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MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/2/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

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

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/2/18

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

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

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

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

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/2/18

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

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

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

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

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

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/2/18

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

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

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

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

Others to consider: Javier Baez and Rougned Odor

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/2/18

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

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

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

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

Others to consider: Maikel Franco and Adrian Beltre

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/2/18

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

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

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

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

Others to consider: Elvis Andrus and Asdrubal Cabrera

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/2/18

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

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

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

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

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

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

Others to consider: Juan Soto and Joey Gallo

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/1/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

After a busy trade deadline Tuesday, Wednesday brings a quiet main evening slate in DFS consisting of only six games. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/1/18

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

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

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

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

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/1/18

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

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

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

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

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

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/1/18

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

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

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

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

Others to consider: Ozzie Albies and Whit Merrifield

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/1/18

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

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

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

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

Others to consider: Johan Camargo and Yolmer Sanchez

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/1/18

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

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

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

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

Others to consider: Andrelton Simmons

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/1/18

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

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

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

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

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

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

Others to consider: Ronald Acuna Jr. and Nick Markakis

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/31/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

July special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

Tuesday afternoon brings the MLB trade deadline, so make sure to keep your eye on the news as deals could have a significant impact on the night in DFS. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/31/18

Trevor Bauer vs. Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $11,800
DraftKings = $13,300

Bauer dominated the Pirates in his last start, recording 10 strikeouts and allowing just five base runners over seven innings. It marked the fifth time this season he hasn’t allowed a run, helping lead to his career-best 2.32 ERA. His ERA hasn’t really been aided by luck, either, considering his 2.25 FIP and .312 opponents’ BABIP. Hitters have swung at 32.3% of pitches he has thrown outside of the strike zone, helping him post a lofty 11.7 K/9. The Twins lineup is even thinner after they traded Eduardo Escobar to the Diamondbacks and they could make more trades Tuesday. Bauer stands out as one of the premier starting pitching options on the slate.

James Shields vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $7,200
DraftKings = $6,000

Shields hasn’t been terrible this season, but his 4.59 ERA and 1.30 WHIP aren’t exactly stellar. He doesn’t have an overpowering arsenal with a 6.8 K/9 and opponents’ have actually been somewhat unlucky with a .264 BABIP against him. This matchup does lean in his favor, though, considering his 3.51 ERA and 1.22 WHIP across 13 starts at Guaranteed Rate Field. He also gets the benefit of facing a Royals lineup that has scored the fewest runs (384) in the league and just traded away one of their best hitters in Mike Moustakas. He won’t cost you much, leaving Shields with the potential to provide value in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/31/18

Jose Abreu vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,200

Abreu has had a disappointing season by his standards, but he’s closing out the month of July strong by hitting 10-for-28 (.357) with three home runs across his last seven games. Even with his down batting average overall, he still has a .357 wOBA against left-handed pitchers. In his career against Duffy, Abreu is 16-for-50 (.320) with two home runs.

Tucker Barnhart vs. Matthew Boyd, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,800

Barnhart has logged a hit in each of his last seven starts, but he didn’t finish with multiple hits in any of those contests. His overall numbers aren’t anything special with a .252 batting average and a .371 slugging percentage, but he does have a .398 wOBA against lefties. At this cheap price, Barnhart might be worth the risk in tournament play.

Others to consider: Paul Goldschmidt (first base) and John Hicks (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/31/18

Rougned Odor vs. Zack Godley, Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,900

Odor has completely turned his season around with a great month in July, batting .357 with six home runs, 12 RBI, and six steals. He still only has 10 home runs total, but his .268 average is a drastic improvement over his .206 mark in 2017. Godley allows a ton of baserunners with his 1.53 WHIP, so look for Odor to finish the month on a high note.

Neil Walker vs. Yefry Ramirez, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,900

The Yankees brought in Walker to provide depth for their young infield, but he struggled out of the gate with his new team. Injuries have opened up regular playing time for him lately and he’s cashed in the opportunity, hitting 18-for-43 (.419) with 10 RBI and eight runs scored over his last 14 games. The Yankees are likely looking to acquire another hitter, but Walker should be in the lineup Tuesday. If you can’t pay up for Odor, Walker is an excellent cost-effective option with upside.

Others to consider: Jed Lowrie and Starlin Castro

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/31/18

Eugenio Suarez vs. Matthew Boyd, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,900

Suarez might not get a lot of press on a bad Reds team, but he’s mashing with a .298 batting average and a .383 OBP. He also has 24 home runs and 80 RBI and should easily set new career highs in both categories. He has an incredible 218 wRC+ against lefties and could give Boyd plenty of trouble in this game.

Eduardo Escobar vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,700

Colon has found a way to hang around, but he hasn’t pitched well with a 5.02 ERA and a 5.12 FIP. His 1.26 WHIP is largely aided by the fact that he doesn’t walk many batters, not because he doesn’t allow a lot of hits. He doesn’t miss many bats, either, with a 5.4% swinging-strike rate and a 5.2 K/9. The Diamondbacks will likely be a popular stack Tuesday, Escobar included.

Others to consider: Manny Machado and Miguel Andujar

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/31/18

Didi Gregorius vs. Yefry Ramirez, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,900

Whenever the Yankees are playing at home, Gregorius vaults up towards the top-tier of shortstops in DFS. He is batting .240 with five home runs on the road, but he has a .283 average and 13 homers at Yankee Stadium. Add in his .351 wOBA against righties and Gregorius could provide plenty of value for your entry.

Chris Taylor vs. Wade Miley, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,200

Miley has a sparkling 2.01 ERA across five starts this year, but don’t get too excited based on his 3.97 FIP and 1.39 WHIP. He also has more walks (13) than he does strikeouts (12). He was a disaster for the Orioles last year with a 5.61 ERA and a 1.73 WHIP over 32 starts, so expect his ERA to climb sooner rather than later. Taylor is 13-for-45 (.289) with seven runs scored and nine RBI since the All-Star break, putting him on the map against Miley based on his reasonable prices on both sites.

Others to consider: Elvis Andrus and Jose Peraza

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/31/18

A.J. Pollock vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $5,200

Pollock didn’t cash in on a great matchup against Martin Perez on Monday, finishing the game 1-for-5. He’ll get a chance to redeem himself against another struggling pitcher in Colon. Pollock does have better numbers against lefties, but he’s hit righties well also with a .377 wOBA.

Avisail Garcia vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,500

Garcia has been injured for much of this season, which has been a major disappointment considering his excellent performance in 2017. Although his walk rate is a ridiculously low 1.7%, he’s hit .277 with 11 home runs in only 181 plate appearances. He has a .368 wOBA against lefties and has also had plenty of success against Duffy as he is 11-for-33 (.333) against him in his career.

Leonys Martin vs. Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,900

Bailey came off the DL last week and allowed only two runs over 6.2 innings against the Cardinals, striking out eight batters. It was a rare strong performance based on his 6.29 ERA and 1.63 WHIP overall. It was only the fourth time in 13 starts that he didn’t allow a home run and just the second time that he struck out more than four batters in a game. Don’t shy away from stacking against him because of one good outing, he’s still not a good pitcher at this stage of his career. The Tigers might not have a lot of great hitters, but Martin stands out based on his .340 wOBA against righties this year.

Others to consider: Mike Trout and Kole Calhoun

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/30/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

July special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

There are only nine games across baseball Monday, leaving fewer options than usual when crafting your DFS entry. 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 7/30/18

Tyler Anderson vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $8,600
DraftKings = $8,200

Anderson has bounced back from his 4.81 ERA last year to record a 3.57 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP this season, although he has been a little lucky based on his 4.21 FIP. He’s allowed 1.3 HR/9, which isn’t all that bad considering he has to pitch his home games at Coors Field. Like most pitchers who have played for the Rockies during their career, Anderson has better numbers on the road this year with a 3.48 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP across 10 outings. He’s been hot of late, allowing just five runs (four earned) over 35.1 innings in his last five starts. There aren’t many aces taking the mound Monday, leaving Anderson as an excellent option to consider.

Robbie Ray vs. Texas Rangers
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $8,300
DraftKings = $8,000

Ray had the best season of his career in 2017, but injuries have limited him to just 12 starts this year. It’s mostly been a struggle when he has been healthy, posting a 4.90 ERA and a 4.65 FIP. One of the main reasons for his decline is likely his a 1.42 WHIP after finishing with a 1.15 WHIP last year. On the bright side, he’s still getting plenty of strikeouts with a 12.0 K/9. The Rangers are a lethal lineup at home, but their .680 OPS on the road is in the bottom third of baseball. They also won’t have the benefit of using the DH in Arizona.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/30/18

Paul Goldschmidt vs. Martin Perez, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,700

Remember the panic after a horrid month of May for Goldschmidt? Well, he’s done everything to put those fears to rest, hitting .364 with 10 home runs in June and .330 with six home runs in July. He’s boosted his overall OPS up to .909, which would be the fifth time in the last six seasons he finished with an OPS of at least .900. The one season he didn’t, his OPS finished at .899. With a 178 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers, he’s worth his hefty price tag Monday.

Yonder Alonso vs. Ervin Santana, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,600

Alonso is on a five-game hitting streak that has seen him hit 7-for-20 (.350) with three home runs and seven RBI. His OBP is down 31 points from 2017, but he’s still batting .265 with 18 home runs. He’s usually someone to avoid against lefties, but he’s a viable option against Santana based on his .357 wOBA against right-handed pitchers.

Others to consider: Buster Posey (catcher) and Justin Bour (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/30/18

Ozzie Albies vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $5,300

Chen’s 2018 campaign has been a disappointment with his 5.65 ERA and 1.49 WHIP. He’s not a big strikeout pitcher with a 7.0 K/9 and he’s already allowed 12 home runs across 78 innings. The switch-hitting Albies has a .365 wOBA against lefties, making him someone to target against Chen.

Ketel Marte vs. Martin Perez, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,400

The Diamondbacks are likely going to be a popular stack Monday based on Perez’s 7.08 ERA that is supported by a 6.36 FIP. He’s allowed a ton of base runners with a 2.02 WHIP, not to mention giving up nine homers in 40.2 innings. Marte is 11-for-33 (.333) across his last nine games and has a .393 wOBA against lefties this year overall.

Others to consider: Jed Lowrie and Starlin Castro

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/30/18

Johan Camargo vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,100

There have been some rumors about the Braves possibly acquiring a third baseman before the trade deadline, but Camargo has played well for them. His numbers don’t jump off the page, but he hasn’t exactly been a detriment to them by batting .253 with 11 home runs. He has excelled with a .369 wOBA against lefties and isn’t expensive on either site, making him a great option for a Braves stack.

Evan Longoria vs. Eric Lauer, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,900

The Giants were counting on Longoria to solidify third base for them and provide a power bat in the middle of their lineup, but he’s only played 71 games due to injury. He hasn’t been great when he’s been on the field, too, batting .248 with a .282 OBP. He’s still provided some pop with 10 homers and could provide value against the underwhelming Lauer based on Longoria’s .384 wOBA against lefties.

Others to consider: Jose Ramirez and Martin Prado

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/30/18

Francisco Lindor vs. Ervin Santana, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $5,600

Unless there is a true elite ace on the mound, there are few matchups that don’t lean in Lindor’s favor. He’s putting together an MVP-caliber season, batting .291 with 27 home runs, 15 steals and 90 runs scored. Santana made his first start of the year last week against the Blue Jays and is understandably a little rusty, so look for Lindor to take advantage Monday.

Nick Ahmed vs. Martin Perez, Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $4,300

With three more hits Sunday, Ahmed is now batting .300 in July. He’s hit for power as well with a .575 slugging percentage during that stretch and should continue to see plenty of playing time with Jake Lamb (shoulder) on the DL. He’s yet another Diamondbacks hitter who performs better versus left-handed pitching, posting a .359 wOBA against them this year.

Others to consider: Marcus Semien and Jorge Polanco

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/30/18

A.J. Pollock vs. Martin Perez, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Chase FIeld
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $5,100

Last, but certainly not least in the group of Diamondbacks who could provide value, is their star outfielder Pollock. Injuries have been a problem for him in recent years, with 2018 being no exception. He’s healthy now and is batting .293 with three home runs in 83 plate appearances since being activated from his most recent DL stint. Perez could have plenty of troubles getting him out considering Pollock’s career .366 wOBA against lefties.

Wil Myers vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,600

Myers has been limited to 42 games this year due to injuries of his own, but he’s batting .291 with a .557 slugging percentage, both of which would be the best marks of his career. Holland has an impressive .221 wOBA against left-handed hitters, but righties have had far more success against him with a .341 wOBA.

Manuel Margot vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,000

Margot enters Monday on a 10-game hitting streak where he is 14-for-37 (.378) with a home run and 10 runs scored. His .254 batting average and .315 OBP overall aren’t great, but he’s shown an improved eye at the plate by lowering his strikeout rate over three percentage points compared to last year. With Holland’s struggles against righties already detailed, Margot comes in as a cost-effective option with upside Monday.

Others to consider: Ronald Acuna Jr. and Michael Brantley

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/27/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/27/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/27/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/27/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/27/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/27/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/27/18

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 7/26/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

July special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

There aren’t a lot of great pitching options available Thursday, which could lead to some big offensive performances. 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 7/26/18

Dereck Rodriguez vs. Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $8,300
DraftKings = $7,900

Stephen Strasburg looked to be the lone ace on the schedule Thursday, but he then found himself on the DL once again. It’s slim pickings as a result, making Rodriguez possibly one of the best options. He’s posted a 1.15 WHIP so far this season, helping lead him to a 2.72 ERA and a 3.33 FIP. He’s also allowed just three home runs in 53 innings. Don’t count on him for a lot of strikeouts based on his 7.1 K/9, but he has some upside against a Brewers team that is averaging just 3.5 runs across their last 11 games.

Wade Miley vs. San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $6,600

It might be wise to load up on hitters Thursday and just take a shot on a really cheap pitcher if you are playing in a tournament. Miley has been terrible the last couple of seasons and has been limited to four starts this season due to injury. His 1.56 ERA is likely to rise considering his 3.97 ERA and 1.33 WHIP. He also has as many walks as he has strikeouts. The good news is that he’ll face a Giants team that is in the bottom third of baseball in runs scored and has just a .693 OPS against left-handed pitching. If you can stomach the risk, there is potential for value at this price.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/26/18

Matt Olson vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,400

The Athletics have had an excellent offensive series against the Rangers, but Olson is only 3-for-14 in the first three games. The Rangers started lefties in each of those contests, so he’ll finally get to face a righty in Colon. Olson only has a .306 wOBA against left-handers, but he has a .354 wOBA against righties.

Greg Bird vs. Jakob Junis, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,200

The Yankees think highly of Bird, but he’s disappointed again this season. Not only did he spend a significant amount of time on the DL, but he’s batting only .231. He’s starting to show signs of life, though, as he is 16-for-52 (.308) with three home runs across his last 14 games. Junis has cooled off significantly after a hot start and now has a 5.03 ERA that is backed up by an even worse 5.37 FIP, so look for Bird to continue his recent run of success.

Others to consider: Jake Bauers (first base) and Elias Diaz (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/26/18

Rougned Odor vs. Trevor Cahill, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $3,900

Odor came through with another hit Wednesday to extend his hitting streak to seven games. He’s not just swinging a hot bat either as he also has four steals during that stretch. His home run total is way down year, but with nine steals and a .260 batting average, Odor has helped to offset his power deficiencies. Cahill has a sparkling 2.95 ERA this season, but his .252 opponents’ BABIP is also over 30 points lower than his career mark, so he’s been a bit lucky.

Jed Lowrie vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,400

Colon continues to find himself pitching in the majors, but he’s not having a good season with a 4.85 ERA and a 5.12 FIP. He doesn’t walk many batters, but he doesn’t strike out many either with a 5.5% swinging-strike rate and a 5.2 K/9. Lowrie has excelled against righties this year with a .381 wOBA, leaving him with a great matchup to target.

Others to consider: Gleyber Torres and Daniel Murphy

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/26/18

Eugenio Suarez vs. Ranger Suarez, Philadelphia Phillies
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $5,100

Suarez made his first All-Star team this season and is well on his way to setting career highs across the board, batting .305 with 22 home runs and 76 RBI. Left-hander Ranger Suarez will be making his big league debut, but he wasn’t exactly overwhelming hitters in the minors with a combined 6.6 K/9 between Double-A and Triple-A this year. He’ll face a tough task in slowing down Eugenio, who has a 209 wRC+ against righties.

Miguel Andujar vs. Jakob Junis, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,100

Andujar still needs to improve defensively, but he’s made an immediate impact with his bat by hitting .292 with 12 home runs in his first full season in the majors. He has 30 doubles as well, leading to a lofty .500 slugging percentage. He doesn’t have the upside that Suarez does, but he’s hot right now with at least two hits in five straight contests.

Others to consider: Mike Moustakas and Adrian Beltre

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/26/18

Marcus Semien vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,300

Semien hasn’t hit a home run in well over a month, but he is 25-for-87 (.287) in his last 22 games. He showed an improved eye at the plate during that stretch, walking 10 times compared to 14 strikeouts. He’s 5-for-16 with three doubles, four RBI and five runs scored in the first three games of this series and could have another productive stat line against the struggling Colon.

Didi Gregorius vs. Jakob Junis, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $5,000

Gregorius doesn’t provide much production on the road, hitting just .240 with five home runs. He loves hitting in Yankee Stadium, though, with a .286 average and 12 homers. He’s also been much better against right-handed pitchers with a .347 wOBA. His price isn’t great on DraftKings, but he could provide plenty of value based on his price on FanDuel.

Others to consider: Elvis Andrus and Adalberto Mondesi

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/26/18

Khris Davis vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $5,400

Davis is going to be sad to see this series end. He’s hit game-winning homers both of the last two nights and is 6-for-17 with four home runs and 10 RBI overall. He now has an insane six long balls over his last four games, which is bad news for Colon since he has allowed 1.8 HR/9.

Juan Soto vs. Dan Straily, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,400

Soto is starting to strike out more, logging a 25.6% strikeout rate across his last 10 games. His batting average was only .264 during that stretch, but he still hit two home runs and two doubles. Straily has allowed a .349 wOBA against left-handed hitters and isn’t a strikeout pitcher with a career 7.7 K/9, leaving Soto as a viable mid-tier priced option.

Adam Eaton vs. Dan Straily, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,600

Eaton has never been much of a power hitter, but he has just three home runs in 147 at-bats this year. However, he has logged at least two hits in 9 of the 17 games he has played in July and is batting .320 for the season overall. He’s drawing plenty of walks, as well, leading to a what would be a career-high .401 OBP. He’s been awful against lefties, but he has a .396 wOBA against righties.

Others to consider: Aaron Judge and Joey Gallo

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/25/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

July special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

There are only four games that make up the main evening slate in DFS, leaving far fewer options to choose from than normal. 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 7/25/18

David Price vs. Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $9,000
DraftKings = $9,500

Price had a 3.66 ERA entering July, but a horrible start against the Yankees where he allowed eight runs in 3.1 innings did serious damage to his numbers. He has a 4.17 ERA and a 4.29 FIP overall, which would be his highest marks since his first season as a starter in 2009 with the Rays. His swinging-strike rate is down significantly at 8.9%, but he’s still managed to record a 9.0 K/9. This could be a start to help pad his stats as the Orioles have scored the second-fewest runs (367) in baseball. In his previous outing against them this season, Price allowed two runs and recorded eight strikeouts over nine innings.

James Shields vs. Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $7,300
DraftKings = $6,000

On a night with such a limited slate, there aren’t a lot of great cheap options for starting pitchers. Shields’ 4.26 ERA and 4.38 FIP don’t jump off the page, but that’s a significant improvement from last season. Not only has he done a better job limiting baserunners with a 1.26 WHIP, but he also cut down his 2.1 HR/9 last year to 1.0 HR/9 this season. His upside isn’t great due to his 6.6 K/9, but he might still be worth the risk in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/25/18

Jose Abreu vs. Tyler Skaggs, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,600

Abreu has batted at least .290 with 25 home runs in each of his first four seasons, but he’s got a ways to go if he is going to accomplish both feats in 2018. His 14 home runs are respectable, but his batting average sits at just .253. One reason for his struggles is likely his .283 BABIP, which is significantly lower than his .328 career mark. He does still have a .363 wOBA against left-handed pitchers, making him a viable option at such a reduced price.

Jonathan Lucroy vs. Martin Perez, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $2,800

Lucroy had a productive first two games of this series, hitting 3-for-8 with a double, a home run and two walks. He hasn’t been much of an offensive threat this year batting .243 with two homers, but his wOBA is over 30 points higher against lefties than it is against righties. Perez has been horrible with an 8.05 ERA and a 2.08 WHIP, leaving Lucroy as someone worth considering based on the relief he can also provide to your budget.

Others to consider: Mitch Moreland (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/25/18

Rougned Odor vs. Edwin Jackson, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,300

With a double in Tuesday’s contest, Odor extended his hitting streak to six games. He’s been hot for a much longer stretch than that, though, as he is 28-for-83 (.337) across his last 23 games. Jackson has a 2.93 ERA through his first five starts, but his 4.23 FIP and crazy-low .198 opponents’ BABIP indicate he’s had plenty of luck on his side. Continue to ride Odor’s hot bat.

Jed Lowrie vs. Martin Perez, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,000

Lowrie played a key role in Tuesday’s wild come from behind victory, finishing the game 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBI. The performance broke his 0-for-18 streak that saw his batting average drop 13 points. He did still draw four walks during that stretch and has a .358 OBP that would be one of the highest marks of his career. He’ll bat from the right side of the plate against Perez, which is good news considering Perez has allowed a .467 wOBA to righties this year.

Others to consider: Jonathan Schoop

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/25/18

Alex Bregman vs. Jon Gray, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $5,500

Bregman is on a prolonged stretch of excellent hitting as he is 55-for-177 (.311) with 15 doubles and 16 home runs since June 1. He has also shown an excellent eye at the plate this entire season, drawing 59 walks and striking out only 55 times. Although he doesn’t get the platoon advantage versus Gray, he hasn’t exactly struggled against righties with a .380 wOBA.

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

With Perez on the mound for the Rangers, the Athletics are going to be a very popular stack. As we continue to seek out their right-handed bats, Chapman weighs in as a great option on both sites based on his price. His home run in Monday’s contest was his first since June 10, but he is 18-for-55 (.327) with six doubles over his last 14 games.

Others to consider: Adrian Beltre

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/25/18

Xander Bogaerts vs. Dylan Bundy, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $5,200

Bogaerts might not get a lot of headlines in a stacked lineup with stars like Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez, but he’s having a great season. His power numbers are up significantly with a .526 slugging percentage that is over 100 points higher than his career mark. His batting average hasn’t suffered any either at .280. He actually has a higher wOBA against righties (.378) than he does lefties (.334) as well.

Elvis Andrus vs. Edwin Jackson, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $3,800

Andrus has homered in back-to-back contests and is 9-for-22 (.409) during his current six-game hitting streak. His numbers are down overall, but he’s certainly enjoyed hitting at home with a .348 average and all four of his home runs coming there this season. If you don’t want to pay up for Bogaerts, Andrus could provide significant value against the underwhelming Jackson.

Others to consider: Marcus Semien

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/25/18

Khris Davis vs. Martin Perez, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $5,300

Davis was one of the few hitters left out of the offensive explosion Tuesday, but then he made his mark by hitting a three-run homer in extra innings. He’s now homered in three straight games, bringing his total to 25 for the season. With Perez’s struggles against right-handed hitters already detailed, Davis is one of the premier outfield options Wednesday.

Stephen Piscotty vs. Martin Perez, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,200

Piscotty showed a lot of promise with the Cardinals in 2016 but had a disappointing 2017 campaign before being traded to the Athletics. He’s doing his best to show last season was a fluke, batting .263 with 14 home runs and 27 doubles in 93 games. Most of his production has come recently as well since he has gone 49-for-163 (.301) with 11 home runs since June 1.

Mark Canha vs. Martin Perez, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,600

Yes, load up with Athletics for your outfield. Canha didn’t miss out on the party Tuesday, finishing 1-for-3 with a home run, two walks and three runs scored. He’ll face his third left-handed starting pitcher of the series, which is right in his wheelhouse since he has a .432 wOBA against lefties this year.

Others to consider: J.D. Martinez and Joey Gallo

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/20/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

July special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

Friday brings the first packed schedule in baseball since the All-Star break, leaving plenty of options to choose from in DFS. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/20/18

Trevor Bauer vs. Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $12,200
DraftKings = $13,600

Bauer was selected to be an All-Star for the first time in his career, but he did not appear in the game because he last pitched Sunday. He was fantastic in the first half, posting a 2.24 ERA, 2.23 FIP, and a 1.08 WHIP. Not only does he have an 11.6 K/9, but he’s allowed just six home runs in 136.1 innings. He was on top of his game heading into the break, allowing seven runs (six earned) and recording 54 strikeouts across 42.2 innings in his last six starts. The Rangers have struck out the second-most times (916) in baseball this season and didn’t do much against Bauer in their first meeting, scoring two runs and striking out 11 times over 6.2 innings.

Kyle Gibson vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $8,600
DraftKings = $8,600

The Twins disappointing start might turn them into sellers as we approach the trade deadline, but Gibson has been one of their few bright spots. After posting underwhelming numbers the last two seasons, he has a 3.42 ERA this year. His FIP is improved as well at 3.79 in large part because of his 1.23 WHIP, which is significantly lower than his 1.41 career mark. He also has an 8.9 K/9 after never posting a K/9 higher than 6.9 previously in his career. This is a great matchup against a Royals team that has scored the fewest runs (337) in baseball. Gibson had no trouble handling them in their first meeting when he recorded eight strikeouts across seven shutout innings.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/20/18

Steve Pearce vs. Matthew Boyd, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,000

The Red Sox couldn’t have asked for a better start to Pearce’s tenure with the team as he is 11-for-26 (.423) with a home run and four doubles in 10 games. He has a .433 wOBA against lefties this season, which is nothing new since he has a .364 wOBA against them for his career. Boyd pitched well to start the season for the Tigers, but he has allowed at least five runs in four of his last five outings.

Yan Gomes vs. Martin Perez, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,300
DraftKings = $4,300

The Indians appear to be confident enough in Gomes moving forward that they traded top catching prospect Francisco Mejia to the Padres on Thursday. Gomes’ offensive numbers aren’t flashy, but he has a .422 wOBA against left-handed pitchers this season. Perez has a tendency to give up plenty of runs in large part due to his 1.47 career WHIP.

Others to consider: Paul Goldschmidt (first base) and Brandon Belt (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/20/18

Brian Dozier vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,700

Dozier is starting to heat up as he is 13-for-40 (.325) with four home runs and three doubles in his last 10 games. He’s shown a trend of being a better hitter in the second half of the season and could be in for a strong finish, although it might not be as a member of the Twins. Duffy gives left-handed hitters plenty of problems, but he’s allowed a .345 wOBA to righties.

Joey Wendle vs. Dan Straily, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $4,000

Speaking of hot hitters, Wendle is 17-for-42 (.405) with two home runs and eight RBI in July. He tends to sit against lefties, but he’s someone to target against righties. Straily’s 4.29 ERA doesn’t look terrible, but his 5.43 FIP indicates he has been a bit lucky. He allows plenty of base runners with a 1.35 WHIP despite opponents posting just a .250 BABIP against him, so his numbers could be even worse.

Others to consider: Jed Lowrie and Dee Gordon

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/20/18

Jose Ramirez vs. Martin Perez, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $5,800

Stacking against Perez will likely be a popular strategy Friday. Not only does he allow a lot of hitters to reach base, but he’s not a strikeout pitcher with just a 5.4 K/9 for his career. Ramirez is making a case for AL MVP honors this season with his power, speed and ability to hit for a high average. Although he’s expensive, he’s one of the top options available at any position.

Kyle Seager vs. James Shields, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,300

Seager is only batting .233 this season in large part because of his career-high 21.9% strikeout rate and career-low 5.5% walk rate. He’s still hitting for power, though, with 16 home runs and 23 doubles, making him a viable cheap option with upside in tournament play. He’s also 8-for-22 (.364) with three homers in his career against Shields.

Others to consider: Justin Turner and Colin Moran

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/20/18

Xander Bogaerts vs. Matthew Boyd, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $5,000

Bogaerts has certainly regained his power stroke, posting a .535 slugging percentage after a disappointing .403 mark last year. He also has 64 RBI in a loaded Red Sox lineup and should easily surpass his career-high of 89 RBI as long as he stays healthy. The Red Sox should be another popular stack Friday with Bogaerts someone to key in on at shortstop.

Jorge Polanco vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,800

Polanco has yet to leave the yard since returning from suspension, but he’s flashed his speed on the base paths again with three steals in only 14 games. It’s hard to read too much into 60 plate appearances, but his walk rate has been much improved at 11.7%. His upside isn’t close to that of Bogaerts, but he can still provide value if you need to save money at shortstop.

Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Tim Anderson

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/20/18

J.D. Martinez vs. Matthew Boyd, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $5,300

It seemed nearly impossible for Martinez to keep up the torrid pace he was on as a member of the Diamondbacks last year, but he’s been just as good since joining the Red Sox. His homer rate isn’t as high, but he’s not exactly struggling with 29 dingers in 92 games. He had 104 RBI last year and is going to blow by that with 80 RBI this season already. He also has a .393 wOBA against lefties, so expect him to give Boyd plenty of problems.

Matt Kemp vs. Wade Miley, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,000

The Brewers sure could use another starting pitcher. They will continue to try and get by with Miley in the rotation for now, who has been injured for most of the season. Miley had a 5.61 ERA and a 1.73 WHIP with the Orioles last year and usually allows a lot of base runners with a 1.40 career WHIP. Kemp has a .402 wOBA against lefties this year, making him a great option at a reasonable price on both sites.

Steven Duggar vs. Edwin Jackson, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $3,600

Jackson continues to find his way onto a major league roster, making four starts for an Athletics team that has seen their rotation decimated by injuries. He’s posted a 2.59 ERA, but it’s hard to have much confidence in a journeyman pitcher who has finished with an ERA of at least 5.21 in both of the last two seasons. The left-handed Duggar should be in the lineup Friday and won’t cost much, leaving him as someone to consider in tournament play.

Others to consider: Rhys Hoskins and David Peralta

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/13/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

July special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

All 15 games Friday start in the evening, leaving one of the last big slates in DFS before the All-Star break. 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 7/13/18

Rick Porcello vs. Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $9,600
DraftKings = $9,800

Porcello already has 11 wins for the Red Sox, matching his total from all of 2017. Having a stellar lineup behind him certainly helps, but he’s also made significant improvements. He had a 1.40 WHIP and a 1.7 HR/9 last year, but this season he has a 1.17 WHIP and a 0.9 HR/9. His 3.58 ERA is supported by a 3.48 FIP and a career-high 22.7% strikeout rate. He also pitches deep into games, logging at least six innings in all but four starts. The Blue Jays have a .749 OPS at home this year, but only a .703 OPS on the road. Porcello has already faced them twice this season, allowing six runs (five earned) and recording 14 strikeouts across 13.2 innings. On a night that is lacking many top-tier pitchers, Porcello is one of the best options available.

Brad Keller vs. Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $6,100
DraftKings = $6,400

The Royals pitching staff has been a mess this season as their 5.35 team ERA is worst in the majors. Keller has been one of their few bright spots, though, recording a 2.52 ERA, 3.38 FIP and a 1.25 WHIP in 28 appearances, seven of which were starts. He doesn’t have much strikeout upside with a 5.2 K/9, but he’s only allowed one home run in 60.2 innings. He allowed 0.5 HR/9 during his career in the minors, so look for this to be a trend that continues. The White Sox have scored the sixth-fewest runs (365) in baseball and lost one of their hottest hitters to injury in Avisail Garcia, leaving Keller as a cheap option to consider in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/13/18

Brandon Belt vs. Edwin Jackson, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,400

Jackson continues to find a way to work himself into a major league rotation. He’s made three starts since joining the Athletics, giving up just six runs (five earned) in 18.1 innings. It’s hard to have much confidence in him, though, since he has finished with an ERA of 5.21 or higher in three of the last four years. Belt has a .410 wOBA against right-handed pitching this season, so don’t be surprised if he gives Jackson trouble.

Carlos Santana vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,000

Chen has been awful with a 6.14 ERA. His FIP is a little better at 5.09, but it’s still the highest of his career. He hasn’t been able to keep runners off base with a 1.55 WHIP and he has already allowed 11 homers in 66 innings. Strikeouts have been hard to come by for him as well with a 6.7 K/9. Santana hasn’t exactly thrived in his first season with the Phillies, either, but he’s priced low enough to be a viable option for your entry.

Others to consider: Wilson Ramos (catcher) and Yonder Alonso (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/13/18

Ozzie Albies vs. Zack Godley, Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,200

Albies is red hot again as he is 38-for-91 (.418) with four home runs, 13 RBI and 20 runs scored in his last 20 games. He’s slowed down from the torrid home run pace he was on earlier this season, but it’s very encouraging to see him adjust and come out of the slump he was mired in from the middle of May through the middle of June. Godley allows a ton of batters to reach base with a 1.56 WHIP, so look for Albies to continue his hot streak Friday.

Rougned Odor vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,500

Odor has finally shown signs of life again, going 14-for-44 (.318) with three home runs in his last 12 games. His overall average has improved to .242 as a result, but he only has six home runs. He has a lot of catching up to do if he is going to hit at least 30 homers for the third straight season. Cobb has a 1.62 WHIP and a 1.7 HR/9 in his first season with the Orioles, making Odor an excellent option at a reduced price, especially on FanDuel.

Others to consider: Dee Gordon and Jonathan Schoop

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/13/18

Jose Ramirez vs. Domingo German, New York Yankees
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $5,800

Ramirez homered against Thursday and has four home runs in his last three games. The fact that it came off of Luis Severino was especially impressive since Severino has only allowed 0.7 HR/9. He’ll face a much easier opponent in German on Friday, who has had problems keeping hitters inside the park with a 1.7 HR/9.

Mike Moustakas vs. James Shields, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,600

The Royals have already started to trade off some veterans and it makes sense that they look to move Moustakas as well. His batting average has regressed from .272 last season to .256 this year, but he’s still provided plenty of power with 19 home runs. Even though the Royals don’t score much, he still has 58 RBI. Lefties give him trouble, but he has a .358 wOBA against right-handed pitchers.

Others to consider: Nolan Arenado and Travis Shaw

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/13/18

Trevor Story vs. Christian Bergman, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,300

Bergman made one start for the Mariners back in May but has mostly pitched in the minors this season. The fact that he had a 4.78 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP at Triple-A doesn’t really bode well for his chances pitching at Coors Field on Friday. Story mashes at home and is one of several Rockies’ hitters to target for your entry.

Elvis Andrus vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,100

Andrus only has 153 plate appearances this season due to injury, but he’s been a disappointment with just two home runs and one stolen base. After attempting 35 steals last year, he only has two attempts this season. His strikeout rate is down and his .281 BABIP is well below his .313 career mark, so he does have room for improvement in the second half. Considering Cobb’s struggles, this might be just what he needs to get back on track.

Others to consider: Xander Bogaerts and Scott Kingery

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/13/18

Charlie Blackmon vs. Christian Bergman, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $5,500

Blackmon has historically hit about the same amount of home runs on the road as he has at home, but he has a career .343 batting average at Coors Field compared to .263 on the road. He also has a career .371 wOBA against righties, making him an outfielder worth paying up for versus Bergman.

Carlos Gonzalez vs. Christian Bergman, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,700

As we continue to target lefties against Bergman, Gonzalez presents another excellent option at a favorable price. He’s not nearly the hitter that he was in his prime, but he’s quietly batting .275 with 10 home runs in 73 games. He also has a .357 wOBA against right-handers.

Steven Duggar vs. Edwin Jackson, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $2,300
DraftKings = $3,700

Duggar only had four home runs in Triple-A this year before being called up, but he did slug 27 doubles to go along with a .354 OBP. He’s not likely to play much against left-handed pitching, but he should be in the lineup against the right-handed Jackson. He could be worth the gamble in tournament play based on the salary relief he can provide for your budget.

Others to consider: Mookie Betts and Christian Yelich