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MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/14/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

Tuesday brings a packed schedule across the majors with 14 games making up the main 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 8/14/18

Anibal Sanchez vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $8,600
DraftKings = $8,600

Sanchez left his last outing early after getting hit on the calf, but he’s not expected to miss any time. He finished with an ERA of 4.99 or higher in each of the last three seasons with the Tigers, but he’s been a different pitcher since joining the Braves. While it will be hard for him to maintain his current 2.83 ERA, his FIP is still strong at 3.73. One of the main reasons for his success has been cutting back on allowing home runs. He allowed at least 1.7 HR/9 in each of his previous three seasons but has only allowed 1.0 HR/9 this year. The Marlins have scored the second-fewest runs (444) in baseball, so start Sanchez with confidence.

Jameson Taillon vs. Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $8,200
DraftKings = $9,000

Taillon finished with a 4.44 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP last year, but that was a bit deceiving based on his 3.48 FIP and opponents’ posting a .352 BABIP against him. His BABIP against has normalized to .300 this year, helping reduce his ERA to 3.63 and his WHIP to 1.22. He had a few big blowups early in the season, but Taillon has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 13 straight starts. Although he’ll have to deal with the DH Tuesday, the Twins lineup suffered a big blow when Brian Dozier was traded to the Dodgers. Look for Taillon to continue his recent run of success.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/14/18

Paul Goldschmidt vs. Yovani Gallardo, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,200

After swiping at least 18 bases in three straight seasons, Goldschmidt’s stolen base Monday marked only his fifth of the year. He still finished the game with two hits and is now on a seven-game hitting streak. Although he doesn’t have a platoon advantage against Gallardo, Goldschmidt hasn’t struggled versus righties with a .380 wOBA against them this year.

Yadier Molina vs. Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,100

Molina is currently on a five-game hitting streak and is batting .315 with four home runs and 10 doubles since July 1. He’s been one of the best offensive catchers in baseball, batting .288 with 15 homers overall. Gonzalez has allowed plenty of baserunners with a 1.48 WHIP, giving Molina an excellent opportunity to extend his hitting streak.

Others to consider: Yonder Alonso (first base) and Jose Martinez (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/14/18

Daniel Murphy vs. John Gant, St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,200

After playing at least 140 games in five of the last six years, Murphy has been limited to just 50 games this year due to injury. It took him a while to shake off the rust from a lengthy stint on the DL, but Murphy is 23-for-59 (.390) with three home runs and four doubles across his last 16 games. He’s struggled with a .279 wOBA against left-handed pitchers, but he’s had far more success against righties with a .360 wOBA.

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

In a great matchup against Homer Bailey on Monday, Kipnis finished the game 2-for-5 with a double, two RBI and a run scored. It actually marked his third-straight multi-hit performance. He gets another plus matchup Tuesday against Romano, who has a 1.39 WHIP and doesn’t strike out many batters with a 6.4 K/9.

Others to consider: Jeff McNeil and Jonathan Villar

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/14/18

Justin Turner vs. Andrew Suarez, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,300

Turner went deep Monday, marking just his seventh home run this season. While his power numbers are down, he’s still batting .284 with a .378 OBP. He’s always someone to target versus lefties, as well, considering his 180 wRC+ against them. Suarez doesn’t exactly come into this contest on top of his game, allowing 22 runs in 26.2 innings across his last five starts.

Jedd Gyorko vs. Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $4,000

Gyorko is starting to heat up for the Cardinals, batting .325 so far in August. His power numbers haven’t been great, but he did slug his ninth homer of the season Monday. He’s been almost as good against lefties as Turner has, posting a 173 wRC+ this year.

Others to consider: Jose Ramirez and Miguel Andujar

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/14/18

Paul DeJong vs. Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,200

DeJong only has one multi-hit performance during his current seven-game hitting streak, but he’s hit four home runs during that stretch. He hit 25 home runs and posted a .532 slugging percentage last year in only 108 games, so he carries significant power potential down the stretch. Gonzalez doesn’t give up a ton of home runs, but 11 of the 13 that have been hit off of him this year have been by righties.

Tim Beckham vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,900

Vargas has been a trainwreck for the Mets. He’s only made 12 starts, but he’s posted an 8.75 ERA and a 1.84 WHIP. He’s also allowed a staggering 12 home runs across 47.1 innings. The Orioles lineup is extremely thin after the trades of Manny Machado and Jonathan Schoop, but there are still some players that could provide value against Vargas. Beckham could be one of them as he is batting .283 with three home runs over his last 13 games.

Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Didi Gregorius

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/14/18

Kole Calhoun vs. Brett Kennedy, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,100

Calhoun has brought one of the craziest swings of production we have seen this season. Entering July, he was batting .162 with three home runs. Since then, he is hitting .311 with 13 homers. Kennedy put up some good numbers in Triple-A this year, but his first career start was a disaster as he gave up six runs over four innings. With the way Calhoun is swinging the bat, he’s an excellent option at this reasonable price on both sites.

Mark Trumbo vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,600

Trumbo has been battling knee soreness, but he’s hopeful to return to the lineup Tuesday. He’s stepped up since the trades of Machado and Schoop, batting .368 with five home runs in August. His .468 slugging percentage overall is a big improvement over his .397 mark in 2017. As long as he’s in the lineup, he’s someone to target against Vargas.

Harrison Bader vs. Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $4,500

The Cardinals trading away Tommy Pham was a sign they were gaining more confidence in Bader and Tyler O’Neill. Once Dexter Fowler and O’Neill both landed on the DL, they had to lean heavily on Bader. He’s hasn’t let them down, batting .325 with two home runs so far in August. He’s not that cheap on DraftKings, but he’s a great option at his price on FanDuel considering his .407 wOBA against lefties.

Others to consider: Michael Brantley and Cedric Mullins

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/13/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

Monday brings plenty of action across the majors with 10 games making up the main 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 8/13/18

Mike Clevinger vs. Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $9,300
DraftKings = $9,200

The Indians starting rotation is certainly one of the deepest in baseball. Clevinger has been a big part of their success with a 3.38 ERA that is backed by a 3.35 FIP. After issuing at least 4.4 BB/9 in both of his first two seasons, Clevinger has been much better with a 2.8 BB/9 this year. He’s also allowed just 13 home runs across 146.2 innings. He won’t have to deal with the DH pitching at Cincinnati and the Reds haven’t been hitting well of late, either, averaging 3.5 runs over their last 10 games.

Sean Reid-Foley vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $4,400

The Blue Jays will give Reid-Foley his first start in the majors Monday. He’s earned the call with a strong performance at Triple-A, posting a 3.50 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP across 15 starts. He allowed just five home runs over 82.1 innings to go along with a stellar 10.3 K/9. His success in the strikeout department should come as no surprise since he has a 10.0 K/9 for his career in the minors. The Royals have scored the fewest runs (428) in baseball, so Reid-Foley might be worth the risk at this dirt cheap price in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/13/18

Paul Goldschmidt vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,700

Goldschmidt launched two home runs Sunday and is 10-for-28 during his current six-game hitting streak. His RBI total is down this year at 64, but he’s managed to hit .282 with 26 homers despite a horrendous month of May. Colon has allowed 1.8 HR/9 this season to go along with his 5.18 ERA, leaving Goldschmidt with plenty of upside.

Yonder Alonso vs. Homey Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,200

With Bailey on the mound for the Reds, the Indians should be one of the most popular stacks Monday. Bailey gave up five runs over 3.1 innings in his last start against the lowly Mets, leaving him with a 6.19 ERA overall. He gives up a ton of baserunners with a 1.59 WHIP and has allowed a .363 wOBA against left-handed hitters, making Alonso a viable target at first base.

Others to consider: Freddie Freeman (first base) and Yadier Molina (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/13/18

Ozzie Albies vs. Merandy Gonzalez, Miami Marlins
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,700

In the second game of their doubleheader, the Marlins plan to give Gonzalez his first career start. He hasn’t pitched well in seven relief appearances, recording a 5.71 ERA and a 1.79 WHIP. He’s spent most of the season in Double-A where he has a 4.32 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. He’s not a big strikeout pitcher with a career 7.4 K/9 in the minor leagues, so he could have plenty of trouble trying to get out Albies, who has at least one hit in four of his last five games.

Jason Kipnis vs. Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,000

Kipnis is having another disappointing season, batting only .226 with 11 home runs. His .363 slugging percentage would be the second-worst mark of his career. On the bright side, he does have at least two hits in three of his last six starts and he has a career .341 wOBA against righties. With how poorly Bailey is pitching, Kipnis is a viable option in tournament play.

Others to consider: Yoan Moncada and Daniel Descalso

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/13/18

Eduardo Escobar vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,600

Escobar got off to a great start with the Twins this season, but he’s been even better since joining the Diamondbacks. In 13 games with his new team, he’s batting .324 with two home runs and five doubles. He has just a .306 wOBA against lefties this season, but look to exploit this matchup against Colon based on his .384 wOBA against righties.

Jedd Gyorko vs. Tommy Milone, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $4,100

Milone allowed four total runs across his first two starts, but they came against two poor hitting teams in the Marlins and Mets. He didn’t fare well in his third start against a vastly superior Braves lineup, giving up seven runs over six innings. Gyorko is not having a good season overall, but he’s still someone to target versus lefties considering his 170 wRC+ against them.

Others to consider: Matt Chapman and Christian Villanueva

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/13/18

Francisco Lindor vs. Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $5,900

Lindor couldn’t cash in a prime matchup against Dylan Covey on Sunday, finishing 0-for-5 with a walk and four strikeouts. He’ll get a chance to redeem himself against another underwhelming starter in Bailey on Monday. He’s batting .292 with 29 home runs and a .372 OBP, so expect him to rebound with a better performance.

Paul DeJong vs. Tommy Milone, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,200

DeJong burst onto the scene last year by hitting .285 with 25 home runs in only 108 games. He’s been bothered by injuries this year and hasn’t played well when healthy, batting .244 with 12 home runs across 72 contests. However, he might be heating up at just the right time for the Cardinals as he has three home runs over his last five games. Based on Milone’s struggles, DeJong could provide value if you need to save money at shortstop.

Others to consider: Aledmys Diaz and Marcus Semien 

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/13/18

Ronald Acuna Jr. vs. Merandy Gonzalez, Miami Marlins
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,800

Acuna is hot right now, slugging a home run in four of his last five contests. He has 15 long balls in only 64 games overall, showing why he is one of the most exciting young players in the league. He doesn’t have the platoon advantage against Gonzalez, but that shouldn’t be a concern since Acuna has a .373 wOBA against right-handed pitchers.

Jon Jay vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $4,300

With the Diamondbacks faced with a good chance to score plenty of runs against Colon, their usual leadoff hitter Jay could be in line for a productive night. He’s largely struggled since joining the Diamondbacks, but with at least two hits in five of his last seven starts, he’s someone to target Monday, especially at his cheap price on FanDuel.

Harrison Bader vs. Tommy Milone, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $4,400

Even though Tyler O’Neill is likely to be activated from the DL on Tuesday, Bader should continue to see plenty of playing time down the stretch. He hasn’t hit for a ton of power, but he’s batting .275 with a .345 OBP. He’s also flashed some speed on the base paths with 12 steals. Add in his .402 wOBA against lefties and he’s another Cardinal to target against Milone.

Others to consider: Michael Brantley and David Peralta

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/10/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

With 14 games for the main slate Friday in DFS, there are a lot of options to wade through for your entry. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/10/18

Nathan Eovaldi vs. Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $8,700
DraftKings = $9,700

Eovaldi has yet to allow a run since being traded. The fact that one of his two starts with the Red Sox came against the Yankees makes that even more impressive. He has a 3.38 ERA overall that has been aided by a sparkling 0.89 WHIP. That will likely be hard for him to sustain, though, since opponents only have a .230 BABIP against him. The good news is he gets to face an Orioles lineup that wasn’t great, to begin with, then traded away their two best hitters in Manny Machado and Jonathan Schoop. His strikeout upside is limited, but this is still a matchup to exploit.

Zach Eflin vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $8,500
DraftKings = $8,500

Eflin was a disaster over 11 starts last year with a 6.16 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. He’s shown significant improvement this year with a 3.61 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. Not only has he cut down his rate of home runs allowed, but he has also increased his K/9 from 4.9 last season to 8.3 this year. His 10.1% swinging-strike rate is almost three percentage points higher than it was in 2017. The Padres have struck out the third-most times (1,097) in baseball and have the second-lowest OPS against righties (.659), making Eflin an excellent option to consider.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/10/18

Matt Carpenter vs. Burch Smith, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $5,800

There are few hitters in baseball that are hotter than Carpenter right now. He is 10-for-29 (.345) with five home runs during his current seven-game hitting streak. His 63 RBI don’t stand out, but he’s hitting for a ton of power with 31 home runs and 33 doubles. With Burch’s 1.53 WHIP and 1.8 HR/9, Carpenter is someone to build your lineup around.

Matt Olson vs. Felix Pena, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,200

Olson’s .235 average this season has been a disappointment, but he’s 10-for-33 (.303) with four doubles and a home run over his last nine games. His power numbers are virtually the same whether he’s been on the road or at home this season, but he’s hit for a higher average on the road at .256. That’s been a common theme for the A’s as they have much better offensive stats as a team on the road. Olson also has a .351 wOBA against right-handed pitching, leaving him as an intriguing option if you don’t want to pay up for Carpenter.

Others to consider: Jake Bauers (first base) and Yadier Molina (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/10/18

Whit Merrifield vs. Austin Gomber, St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,800

Merrifield only has seven home runs this year, but he hasn’t been completely devoid of power with 31 doubles. He’s batting .300 with 25 steals and he’s shown a better eye at the plate, almost doubling his walk rate from 2017. He has a stellar .406 wOBA against left-handed pitching and could provide value against Gomber and his 1.37 WHIP.

Kolten Wong vs. Burch Smith, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $2,300
DraftKings = $3,600

With Smith on the mound Friday, the Cardinals present an excellent stacking opportunity. Carpenter is their big ticket player to target, but Wong is a strong candidate to outproduce his price point. His .229 average and seven home runs don’t jump off the page, but he’s batting .349 over his last 18 games.

Others to consider: Scooter Gennett and Joey Wendle

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/10/18

Eduardo Escobar vs. Anthony DeSclafani, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,400

Escobar is still looking for his first home run since being traded to the Diamondbacks, but he’s batting an impressive .333 with five doubles since joining his new team. The switch-hitting third baseman has a .377 wOBA against righties this year and DeSclafani has allowed a .410 to left-handed batters, setting up Escobar nicely to continue his recent run of success.

David Freese vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $2,300
DraftKings = $3,900

Freese came through Thursday with a big performance, finishing 2-for-5 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored. He’s come on strong down the stretch, batting .343 with three home runs and two doubles across his last 10 games. With his career .363 wOBA against left-handed pitchers, he’s a great cheap option with upside in tournament play.

Others to consider: Mike Moustakas and Rafael Devers

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/10/18

Andrelton Simmons vs. Brett Anderson, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,200

Anderson tossed seven scoreless innings in his last start against the Tigers, but he had only two strikeouts against what is not an imposing lineup by any means. He’s generally had trouble keeping runners off base this season with a 1.48 WHIP and he’s not fooling many batters with a 4.4 K/9. Simmons doesn’t strike out much and he has a .364 wOBA against lefties, so he could be on base plenty in this game.

Asdrubal Cabrera vs. Jacob Nix, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,300

With the Padres desperate for starting pitching, Nix will make his major league debut Friday despite starting only one game at Triple-A. He had a 2.05 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP across nine starts at Double-A, but his 7.0 K/9 at that level doesn’t exactly foster a lot of confidence. The Phillies could be in for a big night, including Cabrera, who has a .366 wOBA against righties.

Others to consider: Paul DeJong and Carlos Correa

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/10/18

Khris Davis vs. Felix Pena, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $5,000

Davis is doing his best to get the A’s back into the playoffs, batting .311 with 12 home runs since July 1. His walk rate is down, but he’s also cut down on his strikeouts to boost his batting average to .256, which would be his highest mark since he played in only 56 games for the Brewers in 2013. Davis actually has better numbers against right-handed pitching and Pena has allowed 1.5 HR/9 for his career, leaving Davis with plenty of potential Friday.

David Peralta vs. Anthony DeSclafani
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $5,500

Peralta had a power outage with just one home run in July, but he’s already gone deep three times so far in August. He has a career-high 19 homers overall and is still hitting for a high average at .306. With DeSclafani’s struggles against left-handed hitters already detailed, Peralta stands out among outfield options, although he is pricey on DraftKings.

Mallex Smith vs. Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,600

Smith continues to find ways to get on base, going 1-for-2 with two walks Thursday. He doesn’t hit for any power, but he does have nine runs scored and seven stolen bases across his last nine games. Estrada is having another subpar season with a 4.65 ERA and a 4.64 FIP and he doesn’t have an overwhelming arsenal with a 6.6 K/9, so don’t be surprised if Smith finds himself on base a couple of times again in this contest.

Others to consider: Christian Yelich and Justin Upton

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/9/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

There are only six games to choose from Thursday for the main slate in DFS, but there are still some great matchups that stand out. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/9/18

James Paxton vs. Houston Astros
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $10,000
DraftKings = $10,600

Paxton has picked up right where he left off after a brief stint on the DL, allowing three runs and recording 15 strikeouts across 14 innings since he was activated. His 3.51 ERA overall is supported by an even better 3.05 FIP and he’s done an excellent job keeping runners off base with a 1.07 WHIP. His 11.5 K/9 would also be the highest mark of his career. You don’t normally target pitchers against the Astros, but their lineup is a shell of itself with Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and George Springer all on the DL. They enter Thursday having scored three runs or fewer in nine of their last 12 games.

Yonny Chirinos vs. Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $5,700

I don’t like any of the cheap starting pitching options Thursday. Tyler Anderson, Ross Stripling, and J.A. Happ are all good pitchers and don’t cost much, but their matchups aren’t great. The Rays are actually starting Hunter Wood in this game, but he’s not going to throw more than a couple of innings. Chirinos is one of the more likely options to follow him since he last pitched five days ago and Jake Faria is dealing with a sore neck. He’s pitched well with a 3.70 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and an 8.5 K/9, so he could provide a lot of value at this price. Keep an eye on reports leading up to this game and if Chirinos is confirmed to follow Wood, he’s someone worth considering on a night with so few quality options.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/9/18

Jake Bauers vs. David Hess, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,400

Hess hadn’t started a game since June for the Orioles, but he returned to the rotation last Friday against the Rangers. That game certainly didn’t go well as he allowed seven runs (five earned) across 3.1 innings. If the Orioles had any other viable options, Hess likely wouldn’t be starting because of his 6.41 ERA and 1.54 WHIP. He’s also allowed 2.2 HR/9, giving Bauers and the Rays an excellent opportunity to put up some big numbers.

Steve Pearce vs. Ryan Borucki, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,300

Borucki has pitched well across his seven starts, posting a 2.30 ERA, 2.52 FIP, and a 1.26 WHIP. His only bad outing came against these same Red Sox when he allowed seven runs (four earned) in three innings. It’s going to be awfully difficult for him to have success in their rematch Thursday, especially considering his underwhelming 6.3 K/9. Pearce is one Red Sox to target in particular based on his 189 wRC+ against lefties.

Others to consider: Greg Bird (first base) and Francisco Cervelli (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/9/18

Gleyber Torres vs. Ariel Jurado, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,300

Torres has played better than anyone could have expected since being recalled, batting .274 with 18 home runs in only 266 at-bats. He’s loved hitting at home so far, batting .307 with 10 homers at Yankee Stadium. Jurado is not an overwhelming pitcher with a career 6.9 K/9 in the minors, leaving Torres with plenty of upside once again.

Joey Wendle vs. David Hess, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $4,100

With Hess on the mound for the Orioles, the Rays are likely going to be one of the most heavily used stacks for the evening. Wendle has cashed in his first opportunity to get extended playing time in the majors, batting .292 across 322 at-bats. He doesn’t have a lot of power, but he at least has the potential to get on base a couple of times in this contest.

Others to consider: Josh Harrison and Neil Walker

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/9/18

Miguel Andujar vs. Ariel Jurado, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,300

If it wasn’t for the crazy start to Torres’ career, Andujar would be getting much more press. His defense has been shaky, to say the least, but his bat is going to be special. He has 30 doubles to go along with 15 home runs, but he’s not just about power numbers with his .289 batting average. He actually has slightly better numbers against righties, so don’t worry about him not having the platoon advantage against Jurado.

David Freese vs. Andrew Suarez, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $2,300
DraftKings = $4,100

Expect Freese to be in the lineup against the left-handed Suarez based on his .363 wOBA against left-handed pitchers for his career. Suarez had a very productive stretch from June into the beginning of July, but he’s allowed 19 runs over 21.2 innings in his last four starts.

Others to consider: Justin Turner and Matt Duffy

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/9/18

Didi Gregorius vs. Ariel Jurado, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,900

There are a lot of Yankees’ hitters who have better numbers at home, but Gregorius has one of the most extreme splits. He’s batting .236 with seven homers on the road compared to .296 with 13 long balls at Yankee Stadium. This could be a high scoring game for the Yankees even with Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez still sidelined, with Gregorius potentially playing a key role.

Xander Bogaerts vs. Ryan Borucki, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Center
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,200

Bogaerts is in a power drought, failing to hit a home run since the All-Star break. He’s only hit .216 during that stretch, but he has recorded a hit in three straight games. With at least one walk in four consecutive contests, as well, he’s showing signs of coming back around. He’s had a great season batting .274 with 16 home runs and is someone to consider if you don’t want to pay up for Gregorius.

Others to consider: Manny Machado and Willy Adames

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/9/18

J.D. Martinez vs. Ryan Borucki, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $5,600

Martinez is locked in, batting .404 with five home runs and seven doubles over his last 13 games. He has 16 RBI during that time frame, bringing his total to 98 for the season. With his career .387 wOBA against left-handed pitchers, he could give Borucki plenty of problems.

Mallex Smith vs. David Hess, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,700

Smith is on a hot streak of his own, going 12-for-24 over his last eight games. He swiped two more bases Wednesday, upping his total to 25 overall. With Smith hitting this well and Hess struggling to keep runners off base, you could get plenty of production even without Smith having any power upside.

Randal Grichuk vs. Rick Porcello, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,800

Grichuk logged two hits Wednesday, marking his third multi-hit performance in his last five games. He’s been one of the better Blue Jays’ hitters of late, batting .339 with two home runs and six doubles across his last 13 contests. He has better numbers against right-handed pitchers throughout his career, so he might be worth the risk in tournament play.

Others to consider: Mookie Betts and Steven Duggar

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/8/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

Wednesday brings 14 games across the majors, but only nine of them make up 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 8/8/18

Jose Quintana vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $8,200
DraftKings = $8,300

Quintana has had control problems this season, issuing a career-high 4.1 BB/9. His 4.12 ERA isn’t terrible, but it could be worse considering his 4.60 FIP and 1.38 WHIP. He has pitched better of late, allowing two runs or fewer in four of his last five starts. Of those four starts, three of them came against bad lineups in the Tigers, Giants, and Padres. He gets another great matchup Wednesday against a Royals squad that has scored the fewest runs (414) in baseball, giving him an excellent opportunity to continue his recent run of success.

Jhoulys Chacin vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $8,000
DraftKings = $7,500

Chacin was hammered in his last start against the Dodgers, allowing nine runs (eight earned) and three home runs across 4.1 innings. The Dodgers have one of the best lineups in the National League, though, so don’t read too much into one bad outing. He had allowed two runs or fewer in five of his six previous starts. Don’t count on him for a lot of strikeouts with his 7.2 K/9, but he’s only allowed 13 home runs across 132 innings. The Padres have the second-lowest OPS against right-handed pitchers (.653), setting up Chacin nicely for a rebound performance.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/8/18

Matt Carpenter vs. Trevor Richards, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $5,400

Carpenter went deep again Tuesday, marking his fourth home run in the last five games. If it wasn’t for such a horrible start, Carpenter could have one of the better cases for NL MVP. Even with his early struggles, he’s still batting .282 with a .393 OBP and 30 home runs. Keeping riding his hot bat against Richards and his 1.39 WHIP.

Yasmani Grandal vs. Mike Fiers, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,300

The A’s are making a push for the playoffs and have added a few players for the stretch run. One of the guys they brought in was Fiers, who will be making his first start since being acquired from the Tigers. His 3.48 ERA looks nice, but his 4.65 FIP indicates he is not pitching that well. He’s also had problems keeping hitters inside the park with a 1.5 HR/9. The switch-hitting Grandal has had very little success against lefties, but he has a .382 wOBA against right-handed pitching.

Others to consider: Anthony Rizzo (first base) and Jake Bauers (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/8/18

Javier Baez vs. Heath Fillmyer, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $5,700

Baez is having a great season, in general, but he’s been even hotter of late by hitting .378 with six homers and five doubles over his last 11 games. His .346 BABIP this season looks high, but it’s actually almost in line with his .336 career mark. Fillmyer has a 4.83 FIP and a 1.42 WHIP with the Royals and posted 5.75 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP at Triple-A, making Baez an extremely appealing option.

Neil Walker vs. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $3,800

Walker has struggled with the Yankees, often finding himself on the bench due to the stellar play of Gleyber Torres and Miguel Andujar. Playing time has opened up for him lately with Aaron Judge on the DL as he now starts most games against right-handed pitchers. He’s taken advantage of his opportunity, batting .364 with a home run and a double of his last 41 plate appearances. At this cheap price, he’s someone to consider against Giolito based on his 1.49 WHIP.

Others to consider: Joey Wendle and Jonathan Villar

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/8/18

Jose Ramirez vs. Jake Odorizzi, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $5,300
DraftKings = $6,000

Ramirez has already tied or surpassed his previous career-highs in home runs, RBI, and stolen bases this season. His batting average hasn’t suffered at the expense of his power at .297 and he actually has more walks (74) than strikeouts (55). In three previous starts against the Indians this season, Odorizzi has allowed 16 runs (15 earned) across 13.2 innings. Look for them to have another big night Wednesday with Ramirez likely right in the middle of all the action.

Johan Camargo vs. Tommy Milone, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,100

With the Nationals thin at starting pitcher, they have turned to the journeyman Milone to fill a spot in their rotation. Milone has had some success during his minor league career, but he has a 4.35 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP over his career in the majors. Camargo has excelled with a .389 wOBA against lefties this year, making him a great option if you don’t want to pay up for Ramirez.

Others to consider: Miguel Andujar and Mike Moustakas

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/8/18

Didi Gregorius vs. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $5,000

One of the deepest lineups in baseball heading into the season, the Yankees really need Gregorius to be productive right now with Judge and Gary Sanchez both sidelined. While his numbers aren’t off the charts, he is batting .279 with two home runs, seven RBI and eight runs scored across 11 games since Judge hit the DL. He has a .348 wOBA against righties and provides significant upside against the underwhelming Giolito.

Aledmys Diaz vs. Brian Johnson, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,900

Diaz came through with another hit Tuesday to extend his hitting streak to five games. Although he broke a streak of five straight games with at least one run scored, Diaz is locked into significant playing time with Lourdes Gurriel on the DL. Johnson has posted a 3.74 ERA for the Red Sox, but that’s not likely going to hold up based on his 1.42 WHIP. At this cheap price on both sites, Diaz could provide plenty of value.

Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Xander Bogaerts

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/8/18

J.D. Martinez vs. Mike Hauschild, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $5,500

Martinez is flat out amazing. He’s given the Red Sox everything they could have hoped for after signing him to a big contract, batting .328 with 34 home runs and 97 RBI. With all the talented hitters around him, Martinez gets plenty of opportunities to rack up counting stats. The Red Sox are likely going to be a popular stack against Hauschild based on his 4.88 ERA and 1.55 WHIP at Triple-A this year.

Mallex Smith vs. Andrew Cashner, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,700

When the Rays acquired Tommy Pham and Austin Meadows, it looked like Smith might be in line for a smaller role. However, the Rays sent Meadows directly to Triple-A and Pham quickly landed on the DL with a foot injury. Smith is getting all the playing time he can handle as a result and is hot right now, going 11-for-19 with six walks over his last seven games. He’s a terror when he’s on base that much, resulting in five steals over that stretch. Cashner struggles to keep runners off base with his 1.56 WHIP, making Smith a viable option despite his lack of power.

Yasiel Puig vs. Mike Fiers, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $4,400

The ability to use the DH in this series helps the Dodgers free up a bit of a logjam they have created for their lineup after adding Manny Machado and Brian Dozier. It also gives the hitters in the lineup added opportunities for counting stats without the pitcher being required to hit. Puig has at least two hits in three of his last four games and while he doesn’t have the platoon advantage against Fiers, he actually has a higher wOBA against righties (.382) than he does lefties (.283).

Others to consider: Randal Grichuk and Jackie Bradley Jr.

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/7/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

There are some excellent pitching options Tuesday, but there could be plenty of high-scoring games, as well, with several teams throwing out their back of the rotation starters. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/7/18

Carlos Carrasco vs. Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $10,600
DraftKings = $11,500

The Indians starting rotation is so deep that Carrasco doesn’t always get the recognition that he deserves. He’s having another fantastic season with a 3.66 ERA, 3.25 FIP, and a 1.13 WHIP. He’s shown excellent control by issuing only 1.9 BB/9 and his 10.1 K/9 would mark the third time in the last four seasons that he has finished with a K/9 of at least 10. This will be his second straight start against the Twins after he recorded 10 strikeouts over 7.1 scoreless innings last Wednesday. With Eduardo Escobar and Brian Dozier no longer on the team, this is an excellent lineup to exploit.

C.C. Sabathia vs. Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $7,300
DraftKings = $7,400

It’s not always pretty, but Sabathia seems to find a way to get the job done more often than not. His velocity is down significantly at this point in his career, but his 3.59 ERA would be his third straight season with a sub-4.00 ERA. You shouldn’t count on him for a lot of strikeouts, though, considering his 7.3 K/9. His upside isn’t the greatest as a result, but he can still provide value in the right matchups. The White Sox have scored the seventh-fewest runs (456) in baseball and only have a .693 OPS against left-handed pitching, so Sabathia might be worth the risk in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/7/18

Matt Carpenter vs. Pablo Lopez, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $5,700

Carpenter is on another power surge, slugging three home runs over his last four games. He’s already set a new career-high with 29 long balls and his .281 batting average would be his highest mark since 2013. He has an insane 50.3% hard-hit rate, but his .313 BABIP is actually slightly lower than his career numbers. Lopez has allowed at least one home run in five of his six starts this season and hasn’t shown an overpowering arsenal with a 7.3 K/9, leaving Carpenter with tremendous upside once again.

Tucker Barnhart vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $2,300
DraftKings = $3,700

Barnhart is struggling right now, batting .170 across his last 18 games. This might be just the matchup he needs to get back on track considering Vargas has an 8.23 ERA and a 1.79 WHIP. Barnhart has also excelled against lefties this year with a .382 wOBA.

Others to consider: Jake Bauers (first base) and Kendrys Morales (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/7/18

Rougned Odor vs. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $5,400

Odor has been a different hitter since the calendar changed to July, batting .340 with nine home runs and eight doubles over 106 at-bats. His batting average is up to .269 for the season overall, which has helped make up for his decrease in home runs. He’s only batting .239 on the road this season, but he’s recorded a .295 average with a .500 slugging percentage at home.

Jonathan Villar vs. Tyler Glasnow, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium = Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,800

Villar is likely going to get plenty of playing time down the stretch for an Orioles team that stripped it’s lineup at the trade deadline passed. The move to Baltimore has paid off for him so far as he is 8-for-17 (.471) through four games. He has struggled to build off of his breakout 2016 campaign where he hit 19 home runs and stole 62 bases, but he can still wreak havoc on the base paths and is worth considering in tournament play at this cheap price.

Others to consider: Whit Merrifield and Joey Wendle

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/7/18

Eugenio Suarez vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $5,300

Suarez is likely going to be a popular play Tuesday based on his 213 wRC+ against lefties. Vargas gives up a ton of runs and doesn’t provide the Mets with much length, which helps make the case for Suarez even stronger considering their lack of quality arms in the bullpen. He doesn’t come cheap, but he could be a player to build your entry around.

Jurickson Profar vs. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,800

Hernandez has a respectable 4.02 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP at home, but he’s been crushed on the road with a 7.58 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP. The Rangers are a far better offensive team at home, so expect them to be one of the most widely used stacks for the evening. Profar has better numbers against lefties, but he’s 23-for-77 (.299) with 15 runs and 13 RBI over his last 22 games overall.

Others to consider: Colin Moran and Kyle Seager

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/7/18

Aledmys Diaz vs. Drew Pomeranz, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,000

Diaz has seen steady playing time with Lourdes Gurriel on the DL and has taken advantage of the opportunity by going 8-for-24 (.333) with four home runs over seven games. Although he doesn’t walk much, he’s quietly rebounded from a disappointing 2017 season to bat .261 with 14 home runs overall. Pomeranz has allowed six runs across 9.2 innings in two starts since being activated from the DL and has pitched poorly, in general, this year with a 6.56 ERA and a 1.80 WHIP.

Andrelton Simmons vs. Jacob Turner, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,000

Turner appeared in four games for the Marlins earlier this season, allowing 10 runs over 5.2 innings. He’s moved on to the Tigers and has since made 11 starts at Triple-A, but he didn’t exactly pitch well there with a 4.01 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and a 6.3 K/9. With a 5.26 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP for his career in the majors, the Angels could be in for a big night even with Mike Trout sidelined. Simmons is batting .306 with only 22 strikeouts this year, so he could be on base plenty in this game.

Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Jose Peraza

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/7/18

Nelson Cruz vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $5,500

Cruz failed to take Martin Perez deep Monday, but he still finished the game 2-for-5 with a walk. He’ll get another excellent chance to hit one out of the park Tuesday since Colon has given up 1.8 HR/9. Colon doesn’t fool many batters at this stage of his career with a 5.2 K/9, so don’t be surprised if Cruz and the Mariners hang a crooked number on him in this contest.

Kole Calhoun vs. Jacob Turner, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,100

Calhoun’s .207 average still looks horrible, but he’s batting .294 over 29 games since July 1. He hasn’t just hit for average during that stretch, either, recording 11 home runs, 27 RBI and 23 runs scored. With how poorly Tuner has pitched, it’s hard to pass up Calhoun based on his reasonable price on both sites.

Shohei Ohtani vs. Jacob Turner, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,400

Ohtani’s elbow injury has prevented him from pitching, but he’s still been able to DH for the Angels while he works his way back to the mound. He’s pretty much unplayable versus lefties considering his .243 wOBA against them. However, he has a .422 wOBA against righties with all 11 of his home runs coming against them.

Others to consider: Joey Gallo and Mark Canha

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/6/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

Baseball kicks off the week with 10 evening games Monday, leaving plenty of quality 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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/6/18

Cole Hamels vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $8,500
DraftKings = $9,000

Hamels being traded to the Cubs should provide a significant boost to his value. He was terrible pitching at home for the Rangers, posting a 6.41 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP across 10 starts. He has a 2.69 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP over his other 11 starts outside of Globe Life Park in Arlington. The move to the National League helps, as well, since he will get to avoid the DH. He will have to navigate the DH playing in Kansas City on Monday, but the Royals have scored the fewest runs (413) in the league.

Matthew Boyd vs. Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angels Stadium
FanDuel = $7,600
DraftKings = $7,600

Boyd closed out July on a high note, allowing three runs and recording 20 strikeouts over 19 innings in his last three starts. Two of those starts came against the Royals and the Reds, but one was against the potent Red Sox lineup. Boyd has been aided by a .264 opponents’ BABIP this season, but his 4.22 ERA is actually slightly higher than his 3.84 FIP indicates that it should be. He does have a respectable 8.2 K/9 and can provide value in the right matchup, which could be the case Monday since the Angels have the third lowest OPS against lefties (.656) in baseball.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/6/18

Anthony Rizzo vs. Jakob Junis, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,800

The Cubs have been hitting Rizzo leadoff lately and the move has paid off as he’s batting .370 with a .458 OBP in that spot of the order. He’s also slugged six home runs, helping to boost his total to 17 for the season. While he may have a hard time hitting at least 30 homers for the fifth straight season, he could still be in line for a big finish to the season. Lefties have held Rizzo to a .266 wOBA this year, but he’s a great option against Junis since he has a .374 wOBA against right-handed pitchers.

Jose Martinez vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $4,000

Martinez has found himself on the bench more often than not lately because he is a defensive liability. However, with Dexter Fowler and Tyler O’Neill injured, he’s going to see some time in the outfield moving forward. He can hit, posting a .298 average and a .462 slugging percentage. Chen has allowed a .374 wOBA to righties this year, making Martinez a cost-effective option with upside.

Others to consider: Jose Abreu (first base) and J.T. Realmuto (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/6/18

Javier Baez vs. Jakob Junis, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $5,500

Baez is showing no signs of slowing down, batting .362 with five home runs, five doubles and 14 RBI over his last 16 games. He’s already set new career-highs in home runs and RBI and is making a case to be named the NL MVP. Don’t worry about him not having the platoon advantage against Junis because Baez has a .376 wOBA against righties.

Ben Zobrist vs. Jakob Junis, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,700

Zobrist only hit .232 last year, but he was dragged down by an abnormally low .251 BABIP. He’s been on the opposite end of the spectrum this season with a .335 BABIP, leading to a .310 batting average. He’s in line for some regression, but that might not start Monday considering his .391 wOBA against right-handed pitchers.

Others to consider: Gleyber Torres and Neil Walker

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/6/18

Jurickson Profar vs. Wade LeBlanc, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,700

LeBlanc has hit a bit of a rough patch, posting a 6.11 ERA across his last five starts. He has a 3.50 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP at home overall but has had issues on the road with a 4.57 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. Profar is finally getting a chance to play every day and is swinging a hot bat right now as he is 22-for-72 (.306) with 14 runs and 12 RBI over his last 21 games. He’s also excelled with a .361 wOBA against left-handed pitchers this season.

Jedd Gyorko vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,000

Gyorko slugged 30 home runs over 400 at-bats in 2016 but followed that up with only 20 homers across 426 at-bats last year. His power numbers have continued to regress this year with just eight homers in 246 at-bats. However, his 181 wRC+ against lefties still makes him someone to consider in tournament play at this cheap price.

Others to consider: Miguel Andujar and Maikel Franco

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/6/18

Didi Gregorius vs. Dylan Covey, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $5,100

Gregorius’ batting average is down this year, but his walk rate has almost doubled at 8.1%. He’s already reached the 20-homer plateau for the third-straight year and his 10 steals are a new career best. He’s more deadly at Yankee Stadium, but he could still put up big numbers Monday considering Covey’s 5.57 ERA and 1.57 WHIP.

Jean Segura vs. Martin Perez, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,600

Perez was initially slated to start Sunday against the Orioles, but he was pushed back a day in favor of Drew Hutchinson. That’s good news for the Mariners since Perez has an unsightly 6.50 ERA and a 1.97 WHIP. He’s allowed 10 home runs in only 45.2 innings and doesn’t miss many bats with a 5.9 K/9. Segura might not carry the greatest home run upside, but he’s batting .309 and could be on base plenty in this game.

Others to consider: Trevor Story and Elvis Andrus

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/6/18

Nelson Cruz vs. Martin Perez, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $5,200

Cruz is on another power surge, slugging four home runs in his last five games to bring his total to 29 for the season. He’s been one of the most consistent power hitters in baseball, hitting at least 39 home runs in four straight seasons. With Perez’s propensity to give up the long ball, Cruz is someone to build your lineup around.

Jason Heyward vs. Jakob Junis, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,000

Heyward isn’t exactly knocking the cover off the ball, but he’s made significant strides this season to bat .283 with a .347 OBP. He has a career-low 11.7% strikeout rate and his 31.8% hard-hit rate is his highest mark since 2012. Junis has allowed a .360 wOBA against left-handed hitters, making Heyward a viable option at his reasonable price on both sites.

Harrison Bader vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $3,800

Bader was already starting to see more playing time after Tommy Pham was traded to the Rays, but the injuries to Fowler and O’Neill is going to leave him with all the starts he can handle. He has a promising mix of power and speed, finishing with 20 home runs and 15 steals at Triple-A in 2017. He’s only gone deep six times with the Cardinals this year, but he’s flashed his speed with 11 steals and is batting a respectable .271. If you want to take a chance on a cheap outfielder in tournament play, Bader could provide value against Chen.

Others to consider: Kyle Schwarber and Mitch Haniger

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/3/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

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

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/3/18

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

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

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

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

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/3/18

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

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

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

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

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

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/3/18

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

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

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

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

Others to consider: Daniel Murphy and Niko Goodrum

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/3/18

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

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

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

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

Others to consider: Matt Chapman and Adrian Beltre

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/3/18

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

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

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

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

Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Elvis Andrus

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/3/18

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

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

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

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

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

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

Others to consider: Nelson Cruz and Joey Gallo

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/2/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

Only nine games make up the main evening slate in DFS on Thursday, but there are excellent pitching options available with Max Scherzer, Zack Greinke, Clayton Kershaw and Madison Bumgarner all scheduled to take the mound. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/2/18

Max Scherzer vs. Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $11,800
DraftKings = $13,000

Scherzer mowed down the Marlins in his last start, giving up one unearned run and recording 11 strikeouts over eight innings. He allowed just four baserunners, helping lower his WHIP to 0.90. This would mark the fourth consecutive season that Scherzer has finished with a WHIP of 0.97 or lower. He continues to be an elite source for strikeouts, as well, with a 12.1 K/9. This will mark his second start of the year against the Reds after he had 10 strikeouts in six scoreless innings during their first matchup. He’s expensive, but he also has the highest ceiling of anyone taking the mound Thursday.

Nick Pivetta vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $8,300
DraftKings = $8,500

Pivetta has hit a rough patch, posting a 7.71 ERA and a 1.67 ERA across his last six outings, five of which were starts. However, his FIP wasn’t nearly as bad at 4.83 and he was very unlucky with opponents posting a .410 BABIP. He also had a 12.7 K/9 during that stretch, helping boost his overall K/9 to 11.2 this season. He pitched well in his only other start against the Marlins, recording nine strikeouts over 5.2 scoreless innings. The Marlins have scored the fifth-fewest runs (419) in baseball, making Pivetta a great cost-effective to consider.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/2/18

Justin Smoak vs. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,100

Although he’s still only 32 years old, Hernandez has thrown more than 2,600 innings in his career. It appears all those innings have taken a toll on him as his average fastball velocity is a career-low 90.2 mph this year. Hernandez hasn’t been able to adjust to his dip in velocity so far, resulting in a 5.58 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. Smoak has a .379 wOBA against right-handed pitchers and could provide plenty of value at his reasonable price on both sites.

Kurt Suzuki vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,800

The Braves will likely be one of the most popular stacks of the day with Vargas on the mound for the Mets. He’s had a disastrous first season in New York, posting an 8.36 ERA and a 1.79 WHIP. Suzuki doesn’t have great numbers overall, but he does have a .352 wOBA against lefties.

Others to consider: Steve Pearce (first base) and Wilson Contreras (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/2/18

Ozzie Albies vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $5,000

Albies only had three home runs in July, but he posted a .304 batting average, which was his highest of any month this season. He doesn’t walk much, but he doesn’t strikeout out a ton, either, with a 16.9% strikeout rate. He’s another Brave to target versus Vargas based on his .357 wOBA against lefties.

Daniel Murphy vs. Tyler Mahle, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,500

Another popular stack will likely be the Nationals against Mahle. Not only does Mahle allow plenty of baserunners with a 1.52 WHIP, but he’s also given up 21 home runs in 107.1 innings. Left-handed hitters have a robust .414 wOBA against him, potentially setting up Murphy for a big night.

Others to consider: Javier Baez and Rougned Odor

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/2/18

Anthony Rendon vs. Tyler Mahle, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,700

Rendon doesn’t get the platoon advantage in this game, but he has a .352 wOBA against righties. He’s hot right now, batting .317 with four home runs, 16 RBI and 14 runs scored across his last 15 games. His walk rate is down significantly this year, but his .523 slugging percentage would be the second-highest mark of his career.

Johan Camargo vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,100

The Braves did not add a third baseman at the trade deadline, which should allow Camargo to have a significant role down the stretch. He had only four home runs in 241 at-bats last year, but he has 12 long balls in 268 at-bats this season. He has a .388 wOBA against lefties, so he should be included in any Braves stack, especially when you consider his price.

Others to consider: Maikel Franco and Adrian Beltre

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/2/18

Trea Turner vs. Tyler Mahle, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $5,200

Turner’s .270 batting average has been a disappointment, but he is 12-for-30 (.400) over his last six games. He’s done damage when on the basepaths during that stretch, swiping six bags and scoring 10 runs. With Mahle’s struggles to keep runners off base, Turner carries tremendous upside.

Tim Beckham vs. Yovani Gallardo, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,800

The Orioles lineup has been stripped down significantly after the trades of Manny Machado and Jonathan Schoop. They are likely going to have trouble scoring runs, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find value in some of their hitters. In his last 13 games. Beckham is 14-for-51 (.275) with two home runs and three doubles. Gallardo is not an overwhelming pitcher with a 1.56 WHIP and a 5.6 K/9, leaving Beckham as a viable option in tournament play.

Others to consider: Elvis Andrus and Asdrubal Cabrera

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/2/18

Ronald Acuna Jr. vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,600

Acuna’s .264 batting average since being activated from the DL at the end of June isn’t overly impressive, but he has six home runs and seven doubles during those 24 games. He’s gone deep in back-to-back games and has a good chance to make it three straight Thursday since Vargas has allowed 2.6 HR/9.

Shin-Soo Choo vs. Andrew Cashner, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $4,900

Choo already has 20 home runs this year, which is only three away from setting a new career best. He’s always done a great job getting on base and this season has been no different with a .389 OBP. Cashner has an unsightly 1.50 WHIP and has allowed a .356 wOBA against left-handed hitters. Choo isn’t cheap on DraftKings, but his price on FanDuel could be a bargain.

Nick Williams vs. Pablo Lopez, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $4,100

Lopez posted a 2.93 ERA during his career in the minors, but he didn’t show dominant stuff with a 7.0 K/9. He has a 7.2 K/9 through his first five starts in the majors and has been hit hard with a 5.34 ERA, He’s also given up five home runs over 28.2 innings. Williams had his best month of the season in July by batting .311 with five home runs, making him a viable option in tournament play.

Others to consider: Juan Soto and Joey Gallo

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/1/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

After a busy trade deadline Tuesday, Wednesday brings a quiet main evening slate in DFS consisting of only six 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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/1/18

Anibal Sanchez vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $8,500
DraftKings = $8,000

Sanchez was lined up to start twice this week, but the Braves decided to call up Kolby Allard to start Tuesday, pushing everyone back a day. Sanchez has been excellent in his return to the National League, posting a 3.00 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. It’s hard to imagine those numbers holding up, though, since opponents have just a .249 BABIP against him. The good news is he’s been a respectable source for strikeouts with an 8.5 K/9 and he gets to face a Marlins team Wednesday that has hit the second-fewest home runs (88) in baseball and generally doesn’t score much.

Cole Hamels vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $7,700
DraftKings = $7,900

Hamels finds himself back in the National League, last pitching there with the Phillies in 2015. Hamels was not having a good season prior to being dealt, posting a 4.72 ERA and a 5.20 FIP across 20 starts. He also has a 1.37 WHIP, which would be the highest mark of his career. Most of the damage against him came at Globe Life Park in Arlington, where he recorded a 6.41 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP. His road numbers are much better with a 2.93 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP, so a trade out of Texas might be just what he needed. On a night with limited pitching options, Hamels has some upside in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/1/18

Jake Bauers vs. Nick Tropeano, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,900

The Rays were certainly active on the trade market, making several deals to reshape their roster. Bauers is a key part of their future after batting .276 with a .361 OBP during his career in the minors. Although he’s batting just .234 since being called up, he’s still getting on base with a 12.5% walk rate. He’s hit for power, as well, with seven home runs and 15 doubles across 169 at-bats. Tropeano has allowed a .371 wOBA against left-handed hitters, leaving Bauers with an opportunity to do some more damage.

Lucas Duda vs. Dylan Covey, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $4,100

Duda mashed 30 home runs for the Mets and Rays combined last year, but he only has nine homers so far for the Royals. His walk rate is down considerably at 6.6% compared to 11.1% for his career as he is chasing way too many pitches outside of the strike zone. That being said, he has a .456 slugging percentage against righties this year. Covey is not an overpowering pitcher with a 6.6 K/9, so Duda might be worth a look in tournament play, especially with his price on FanDuel.

Others to consider: Freddie Freeman (first base) and Kurt Suzuki (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/1/18

Javier Baez vs. Nick Kingham, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $5,200

Baez has already set a new career high with 82 RBI and is only two homers away from setting a new personal best in that category as well. It’s amazing that he is batting .300 despite swinging at nearly half of the pitches he has seen that are outside of the strike zone and posting an 18% swinging strike rate. With his .374 wOBA against righties, don’t shy away from using him Wednesday just because he doesn’t have the platoon advantage against Kingham.

Joey Wendle vs. Nick Tropeano, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,800

Wendle had his best month of the season in July, batting .360 with a .435 OBP. He only struck out nine times across 85 plate appearances and produced nine extra-base hits. He doesn’t play much against lefties and doesn’t hit for a ton of power in general, but he’s cheap enough to warrant considering on both sites facing Tropeano and his 4.82 ERA.

Others to consider: Ozzie Albies and Whit Merrifield

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/1/18

Manny Machado vs. Chase Anderson, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $4,800

The Dodgers pulled off a trade for Brian Dozier on Tuesday, but they had already made their biggest acquisition by bringing over Machado from the Orioles. He’s batting .286 with a .407 OBP since joining the team, but he only has two home runs in 49 at-bats. Anderson has had problems keeping hitters inside the park this season by allowing 1.5 HR/9, so Machado might be able to do some damage in this contest. Of note, Machado is only eligible at third base on FanDuel as he is listed at shortstop on DraftKings.

Jedd Gyorko vs. Kyle Freeland, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,900

Gyorko recently missed some time due to an illness but seems to be fine now as he has played in three straight games. His .248 average and eight home runs this season aren’t exactly inspiring, but he has a .447 wOBA against left-handed pitching. If you don’t want to pay up for Machado, Gyorko could also provide value based on his cheap prices on both sites.

Others to consider: Johan Camargo and Yolmer Sanchez

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/1/18

Trevor Story vs. Luke Weaver, St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,500

The shortstop position is very thin Wednesday, especially if you are playing on FanDuel. Story is a monster at Coors Field, but he’s not usually someone you want to target on the road. Weaver pitched better in July, but don’t get too excited as two of his four starts came against the Giants and the White Sox. He has a 1.38 WHIP overall and at least Story provides power upside.

Adalberto Mondesi vs. Dylan Covey, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,300

One of the better prospects coming up through the Royals system, Mondesi should see plenty of playing time down the stretch. His numbers at Triple-A weren’t great before being recalled, but he did bat .305 with 13 home runs and 21 steals there in 2017. With Covey’s 1.55 WHIP, don’t be surprised if Mondesi finds his way on base a couple of times in this contest. He can do plenty of damage on the base paths with his speed, as well.

Others to consider: Andrelton Simmons

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/1/18

Mike Trout vs. Tyler Glasnow, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $5,300
DraftKings = $6,000

The Rays won’t waste any time showing off their new acquisition as they will start Glasnow in this game. However, he’s not expected to throw many innings after working as a reliever for the Pirates. A highly-regarded prospect, Glasnow has a career 1.71 WHIP in the majors. He’s expected to be followed by Jake Faria, who is just coming off of the 60-day DL. Faria struggled with a 5.48 ERA and a 5.09 FIP before getting injured. This has the makings of a huge night at the plate for Trout.

Kole Calhoun vs. Tyler Glasnow, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,900

Calhoun hit another home run Tuesday, finishing with 10 homers in July. His batting average is only .209, but that’s a vast improvement considering he entered the month batting .162. With the projected pitchers for the Rays, Calhoun could provide tremendous value based on his cheap prices on both sites.

Brett Phillips vs. Dylan Covey, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $2,100
DraftKings = $4,100

Phillips was the key return in the Royals trade that sent Mike Moustakas to the Brewers. The Brewers thought highly of Phillips, but there just wasn’t any room for him on the roster after they brought in Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich during the offseason. He was only batting .240 at Triple-A this year, but he’s a career .279 hitter with a .360 OBP. He’s not all that cheap on DraftKings, but he might be too hard to pass up against Covey at near the minimum price on FanDuel.

Others to consider: Ronald Acuna Jr. and Nick Markakis