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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 1 – Wide Receivers

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

Early bird special! Use code EBIRD15 at checkout to save 15%.

The NFL season is finally here! Along with it comes another exciting year of daily fantasy football. We’ll be doing things a little differently as we look to help you fatten your wallet. We’ll be churning out four articles a week, including one each for quarterbacks, runnings backs, wide receivers and a combined piece for tight ends and defenses/special teams.

In each article, we’ll highlight some players to target for cash or GPP contents. We’ll also discuss some players to avoid as your craft your lineup. Don’t forget to 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.

CASH CONTEST OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 1 - Wide Receivers

A.J. Green vs. Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – Lucas Oil Stadium
FanDuel = $8,400
DraftKings = $7,300

Green had a poor season by his standards in 2017. He finished with 1,078 receiving yards and eight touchdowns but caught only 75 of his 143 targets. He averaged just 67.4 yards per game, well below his career average of 80.5 yards per contest. After posting a catch percentage of at least 65.2% in back-to-back seasons, his 52.4% catch rate last year was the lowest mark of his career.

The good news is Green is clearly still the top option in Cincinnati and is going to get a ton of passes thrown his way. He’s never received fewer than 100 targets in a season, including in 2016 when he played just 10 games. The Colts have the worst secondary in the league according to Pro Football Focus, so Green could get off to a monster start in Week 1.

Keenan Allen vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $8,000
DraftKings = $7,500

Allen entered 2017 having played nine games in the last two seasons combined. He has a ton of talent but needed to stay healthy to live up to lofty fantasy expectations. Everything finally came together, resulting in him playing all 16 games. He put up excellent numbers, catching 102 of 159 targets for 1,393 yards and six touchdowns. He led all wide receivers with 24 targets inside the red zone as well.

The Chargers added a promising young receiver in Mike Williams in the draft last year and while he’s healthy after battling his own injury problems in 2017, Allen is still far and away the top option for Philip Rivers. His high volume of targets gives him a high floor and his upside is tremendous for Week 1 against a Chiefs secondary that enters the season ranked 28th by Pro Football Focus.

Chris Hogan vs. Houston Texans
Stadium – Gillette Stadium
FanDuel = $6,700
DraftKings = $6,100

Hogan had a hard time staying on the field for the Patriots last year, ultimately playing in just nine games. He finished with a career-low 57.6% catch percentage, but his 48.8 receiving yards per game was the highest mark of his career. He also finished with five touchdowns after scoring four across 15 games in 2017.

Hogan enters Week 1 as the Patriots clear top option at wide receiver due to the suspension of Julian Edelman. Most of his competition for targets will likely come from Rob Gronkowski and the combination of James White and Rex Burkhead catching passes out of the backfield. Hogan might not have the same upside as Green and Allen, but he still is a high-floor option considering his price on both sites.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 1 - Wide Receivers

John Ross vs. Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – Lucas Oil Stadium
FanDuel = $5,100
DraftKings = $3,900

With the Bengals searching for another wide receiver to take some of the pressure off of Green, they selected Ross with the ninth overall pick in the 2017 draft. However, Ross missed training camp due to shoulder surgery and battled injuries throughout the season. Amazingly, he’ll enter 2018 in search of his first career reception in the NFL.

Ross is healthy now and showed a lot of promise in the preseason, including a spectacular reception where he faked out a couple of Bills defenders after making a catch on his way into the end zone. He will have to compete with Tyler Boyd for targets and tight end Tyler Eifert is surprisingly healthy heading into Week 1, but Ross still might be worth the risk in tournament play against the Colts porous secondary.

Danny Amendola vs. Tennessee Titans
Stadium – Hard Rock Stadium
FanDuel = $5,100
DraftKings = $4,200

Amendola had one of the best seasons of his career last year, catching 61 of 86 targets for 659 yards. Although he’s had some injury issues during his nine seasons in the league, he’s recorded a catch percentage of at least 70% and averaged at least 10 yards per reception in three straight years.

Amendola left the Patriots to sign with the Dolphins during the offseason. They don’t exactly have a bunch of elite receivers in DeVante Parker, Kenny Stills, and Albert Wilson, so Amendola should make an immediate impact. Parker reportedly won’t play in this game due to a finger injury, which should open up even more targets for Amendola. He doesn’t carry much touchdown upside, but Amendola could still provide value.

Cole Beasley vs. Carolina Panthers
Stadium – Bank of American Stadium
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $3,600

Beasley had a breakout season in 2016, finishing with 75 receptions on 98 targets for 833 yards and five touchdowns. He had a spectacular 76.5% catch percentage in what was Dak Prescott’s first season in the NFL, setting up what appeared to be an excellent quarterback-wide receiver relationship. However, his volume took a major hit last year, resulting in just 36 catches on 63 targets for 314 yards.

The Cowboys have a reworked wide receiver corps, so Beasley may have the best working relationship with Prescott out of the group. That could bode well for him to have a bounce-back season, especially early on while Prescott tries to gain an increased comfort level with the likes of Allen Hurns and Michael Gallup. Don’t be surprised to see Beasley fairly active in this contest.

Keelan Cole vs. New York Giants
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $3,800

The Jaguars have a suffocating defense, but they’ll need their offense to improve this season if they are going to bring home a Super Bowl title. They have already been dealt a tough blow at wide receiver, losing Maqise Lee for the season due to a knee injury. In his absence, Cole, Dede Westbrook, and Donte Moncrief will vie to be Blake Bortles top pass-catching option.

Cole only hauled in 42 of 83 targets last year, but he averaged 17.8 yards per reception. Over three games that Lee was sidelined at the end of the regular season, Cole had a combined 17 receptions on 30 targets for 327 yards. The Giants are thin at cornerback outside of Janoris Jenkins and Eli Apple and have been susceptible to giving up big plays in the middle of the field. With Cole likely to see some work out of the slot, he makes for an intriguing option.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 1 - Wide Receivers

Odell Beckham Jr. vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $7,800
DraftKings = $7,000

Beckham has had an exceptional start to his NFL career, logging at least 90 catches, 1,300 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in each of his first three seasons. However, like many of his teammates, Beckham’s campaign was cut short last year due to injury. He is healthy heading into Week 1 and just signed a huge five-year extension that erased any doubts about his future with the Giants. Big things are likely on the horizon for Beckham this season, but he could get off to a slow start against star cornerback Jalen Ramsey. At this price, he’s too much of a risk for me.

Marquise Goodwin vs. Minnesota Vikings
Stadium – U.S. Bank Stadium
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $4,600

Goodwin was finally able to put together a healthy season in 2017, finishing with 56 receptions on 105 targets for 962 yards. His full-season pace based on the five games that Jimmy Garoppolo started would have put him at 138 targets, 93 receptions, and 1,229 yards. He’s someone you’ll likely want to have in your lineup more often than not but stay away from him this week against the stingy Vikings defense.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 1 – Running Backs

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

Early bird special! Use code EBIRD15 at checkout to save 15%.

The NFL season is finally here! Along with it comes another exciting year of daily fantasy football. We’ll be doing things a little differently as we look to help you fatten your wallet. We’ll be churning out four articles a week, including one each for quarterbacks, runnings backs, wide receivers and a combined piece for tight ends and defenses/special teams.

In each article, we’ll highlight some players to target for cash or GPP contents. We’ll also highlight some players to avoid as your craft your lineup. Don’t forget to 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.

CASH CONTEST OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 1 - Running Backs

Alvin Kamara vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Superdome
FanDuel = $8,700
DraftKings = $8,500

Selected in the third round of the 2017 Draft, there wasn’t a lot of buzz around Kamara heading into last year. The Saints already had the productive Mark Ingram on their roster and had also added Adrian Peterson. However, Kamara wasted no time making a name for himself, ultimately forcing his way into a prominent role. He finished with 728 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns on only 120 carries. If that wasn’t impressive enough, he also hauled in 81 of 100 targets for 826 receiving yards and five touchdowns.

The Saints will be forced to ride Kamara out of the gate with Ingram serving a four-game suspension. They did bring in Mike Gillislee after he was cut by the Patriots, but don’t expect him to get many carries. The Buccaneers could be tough against the run this season, but with Kamara’s heavy workload and ability to contribute in the passing game, he still has a very high floor.

Melvin Gordon vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $8,100
DraftKings = $6,800

Gordon was a workhorse for the Chargers in 2017, rushing 284 times for 1,105 yards and eight touchdowns. He also had his best season in the passing attack, catching 58 of 83 targets for 476 yards and four touchdowns. Although Austin Ekeler showed some promise in the preseason, Gordon is certainly going to get all the carries he can handle again this year.

Gordon draws a great matchup Week 1 against a Chiefs defense that allowed the eighth-most rushing yards in the NFL last year. They were also tied for the fourth-most rushing touchdowns allowed. They likely won’t be much better this season, either, with Pro Football Focus ranking them 31st against the run.

Alex Collins vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – M&T Bank Stadium
FanDuel = $6,700
DraftKings = $5,600

Collins wasn’t able to find a role with the Seahawks, who drafted him in the fifth round in 2016. He joined the Ravens after being released and was part of a running backs group that included Terrance West, Danny Woodhead, and Javorius Allen. Injuries and ineffective play quickly vaulted Collins into a prominent role. He didn’t let his opportunity go to waste, finishing the season with 212 carries, 973 rushing yards, and six touchdowns. The one drawback was that he wasn’t overly involved in the passing game, catching 23 of 36 targets for just 187 yards.

The Ravens head into this year with the intent of giving Collins a significant workload once again. Week 1 brings a contest against a Bills team that is starting Nathan Peterman at quarterback and is lacking talent at wide receiver. They may have a hard time putting points on the board, which could lead to plenty of carries for Collins if the Ravens get up big early and try to run out the clock. Don’t count on him to catch many passes out of the backfield, but Collins still has a floor high at this reasonable price.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 1 - Running Backs

Royce Freeman vs. Seattle Seahawks
Stadium – Broncos Stadium at Mile High
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $4,500

The Broncos moved on from C.J. Anderson this offseason, selecting Freeman in the third round of the draft. He was a star at Oregon, averaging 5.9 yards per carry and recording 60 rushing touchdowns over four seasons.

Freeman showed promise during the preseason and enters Week 1 at the top of the Broncos depth chart at running back. Devontae Booker will likely be their preferred option in passing situations, but he’s only averaged 3.6 yards per carry during his NFL carrier. The Seahawks lost both Sheldon Richardson and Michael Bennett during the offseason and enter 2018 with the 24th ranked defense against the run according to Pro Football Focus.

Duke Johnson Jr. vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $4,700

Johnson doesn’t see much action in the running game, rushing just 82 times for 348 yards in 2017. His value comes from his ability to catch passes out of the backfield. He set career highs last year in targets (93), receptions (74), receiving yards (693) and receiving touchdowns (three).

The Browns underwent a major overhaul during the offseason, adding Tyrod Taylor, Jarvis Landry, Carlos Hyde and Nick Chubb to their offense. There are certainly more mouths to feed, but Taylor is also a significant improvement over the quarterbacks Johnson played with last year. Hyde figures to lead the Browns rushing attack, but Johnson should still catch enough passes to warrant consideration for your entry.

James White vs. Houston Texans
Stadium – Gillette Stadium
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $4,000

The Patriots had a lot of depth in their backfield last year with White, Dion Lewis, Rex Burkhead, and Gillislee. White doesn’t normally get many carries as he’s a better weapon catching passes. Even with the crowded bunch, White caught 56 of 72 targets for 429 yards and three touchdowns.

Lewis has moved on to the Titans, but the Patriots drafted Sony Michel in the first round and signed Jeremy Hill to further bolster their running back group. Michel has battled a knee injury during the preseason and while he still may return for Week 1, it would be surprising to see him have a significant role. Burkhead is dealing with a knee injury of his own, but it appears he’ll be ready to go for this game. Even if he does play, expect White to be heavily involved in the passing game with the Patriots lack of depth at wide receiver due to the Julian Edelman suspension.

Jordan Wilkins vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Stadium – Lucas Oil Stadium
FanDuel = $5,100
DraftKings = $3,700

The Colts finished tied for the fifth-worst yards per carry (3.7) in the NFL last year. They were led by Frank Gore, who had 961 rushing yards on 261 carries. With Gore now a member of the Dolphins, the starting running back job is up for grabs in Indianapolis.

One option to possibly start was Robert Turbin, but he’s currently serving a four-game suspension. Another candidate is Marlon Mack, but he might not be able to play Week 1 due to a hamstring injury. If he can’t go, Wilkins will likely get the opportunity to start. He’ll lose some carries to Nyheim Hines and/or Christine Michael, but neither of them is an overly impressive runner. The Bengals will be without key run defender Vontaze Burfict due to another suspension, making Wilkins possibly worth the risk in tournament play at his dirt cheap price.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 1 - Running Backs

Le’Veon Bell vs. Cleveland Browns
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
FanDuel = $8,900
DraftKings = $9,400

There is no doubt that Le’Veon Bell is one of the elite running backs in the NFL. The problem is his contract dispute with the Steelers. As of the writing of this article, Bell had still not reported to the team. Even if he does report before Sunday, he’s cutting it very close in terms of game preparation. He participated in his first practice the Monday before Week 1 in 2017 and finished with a season-low 10 carries in that game. At this lofty price, Bell is too much of a risk.

Saquon Barkley vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
FanDuel = $7,600
DraftKings = $6,700

The Giants underwent significant organizational changes after a disastrous 2017 campaign riddled with injuries and poor play. They ended up with the second pick in the draft as a result and ultimately decided to select Barkley instead of a successor to Eli Manning. Barkley is an elite talent who projects to have a strong season behind an improved offensive line. He’s dealt with a hamstring injury during the preseason, but he’s declared himself completely healthy heading into this game. However, he has to face a loaded Jaguars defense that enters ranked seventh against the run by Pro Football Focus. There will be plenty of weeks where you want to include Barkley in your entry, but I don’t think this is one of them.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 1 – Quarterbacks

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

Early bird special! Use code EBIRD15 at checkout to save 15%.

The NFL season is finally here! Along with it comes another exciting year of daily fantasy football. We’ll be doing things a little differently as we look to help you fatten your wallet. We’ll be churning out four articles a week, including one each for quarterbacks, runnings backs, wide receivers and a combined piece for tight ends and defenses/special teams.

In each article, we’ll highlight some players that work for cash or GPP contents. We’ll also highlight some players to avoid as your craft your lineup. Also, don’t forget to 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.

CASH CONTEST OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 1 - Quarterbacks

Tom Brady vs. Houston Texans
Stadium – Gillette Stadium
FanDuel = $8,600
DraftKings = $7,200

Brady had another stellar campaign in 2017, finishing with 4,577 passing yards and 32 touchdowns. It marked the sixth time in the last seven seasons that he finished with at least 4,100 yards with the only time he didn’t reach that plateau being the 2016 season when he played only 12 games due to a suspension. He also threw just eight interceptions, marking his fourth-straight season with less than 10 picks.

There has been a lot of talk heading into Week 1 about the Patriots lack of wide receivers with Julian Edelman suspended. Chris Hogan will lead that unit for now, but Brady still has star tight end Rob Gronkowski at his disposal. He also has excellent pass-catching running backs in James White and Rex Burkhead. He’ll get a favorable matchup right out of the gates against a Texans defense that allowed the second-most fantasy points per game last year to opposing quarterbacks. They did add safety Tyrann Mathieu during the offseason, but their secondary is still ranked 25th by Pro Football Focus. Brady is a safe bet to have a productive Week 1.

Drew Brees vs. Tampa Bay Buccanneers
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Superdome
FanDuel = $8,400
DraftKings = $6,800

The Saints turned to a more run-heavy offense last season, which resulted in a down performance from Brees. He had a stellar 72% completion percentage, but his 536 pass attempts were his lowest mark since 2009. He also threw just 23 touchdown passes, breaking a streak of nine consecutive seasons with at least 30. On a positive note, he only threw eight interceptions, his fewest since 2004.

The Saints’ running game last year was led by the two-headed monster of Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram. Ingram will be suspended for the first four games of the season, so it wouldn’t be surprising if the Saints relied a little more on the passing game to help spell Kamara. The Saints not only have star wideout Michael Thomas, but they also added Cameron Meredith to go along with Ted Ginn Jr. A healthy Ben Watson could be a sneaky valuable weapon at tight end, as well. The Buccaneers have the 31st ranked secondary according to Pro Football Focus, leaving Brees with a high floor for this contest.

Cam Newton vs. Dallas Cowboys
Stadium – Bank of America Stadium
FanDuel = $8,100
DraftKings = $6,900

Although Newton’s 59.1% completion percentage last year was a significant improvement from 2016, it still resulted in his fourth straight season with a completion percentage under 60%. His 3,302 passing yards were his lowest total since 2014 and he threw 16 interceptions compared to 22 touchdowns. He was a tremendous weapon in the rushing attack, though, gaining a career-high 754 yards on the ground. He also finished with six rushing scores and has at least five rushing touchdowns in every season of his career.

Part of the reason for Newton’s poor passing numbers last year may have been due to his lack of weapons. Greg Olsen missed much of the season due to injury and the Panthers were very thin at wide receiver. Olsen enters this season healthy and they added Torrey Smith and rookie D.J. Moore to go along with the emerging Devin Funchess at wide receiver. While Newton might not have as high of a ceiling as Brady and Brees, his ability to run the ball gives him a high floor most weeks.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 1 - Quarterbacks

Philip Rivers vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $6,400

Rivers is still posting big numbers as he enters his 16th season in the NFL. He finished 2017 with 4,515 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and only 10 interceptions. He also attempted at least 570 passes and had a completion percentage of at least 60% for the fourth straight season. If you play season-long fantasy, he’s one of the more underrated safe bets to provide valuable numbers at the quarterback position.

He enters this season with plenty of weapons around him. Keenan Allen has been one of the best wide receivers in the league and promising young wide receiver Mike Williams is finally healthy heading into this year, providing Rivers with another big red zone target. The Chargers lost Hunter Henry to a torn ACL, but just brought back Antonio Gates, who has developed a great relationship with Rivers over their long careers together. The Chiefs were tied for the eighth-most fantasy points allowed per game to opposing quarterbacks last year and might be even worse in 2018 after trading star cornerback Marcus Peters to the Rams.

Andy Dalton vs. Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – Lucas Oil Stadium
FanDuel = $6,800
DraftKings = $5,800

Dalton had what may have been the worst season of his career last year. He averaged a career-low 207.5 yards per game and his 59.9% completion percentage was his worst mark since his rookie campaign. He only had 15 combined interceptions in 2015 and 2016, but he threw 12 picks last year.

The Bengals offense could be better this season with Joe Mixon looking to break out in his second season in the league. They still have star receiver A.J. Green to go with an emerging John Ross, who opened some eyes in the preseason. Don’t be surprised if they have a huge Week 1 against the Colts, who have the league’s worst secondary according to Pro Football Focus. At this cheap price, Dalton has the potential to provide significant value.

Case Keenum vs. Seattle Seahawks
Stadium – Broncos Stadium at Mile High
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $5,100

Keenum earned a starting role with the Vikings last year and helped lead them into the playoffs. Although his 3,547 passing yards wasn’t off the charts, he had a 67.6% completion percentage to go along with 22 touchdown passes and just 7 interceptions. The Vikings made a big splash bringing in Kirk Cousins during the offseason, which ultimately resulted in Keenum joining the Broncos.

Keenum had two extremely talented pass catchers with the Vikings in Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs. He’ll see a downgrade at that position with the Broncos, but Demaryius and Emmanuel Sanders are still a formidable duo. They also drafted the very promising Courtland Sutton and should have a solid rushing attack with Royce Freeman and Devontae Booker. The “Legion of Boom” era is a thing of the past in Seattle as their secondary looks susceptible this year, especially with Earl Thomas still holding out. Even if Thomas does return to the team before this game, Keenum still has some upside in tournament play.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 1 - Quarterbacks

Jimmy Garoppolo vs. Minnesota Vikings
Stadium – U.S. Bank Stadium
FanDuel = $7,100
DraftKings = $5,700

Jimmy Garopplo started off his career with the 49ers in style. He only played in six games, five of which were starts, but he averaged 260 yards per contest. His seven passing touchdowns weren’t great, but he had a 67.4% completion percentage and showed a glimpse of what many believe is a bright future in the NFL. However, he draws a tough matchup this week against a very stout Vikings defense that allowed the fewest points in the NFL last year.  There will be plenty of weeks that you want to roll with Garoppolo for your entry, but this might not be one of them.

Patrick Mahomes II vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $6,700
DraftKings = $6,000

The Chiefs dealt Alex Smith to the Redskins to replace Cousins, handing over the reins to Mahomes. Selected 10th overall in the 2017 draft, it was only a matter of time before Mahomes took over the starting quarterback job. He has a big arm with talented playmakers around him including Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, and Kareem Hunt, which should serve him well. However, he could be turnover prone and may go through some growing pains. Although cornerback Jason Verrett has already been lost for the season with a torn Achilles, the Chargers still have an extremely talented secondary and an excellent pass rush anchored by Joey Bosa. I’d much rather take a chance on someone like Dalton rather than Mahomes if you want to go with a cheap quarterback in tournament play.

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/31/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

This will be our last baseball DFS article for the season. Hopefully, we’ve been able to help you turn a profit over the long grind. Let’s finish things on a high note and bring home some money Friday. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/31/18

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

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

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

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

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/31/18

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

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

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

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

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

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/31/18

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

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

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

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

Others to consider: Travis Shaw and DJ LeMahieu

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/31/18

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

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

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

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

Others to consider: Mike Moustakas and Matt Chapman

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/31/18

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

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

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

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

Others to consider: Gleyber Torres and Elvis Andrus

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/31/18

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

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

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

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

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

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

Others to consider: Christian Yelich and Trey Mancini

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/30/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

There are 10 games across the majors Thursday, eight of which make up the main evening slate in DFS. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/30/18

J.A. Happ vs. Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $10,100
DraftKings = $10,000

The Yankees have to be thrilled with their early returns from Happ. Not only has he earned a win in all five starts since joining the team, but he’s posted a 2.37 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP in the process. His 3.95 FIP indicates he hasn’t exactly been that dominant, but he’s continued to be a consistent source for strikeouts with a 9.5 K/9 during that stretch. The Tigers have scored the third-fewest runs (505) in baseball and have the worst OPS on the road (.640), potentially setting Happ up for another great outing.

German Marquez vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $9,000
DraftKings = $8,500

At first glance, Marquez appears to have average numbers with a 4.21 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. However, he’s finishing the season strong, posting a 2.56 ERA, 2.77 FIP and a 0.94 WHIP across his last 10 starts. Like many pitchers, Marquez has struggled at Coors Field this season with a 5.77 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP. He’s been excellent on the road, though, posting a 2.89 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. With his 9.6 K/9 overall giving him significant strikeout upside, as well, look for Marquez to continue his recent run of success against a Padres team that has scored the fourth-fewest runs (514) in the league.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/30/18

Ian Desmond vs. Eric Lauer, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,600

Lauer has spent the last month of the DL with a forearm strain, but he’s expected to be activated for this game Thursday. He wasn’t having a good campaign before suffering the injury, recording a 5.30 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP. Desmond stands out as a great option at a reasonable price based on his .383 wOBA against left-handed pitching.

Tyler White vs. Andrew Heaney, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,600

White was given an opportunity to play every day when the Astros were dealing with multiple injuries and he hasn’t looked back. In his last 24 games, White is hitting .345 with eight home runs and 22 RBI. Heaney has allowed at least four runs in four of his last five outings and appears to be fading down the stretch, so don’t expect him to be the pitcher to cool off White.

Others to consider: Yuli Gurriel (first base) and Omar Narvaez (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/30/18

Robinson Cano vs. Frankie Montas, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,100

Cano hasn’t exactly been tearing the cover off the ball since returning from suspension, batting just .259 with one home runs across 13 games. His power numbers have been down, in general, this season as his .418 slugging percentage would be his lowest mark since 2008. Montas has a 3.75 ERA and a 3.80 FIP across 10 starts this year, but he’s often flirted with danger based on his 1.46 WHIP. He’s also allowed a .372 wOBA to left-handed hitters, making Cano a viable option despite his recent lackluster play.

DJ LeMahieu vs. Eric Lauer, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,800

Even though this game isn’t being played in Coors Field, the Rockies will still likely be a popular stack against Lauer. LeMahieu has had a bit of a down year in terms of his batting average, but he’s hitting .333 with four home runs and four doubles across his last 17 games. He only has a .302 wOBA against right-handed pitchers, but he has an excellent .377 wOBA against lefties.

Others to consider: Jose Altuve and Ian Kinsler

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/30/18

Alex Bregman vs. Andrew Heaney, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $5,500

The Astros are trying to hold off the Athletics in the AL West and have managed to build their lead back up to 2.5 games. Bregman has played a key role in their recent run, batting .475 with two home runs and five doubles during his current 10-game hitting streak. With his 168 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers this year, Heaney could be in for a world of trouble against Bregman.

Johan Camargo vs. Mike Montgomery, Chicago Cubs
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,900

Camargo came through with a big performance Wednesday, going 3-for-4 with a home run. It marked the third time in the last nine contests that Camargo has logged at least three hits, raising his season average from .265 to .272 in the process. He’s recorded a .351 wOBA against lefties this year and Montgomery doesn’t exactly have overwhelming stuff with his 5.5 K/9, making Camargo a viable option if you don’t want to pay up for Bregman.

Others to consider: Justin Turner and Matt Chapman

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/30/18

Gleyber Torres vs. Francisco Liriano, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,800

It took Torres some time to get back on track after a stint on the DL, but he’s batting .370 with two home runs over his last 13 games. He’s loved hitting at Yankee Stadium this year, batting .293 with a .525 slugging percentage. This could be a high-scoring game against Liriano, who has a 5.62 FIP and a 1.52 WHIP. Of note, Torres is only eligible at shortstop on FanDuel as he is listed at second base on DraftKings.

Trevor Story vs. Eric Lauer, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $5,300

Known for his power, Story certainly hasn’t disappointed this season with 26 home runs and 36 doubles. He’s also added a new element to his game, recording 21 stolen bases after stealing 15 bags in the last two seasons, combined. Not only would his .291 average also be the highest mark of his career, but he has been destroying lefties with a .417 wOBA against them.

Others to consider: Xander Bogaerts and Marcus Semien

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/30/18

Giancarlo Stanton vs. Francisco Liriano, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $5,300

Stanton is sitting on 299 career home runs and might be pressing a bit, failing to go deep in each of his last 10 games. This might be just the matchup he needs to achieve the milestone. He has a 183 wRC+ against lefties this year and Liriano has allowed 1.5 HR/9.

Mitch Haniger vs. Frankie Montas, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,500

The Mariners are fading in their push for a playoff spot, but Haniger hasn’t been the reason why. He’s been one of their best hitters in August, batting .349 with four home runs and 12 doubles. While Haniger doesn’t have the platoon advantage in this game, he has actually hit better against right-handed pitchers (.367 wOBA) than he has lefties (.354 wOBA).

Denard Span vs. Frankie Montas, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,200

Span got off to a strange start with the Rays this season. He only batted .238, but he recorded 28 RBI in just 43 games. He’s never finished with more than 68 RBI in a season, so it didn’t seem likely that he could continue that pace. That’s certainly been the case since he joined the Mariners, logging 26 RBI across 70 games. However, he’s hit for a much higher average at .304 and could be a cheap option to consider in tournament play based on Montas’ struggles to keep runners off base.

Others to consider: George Springer and Jackie Bradley Jr.

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/29/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

With several day games across the majors Wednesday, nine evening games 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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/29/18

C.C. Sabathia vs. Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $8,200
DraftKings = $8,900

After a brief stint on the DL, Sabathia didn’t miss a beat in his first start since being activated, allowing two runs and recording eight strikeouts across six innings against the Orioles. Sabathia has posted at least seven strikeouts in four of his last five outings, increasing his K/9 to 8.2 for the season. He’s been stellar pitching at Yankee Stadium with a 2.44 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP across 12 starts. He held the White Sox to one run while registering 12 strikeouts over 5.2 innings in their first meeting this season and while that strikeout total will be hard to match, he can still provide value for your entry.

Alex Cobb vs. Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $7,200
DraftKings = $6,400

Cobb’s overall numbers don’t look great based on his 5.00 ERA and 1.41 WHIP. However, much of the damage done against him came during the first half of the season. He’s trying to end the year on a high note, posting a 1.80 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP in August. Maybe the most impressive part about his recent success is that four of those five starts game against the Yankees, Red Sox and Indians. He doesn’t have much strikeout upside with a 6.1 K/9, but he’s still someone to consider in tournament play at this cheap price.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/29/18

Matt Carpenter vs. Trevor Williams, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,100

Carpenter cooled off a bit after his torrid start to August, but he’s starting to heat up again with six hits over his last two games. He’s provided a ton of power this season with 34 home runs and 38 doubles and is on pace to finish with an OBP of at least .380 for the third straight season. He could be in for another big performance Wednesday considering he has a .400 wOBA against right-handed pitchers and that he is 7-for-16 with three homers in his career against Williams.

Wilson Ramos vs. Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $4,900

Injuries have limited Ramos to just eight games since being traded to the Phillies, but he’s 14-for-30 with a home run and six doubles with his new team. He hasn’t started more than two consecutive days since joining the Phillies, but since he only appeared as a pinch hitter Tuesday, he should start this contest. It would also be wise for the Phillies to get him back into their lineup based on his 161 wRC+ against lefties.

Others to consider: Edwin Encarnacion (first base) and Brandon Belt (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/29/18

Jonathan Villar vs. Ryan Borucki, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,300

Villar has had plenty of success in the first two games of this series, going 5-for-7 with four runs scored and two steals. He has swiped seven bases since joining the Orioles, raising his total to 21 for the season. He now has four steals in his last five games against the Blue Jays and runners have already stolen 11 bases off of their catcher Danny Jansen in just 10 games. Borucki has allowed plenty of baserunners with his 1.53 WHIP, so Villar might run wild again in this contest.

Jason Kipnis vs. Kohl Stewart, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,100

The Indians are likely going to be a popular stack for the evening. They only have a .736 OPS on the road, but they have a .805 OPS at home. They also get a favorable matchup against Stewart, who has allowed nine runs over 11.2 innings in his first three starts for the Twins. Kipnis is batting .204 with a .555 OPS on the road, but he has a .250 batting average and a .807 OPS at home.

Others to consider: Travis Shaw and Brian Dozier

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/29/18

Justin Turner vs. Mike Minor, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $5,300

Turner logged two more hits Tuesday, marking his fourth straight multi-hit game. He’s turned his season around in August, batting .404 with five home runs and 11 doubles since the month began. Add in his 193 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers, overall, this season and Turner might be well worth his lofty price against Minor.

Mike Moustakas vs. Matt Harvey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,400

Harvey had a disastrous start to the season with the Mets, but he’s posted a respectable 4.14 ERA since joining the Reds. He does still have problems with home runs, though, giving up 14 in 95.2 innings since joining the team. Moustakas has hit 19 of his 24 homers off of righties this season, so he could be a threat to leave the yard again Wednesday.

Others to consider: Jose Ramirez and Miguel Andujar

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/29/18

Manny Machado vs. Mike Minor, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $5,200

Believe it or not, Machado has never recorded 100 RBI in a season during his career. He drove in four runs in the first game of this series Tuesday, bringing his total to 86 for the season. He has a great chance at cracking the 100-RBI plateau, especially as part of a much more potent lineup with the Dodgers. He’s batting .302 with a .970 OPS over his last 12 games and has a high ceiling in this contest at hitter-friendly Globe Life Park in Arlington.

Tim Beckham vs. Ryan Borucki, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,300
DraftKings = $3,300

Beckham was a different hitter after joining the Orioles during the 2017 season, batting .306 with a .523 slugging percentage over 50 games. He hasn’t been able to follow that up with a strong campaign, though, batting .220 with a .355 slugging percentage. The good news is he plays every day now with Manny Machado and Jonathan Schoop no longer in the folder and his .409 slugging percentage in August is his highest of any month this season. With Borucki’s inability to limit baserunners, Beckham might be worth the risk in tournament play at this dirt cheap price.

Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Trea Turner

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/29/18

Christian Yelich vs. Matt Harvey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $5,800

Yelich has been everything the Brewers could have hoped for since acquiring him from the Marlins. He’s already set a new career-high with 25 home runs, seven of which have come across his last nine games. His walk rate is down, but his .310 batting average would also be the highest mark of his career. Harvey doesn’t exactly have overpowering stuff anymore, potentially setting up Yelich for a valuable performance.

Melky Cabrera vs. Kohl Stewart, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,400

Cabrera has hit his way into an everyday role with the Indians, batting .314 with six home runs and five doubles across his last 34 games. He’s also been able to provide plenty of counting stats with 16 RBI and 16 runs scored during that stretch. With the potential for this to be another high-scoring game for the Indians against Stewart, Cabrera is a viable option to consider for your entry.

Trey Mancini vs. Ryan Borucki, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,000

Mancini has caught fire, going 8-for-15 with two home runs, four doubles and a triple over his last four games. After batting .293 last year, his .241 average this season has been a significant disappointment. However, he’s still managed to hit for power with 19 homers and 20 doubles. At this cheap price, he could be well worth the risk in tournament play.

Others to consider: Greg Allen and Tyler O’Neill

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/28/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

Tuesday is loaded with elite starting pitching options across the majors including Max Scherzer, Jacob deGrom, and Aaron Nola. There is a great second tier of options behind them as well. 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 8/28/18

Clay Buchholz vs. San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $9,100
DraftKings = $10,000

Buchholz is having an incredible season for the Diamondbacks. He’s allowed more than three runs in only one of his 13 starts this season, resulting in a 2.25 ERA. His FIP is higher at 3.39, but that’s still excellent considering he missed almost all of last season due to injury. His 7.7 K/9 isn’t great, but he has a 1.03 WHIP and has given up only eight home runs across 80 innings. He’s already faced the Giants twice this season, allowing four runs and recording 15 strikeouts over 12 innings. He’s certainly not the flashiest of starting pitching options Tuesday, but he could still provide excellent value.

Brian Johnson vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $5,900
DraftKings = $7,000

With so many great starting pitchers to choose from, it might not be a bad idea to go with a cheap pitcher in tournament play and load up on some of the expensive bats that have favorable matchups. If you want to go that route, Johnson might be your man. He’s made 10 starts for the Red Sox, posting a 3.63 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and an 8.0 K/9. He started against the Marlins earlier this season, holding them to one run and recording five strikeouts in six innings. The Marlins have the fourth-lowest OPS against left-handed pitchers (.655) in baseball, so don’t be surprised if Johson has similar success.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/28/18

Max Muncy vs. Ariel Jurado, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $5,400

The Dodgers are likely going to be a popular stack with Jurado on the mound. He’s been terrible for the Rangers with a 6.40 ERA and a 5.75 FIP across his first six starts. He has a bloated 1.55 WHIP and only struck out 12 batters over 32.1 innings. Muncy has seen his playing time decrease some lately due to the additions of Manny Machado and Brian Dozier, but he still has four home runs in his last eight games. With the DH available in this contest, expect Muncy to be in the lineup.

Danny Jansen vs. Josh Rogers, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,900

Jansen certainly earned his call-up to the majors, batting .275 with a .390 OBP at Triple-A. He drew 44 walks compared to 49 strikeouts over 360 plate appearances. He’s carried that success over to the Blue Jays, going 10-for-30 with a home run and five doubles in his first nine games. He’s a great cheap option to consider against Rogers, who will be making his first appearance in the majors and doesn’t exactly have an overwhelming arsenal based on his 6.5 K/9 at Triple-A this year.

Others to consider: Matt Carpenter (first base) and Yasmani Grandal (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/28/18

Whit Merrifield vs. Matthew Boyd, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $5,100

Merrifield might not get a lot of publicity playing for a bad Royals squad, but he’s a great hitter. He only has 10 home runs, but he’s batting .307 with a .374 OBP and 35 doubles. He’s a terror on the bases as well with 28 steals. He has a career .375 wOBA against lefties, so it’s not surprising that he is also 8-for-19 in his career against Boyd.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. vs. Josh Rogers, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $4,200

Gurriel took a seat for the Blue Jays on Monday after starting his first three games since being activated from the DL. He’s one of the bright young players in their organization, so expect him to get plenty of playing time down the stretch. He was one of the hottest hitters in baseball before landing on the DL and is batting .307 overall, leaving him as a someone to consider in tournament play if you don’t want to pay up for Merrifield.

Others to consider: Travis Shaw and Jonathan Villar

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/28/18

Justin Turner vs. Ariel Jurado, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $5,600

Injuries have hampered Turner’s season, but he’s doing his best to make up for a slow start. He’s been red-hot in August, batting .405 with five homers and 10 doubles. He has outstanding numbers against left-handed pitchers, but he could still be in line for a big night against the struggling Jurado based on his .356 wOBA against righties.

Wil Myers vs. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,400

Hernandez is only 33 years old, but he’s a shell of his former self. He was demoted to the bullpen at one point but is back in the starting rotation out of necessity for the Mariners. He’s hasn’t been terrible at home, but he has a staggering 7.46 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP on the road. Myers has almost identical numbers against both righties and lefties throughout his career, so don’t pass over him for your entry just because he doesn’t have the platoon advantage against Hernandez.

Others to consider: Miguel Andujar and Matt Chapman

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/28/18

Manny Machado vs. Ariel Jurado, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,500

Machado is still adjusting to his new team and moving to a new league, batting .266 overall since joining the Dodgers. He is starting to heat up again, though, batting .286 with five home runs across his last 11 games. He won’t come cheap on either site, but he has significant upside against Jurado in hitter-friendly Globe Life Park in Arlington.

Freddy Galvis vs. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,600

Galvis has never really been a great hitter, batting .245 with a .661 OPS for his career. He’s put up similar numbers overall this year, but he’s been hot in August, batting .264 with a .834 OPS. If you decide to spend big at starting pitcher, Galvis is a cheap player to consider to help balance your budget with Hernandez on the mound.

Others to consider: Gleyber Torres and Trevor Story

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/28/18

Mitch Haniger vs. Jacob Nix, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,900

Haniger was limited to 96 games last year due to injury, but he still hit 16 home runs and 25 doubles. He’s been able to stay healthy this season and remains extremely productive, slugging 22 homers and 28 doubles. He’s also batting .281 with a .368 OBP, showing he’s not just selling out for power. Nix has a 1.63 WHIP through three starts with the Padres, so this could be a high-scoring game for Haniger and the Mariners.

Yasiel Puig vs. Ariel Jurado, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,400

Puig is struggling, batting .171 with just one extra-base hit over his last 10 games. His .433 slugging percentage overall in August would be his lowest mark of any month this season, However, this might be just the matchup that Puig needs to get back on track. With Jurado’s struggles already detailed, it’s also important to note that Puig has had more success against right-handed pitchers (134 wRC+) this year than he has lefties (71 wRC+).

Carlos Gonzalez vs. Noe Ramirez, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $4,300

Ramirez is expected to start Tuesday after recording a save in Monday’s contest. This will be a bullpen game for the Angels, which is good news for the Rockies since the Angels bullpen has the fifth-highest FIP (4.44) in the majors. Gonzalez enters this game on a five-game hitting streak and is hitting .310 overall in August, making him someone to target at this reasonable price.

Others to consider: J.D. Martinez and Tyler O’Neill

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/27/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/27/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/27/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/27/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/27/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/27/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/27/18

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 8/24/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

Friday brings a full slate of action across the majors, but the evening is generally lacking elite starting pitching options 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 8/24/18

Mike Foltynewicz vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $10,500
DraftKings = $11,100

Foltynewicz has had a breakout campaign for the Braves, posting a 2.72 ERA, 3.38 FIP, and a 1.15 WHIP. He’s only allowed 14 home runs across 139 innings and has a 10.4 K/9, making him a consistent source for production. He’s been even better of late, allowing six runs (four earned) and recording 28 strikeouts over 26.2 innings in his last four starts. One of those came against these same Marlins when he allowed one run and recorded seven strikeouts over eight innings. With the Marlins inability to score runs, Foltynewicz has tremendous upside Friday.

Rich Hill vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $8,800
DraftKings = $9,800

Hill battled ineffectiveness and injury earlier this season, but he’s turned things around with a 2.92 ERA, 3.58 FIP, and a 1.14 WHIP since July 1. He chipped in 9.5 K/9 during that stretch while also logging at least six innings in six of his eight starts. This lines up as a great matchup for Hill as not only have the Padres scored the fifth-fewest runs (496) in baseball, but they have also struck out the second-most times (1,221).

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/24/18

Ryan Zimmerman vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $5,100

Zimmerman was one of the more surprising success stories in baseball last year, batting .303 with 36 home runs and 108 RBI. One of the keys to his success was his ability to stay healthy, playing in at least 140 games for the first time since 2013. He hasn’t had the same luck this season, logging only 56 games so far. He is coming on strong down the stretch, though, batting .360 with six home runs and 17 RBI across his last 15 games.

Yuli Gurriel vs. Andrew Heaney, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,000

Heaney’s season has taken a turn for the worse with a 6.46 ERA and 1.39 WHIP over four starts in August. He’s already thrown 140 innings this season after throwing less than 50 combined innings in the minors and majors last year, so he might be wearing down. Gurriel will look to take advantage of Heaney’s struggles considering his .364 wOBA against left-handed pitchers.

Others to consider: Carlos Santana (first base) and Victor Martinez (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/24/18

Brian Dozier vs. Clayton Richard, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,300

Speaking of pitchers who have struggled recently, Richard has a 6.94 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP since July 1. He’s been much better at home this season with a 3.94 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP, but he has a bloated 6.28 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP on the road. The Dodgers will likely be a popular stack Friday with Dozier providing a quality option at a reasonable price on both sites.

Neil Walker vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,600

The Yankees hitters are dropping like flies, making the addition of Walker in the offseason an extremely important move. He can play multiple positions and currently is expected to fill in at second base while Gleyber Torres shifts over to shortstop. His overall numbers this season aren’t great, but Walker is batting .307 with four home runs and 15 RBI over his last 24 games. He’s had more success against righties, as well, making him someone to consider in tournament play.

Others to consider: Jed Lowrie and Ian Kinsler

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/24/18

Justin Turner vs. Clayton Richard, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,800

Turner is firing on all cylinders right now, batting .391 with a .481 OBP in August. He had five home runs and eight doubles for the season entering the month but he has hit four homers and seven doubles since. He also mashes left-handed pitching, posting a 186 wRC+ against them this season.

Todd Frazier vs. Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $4,500

Frazier is one of the many players on the Mets who has battled injuries, limiting him to only 82 games. His .233 average seems poor, but it’s actually his highest mark since 2015. He’s also been a much better hitter of late, batting .323 with four home runs and five doubles in his last 17 games. Gonzalez has allowed at least five runs in four of his last six starts and has a 1.55 WHIP overall, potentially setting up Fraizer to continue his recent run of success.

Others to consider: Anthony Rendon and Alex Bregman

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/24/18

Manny Machado vs. Clayton Richard, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $4,800

Machado hasn’t played well by his standards since joining the Dodgers, batting .275 with a .816 OPS. By comparison, he hit .315 with a .963 OPS with the Orioles. He may have just needed an adjustment period as he is batting .324 with three home runs over his last eight games. He has a .382 wOBA against lefties this year, making him another Dodger to target against Richard.

Willy Adames vs. Hector Velazquez, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,900

Velazquez has mostly pitched in relief for the Red Sox, but he’ll make another start Friday with Chris Sale still on the DL. His 2.74 ERA this season looks good, but his 4.33 FIP and 1.39 WHIP indicate he is not pitching nearly that well. Adames has settled in nicely to regular playing time, batting .348 with a .989 OPS in August.

Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Marcus Semien

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/24/18

Khris Davis vs. Jake Odorizzi, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,300

Davis went deep again Thursday, marking his fifth home run over his last five games and 39th on the season overall. When he’s on one of these types of streaks, it makes a lot of sense to keep rolling with him in your lineup. It also helps his cause that Odorizzi has a 5.29 ERA over his last seven outings.

Greg Allen vs. Brad Keller, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,800

Allen hasn’t hit for much power in the minors, but he did bat .298 with a .395 OBP at Triple-A this year. He’s become an important part of the Indians outfield lately, batting .341 with eight runs scored and five stolen bases across his last 13 games. He’s proven to be a much better hitter against righties, giving him a chance to provide value at this cheap price in tournament play.

Jim Adduci vs. Reynaldo Lopez, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,500

At 33 years old, Adduci is certainly not one of the young up and coming players in the Tigers system. He’s still played well when given the opportunity this season, especially of late as he is batting .352 in August. Lopez has allowed at least four runs in five of his last seven starts and has given up plenty of baserunners this season overall with a 1.39 WHIP. At his dirt cheap price on both sites, Adduci might be a risk worth taking Friday. Of note, he is only eligible at outfield on FanDuel as he is listed at first base on DraftKings.

Others to consider: Ronald Acuna Jr. and Stephen Piscotty

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/23/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

With only four games making up the main evening slate in DFS, there are far fewer options to choose from than normal for your entry Thursday. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t end the night a winner. 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 8/23/18

Cole Hamels vs. Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Wrigley Field
FanDuel = $9,200
DraftKings = $10,400

To say Hamels has pitched well since joining the Cubs is an understatement. In his first four starts since being traded, Hamels has a 0.72 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and an 8.3 K/9. While that ERA is obviously unsustainable, his 2.40 FIP supports his improved performance. He really struggled at Globe Life Park in Arlington as a member of the Rangers, so it’s not all that surprising that the change of scenery has boosted his value. On a night with very limited pitching options, Hamels stands out as one of the top choices.

Tyler Glasnow vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $8,400

After spending most of this season in the Pirates bullpen, the Rays have done a nice job building Glasnow back up to start. His pitch count has increased in each of his four outings with the Rays, topping out at 94 pitches in his most recent start. He shouldn’t have any limitations going forward. He provides excellent strikeout upside with an 11.6 K/9 and he’s shown improved control with a 2.9 BB/9 since being traded. The Royals have scored the fewest runs (463) in baseball, leaving Glasnow with the potential to provide significant value at this cheap price.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/23/18

Freddie Freeman vs. Elieser Hernandez, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,000

There are two stacks that stand out Thursday with the Braves being one of them. Hernandez has mostly pitched in relief this season with only five starts in his 26 appearances. He has struggled with a 5.08 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP, overall. He doesn’t strike out many hitters, either, with a 6.2 K/9. With Freeman’s .401 OBP this year, expect him to be on base plenty of times in this game.

Joe Mauer vs. Trevor Cahill, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,800

Cahill has done a great job for the Athletics this season, but most of his success has come at home, where he has a 0.85 ERA and a 0.76 WHIP. However, he’s been hammered on the road with a 6.62 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. Mauer doesn’t have much power upside, but he is batting .343 with a .410 OBP across his last 10 games.

Others to consider: J.T. Realmuto (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/23/18

Jed Lowrie vs. Kohl Stewart, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,900

The other stacking opportunity that stands out is the Athletics against Stewart. They have a .706 OPS at home, but their .804 OPS on the road is the highest in baseball. Stewart has pitched at both Double-A and Triple-A this season, recording a 4.47 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP combined across both levels. In two starts with the Twins, he’s allowed six runs and recorded only three strikeouts across seven innings. The switch-hitting Lowrie has a .370 wOBA against righties this year.

Ozzie Albies vs. Elieser Hernandez, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,500

Albies has had a rough month of August by batting only .235 with one home run. After he slugged 14 home runs in his first 56 games this season, he has just seven homers across his last 66 contests. He has had better success against left-handed pitching this year, but Albies has a .517 slugging percentage on the road compared to .423 at home. He’s someone to consider with Hernandez on the mound, although Lowrie would be my first choice at second base.

Others to consider: Daniel Murphy

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/23/18

Matt Chapman vs. Kohl Stewart, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,600

Chapman has shown an improved eye at the plate this year, reducing his strikeout rate from 28.3% in 2017 to 23.0% this season. He’s still hitting for plenty of power, too, with 17 home runs and 30 doubles across 407 at-bats. Chapman has actually hit better against right-handed pitchers (.378 wOBA) than he has lefties (.348 wOBA), so he could prove to be a tough out for Stewart.

Brian Anderson vs. Sean Newcomb, Atlanta Braves
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,500

After an excellent start to his season, Newcomb has a 6.00 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP since July 1. He has an 11.3% walk rate and a 21.7% strikeout rate for the year, but he has a 12.6% walk rate and a 17.4% strikeout rate since his struggles began. Anderson could be worth considering in tournament play since he has a .349 wOBA against lefties and is 5-for-10 with two walks against Newcomb in his career.

Others to consider: Johan Camargo

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/23/18

Javier Baez vs. Anthony DeSclafani, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Wrigley Field
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,700

Baez has at least two hits in three straight games and has eight multi-hit performances so far in August. He’s made a case to be considered for the NL MVP award as he is batting .292 with 26 home runs, 92 RBI, and 20 steals. He has fairly similar numbers against both lefties and righties, so don’t shy away from using him Thursday just because he doesn’t have the platoon advantage against DeSclafani.

Jorge Polanco vs. Trevor Cahill, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,900

Polanco quietly had a productive 2017 campaign with 13 home runs, 74 RBI and 13 steals across 488 at-bats. He didn’t play his first game this season until July due to suspension, but he’s provided the same sort of production with three home runs, 25 RBI and four steals in 173 at-bats. He has just a 34 wRC+ against lefties this year, but he’s been far more successful with a 137 wRC+ against righties.

Others to consider: Marcus Semien

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/23/18

Khris Davis vs. Kohl Stewart, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,700

Davis has put the Athletics on his back as they make a push for the playoffs, hitting .313 with 18 home runs and 10 doubles since July 1. He has hit four home runs in his last four games and is one of the most dangerous power hitters in baseball when he’s locked in like this. He’s pricey, but he also has one of the highest upsides of anyone playing Thursday due to this matchup against Stewart.

Max Kepler vs. Trevor Cahill, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,900

Kepler has struggled to hit for average again this season, but he’s managed to hit 17 home runs and 26 doubles. He’s been terrible with a .197 average and a .640 OPS on the road, but he has a .275 average and a .886 OPS at home. He doesn’t cost much on either site and could provide value when you combine his success at home with Cahill’s struggles on the road.

Stephen Piscotty vs. Kohl Stewart, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $3,900

Piscotty is coming off of a productive three-game series against the Rangers where he finished 6-for-13 with a home run and two doubles. He has already tied his career-high with 35 doubles this year and has chipped in 16 homers as well. He has similar numbers against both lefties and righties, making him one of the better cheap options if you are going with an Athletics stack.

Others to consider: Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ender Inciarte