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MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/2/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/2/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

Tuesday was a day filled with aces taking the mound, but Wednesday will bring plenty of star pitchers as well, including Corey Kluber and Luis Severino. 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 5/2/18

Corey Kluber vs. Texas Rangers
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $11,600
DraftKings = $13,200

Kluber is off to a great start this season, recording a 2.18 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, and 9.3 K/9 through six starts. He has pitched at least 6 2/3 innings and allowed three runs or fewer in each of those outings. Many hitters have found themselves in a hole early against Kluber, who has thrown a first-pitch strike to 66.5% of the batters that he has faced this season. Opponents have been a bit unlucky with a .198 BABIP against him, but his 33.3% hard-hit rate allowed is actually almost six percent higher than his career average. Kluber has been even more dominant pitching at Progressive Field, finishing with a 1.81 ERA there last year and allowing just three runs in 16 2/3 innings there this season. He’s expensive, but he should be worth it.

Sean Newcomb vs. New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $7,300
DraftKings = 7,600

Newcomb was originally scheduled to start Tuesday but was pushed back a day in favor of Mike Soroka making his Major League debut. Soroka is one of the rising stars in the Braves organization, but they are also relying on Newcomb to become an important part of their starting rotation. He’s had control issues in his brief Major League career, posting a 5.0 BB/9 through 127.2 innings. The good news is he doesn’t allow a lot of solid contact with a 27.4% hard-hit rate for his career. Add in his 9.7 K/9 last season and his 11.1 K/9 this year and he can provide value despite his high walk rate. The Mets have the second-lowest OPS (.603) against left-handed pitching this season, leaving Newcomb as a viable option at a reduced price.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/2/18

Justin Smoak vs. Fernando Romero, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $3,500

The right-handed Romero will be making his Major League debut Wednesday for the Twins after getting his first taste of Triple-A this season. He spent last season in Double-A, finishing with a 3.53 ERA and 8.6 K/9. He won’t get an easy task in the Blue Jays, who have the sixth-highest OPS (.757) against righties this year. Although Smoak does have better numbers against left-handed pitchers, his .359 wOBA against righties last year still makes him someone to consider for your entry.

Joe Mauer vs. Marcus Stroman, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,300

Mauer isn’t nearly the threat that he was in his prime, but don’t forget that he still hit .305 last year with a .384 OBP. He’s off to another good start this year with a .286 average and a lofty .439 OBP. He’s followed up his .354 wOBA against righties last year with a .378 mark this season. If you want to take a cheaper route at first base, Mauer is someone to consider even with his lack of power upside.

Others to consider: Hanley Ramirez (first base) and Salvador Perez (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/2/18

Javier Baez vs. Tyler Anderson, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Wrigley Field
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,400

Baez is off to a tremendous start this season with a .963 OPS, well above his career mark of .745. His .304 BABIP is lower than his career average, but he’s increased his hard-hit rate to 35.5% and his line-drive rate to 27%. Baez finished with a .378 wOBA against lefties in 2017, so he could be in line for a big day Wednesday.

Matt Carpenter vs. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,100
DratfKings = $3,800

Carpenter batted a career-low .241 last year and has followed that up with an even worse .170 average this season. His BABIP was low last year, but his .203 BABIP this year is far lower and indicates his numbers should be on the rise sooner rather than later. Giolito is off to a nightmarish start with a 7.71 ERA and 1.71 WHIP through five outings, leaving Carpenter with upside.

Others to consider: Whit Merrifield and Wilmer Difo

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/2/18

Christian Villanueva vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,400

Villanueva has continued his red-hot start and now has a 1.112 OPS this season, which actually leads the National League. He has a staggering 386 wRC+ against lefties this year and will take on the struggling Derek Holland on Wednesday, who allowed a .408 wOBA to right-handed hitters in 2017.

Eugenio Suarez vs. Wade Miley, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,500

Suarez has been limited to 14 games this season due to injury, but he’s hit when he’s been able to take the field, posting a .327 average and .410 OBP to go along with three home runs and 17 RBI. He had a .383 wOBA against lefties last year and Miley isn’t much more than a journeyman pitcher at this point in his career, so Suarez could provide excellent value.

Others to consider: Kris Bryant and Evan Longoria

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/2/18

Manny Machado vs. Andrew Heaney, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $4,900

Machado’s low BABIP in 2017 indicated he would be in for a much better season average-wise this year and he hasn’t disappointed, hitting .366 so far. His power numbers certainly haven’t suffered at the expense of his higher average, recording nine home runs and nine doubles through 29 games. He’s normally good against left-handed pitchers and is crushing them for a 209 wRC+ this season as well.

Jose Peraza vs. Wade Miley, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,700

Peraza and his .259 batting average last year were a major disappointment, but he’s batting .296 so far this season. His .317 BABIP isn’t overly high, but he’s making better contact with a 27.1% hard-hit rate, which is six percent higher than last year. The Reds are a great stacking opportunity against Miley on Wednesday, Peraza included.

Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Jean Segura

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/2/18

J.D. Martinez vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $5,300

Martinez hasn’t been able to keep up with the ridiculous home run pace that he was on with the Diamondbacks last year, but his .955 OPS this season would actually be the second-highest mark of his career. He’s always someone you want to target against left-handed pitchers after he finished with a .531 wOBA against them last year. Duffy is really tough against lefties, but righties had much better success against him last year with a .329 wOBA.

Mitch Haniger vs. Brett Anderson, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,900

Haniger played only 96 games last year but still managed to hit 16 home runs. He’s off to an even better power start this year, slugging 10 home runs and posting a 1.075 OPS through 28 games. He has been destroying lefties, recording a .443 wOBA against them this year. Anderson will be making his first start of the season for the Athletics after allowing a .351 wOBA to righties last year, making Haniger someone to consider for your entry.

Eddie Rosario vs. Marcus Stroman, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,500

Rosario is only hitting .242 this year in large part due to his .275 BABIP that is almost 50 points lower than his career average. He’s hitting the ball well with a 35.1% hard-hit rate, so expect his batting average to improve as the season wears on. After recording a .377 wOBA against righties last year, he’s a viable cost-effective option against the struggling Stroman on Wednesday.

Others to consider: Nelson Cruz and Curtis Granderson

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 4/10/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/10/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

With bad weather continuing to wreak havoc across the league, Major League Baseball will attempt to play 15 games Tuesday. 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 4/10/18

Jacob deGrom vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $9,600
DraftKings = $12,400

The Mets starting rotation is finally healthy and they have gotten the team off to an 8-1 start. deGrom has done his part, allowing two earned runs and recording 12 strikeouts over 11.2 innings in his first two starts. Opponents are batting just .190 against him so far with a 20% hard-hit rate. The Marlins stripped their roster of their best talent this winter, which has resulted in their lineup batting just .221 in the early going. Look for deGrom to take advantage with another strong outing Tuesday.

Felix Hernandez vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $7,900

Hernandez was shelled in his last start against the Giants, allowing eight earned runs in just four innings. Hernandez walked five batters in that game, which is uncharacteristic since he had a 2.7 BB/9 last season. He’s nowhere near the pitcher that he once was in his prime, but he did manage to record 8.1 K/9 last year. He gets a favorable matchup Tuesday against a Royals lineup that lost two big pieces in Eric Hosmer and Lorenzo Cain this winter and has scored the second-fewest runs (26) this season as a result. If you want to take a chance on a cheap starter in tournament play, Hernandez might be worth the risk.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/10/18

Albert Pujols vs. Martin Perez, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,200

Pujols is off to a fine start this season, batting .277 with two home runs and five RBI through 11 games. He hit just .241 in 2017, but some of that had to do with his low .249 BABIP. He’ll face the left-handed Perez on Tuesday, who allowed a .362 wOBA to righties last year compared to just .293 against lefties. Pujols has fared well against him in his career, batting .304 with five walks in 28 plate appearances. The price might be right to take a chance on Pujols extending his success against Perez on Tuesday.

Chris Iannetta vs. Joey Lucchesi, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,100

Iannetta is in his second stint with the Rockies and has played well so far, batting .345 with a .441 OBP through nine games. A career .232 hitter, he is obviously not going to keep up at this pace. However, he does excel against left-handed pitching, recording a lofty 148 wRC+ against them in 2017. With a lefty taking the mound in Lucchesi on Tuesday, Iannetta may be in line for another valuable day at the plate.

Others to consider: Justin Smoak (first base) and Ian Desmond (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/10/18

Zack Cozart vs. Martin Perez, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,500

Cozart batted .297 for the Reds last year but is a prime candidate for regression since his .312 BABIP was significantly higher than his career mark of .280. It’s come back down to Earth this year at .262, resulting in a .265 average. He can still provide plenty of value Tuesday though against Perez as he mashed lefties for a .440 wOBA in 2017.

Asdrubal Cabrera vs. Caleb Smith, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,300

The Mets couldn’t have asked for a much better start from Cabrera, who has a hit in eight of the nine games. He’s done some damage as well with one home run and three doubles. Cabrera does a good job of limiting his strikeouts, posting a 15.4% strikeout rate in 2017. He’ll face the lefty Smith on Tuesday, which is good news since he had a wOBA of at least .356 against lefties in back-to-back seasons.

Others to consider: Cesar Hernandez and Jed Lowrie

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/10/18

Matt Chapman vs. Hyun-Jin Ryu, Los Angeles Dodgers
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $3,800

Chapman is following up the promise that he showed in 2017 by batting .375 with three home runs already this season. His .429 BABIP screams regression, but he has increased his walk rate and decreased his strikeout rate so far. He is punishing the ball as well with a 54.8% hard-hit percentage. He’ll face Ryu on Tuesday, who has allowed at least 1.6 HR/9 in back-to-back seasons. Chapman is expensive, but he also has great power upside.

Christian Villanueva vs. Tyler Anderson, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,000

Anderson pitched a good game against Villanueva and the Padres earlier this season, logging six scoreless innings. That game was in San Diego, but pitching at Coors Field is a whole different story. He also has problems against right-handed hitters, allowing a .358 wOBA to them in 2017 compared to only .309 against lefties. Villanueva hasn’t gone deep since hitting three home runs in one game last Tuesday, but the price is right to take a chance on him against Anderson in tournament play, especially if you are playing on FanDuel.

Others to consider: Todd Frazier and Adrian Beltre

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/10/18

Jean Segura vs. Eric Skoglund, Kanas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $3,700

Although the Mariners are missing a very important part of their lineup in Nelson Cruz (ankle), Segura still has a great spot in the lineup batting between Dee Gordon and Robinson Cano. Segura likely won’t hit many home runs, but he has batted at least .300 in back-to-back seasons and is hitting .333 in the early part of 2018. Segura hit lefties very well last year with a .353 wOBA, so look for him to take advantage of this matchup against Skoglund on Tuesday, who is making his first start of the season after pitching just 18 innings in the majors last year.

Paul DeJong vs. Brent Suter, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,900

This is a prime example of two big splits you want to take advantage of, especially at this price. The lefty Suter struggled against right-handed hitters last year, allowing a .324 wOBA to them compared to .236 against lefties. DeJong also destroyed lefties in 2017, posting a .392 wOBA. If you are looking for power upside, go with DeJong over Segura in your entry.

Others to consider: Elvis Andrus and Andrelton Simmons

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/10/18

Rhys Hoskins vs. Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $5,400

Hoskins has followed up his strong debut last year with a .429 average, two home runs, and five doubles so far. He has shown a great eye at the plate as well, drawing eight walks compared to seven strikeouts. Tuesday brings an excellent matchup against Bailey, who has battled injuries and ineffectiveness for each of the last three seasons. He had just a 6.6 K/9 last year to go along with a 1.69 WHIP, so it might be worth paying up for Hoskins in this game.

Justin Upton vs. Martin Perez, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,300

Upton continues to be a proven power bat in the middle of the Angels lineup, hitting three home runs and three doubles already this season. Upton posted a 201 wRC+ against lefties in 2017, which ranked seventh-highest in baseball behind names including J.D. Martinez, Nolan Arenado, and Giancarlo Stanton. With Perez’s struggles against righties already detailed, Upton is another Angels bat you should consider.

David Peralta vs. Tyler Beede, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,300

Peralta is swinging a hot bat right now, recording two hits in three of his last five games. Beede is making his Major League debut Wednesday but hasn’t put up great numbers in the minors. He only pitched one season at Triple-A and has a 7.3 K/9 and a 3.3 BB/9 for his career at all levels in the minors. Peralta had a .353 wOBA against lefties in 2017 and is at .428 so far in 2018, so this might be a matchup to take advantage of for your entry.

Others to consider: Mitch Haniger and Jose Pirela

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/6/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/6/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

This will be an usually quiet Friday in the majors with only nine games on the schedule, which particularly hurts in terms of options at starting pitcher in DFS. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/6/18

Lance McCullers Jr. vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $8,600
DraftKings = $12,300

McCullers’ overall numbers don’t look great on the surface, finishing with a 4.25 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 2017. However, his FIP was 3.10 and he was a bit unlucky with opposing batters posting a .333 BABIP. He had a 10 K/9 and a 0.6 HR/9, making him a candidate for significant improvement in 2018. McCullers had a brief scare when he was hit by a comebacker in his first start of the season against the Rangers, but stayed in the game, finishing with 10 strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. The Padres lineup isn’t great, to begin with, but it’s even thinner right now with Wil Myers (elbow) on the DL. McCullers could be in line for another strong performance Friday as a result.

Luis Castillo vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $7,100
DraftKings = $8,700

Castillo had a great start to his career during his brief time in the majors last year, posting a 3.12 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 9.9 K/9 in 89 1/3 innings. He showed excellent control for a young power pitcher, allowing just 1.8 BB/9. He induced a lot of grounders as well with a 58.8% ground-ball rate. Castillo had to face the Nationals in his first start of the season, who have one of the best lineups in the league. He allowed six earned runs in five innings, but he did still record six strikeouts. Friday brings an easier opponent in the Pirates, leaving Castillo as a tournament play option at this price.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/6/18

Freddie Freeman vs. German Marquez, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $5,700

Freeman has started off about as well as anyone so far this season, batting .421 with two home runs and nine RBI. He has a crazy .621 OBP and has only struck out three times. He’ll face the righty Marquez on Friday, which should benefit him greatly since he had a ridiculous .422 wOBA against righties in 2017.

Kendrys Morales vs. Matt Moore, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $2,900

Morales is only 2-for-14 to start the season and has yet to record an extra-base hit. Friday might be the day his fortunes change though against Moore and the Rangers. A switch-hitter, Morales is much better from the right side of the plate, posting a 165 wRC+ in 2017 compared to a 77 wRC+ from the left side. Moore struggled with a 1.53 WHIP last year and doesn’t have overpowering stuff, making Morales an option to consider at this cheap price.

Others to consider: Justin Smoak (first base) and Brian McCann (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/6/18

Scooter Gennett vs. Trevor Williams, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,500

Gennett had the best season of his career in 2017, hitting .295 with 27 home runs and 97 RBI. His previous career-highs were 14 home runs and 56 RBI, so the leap that he made was significant, to say the least. He’s not off to a hot start with his counting stats this year, but he is batting .429 in the early goings. Right-handed pitching provided little troubles for Gennett as he posting a .388 wOBA against them last year compared to just .296 against lefties. Based on those extreme splits, he might be worth taking a chance on in tournament play Friday.

Kike Hernandez vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,500

The injury to Justin Turner (wrist) has opened up some playing time for Hernandez, but he is only hitting .188 so far this season. He has dominated left-handed pitching though, posting a .390 wOBA against them in 2017. He’ll face the lefty Holland for the second time of the season on Friday after going 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI in their first matchup. Of note, Hernandez is only listed at second base on FanDuel as he is listed as an outfielder on DraftKings.

Others to consider: Joe Panik and Jed Lowrie

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/6/18

Josh Donaldson vs. Matt Moore, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $4,800

Donaldson has battled through a dead arm to start the season, but it has really only limited him in the field. He has two home runs and a double so far to go along with a .400 OBP. He owned lefties last year, finishing with a 171 wRC+. In limited plate appearances against Moore in his career, Donaldson is also 3-for-8 with a home run, one double and one walk. Expect him to give Moore troubles again Friday.

Luis Valbuena vs. Daniel Gossett, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $3,000

Valbuena is off to a terrible start this season, hitting .167  with just two extra-base hits. The good news is that he is getting plenty of playing time with Ian Kinsler (groin) on the DL, which moved Zack Cozart from third to second base. Gossett struggled with a 6.11 ERA and 1.61 WHIP last year while also recording just 7.1 K/9. Valbuena is a much better hitter against righties, posting a .324 wOBA against them in 2017 compared to just .194 against lefties.

Others to consider: Nolan Arenado and Ryan Flaherty

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/6/18

Carlos Correa vs. Luis Perdomo, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $5,000

Correa suffered a minor toe injury and sat out Wednesday, but he should return Friday after receiving two days of rest. He was hot before the injury, batting .474 with two home runs and eight RBI. Although he hits lefties extremely well, righties don’t really give him problems either, finishing with a .380 wOBA against them in 2017. The right-hander Perdomo had a WHIP of at least 1.51 in both of the last two seasons and his K/9 did not exceed 6.5 in either year, which doesn’t exactly make him an imposing force for Correa to face.

Manny Machado vs. C.C. Sabathia, New York Yankees
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,200

Machado has yet to drive in a run and is hitting only .222 this season, so he doesn’t exactly come into Friday swinging the bat well. He’s had good numbers against Sabathia in his career though, batting .316 with three home runs and six doubles in 57 career at-bats. Sabathia is still a serviceable starting pitcher, but he’s not nearly as overpowering as he was earlier in his career. This might be just the matchup that Machado needs to get going.

Others to consider: Addison Russell Andrelton Simmons

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/6/18

Charlie Blackmon vs. Brandon McCarthy, Atlanta Braves
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $5,300
DraftKings = $5,800

Blackmon has yet to play a single game in the friendly confines of Coors Field, yet he is still batting .345 with four home runs. He finally returns home Friday, a place where he batted .391 and hit 24 of his 37 home runs last season. He also destroyed righties last year with a 145 wRC+, so don’t hesitate to pay up to get him into your lineup against McCarthy on Friday.

Josh Reddick vs. Luis Perdomo, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,000

Reddick was hitless in his first two games of 2018 but has gone 6-for-10 with two home runs in three games since. The Astros lineup is loaded with excellent right-handed hitters and Reddick provides an important compliment from the left-hand side, posting a wOBA of at least .356 against righties in each of the last four seasons. He has an excellent chance to extend his recent hot streak Friday.

Nomar Mazara vs. Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,400

Mazara is swinging a hot bat right now, recording at least two hits in four of his last six games. He batted a disappointing .253 in 2017, but a lot of that was because he hit only .228 against lefties. Most of his power came against right-handers as well, hitting 19 of his 20 home runs against them. At this cheap price, he’s worth taking a chance on in tournament play against a righty in Estrada who doesn’t have overpowering stuff.

Others to consider: Mike Trout and Preston Tucker

2018 MLB Fantasy Baseball Season Preview: Outfield

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner – @rotomikebarner*

2018 MLB Fantasy Baseball Season Preview: Outfield

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

The Top Five

2018 MLB Fantasy Baseball Season Preview: Outfield

Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels

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

Charlie Blackmon, Colorado Rockies

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

Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox

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

Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals

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

Giancarlo Stanton, New York Yankees

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

Overvalued Players

2018 MLB Fantasy Baseball Season Preview: Outfield

Billy Hamilton, Cincinnati Reds

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

Andrew McCutchen, San Francisco Giants

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

Ender Inciarte, Atlanta Braves

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

 

Undervalued Players

2018 MLB Fantasy Baseball Season Preview: Outfield

Brett Gardner, New York Yankees

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

Stephen Piscotty, Oakland Athletics

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

Mallex Smith, Tampa Bay Rays

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

Fantasy Baseball Season Preview: First Base

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner – @rotomikebarner*

Fantasy Baseball Season Preview: First Base

First base is one of the deepest positions in fantasy baseball. Not only are there several elite power hitters playing the position, but there are also many who can be difference makers in terms of batting average in your league. Let’s not only take a look at the cream of the crop but also at some first basemen who are overvalued and undervalued heading into 2018.

The Top Three

Fantasy Baseball Season Preview: First Base

Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks

Simply put, Goldschmidt is a monster. He has played at least 155 games in four of the last five years, recording at least 33 home runs, 110 RBI and 103 runs scored in three of those seasons. The one season where he didn’t reach those thresholds was in 2016 when he had 24 home runs, 95 RBI, and 106 runs scored. However, he made up for it by stealing a career-high 32 bases, which was the sixth-most in baseball that year. His counting stats are great and he has a career .299 batting average and a career .399 OBP, but it’s his ability to steal bases that makes him the best first baseman in fantasy. He has swiped at least 18 bases four times in his career and should continue to produce in that department this season. It’s not unreasonable to think that he will hit fewer home runs due to the addition of the humidor at Chase Field, but his overall numbers still make him stand out above the rest at his position.

Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds

Votto had one of the best seasons of his career last year, batting .320 with 36 home runs, 100 RBI, and 16 runs scored. He posted a lofty .420 OBP, marking the seventh time in the last eight seasons that he recorded an OBP of at least .400. His eye at the plate is tremendous, swinging at a career-low 15.4% of pitches outside the strike zone in 2017. He’s been healthy as well, playing at least 158 games four of the last five years. He’s only hit at least 30 home runs twice in his career, so don’t be surprised if he sees some regression in that area this season. His 38% fly ball percentage last year was significantly higher than his career average of 33.5%. However, taking into consideration his production across the board, Votto is the second best fantasy option at first base for 2018.

Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves

This was a close race between Freeman and Anthony Rizzo for the third spot. Rizzo has been extremely consistent, hitting at least 31 home runs and recording at least 101 RBI in three straight seasons. Freeman’s breakout in the power department came in 2016, hitting 34 home runs to go along with 91 RBI. He played in only 117 games last year but still managed to mash 28 round trippers. The reason Freeman gets the edge over Rizzo is because of his ability to hit for a higher average. Don’t get me wrong, Rizzo is no slouch, hitting at least .273 in four straight seasons. However, he’s never hit above .292 in his career. Freeman has batted at least .302 in three of the last five years and is a career .290 hitter. In a league where batting averages are being sacrificed for power, Freeman’s ability to provide excellent value in both areas makes him the third best first baseman heading into this season.

Overvalued Players

Fantasy Baseball Season Preview: First Base

Rhys Hoskins, Philadelphia Phillies

Hoskins will play the outfield for the Phillies this season but is still eligible at first base in fantasy. He burst onto the scene in 2017, hitting 18 home runs and recording 48 RBI in only 50 games. While that is impressive, that’s not a sustainable pace over the course of a full season. His average could actually improve this year though as he hit .259 despite a .241 BABIP. He is going to be a valuable player and is a vital part of the Phillies future, but his current ADP in the NFCB is 50.54. That’s seventh-highest among first baseman and higher than players such Nelson Cruz (55.60) and Daniel Murphy (68) when looking across all positions. First base is deep, so it might be a wise move to pass on Hoskins if forced to select him that early.

Carlos Santana, Philadelphia Phillies

The second Phillie to make this list, Santana will actually man first base this season. He’s been healthy throughout his career, playing in at least 152 games in six of the last seven years. He’s a fine player, but his fantasy value is limited in today’s current state of the game. Outside of an aberration season where he hit 34 home runs in 2016, he has never hit more than 27 home runs in a season. He has actually hit 23 homers or less in four of the last six seasons. He’s not going to hit for average either, batting just .249 for his career. His current ADP is 172.05, ahead of other first basemen including Matt Carpenter (180.19) and Yuli Gurriel (208.84). I’d much rather take a chance on someone with a higher upside than Santana based on where he is being selected in drafts.

Undervalued Players

Fantasy Baseball Season Preview: First Base

Greg Bird, New York Yankees

Bird was plagued by injuries last year, limiting him to just 48 games. He was awful when he was on the field, batting just .190. He still flashed his power potential though with nine home runs. That was right on pace with his only other appearance in the majors in 2015 when he hit 11 home runs in 46 games. The difference was in 2015 he hit .261 with a .319 BABIP. He only had a .194 BABIP last year, so expect significant improvement in his average this year. In six minor league seasons, Bird hit .283 with a .397 OBP. The Yankees lineup is loaded as well, which should afford him with plenty of opportunities to produce. His current ADP is only 152.87, which is excellent value considering his upside. Don’t be surprised if he hits .270 with around 30 home runs this year.

Brandon Belt, San Francisco Giants

Belt was limited to 104 games last year due to a concussion, but he still tied his career high with 18 home runs. While he regressed to a .214 batting average, he had just a .284 BABIP compared to his career BABIP of .333. He still had a 38.4% hard hit percentage and swung at a career-low 22% of pitches outside the strike zone. He’ s only turning 30 years old at the start of the season and has a better offense around him this year with the additions of Andrew McCutchen and Evan Longoria. His ADP is insanely low at 304.29, making him someone to target late in your drafts.