Header Image - PICK LIKE THE PROS
PICK LIKE THE PROSLineup Lab is an advanced MLB, NBA, NFL, and NHL daily fantasy lineup optimizer for Fanduel, Draftkings, and Yahoo. Pros use a DFS optimizer, so why don't you? Pick like the pros. Use the worlds most advanced projections and optimization techniques. Join today, and start winning!
start winning

Tag Archives

5 Articles

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/31/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

This will be our last baseball DFS article for the season. Hopefully, we’ve been able to help you turn a profit over the long grind. Let’s finish things on a high note and bring home some money 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 8/31/18

Zack Wheeler vs. San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $10,000
DraftKings = $10,600

Wheeler has been fantastic of late, allowing two runs or fewer in seven straight starts. He has excellent numbers, overall, with a 3.46 ERA that is supported by a 3.31 FIP. He does a great job limiting baserunners with a 1.21 WHIP and has only allowed 12 home runs across 153.1 innings. Last year, he allowed 15 homers in only 86.1 innings. Facing the Giants earlier this month, Wheeler allowed one run and recorded 10 strikeouts across seven innings. The Giants recently lost Buster Posey for the season due to injury and just traded away Andrew McCutchen, so an already thin lineup is now even worse. Wheeler could be in line for a dominant performance.

Austin Gomber vs. Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $6,100
DraftKings = $7,700

Gomber had very good numbers at Triple-A, posting a 3.42 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and a 10.0 K/9. He’s mostly pitched out of the bullpen for the Cardinals, but he’ll be making his sixth straight start Friday. He’s actually been better as a starter this season, recording a 2.51 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and an 8.4 K/9 across six outings. One of those starts came against these same Reds when he held them to two runs and recorded six strikeouts over 6.1 innings. If you want to take a chance on a cheap starting pitcher in tournament play, Gomber might be your man.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/31/18

Tyler White vs. Jaime Barria, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,400

White kept up his torrid pace Thursday, finishing the game 2-for-4 with a home run. He has logged at least two hits and a home in three of his last four games. Barria’s 3.67 ERA looks nice, but he hasn’t pitched that well based on his 4.58 FIP. Even though he is right-handed, Barria has actually struggled more against righties (.392 wOBA) than he has lefties (.262 wOBA).

Yadier Molina vs. Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,000

The Cardinals are going to be a popular stack against Bailey. He’s having another awful season, posting a 6.17 ERA and a 1.62 FIP. He’s also allowed 21 home runs in just 96.1 innings. Molina has great numbers against Bailey in his career, hitting 19-for-47 (.404) with three home runs.

Others to consider: Matt Carpenter (first base) and Wilson Ramos (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/31/18

Daniel Murphy vs. Nick Pivetta, Philadelphia Phillies
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,300

Although the Cubs seemed to have a lot of depth already, acquiring Murphy could prove to be a crucial move. He’s been excellent since joining the team, hitting .306 with two home runs and two doubles over eight games. Murphy has a .372 wOBA against right-handed pitchers and while Pivetta does record a lot of strikeouts, he’s allowed a .354 wOBA against lefties.

Yoan Moncada vs. Nathan Eovaldi, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,100

Eovaldi started out his Red Sox career on a high note, but he’s allowed 21 runs (14 earned) over 17 innings in his last four starts. He didn’t exactly face juggernaut lineups either with three of those starts coming against the Orioles, Phillies, and Rays. Moncada strikes out a ton, but he still has plenty of power with 16 home runs and 23 doubles. He’s also a much better hitter against righties, possibly making him a target in tournament play.

Others to consider: Travis Shaw and DJ LeMahieu

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/31/18

Jurickson Profar vs. Stephen Gonsalves, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,100

With the Rangers battling injuries much of the season and falling out of contention early, Profar has already played a career-high 119 games. His numbers aren’t off the charts, but he’s been excellent at home, batting .277 with a .900 OPS. Gonsalves has been hit hard in his first two outings for the Twins and things won’t get any easier for him having to pitch in hitter-friendly Globe Life Park in Arlington.

Todd Frazier vs. Andrew Suarez, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,200

Frazier has come on strong down the stretch, batting .265 with six home runs and five doubles in August. His .500 slugging percentage for the month is by far his best power stretch of the season. Suarez has allowed 18 home runs this season, 17 of which were to right-handed hitters.

Others to consider: Mike Moustakas and Matt Chapman

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/31/18

Paul DeJong vs. Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,100

After going on a power surge earlier in August, DeJong has just one home run over his last 14 games. He has 14 for the season overall, but that’s a disappointment considering he hit 25 long balls in only 108 games last year. He’s not exactly swinging a hot bat, in general, with a .191 average in August. However, with the struggling Bailey on the mound, DeJong might be a contrarian play who could pay dividends in tournament play.

Amed Rosario vs. Andrew Suarez, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,500

Rosario has been dreadful hitting at Citi Field, batting just .205 with a .326 slugging percentage. He’s been a much better hitter on the road, though, recording a .292 batting average and a .416 slugging percentage. While he doesn’t carry much homer upside, he’s cheap enough on both sites to at least warrant consideration for your entry. Suarez has allowed a .362 wOBA against right-handed hitters as well.

Others to consider: Gleyber Torres and Elvis Andrus

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/31/18

Carlos Gonzalez vs. Brett Kennedy, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $5,100

Gonzalez has quietly had a very strong campaign, batting .292 with 15 home runs and 26 doubles. He’s trying to help the Rockies make a push for the playoffs, batting .322 with a .932 OPS since July 1. Kennedy hasn’t lasted more than five innings in any of his previous four starts and has a 1.95 WHIP during that stretch, so this has the makings of a high-scoring game for Gonzalez and the Rockies.

Tyler O’Neill vs. Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,600

With the Cardinals thin in their outfield due to injuries, O’Neill is finally getting a chance to play every day. He’s provided them with plenty of power, hitting four home runs across his last eight games. He has a .521 slugging percentage for the season overall, leaving him as a great option against Bailey.

Harrison Bader vs. Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,900

Bader has also been forced into more playing time, showing a nice mix of power and speed with 10 home runs and 12 stolen bases. He’s had by far his best stretch of the season in August, batting .303 with four homers, eight doubles, and three steals. If you want to go with a Cardinals stack, he’s one of their better cheap hitters to consider.

Others to consider: Christian Yelich and Trey Mancini

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 8/2/18

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 7/24/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

July special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

The weather might be an issue for a few games again Tuesday, but there is still a packed schedule to take advantage of for DFS. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/24/18

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

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

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

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

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/24/18

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

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

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

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

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

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/24/18

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

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

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

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

Others to consider: Brian Dozier and Jed Lowrie

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/24/18

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

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

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

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

Others to consider: Miguel Andujar and Adrian Beltre

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/24/18

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

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

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

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

Others to consider: Jean Segura and Marcus Semien

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/24/18

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

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

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

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

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

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

Others to consider: Shin-Soo Choo and Marcell Ozuna

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/23/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

July special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

Monday brings a busy schedule with 13 games across the majors, but keep an eye on the weather as it could cause issues for a few games once again. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/23/18

Jacob deGrom vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $11,500
DraftKings = $12,200

deGrom was supposed to face a tough matchup against the Yankees on Sunday, but a rainout pushed him back to a much easier game against the Padres. He’s been one of the few bright spots on the Mets, posting a 1.68 ERA, 2.33 FIP, and a 0.97 WHIP. He continues to be an elite source for strikeouts with a 10.9 K/9 and has allowed only seven home runs over 123.1 innings. The Padres have scored the fourth-fewest runs (380) in baseball, so don’t hesitate to pay the premium required to get deGrom into your entry as long as the weather holds up.

Sean Newcomb vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $7,100
DraftKings = $8,200

Newcomb has been battered around in his last three starts, allowing 13 runs across 12 innings. He gave up four homers during that stretch after allowing just three home runs in his first 12 starts. He’s had problems with walks, but his WHIP is still down significantly overall this season at 1.28 compared to 1.57 in 2017. This will be his third start of the season against the Marlins after he held them to one run over 12 innings in the first two. Considering the Marlins’ offensive deficiencies, Newcomb has some upside at this cheap price in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/23/18

Yonder Alonso vs. Trevor Williams, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,700

Williams has done a nice job for the Pirates with a 4.36 ERA and a 4.45 FIP, but he doesn’t have a large major for error with only a 6.5 K/9. The Indians are a much better hitting team at home than on the road and Williams will have to deal with the DH with this game being in Cleveland. Alonso is one of several Indians’ to consider based on his .353 wOBA against right-handed pitchers.

Robinson Chirinos vs. Brett Anderson, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $4,100

Chirinos has had a disappointing season as he is batting only .209 with a .319 OBP. The big reason for his struggles is an ugly 37.4% strikeout rate. He’s still hitting for power, though, with 12 home runs and he has a .363 wOBA against lefties for his career. Anderson is not an overpowering pitcher with a 6.6 K/9 for his career, leaving Chirinos as a cheap option with upside.

Others to consider: Freddie Freeman (first base) and Greg Bird (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/23/18

Whit Merrifield vs. Francisco Liriano, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,700

After slugging 19 home runs last year, Merrifield has only five homers this season. He’s managed to still provide some power with 30 doubles, which is only two away from his mark in 2017. He’s hit for a high average as well at .302 and has almost doubled his walk rate. This matchup against Liriano is one to target since Merrifield has a 182 wRC+ against lefties.

Daniel Murphy vs. Jhoulys Chacin, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,300

Murphy is still hitting for very little power, but he is 12-for-26 (.462) with four walks and just one strikeout across his last nine games. He has paltry 14.6% hard-hit rate this season, which is a big reason why he only has a .337 slugging percentage. His upside is limited right now, but his recent hot streak and his career .353 wOBA against righties makes him someone to consider, especially at his cheap price on FanDuel.

Others to consider: Scooter Gennett and Ian Kinsler

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/23/18

Matt Carpenter vs. Luis Castillo, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $5,500

Carpenter had gone deep in six straight games before failing to hit a home run Sunday. He has put up some staggering numbers in July, batting .355 with 1o home runs and a 1.432 OPS. He has a .399 wOBA against righties overall, so keep riding his hot bat against Castillo and his 1.38 WHIP.

Adrian Beltre vs. Brett Anderson, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $3,900

Beltre has been one of the more consistent hitters in baseball in recent years, but injuries have taken a toll on him this season. Not only is his slugging percentage down significantly at .408, but he has an uncharacteristic 21.1% strikeout rate. He still has a .352 wOBA against lefties despite his struggles and with this favorable matchup against Anderson, don’t be surprised if he puts up a vintage performance.

Others to consider: Jose Ramirez and Matt Chapman

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/23/18

Elvis Andrus vs. Brett Anderson, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,300

Andrus has dealt with his own injury problems this season, limiting him to 39 games. It’s taken him some time to get back on track, but he’s showing signs of life by going 9-for-27 (.333) with three doubles and four steals across his last seven games. His 20 home runs last year appear to be an abnormality, but that doesn’t mean Andrus still can’t have a productive evening against Anderson.

Marcus Semien vs. Cole Hamels, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,300

Hamels has been excellent on the road this year, but he has a 5.83 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP at home. It’s possible the Rangers move him before the trade deadline, so that’s a stat to keep in mind if you play season-long fantasy. He’ll run into the buzzsaw that is the Athletics on Monday, who have won 17 of their last 22 games. Semien’s overall numbers don’t jump off the charts, but he is batting .267 with a .362 OBP in July.

Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Xander Bogaerts

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/23/18

Andrew Benintendi vs. Kevin Gausman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $5,600

Gausman has trouble keeping hitters in the park with a 1.5 HR/9, which would be the fourth straight season he has finished with an HR/9 of at least 1.4. Add in his 1.37 WHIP and uninspiring 7.8 K/9 and Gausman could be in for a long night against the Red Sox. Benintendi is scorching hot right now, hitting 19-for-37 (.514) with 12 runs and six RBI in his last 10 games. He also has a .410 wOBA against righties for the year.

Khris Davis vs. Cole Hamels, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,600

Davis has been in a homer drought, but he launched two Sunday to bring his total to 23 for the season. Although the power numbers haven’t been there, he is batting .328 with a .364 OBP in July. He’s got a ways to go if he is going to hit at least 40 home runs for the third consecutive season, but he can hit them in bunches when he gets hot. With Hamels’ struggles at home, Davis carries significant upside.

Jesse Winker vs. Daniel Poncedeleon, St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,700

Winker has shown an excellent eye at the plate, drawing 49 walks compared to 46 strikeouts. He only has a 5.7% swinging-strike rate to go along with a 44.2% hard-hit rate, which has helped him bat .300 in his first full season in the majors. His excelled with a .382 wOBA against righties and will be facing one in Poncedeleon who will be making his first appearance in the majors. Winker’s price is high on DraftKings, but he could provide excellent value on FanDuel.

Others to consider: Bryce Harper and A.J. Pollock