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MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/27/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/27/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

There is only one day game Friday, leaving you with a lot of options to sift through for the night 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 4/27/18

Jacob deGrom vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $10,600
DraftKings = $12,400

deGrom was one of the few Mets starters to stay healthy last year, logging a career-high 201.1 innings. He made significant strides in the strikeout department, finishing with a 10.7 K/9 that was a full strikeout higher than his previous career best. He’s continued his increased pace this season with an 11.3 K/9 through five starts. Not only does he have excellent control with a career 2.3 BB/9, but he doesn’t allow many baserunners in general with a career 1.12 WHIP. The Padres have struck out more times (273) than any other team in baseball this season and have the sixth-lowest batting average against right-handed pitchers (.223), leaving deGrom as someone to target for your entry Friday.

Miles Mikolas vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $6,700
DraftKings = $7,600

Mikolas returned to the majors for the first time since 2014 after pitching the last three years in Japan. The transition back has gone smoothly so far, posting a 3.46 ERA and 3.89 FIP across four starts. He’s done a great job limiting base runners with a 1.00 WHIP and has shown impeccable control with a 0.7 BB/9. His strikeout upside isn’t great, but he has the potential to sustain a low ERA if he can continue to limit walks. If you are looking to go really cheap in tournament play, he has the potential to at least throw a quality start.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/27/18

Joey Votto vs. Phil Hughes, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,100

Votto certainly didn’t play well out of the gate, but it appears he has righted the ship. Not only is he on a five-game hitting streak, but he has also hit a home run in three straight. His .270 BABIP is well below his career mark of .352, so expect his batting average to continue to improve. He dominated right-handed pitchers last year with a .433 wOBA, leaving him with significant upside against Hughes on Friday.

C.J. Cron vs. Drew Pomeranz, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,800

Cron is on fire right now, batting 16-for-47 (.340) with five home runs and 14 RBI in his last 11 games. He’s hitting the ball with authority this year, posting a 42.9% hard-hit rate compared to his 32.6% career mark. Pomeranz has held left-handed hitters to a .273 wOBA in his career, but righties have posted a .315 wOBA. It might not be a bad idea to ride Cron’s hot bat for at least one more game.

Others to consider: Gary Sanchez (catcher) and Jose Martinez (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/27/18

Scooter Gennett vs. Phil Hughes, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $3,400

Gennett almost doubled his previous career high with 27 home runs last year but has only gone deep twice in 2018. He’s still hitting for average though at .283, which still keeps him in the discussion for DFS despite his lack of power. He had a .388 wOBA against righties last year and faces a struggling one in Hughes on Friday. Hughes has been limited by injuries the last two years but hasn’t pitched well when healthy, posting a WHIP of at least 1.51 in both of those seasons.

Starlin Castro vs. Tyler Anderson, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,200

Speaking of players who haven’t hit for power this year, Castro has only hit four doubles and is still looking for his first home run. His 39.5% hard-hit rate this year is actually much higher than his career mark, but his 56.6% ground-ball rate is also a career high. Anderson has a 1.52 WHIP through five starts this season and a 1.33 WHIP for his career, so he generally has a hard time keeping runners off base. At this cheap price, Castro has upside while also providing salary relief for your entry.

Others to consider: Cesar Hernandez and Gleyber Torres

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/27/18

Jeimer Candelario vs. Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,200

Candelario continues to impress in his first full season as a starter, hitting .290 with a .908 OPS. He’s been batting second in the Tigers lineup, which is a great spot with Miguel Cabrera providing him with protection. Tillman has been awful this year with a 9.87 ERA and 2.37 WHIP, so don’t hesitate to add Candelario to your lineup.

Matt Davidson vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,500

Davidson is only batting .225 this year, but he’s been lethal when he makes contact with a 55% hard-hit rate. It’s led to seven home runs and three doubles despite his 31 strikeouts in 85 plate appearances. Duffy dominated left-handed hitters last year, holding them to a .199 wOBA. Righties hit him much better though with a .329 wOBA. I wouldn’t be surprised if Davidson goes deep in this game.

Others to consider: Todd Frazier and Daniel Roberston

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/27/18

Paul DeJong vs. Steven Brault, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,300

DeJong burst onto the scene for the Cardinals last year, batting .285 with 25 home runs in 108 games. He’s showed no signs of a sophomore slump, hitting .281 with seven home runs so far. He recorded a .392 wOBA against left-handers last year and will take on one in Brault on Friday, who doesn’t have overpowering stuff either with a career 6.5 K/9.

Adeiny Hechavarria vs. Drew Pomeranz, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,100

Hechavarria didn’t get a hit Thursday against the Orioles but had at least two hits in four of six games entering that matchup. Known for his defensive abilities, Hechavarria is batting .273 overall this season. He’s hit better against lefties throughout his career, so he might be with the risk at this price against Pomeranz on Friday.

Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Eduardo Nunez

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/27/18

Tommy Pham vs. Steven Brault, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,700

Pham is doing his best to prove that his breakout season in 2017 was no fluke, batting .368 with a .484 OBP so far this year. After finishing last season with 23 home runs and 25 steals, he’s also continued to show his power and speed combo with three homers and five steals through 22 games. With a 153 wRC+ against lefties last year, Pham is another Cardinals right-handed hitter to key in on Friday.

Yoenis Cespedes vs. Clayton Richard, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,100

Cespedes is only batting .211 this year, but his .300 BABIP is right in line with his career numbers. The problem is he has struck out a whopping 41 times in 103 plate appearances. To put that into perspective, he struck out 61 times in 321 plate appearances last year. He’ll need to show significant improvement in that area to makes gains with his batting average, but he still has a ton of power. Richard allowed 23 of his 24 home runs to right-handed hitters last year, leaving Cespedes as an option to consider for your entry.

Matt Kemp vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,800

This matchup screams split advantage. Holland was awful against righties last year, allowing a .408 wOBA. On the flip side, Kemp has a .391 wOBA against lefties for his career. If you are looking for a cost-effective outfielder Friday, look no further.

Others to consider: Mookie Betts and Leonys Martin

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/26/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/26/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

Thursday brings a light schedule with only 10 games in the majors, but there are still plenty of great matchups to take advantage of 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 4/26/18

Dylan Bundy vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $9,700
DraftKings = $9,800

The Orioles have had little success developing quality starting pitchers from their farm system, but they finally might have something special in Bundy. He’s been stellar through five starts, posting a 1.42 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 11.4 K/9. His FIP isn’t much higher at 2.02 and his opponents BABIP of .321 is actually higher than his career mark of .286, which is a good sign for his continued success this season. He has started hitters off with a first-pitch strike 62% of the time this year and has increased the use of his slider, which could be a reason for his increased strikeout totals. Look for him to keep things rolling against the Rays on Thursday.

Sean Newcomb vs. Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $7,100
DraftKings = $8,700

The Braves are loaded with young talent and Newcomb is one of the up-and-coming players for their starting rotation. He has had control issues in his career, recording a 5.1 BB/9 last year and a 4.6 BB/9 so far this season. He provides excellent strikeout upside though with a 10.0 K/9 for his career. Hitters had a hard time squaring him up last year with a 27% hard-hit rate, so his numbers could really improve if he can cut down on his walks. The Reds are in the bottom 10 in the league in runs scored, so Thursday might be a good time to take a chance on Newcomb in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/26/18

Freddie Freeman vs. Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $5,300

Freeman is a rare talent in today’s game, recording more walks (19) than strikeouts (18) so far this season. With at least two hits in three of his last four games, Freeman is now batting .306 overall. He finished with a lofty .422 wOBA against right-handed pitchers last year, making him a great option against Bailey on Thursday.

Tyler Austin vs. Kyle Gibson, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $3,900

There are so many sluggers in the Yankees lineup that Austin has largely flown under the radar this year. He’s done an excellent job filling in for Greg Bird (ankle), batting .305 with five home runs and 16 RBI. Neil Walker has eaten into his playing time a bit, but Austin is going to get plenty of at-bats if he keeps this up. If you don’t want to pay up for Freeman, take advantage of Austin’s hot bat.

Others to consider: Gary Sanchez (catcher) and Lucas Duda (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/26/18

Cesar Hernandez vs. Matt Koch, Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,200

With all the hype surrounding Scott Kingery arriving in the majors this year, Hernandez continues to excel for the Phillies, hitting .313 with two home runs and five steals. His .400 BABIP is not sustainable, but it helps that he is being more selective at the plate with a career-high 17.6% walk rate. Koch does not have overpowering stuff with a career 5.7 K/9 in the minors, leaving Hernandez with an excellent opportunity to be productive in this game.

Brock Holt vs. Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,000

Injuries have marred Holt’s career recently, but he’s healthy now and getting a chance for regular playing time with Xander Bogaerts (ankle) on the DL. He’s made the most of his opportunity, hitting .327 with a .389 OBP. He’s currently on an eight-game hitting streak and is an option to consider if you want to save money at second base.

Others to consider: Brian Dozier and Whit Merrifield

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/26/18

Travis Shaw vs. Kyle Hendricks, Chicago Cubs
Stadium – Wrigley Field
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,200

Shaw is on a power surge, slugging three home runs in his last five games. He tends to get off to a hot start in the first half and this year has been no different, hitting .286 with five home runs so far. Hendricks has had trouble getting him out in his career, allowing Shaw to bat .333 with three home runs against him in 17 career plate appearances. Considering Shaw finished with a .373 wOBA against righties last year, he could continue his success against Hendricks on Thursday.

Miguel Sano vs. Jordan Montgomery, New York Yankees
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel  = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,000

It’s been all or nothing for Sano in the early going, hitting five home runs but striking out 32 times in 18 games. He’s going to need to cut down on his strikeouts to improve his .211 average, but his .286 BABIP is also well below his career mark of .358. He posted an impressive .408 wOBA against lefties last year, so this might be the day to take a chance on putting him in your lineup.

Others to consider: Mike Moustakas and Rafael Devers

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/26/18

Didi Gregorius vs. Kyle Gibson, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $5,100
DraftKings = $5,000

Gregorius is one of the hottest hitters in baseball, homering in four straight games. You really couldn’t have asked for a better start as he leads the American League in batting average (.372) and RBI (29) to go along with nine home runs. He hits in a prime spot in the order behind Aaron Judge and in front of Giancarlo Stanton and Gary Sanchez, so he is going to get plenty of chances to both drive in and score runs. Don’t hesitate to keep riding his hot streak Thursday.

Eduardo Escobar vs. Jordan Montgomery, New York Yankees
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,400

The Twins lineup overall this season has been terrible, tied for the second-fewest runs scored in baseball. Escobar is one of their few hitters off to a good start though, batting .306 with two home runs and eight doubles. His .362 BABIP is well above his .299 career mark, so he is a candidate for regression as the season wears on. However, with at least two hits in three of his last six games, he’s a viable option if you want to save a few bucks at shortstop Thursday.

Others to consider: Manny Machado and Eduardo Nunez

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/26/18

Kyle Schwarber vs. Chase Anderson, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Wrigley Field
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,700

Schwarber hit 30 home runs last year and continues to show excellent power with six home runs in 20 games this season. He’s batting a surprisingly high .288, which is helped by his .317 BABIP that is well above his career mark of .266. He still finished with a .343 wOBA against righties last year despite his struggles overall, making him a viable option that has home run upside Thursday.

Aaron Hicks vs. Kyle Gibson, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $3,800

The Yankees outfield is loaded with Judge, Stanton and Brett Gardner, but Hicks has established himself as the everyday center fielder, often pushing Stanton to DH. He was limited to only 88 games last year due to injury, but he still managed to finish with career bests in batting average (.266) and home runs (15). Injuries have limited him to just 11 games this year as well, but he’s hitting .270 with an excellent .426 OBP. The switch-hitting Hicks will bat from the left side against Gibson on Thursday, who allowed a .358 wOBA to lefties last year.

Ender Inciarte vs. Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,000

Inciarte enters Thursday having recorded at least two hits in four straight games. He isn’t off to a great start with just a .276 average, but he has added value hitting leadoff for a Braves lineup that is tied for the fourth-most runs scored in baseball. He doesn’t have much power upside, but the added at-bats and potential for runs scored makes him a cheaper option to consider in tournament play.

Others to consider: Aaron Judge and Jarrod Dyson

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/25/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/25/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

Games will be spread throughout the day Wednesday, leaving fewer options than normal if you are playing the 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 4/25/18

Clayton Kershaw vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $11,400
DraftKings = 14,000

Kershaw is well on his way to another dominant season. Although he is only 1-3 through five starts, he has a sparkling 2.45 ERA and 0.87 WHIP. His strikeouts are slightly down at 9.5 K/9, but with a K/9 of at least 10.4 in four straight seasons, don’t expect that to be a trend that continues much longer. He has also shown impeccable control with a 0.8 BB/9 and throwing a first-pitch strike to 70% of the batters that he has faced. He’s an excellent option regardless of opponent, but he gets an extremely favorable matchup against a Marlins offense that has hit the fewest home runs (14) and has the third-lowest batting average (.223) in baseball.

Jake Faria vs. Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $5,900
DraftKings = $6,300

The Rays and Orioles were rained out Tuesday, pushing Faria’s start to Wednesday. His 5.82 ERA and 1.59 WHIP this season don’t exactly look appealing, but a lot of that was due to him giving up eight earned runs in 1.2 innings against the Red Sox during his second start of the season. He’s been much better outside of that outing, allowing three earned runs across 15.1 innings in his other starts. He has also shown some strikeout upside, registering at least six of them in back-to-back starts. The Orioles have the lowest batting average (.215) in baseball, so Faria might be worth the risk in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/25/18

Cody Bellinger vs. Trevor Richards, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,500

Bellinger isn’t exactly on fire right now, hitting 2-for-16 in his last five games. However, his two hits were a double and a home run and he also drew three walks during that stretch. He only has three home runs this season overall, but he’s batted a respectable .271. Bellinger had a .383 wOBA against right-handers last year, so facing Richards and his 1.68 WHIP might be just what he needs to start a hot streak.

Matt Olson vs. Doug Fister, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $4,300

Olson hit for a ton of power in 59 games last year, finishing with a .651 slugging percentage. His 40.3% hard-hit rate was excellent and has been even better this season at 50%. He only has three home runs to show for it, but that shouldn’t last for long if he keeps hitting the ball with this kind of authority. He had a 181 wRC+ against righties last year, leaving him with excellent upside against Fister, who doesn’t have an overpowering pitch arsenal.

Others to consider: Joey Gallo (first base) and Yasmani Grandal (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/25/18

Jed Lowrie vs. Doug Fister, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,600

At this point, the only reason not to play Lowrie in DFS is if you can’t fit his price tag into your entry. He already has 12 multi-hit games this season and is batting .363 with six home runs and eight doubles. The Athletics have had one of the most potent offenses in baseball in the early going and Lowrie’s success in a big reason why. He also has a .344 average in 33 career plate appearances against Fister, so he makes a lot of sense again Wednesday.

Joey Wendle vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,200

Wendle is not a big home run hitter, but he did have a career .288 batting average in 641 games in the minors. He’s getting a chance to play every day for the rebuilding Rays and is off to a hot start, hitting .304 with a .385 OBP. His 40.5% hard-hit rate is probably unsustainable, so he may experience some regression as the league gets more familiar with how to pitch to him. Cobb has a horrible 15.43 ERA and 3.14 WHIP through his first two starts, so Wendle might be able to provide value.

Others to consider: Brock Holt and Chase Utley

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/25/18

Mike Moustakas vs. Jhoulys Chacin, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,300

The Royals have one of the worst lineups in baseball despite bringing back Moustakas, who hit a career-high 38 home runs last year. He certainly hasn’t been the problem, batting .307 with six home runs and five doubles so far. He had a .353 wOBA against right-handers last year and is at .470 against them so far in 2018, leaving him as a great option to consider for your entry.

Jeimer Candelario vs. Chad Kuhl, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = NA

Candelario has been one of the better hitters this season for the rebuilding Tigers, hitting .277 with three home runs, 10 RBI, and a .355 OBP. Kuhl’s 4.57 ERA this year is not terrible, but he’s allowed way too many baserunners with a 1.62 WHIP. That’s been a trend for him throughout his career with a WHIP of  1.44 in 249.2 innings. He also allowed a .376 wOBA to left-handed hitters last year, which is good news for the switch-hitting Candelario on Wednesday.

Others to consider: Travis Shaw and Rafael Devers

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/25/18

Manny Machado vs. Jake Faria, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $4,800

Machado is looking to put his .259 batting average from last year firmly in the rearview mirror, hitting .360 out of the gates this season. His power numbers haven’t suffered either with eight home runs and seven doubles through 23 games. Most of his struggles came on the road last season, hitting .229 compared to .288 at home. Although I think using Faria in tournament play is a viable option based on the Orioles lineup as a whole, Machado could give him problems.

Corey Seager vs. Trevor Richards, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,400

Seager is not off to a good start this season with a .241 average and just one home run. He has a .275 BABIP and his 35.7% hard-hit rate is well below his career mark, which has been a big reason for his struggles. Richards isn’t a strikeout pitcher though and Seager did have a .353 wOBA against righties last year, so don’t be surprised if he busts out of his funk Wednesday.

Others to consider: Paul DeJong and Adeiny Hechavarria

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/25/18

Christian Yelich vs. Jason Hammel, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,600

Yelich has been limited to only 12 games this season due to injury, but he’s performed well in limited action with a .319 average and two home runs. He continues to show an excellent eye at the plate with a .407 OBP after posting an OBP of at least .362 in every season of his career. He finished with a 123 wRC+ last year against righties compared to just 94 against lefties, so he could be in line for a valuable performance against Hammel.

Denard Span vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,500

Span is off to a very unlikely start, driving in 17 runs in 18 games. Last year he had only 43 RBI in 129 games for the Giants. He has mostly batted leadoff this season, with the extra at-bats giving him a boost in DFS. He’s not going to keep up with this RBI pace, but he’s a viable option to consider Tuesday against the struggling Cobb.

Matt Joyce vs. Doug Fister, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,500

Joyce is one of those cheap options you want to target when he’s facing a right-handed pitcher. He has just a 62 wRC+ against lefties in his career, but a 123 wRC+ against righties. Fister allowed a .365 wOBA to lefties last year, so make sure to take advantage of the budget savings that Joyce can provide.

Others to consider: Tommy Pham and Shin-Soo Choo

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/24/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/24/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

Tuesday could be a big night for offense in baseball as many teams will be sending a member of the back end of their rotation to 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 4/24/18

Kenta Maeda vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $9,100
DraftKings = $9,300

Maeda is off to a strange start. His ERA sits at 3.77 despite having a 1.06 FIP. He has a crazy high 1.74 WHIP but has accompanied that with an equally stunning 15.1 K/9. For his career, he has a 1.17 WHIP and 9.5 K/9. He’s not going to keep up this strikeout pace, but his opponents .513 BABIP obviously won’t hold up either. Tuesday brings a great matchup against the Marlins who are in the bottom-five in baseball in runs scored, batting average and slugging percentage. Maeda isn’t overly expensive either, making him a pitcher to build your team around.

Zach Davis vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $8,000
DraftKings = $7,000

Davies finished with a respectable 3.90 ERA in 2017 despite having a career-low 5.8 K/9. A lot of his success can be attributed to his career-low 28.8% hard-hit rate. He’s off to an inconsistent start this season, to say the least, through four starts. In two starts against the Cardinals and Mets, he allowed 11 earned runs in 10 innings. In his other to starts, he allowed one earned run in 12.1 innings against the Cubs and Reds. He’s a bit of a risky play, but the good news is that he gets to face a Royals lineup that has scored the fewest runs in baseball this season. His strikeout upside isn’t great, but he’s still a tournament play option.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/24/18

Josh Bell vs. Jordan Zimmermann, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,500

Bell is off to a slow start in the power department, slugging just one home run so far this season. His ISO is only .120, but don’t expect it to stay that low for too much longer considering his career mark of .188. After posting a .343 wOBA against right-handers last year, he gets to face Zimmermann on Tuesday, who lefties crushed for a .375 wOBA in 2017.

Brandon Belt vs. Tanner Roark, Washington Nationals
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,700

Last year was a season to forget for Belt, who hit .241 and was limited to 104 games due to injury. He had only a .284 BABIP compared to his career mark of .334 and he still had a hard-hit rate of 38.4%, so he was a candidate to improve this season as long as he can stay healthy. He’s been just that so far and is off to a fantastic start, batting .290 with five home runs and a .392 OBP. Not only does he have a career 132 wRC+ against righties, but he has had excellent success against Roark, hitting 5-for-12 with a home run and three walks against him in his career.

Others to consider: Justin Smoak (first base) and Yasmani Grandal (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/24/18

Jed Lowrie vs. Cole Hamels, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,500

Lowrie may be off to one of the most surprising starts in baseball this season, tied for the second-most RBI (23) in the league. He’s batting a lofty .357, but a lot of that has to do with his .403 BABIP, which is over one hundred points higher than his career mark. A switch-hitter, he has a career .340 wOBA against lefties, so look to ride his hot streak again Tuesday.

Joey Wendle vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,100

Wendle is not a big home run hitter, but he did have a career .288 batting average in 641 games in the minors. He’s getting a chance to play every day for the rebuilding Rays and is off to a hot start, hitting .304 with a .385 OBP. His 40.5% hard-hit rate is probably unsustainable, so he may experience some regression as the league gets more familiar with how to pitch to him. Cobb has a horrible 15.43 ERA and 3.14 WHIP through his first two starts, so Wendle might be able to provide value.

Others to consider: DJ LeMahieu and Howie Kendrick

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/24/18

Nolan Arenado vs. Eric Lauer, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $5,100
DraftKings = $5,400

Arenando has been on fire since returning from his suspension, going 9-for-16 with three home runs and six RBI in four games. This will be left-hander Lauer’s first appearance in the majors, which is no easy task at Coors Field. Arenado had a 220 wRC+ against lefties last year, so don’t be surprised if he greets Lauer rudely Tuesday.

Matt Chapman vs. Cole Hamels, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,100

Chapman has slowed down a bit after his torrid start, but he still has a hit in four of his last five games. He’s shown a significant improvement in his pitch selection in the early going, increasing his walk rate and decreasing his strikeout rate from last year. Hamels held lefties to a sparkling .215 wOBA last year, but righties fared much better at .324. This could be a good game to stack Athletic righties, Chapman included.

Others to consider: Adrian Beltre and Daniel Robertson

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/24/18

Manny Machado vs. Jake Faria, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $5,200

Machado is looking to put his .259 batting average from last year firmly in the rearview mirror, hitting .360 out of the gates this season. His power numbers haven’t suffered either with eight home runs and seven doubles through 23 games. Most of his struggles came on the road last season, hitting .229 compared to .288 at home. Faria doesn’t exactly have overpowering stuff, so Machado could keep things rolling in this game.

Marcus Semien vs. Cole Hamels, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $3,700

Semien has been hitting the ball with authority so far this season, posting a 37.3% hard-hit rate compared to his 29.1% career mark. He has shown he can hit for power when healthy, clubbing 27 home runs in 159 games in 2016. Right-handed pitchers have given him trouble with a career .299 wOBA, but he’s recorded a .344 wOBA against lefties. He’s yet another Athletics right-handed hitter with upside Tuesday.

Others to consider: Trea Turner and Adeiny Hechavarria

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/24/18

Khris Davis vs. Cole Hamels, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,700

Davis rounds out the list of righties you may want to stack against Hamels. Not only is Davis off to a great start with six home runs and 21 RBI, but he has owned Hamels in his career, hitting three home runs and drawing five walks in 18 plate appearances.

Denard Span vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,300

Span is another player on the list for most unlikely start, driving in 17 runs in 18 games. Last year he had only 43 RBI in 129 games for the Giants. He has mostly batted leadoff this season, with the extra at-bats giving him a boost in DFS. He’s not going to keep up with this RBI pace, but he’s a viable option to consider Tuesday against the struggling Cobb.

Matt Kemp vs. Dillon Peters, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,600

Kemp hasn’t disappointed so far in his second stint with the Dodgers, batting .321 with three home runs. He is a prime regression candidate though with his .417 BABIP and 46.2% hard-hit rate both well above his career marks. He does mash lefties with a career 147 wRC+ and faces a struggling one in Peters on Tuesday. Based on his cheap price, Kemp could provide significant value in this game, especially on FanDuel.

Others to consider: J.D. Martinez and Mallex Smith

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/20/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/20/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

After a quiet day Thursday, Major League Baseball is back in full swing Friday, 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 4/20/18

Justin Verlander vs. Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $11,100
DraftKings = $12,000

Verlander was a different pitcher after joining the Astros down the stretch last year and has carried that success into 2018, posting a 1.35 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, and 11.5 K/9 through four starts. One of the main reasons why he improved so much with the Astros last year is that he cut his BB/9 down to 1.3 after it was 3.5 with the Tigers. He’s continued that improved control this year with a 1.7 BB/9. He’s done an excellent job inducing weak contact with only a 25% hard-hit rate this season, which is not far off from his career mark of 27.2% either. The White Sox are in the bottom-10 in baseball in terms of runs scored this season, making Verlander an excellent option for your entry on a night filled with aces taking the mound.

Felix Hernandez vs. Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $6,800

Hernandez’s numbers aren’t great overall, posting a 5.48 ERA and 6.15 FIP through four starts. He only has a 6.3 K/9, which would be the lowest mark of his career. A lot of his ERA woes can be attributed to his second start of the season where he allowed eight runs in four innings against the Giants. In his other three outings, he allowed a total of five runs across 17.1 innings. The Rangers are not a great offensive team, currently in the bottom-10 in the league in OPS. Hernandez might not have a high strikeout upside, but he at least has the potential to throw a quality start, making him someone to consider in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/20/18

Jose Martinez vs. Brandon Finnegan, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $3,700

If the Cardinals are facing a lefty, Martinez should immediately come to mind as someone you want to target in DFS. He destroys left-handed pitching, finishing with the highest wRC+ (240) against them in baseball last season. Finnegan only pitched 13 innings last year due to injury but hasn’t been good in his career with a 1.36 WHIP. He allowed five runs in 4.1 innings to these same Cardinals in his only start this year, leaving Martinez as an excellent option for your lineup.

Victor Martinez vs. Jakob Junis, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $2,300
DraftKings = $3,300

Martinez had one of the worst seasons of his career in 2017, hitting .255 with 10 home runs in 107 games. His .280 BABIP was significantly below his career mark of .309, but his hard-hit rate was still excellent at 39.9%. He’s turned things around at the start of this season, batting .314 through his first 14 games. The switch-hitting Martinez has a career .351 wOBA against right-handed pitchers, making him a cost-effective option to consider Friday.

Others to consider: Hanley Ramirez (first base) and Yadier Molina (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/20/18

Jed Lowrie vs. Drew Pomeranz, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,500

There are few hitters in baseball who are off to a better start than Lowrie, who is batting .346 with six home runs and 21 RBI. His .373 BABIP seems unsustainable, but a lot of that is due to his career-high 41.5% hard-hit rate. He has a career .340 wOBA against left-handed pitching, so you may want to continue to try and ride his hot streak Friday against Pomeranz.

Brock Holt vs. Kendall Graveman, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $2,300
DraftKings = $2,900

Graveman is off to a terrible start with a 9.87 ERA and 2.02 WHIP. He doesn’t have overpowering stuff with a 5.2 K/9 this season, which is close to his career mark of 5.6 K/9. He has also given up at least one home run in all four of his starts, which is certainly not good news considering he will be facing the red-hot Red Sox lineup. Holt is 7-for-17 with a home run and two doubles in his last four games, so he could be an option if you are looking to save money at second base.

Others to consider: Asdrubal Cabrera and Starlin Castro

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/20/18

Rafael Devers vs. Kendall Graveman, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,000

As we continue to discuss Red Sox players to stack against Graveman, Devers enters Friday hitting 7-for-14 with two home runs and seven RBI in his last three games. He has a 131 wRC+ against right-handers in the early going and with plenty of men likely on base in this game, Devers could be in for another big performance.

Jeimer Candelario vs. Jakob Junis, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,300

Despite still having Martinez and Miguel Cabrera on their roster, the Tigers are clearly in the middle of a rebuilding process. They may already have their third baseman of the future in Candelario, who is 12-for-28 with three home runs and seven RBI in his last seven games. Junis has a sparkling 1.93 ERA this year, but his 4.63 FIP indicates that he has not pitched nearly as well. Candelario might be worth the risk at this price.

Others to consider: Matt Chapman and Travis Shaw

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/20/18

Didi Gregorius vs. Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $5,200

On a team filled with star right-handed hitters including Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Gary Sanchez, Gregorius provides a desperately needed left-handed compliment. He had the best season of his career last year and has followed that up by batting .327 with five home runs and 17 RBI in 2018. He has hit just .237 against Estrada in 39 career plate appearances but has done damage with three doubles and three home runs.

Paul DeJong vs. Brandon Finnegan, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,100

DeJong had a breakout campaign for the Cardinals last year, hitting .285 with 25 home runs in just 108 games. A career .283 hitter in the minors, DeJong is off to a slow start this year with a .231 average and a 42.9% strikeout rate. He did hit lefties very well last year though with a .392 wOBA, so facing Finnegan might be just what he needs to break out of his slump.

Others to consider: Marcus Semien and Eduardo Nunez

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/20/18

Aaron Judge vs. Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $5,100
DraftKings = $5,300

Judge has done his best to set aside any worries of a sophomore slump, batting .339 with five home runs this season. He does have 19 strikeouts in 17 games, but he’s shown an excellent ability to get on base with 16 walks. He was lethal at home last year, batting .312 with 33 home runs compared to .256 with 19 home runs on the road. Estrada has had major issues trying to get him out with Judge batting 7-for-17 with two doubles and two home runs against him in his career. He doesn’t have strikeout stuff, so Judge very well might hit him hard again Friday.

David Peralta vs. Tyson Ross, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,300

Peralta is hitting .349 so far this season, but his abnormally high .444 BABIP indicates he is a prime regression candidate. The odds of him continuing to swing a hot bat Friday though are in his favor considering Peralta’s .353 wOBA against righties last year. Ross doesn’t have strikeout stuff with just a 7.0 K/9 this season, leaving Peralta as a viable mid-tier priced option.

Mark Canha vs. Drew Pomeranz, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,100

Canha hasn’t done much in his Major League career, batting .237 in 204 games. He has hit for power in the minors though and if off to a great start this season, batting .333 with two home runs in only seven games. The Athletics are in the top-five in the league in runs scored this season, which is only going to help Canha with his counting stats. Against the left-handed Pomeranz, Canha has some upside at this cheap price.

Others to consider: Mookie Betts and Mallex Smith

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/19/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/19/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

There are only nine games in baseball Thursday and they are spread out throughout the day, leaving limited choices for both slates 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 4/19/18

Zack Greinke vs. San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $8,900
DraftKings = $10,600

Greinke’s ERA is ugly at 5.29 through his first three starts, but his 4.05 FIP indicates he has not pitched that poorly. He’s done a nice job keeping runners off base with a 1.18 WHIP, but he’s been done in by four home runs. He’s shown great control other than that, recording 21 strikeouts and allowing just one walk. A better pitcher at home, Greinke had a 2.87 ERA and 0.96 WHIP at Chase Field last year compared to a 3.65 ERA and 1.23 WHIP on the road. The Giants have scored the fewest runs in baseball this year, making Greinke an excellent option for your entry.

Chase Anderson vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $7,900
DraftKings = $9,500

Anderson has a sparkling 2.82 ERA through four starts in large part because he has allowed just a 0.99 WHIP. His overall numbers indicate he has been lucky though with a 5.17 FIP and opponents posting just a .193 BABIP. To his credit, he has induced a lot of soft contact with a 26.2% hard-hit rate. He’s probably a regression candidate in season-long fantasy, but he projects to have a favorable matchup Thursday against a Marlins team that is tied for the seventh-fewest runs scored in baseball. Anderson was also excellent at home last year, posting a sparkling 2.51 ERA and 1.02 WHIP.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/19/18

Jose Martinez vs. Jon Lester, Chicago Cubs
Stadium – Wrigley Field
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $3,600

Martinez is dealing with a couple of nagging injuries right now, but he should be helped by the rainout that occurred in this series Wednesday. He’s been extremely productive so far this season, batting .339 with three home runs and 15 RBI. His .333 BABIP is not crazy high and his 31.5% hard-hit rate is actually down from his career mark of 36.6%, so he may be able to continue to hit for a high average this season. He destroys left-handed pitching, finishing with the highest wRC+ (240) against them in all of baseball last season.

Yuli Gurriel vs. Marco Gonzales, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,300

Gurriel has been limited to just six games this season due to suspension and injury. He was a key part of the Astros success last year, batting .299 with 18 home runs and 43 doubles. He’ll face the left-handed Gonzales on Thursday who has struggled to get out righties in his career, allowing a .392 wOBA against them compared to .321 against lefties.

Others to consider: Justin Smoak (first base) and Yadier Molina (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/19/18

Ian Kinsler vs. Eduardo Rodriguez, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,100

Kinsler hit just .236 with the Tigers last season, but a lot of that had to do with his abnormally low .244 BABIP. He’s been limited to just five games this season due to injury, but it is encouraging that he has at least one hit in four of those games, two of which were multi-hit performances. Despite his struggles last year, Kinsler still had a .374 wOBA against left-handers, making him an excellent option to consider against Rodriguez on Thursday.

Brock Holt vs. Nick Tropeano, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,000

Holt has been filling in at shortstop with Xander Bogaerts (ankle) on the DL and is 5-for-13 with one home run in his last three games. He doesn’t provide much power with only 14 career home runs, but he doesn’t strike out much either with an 18.5% strikeout rate. Tropeano has allowed a .348 wOBA in his career against lefties, making Holt a cheap option with upside in tournament play.

Others to consider: Jose Altuve and Asdrubal Cabrera

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/19/18

Rafael Devers vs. Nick Tropeano, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $3,700

Devers is off to a great start this year, batting .273 with three home runs and 15 RBI. He’s hitting the ball well with a 44% hard-hit rate after posting a 34.5% hard-hit rate in 58 games last year. The Red Sox have one of the most potent lineups in baseball after the addition of J.D. Martinez, which should leave Devers with plenty of opportunities to provide counting stats. With Tropeano’s struggles against left-handed hitters already detailed, Devers is another Red Sox lefty you might want to deploy Thursday.

Jeimer Candelario vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,400

Candelario continues to swing a hot bat for the Tigers, hitting 8-for-24 with three doubles and two home runs in his last six games. The Tigers lineup isn’t great as they work their way through a rebuild, but Candelario has a favorable spot in the order hitting second in front of Miguel Cabrera. Cobb will be making just his second start of the season after signing with the Orioles during spring training and should have better results than when he was pounded by the Red Sox in his first outing, but Candelario is still a viable option at this price.

Others to consider: Ryan Flaherty and Miguel Andujar

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/19/18

Manny Machado vs. Jordan Zimmermann, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,900

The Orioles lineup has been terrible this year, scoring the sixth-fewest runs in baseball. It certainly hasn’t been Machado’s fault, who is hitting .319 with three home runs and six doubles through 18 games. Thursday brings a great matchup against Zimmermann who certainly does not have overpowering stuff, recording a K/9 of 5.8 or lower in both of the last two seasons.

Jedd Gyorko vs. Jon Lester, Chicago Cubs
Stadium – Wrigley Field
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $2,900

Gyorko has spent the bulk of the season on the DL with a hamstring injury and returns to find himself likely in a utility role for the Cardinals. Thursday seems like a prime spot to get his bat in the lineup though against Lester since Gyorko has a career .344 wOBA against lefties. He has also owned Lester, batting .316 with two home runs in 21 plate appearances against him. Of note, Gyorko is listed at shortstop on FanDuel, but he is only eligible at third base on DraftKings.

Others to consider: Carlos Correa and Zack Cozart

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/19/18

Justin Upton vs. Eduardo Rodriguez, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,500

The Angels have been one of the most productive lineups in baseball, tied for the second-most runs scored behind only the Red Sox. Upton has been no exception, batting .278 with four home runs. His strikeout rate is down as well at 20.5% compared to his career mark of 24.9%. He has a career .380 wOBA against left-handed pitching, making him a strong option to consider against Rodriguez.

Adam Jones vs. Jordan Zimmermann, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,200

Stacking Orioles hitters Thursday is a great idea against the struggling Zimmermann. Jones is off to a terrible start with just a .227 average, but he has hit well against Zimmermann in his career, posting a .273 average with three home runs in 23 plate appearances. This might be just the matchup he needs to bust out of his slump.

Adam Frazier vs. Jake Arrieta, Philadelphia Phillies
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $2,100
DraftKings = $3,100

Frazier should see increased playing time with Josh Harrison (hand) currently on the DL. He hit leadoff against the Rockies on Wednesday, finishing 3-for-5 with two runs scored. He could be in that role again Thursday against Arrieta since Frazier is a much better hitter against righties than lefties. Although he doesn’t provide power upside, he can be valuable at this price, especially if he hits leadoff again.

Others to consider: Mike Trout and Steve Pearce

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/18/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/18/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

Wednesday consists of several day games in Major League Baseball, leaving a lot of options for both the early and late slates 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 4/18/18

Jose Berrios vs. Cleveland Indians
Stadium – Hiram Bithorn Stadium
FanDuel = $9,800
DraftKings = $11,000

Berrios is one of the jewels of the Twins farm system and he was excellent in his first significant run in the starting rotation last year, finishing with a 3.89 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and 8.6 K/9 in 145.2 innings. He held batters to just a 27.9% hard-hit rate and a 9.1% HR/FB rate. He’s off to an even better start this year, posting a 2.18 ERA, 1.68 FIP and a microscopic 0.63 WHIP through three outings. Teams continue to have a hard time squaring him up with an 18.4% hard-hit rate to go along with his 10.5 K/9. The Indians have the lowest team batting average (.208) and OBP (.284) in the majors, leaving Berrios with excellent upside.

Jake Faria vs. Texas Rangers
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $6,200

Faria was hit hard in his second start of the season against the Red Sox, allowing eight earned runs in 1.2 innings. He had major control issues in that game that resulted in five walks. Outside of that, he allowed two earned runs total in 9.1 innings in his other two outings. It may not be a coincidence that he was destroyed in his only road start so far this season and that he didn’t pitch nearly as poorly at home. He finished with a 3.10 ERA at Tropicana Field last year compared to 3.72 on the road, but more importantly, he had just a 1.06 WHIP at home while posting a 1.35 WHIP on the road. Against an easier lineup in the Rangers on Wednesday, he might be worth the risk in tournament play for the early late.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/18/18

Cody Bellinger vs. Luis Perdomo, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,500

Bellinger has yet to display the same power that he had in 2017, slugging just two home runs so far. He hasn’t struggled though, posting a .297 average in the early going. He dominated right-handed pitching last year, resulting in a .383 wOBA against them. Perdomo also had his struggles against left-handed hitters by allowing a .349 wOBA to them last year, making Bellinger an excellent option to consider Wednesday.

Yasmani Grandal vs. Luis Perdomo, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $3,800

Grandal is swinging a hot bat right now, hitting 10-for-29 with two home runs and nine RBI in his last seven games. A switch-hitter, Grandal has been better against righties in his career with a .343 wOBA. Not only does Perdomo struggle against lefties, but he has a hard time keeping runners off base in general with a career 1.57 WHIP, which includes his staggering 2.09 WHIP through three starts this season.

Others to consider: Paul Goldschmidt (first base) and C.J. Cron (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/18/18

Jose Altuve vs. Mike Leake, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $5,000

Altuve is hitting for a high average again at .314, but he has shown very little power with just two doubles and no home runs. He has hit at least 39 doubles in four straight seasons and hit exactly 24 home runs in each of the late two years, so expect him to turn things around sooner rather than later. He could be in line for a big performance Wednesday against Leake, who doesn’t have an overpowering pitch arsenal with a career 6.1 K/9.

Howie Kendrick vs. Steven Matz, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,500

Kendrick continues to fly under the radar as an important part of the Nationals lineup, hitting .300 with two home runs and seven RBI this season. His .348 BABIP is almost right on par with his career mark of .340, so it’s not unreasonable to think that he can continue to hit for a high average. He finished with a 137 wRC+ against lefties last year, making him a cost-effective option to consider against Matz on Wednesday.

Others to consider: Jed Lowrie and Cesar Hernandez

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/18/18

Travis Shaw vs. Tyler Mahle, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,600

Mahle threw six shutout innings in his first start of the season against the Cubs but has come crashing back down to Earth by allowing 10 total runs in his last two starts. Hitters have been squaring him up well with a 40% hard-hit rate overall. Shaw posted a 127 wRC+ against righties last year, so don’t be surprised if he has a big game against Mahle.

Jeimer Candelario vs. Kevin Gausman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,400

Candelario showed promise in his brief stint with the Tigers last year, batting .330 with a .406 OBP in 27 games. He had a .270 average and .350 OBP during his career in the minors, so regression was likely in the cards heading into this season. He has only hit .220 out of the gates, but he does have four doubles, two triples and one home run so far. Gausman is struggling yet again with a 1.60 WHIP through three starts, so it might be worth taking a chance on Candelario at this cheap price.

Others to consider: Yangervis Solarte and David Freese

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/18/18

Trea Turner vs. Steven Matz, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,600

Turner has shown signs of coming out of his slump in the first two games of this series, hitting a combined 5-for-9 with three runs scored and two stolen bases. He’ll continue to bat leadoff with Adam Eaton (ankle) sidelined, giving him added value in DFS. It also gives him a chance to swipe more bases as well.

Corey Seager vs. Luis Perdomo, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,400

Seager recorded just his third multi-hit game of the season Tuesday and is only batting .212 so far. He’s been very unlucky with a .236 BABIP, so don’t expect him to continue to hit this poorly for much longer. He finished with a .353 wOBA against right-handed pitching last year, which should make him a candidate for your entry against the struggling Perdomo on Wednesday.

Others to consider: Manny Machado and Trevor Story

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/18/18

J.D. Martinez vs. Tyler Skaggs, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,900

Martinez hasn’t carried over his torrid pace from the end of last year to his new team, but he certainly hasn’t struggled by hitting .271 with three home runs and 13 RBI. He absolutely destroyed left-handed pitching last year, finishing with a 235 wRC+ against them that ranked second in baseball. Skaggs is off to a great start, but he could be in for trouble against Martinez.

Josh Reddick vs. Mike Leake, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,100

The Astros lineup is loaded with excellent right-handed hitters, making Reddick an extremely important left-handed compliment. He does his job well, posting a .363 wOBA against righties in 2017. He’s off to another great start against them this year with a .443 wOBA, so don’t hesitate to add him to your lineup Wednesday.

Franchy Cordero vs. Kenta Maeda, Los Angeles Dodgers
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,500

One of the up-and-coming young players in the Padres system, Cordero is getting a chance to show his stuff with Wil Myers (arm) and Manuel Margot (ribs) on the DL. He’s only hit .231 through seven games, but he has already slugged two home runs. He was a career .282 hitter in the minors, so he should show improvement in his batting average as he continues to get accustomed to the league. Maeda has a 2.08 ERA so far this season, but it could have been worse due to his 1.73 WHIP. If you want to take a chance on a cheap outfielder with upside, Cordero might be your man.

Others to consider: Mookie Betts and Christian Yelich

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/17/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/17/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

The weather doesn’t seem like it will be a big issue in baseball Tuesday, which should hopefully leave us with a full night of options 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 4/17/18

Patrick Corbin vs. San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $9,500
DraftKings = $9,800

Corbin is off to an excellent start this season, posting a 2.45 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and 14.2 K/9 through three starts. He’s never had a K/9 above 8.4 and has a career WHIP of 1.34, so he is likely in line for some regression across the board as the season wears on. However, Tuesday brings an excellent matchup against a bad Giants lineup that has scored the second-fewest runs (49) in baseball this season. Although both Corey Kluber and Shohei Ohtani are taking the mound Tuesday, Corbin could provide similarly excellent results at a more reasonable price.

Yonny Chirinos vs. Texas Rangers
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $4,700

Chirinos has been one of the pitchers the Rays have thrown out first on their “bullpen days”, but he’s pitched so well that he’s made a case to be in the starting rotation moving forward. In 14.1 innings this season, he has yet to allow a run and has a sparkling 0.70 WHIP. His K/9 isn’t great at 7.5, but he’s shown excellent control with a 1.3 BB/9. He’s obviously going to give up a run at some point and has been a bit lucky with opponents posting a .222 BABIP, but he’ll face a Rangers lineup Tuesday that is missing Elvis Andrus (elbow), Rougned Odor (hamstring) and Delino DeShields Jr. (hand). At this price, Chirinos might be worth the risk in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/17/18

Yasmani Grandal vs. Bryan Mitchell, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $3,600

The Padres have a lot of young promising players, but Mitchell is not one of them. Brought over in a trade from the Yankees to help fill out their rotation, Mitchell has been awful through three starts. Not only does he have a 6.64 FIP, but he has only three strikeouts compared to 14 walks. He doesn’t have overpowering stuff by any means, making Grandal a great option for your entry considering the hot bat he is swinging as well.

C.J. Cron vs. Matt Moore, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $2,800

Moore has been almost as bad as Mitchell, recording an 8.76 ERA and 2.11 WHIP through three starts. Opponents are squaring him up well with a 44.7% hard-hit rate after he allowed a career-high 34.7% hard-hit rate in 2017. Cron is a better hitter against lefties, finishing with a .331 wOBA against them last year. If you’re looking to save money at the position. Cron is a viable option.

Others to consider: Cody Bellinger (first base) and Joey Votto (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/17/18

Jed Lowrie vs. Miguel Gonzalez, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $3,900

Lowrie is off to a scorching start this season, batting .343 with four home runs and 14 RBI. His BABIP sits at .392, so expect that to come down close to his career mark of .296 at some point in the near future. He could keep his hot streak going for at least one more game Tuesday though, in a favorable matchup against Gonzalez, who only has a career 6.3 K/9. Lowrie also hits right-handers well, finishing with a 123 wRC+ against them in 2017.

Jonathan Villar vs. Sal Romano, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,000

After a breakout 2016 campaign, Villar came crashing back to Earth last year hitting .241 with a .293 OBP. His .373 BABIP from 2016 dropped to .330 last season, which was a big reason for his decline in production. He’s shown improvement with a .273 average in the early going and will get to bat from his stronger side of the plate against the righty Romano on Tuesday, who has struggled with a 1.50 WHIP in his brief Major League career.

Others to consider: Jose Altuve and Ian Kinsler

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/17/18

Kris Bryant vs. Adam Wainwright, St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – Wrigley Field
FanDuel = $5,100
DraftKings = $5,100

Bryant is not only batting .352 this season, but he has more walks (10) than strikeouts (eight). He’ll face Wainwright on Tuesday who is a shell of his former self, posting an ERA of at least 4.62 and a WHIP of at least 1.40 in both of the last two seasons. He hasn’t been any better in 2018, recording  5.06 ERA and 1.50 WHIP through two starts.

Travis Shaw vs. Sal Romano, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,100

Shaw is off to a bit of a slow start, hitting only .266 through the first 16 games of the season. He has just a 23.5% hard-hit rate, which is significantly lower than his career mark of 33.7%. Facing Romano might be just what he needs to jump-start his bat since he had a .373 wOBA against right-handers in 2017.

Others to consider: Todd Frazier and Matt Carpenter

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/17/18

Carlos Correa vs. Ariel Miranda, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $4,800

Miranda is making his first start of the season after finishing with a 5.12 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 7.7 K/9 in 2017. He wasn’t a big strikeout pitcher in the minors either with a career 8.3 K/9. Correa’s 187 wRC+ against left-handed pitching ranked inside the top-15 in the majors last year, leaving him as an excellent option to consider Tuesday.

Corey Seager vs. Bryan Mitchell, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,200

Seager is batting just .200 so far this season, but he has been victimized by a .224 BABIP. A lot of that could be because he is not hitting the ball hard, posting a 28% hard-hit rate compared to his career mark of 41.4%. However, with Mitchell’s struggles and lack of an overpowering pitch arsenal, this could be a breakout performance from Seager.

Others to consider: Zack Cozart and Marcus Semien

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/17/18

George Springer vs. Ariel Miranda, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $4,700

Springer’s bat is starting to heat up, collecting at least two hits in three of his last four games. He hit for excellent power over that stretch as well, slugging three home runs. Like Correa, Springer also excels against left-handed pitching, posting a 165 wRC+ against them in 2017.

Dexter Fowler vs. Tyler Chatwood, Chicago Cubs
Stadium – Wrigley Field
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,600

After being limited to just 118 games due to injury last year, Fowler is not off to the kind of fresh start he hoped for with a .183 average. You might be able to take advantage of his reduced price Tuesday though against Chatwood, who allowed a .360 wOBA to left-handers last year. The switch-hitting Fowler is better against righties, finishing with a wOBA of at least .363 against them in both of the last two seasons.

Matt Joyce vs. Miguel Gonzalez, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,100

Joyce is someone you normally want to target as a cost-effective outfield option against right-handed pitching since he has a .351 wOBA against them in his career. This season has been no different as he has a .362 wOBA versus lefties in his first 17 games. Lefties were able to finish with a .360 wOBA against Gonzalez in 2017, making Joyce an excellent option once again Tuesday.

Others to consider: Charlie Blackmon and Jose Pirela

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/13/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/13/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

Only two of the 15 games in the majors on Friday have an early start time, leaving you with 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 4/13/18

Gerrit Cole vs. Texas Rangers
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $10,000
DraftKings = $12,100

The Astros brought in Cole during the offseason after he had an off year with the Pirates, posting a career-high 4.26 ERA. One of the biggest reasons for his jump in ERA is that he allowed 1.4 HR/9, a significant jump over his previous career worse of 0.7 HR/9. Things couldn’t have gone much better for him in his first two starts this season, allowing one run while recording 22 strikeouts in 14 innings. He’s never had a K/9 above 9.0 previously in his career, so it’s unlikely he will be able to keep up at this pace. He does get a favorable matchup Friday against a Rangers team that is missing both Elvis Andrus (elbow) and Rougned Odor (hamstring) from their lineup. Cole is the most expensive pitcher of the night, but he also has one of the highest upsides.

Vince Velasquez vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $6,700
DraftKings = $7,900

Velasquez has a lot of potential, but he has struggled with consistency in his career. He has a hard time pitching deep into games, averaging less than five innings per start in 2017. Hitters didn’t have a hard time squaring him up either with Velasquez posting a 38.1% hard hit percentage and a 20.8% HR/FB ratio. He was hit hard in his first start of the season against the Braves, but he settled down to allow one run in six innings in his second outing against the Marlins. He’ll face a similarly weak lineup in the Rays on Friday, who are tied for the third-fewest runs scored (39) in baseball. Velasquez also has strikeout upside, making him someone worth considering in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/13/18

Buster Posey vs. Tyson Ross, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,700

Posey has been a model of consistency, batting at least .311 in three of the last four seasons. His home runs have been on the decline, but he did hit a career-high 34 doubles in 2017. He’s off to another great start this season, batting .375 with two home runs and eight RBI. He already has five multi-hit games as well. Friday brings a matchup against the struggling Ross, making Posey a viable option for your entry.

Mitch Moreland vs. Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $3,300

Red Sox first baseman Hanley Ramirez was hit on the wrist and had to leave Thursday’s game against the Yankees. Initial results revealed it’s only a contusion, but it might be too much to expect him to play Friday. If he can’t play, Moreland should get the start at first base. Tillman allowed a staggering .429 wOBA to lefties last year, making Moreland a cheap option who could provide value.

Others to consider: Carlos Santana (first base) and Josh Bell (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/13/18

Cesar Hernandez vs. Jake Faria, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,400

Hernandez has been swinging a hot bat at the start of the season, recording at least one hit in all but one game that he has played. He already has 10 walks in 11 games as well, resulting in an excellent 440 OBP. The switch-hitting Hernandez hit right-handers well last season, posting a .345 wOBA against them. Faria has a 14.29 ERA and 3.00 WHIP through two starts, so Hernandez could be in line for a big performance.

Howie Kendrick vs. Kyle Freeland, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,600

Kendrick might not stand out in a loaded Nationals lineup that includes Bryce Harper and Trea Turner, but he’s been excellent with a .349 batting average this season. A career .291 hitter, Kendrick’s right-handed bat is a key part of their lineup. He dominated lefties with a .385 wOBA in 2017 and Freeland also struggled to get righties out, allowing a .345 wOBA to them last year. Kendrick has a nice price on both sites, making him an excellent option to consider for your entry.

Others to consider: Joe Panik and Brock Holt

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/13/18

Rafael Devers vs. Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,100

Devers got off to a great start this season but has cooled off to go 0-for-12 in his last three games. He’ll get an excellent opportunity to right the ship against Tillman with his struggles against left-handed hitters already detailed above. Tillman doesn’t have an overpowering pitch arsenal either, recording just three total strikeouts in his first two starts.

Evan Longoria vs. Tyson Ross, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $2,900

After spending his entire career with the Rays, Longoria was dealt to the Giants over the winter, a team that badly needed a boost offensively. Longoria hasn’t been able to deliver for them so far, batting just .163. Longoria has been unlucky though, posting a .207 BABIP this season compared to his career mark of .298. He’s been hitting the ball well with a 36.7% hard hit percentage, so he’s unlikely to keep hitting this poorly for much longer. At this cheap price, he might be worth the risk against Ross.

Others to consider: Anthony Rendon and Luis Valbuena

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/13/18

Trea Turner vs. Kyle Freeland, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,500

With Adam Eaton (ankle) on the DL, Turner has moved back to the leadoff spot for the Nationals. He was a steals machine in that role last season, swiping 46 bases in only 90 games. Turner uncharacteristically struggled against lefties last year with a .281 wOBA, but he has shown improvement this season with a .375 wOBA against them. This could be just the matchup Turner needs to break out of his slump.

Scott Kingery vs. Jake Faria, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,800

Kingery has shown he can hit for power in his first 10 games of the season, slugging two home runs to go along with three doubles. The Phillies will get to use the DH playing in Tampa Bay on Friday, which will help free up some of the logjams they have in the outfield and infield. Kingery was a consistent hitter in the minors with a career .284 average and is a viable option against the struggling Faria.

Others to consider: Carlos Correa and Andrelton Simmons

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/13/18

Mookie Betts vs. Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $5,100

Betts hit only .264 in 2017, but a lot of that was due to his abnormally low .268 BABIP. He’s rebounded in a big way so far, batting .370 with a .455 OBP this season. He has been crushing the ball with a 50% hard-hit rate. Betts has historically been a better hitter at home, posting a career .312 average ar Fenway park compared to .276 on the road. Don’t hesitate to pay up for him against Tillman on Friday.

Michael Conforto vs. Zach Davies, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,800

After a brief stint on the DL to start the season, Conforto is healthy now and batting .333 in his first six games. He crushed right-handed pitching in 2017 posting a 164 wRC+, which ranked sixth-highest in the majors behind players including Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, and Joey Votto. That could spell trouble for the right-handed Davies on Friday.

Kole Calhoun vs. Jason Hammel, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,100

The Angels lineup has a lot of excellent right-handed hitters in Mike Trout, Justin Upton, and Albert Pujols, but Calhoun provides an important compliment from the left side. Calhoun had just an 89 wRC+ against lefties last year but posted a 102 wRC+ against righties. His upside isn’t off the charts, but he is still a viable option Friday if you’re looking for a cheap outfielder to help fill out your lineup.

Others to consider: Shoei Ohtani and Andrew Benintendi

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers Lineup Picks for 4/11/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner*

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers Lineup Picks for 4/11/18

Wednesday brings the last day of the NBA regular season and with many teams having nothing left to play for, some unusual rotations might be deployed. It’s key to find the right cheap daily fantasy basketball sleepers to hopefully help create a winning entry. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and find the value players that are low-owned on FanDuel and DraftKings like Luke Kennard and Sean Kilpatrick.

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POINT GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers Lineup Picks for 4/11/18

Frank Ntilikina, NY at CLE
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $4,300

Ntilikina has started to see more playing time, logging at least 30 minutes in three straight games. With Emmanuel Mudiay (concussion) already ruled out for Wednesday, expect Ntilikina to see added playing time once again. He just scored 17 points to go along with six rebounds, five assists, one steal and one block against these same Cavaliers on Monday and has upside again in their rematch.

Tomas Satoransky, WAS at ORL
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $5,700

Satoransky has returned to a role with the second unit now that John Wall is healthy, but Wall is unlikely to play Wednesday after logging 36 minutes against the Celtics on Tuesday. Satoransky has done a great job as a member of the starting five this year, averaging 10.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.1 steals and one three-pointer in 29 games. The Magic allow the second-most points per game on both FanDuel and DraftKings to opposing point guards, leaving Satoransky as a viable option for your entry.

SHOOTING GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers Lineup Picks for 4/11/18

Luke Kennard, DET at CHI
FanDuel = $6,100
DraftKings = $4,300

Kennard has moved into the starting lineup with Reggie Bullock (knee) out for the season, averaging 19 points, five rebounds, three assists, 1.5 steals and 3.5 three-pointers in his last two games. The Bulls are tanking hard down the stretch and have struggled to defend the three-point line all season, allowing the eighth-highest three-pointing shooting percentage to opponents (36.9%) in the league. He’s not overly cheap on FanDuel, but he has a great price on DraftKings that you should try to take advantage of.

Sean Kilpatrick, CHI vs. DET
FanDuel = $5,100
DraftKings = $5,100

The Bulls are without many of their primary scorers, which has led Kilpatrick to score at least 16 points in four straight games. He’s getting plenty of looks, attempting at least 13 shots in all four of those contests. He doesn’t provide much in the way of rebounds or assists, but his ability to score and hit shots from behind the arc still leaves him with value, especially on a night with so many uncertain rotations.

SMALL FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers Lineup Picks for 4/11/18

Allen Crabbe, BKN at BOS
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $6,200

Crabbe destroyed the Bulls on Monday, hitting eight three-pointers on his way to 41 points. DeMarre Carroll (hip), Caris LeVert (foot) and Joe Harris (ankle) all missed that game, leaving Crabbe to play 34 minutes. LeVert will return Wednesday, but the Nets will again be without Carroll and Harris. The Celtics are certainly a much tougher opponent than the Bulls, but the added minutes that Crabbe will likely see again Wednesday make him someone to consider for your entry.

Kelly Oubre Jr., WAS at ORL
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $5,200

Not only will the Wizards likely be without Wall on Wednesday, but Otto Porter Jr. (calf) is also listed as doubtful after injuring himself Tuesday. Look for Oubre to move into the starting lineup and see an increased role in the offense as a result. He has played at least 30 minutes in a game 28 times this season, averaging 13.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.9 three-pointers per contest. Expect him to at least approach that minutes threshold Wednesday.

POWER FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers Lineup Picks for 4/11/18

Ivan Rabb, MEM at OKC
FanDuel = $5,700
DraftKings = $5,200

The Grizzlies won’t have many available players again Wednesday with frontcourt options including Marc Gasol (rest) and JaMychal Green (knee) already ruled out. Rabb has played at least 27 minutes in three of the last four games with the Grizzlies in full tank mode, averaging 14 points, 8.7 rebounds, and one block. His upside isn’t off the charts against a tough Thunder defense, but he could still finish with a double-double based on the amount of playing time he will likely receive.

Anthony Tolliver, DET at CHI
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $6,000

Tolliver has seen significant action as the season comes to a close with Blake Griffin (knee) out, logging at least 31 minutes in seven straight games. He hasn’t let the opportunity go to waste, averaging 16.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.6 three-pointers per contest. He torched the Bulls for 25 points, six rebounds and six three-pointers in a blowout win a few weeks ago, so don’t be surprised if he excels again Wednesday.

CENTERS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers Lineup Picks for 4/11/18

Greg Monroe, BOS vs. BKN
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $6,600

The Celtics have already clinched the second seed in the East and will be playing the second night of a back-to-back, so don’t be surprised if they rest or limit the minutes of some of their starters Wednesday. Monroe’s 24.8% usage rate is the highest on the Celtics now that Kyrie Irving (knee) is out for the season, so increased playing time could give him a significant boost in value. The Nets also allow the most points per game on both FanDuel and DraftKings to opposing centers.

Cristiano Felicio, CHI vs. DET
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $4,600

How bad are the Bulls trying to lose games? Not only is Felicio getting extended playing time, but Omer Asik has even played in three straight games. Felicio is clearly the better option between the two in DFS, averaging 8.3 points, 9.5 rebounds and one block in his last six games. The Pistons likely won’t have Andre Drummond (Achilles) on Wednesday either, making things a little easier for Felicio in the middle. His offensive ability is limited, but he could at least approach a double-double in what could be an ugly game to watch.