With a lot of teams receiving an off day Monday, we don’t have the busiest of slates in the majors. However, there is still plenty of money to be won, so let’s break things down and highlight some players with matchups to exploit.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/11/2019
With plenty of day games on the schedule Thursday, only five contests will make up the main evening slate in DFS. The starting pitching options aren’t great, so choosing the right hitters could be the key to coming in the money.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/27/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout
There are only seven games across the majors on Monday, leaving you with far fewer options to choose from than normal 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
Patrick Corbin vs. San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $11,100
DraftKings = $11,500
Corbin has fooled a lot of hitters this season, producing a 15.0% swinging-strike rate and an 11.0 K/9. His 3.17 ERA would be the best mark of his career, but it could actually be even better considering his 2.37 FIP. He’s only issued 2.2 BB/9 and has allowed 11 home runs across 161.2 innings, which has helped him allow fewer than four runs in 20 of his 26 starts. He’s already made five starts against the Giants this year, posting a 2.20 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, and a 10.2 K/9 across those outings. Expect him to have plenty of upside again Monday.
Jon Lester vs. New York Mets
Stadium – Wrigley Field
FanDuel = $8,200
DraftKings = $8,200
Lester appears to have turned things around after a brief rough patch, allowing one run and recording 11 strikeouts over 11.2 innings in his last two starts. His 3.64 ERA overall is a big improvement from last year, but his 4.74 FIP indicates he hasn’t actually pitched much better. One area of concern has been his lack of strikeouts. His 8.3% swinging-strike rate is his lowest mark since 2008, resulting in just a 7.2 K/9. Even taking all of that into consideration, he’s still a viable option against the Mets in tournament play because they have the third-lowest OPS against left-handed pitchers (.649) in baseball.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Kendrys Morales vs. David Hess, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $5,000
Morales is on an incredible run right now as he has hit at least one home run in seven straight games. He’s not just hitting for power, though, going 17-for-34 during his current 10-game hitting streak. This is a major mismatch against Hess and his 6.11 FIP.
Justin Smoak vs. David Hess. Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,200
Smoak has a career-high 14.0% walk rate this year, but he hasn’t been able to build off of his .270 batting average in 2017, hitting just .249 this season. He likely won’t match the 38 home runs he hit either, but he’s still provided significant power with 19 homers and 32 doubles. He has a .369 wOBA against righties, making him another great option against Hess.
Others to consider: Tyler White (first base) and Danny Jansen (catcher)
SECOND BASE
DJ LeMahieu vs. Odrisamer Despaigne, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,200
This would be a much sweeter matchup if this game was being played in Coors Field, but the Rockies will likely still be a popular stack against Despaigne. Despaigne has mostly pitched in the minors this season and didn’t stand out with a 4.47 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. His first two starts with the Angels have not gone well, allowing eight runs over eight innings. LeMahieu has largely had a disappointing season, but he’s coming on strong down the stretch by hitting .340 across his last 13 games.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. vs. David Hess, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $4,300
Gurriel was on a crazy streak of 11 straight multi-hit games before landing on the DL with an ankle injury. He missed almost a month of action and although he only has one hit in three games since being activated, he did reach base in all three contests. Hess allows plenty of baserunners with his 1.40 WHIP, which could leave Gurriel in line for a productive evening. His price is a little high on DraftKings, but he’s a great target in tournament play on FanDuel.
Others to consider: Jose Altuve and Jonathan Villar
THIRD BASE
Alex Bregman vs. Brett Anderson, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,400
Bregman is quietly one of the best hitters in baseball. He already has 24 home runs and 40 doubles to go along with a .283 average, but maybe his most impressive stat is that he has more walks (75) than strikeouts (68). Add in his 163 wRC+ against left-handed pitching and he could be a troublesome out for Anderson.
Eduardo Escobar vs. Chris Stratton, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,200
Stratton was excellent in his last start against the Mets, holding them to two runs across 6.1 innings. However, that was more than likely because of his opponent than anything else. He had allowed 19 runs over 12.2 innings in his previous three starts and has a bloated 1.52 WHIP overall. If you don’t want to pay up for Bregman, Escobar could also provide plenty of value based on his .365 wOBA against righties.
Others to consider: Miguel Andujar and Anthony Rendon
SHORTSTOP
Trevor Story vs. Odrisamer Despaigne, Los Angels Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,600
Story on the road against a righty is not normally a matchup you want to take advantage of. He has received a significant boost from Coors Field, but that can be said for many of the hitters on the Rockies. He still has excellent power upside with 26 home runs and 36 doubles, so don’t necessarily overlook him against Despaigne.
Aledmys Diaz vs. David Hess, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,200
Diaz posted a .510 slugging percentage during his rookie season in 2016 but regressed significantly to a .392 slugging percentage last year. No longer with the Cardinals, Diaz has rediscovered his power stroke with the Blue Jays, recording 16 home runs and 18 doubles over 333 at-bats. He enters Monday with at least one hit in seven of his last eight games and is batting .282 in August, overall.
Others to consider: Gleyber Torres and Trea Turner
OUTFIELD
David Peralta vs. Chris Stratton, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $5,500
Peralta is showing no signs of slowing down, batting .395 with nine home runs in August. He’s already blown by his previous career high with 25 home runs this year while maintaining an excellent .304 average. With his 159 wRC+ against righties, he’s someone to build around in what could be a productive Diamondbacks stack.
Billy McKinney vs. David Hess, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,900
McKinney was buried on the Yankees depth chart in their loaded outfield, but he’s getting a chance to play after being traded to the Blue Jays. It’s only been eight games, but he’s taken advantage of his opportunity by going 9-for-23 with three home runs. The former first-round pick may never live up to lofty expectations, but he’s still only 23 years old. He doesn’t cost much on either site and is a great cheap option to plug into any Blue Jays stack against Hess.
David Dahl vs. Odrisamer Despaigne, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $4,800
Dahl has played well in the minor leagues with a .306 batting average and a .508 slugging percentage for his career, but he’s had a hard time earning an everyday role with the Rockies. He was finally recalled at the beginning of August and is starting to pay dividends, hitting .289 with two homers and three doubles over his last nine games. His price on DraftKings is a bit high, but he’s someone to target on FanDuel in tournament play at the very least.
Others to consider: A.J. Pollock and Carlos Gonzalez
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/22/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout
There are 15 games in the majors Wednesday, but only 10 of them will make 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
Noah Syndergaard vs. San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $9,800
DraftKings = $10,200
Syndergaard has been so good in recent years that his 3.40 ERA and 1.25 WHIP this season are actually a bit disappointing for his standards. His 9.4 K/9 would also be the lowest mark of his career, but he’s shown great control with a 1.9 BB/9 and he’s only allowed six home runs across 100.2 innings. He still has a tremendously high ceiling in DFS and his numbers could actually be a little better based on his 2.68 FIP. The Giants have the second-lowest OPS on the road (.656) in baseball, making Syndergaard someone to build your lineup around.
Lance Lynn vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $8,000
Lynn was hit hard in his last outing against the Blue Jays, giving up five runs over 4 innings. However, he had allowed one run across 16.2 innings in his first three appearances with the Yankees. He hasn’t allowed a home run since being traded either. He’s been a good source for strikeouts with a 9.3 K/9 overall this season and an 8.6 K/9 for his career. This is an excellent opportunity to take a chance on Lynn in tournament play since the Marlins have scored the second-fewest runs (474) and have hit the second-fewest home runs (104) in the league.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Paul Goldschmidt vs. Odrisamer Despaigne, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $5,500
Goldschmidt is on fire again as he is 23-for-55 (.418) with four home runs and five doubles during his current 13-game hitting streak. He does have better numbers against left-handed pitching, but his .384 wOBA against righties this year isn’t exactly worrisome. Despaigne has mostly pitched out of the bullpen for the Marlins and Angels and hasn’t performed well, posting a combined 6.29 ERA and 1.56 WHIP. Goldschmidt certainly has a favorable chance to at least extend his hitting streak based on this matchup.
Ji-Man Choi vs. Jakob Junis, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $3,600
Choi didn’t play Tuesday, so he carries his own eight-game hitting streak into Wednesday’s contest against Junis. Junis has allowed four runs over 16.1 innings in his last three starts, but he’s struggled with consistency throughout the season, resulting in a 4.76 ERA and a 4.99 FIP. He’s had trouble keeping batters inside the park with a 1.8 HR/9 and has allowed a .351 wOBA against lefties, giving Choi some upside at this cheap price.
Others to consider: Eric Hosmer (first base) and Yan Gomes (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Jeff McNeil vs. Casey Kelly, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,700
McNeil has provided the Mets with an injection of offense, batting .326 with a .388 OBP in 27 games since being recalled from the minors. His plate discipline has been encouraging with six walks and 10 strikeouts across 100 plate appearances. He had 14 walks and 19 strikeouts across 143 plate appearances at Triple-A, as well. Casey has mostly pitched in Triple-A for the Giants this year and hasn’t stood out, recording a 4.78 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and a 7.2 K/9.
Neil Walker vs. Trevor Richards, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $3,500
The Yankees lineup has turned into a mash unit. They are already without Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez, then Didi Gregorius joined them on the DL Tuesday. Walker was already seeing regular playing time in the outfield, but now he’ll fill in at second base with Gleyber Torres moving over to shortstop. Walker has started to thrive with everyday at-bats, hitting .306 with four home runs over his last 23 games.
Others to consider: Javier Baez and Joey Wendle
THIRD BASE
Miguel Andujar vs. Trevor Richards, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $5,000
With all of the Yankees injuries, Andujar has been moved up in their lineup. He’s making a strong case to win the AL Rookie of the Year, batting .297 with 20 home runs and 36 doubles. Not only has he hit for a lot of power, but he only has a 17.1% strikeout rate. Richards has actually had more success against left-handed hitters (.274 wOBA) than he has against righties (.381 wOBA), making Andujar a great option for your entry.
Eduardo Escobar vs. Odrisamer Despaigne, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,900
With Despaigne on the mound, the Diamondbacks are likely going to be a popular stack Wednesday. I’m not really high on any of the cheap options at third base, so it might make sense to pay up for the position. Escobar is slightly cheaper than Andujar and he has similar upside with a .375 wOBA against righties.
Others to consider: Jose Ramirez and Yandy Diaz
SHORTSTOP
Gleyber Torres vs. Trevor Richards, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $3,800
Torres struggled mightily after a stint on the DL, but he’s starting to get back on track as he is 8-for-20 during his current five-game hitting streak. Richards allows a lot of baserunners with a 1.44 WHIP and with his struggles against right-handed hitters already detailed, Torres could be another viable option to consider. Of note, Torres is only eligible at shortstop on FanDuel as he is listed at second base on DraftKings.
Willy Adames vs. Jakob Junis, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $3,800
The Rays are giving Adames a chance to play every day down the stretch and he hasn’t disappointed, batting .356 with four home runs in August. His .386 BABIP during that stretch isn’t sustainable, but he did bat .286 at Triple-A this year. Adames has a higher wOBA against righties (.323) than he does lefties (.263), leaving him as someone to potentially target at shortstop in tournament play.
Others to consider: Trevor Story and Amed Rosario
OUTFIELD
David Peralta vs. Odrisamer Despaigne, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $5,500
Peralta went 3-for-3 with a home run Tuesday and is now batting .384 with eight home runs and seven doubles across his last 25 games. He has a 162 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers overall and while he’s pricey, he could still provide significant production against Despaigne.
Melky Cabrera vs. Brian Johnson, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,300
The Red Sox haven’t been able to solve Cabrera in the first two games of this series as he is 5-for-7 with two home runs and a double. He’s now homered in three-straight contests and five times in his last nine games, overall. He’s become an important part of the Indians outfield and is a great option against Johnson based on his .424 wOBA against lefties.
Mallex Smith vs. Jakob Junis, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,300
Smith had two more hits Tuesday, marking his fifth multi-hit game in his last six contests. This isn’t some brief hot streak, either, as he is batting .374 with a .455 OBP since July 1. He only has two home runs this season, but he still has considerable upside if he can continue to get on base at such a high rate due to his ability to steal bases.
Others to consider: A.J. Pollock and Jon Jay
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/10/18
*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
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
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
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
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
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
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 7/27/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
July special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout
Friday is loaded with excellent starting pitching options, so selecting the right hitters might be the difference in creating a winning entry 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
Chris Sale vs. Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $12,800
DraftKings = $13,500
Sale has completely shut down opposing hitters lately, allowing one run and recording 57 strikeouts in 33 innings across his last five starts. He only allowed 24 baserunners during that stretch and has a career-low 0.87 WHIP overall. His 16% swinging-strike rate has led to a 13.1 K/9, giving him elite upside in DFS. This is a great matchup against a Twins team that has hit right-handed pitching well, but only has a .677 OPS against lefties. In Sale’s first start against them this year, he allowed two runs and recorded 11 strikeouts over seven innings. Don’t hesitate to pay up for his services.
Wade LeBlanc vs. Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $7,000
DraftKings = $7,900
LeBlanc didn’t start a single game for the Pirates last year, but he’s made 15 starts in his 20 appearances this season. The Mariners couldn’t have asked for much more from him during his second stint with the franchise as he has a 3.44 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. He’s not going to provide a lot of strikeouts with his 7.1 K/9, but he’s shown excellent control with a 1.8 BB/9. He’s had success against the Angels in his first two starts this year, allowing three runs and recording nine strikeouts over 12 innings. That shouldn’t come as much of a surprise considering they have the second-lowest OPS against lefties (.647) in baseball.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Paul Goldschmidt vs. Luis Perdomo, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,600
The fact that Perdomo is in the Padres starting rotation says more about their lack of depth than anything else. He’s having a terrible season with a 6.99 ERA and a 1.90 WHIP. His FIP is better at 4.66, but his 4.6 BB/9 isn’t exactly a recipe for success. Goldschmidt has better numbers against left-handed pitching, but he still has a .368 wOBA against righties and is 8-for-20 (.400) with three home runs in his career against Perdomo.
Greg Bird vs. Brad Keller, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,100
The Yankees suffered a big blow Thursday when Aaron Judge was lost for at least three weeks with a wrist injury. They still have time before the trade deadline to add a bat, but improved play from Bird could go a long way in helping to fill the void with Judge sidelined. Bird has hit better of late, batting 16-for-54 (.296) across his last 15 games. Keller has a 1.42 WHIP as a starter for the Royals and doesn’t strike out many batters, leaving Bird with some upside.
Others to consider: Josh Bell (first base) and Yadier Molina (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Gleyber Torres vs. Brad Keller, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,100
The Yankees just got Torres back from an injury of his own. He’s only 1-for-7 in two games since his return, but he’s been a force in the Yankees lineup since being called up from the minors. Not only is he batting .289 with a .347 OBP, but he’s also slugged 15 home runs after never topping 11 in a full season in the minors. Like many hitters who play for the Yankees, he loves hitting at home with a .308 average and eight home runs there in 120 at-bats.
Josh Harrison vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,800
Vargas has been on the DL for over a month with a calf injury, but he is expected to start Friday. He’s having a dreadful first season with the Mets, posting an 8.60 ERA and a 1.83 WHIP across nine starts. Harrison doesn’t have a lot of power, but he has hit two home runs in his last three contests. Although you shouldn’t count on him to go deep again Friday, he can still provide value in tournament play at this cheap price.
Others to consider: Whit Merrifield and Joey Wendle
THIRD BASE
Matt Chapman vs. Kyle Freeland, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,300
Chapman is coming off of a great series against the Rangers where he finished 7-for-15 with two home runs, two doubles, five RBI and seven runs scored. The Athletics had a fantastic series as a team, which helped lead to plenty of counting stats for Chapman. They have been a very good hitting team on the road this season, leaving them with significant upside for this game in Coors Field. Freeland is having a strong campaign, but Chapman has had plenty of success with a .351 wOBA against left-handed pitching.
Adrian Beltre vs. Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,500
The Rangers have already started to trade away some of their better players, but it’s unclear if Beltre will be dealt based on his desire to eventually end his career with the team. Injuries have hampered him this season, leaving him with a .405 slugging percentage. He’s still batting .288 despite his lack of power and he’s had success against Keuchel, going 22-for-71 (.310) with two home runs and seven doubles against him during his career.
Others to consider: Alex Bregman and Miguel Andujar
SHORTSTOP
Trevor Story vs. Sean Manaea, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $5,700
Manaea has pitched well, but Story has two significant splits that make him a great option Friday. He’s crushed the ball at Coors Field, batting .322 with 16 of his 20 home runs coming there this season. He also has a .416 wOBA against left-handed pitchers overall.
Didi Gregorius vs. Brad Keller, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,800
Speaking of players with extreme home and road splits, enter Gregorius. He started off this series against the Royals in grand fashion Thursday, hitting 2-for-5 with a home run and a double. He’s now batting .289 with 13 of his 18 home runs coming at Yankee Stadium. His low price stands out on FanDuel, but he’s a great option on both sites.
Others to consider: Jean Segura and Xander Bogaerts
OUTFIELD
Andrew Benintendi vs. Lance Lynn, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $5,900
Lynn has had control issues throughout his career, including an unsightly 5.7 BB/9 this year. That has been a major contributing factor to his 1.66 WHIP, which has resulted in a 5.23 ERA and a 4.69 FIP. He’s been even worse on the road with a 7.58 ERA and a 1.85 WHIP over 10 starts. The Red Sox will likely be a popular stack Friday, including Benintendi, who has a 158 wRC+ against righties.
David Peralta vs. Luis Perdomo, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,500
Stacking Diamondbacks could be a wise move Friday as well with how poorly Perdomo is pitching. Peralta excels versus right-handed pitchers with a .392 wOBA against them this season. He’s having a great year in general, batting .290 with 16 home runs, which is only two homers away from setting a new career best.
Nick Williams vs. Anthony DeSclafani, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,900
Williams’ overall numbers don’t jump off the page with a .260 batting average and a .336 OBP. However, he’s raking in July, batting .333 with a .412 OBP and five home runs. DeSclafani has struggled mightily with a 5.40 ERA and a 6.23 FIP, setting Williams up with a favorable opportunity to continue his recent run of success.
Others to consider: Khris Davis and Michael Conforto
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/11/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
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STARTING PITCHERS
Chris Sale vs. Texas Rangers
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $12,600
DraftKings = $13,000
Sale has finished in the top-five for the Cy Young voting in five straight seasons but has yet to take home the award. He’s making another excellent case for consideration this season with a 2.36 ERA, 2.27 FIP, and a 0.89 WHIP. He has recorded at least 11 strikeouts in four straight games and has a career-high 13.0 K/9. It’s no surprise that he dominated the Rangers in their first meeting this season, allowing one run and recording 12 strikeouts in seven innings. The Rangers have struck out the third-most times (870) in baseball, so expect another great performance in their rematch.
Vince Velasquez vs. New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $8,200
DraftKings = $8,100
Velasquez was struck on his right forearm by a line drive in his last outing, landing him on the DL. He ended up missing just one start as he plans to return for this game Wednesday. He hasn’t pitched as poorly as his 4.69 ERA indicates as he has a 3.84 FIP and he has done a better job keeping runners off base with a 1.29 WHIP. Strikeouts are his strong suit as he has a 10.9 K/9 this year and a 10.0 K/9 for his career. The Mets have scored the third-fewest runs (344) in baseball and are a mess right now, making Velasquez a cheaper option to consider in tournament play.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Paul Goldschmidt vs. German Marquez, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $5,900
Marquez has been excellent on the road this season with a 2.62 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP across nine starts. However, he’s been hammered at Coors Field with a 7.93 ERA and a 1.95 WHIP over nine outings. He’s made two starts against the Diamondbacks already this season. It’s no coincidence that he allowed one unearned run over five innings in the one start on the road, but he allowed five earned runs in four innings against them during his start at Coors Field. The Diamondbacks will likely be a popular stack Wednesday with Goldschmidt one of their key hitters to target. He is 8-for-15 (.533) with two doubles and three home runs in his career against Marquez.
Jose Martinez vs. Carlos Rodon, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,900
Martinez came through with three hits Tuesday and now has six hits and three RBI in his last two games. He was the designated hitter Tuesday and should found himself in that same spot Wednesday against the left-handed Rodon. Martinez’s defense has come into question, but he’s a reliable bat who has plenty of upside at this cheap price on both sites.
Others to consider: Jesus Aguilar (first base) and Yadier Molina (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Jonathan Schoop vs. Sonny Gray, New York Yankees
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,700
Schoop couldn’t have started off much worse this season, but he appears to be finally finding himself at the plate. He had two more hits Tuesday and is 16-for-37 (.432) with two home runs during his current nine-game hitting streak. Gray has been a mess this season with a 5.85 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP, leaving Schoop with an excellent opportunity to extend his streak.
Jedd Gyorko vs. Carlos Rodon, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,600
With Paul DeJong healthy, Gyorko may start to see less playing time. The use of the DH may help with that Wednesday, but it would also be a wise move for the Cardinals to put him in their lineup considering he has a 185 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers this year.
Others to consider: Dee Gordon and Brock Holt
THIRD BASE
Justin Turner vs. Joey Lucchesi, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $3,700
Turner is still looking for his first home run in July and he has only five home runs overall this season. His wrist injury at the start of the season might be contributing to his lack of power, but he’s also batting just .266. The good news is he is still showing an excellent eye at the plate with 20 walks compared to just 18 strikeouts. He also has a .406 wOBA against lefties, making him someone to consider facing Lucchesi.
Rafael Devers vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $4,000
Colon has allowed three runs or fewer in four straight games, but he only recorded 11 strikeouts across 26 innings during that stretch. He’s not an overpowering pitcher by any means and can be prone to giving up runs in bunches as a result. The Red Sox scored four runs against him in seven innings earlier this season when all four runs came on solo homers. Devers has been much better against righties this year and is a cheaper option with upside based on this matchup.
Others to consider: Nolan Arenado and Kyle Seager
SHORTSTOP
Trevor Story vs. Shelby Miller, Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $5,300
Story hasn’t hit well on the road this year with a .260 average and only three home runs. He’s been a force at Coors Field, though, batting .320 with 13 homers. He’s been better against left-handed pitchers, but he’s still had enough success against righties with a .352 wOBA. Miller has looked awful in his return from Tommy John surgery, making Story a great option despite his lack of platoon advantage.
Paul DeJong vs. Carlos Rodon, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,900
DeJong chipped in during the Cardinals offensive outburst Tuesday, finishing 2-for-6 with three runs scored. He now has at least one hit in all four games since returning from a lengthy DL stint and could provide value again Wednesday considering he had a .392 wOBA against lefties last year.
Others to consider: Manny Machado and Chris Taylor
OUTFIELD
Charlie Blackmon vs. Shelby Miller, Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $5,400
This could be a very high scoring game considering both pitchers on the mound. Blackmon is having a down season by his standards, but he’s still putting up valuable numbers by hitting .277 with 17 home runs. He has a .365 wOBA against righties and has fared well against Miller in his career, hitting 7-for-23 (.304) with a home run.
David Peralta vs. German Marquez, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $5,200
Peralta is in the middle of the best season of his career, batting .290 with 16 home runs and 52 RBI. He has already hit two more home runs this year than he did in 140 games in 2017 and is only two homers away from setting a new career best. He’s yet another Diamondbacks hitter who has great numbers against Marquez as he is 7-for-17 (.412) with three doubles and a home run against him.
Harrison Bader vs. Carlos Rodon, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $3,700
Bader sat out Tuesday’s blowout against the White Sox, but he is 14-for-37 (.378) with a home run and four doubles in his last 11 games. He might not have played due to his .293 wOBA against righties, but he could be back in the lineup against Rodon since he has a .389 wOBA against lefties. If he plays, he could be worth the risk in tournament play.
Others to consider: Andrew Benintendi and Christian Yelich
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/18/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
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There are only 10 games in the majors Monday, but there are still a lot of great options to choose from in DFS. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
STARTING PITCHERS
Trevor Bauer vs. Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $11,200
DraftKings = $12,400
On many other teams, Bauer would be considered a staff ace. He doesn’t get that distinction in Cleveland with Corey Kluber ahead of him, but his 2.69 ERA and 2.32 FIP this year are impressive. His 1.12 WHIP has been a big reason for his success. His .303 BABIP allowed is right in line with his career mark, which makes his hot start even more encouraging for his long-term value. He also has at least 10 strikeouts in five of his last six starts, leading to an 11.6 K/9 overall. He faced these same White Sox in his last start, allowing three runs and recording 12 strikeouts in 7.2 innings. Look for him to have another great game Monday.
Andrew Suarez vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $6,600
DraftKings = $6,800
Suarez’s 4.92 ERA leaves a lot to be desired, but his 3.85 FIP indicates he isn’t pitching that poorly. He has a respectable 1.26 WHIP and an 8.5 K/9, but he’s been done in by a 1.4 HR/9. Most of his struggles have come on the road this season with a 6.18 ERA and a 1.66 WHIP, compared to a 3.55 ERA and a 0.83 WHIP at AT&T Park. Not only does he have the home start working in his favor, but he is also facing a Marlins team that has scored the second-fewest runs (253) and has hit the fewest home runs (56) in baseball. Suarez is a cheap option with upside in tournament play.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Evan Gattis vs. Ryne Stanek, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,300
Gattis is on a crazy run right now, hitting 17-for-44 (.386) with six home runs and 21 RBI in his last 11 games. The Astros lineup has been hot as a whole, which helped lead to that lofty RBI total. This will be another bullpen day for the Rays since Stanek has not pitched more than two innings in a game this season. Keeping riding Gattis’ hot bat until he shows signs of slowing down.
Yuli Gurriel vs. Ryne Stanek, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,800
Gurriel was batting only .224 entering May, but he batted .310 that month and has been even better with a .362 average in June. He only has two home runs this season overall, but he does have 13 RBI in his last 14 games with the Astros scoring in bunches. He doesn’t have the upside that Gattis does, but he’s still someone to consider at this reasonable price.
Others to consider: Paul Goldschmidt (first base) Cody Bellinger (first base)
SECOND BASE
Josh Harrison vs. Jhoulys Chacin, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,900
Harrison doesn’t put up flashy numbers, but he’s been a valuable part of the Pirates lineup this season. He’s batting .294 and although he doesn’t hit for a lot of power, he also doesn’t strike out much with a 13.7% strikeout rate. He is batting 15-for-41 (.366) in his last 10 games and has similar numbers against both lefties and righties, so don’t shy away from him because he doesn’t have the platoon advantage against Chacin.
Daniel Descalso vs. Jaime Barria, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,900
The Diamondbacks lineup struggled at the start of the season but has really turned things around of late. Descalso has been one of their constants this year, batting .281 with eight home runs. He is swinging at fewer pitches outside of the strike zone and has a 44.4% hard-hit rate, two factors that have been driving forces to his success. He also has a .407 wOBA against right-handed pitchers, making him someone to target against Barria
Others to consider: Jose Altuve and Asdrubal Cabrera
THIRD BASE
Mike Moustakas vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $3,900
Colon was pitching surprisingly well to start the season, but opponents had a crazy low BABIP against him and he wasn’t recording many strikeouts, so it was only a matter of time before his numbers started to decline. He’s been destroyed in his last five starts, allowing 25 runs in 23.2 innings. He also allowed 10 home runs during that stretch, setting up a nice matchup for the power-hitting Moustakas.
Adrian Beltre vs. Ian Kennedy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $3,700
Beltre has been bothered by hamstring problems this year, leaving him to play only 42 games. He’s performed well when he has been on the field, batting .326 with a .388 OBP. His power numbers aren’t great, but he has at least two hits in four of his last five starts. Kennedy allows a lot of baserunners and has had equal problems against both lefties and righties, so look for Beltre to continue to swing a hot bat in this game.
Others to consider: Max Muncy and Justin Turner
SHORTSTOP
Carlos Correa vs. Ryne Stanek, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,800
It’s amazing to think what numbers Correa could have put up last season if he didn’t get hurt. Despite playing only 109 games, he still had 24 home runs and 84 RBI. He also hit a career-high .315, but that was partly aided by his .352 BABIP. His .273 average this year is more in line with his first two seasons in the majors as a result of his BABIP dropping to .318. Like several of the Astros hitters, Correa is playing well right now, hitting 12-for-36 (.333) with three homers in his last nine games.
Jurickson Profar vs. Ian Kennedy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $3,900
Profar is finally getting a chance to play every day with Elvis Andrus (elbow) on the DL. His numbers aren’t great, but with the Rangers buried in the standings, it might be a wise idea for them to continue to find at-bats for him even when Andrus returns. Profar is 7-for-23 (.304) with two home runs during his current five-game hitting streak and is a viable option if you don’t want to pay up for Correa.
Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Chris Taylor
OUTFIELD
David Peralta vs. Jaime Barria, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,800
Peralta couldn’t find his way at the plate in May, batting .211 with two home runs. He’s making up for that lack of production in June, batting .350 with seven home runs in 60 at-bats. With a career .370 wOBA against right-handed pitchers, he’s someone you want to target for your entry, especially considering his price on FanDuel.
Joey Gallo vs. Ian Kennedy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,900
Gallo is a risky play because he’s an all-or-nothing hitter. He’s hitting .198 with a 37.1% strikeout rate, but he also has 18 home runs. Kennedy is on pace to allow at least 1.5 HR/9 for the fourth straight season, so this might be the night to take the gamble and roll with Gallo.
Joc Pederson vs. Tyler Chatwood, Chicago Cubs
Stadium – Wrigley Field
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,400
Pederson has had problems striking out in his career, but he’s made significant improvement with just a 14.2% strikeout rate this season. It’s no coincidence that his .276 average is by far the highest of his career. His improved plate discipline hasn’t come at the expense of his power numbers, though, as he still has eight homers and 14 doubles. He also has a .406 wOBA against righties and gets a struggling one in Chatwood on Monday.
Others to consider: Matt Kemp and Lonnie Chisenhall
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/20/18
Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/20/18
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STARTING PITCHERS
Justin Verlander vs. Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $11,100
DraftKings = $12,000
Verlander was a different pitcher after joining the Astros down the stretch last year and has carried that success into 2018, posting a 1.35 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, and 11.5 K/9 through four starts. One of the main reasons why he improved so much with the Astros last year is that he cut his BB/9 down to 1.3 after it was 3.5 with the Tigers. He’s continued that improved control this year with a 1.7 BB/9. He’s done an excellent job inducing weak contact with only a 25% hard-hit rate this season, which is not far off from his career mark of 27.2% either. The White Sox are in the bottom-10 in baseball in terms of runs scored this season, making Verlander an excellent option for your entry on a night filled with aces taking the mound.
Felix Hernandez vs. Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $6,800
Hernandez’s numbers aren’t great overall, posting a 5.48 ERA and 6.15 FIP through four starts. He only has a 6.3 K/9, which would be the lowest mark of his career. A lot of his ERA woes can be attributed to his second start of the season where he allowed eight runs in four innings against the Giants. In his other three outings, he allowed a total of five runs across 17.1 innings. The Rangers are not a great offensive team, currently in the bottom-10 in the league in OPS. Hernandez might not have a high strikeout upside, but he at least has the potential to throw a quality start, making him someone to consider in tournament play.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Jose Martinez vs. Brandon Finnegan, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $3,700
If the Cardinals are facing a lefty, Martinez should immediately come to mind as someone you want to target in DFS. He destroys left-handed pitching, finishing with the highest wRC+ (240) against them in baseball last season. Finnegan only pitched 13 innings last year due to injury but hasn’t been good in his career with a 1.36 WHIP. He allowed five runs in 4.1 innings to these same Cardinals in his only start this year, leaving Martinez as an excellent option for your lineup.
Victor Martinez vs. Jakob Junis, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $2,300
DraftKings = $3,300
Martinez had one of the worst seasons of his career in 2017, hitting .255 with 10 home runs in 107 games. His .280 BABIP was significantly below his career mark of .309, but his hard-hit rate was still excellent at 39.9%. He’s turned things around at the start of this season, batting .314 through his first 14 games. The switch-hitting Martinez has a career .351 wOBA against right-handed pitchers, making him a cost-effective option to consider Friday.
Others to consider: Hanley Ramirez (first base) and Yadier Molina (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Jed Lowrie vs. Drew Pomeranz, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,500
There are few hitters in baseball who are off to a better start than Lowrie, who is batting .346 with six home runs and 21 RBI. His .373 BABIP seems unsustainable, but a lot of that is due to his career-high 41.5% hard-hit rate. He has a career .340 wOBA against left-handed pitching, so you may want to continue to try and ride his hot streak Friday against Pomeranz.
Brock Holt vs. Kendall Graveman, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $2,300
DraftKings = $2,900
Graveman is off to a terrible start with a 9.87 ERA and 2.02 WHIP. He doesn’t have overpowering stuff with a 5.2 K/9 this season, which is close to his career mark of 5.6 K/9. He has also given up at least one home run in all four of his starts, which is certainly not good news considering he will be facing the red-hot Red Sox lineup. Holt is 7-for-17 with a home run and two doubles in his last four games, so he could be an option if you are looking to save money at second base.
Others to consider: Asdrubal Cabrera and Starlin Castro
THIRD BASE
Rafael Devers vs. Kendall Graveman, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,000
As we continue to discuss Red Sox players to stack against Graveman, Devers enters Friday hitting 7-for-14 with two home runs and seven RBI in his last three games. He has a 131 wRC+ against right-handers in the early going and with plenty of men likely on base in this game, Devers could be in for another big performance.
Jeimer Candelario vs. Jakob Junis, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,300
Despite still having Martinez and Miguel Cabrera on their roster, the Tigers are clearly in the middle of a rebuilding process. They may already have their third baseman of the future in Candelario, who is 12-for-28 with three home runs and seven RBI in his last seven games. Junis has a sparkling 1.93 ERA this year, but his 4.63 FIP indicates that he has not pitched nearly as well. Candelario might be worth the risk at this price.
Others to consider: Matt Chapman and Travis Shaw
SHORTSTOP
Didi Gregorius vs. Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $5,200
On a team filled with star right-handed hitters including Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Gary Sanchez, Gregorius provides a desperately needed left-handed compliment. He had the best season of his career last year and has followed that up by batting .327 with five home runs and 17 RBI in 2018. He has hit just .237 against Estrada in 39 career plate appearances but has done damage with three doubles and three home runs.
Paul DeJong vs. Brandon Finnegan, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,100
DeJong had a breakout campaign for the Cardinals last year, hitting .285 with 25 home runs in just 108 games. A career .283 hitter in the minors, DeJong is off to a slow start this year with a .231 average and a 42.9% strikeout rate. He did hit lefties very well last year though with a .392 wOBA, so facing Finnegan might be just what he needs to break out of his slump.
Others to consider: Marcus Semien and Eduardo Nunez
OUTFIELD
Aaron Judge vs. Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $5,100
DraftKings = $5,300
Judge has done his best to set aside any worries of a sophomore slump, batting .339 with five home runs this season. He does have 19 strikeouts in 17 games, but he’s shown an excellent ability to get on base with 16 walks. He was lethal at home last year, batting .312 with 33 home runs compared to .256 with 19 home runs on the road. Estrada has had major issues trying to get him out with Judge batting 7-for-17 with two doubles and two home runs against him in his career. He doesn’t have strikeout stuff, so Judge very well might hit him hard again Friday.
David Peralta vs. Tyson Ross, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,300
Peralta is hitting .349 so far this season, but his abnormally high .444 BABIP indicates he is a prime regression candidate. The odds of him continuing to swing a hot bat Friday though are in his favor considering Peralta’s .353 wOBA against righties last year. Ross doesn’t have strikeout stuff with just a 7.0 K/9 this season, leaving Peralta as a viable mid-tier priced option.
Mark Canha vs. Drew Pomeranz, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,100
Canha hasn’t done much in his Major League career, batting .237 in 204 games. He has hit for power in the minors though and if off to a great start this season, batting .333 with two home runs in only seven games. The Athletics are in the top-five in the league in runs scored this season, which is only going to help Canha with his counting stats. Against the left-handed Pomeranz, Canha has some upside at this cheap price.
Others to consider: Mookie Betts and Mallex Smith
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/10/18
Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/10/18
Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout
With bad weather continuing to wreak havoc across the league, Major League Baseball will attempt to play 15 games Tuesday. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
STARTING PITCHERS
Jacob deGrom vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $9,600
DraftKings = $12,400
The Mets starting rotation is finally healthy and they have gotten the team off to an 8-1 start. deGrom has done his part, allowing two earned runs and recording 12 strikeouts over 11.2 innings in his first two starts. Opponents are batting just .190 against him so far with a 20% hard-hit rate. The Marlins stripped their roster of their best talent this winter, which has resulted in their lineup batting just .221 in the early going. Look for deGrom to take advantage with another strong outing Tuesday.
Felix Hernandez vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $7,900
Hernandez was shelled in his last start against the Giants, allowing eight earned runs in just four innings. Hernandez walked five batters in that game, which is uncharacteristic since he had a 2.7 BB/9 last season. He’s nowhere near the pitcher that he once was in his prime, but he did manage to record 8.1 K/9 last year. He gets a favorable matchup Tuesday against a Royals lineup that lost two big pieces in Eric Hosmer and Lorenzo Cain this winter and has scored the second-fewest runs (26) this season as a result. If you want to take a chance on a cheap starter in tournament play, Hernandez might be worth the risk.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Albert Pujols vs. Martin Perez, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,200
Pujols is off to a fine start this season, batting .277 with two home runs and five RBI through 11 games. He hit just .241 in 2017, but some of that had to do with his low .249 BABIP. He’ll face the left-handed Perez on Tuesday, who allowed a .362 wOBA to righties last year compared to just .293 against lefties. Pujols has fared well against him in his career, batting .304 with five walks in 28 plate appearances. The price might be right to take a chance on Pujols extending his success against Perez on Tuesday.
Chris Iannetta vs. Joey Lucchesi, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,100
Iannetta is in his second stint with the Rockies and has played well so far, batting .345 with a .441 OBP through nine games. A career .232 hitter, he is obviously not going to keep up at this pace. However, he does excel against left-handed pitching, recording a lofty 148 wRC+ against them in 2017. With a lefty taking the mound in Lucchesi on Tuesday, Iannetta may be in line for another valuable day at the plate.
Others to consider: Justin Smoak (first base) and Ian Desmond (first base)
SECOND BASE
Zack Cozart vs. Martin Perez, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,500
Cozart batted .297 for the Reds last year but is a prime candidate for regression since his .312 BABIP was significantly higher than his career mark of .280. It’s come back down to Earth this year at .262, resulting in a .265 average. He can still provide plenty of value Tuesday though against Perez as he mashed lefties for a .440 wOBA in 2017.
Asdrubal Cabrera vs. Caleb Smith, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,300
The Mets couldn’t have asked for a much better start from Cabrera, who has a hit in eight of the nine games. He’s done some damage as well with one home run and three doubles. Cabrera does a good job of limiting his strikeouts, posting a 15.4% strikeout rate in 2017. He’ll face the lefty Smith on Tuesday, which is good news since he had a wOBA of at least .356 against lefties in back-to-back seasons.
Others to consider: Cesar Hernandez and Jed Lowrie
THIRD BASE
Matt Chapman vs. Hyun-Jin Ryu, Los Angeles Dodgers
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $3,800
Chapman is following up the promise that he showed in 2017 by batting .375 with three home runs already this season. His .429 BABIP screams regression, but he has increased his walk rate and decreased his strikeout rate so far. He is punishing the ball as well with a 54.8% hard-hit percentage. He’ll face Ryu on Tuesday, who has allowed at least 1.6 HR/9 in back-to-back seasons. Chapman is expensive, but he also has great power upside.
Christian Villanueva vs. Tyler Anderson, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,000
Anderson pitched a good game against Villanueva and the Padres earlier this season, logging six scoreless innings. That game was in San Diego, but pitching at Coors Field is a whole different story. He also has problems against right-handed hitters, allowing a .358 wOBA to them in 2017 compared to only .309 against lefties. Villanueva hasn’t gone deep since hitting three home runs in one game last Tuesday, but the price is right to take a chance on him against Anderson in tournament play, especially if you are playing on FanDuel.
Others to consider: Todd Frazier and Adrian Beltre
SHORTSTOP
Jean Segura vs. Eric Skoglund, Kanas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $3,700
Although the Mariners are missing a very important part of their lineup in Nelson Cruz (ankle), Segura still has a great spot in the lineup batting between Dee Gordon and Robinson Cano. Segura likely won’t hit many home runs, but he has batted at least .300 in back-to-back seasons and is hitting .333 in the early part of 2018. Segura hit lefties very well last year with a .353 wOBA, so look for him to take advantage of this matchup against Skoglund on Tuesday, who is making his first start of the season after pitching just 18 innings in the majors last year.
Paul DeJong vs. Brent Suter, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,900
This is a prime example of two big splits you want to take advantage of, especially at this price. The lefty Suter struggled against right-handed hitters last year, allowing a .324 wOBA to them compared to .236 against lefties. DeJong also destroyed lefties in 2017, posting a .392 wOBA. If you are looking for power upside, go with DeJong over Segura in your entry.
Others to consider: Elvis Andrus and Andrelton Simmons
OUTFIELD
Rhys Hoskins vs. Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $5,400
Hoskins has followed up his strong debut last year with a .429 average, two home runs, and five doubles so far. He has shown a great eye at the plate as well, drawing eight walks compared to seven strikeouts. Tuesday brings an excellent matchup against Bailey, who has battled injuries and ineffectiveness for each of the last three seasons. He had just a 6.6 K/9 last year to go along with a 1.69 WHIP, so it might be worth paying up for Hoskins in this game.
Justin Upton vs. Martin Perez, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,300
Upton continues to be a proven power bat in the middle of the Angels lineup, hitting three home runs and three doubles already this season. Upton posted a 201 wRC+ against lefties in 2017, which ranked seventh-highest in baseball behind names including J.D. Martinez, Nolan Arenado, and Giancarlo Stanton. With Perez’s struggles against righties already detailed, Upton is another Angels bat you should consider.
David Peralta vs. Tyler Beede, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,300
Peralta is swinging a hot bat right now, recording two hits in three of his last five games. Beede is making his Major League debut Wednesday but hasn’t put up great numbers in the minors. He only pitched one season at Triple-A and has a 7.3 K/9 and a 3.3 BB/9 for his career at all levels in the minors. Peralta had a .353 wOBA against lefties in 2017 and is at .428 so far in 2018, so this might be a matchup to take advantage of for your entry.
Others to consider: Mitch Haniger and Jose Pirela