Monday’s seven-game evening slate in DFS is certainly short on quality pitching options. However, there are still a couple of hurlers that stand out as viable targets. Let’s dive into their matchups, as well as highlight some of the hitters who could be in positions to thrive.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/4/2019
If you’re looking to kick back with some DFS fun after your barbeque Thursday, there isn’t much action to speak of with only four games making up the evening slate. There are still a handful of strong starters set to take the mound, so scoring might not be all that easy to come by.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/13/2019
There are only two afternoon games Thursday, leaving nine games for the main evening slate in DFS.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/3/2019
As far as odd schedules go, Monday’s slate in the majors is right up there. There will only be four games, three of which will make up the main evening slate in DFS. By the way, the slate doesn’t start until 9:40 PM EST.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/30/2019
Thursday’s seven-game evening slate in DFS has the potential for plenty of offense despite the limited schedule. While quality pitching options aren’t quite as bountiful, there are still a few who could provide a stellar stat line.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/28/2019
After Monday’s slate consisted primarily of day games, we have a packed evening slate in DFS on Tuesday. There are several lineups with the potential to score a lot of runs, as well as some pitchers with favorable matchups to exploit.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/31/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
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Tuesday afternoon brings the MLB trade deadline, so make sure to keep your eye on the news as deals could have a significant impact on the night in DFS. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
STARTING PITCHERS
Trevor Bauer vs. Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $11,800
DraftKings = $13,300
Bauer dominated the Pirates in his last start, recording 10 strikeouts and allowing just five base runners over seven innings. It marked the fifth time this season he hasn’t allowed a run, helping lead to his career-best 2.32 ERA. His ERA hasn’t really been aided by luck, either, considering his 2.25 FIP and .312 opponents’ BABIP. Hitters have swung at 32.3% of pitches he has thrown outside of the strike zone, helping him post a lofty 11.7 K/9. The Twins lineup is even thinner after they traded Eduardo Escobar to the Diamondbacks and they could make more trades Tuesday. Bauer stands out as one of the premier starting pitching options on the slate.
James Shields vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $7,200
DraftKings = $6,000
Shields hasn’t been terrible this season, but his 4.59 ERA and 1.30 WHIP aren’t exactly stellar. He doesn’t have an overpowering arsenal with a 6.8 K/9 and opponents’ have actually been somewhat unlucky with a .264 BABIP against him. This matchup does lean in his favor, though, considering his 3.51 ERA and 1.22 WHIP across 13 starts at Guaranteed Rate Field. He also gets the benefit of facing a Royals lineup that has scored the fewest runs (384) in the league and just traded away one of their best hitters in Mike Moustakas. He won’t cost you much, leaving Shields with the potential to provide value in tournament play.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Jose Abreu vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,200
Abreu has had a disappointing season by his standards, but he’s closing out the month of July strong by hitting 10-for-28 (.357) with three home runs across his last seven games. Even with his down batting average overall, he still has a .357 wOBA against left-handed pitchers. In his career against Duffy, Abreu is 16-for-50 (.320) with two home runs.
Tucker Barnhart vs. Matthew Boyd, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,800
Barnhart has logged a hit in each of his last seven starts, but he didn’t finish with multiple hits in any of those contests. His overall numbers aren’t anything special with a .252 batting average and a .371 slugging percentage, but he does have a .398 wOBA against lefties. At this cheap price, Barnhart might be worth the risk in tournament play.
Others to consider: Paul Goldschmidt (first base) and John Hicks (first base)
SECOND BASE
Rougned Odor vs. Zack Godley, Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,900
Odor has completely turned his season around with a great month in July, batting .357 with six home runs, 12 RBI, and six steals. He still only has 10 home runs total, but his .268 average is a drastic improvement over his .206 mark in 2017. Godley allows a ton of baserunners with his 1.53 WHIP, so look for Odor to finish the month on a high note.
Neil Walker vs. Yefry Ramirez, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,900
The Yankees brought in Walker to provide depth for their young infield, but he struggled out of the gate with his new team. Injuries have opened up regular playing time for him lately and he’s cashed in the opportunity, hitting 18-for-43 (.419) with 10 RBI and eight runs scored over his last 14 games. The Yankees are likely looking to acquire another hitter, but Walker should be in the lineup Tuesday. If you can’t pay up for Odor, Walker is an excellent cost-effective option with upside.
Others to consider: Jed Lowrie and Starlin Castro
THIRD BASE
Eugenio Suarez vs. Matthew Boyd, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,900
Suarez might not get a lot of press on a bad Reds team, but he’s mashing with a .298 batting average and a .383 OBP. He also has 24 home runs and 80 RBI and should easily set new career highs in both categories. He has an incredible 218 wRC+ against lefties and could give Boyd plenty of trouble in this game.
Eduardo Escobar vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,700
Colon has found a way to hang around, but he hasn’t pitched well with a 5.02 ERA and a 5.12 FIP. His 1.26 WHIP is largely aided by the fact that he doesn’t walk many batters, not because he doesn’t allow a lot of hits. He doesn’t miss many bats, either, with a 5.4% swinging-strike rate and a 5.2 K/9. The Diamondbacks will likely be a popular stack Tuesday, Escobar included.
Others to consider: Manny Machado and Miguel Andujar
SHORTSTOP
Didi Gregorius vs. Yefry Ramirez, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,900
Whenever the Yankees are playing at home, Gregorius vaults up towards the top-tier of shortstops in DFS. He is batting .240 with five home runs on the road, but he has a .283 average and 13 homers at Yankee Stadium. Add in his .351 wOBA against righties and Gregorius could provide plenty of value for your entry.
Chris Taylor vs. Wade Miley, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,200
Miley has a sparkling 2.01 ERA across five starts this year, but don’t get too excited based on his 3.97 FIP and 1.39 WHIP. He also has more walks (13) than he does strikeouts (12). He was a disaster for the Orioles last year with a 5.61 ERA and a 1.73 WHIP over 32 starts, so expect his ERA to climb sooner rather than later. Taylor is 13-for-45 (.289) with seven runs scored and nine RBI since the All-Star break, putting him on the map against Miley based on his reasonable prices on both sites.
Others to consider: Elvis Andrus and Jose Peraza
OUTFIELD
A.J. Pollock vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $5,200
Pollock didn’t cash in on a great matchup against Martin Perez on Monday, finishing the game 1-for-5. He’ll get a chance to redeem himself against another struggling pitcher in Colon. Pollock does have better numbers against lefties, but he’s hit righties well also with a .377 wOBA.
Avisail Garcia vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,500
Garcia has been injured for much of this season, which has been a major disappointment considering his excellent performance in 2017. Although his walk rate is a ridiculously low 1.7%, he’s hit .277 with 11 home runs in only 181 plate appearances. He has a .368 wOBA against lefties and has also had plenty of success against Duffy as he is 11-for-33 (.333) against him in his career.
Leonys Martin vs. Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,900
Bailey came off the DL last week and allowed only two runs over 6.2 innings against the Cardinals, striking out eight batters. It was a rare strong performance based on his 6.29 ERA and 1.63 WHIP overall. It was only the fourth time in 13 starts that he didn’t allow a home run and just the second time that he struck out more than four batters in a game. Don’t shy away from stacking against him because of one good outing, he’s still not a good pitcher at this stage of his career. The Tigers might not have a lot of great hitters, but Martin stands out based on his .340 wOBA against righties this year.
Others to consider: Mike Trout and Kole Calhoun
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/10/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
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All 15 games in the majors will be played at night Tuesday, leaving an array of options to choose from in DFS. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
STARTING PITCHERS
Trevor Bauer vs. Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $12,000
DraftKings = $13,600
Bauer continues to thrive in what is shaping up to be his breakout campaign. He has allowed two runs or fewer in four straight outings and has allowed more than three earned runs in a start only twice all year. He has a 2.45 ERA as a result, which is supported by his 2.17 FIP and 1.09 WHIP. His 13.1% swinging-strike rate is almost four percentage points higher than last year and has helped him post a career-high 11.6 K/9. After allowing at least 20 home runs in three straight seasons, he has given up just five homers in 121.1 innings. The Reds are in the top-third of baseball in runs scored, but Bauer’s tremendous strikeout upside still makes him a great option.
Jhoulys Chacin vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $7,700
DraftKings = $8,500
Chacin has been a valuable addition to the Brewers starting rotation, recording a 3.63 ERA, 3.84 FIP, and a 1.29 WHIP across 19 starts. He has only allowed 0.6 HR/9, which is no surprise considering he has a 0.8 HR/9 for his career. That’s particularly impressive since he spent six seasons pitching his home games in Coors Field as a member of the Rockies. The Marlins continue to struggle offensively, scoring four runs or fewer in 9 of their last 14 games. They have also hit the third-fewest home runs (77) in baseball overall. Chacin doesn’t provide a lot of strikeouts with a 7.2 K/9, but he this matchup leaves him with potential in tournament play.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Wilson Ramos vs. Matthew Boyd, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,300
Ramos came through with another productive game Monday, finishing 2-for-5 with a home run and two runs scored. His home run came off of Francisco Liriano and he now has a .393 wOBA against left-handed pitchers this season. He’ll face another one in Boyd on Tuesday, giving him significant upside once again.
Jose Martinez vs. Dylan Covey, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $4,300
Martinez’s struggles on defense have started to eat into his playing time. That won’t be an issue Tuesday, though, with the Cardinals getting the benefit of using the DH playing in Chicago. Martinez is certainly having another impressive offensive season, batting .296 with 13 home runs and 53 RBI. Covey started out hot but has regressed to the point where he now has a 5.54 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP for the season overall.
Others to consider: Paul Goldschmidt (first base) and Jesus Aguilar (first base)
SECOND BASE
Whit Merrifield vs. Aaron Slegers, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,300
Merrifield is 21-for-47 (.447) during his current 11-game hitting streak. He’s been one of the few bright spots in the Royals offense as he is batting .303 with a .369 OBP overall. He only has five home runs, but he continues to cause problems on the base paths with 16 steals. Slegers is not an overpowering pitching with a career 6.6 K/9 in the minors, leaving Merrifield with a favorable opportunity to continue his recent hot streak.
Brock Holt vs. Yovani Gallardo, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,400
Gallardo has not pitched well in four starts with the Rangers, posting a 5.87 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. He has allowed four home runs in just 23 innings and finished with three or fewer strikeouts in three of those four outings. Holt is 6-for-17 (.353) in his last four games and is one of the cheap Boston hitters to consider in what could be a high-scoring game.
Others to consider: Brian Dozier and Daniel Robertson
THIRD BASE
Eduardo Escobar vs. Ian Kennedy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,400
Ian Kennedy has been on the DL with an oblique injury but will be activated to start Tuesday. He’s having another rough campaign for the Royals with a 5.11 ERA, 4.81 FIP, and a 1.42 WHIP. Escobar has a .391 wOBA against right-handers this season and is 9-for-21 (.429) with two home runs in his career against Kennedy.
Matt Carpenter vs. Dylan Covey, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rated Field
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,800
With Covey on the mound, the Cardinals will likely be one of the most popular stacks. Covey has allowed a .364 wOBA to lefties, making Carpenter one of the Cardinals hitters to focus on. He has rebounded from his early-season slump and has a .382 wOBA against righties, which would be his fourth-straight season with a wOBA of at least .378 against them. He’s expensive on DraftKings, but his price on FanDuel is really appealing.
Others to consider: Justin Turner and Matt Duffy
SHORTSTOP
Paul DeJong vs. Dylan Covey, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,100
DeJong missed about a month and a half with a hand injury, but he has at least one hit and one run scored in all three games since his return from the DL. He doesn’t have the platoon advantage in this contest, but he’s hit righties well this season with a .368 wOBA. His numbers were betters against left-handed pitchers last year, but he didn’t exactly struggle against righties then either with a .351 wOBA.
Chris Taylor vs. Eric Lauer, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $4,200
Lauer has a 4.84 ERA and a 4.73 FIP for the season, but he’s been much better lately by allowing three earned runs or fewer in seven straight starts. He still had a 1.51 WHIP during that stretch, though, and has had problems keeping runners off base all season. He has allowed a .386 wOBA to righties, making Taylor a viable option at a reasonable price.
Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Xander Bogaerts
OUTFIELD
A.J. Pollock vs. Tyler Anderson, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $5,400
Anderson has a 3.48 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP on the road this year, but a 4.37 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP at Coors Field. He has thrown seven fewer innings at home, but he has allowed three more home runs there than he has on the road. Pollock is still working his way back from a lengthy DL stint, but he does have at least two hits in two of his last three games and posted a .356 wOBA against lefties in 2017.
Matt Kemp vs. Eric Lauer, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,500
Kemp’s return to the Dodgers has gone better than anyone could have expected as he is batting .316 with 15 home runs and 58 RBI. He is crushing lefties again with a 170 wRC+ and it should also be noted that nine of the 10 home runs that Lauer has allowed this year have come off of right-handed hitters.
Harrison Bader vs. Dylan Covey, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $3,900
Bader has been forcing his way into the lineup for the Cardinals, hitting 14-for-37 (.378) with a home run and four doubles in his last 11 games. With Dexter Fowler batting only .167 this season, Bader should continue to receive plenty of at-bats. He’s not that cheap on DraftKings, but his low price on FanDuel makes him an intriguing tournament play against Covey.
Others to consider: Andrew Benintendi and Shin-Soo Choo
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/15/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
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Friday night brings a packed slate in baseball with 15 games. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
STARTING PITCHERS
Corey Kluber vs. Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $12,000
DraftKings = $13,600
Kluber’s consistency gives him an extremely high floor in DFS. He hasn’t allowed more than three runs in any start this season and he has pitched at least seven innings in 10 of his 14 outings. As good as his 0.87 WHIP was in 2017, he’s been even better so far this year with a 0.83 WHIP. He’s shown great control with a 0.9 BB/9, which certainly helps his pitch count and allows him to log so many innings each game. He thrives pitching in Progressive Field as well, recording a 1.26 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 10.3 K/9 there this season. He’s costly, but he should be worth it.
Seth Lugo vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $7,100
Lugo has pitched primarily out of the bullpen this season, but he should start until Noah Syndergaard (finger) returns from the DL. He pitched very well against a potent Yankees lineup in his last outing, striking out eight batters and allowing only two hits in eight scoreless innings. He has a career-high 9.3 K/9 this season with some of that possibility attributed to his average fastball velocity of 93.8 mph, which is up significantly from 91.8 mph last year. Some of that might be because he is giving max effort in short relief appearances, so it will be interesting to see if he can maintain that increased velocity as a starter. The Diamondbacks lineup has been much better lately, but they still have the third-lowest OPS against righties (.664) in baseball.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Matt Adams vs. Aaron Sanchez, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,900
The Nationals have been using Adams and Mark Reynolds to fill in at first base for Ryan Zimmerman (back), with Adams normally playing against righties. With the DH in Toronto, both could play Friday anyways. Adams had an excellent .367 wOBA against righties last year but has been even better this season with a .415 wOBA against them. Left-handed hitters have had a lot of success against Sanchez as well with a .406 wOBA this year.
Greg Bird vs. Nathan Eovaldi, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,100
Bird is finally healthy, but he’s only batting .200 in his first 14 games. His .229 BABIP certainly isn’t helping his cause, but he is hitting for power with three home runs and four doubles. Eovaldi is not a big strikeout pitcher and he has allowed a .342 wOBA against lefties for his career, so this could be the matchup that Bird needs to start turning things around.
Others to consider: Anthony Rizzo (first base) and Wilson Ramos (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Scooter Gennett vs. Chad Kuhl, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,700
Gennett is off to a scorching start with a .347 average, but his .397 BABIP indicates a bit of luck has been involved. That might be bad news if you own him in season-long leagues, but we can continue to ride his hot streak in DFS. Kuhl allows a lot of base runners with a 1.36 WHIP and also gives up a lot of homers with a 1.5 HR/9. He has held right-handed hitters to a .313 wOBA, but lefties have had a lot of success against him with a .363 wOBA.
Jedd Gyorko vs. Jon Lester, Chicago Cubs
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,400
Gyorko is one of my favorite cheap players to target when he is facing a lefty since he has a 239 wRC+ against them this season. He has also owned Lester during his career, batting 9-for-22 (.409) with three home runs. Gennett may have a higher upside, but the savings you can get with Gyorko might make him just as valuable.
Others to consider: Gleyber Torres and Josh Harrison
THIRD BASE
Justin Turner vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,000
Normally an excellent hitter for average, Turner is batting just .253 this season. He may still be shaking off some rust after missing the start of the year with a wrist injury, but it’s a good sign that he has a 37.5% hard-hit rate. He still has a 173 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers despite his struggles, making him a great option against the underwhelming Holland.
Colin Moran vs. Matt Harvey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $3,200
The Pirates try to limit Moran’s exposure to lefties, but that won’t be an issue against Harvey. Harvey is also horrid against left-handed hitters, allowing a .406 wOBA against them. Moran doesn’t have a lot of power upside, but all five of his home runs this year have come off of righties.
Others to consider: Nolan Arenado and Miguel Andujar
SHORTSTOP
Didi Gregorius vs. Nathan Eovaldi, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,600
Gregorius couldn’t have been much worse in May, batting .151 with just one homer. He’s turned things around since the calendar flipped to June, batting .270 with two home runs. He loves hitting at Yankee Stadium as 11 of his 13 homers have come there this season. He has the opportunity for plenty of counting stats in the middle of the loaded Yankees lineup, making him a great option now that he is swinging a hot bat again.
Chris Taylor vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,100
Holland isn’t much more than a journeyman starter at this point in his career, but he still has an excellent .195 wOBA against left-handed hitters this season. Righties have a .351 wOBA against him, though, bringing Taylor into the discussion for Friday. Taylor also hit lefties well with a .363 wOBA, leaving him as someone to consider if you don’t want to pay up for Gregorius.
Others to consider: Trevor Story and Trea Turner
OUTFIELD
Juan Soto vs. Aaron Sanchez, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,400
Soto is only 19 years old and has played just 20 games in the majors, but the numbers he is putting up are staggering. He is batting .344 with a 1.088 OPS and actually has more walks (12) than strikeouts (11). Considering his young age, that walk to strikeout rate is even more impressive. With Sanchez’s struggles against left-handed hitters already detailed, Soto is someone to target for your outfield.
Matt Kemp vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,200
Kemp’s second stint with the Dodgers couldn’t be going much better as he is batting .335 with 10 homers. He has cooled off some since hitting .361 in May, but he’s not exactly struggling with a .300 average in June. He’s another Dodger righty who hits lefties well considering he has a 183 wRC+ against them this season.
Brandon Nimmo vs. Zack Godley, Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,000
The Mets lineup has been terrible, but Nimmo has been one of their few bright spots. He’s shown a nice combination of power and speed with nine home runs and six steals. His .265 average isn’t off the charts, but he gets on base a lot with a .403 OBP. He has a .452 wOBA against right-handers pitchers and since Godley has a bloated 1.54 WHIP, Nimmo could find himself on base plenty in this game.
Others to consider: Yasiel Puig and Austin Meadows
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/6/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
June special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout
There are five games with early start times 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
Shohei Ohtani vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $8,600
DraftKings = $11,100
Ohtani’s bat has cooled off some after a hot start, but he’s still shown impressive two-way skills overall. He hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down on the mound, allowing two runs or fewer in each of his last four outings. His 3.18 ERA is supported by a strong 3.23 FIP and a 1.08 WHIP. A stellar 15.5% swinging-strike rate has helped result in an 11.3 K/9 as well. The Royals have a .720 OPS against lefties, but righties have held them to a .696 OPS. On a night with few elite pitchers taking the mound, Ohtani is one of the best options on the slate.
Eduardo Rodriguez vs. Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $8,100
DraftKings = $9,400
The Red Sox have some big names in their starting rotation, but Rodriguez has quietly put together an excellent season. He has a 3.88 ERA, 3.60 FIP and a 1.21 WHIP across 11 starts, all of which would be the best marks of his career. His .296 BABIP allowed is almost right in line with his career average, but he’s taken tremendous strides in the strikeout department with a 10.7 K/9. He’s been especially strong in his last three outings, allowing four runs and recording 21 strikeouts over 18 innings. The Tigers have hit well at home this season with a .763 OPS, but they have just a .670 OPS away from Comerica Park. With Rodriguez’s strikeout upside, he could provide plenty of value.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Matt Olson vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,400
The wheels are starting to fall off for Colon as he has allowed 15 runs over 15.1 innings in his last three starts. Opponents have been very unlucky with just a .228 BABIP against him despite a 42.9% hard-hit rate, so expect Colon’s ERA to continue to increase. Olson has a .355 wOBA against right-handed pitchers this year and his power could give Colon a lot of trouble Wednesday.
Jose Martinez vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,700
Martinez only has five home runs this year, but he already has 15 doubles in 206 at-bats after slugging 13 doubles in 272 at-bats last year. He destroyed lefties last year with a 240 wRC+ but is off to a slow start this season with a 121 wRC+ against them. Righties have a robust .389 wOBA against Chen this year, so this could be just the matchup that Martinez needs to get back on track.
Others to consider: Greg Bird (first base) and Yadier Molina (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Brian Dozier vs. Hector Santiago, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,200
Dozier has been known for getting off to slow starts and the same thing happened to him this year. However, he showing signs of heating up, batting 11-for-34 (.324) with two home runs in his last eight games. He has finished with a wOBA of at least .397 in both of the last two seasons against lefties, so expect his current .317 wOBA against them to improve as he continues to heat up. Santiago allows way too many baserunners with a 1.62 WHIP, leaving Dozier as an excellent option for your entry.
Jedd Gyorko vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,700
With Chen taking the mound for the Marlins, you should be seeking out right-handed hitters on the Cardinals. Gyroko hasn’t had much success against righties, but he is mashing lefties with a 255 wRC+ this season. If you can’t make Dozier work with your budget, Gyorko is a cost-effective option with upside in tournament play. Of note, Gyorko is only second base eligible on FanDuel as he is listed at third base on DraftKings.
Others to consider: Jed Lowrie and Ian Kinsler
THIRD BASE
Miguel Sano vs. Hector Santiago, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,100
Sano is very much an all-or-nothing type of hitter. He has seven home runs in only 125 at-bats, but he is batting just .208 with a 39.6% strikeout rate. He’s probably never going to provide a high batting average, but his power is unquestioned. He has a career .364 wOBA against lefties, making him a viable candidate against the underwhelming Santiago.
Miguel Andujar vs. Sam Gaviglio, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,900
Andujar is an extra-base machine, hitting seven home runs and 20 doubles already this year. He doesn’t walk much, but he hits for a high average and only has an 18.5% strikeout rate. His splits are pretty even at home and on the road, so he’s not just taking advantage of hitter-friendly Yankee Stadium. He has a .396 wOBA against righties as well, so don’t be afraid to play him because he doesn’t have the righty/lefty advantage Wednesday.
Others to consider: Nolan Arenado and Luis Valbuena
SHORTSTOP
Xander Bogaerts vs. Blaine Hardy, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,700
Hardy has done a nice job since entering the starting rotation for the Tigers, posting a 2.82 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP across four outings. He doesn’t strike out many hitters, though, with just a 7.5 K/9 for his career. It’s also an entirely different story facing the Red Sox, who have one of the most potent lineups in baseball. Bogaerts has a career .374 wOBA against lefties and is one of the best shortstops available Wednesday.
Chris Taylor vs. Trevor Williams, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,300
Taylor received his first opportunity to play every day last year and cashed in by hitting .288 with 21 home runs and 17 steals. He was aided by a .361 BABIP, likely making him a regression candidate heading into this season. That has indeed been the case as he is batting .257 with a .323 BABIP. He is still hitting for power with eight home runs, but he only has three steals. He does have at least two hits in three of his last four games and he has almost identical numbers against righties as he does lefties, so it might be worth taking a chance on his hot bat.
Others to consider: Didi Gregorius and Marcus Semien
OUTFIELD
J.D. Martinez vs. Blaine Hardy, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $5,000
Martinez is putting up insane numbers again, batting .318 with 20 home runs. He has been a monster in Fenway Park with a 1.206 OPS. With a career .384 wOBA against left-handed pitchers, he’s a hitter to build your entry around regardless of his expensive price.
Marcell Ozuna vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $3,800
Ozuna may have been trying too hard to make a good impression with his new team, getting off to a very slow start. He still only has five home runs this year, but he is 8-for-14 in his last four games and has his average all the way up to .281. He also has a .357 wOBA against lefties despite all of his issues, making him another Cardinals’ hitter to try and squeeze into your lineup.
Brett Gardner vs. Sam Gaviglio, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,200
Gardner entered the month of May batting .210 with one home run and four total extra-base hits. He’s been a different hitter since, batting .310 with three home runs, seven doubles, and two triples. One of the big reasons for his improvement has been better plate discipline. He had 27 strikeouts in his first 100 at-bats, but only has 15 strikeouts in 100 at-bats since. He gets plenty of chances to score runs hitting atop a loaded Yankees lineup too, further adding to his upside.
Others to consider: Mike Trout and Dustin Fowler