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MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/11/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

June special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout

Monday brings a quiet night in baseball with only eight games on the schedule. 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 6/11/18

Madison Bumgarner vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $8,800
DraftKings = $10,400

Bumgarner finally made his season debut last week against the Diamondbacks and allowed two runs to go along with three strikeouts in six innings. He threw just 82 pitches, but he had only made two minor league rehab starts before he returned. He gets a great matchup against a Marlins team that has scored the fewest runs (224) in baseball and should be able to throw more pitches, making him a great option Monday.

Sam Gaviglio vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $7,300

Gaviglio has done an excellent job with Marcus Stroman (shoulder) out, recording a 2.59 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and a 7.4 K/9 across four starts. He was very impressive in his last start against the Yankees as he finished with four strikeouts in seven shutout innings.  You shouldn’t be counting on Gaviglio for a lot of strikeouts, but that doesn’t mean he can’t provide value at this cheap price. The Rays don’t hit for a lot of power and have scored the sixth-fewest runs (260) in baseball, setting Gaviglio up as someone to consider in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/11/18

Jose Martinez vs. Jordan Lyles, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,300

Martinez is in the midst of an eight-game hitting streak that has seen him hit 14-for-28 (.500) with four home runs and nine RBI. He was off to a slow start in the homer department, but his batting average has been excellent and is now up to .320. He’s done a great job cutting down on his strikeouts this season, following up his 19.5% strikeout rate last year with a 13.4% mark this season. He’s had no problems against right-handed pitchers this year either with a .388 wOBA against them.

Yonder Alonso vs. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,700

An Indians stack could provide a hefty return Monday. Giolito has been awful this season, posting a 7.08 ERA, 6.20 FIP, and 1.66 WHIP. He has actually allowed more walks (39) than he has strikeouts (31). Lefties have a .409 wOBA against him, making Alonso a cheaper option with upside to target.

Others to consider: Anthony Rizzo (first base) and Buster Posey (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/11/18

Ian Kinsler vs. Wade LeBlanc, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,600

Kinsler’s long slump to start the season appears to finally be in his rearview mirror. In his last 12 games, Kinsler is 19-for-49 (.388) with six home runs and four doubles. He also struck out only twice during that stretch. LeBlanc is doing a fine job at the back end of the Mariners rotation, but it’s still worth riding Kinsler’s hot bat since he also has a .374 wOBA for his career against lefties.

Daniel Descalso vs. Joe Musgrove, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,800

Descalso is well on his way to having the best season of his career. He’s never hit more than 10 home runs in a season, but he already has seven in 57 games. He’s batting .261 as well with a career-high .360 OBP. His 42.1% hard-hit rate might not be easy to sustain over the course of the season, but he’s established himself as an important part of a Diamondbacks offense that has largely disappointed. He also has a .391 wOBA against righties, bringing him into the discussion against Musgrove.

Others to consider: Jonathan Schoop and Ben Zobrist

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/11/18

Jose Ramirez vs. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $5,600

The only reason you shouldn’t play Ramirez against Giolito is if you can’t make his hefty price tag work into your budget. He has a 1.007 OPS and is well on his way to hitting at least 30 home runs in a season for the first time in his career. He has almost even splits against righties and lefties, which only further illustrates his well-rounded hitting abilities.

Evan Longoria vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,700

Chen’s season hasn’t been as bad a Giolito’s, but he’s not exactly pitching well with a 5.86 ERA and a 6.19 FIP. Combine his 1.56 WHIP with a 2.0 HR/9 and you get the potential for disastrous outings whenever he takes the mound. Longoria has struggled with a .262 wOBA against righties this season but has hit lefties much better with a .380 wOBA.

Others to consider: Kris Bryant and Matt Carpenter

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/11/18

Francisco Lindor vs. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $5,000

Lindor is expensive too, but not quite as much as Ramirez, which might make him easier to fit into your entry. He was slumping heading into Sunday but broke out of it by hitting 3-for-5 with a double and two steals. He has dominated left-handed pitching this year, but he’s not exactly struggling against righties with a .358 wOBA.

Jean Segura vs. Andrew Heaney, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,800

Segura might not get a lot of headlines due to his lack of power, but he’s been a big reason why the Mariners enter the day tied for first place in the AL West. His .337 average has been aided by an abnormally high .377 BABIP and he doesn’t walk much, but he has hit a least .300 in both the last two seasons and should continue to provide value in that department. He has a .379 wOBA against lefties as well, which could leave him as a difficult out for Heaney.

Others to consider: Xander Bogaerts and Brock Holt

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/11/18

Michael Brantley vs. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,800

Brantley has been able to stay healthy after playing only 101 games in the last two seasons combined. He’s provided excellent all-around production by batting .319 with 10 home runs. He only has 20 strikeouts in 236 plate appearances and has never struck out more than 76 times in a season, so expect that trend to continue. His .312 BABIP is right in line with his career mark as well. He’s certainly towards the top of the list of Indians to stack against Giolito.

Marcell Ozuna vs. Jordan Lyles, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,800

Cardinals fans and fantasy owners watched Ozuna get off to a slow start this year as he entered May hitting only .250 with two home runs. He’s still lacking in the power department with just six home runs and six doubles this season, but he’s been able to work his batting average up to .278. Lyles has allowed at least four runs in three of his last four starts, so although Ozuna doesn’t have the platoon advantage in this game, he’s still a viable option at this price.

Andrew McCutchen vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium = Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,000

McCutchen isn’t exactly having a banner year with the Giants, batting only .260 with six home runs. His strikeout rate is also 22.8%, which would be the highest of his career. He has traditionally hit lefties very well, posting a .407 wOBA against them in his career. With Chen’s struggles already detailed, McCutchen is another Giants righty to consider working into your lineup.

Others to consider: Nelson Cruz and Teoscar Hernandez

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/4/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
May special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout

Monday brings an extremely light slate with only five games, four of which make up the main evening contests 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 6/4/18

Nick Tropeano vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $8,000
DraftKings = $8,300

Tropeano missed the 2017 season after having Tommy John surgery and hasn’t made more than 13 starts in a season during his career. He’s been able to make eight starts so far this year, posting a 3.80 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. His 4.91 FIP and 1.6 HR/9 are a bit concerning, especially if you own him in season-long fantasy. This sets up to be a favorable matchup against the Royals, though, who struggle against right-handed pitching. They have a .749 OPS against lefties, but only a .692 OPS against righties. With no elite aces taking the mound, Tropeano has the potential to provide value.

Julio Teheran vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $7,600
DraftKings = $9,800

Teheran had a subpar year for the Braves in 2017, finishing with a 4.49 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. A lot of that had to do with his troubles pitching in the new SunTrust Park as he had a 5.86 ERA there compared to a 3.14 ERA on the road. He has experienced similar results this year with a 4.91 ERA at home and a 3.18 ERA on the road. That’s good news Monday considering this game is in Petco Park, especially when you add in the fact that the Padres have the third-lowest OPS against righties (.652) in baseball.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/4/18

Greg Bird vs. Mike Fiers, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,000

The Yankees and Tigers are playing a doubleheader Monday, so not all of their regulars might play in the night portion. If Bird takes the field for the Yankees, he’s definitely someone to consider for your entry. After failing to record a hit in his first game of the season, he has logged at least one in five straight games. He’s shown power a well with a home run and two doubles. Fiers has allowed a .367 wOBA against lefties this season.

John Ryan Murphy vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,700

Murphy showed some promise early in his career as the backup catcher for the Yankees, but he didn’t play much in the majors the last two seasons. He’s only played 34 games this year, but he has already set career highs with eight home runs and 17 RBI. Five of his eight home runs have come in the last eight games. Murphy won’t be able to keep this pace up, but it’s worth trying to ride his hot bat Monday against the struggling Holland.

Others to consider: Buster Posey (catcher) and Albert Pujols (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/4/18

Joe Panik vs. Zack Godley, Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,000

Panik was carrying the Giants offense earlier this season before landing on the DL with a thumb injury. He has picked up right where he left off, hitting 6-for-11 in the three games since he has returned. Godley has pretty even splits against lefties and righties in his career, but he’s allowing way too many baserunners with a 1.54 WHIP this season. Panik won’t cost much either, making him viable option to consider.

Ian Kinsler vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,900

Kinsler is finally starting to show signs of life, hitting 12-for-28 (.429) in his last seven games. He’s provided plenty of power during that stretch as well with three home runs and three doubles. He still only has a .215 BABIP, leaving him with plenty of room to continue to improve his batting average. Duffy has pitched better his last two starts, but he has allowed a .393 wOBA to right-handed hitters. Look for Kinsler to continue his hot hitting Monday.

Others to consider: Ozzie Albies and Gleyber Torres

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/4/18

Jeimer Candelario vs. Domingo German, New York Yankees
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $3,900

The Tigers are at the start of what could be a lengthy rebuilding process, but they may have found their third baseman of the future with Candelario. After batting .330 with two home runs in 27 games with the Tigers at the end of last year, he is off to a great start by hitting .276 with nine home runs and 13 doubles. His .370 OBP percentage is impressive as well. German has had his moments filling in for the injured Jordan Montgomery (elbow) but has generally struggled with a 5.45 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. If Candelario is indeed in the lineup for the nightcap, he is an excellent option to consider.

Miguel Andujar vs. Mike Fiers, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,100

Speaking of promising young third baseman, Andujar is making a case to be locked in at the hot corner for the Yankees for years to come. Not only is he batting .294, but his six home runs and 18 doubles have led to an impressive .517 slugging percentage. Don’t be worried that he doesn’t get the righty/lefty split advantage here because he is actually hitting better against righties with a .376 wOBA.

Others to consider: Zack Cozart

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/4/18

Didi Gregorius vs. Mike Fiers, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,300

Gregorius couldn’t have been much worse in May, batting .151 with one home run. He was hitting .327 with 10 home runs before the month began, providing fantasy owners with two extreme swings in production. He’s showing signs of coming out of his funk now, hitting 8-for-22 (.364) across his last five games. He has a .349 wOBA against righties this year even after his massive slump, leaving him with a favorable matchup against Fiers.

Dansby Swanson vs. Clayton Richard, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $2,800
DragyKings = $3,500

Swanson only hit six homers in 144 games for the Braves last year, but he’s already up to five this season with two of them coming in his last three games. He never hit more than nine home runs in a season in the minors, but he could hit double-digit homers if he can stay healthy. He’s a cheap option to target against lefties as well since his career wOBA is 37 points higher against them than it is against righties.

Others to consider: Andrelton Simmons and Brandon Crawford

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/4/18

Mike Trout vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $6,000

Trout is a great choice most nights, but with so few games Monday leaving fewer high-end options than normal, he stands out from the crowd. His numbers are great across the board, but he also has a lofty 220 wRC+ against lefties this year. Pay up to get him into your lineup.

Justin Upton vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,000

Upton is still hitting for power with 12 home runs, but his .235 average is certainly disappointing. His .284 BABIP is 42 points below his career mark, so he could make gains with his average as the season wears on. He generally hits lefties well and has had excellent success against Duffy in his career, hitting 6-for-17 (.353) with two home runs and two doubles.

Leonys Martin vs. Domingo German, New York Yankees
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,700

Martin was horrid splitting time between the Mariners and Cubs last year, hitting only .172 with a .281 slugging percentage. He was dragged down by a .207 BABIP that was almost 100 points lower than his career mark. His BABIP is much more reasonable at .291 this year, resulting in a .257 average. He’s hit for power too with seven home runs and 10 doubles. With a .377 wOBA against righties, Martin is a cheap option with upside.

Others to consider: Aaron Judge and Nicholas Castellanos

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/3/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/3/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

Thursday brings a light schedule in baseball with 11 games, most of which start in the afternoon. 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 5/3/18

Patrick Corbin vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $10,000
DraftKings = $12,500

Corbin is off to a masterful start this season with a 2.25 ERA, 2.71 FIP, and 0.75 WHIP. He has been somewhat lucky with opponents posting a .222 BABIP, but his 33.7% hard-hit rate allowed is almost spot on with his career mark. The big difference this season has been his increased strikeouts with a 12.4 K/9 compared to an 8.1 K/9 for his career. He’s thrown a first-pitch strike to 68% of the hitters he has faced this season, which is the second-highest mark of his career. He’s already faced the Dodgers once this season, throwing 7.1 shutout innings and recording 12 strikeouts. With the Dodgers missing several key players in their lineup, Corbin could be in line for another strong start Thursday.

Sean Manaea vs. Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $9,000
DraftKings = $11,200

Manaea has had even better luck than Corbin with opponents recording just a .148 BABIP this year. His numbers are excellent with a 1.03 ERA and 0.62 WHIP through six outings. His K/9 remains on par with his career mark, but he’s cut down on his walks, posting just a 1.4 BB/9 so far. This will be his second start against the Mariners this year after he held them to one earned run with four strikeouts across seven innings in his first outing. If you are playing the night slate, Manaea is one of the best options to consider.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/3/18

Hanley Ramirez vs. Mike Minor, Texas Rangers
Stadium = Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,400

The Red Sox have struggled against left-handed pitching this season, posting the second-lowest OPS (.619) against them in baseball. Ramirez is one of the few Red Sox that is having success against them this season with a .374 wOBA. Look for him to take advantage of Minor, who has allowed a .355 wOBA to righties in the early going.

Matt Adams vs. Trevor Williams, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,800

With the Nationals lineup riddled with injuries, Adams has proven to be an important part of their team. He’s mashed three home runs in his last two games and has a 1.111 OPS so far this season. Williams has a 2.29 ERA this year, but his 5.9 K/9 and opponents posting just a .222 BABIP doesn’t exactly bode well for his continued success. If you need to save money at first base, Adams is someone to consider in tournament play.

Others to consider: Albert Pujols (first base) and Kurt Suzuki (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/3/18

Ozzie Albies vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $5,000

Albies is doing it all for the Braves and now has a prime spot hitting leadoff in their lineup. With Ronald Acuna Jr. and Freddie Freeman providing him with protection, he is an excellent position to produce. He finished with a .396 wOBA against lefties last year and sits at a staggering .716 wOBA against them this season, so don’t hesitate to add him to your lineup against Vargas.

Ian Kinsler vs. Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,700

Don’t get too excited about Tillman’s last start where he threw seven shutout innings as it came against one of the worst offenses in baseball in the Tigers. He had allowed at least four earned runs in each of his first four starts while recording only eight total strikeouts. Kinsler has batted .286 with two home runs in 31 career plate appearances against Tillman, making him a viable option Thursday.

Others to consider: Jed Lowrie and Asdrubal Cabrera

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/3/18

Matt Chapman vs. Wade LeBlanc, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,100

Chapman has slowed down after his hot start, going 3-for-22 in his last six games. He’s hitting the ball hard with a 45% hard-hit rate, but he’s not the type of player who is going to hit for a high average. He does have loads of power and has a .346 wOBA against lefties in his brief Major League career, so he could break out of his slump against the underwhelming LeBlanc on Thursday.

Luis Valbuena vs. Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,300

Valbuena is a cost-effective option to target against right-handed pitching because even though he had an unsightly 15 wRC+ against lefties last year, he was much better against righties with a 104 wRC+. He also has excellent numbers in his career against Tillman, batting .364 with a home run in 13 plate appearances.

Others to consider: Jeimer Candelario and Colin Moran

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/3/18

Carlos Correa vs. Masahiro Tanaka, New York Yankees
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel =$4,200
DraftKings = $4,900

Tanaka can be a tough pitcher to gauge as he doesn’t seem to have much of a middle ground. This season has been a prime example of that with him allowing one earned run each in three of his six starts, but allowing at least five earned runs in two of his other outings. Home runs tend to be his issue, allowing a 1.8 HR/9 last year. Correa is hitting .316 with two home runs in 20 career plate appearances against Tanaka, so he might be worth the risk even considering his high price tag.

Marcus Semien vs. Wade LeBlanc, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,200

Semien has been consistent of late, getting at least one hit in nine of his last 10 games. His .356 BABIP means a regression in his batting average may be on the horizon, but it might not start Thursday against the LeBlanc, who will be making his first start in the majors since 2016. Semien also has a career. 344 wOBA against left-handed pitchers compared to .299 against righties.

Others to consider: Manny Machado and Andrelton Simmons

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/3/18

A.J. Pollock vs. Alex Wood, Los Angeles Dodgers
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $5,500

Pollack was limited to just 112 games due to injury last year, but he still managed to hit 14 home runs to go along with 20 steals. He’s off to an even better start this season, batting .300 with 10 home runs and seven steals. His .311 BABIP is actually a little lower than his career mark, so there’s no reason to believe he can’t keep hitting for a high average. His power numbers are likely unsustainable as they have largely been buoyed by a 44% hard-hit that that is almost 10 percent higher than what he has averaged over the course of his career. With a .421 average to go along with two home runs and three doubles across 19 plate appearances against Wood in his career, look for a productive day from Pollock.

Ronald Acuna Jr. vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,300

One of the elite prospects in all of baseball, Acuna appears to be in the majors to stay after his hot start, logging at least two hits in four of seven games since being called up. He’s shown excellent power as well, hitting one home run and five doubles. Vargas doesn’t exactly have an overpowering pitch arsenal with a career 6.0 K/9, so expect big things from Acuna in this contest.

Mark Canha vs. Wade LeBlanc, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,800

A career .242 hitter, Canha has far exceeded expectations this season with a .391 average. His .375 BABIP won’t hold, but he has shown he can hit for power in the minors. He has mashed left-handed pitchers this season with a 240 wRC+ and with LeBlanc not exactly having overpowering stuff, Canha could continue his hot streak Thursday.

Others to consider: Mike Trout and Corey Dickerson

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/1/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/1/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

If you like ace starting pitchers, you are in luck Tuesday with Max Scherzer, Chris Sale, Clayton Kershaw, Justin Verlander and Noah Syndergaard all scheduled to take the mound. Offense might be hard to come by in those games, but there are still a lot of great hitting options for the night 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 5/1/18

Chris Sale vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $11,300
DraftKings = $12,400

Where to begin? Sale was one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball last year, finishing with a 2.90 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and 12.9 K/9. It marked the third time in the last four seasons that he finished with a K/9 of at least 10.8. He hasn’t slowed down this season, posting a 2.31 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and 11.6 K/9 through six starts. He owns left-handed hitters, holding them to a .234 wOBA last year. Some of the Royals best hitters are left-handed, which is not good news for their offensive potential Tuesday. Their lineup has been bad in general this year, scoring the fewest runs (95) with the sixth-lowest OPS (.681) in baseball. Of all the aces taking the mound Tuesday, Sale might finish with the most impressive performance.

Sean Newcomb vs. New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $7,400
DraftKings = $7,600

The Braves are loaded with young talent, including Newcomb, who they are relying on to be an important part of their starting rotation. He’s had control issues in his brief Major League career, posting a 5.0 BB/9 through 127.2 innings. The good news is he doesn’t allow a lot of solid contact with a 27.4% hard-hit rate for his career. Add in his 9.7 K/9 last year and he can provide value despite his high walk rate. The Mets have the second-lowest OPS (.605) against left-handed pitching this season, so Newcomb might be worth the risk Tuesday.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/1/18

C.J. Cron vs. Matthew Boyd, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $3,900

Cron has provided the Rays with an excellent power bat of late, hitting five home runs in his last eight games. He’s never played more than 116 games in a season, but should easily top that this season if he can stay healthy. Boyd’s 2.74 ERA looks nice, but his 4.72 FIP indicates he has not pitched that well and he’s been lucky with opponents having just a .194 BABIP. Cron might be one player who turns Boyd’s luck around Tuesday.

Albert Pujols vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,600

Pujols isn’t exactly red-hot right now and hasn’t had a multi-hit performance in any of his last 12 games. However, Cobb has been one of the worst pitchers in baseball during the early going, allowing a 13.11 ERA and 2.83 WHIP. He has allowed at least 10 hits in each of his first three starts and only has four total strikeouts. At this cheap price, Pujols could be worth the risk in tournament play.

Others to consider: Joey Votto (first base) and J.T. Realmuto (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/1/18

Robinson Cano vs. Andrew Triggs, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $3,900

Cano only has three home runs this year, but he’s batting .313 with a .422 OBP. He has shown an excellent eye at the plate, drawing 17 walks and striking out just 18 times. With a career .379 wOBA against right-handed pitchers, Cano could be in line for a big performance Tuesday.

Ian Kinsler vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,800

Kinsler has already spent some time on the DL this season, limiting him to only 15 games. He’s struggled to the tune of a .224 batting average, but his abnormally low .218 BABIP and 25% hard-hit rate suggest better things to come. With Cobb’s struggles already detailed, Kinsler is another Angels’ hitter to consider adding to your entry.

Others to consider: Jed Lowrie and Matt Carpenter

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/1/18

Christian Villanueva vs. Andrew Suarez, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,400

The Padres couldn’t have asked for more from Villanueva to start the season, hitting .321 with a 1.103 OPS, eight home runs, and 19 RBI. His .370 BABIP might not be sustainable though and he batted only .269 with a .780 OPS during his career in the minors. While regression is likely in his future, it might not come Tuesday against the left-handed Suarez since Villanueva has a 339 wRC+ (you’re not reading that wrong) against lefties in his brief Major League career.

Martin Prado vs. Zach Eflin, Philadelphia Phillies
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,000

A career .291 hitter, injuries limited Prado to only 37 games last year and only three games this season. He doesn’t hit for a lot of power, but he doesn’t strike out much either with an 11.2% strikeout rate for his career. Eflin will be making his first start of the season after finishing with a 1.42 WHIP and 4.9 K/9 last year, bringing Prado and his cheap price into the conversation for Tuesday.

Others to consider: Alex Bregman and Daniel Robertson

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/1/18

Trea Turner vs. Chad Kuhl, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,300

Turner was in a funk to start the season but has broken out of it, hitting 13-for-30 (.433) in his last seven games. He’s been excellent on the bases as well, recording four steals and five runs scored during that same stretch. Kuhl has struggled to keep runners off base with a 1.43 career WHIP, so don’t be surprised if Turner has another multi-hit performance in this game.

Andrelton Simmons vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,900

Simmons is one of the best defensive shortstops in baseball, but don’t forget that he has batted at least .278 in back-to-back seasons. He’s off to an even better start this season at .312, but a lot of that has to do with his 39.5% hard-hit rate, which is over 13% higher than his career mark. With Cobb on the mound Tuesday though, he’s yet another Angels’ hitter who could provide value.

Others to consider: Carlos Correa and Adeiny Hechavarria

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/1/18

Bryce Harper vs. Chad Kuhl, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $5,300

Harper is hitting just .247 this season, but his .219 BABIP indicates that won’t hold up. He’s still hitting the ball well, posting a 40.3% hard-hit rate. His eye at the plate has been impeccable with 38 walks and only 21 strikeouts this year, leading to a lofty .458 OBP. With Kuhl’s struggles to keep runners off base, Harper might be worth paying up for Tuesday.

Marcell Ozuna vs. James Shields, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,800

After setting career-highs with a .312 average and 37 home runs in 2017, it was going to be tough for Ozuna to duplicate that for his new team this year. He’s off to a slow start batting .250, but his .313 BABIP isn’t that low. It should be noted that his career batting average is .276 and his career BABIP is .326, so he may have just played over his head last year. He’s still someone to consider Tuesday though against Shields, who doesn’t have overpowering stuff and finished with a 1.44 WHIP last year.

Max Kepler vs. Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,400

Kepler is a much better hitter against righties, finishing with a .350 wOBA against them last year compared to .203 against lefties. Of the 19 home runs he hit last year, 17 of them came off of righties. Estrada allowed 31 home runs last year and has already given up seven this season, making Kepler a viable option at a cheap price.

Others to consider: Mike Trout and Christian Yelich

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

Fantasy Baseball Season Preview: Second Base

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner – @rotomikebarner*

Fantasy Baseball Season Preview: Second Base

Second base provides a unique opportunity because you can go in any number of directions with the position. There are big power hitters, speedsters, and players that hit for high average littered throughout the position. Let’s not only take a look at the cream of the crop but also at some second basemen who are overvalued and undervalued heading into 2018.

The Top Three

Fantasy Baseball Season Preview: Second Base

Jose Altuve, Houston Astros

This is an easy one. Not only is Altuve the best second baseman, but I’d rank him second overall behind Angels outfielder Mike Trout. Altuve won the AL-MVP last year, batting .346 with 24 home runs, 81 RBI, 112 runs scored and 32 stolen bases. He had a career-high OPS+ of 164 and played in at least 147 games for the sixth straight season. His speed and ability to hit for a high average gave him significant value early in his career, but he’s moved into elite fantasy status by clubbing at least 24 home runs in back-t0-back seasons. He’s heading into the prime of his career at just 27 years old, so don’t expect him to slow down this season.

Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Indians

Ramirez made his mark on fantasy baseball in 2016, hitting .312 with 11 home runs, 76 RBI, and 22 steals. He also had 46 doubles, showing signs that a big power season might soon be on the horizon. That season came last year, finishing with 29 home runs. But wait, he also hit a league-leading 56 doubles. The result was a spectacular .583 slugging percentage, putting him inside the top-10 in the league. His power did not come at the expense of his batting average either as he still hit .318. His hard hit percentage has increased each season, topping out at 34% last year. He doesn’t have as much upside as Altuve, but his ability to contribute across the board makes him the clear second best option at the keystone position.

Brian Dozier, Minnesota Twins

Dozier is a masher at second base, slugging at least 28 home runs in three straight seasons. It was going to be tough for him to match the 42 home runs that he hit in 2016, but he still hit 34 homers last year. He’s more than just a slugger though, scoring at least 100 runs and stealing at least 12 bases in four straight seasons. He hindered fantasy owners with his batting average early in his career but has hit at least .268 in back-to-back seasons. He had a hard hit percentage of at least 34.1% in both of those seasons, which was a big reason why his average improved. If you miss out on Altuve or Ramirez, draft Dozier with confidence.

Overvalued Players

Fantasy Baseball Season Preview: Second Base

Dee Gordon, Seattle Mariners

Steals are not easy to come by, but Gordon is one of the elite base stealers in all of baseball. He has led the league in steals three of the last four seasons, finishing with at least 58 steals all three times. The one year he didn’t lead the league was when he played just 79 games in 2016 due to a suspension. Amazingly, he still finished with 30 steals that year. Gordon is not just about steals though as he has a .293 career batting average and scored 114 runs last year. He’s going to play center field for the Mariners this year, but will still carry over second base eligibility. The Mariners have a potent lineup, which should leave Gordon with plenty of opportunities to score runs. The problem is, he has never hit more than four home runs or recorded more than 46 RBI in a single season. If your league counts OBP, his career mark of .329 is not impressive either. His current ADP in the NFBC is too high at 28.47, which is actually ahead of Dozier (37.87). Let someone else take him at that price.

Chris Taylor, Los Angeles Dodgers

Taylor was one of the biggest surprises in fantasy baseball last year. He played in only 120 total games the previous three seasons but played 140 games in 2017. He made the most of his opportunity, hitting .288 with 21 home runs, 72 RBI, 85 runs scored and 17 steals. One area of concern is his drastic splits though, batting .237 with a .306 BABIP at home compared to .336 with a .412 BABIP on the road. His overall numbers are valuable, but his current ADP of 90.83 is ninth-highest among second basemen. Marwin Gonzalez’s current ADP is 114.25 and he could provide very similar numbers outside of stolen bases, although he did steal eight bases last year. It might be wise to pass on Taylor if forced to select him so early.

Undervalued Players

Fantasy Baseball Season Preview: Second Base

Ian Happ, Chicago Cubs

The Cubs have one of the most flexible rosters in the league, but Happ should still get plenty of at-bats. He played in just 115 games last year, but still managed hit 24 home runs to go along with 68 RBI, 62 runs scored and eight steals. He batted only .253 though and struck out 31.2% of the time. The high strikeouts may have just been him getting adjusted to major league pitching as he never struck out more than 23.6% of the time during any of his stops in the minors. His current ADP is 137.46, which is a bargain considering his potential. Don’t be surprised if he finishes with a more productive season than Taylor.

Ian Kinsler, Los Angeles Angels

Today’s craze in baseball is young talent. There seems to more elite young players across the league now than in recent years, which can often make you forget about productive veterans in terms of fantasy. A lot of people might be down on Kinsler after a rough 2017 campaign that saw him hit a career-low .236. His numbers indicate he could rebound this season as last year he had only a .244 BABIP, well below his career mark of .286. Another possible indicator for improvement this year is that he also had a 37% hard hit percentage last year, which was the highest of his career. Yes, he’s getting older, but the numbers indicate he had few bounces go his way last year.  Not only should his average improve this year, but he is also a threat to hit 20 home runs and steal 15 bases. His current ADP is only 189.25, making him someone to target late in your draft.

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Lineup Stacks for August 14, 2017

by Austyn Varney 0 Comments

*Austyn Varney*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Lineup Stacks – Monday, August 14, 2017

*STARTING PITCHERS*

Jose Quintana - Chicago Cubs - MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Lineup Stacks - Lineuplab

Jose Quintana Vs. Cincinatti Reds
Park – Wrigley Field
Vegas O/U – N/A

Yesterday, we were blessed with an amazing core of pitchers. They pitched very well and the chalk guys didn’t hurt too much. Today is a whole different story. Pitching is extremely limited and the only ace we do have in Greinke is facing the Diamondbacks in Chase Field. Instead, we’all move a few spots down and take a look at Jose Quintana against the Reds. While Quintana isn’t a high upside, strikeout pitcher, he’s very consistent and can nearly be locked in for 6 innings. Quintana has been good against both sidedness of the plate with a .293 wOBA and 9.58 K/9. He’s as safe as you’ll find on the slate and his price is very fair. He will be popular, but that’s fine in cash games where the alternatives aren’t great.

Jerad Eickhoff @ San Diego Padres
Park – Petco Park
Vegas O/U – 8.5

Listen, pitcher is bad. We can’t be picky tonight and after Quintana, I’m not willing to trust anyone. Jerad Eickhoff is a very talented young arm with a ton of potential and upside. He’s sported a .293 wOBA and strikes out nearly a full batter per inning. The K’s haven’t been huge for Eickhoff his entire career, but they’ll likely come with age and experience. The Padres, as we know, stink against righties. They have held just a .308 wOBA and have struck out nearly 26% of the time, which leads the league. Eickhoff may not be “safe”, but he’s definitely “safer” than a lot of these arms on the slate. He should get you at least 5 or 6 innings and come through with the win when it matters.

*OFFENSIVE STACKS*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Lineup Stacks - Ian Kinsler - Detroit Tigers - LineupLab

Detroit Tigers @ Martin Perez (Rangers)
Park – Globe Life Park
Implied Total – 5.19

While the Rockies are the obvious stack here, you didn’t need me to tell you that. If you are interested in a Rockies stack, they’ll be popular and have as much upside as anyone. We’re going to take a look in Arlington and peer down at this often troubled Tigers lineup. They face off with Martin Perez, who is a southpaw (lefty) with some major issues. In 97 innings of work, Perez has posted a .373 wOBA and 16 homers. Wow. He now faces a team with as many righties as you could hope for. Ian Kinsler and James McCann are my 2 favorites, with Castellanos and Miggy a close 3/4. This lineup isn’t too concentrated and you can definitely get exposure to some of them for cheap.

Main Stack – Ian Kinsler, James McCann, Miguel Cabrera, Justin Upton
Sneaky Stack – Justin Upton, James McCann, Victor Martinez, Nick Castellanos

Chicago Cubs Vs Asher Wojciechowski (Reds)
Park – Wrigley Field
Implied Total – N/A

Main Stack – Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Ben Zobrist, Alex Avila
Sneaky Stack – Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, Jason Heyward