record a 3.56 ERA in seven starts, but don’t get overly confident in him just yet. His FIP is 5.04 and opponents have been unlucky with a .225 BABIP. He’s also allowed seven home runs over 43 innings. He has a career 9.0 K/9, though, and has shown enough upside that you can still gain some value if you start him in the right situation. That could be the case for Week 18 as his first start comes against an Angels squad with the fourth-lowest OPS (.663) against lefties. The Blue Jays haven’t struggled as much with a .708 OPS against left-handers, but they are much better against righties with a .742 OPS. Rodon is still available in 74% of Yahoo! leagues and presents another viable streaming opportunity.

Starters to Avoid

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 18

Kevin Gausman, Baltimore Orioles: vs. BOS, vs. TB

Gausman has trouble keeping hitters in the park with a 1.5 HR/9, which would be the fourth straight season he has finished with an HR/9 of at least 1.4. Add in his 1.37 WHIP and uninspiring 7.8 K/9 and Gausman enters Week 18 with a 4.33 ERA and a 4.48 FIP. The Red Sox have scored by far the most runs (540) in baseball and destroyed Gausman for six runs in 4.2 innings earlier this season. The Rays are a better matchup, but they have scored nine runs over 10 innings in two games against Gausman. Keep him anchored to your bench.

Jose Urena, Miami Marlins: vs. ATL, vs. WAS

Urena finished with a 3.82 ERA in 2017, but he was lucky considering his 5.20 FIP. The opposite can be said for him this year as he has a 4.39 ERA, but a 3.71 FIP. He’s allowed a .304 BABIP, which is over 20 points higher than his career mark. The problem is he’s not fooling many batters with an 8.6% swinging-strike rate and a 7.4 K/9. The Braves are in the top third of baseball in runs scored and have scored seven runs over 12 innings against Urena this season. The Nationals lineup has been disappointing, but they still have plenty of potent hitters that can cause problems. With Urena’s limited strikeout upside, he’s not worth taking a chance on for Week 18.

Mike Minor, Texas Rangers: vs. OAK, at HOU

Minor was shelled by the lowly Orioles in his last start, allowing six runs (five earned) in 2.2 innings. He’s been able to stay healthy in his first season as a starting pitcher since 2014, but he hasn’t pitched well with a 4.89 ERA. He doesn’t walk many batters, but he doesn’t strikeout out many, either, with a 7.2 K/9. The Athletics are red-hot right now and have the second-highest road OPS (.788) in baseball. Minor has faced the Astros three times already, allowing 12 runs (11 earned) across 17 innings. You may have streamed him earlier this season, but stay away this week.

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/4/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

July special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

There are games spread throughout the day 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 7/4/18

Trevor Bauer vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $12,000
DraftKings = $13,600

Bauer might not get as much publicity as his teammate Corey Kluber does, but Bauer has been just as impressive this season. After never finishing with an ERA below 4.19, Bauer has a 2.45 ERA that is supported by his 2.19 FIP. He’s done an excellent job limiting baserunners with a 1.09 WHIP and has allowed only five home runs in 113.2 innings. His 13.2% swinging-strike rate and 11.7 K/9 are both career-highs as well. The Royals have scored the fewest runs (295) in baseball, leaving Bauer as one of the best starters available Wednesday.

Rich Hill vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $7,600
DraftKings = $8,700

Hill struggled at the start of the season, then missed some time with a blister issue. He’s only made nine starts, three of which have come after he was activated from the DL. He pitched well in two of those outings, holding the Cubs and Rockies to a combined one run in 12.2 innings. He also had 16 strikeouts, helping boost his K/9 for the season to 9.8. Although he wasn’t a big strikeout pitcher early in his career, he’s finished with a K/9 of at least 10.5 in five straight seasons. With his blister issue hopefully behind him, Hill is a cost-effective option with upside in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/4/18

Justin Smoak vs. Corey Oswalt, New York Mets
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,100

Oswalt has been hit hard in 10 starts at Triple-A this year, resulting in a 5.32 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. He made his first start for the Mets last week against the Marlins and was hammered for six runs in 2.2 innings. The Marlins are tied for the fewest home runs (68) in baseball but took Oswalt deep twice in that game. Smoak has a higher batting average against lefties this year, but his wOBA splits are pretty close and eight of his 11 home runs have come off of righties.

Yasmani Grandal vs. Clay Holmes, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $4,000

Grandal only hit .162 in June, but he also had a crazy low .170 BABIP during the month. He has started to turn things around in this series against the Pirates, going 4-for-6 with a double, triple and a home run in the first two games. He has a .361 wOBA against righties this year overall, making him a viable option against Holmes, who is making his first career start in the majors.

Others to consider: Yonder Alonso (first base) and Matt Davidson (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/4/18

Max Muncy vs. Clay Holmes, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,900

At this point, you almost just have to ride Muncy every day in DFS. He homered twice Tuesday and is now 14-for-37 (.378) with seven home runs in his last 11 games. He incredibly has 20 home runs in only 231 plate appearances. With a .440 wOBA against righties, don’t expect Holmes to be the one to slow him down. Of note, Muncy is only eligible at second base on FanDuel as he is listed at first base and third base on DraftKings.

Yoan Moncada vs. Sal Romano, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,400

Moncada has yet to take off after being one of the most highly regarded prospects in the minors as he is batting only .229 with a .296 OBP. He has struck out a staggering 120 times while drawing only 29 walks, so he needs to show significant improvement with his pitch selection. He only has a 22 wRC+ against lefties but has been much better against righties with a 115 wRC+. Romano is prone to giving up a lot of runs due to his 1.49 WHIP, making Moncada a viable option if you don’t want to pay up for Muncy.

Others to consider: DJ LeMahieu and Scooter Gennett

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/4/18

Nolan Arenado vs. Andrew Suarez, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $5,100
DraftKings = $5,800

Arenado is an excellent hitter, but he vaults to the top of DFS consideration whenever he is playing at home against a left-handed pitcher. Arenado is batting .367 with 13 home runs at Coors Field and has mashed lefties to the tune of a 249 wRC+ this year.

Yolmer Sanchez vs. Sal Romano, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,200

Sanchez might not be a player who stands out, but he is 11-for-37 (.297) with a home run and two doubles in his last eight games. He doesn’t have a lot of power with just five homers, but he does have 15 doubles and nine triples to go along with a .257 average.  Like Moncada, he struggles against lefties but is much better against righties. His upside isn’t anywhere near Arenado’s, but his cheap price makes him someone to consider against Romano.

Others to consider: Jose Ramirez and Yangervis Solarte

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/4/18

Francisco Lindor vs. Trevor Oaks, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $5,900

Lindor ended his streak of three-straight games with a home run Tuesday, but he still finished with his fourth multi-hit game in his last five contests. He scored yet another run too, bringing him up to 74 runs scored this season. Oaks had a 2.00 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP at Triple-A this season, but his 5.3 K/9 doesn’t translate well for his potential success in the majors. In the only start he has made for the Royals, Oaks allowed five runs and 12 hits in five innings to the White Sox.

Jose Peraza vs. Dylan Covey, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,700

Peraza had only four home runs in 143 games last year and while he already has three this season, he’s still not someone who is going to provide home run upside. However, he is swinging a hot bat right now, hitting 12-for-34 (.353) across his last eight games. Covey has an ugly 1.59 WHIP and doesn’t have overpowering stuff with a 6.9 K/9, making Peraza a strong secondary option at shortstop.

Others to consider: Trevor Story and Chris Taylor

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/4/18

Joc Pederson vs. Clay Holmes, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,500

Pederson was a major disappointment for the Dodgers last year, hitting only .212 with 11 home runs in 323 plate appearances. This season has been a different story as he is batting .266 with 13 home runs in 231 plate appearances. He’s been leading off against right-handed pitchers, so expect him to occupy that position against Holmes on Wednesday. He’s gone deep in back-to-back games and has a .418 wOBA against righties this year.

Avisail Garcia vs. Sal Romano, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,200

News came out Tuesday that Garcia with dealing with a slight hamstring issue, but that didn’t stop him from playing and hitting two home runs.  He now has six home runs in 12 games since being activated from the DL. Romano has been hit just as hard by right-handed hitters as he has by lefties this year, so don’t hesitate to ride Garcia’s hot streak if he’s in the lineup again.

Curtis Granderson vs. Corey Oswalt, New York Mets
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,000

Granderson doesn’t play much against lefties anymore, which makes a lot of sense considering he only has a .210 wOBA against them this year. He’s still a potent bat against righties, though, with a .375 wOBA.  With Oswalt’s struggles already detailed, Granderson could provide significant value at this cheap price and is an excellent option in tournament play.

Others to consider: Scott Schebler and Teoscar Hernandez

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/29/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

June special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

After a quiet Thursday, Friday brings a full slate of 15 games in the majors. 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 6/29/18

Jacob deGrom vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $11,700
DraftKings = $13,600

This is the premier pitching matchup to target for your entry. The Mets season has been a disappointment, but deGrom has been spectacular with a 1.69 ERA, 2.14 FIP, and a 1.01 WHIP. He’s always provided plenty of strikeouts, but he currently has career-highs in both swinging-strike rate (15.2%) and strikeout rate (31.4%). When hitters do actually make contact, they haven’t squared him up with a 27.8% hard-hit rate and only five home runs in 101.1 innings. The Marlins have one of the worst lineups in baseball, leaving deGrom with tremendous upside.

Marco Gonzales vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $7,300
DraftKings = $7,800

Gonzales had a daunting two-start week last week, facing both the Red Sox and Yankees on the road. He understandably struggled, allowing 11 runs in 12.1 innings. Before those bad outings, he had allowed three runs or fewer in six straight starts. He’s not a great source for strikeouts, but he’s shown excellent control by throwing a first-pitch strike to 67.6% of the hitters that he has faced and allowing just 2.0 BB/9. The Royals have scored the fewest runs (283) in baseball, leaving Gonzales with upside in tournament play despite his lack of strikeout potential.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/29/18

Jesus Aguilar vs. Sal Romano, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $5,200

Aguilar went deep again Thursday, marking his third straight game with a home run. He is absolutely on fire right now, hitting 16-for-36 (.444) with nine home runs and three doubles in his last 11 games. Even with Eric Thames healthy, the Brewers are not going to take Aguilar out of their lineup. Romano has allowed 1.5 HR/9 and plenty of base runners with a 1.47 WHIP, potentially setting Aguilar up for another big performance.

Yonder Alonso vs. Paul Blackburn, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,600

After a series in St. Louis without the DH limited Alonso’s playing time, the Indians return to American League play Friday. You want to avoid playing Alonso against lefties, but he’s a great option against righties since he has a .352 wOBA against them this season. Blackburn allows a ton of baserunners and doesn’t have strikeout stuff, so Alonso is a cheap option with upside if you don’t want to pay up for Aguilar.

Others to consider: Jose Abreu (first base) and Tucker Barnhart (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/29/18

Dee Gordon vs. Ian Kennedy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,300

Gordon continues to hit for a high average and is 24-for-73 (.329) in his last 16 games. He provides close to nothing in terms of power, but he did score 11 runs over that stretch. Kennedy is having another bad season with a 5.09 ERA and allows plenty of base runners with a 1.45 WHIP, leaving Gordon as someone to consider despite his lack of home run potential.

Yoan Moncada vs. Yovani Gallardo, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,500

Gallardo hasn’t finished with an ERA below 5.42 since 2015. He’s only made two starts for the Rangers and didn’t pitch well in either of them, allowing nine runs and 17 total base runners in 10.1 innings. He also allowed three home runs after posting a 1.7 HR/9 with the Mariners last year. Moncada only has a .199 wOBA against left-handed pitchers, but he’s been much better against righties with a .336 wOBA.

Others to consider: Scooter Gennett and Jason Kipnis

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/29/18

Jose Ramirez vs. Paul Blackburn, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $5,400

Considering Blackburn has an 8.83 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP, the Indians could be one of the most popular stacking plays Friday. Ramirez has not only been one of the best hitters on the team this season, but he’s been one of the best hitters in all of baseball by batting .291 with 23 home runs, 52 RBI, 55 runs scored and 13 steals.

Justin Turner vs. Tyler Anderson, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,900

Turner is showing signs of getting his power stroke back, slugging two home runs in his last five games. He’s had a slow start in general since returning from a wrist injury but is 6-for-15 (.400) during that same five-game stretch. Turner not only has a .436 wOBA against lefties this year, but he is 10-for-18 with a home run and three doubles against Anderson in his career.

Others to consider: Matt Carpenter and Adrian Beltre

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/29/18

Francisco Lindor vs. Paul Blackburn, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $5,300

Lindor had a rough series against the Cardinals, finishing 1-for-12 with one walk. He had homered in three straight games before the series began and is having the best power season of his career with a .539 slugging percentage. He’s still hitting for average as well at .288, so look for him to get back on track facing a much easier opponent Friday.

Kike Hernandez vs. Tyler Anderson, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,500

Even though Chris Taylor returned from a hamstring injury Thursday, the Dodgers still found a way to keep Hernandez in their lineup. He rewarded them with two hits and two RBI and is now 19-for-55 (.345) with six home runs, 12 RBI and 14 runs scored in his last 16 games. With a .359 wOBA against lefties, expect the Dodgers to start him against Anderson.

Others to consider: Jean Segura and Tim Anderson

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/29/18

Nelson Cruz vs. Ian Kennedy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,800

Kennedy has allowed at least 31 home runs in each of the last three seasons and is on pace to do that again this year with 15 home runs allowed in 86.2 innings. That plays right into Cruz’s wheelhouse as he already has 21 homers this year and has slugged at least 39 home runs in each of the last four seasons.

Rhys Hoskins vs. Erick Fedde, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,900

Hoskins couldn’t buy a hit in May, batting only .161 with two home runs in the month. Hoskins then fractured his jaw after fouling off a pitch at the end of the month, forcing him to hit the DL. He came back quickly and has found his stroke again, batting .329 with seven home runs and 20 RBI in 18 games. Fedde has a 5.32 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP in four starts this season and is really only in the starting rotation due to injuries to Stephen Strasburg and Jeremy Hellickson.

Avisail Garcia vs. Yovani Gallardo, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $3,600

The White Sox struggle to score runs, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look to stack them against Gallardo based on how poorly he has been pitching. Garcia was one of the prime regression candidates at the start of the season as his .338 average last year was largely aided by an unsustainable .392 BABIP. Injuries have limited him to 104 plate appearances, but he has two home runs during his current five-game hitting streak and is worth the risk at this cheap price.

Others to consider: Shin-Soo Choo and Nomar Mazara

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/21/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

June special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout

With several teams off and a few day games on the schedule Thursday, there are only seven games to pick 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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/21/18

Max Scherzer vs. Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $12,200
DraftKings = $14,500

Scherzer is the clear top option on the slate Thursday. He has continued to be one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball with a 2.06 ERA, 1.94 FIP, and a 0.84 WHIP. He has only allowed eight home runs in 100.2 innings and has a career-high 13.6 K/9. This will mark his second start of the season against the Orioles after he recorded 12 strikeouts over eight scoreless innings in their first matchup. He’ll eat up a significant portion of your budget, but his upside is off the charts.

Tyson Ross vs. San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $7,400
DraftKings = $7,800

Ross couldn’t have looked much worse for the Rangers last year, posting a 7.71 ERA and a 1.84 WHIP. His return the Padres has rejuvenated his career, though, as he has a 3.51 ERA, 3.60 FIP and a 1.20 WHIP in 14 starts. He’s done a tremendous job cutting down on his walks, following up his 6.8 BB/9 last year with a 3.2 mark this season. Hitters are also chasing more pitches outside of the strike zone, helping boost his K/9 to 9.0. He has already faced the Giants twice this season, allowing two runs (one earned) and recording 14 strikeouts in 12 innings.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/21/18

Anthony Rizzo vs. Matt Harvey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,700

Rizzo is still trying to dig out of a horrid start that saw him enter May hitting .149. He batted .303 in May and is hitting .274 in June, helping boost his average to .247 overall. He has a .346 wOBA against right-handed pitching and will face the struggling Harvey, who has a 5.09 ERA and a 5.13 FIP since being traded to the Reds.

Matt Olson vs. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,900

With Giolito on the mound, stacking Athletics’ hitters could be a sound strategy. Giolito has a bloated 1.64 WHIP and actually has more walks (45) than strikeouts (40). The result has been a 7.19 ERA and 6.29 FIP across 14 starts. He’s also allowed a .401 wOBA to left-handed hitters, making Olson a great option if you can’t afford to fit Rizzo into your entry.

Others to consider: Joey Votto (first base) and Wilson Contreras (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/21/18

Jed Lowrie vs. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,200

As we continue our Athletics stack, Lowrie weighs in as one of the top options at second base. He’s cooled off considerably from his hot start to the season, but he is 9-for-23 (.391) with two home runs during his current five-game hitting streak. The switch-hitting Lowrie is also better from the left side of the plate, posting a .371 wOBA against right-handed pitchers.

Jedd Gyorko vs. Brent Suter, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,200

With the lefty Suter on the mound, Gyorko jumps out as a cheap option with upside in tournament play. He has a paltry 65 wRC+ against righties this year but has mashed lefties with a 201 wRC+. He has three home runs in 39 plate appearances against lefties compared to only two home runs in 123 plate appearances against right-handers.

Others to consider: Scooter Gennett and Daniel Descalso

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/21/18

Anthony Rendon vs. Kevin Gausman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $3,900

With the likes of Bryce Harper, Daniel Murphy, Juan Soto and Adam Eaton, the Nationals lineup is loaded with very good left-handed hitters. Rendon is an important right-handed bat in their lineup who destroys left-handed pitching. He doesn’t exactly struggle against righties, either, posting a .349 wOBA against them this year. With at least two hits in five of his last six games, Rendon is still an excellent option Thursday even though he doesn’t have the platoon advantage against Gausman.

Matt Davidson vs. Chris Bassitt, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,900

When you take a chance on Davidson, you’re hoping he connects for a home run since he is only batting .226 for his career. He does have 13 homers this year, including two in his last four games. Bassitt has only made two starts for the Athletics this season, the last of which he allowed six runs (two earned) in only four innings against the Angels. He had a 6.10 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP at Triple-A before being called up and is really only in the rotation right now due to all of Oakland’s injuries.

Others to consider: Kris Bryant and Jake Lamb

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/21/18

Trea Turner vs. Kevin Gausman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,700

Although Turner’s 20 steals would be great for most players, it’s a bit disappointing for him considering he had 46 steals in only 98 games last year. He’s been caught stealing just twice, but his .266 average isn’t helping with his opportunities. He does have at least one hit in seven of his last eight games and actually has better numbers against righties (.335 wOBA) than lefties (.314 wOBA), bringing him into the discussion for this limited slate.

Marcus Semien vs. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,100

Semien has busted out his power stroke of late, recording two home runs and three doubles in his last five games. Giolito has had problems with home runs throughout his career in the majors, resulting in a 1.7 HR/9. Semien has very similar splits against lefties and righties, making him another viable option for an Athletics stack.

Others to consider: Andrelton Simmons and Addison Russell

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/21/18

Tommy Pham vs. Brent Suter, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,700

Pham has been on a rollercoaster ride this season. He was on fire at the start of the year, batting .341 through April. However, he couldn’t buy a hit in May as he hit only .195. He’s found a happy medium by batting .260 in June, recording at least one hit in all but three games he has played in the month. With a .361 wOBA against lefties, Pham has the potential for a big performance against Suter.

Kyle Schwarber vs. Matt Harvey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,300

We’ve already detailed that Harvey has struggled in general this season, but he has had even bigger problems against lefties, allowing a .393 wOBA. Harvey also gives up a lot of home runs with a 1.9 HR/9. Schwarber doesn’t hit for a high average and strikes out a lot, but he has a ton of power and enters Thursday having hit a home run in back-to-back games.

Jason Heyward vs. Matt Harvey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,900

Heyward hasn’t been able to live up to his big contract, although the Cubs did finally break their long World Series drought in his first season with the team in 2016. Heyward is currently having his best season in Chicago, batting .269 with a .749 OPS. He got off to a slow start, but he hit .283 in May and is batting .286 so far in June. You want to avoid him against left-handed pitching, but he’s some to consider against Harvey since he has a .349 wOBA against righties this year.

Others to consider: Juan Soto and Marcell Ozuna

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 13

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
June special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout

If you are playing in a head-to-head fantasy league, using starting pitchers that have two starts in a week can give you a significant edge over your opponent. Here are some starters who will each start two games in the week ahead that you should either target or avoid for your lineup.

Starters With Favorable Matchups

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 13

Gerrit Cole, Houston Astros: vs. TB, vs. KC

Cole had his worst start of the season in his last outing against the Athletics as he allowed four runs in six innings. He still had six strikeouts, so it says a lot about how well he is pitching that this was his worst start. He’s been one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball, posting a 2.40 ERA, 2.74 FIP and a 0.88 WHIP in 14 starts. His 12.5 K/9 is by far the highest of his career, giving him a significant boost in value. Both the Rays and the Royals are in the bottom-six in baseball in runs scored, leaving Cole with the potential to provide fantasy owners with an extremely valuable week.

Trevor Bauer, Cleveland Indians: vs. CWS, vs. DET

Bauer is in the midst of a breakout season. He has never finished a season with an ERA below 4.18, but he has a sparkling 2.69 ERA and 2.32 FIP this year. His 1.12 WHIP has been a big reason for his success. His .303 BABIP allowed is right in line with his career mark, which makes his hot start even more encouraging. He also has at least 10 strikeouts in five of his last six starts, leading to an 11.6 K/9 overall. The White Sox have scored the fifth-fewest runs (265) in baseball and the Tigers have the sixth-lowest road OPS (.676), so look for Bauer to have a dominant week.

Domingo German, New York Yankees: vs. SEA, at TB

With Jordan Montgomery (elbow) out for the season, German should remain in the Yankees starting rotation, unless they make a trade to add another starter. His initial results haven’t been great with a 5.77 ERA in seven starts. His 1.18 WHIP is good, but he’s allowed seven home runs in 39 innings. However, if your team is lacking strikeouts, German did record a 10.4 K/9 during that stretch. The matchup against the Mariners isn’t great, but he did allow three runs and record 10 strikeouts over six innings in his last start against the Rays. German is still available in 83% of Yahoo! leagues and although you may have to stomach him giving up some runs, he certainly has significant strikeout upside.

Andrew Suarez, San Francisco Giants: vs. MIA, vs. SD

Suarez’s 4.92 ERA isn’t great, but his 3.85 FIP indicates he isn’t pitching that poorly. He has a respectable 1.26 WHIP and an 8.5 K/9, but he’s been done in by a 1.4 HR/9. Most of his struggles have come on the road this season with a 6.18 ERA and a 1.66 WHIP, but he has a 3.55 ERA and a 0.83 WHIP at AT&T Park. Not only are both of his starts at home in Week 13, but they also come against two of the worst lineups in baseball in terms of runs scored. If you need a streaming option this week, Suarez is still available in 95% of Yahoo! leagues.

Starters to Avoid

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 13

Marco Gonzales, Seattle Mariners: at NYY, at BOS

Gonzales is having a fine season for the Mariners with a 3.42 ERA and a 3.20 FIP. This is a nightmare week for him, though, with two starts on the road against excellent lineups. Both the Yankees and the Red Sox are in the top-three in baseball in home OPS and overall runs scored. The Red Sox have struggled against left-handed pitching, but the Yankees have the highest OPS (.814) against them in baseball. There will be plenty of weeks where you want Gonzales in your lineup, but this is not one of them.

Dylan Covey, Chicago White Sox: at CLE, vs. OAK

Covey couldn’t have pitched much worse for the White Sox last year, recording a 7.71 ERA, 7.20 FIP and 1.67 WHIP in 18 appearances, 12 of which were starts. He only had a 5.3 K/9 and gave up 20 home runs in 70 innings. He’s been on the opposite end of the spectrum this season with a 2.29 ERA and a 2.16 FIP. Not only is his K/9 much improved at 8.4, but he has yet to give up a home run. His WHIP is better at 1.30, but it’s still too high in the grand scheme of things if he is going to continue to have this much success. If he starts giving up home runs, his ERA could increase in a hurry. Both the Indians and the Athletics are in the top-seven in home runs in baseball, making Covey a risky play this week despite his early success.

Tyler Chatwood, Chicago Cubs: vs. LAD, at CIN

Chatwood just can’t seem to get out of his own way. His 4.12 ERA and 8.2 K/9 are both an improvement from last year, but his overall numbers would be so much better if he could find the plate. He has an almost unheard of 8.2 BB/9, leading to a 1.75 WHIP. He only issued two walks in his last start against the Brewers, but he’s going to need to string together a few starts where he has better control before you want to put him back into your lineup. The Dodgers and the Reds are both in the top-six in walks, so keep Chatwood anchored to your bench.

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/18/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

The entire Friday slate is night games, leaving plenty of options to choose from when creating your DFS entry. 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 5/18/18

Charlie Morton vs. Cleveland Indians
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $9,700
DraftKings = $12,200

If it wasn’t for the potential for rain, Max Scherzer facing the Dodgers would be the top choice for the evening. However, that game looks to be very much in doubt, leaving Morton as one of the best alternatives. He continues to be a strikeout machine since joining the Astros, posting an 11.5 K/9 this season. His average fastball velocity sits at 97.2 mph, which would be the highest mark of his career. His 13.8% swinging strike rate is also over five percentage points higher than his career average. The Indians offense has some potent bats, but Morton has enough strikeout upside to still make him an excellent option.

Jake Arrieta vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $8,200
DraftKings = $7,700

Arrieta is off to an odd start. His 2.59 ERA is great and although his FIP is higher at 3.48, it’s still very good. He has a 1.06 WHIP and has allowed only two home runs in 41.2 innings. On the negative side, his 5.8 K/9 is well below his career 8.2 K/9. His velocity has been consistent with last season, but his 6.3% swinging strike rate is a bit alarming. The good news is that he has allowed three runs or fewer in all but one start this season and will face a Cardinals squad that is in the bottom third of baseball in runs scored. The price is right on both sites to take a chance on him in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/18/18

Anthony Rizzo vs. Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $5,000

Rizzo is batting an ugly .195, but that’s in large part due to an absurdly low .186 BABIP. His walk rate is down, but his strikeout rate is also below his career mark to go along with a 34% hard-hit rate. It’s only a matter of time before his batting average is on the rise and that might begin Friday since he is 9-for-22 (.409) with two home runs and three doubles against Bailey in his career.

Matt Olson vs. Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,500

Stacking Athletics turned out to be a wise move against Aaron Sanchez on Thursday and is looking like something to do again Friday versus Estrada. Estrada has not only had a problem keeping runners off base with a 1.43 WHIP this season, but he has also allowed 10 home runs in 44 innings. The homers are not a new trend for Estrada either since he finished with a 1.5 HR/9 last year. Olson is showing signs of coming out of his slump as well, batting 5-for-14 with three home runs in his last four games.

Others to consider: Wilson Contreras (catcher) and Jose Abreu (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/18/18

Whit Merrifield vs. C.C. Sabathia, New York Yankees
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,300

Sabathia’s 2.23 ERA looks nice, but he’s been a bit lucky considering his 3.61 FIP and .255 BABIP allowed. He’s not an overpowering pitcher by any means with just a 6.9 K/9 and needs to pitch ahead in counts if he’s going to have success. Merrifield has followed up his 2017 breakout campaign with a .289 average this season and four home runs to go along with nine steals. He also excels against left-handed pitchers, posting a .383 wOBA against them in his career.

Jed Lowrie vs. Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,400

Lowrie came through with another valuable stat line in Thursday’s offensive explosion by the Athletics, going 1-for-4 with a double, one RBI, two runs scored and two walks. He’s on pace for by far the best season of his career and should have plenty of opportunities to provide counting stats in Oakland’s potent lineup. He has followed up his 123 wRC+ against righties last year with a 172 wRC+ this season, so it might be a good idea to go to the well again with him Friday.

Others to consider: Javier Baez and Jonathan Schoop

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/18/18

Kris Bryant vs. Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $5,600

Bailey has really struggled this season with a 5.59 ERA, 6.16 FIP, and 1.45 WHIP. He’s not striking out many hitters with a 5.4 K/9 and has already allowed a staggering 12 home runs. He’s someone to target whenever he takes the mound, so stacking Cubs could be an excellent move. Bryant has at least two hits in five of his last nine games and has a 1.024 OPS out of the gate, so don’t be afraid to pay up to get him into your entry.

Matt Davidson vs. Matt Moore, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,900

The Rangers had to scratch Cole Hamels from his start Thursday due to a stiff neck, which will result in Moore moving up a day to start Friday. His return to the American League has not gone well, posting a 7.82 ERA and 5.38 FIP. He’s allowing way too many base runners with a 2.00 WHIP and only has a 6.6 K/9. Davidson has fared better against lefties in his career and has a .407 wOBA against them so far this year, making him a cost-effective option with upside.

Others to consider: Danny Valencia and Matt Chapman

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/18/18

Manny Machado vs. Drew Pomeranz, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $5,500

Machado came through with a home run in the ninth inning off of David Price on Thursday, continuing his dominance over left-handed pitchers. He finished with a .345 wOBA against them despite his struggles last year and has a .409 wOBA so far this season. Pomeranz has been unlucky with opponents posting a .343 BABIP against him, but he’s not doing himself any favors with a 4.7 BB/9 and 1.8 HR/9. This is shaping up to be another big performance for Machado.

Marcus Semien vs. Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,800

Semien enters Friday on a seven-game hitting streak that has seen him hit 11-for-34. His .274 average has been boosted by a .336 BABIP that is well above his career mark, but he has also swung at only 23.7% of pitches he has seen outside the strike zone, the lowest of his career. Considering Estrada’s struggles, keeping stacking Oakland hitters with Semien.

Others to consider: Xander Bogaerts and Trevor Story

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/18/18

Mookie Betts vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $5,200
DraftKings = $5,800

What can’t Betts do at this point? Not only does he have an outstanding .734 slugging percentage, but he stole three bases Thursday to bring his total to 11 for the season. You could go on for days talking about his excellent stats, including his minuscule 11.2% strikeout rate. Cobb has looked better since being torched in his first three starts with the Orioles, but he still presents a great matchup for Betts.

Nomar Mazara vs. Carson Fulmer, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,200

Fulmer is a prime target to take advantage of Friday as he enters this game with a 6.23 ERA, 6.97 FIP, and 1.75 WHIP. He’s not fooling many hitters with a 6.7% swinging strike rate and his reasonable .289 BABIP allowed doesn’t really indicate he is in line for any positive regression. Mazara hits righties well with a .363 wOBA against them this season, making him an excellent option at this reasonable price.

Travis Jankowski vs. Ivan Nova, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,800

The Padres have several outfield options, but Jankowski is making a case for regular playing time. He is batting .364 in May, logging at least two hits in five of his last nine starts. His .455 BABIP this month is not sustainable, but there is still an opportunity here to take advantage of his hot streak. He is a much better hitter against righties in his career with a .317 wOBA against them compared to .203 against lefties. Nova does not have an overpowering pitch arsenal either, making Jankowski a viable option in tournament play.

Others to consider: Kyle Schwarber and Matt Joyce

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/27/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/27/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

There is only one day game Friday, leaving you with a lot of options to sift through for the night 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 4/27/18

Jacob deGrom vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $10,600
DraftKings = $12,400

deGrom was one of the few Mets starters to stay healthy last year, logging a career-high 201.1 innings. He made significant strides in the strikeout department, finishing with a 10.7 K/9 that was a full strikeout higher than his previous career best. He’s continued his increased pace this season with an 11.3 K/9 through five starts. Not only does he have excellent control with a career 2.3 BB/9, but he doesn’t allow many baserunners in general with a career 1.12 WHIP. The Padres have struck out more times (273) than any other team in baseball this season and have the sixth-lowest batting average against right-handed pitchers (.223), leaving deGrom as someone to target for your entry Friday.

Miles Mikolas vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $6,700
DraftKings = $7,600

Mikolas returned to the majors for the first time since 2014 after pitching the last three years in Japan. The transition back has gone smoothly so far, posting a 3.46 ERA and 3.89 FIP across four starts. He’s done a great job limiting base runners with a 1.00 WHIP and has shown impeccable control with a 0.7 BB/9. His strikeout upside isn’t great, but he has the potential to sustain a low ERA if he can continue to limit walks. If you are looking to go really cheap in tournament play, he has the potential to at least throw a quality start.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/27/18

Joey Votto vs. Phil Hughes, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,100

Votto certainly didn’t play well out of the gate, but it appears he has righted the ship. Not only is he on a five-game hitting streak, but he has also hit a home run in three straight. His .270 BABIP is well below his career mark of .352, so expect his batting average to continue to improve. He dominated right-handed pitchers last year with a .433 wOBA, leaving him with significant upside against Hughes on Friday.

C.J. Cron vs. Drew Pomeranz, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,800

Cron is on fire right now, batting 16-for-47 (.340) with five home runs and 14 RBI in his last 11 games. He’s hitting the ball with authority this year, posting a 42.9% hard-hit rate compared to his 32.6% career mark. Pomeranz has held left-handed hitters to a .273 wOBA in his career, but righties have posted a .315 wOBA. It might not be a bad idea to ride Cron’s hot bat for at least one more game.

Others to consider: Gary Sanchez (catcher) and Jose Martinez (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/27/18

Scooter Gennett vs. Phil Hughes, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $3,400

Gennett almost doubled his previous career high with 27 home runs last year but has only gone deep twice in 2018. He’s still hitting for average though at .283, which still keeps him in the discussion for DFS despite his lack of power. He had a .388 wOBA against righties last year and faces a struggling one in Hughes on Friday. Hughes has been limited by injuries the last two years but hasn’t pitched well when healthy, posting a WHIP of at least 1.51 in both of those seasons.

Starlin Castro vs. Tyler Anderson, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,200

Speaking of players who haven’t hit for power this year, Castro has only hit four doubles and is still looking for his first home run. His 39.5% hard-hit rate this year is actually much higher than his career mark, but his 56.6% ground-ball rate is also a career high. Anderson has a 1.52 WHIP through five starts this season and a 1.33 WHIP for his career, so he generally has a hard time keeping runners off base. At this cheap price, Castro has upside while also providing salary relief for your entry.

Others to consider: Cesar Hernandez and Gleyber Torres

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/27/18

Jeimer Candelario vs. Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,200

Candelario continues to impress in his first full season as a starter, hitting .290 with a .908 OPS. He’s been batting second in the Tigers lineup, which is a great spot with Miguel Cabrera providing him with protection. Tillman has been awful this year with a 9.87 ERA and 2.37 WHIP, so don’t hesitate to add Candelario to your lineup.

Matt Davidson vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,500

Davidson is only batting .225 this year, but he’s been lethal when he makes contact with a 55% hard-hit rate. It’s led to seven home runs and three doubles despite his 31 strikeouts in 85 plate appearances. Duffy dominated left-handed hitters last year, holding them to a .199 wOBA. Righties hit him much better though with a .329 wOBA. I wouldn’t be surprised if Davidson goes deep in this game.

Others to consider: Todd Frazier and Daniel Roberston

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/27/18

Paul DeJong vs. Steven Brault, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,300

DeJong burst onto the scene for the Cardinals last year, batting .285 with 25 home runs in 108 games. He’s showed no signs of a sophomore slump, hitting .281 with seven home runs so far. He recorded a .392 wOBA against left-handers last year and will take on one in Brault on Friday, who doesn’t have overpowering stuff either with a career 6.5 K/9.

Adeiny Hechavarria vs. Drew Pomeranz, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,100

Hechavarria didn’t get a hit Thursday against the Orioles but had at least two hits in four of six games entering that matchup. Known for his defensive abilities, Hechavarria is batting .273 overall this season. He’s hit better against lefties throughout his career, so he might be with the risk at this price against Pomeranz on Friday.

Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Eduardo Nunez

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/27/18

Tommy Pham vs. Steven Brault, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,700

Pham is doing his best to prove that his breakout season in 2017 was no fluke, batting .368 with a .484 OBP so far this year. After finishing last season with 23 home runs and 25 steals, he’s also continued to show his power and speed combo with three homers and five steals through 22 games. With a 153 wRC+ against lefties last year, Pham is another Cardinals right-handed hitter to key in on Friday.

Yoenis Cespedes vs. Clayton Richard, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,100

Cespedes is only batting .211 this year, but his .300 BABIP is right in line with his career numbers. The problem is he has struck out a whopping 41 times in 103 plate appearances. To put that into perspective, he struck out 61 times in 321 plate appearances last year. He’ll need to show significant improvement in that area to makes gains with his batting average, but he still has a ton of power. Richard allowed 23 of his 24 home runs to right-handed hitters last year, leaving Cespedes as an option to consider for your entry.

Matt Kemp vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,800

This matchup screams split advantage. Holland was awful against righties last year, allowing a .408 wOBA. On the flip side, Kemp has a .391 wOBA against lefties for his career. If you are looking for a cost-effective outfielder Friday, look no further.

Others to consider: Mookie Betts and Leonys Martin

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/5/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/5/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

There aren’t many elite starting pitchers taking the mound Thursday, so this could be a night where offense is plentiful 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 4/5/18

Robbie Ray vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $9,600
DraftKings = $11,700

The night slate of games is really lacking star power in terms of starting pitchers, especially if you play on DraftKings where the Yankees and Rays game is not included. Ray stands out as the best starting pitcher available, even though he gave up six earned runs in five innings in his first start of the season against the Rockies. He still had eight strikeouts in that game and has excellent strikeout upside after posting a K/9 of at least 11.3 in both of the last two seasons. Ray was also very good on the road last season, posting a 1.86 ERA and 0.99 WHIP away from Chase Field. He’s certainly not cheap, but with unappealing options on the night slate, it might be wise to pay up to get him into your entry.

James Paxton vs. Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $8,800
DraftKings = $9,600

Paxton was limited to just 136 innings last year due to injury, but he was excellent when healthy, posting a 2.98 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 10.3 K/9. His FIP was even better at 2.61 and he only allowed 0.6 HR/9, leaving him with big expectations heading into 2018. His first start of the season did not go as planned, allowing six earned runs in 4.2 innings against the Indians. He walked four batters in that game, which is out of character since he had a BB/9 of 2.4 or lower in both of the last two seasons. He has strikeout upside, making him someone to consider Thursday.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/5/18

Joey Gallo vs. Daniel Mengden, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,300

Gallo has been about what you would have expected from him heading into the season, batting .214 with 10 strikeouts in seven games so far. He’s provided power with two home runs and a double and should continue to be a good source of homers this season. He’ll face a righty in Mengden on Thursday and Gallo crushed righties last year, posting a .364 wOBA and hitting 34 of his 41 home runs against them. This could be an excellent matchup to take advantage of Thursday.

Ian Desmond vs. Joey Lucchesi, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,800

The Rockies will face the lefty Lucchesi on Thursday who struggled in his first start of the season, allowing three earned runs in 4.2 innings to the Brewers. He didn’t issue a walk, but he only struck out one batter. The Rockies have some hitters who have very favorable splits against left-handed pitching, including Desmond, who has a career .280 batting average against them. This would be an even better matchup for Desmond if this game was being played in Coors Field, but he can still provide value for your entry.

Others to consider: Gary Sanchez (catcher) and Jose Martinez (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/5/18

Robinson Cano vs. Kyle Gibson, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $5,200

Cano is off to a great start this season, batting .500 with a hit in every game. He has yet to hit a home run, but he does have three doubles and six runs scored. He’ll face the righty in Gibson on Thursday, which is great news for Cano considering he posted a 138 wRC+ against right-handers last year. He also has good numbers against Gibson, batting .296 in 29 plate appearances in his career.

Yoan Moncada vs. Jordan Zimmermann, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,200

Moncada does have a hit in four of his first five games this season, but he doesn’t have a multi-hit game yet and already has seven strikeouts. He’s been a much better hitter batting from the left side during his brief career, posting a .348 wOBA in 2017 compared to just .283 from the right side. Zimmermann struggled against lefties in 2017, allowing a .376 wOBA. Moncada could be in line for his best game of the young season Thursday.

Others to consider: D.J. LeMahieu and Chris Owings

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/5/18

Nolan Arenado vs. Joey Lucchesi, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $5,400

Arenado has yet to have a big breakout game this season as he has only one home run, but he has recorded at least one RBI in three straight games. Like Desmond, Arenado gets the benefit of facing another left-hander on Thursday. Arenado had a staggering 220 wRC+ against lefties last year, which was third-best in baseball.

Matt Chapman vs. Martin Perez, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $3,700

Chapman played in just 82 games with the Athletics in 2017 but has established himself as their third baseman of the future. He batted only .234, but he showed plenty of power with 14 home runs and 23 doubles. He’s off to a hot start this season, batting .385 with two home runs and a .448 OBP. Perez is tough against lefties but allowed a wOBA of at least .341 to righties in both of the last two seasons.

Others to consider: Rafael Devers and Brandon Drury

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/5/18

Didi Gregorius vs. Andrew Cashner, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = NA

Gregorius is sometimes forgotten in a lineup that includes Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Gary Sanchez, but he is a very important part of the Yankees success. He’s moved into the cleanup spot against right-handed pitchers, a role he excelled in for the Yankees last season by driving in 40 runs in 42 games out of that spot. He’ll face Cashner on Thursday, who doesn’t have overpowering stuff with just a 7.0 K/9 for his career.

Xander Boegarts vs. Yonny Chirinos, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $5,000

Boegarts batted only .273 last year, but a lot of that had to do with injuries and an abnormally low .281 BABIP in the second half of the season. He’s off to a hot start this year, batting .357 with a home run and five doubles. Chirinos is the “starter” for the Rays on Thursday, but this is one of their planned bullpen days and he might not pitch that deep into the game. Their bullpen isn’t lights-out to begin with, which could lead to a big game for the Red Sox offense.

Others to consider: Jean Segura and Addison Russell

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/5/18

Giancarlo Stanton vs. Andrew Cashner, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = NA

After receiving boos because he struck out five times in the Yankees home opener, Stanton mashed a home run that brought the stadium to their feet Wednesday. He only has five hits so far this season, but three of them have been home runs. With Cashner not having overpowering stuff at this point in his career, don’t be surprised if Stanton gets a hold of one again Thursday.

Nicholas Castellanos vs. James Shields, Chicago White Sox
Stadium- Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,900

Castellanos has yet to leave the park this season, but he does already have three multi-hit games. He set career-highs with 26 home runs and 101 RBI last year, so expect him to straighten things out in the power department soon. Thursday brings an excellent opportunity to do so against Shields who allowed 2.1 HR/9 last year and isn’t much more than a journeyman starter at this stage of his career.

Hunter Renfroe vs. Tyler Anderson, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,000

The Padres had a crowded outfield heading into this season, but some playing time has now opened up with Wil Myers (arm) on the DL. Renfroe is going to get his chance to shine and he just might do that Thursday against the lefty Anderson as Renfroe had a .439 wOBA against lefties in 2017.

Fantasy Baseball Season Preview: Catchers

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner – @rotomikebarner*

Fantasy Baseball Season Preview: Catchers

The Catcher position has historically been a tough slot to fill in fantasy baseball. There is usually a small tier of excellent options, followed by a precipitous drop off to the next best group of players. This season will be no different. Let’s not only take a look at the cream of the crop but also at some catchers who are overvalued and undervalued heading into 2018.

The Top Three

Fantasy Baseball Season Preview: Catchers

Gary Sanchez, New York Yankees

Sanchez has firmly established himself as the premier fantasy option at catcher. He had a monster campaign in 2017, hitting .278 with 33 home runs, 90 RBI, and a .345 OBP. He did all that in just 122 games as he missed almost a month at the beginning of the season due to injury. Although he’s only played in 175 games in his career, he has already hit a whopping 53 home runs. All of his supporting numbers back up his counting stats, so there is no indication that he should slow down this season. He’ll be part of a lethal lineup including fellow sluggers Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, which should leave him plenty of opportunities to drive in runs. He will likely be drafted as early as the second or third round in your league, but he should be worth it based on how much better he is than any of the other catching options.

Willson Contreras, Chicago Cubs

Like Sanchez, Contreras is another young catcher who has quickly vaulted himself into the upper echelon of the position. He played in just 117 games last year but batted .276 with 21 home runs, 74 RBI, and a .356 OBP. Sanchez posted a 4.1 WAR last season, but Contreras was right behind him with a 3.9 WAR. He batted .283 with a .356 OBP in 517 career minor league games, so he’s proven that he can hit for a high average and get on base. The second best fantasy option at catcher comes down to Contreras and Buster Posey, but I give Contreras the edge because he hits for much more power.

Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants

Posey has been as reliable as it gets for catchers, playing in at least 140 games in six straight seasons. That’s extremely valuable when you consider the volatility of the position. He’s been just as valuable in the batting average department, hitting a lofty .308 for his career. He also posted a .400 OBP last year and has an OBP of at least .362 in each of the last seven seasons. The problem with Posey is his power numbers have regressed, bottoming out at just 12 home runs last year. He only had 67 RBI as a result and while the Giants lineup should be improved this season, the lack of power will limit Posey’s upside. There is a big dropoff in production after you get past Posey when it comes to catchers, so it might be best to wait on the position if you can’t draft one of the top three options.

 

Overvalued Players

Fantasy Baseball Season Preview: Catchers

Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals

Molina had a stellar season last year, batting .273 with 18 home runs and 82 RBI. The problem is, he had only 19 home runs in the previous three seasons combined. He had also hit more than 14 home runs in a season only once in his career heading into last year. He had an 11% home run to fly ball ratio last year, which is significantly higher than his career mark of 7%. His ADP is 148.77 in the NFCB, the sixth highest among catchers. In terms of general draft position, that’s a higher ADP than players including Greg Bird (153), Adrian Beltre (159.27) and Gregory Polanco (160.59). Don’t overpay for Molina just because the catcher position is shallow, especially considering his abnormal 2017 campaign.

Mike Zunino, Seattle Mariners

Zunino was a valuable fantasy asset last season, setting career-highs in batting average (.251), home runs (25) and RBI (64). He’s shown he can hit for power previously in his career, but he had never batted above .214 in a single season. He is a candidate to see a significant drop in batting average as his BABIP was .355 last year. Prior to that, he had never had a BABIP above .267. With the jump in home runs across the league, his value takes a big hit if he hits closer to .200 this year. His current ADP is 161.10, ahead of players like Jon Gray (165.99), Brett Gardner (180.65) and Matt Carpenter (181.99). Again, you should be looking for value in your draft, so it would be wise not to reach for Zunino at that price.

 

Undervalued Players

Fantasy Baseball Season Preview: Catchers

Welington Castillo, Chicago White Sox

Castillo had a tremendous power season for the Orioles last year, hitting 20 home runs despite playing only 96 games. He hasn’t played more than 113 games in any of the last five seasons but has hit at least 13 home runs four times. With a 36.4% hard hit percentage for his career, he has been able to post BABIP of at least .336 in three of the last five years. He could reach a career-high in games played for a rebuilding White Sox team if he can stay healthy, giving him the potential to provide valuable numbers. His current ADP is tenth among catchers, but don’t be surprised if he finishes ranked higher than that when the season is all said and done.

Robinson Chirinos, Texas Rangers

Chirinos played in only 88 games last year but still managed to hit 13 home runs to go along with a .255 batting average. He’s never played more than 93 games in his career but has shown impressive power by hitting at least 10 home runs in three of the last four years. Not only did he have a 20% home run to fly ball ratio last year, but he also posted a career-high 11% walk percentage. He could be in line for a bit of a regression in terms of his batting average this year, but his overall numbers might not differ too much from Zunino’s. Considering he is being selected about 100 picks later in drafts, I’d much rather take a chance on Chirinos.