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MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/7/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

June special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout

Baseball brings a pretty even split between day and night games Thursday, so let’s take a look at some options across the entire schedule for your DFS entry. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/7/18

Gerrit Cole vs. Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $11,800
DraftKings = $14,000

It’s hard to argue against starting Cole whenever he takes the mound. He’s been one of the best pitchers in baseball, recording a 2.20 ERA, 2.55 FIP and a 0.83 WHIP in 12 starts. One of the main reasons for his significant improvement has been his 12.8 K/9. Before this season, he never had a K/9 higher than 9.0 in his career. Cole absolutely dominated the Rangers in their first two meetings this year, allowing three runs and recording 25 strikeouts in 14 innings. He hasn’t allowed more than three runs in any of his starts either, so don’t be afraid to pay up to get him into your lineup.

Jalen Beeks vs. Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $5,700

The Red Sox have decided to give their starters an extra day of rest, resulting in Beeks being called up to make a spot start Thursday. He’s been lights out at Triple-A this year, recording a 2.56 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP. Not only has he shown good control with a 2.2 BB/9, but he gets a ton of strikeouts with a 12.8 K/9. The Tigers lineup has struggled on the road this season with a .670 OPS compared to a .763 OPS at home. Beeks is certainly a risky play, but he might be worth taking a chance on at this price considering this matchup and his strikeout upside.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/7/18

Matt Olson vs. Jason Hammel, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,600

Olson provided plenty of power for the Athletics last year with a .651 slugging percentage. He hasn’t been able to replicate that so far this season, but he does have four home runs in his last six games. He also went 10-for-24 (.417) over that stretch, boosting his batting average up to .256 on the season. Hammel has a 1.43 WHIP and doesn’t have an overpowering arsenal with just a 5.8 K/9, so look for Olson to continue to swing a hot bat.

Wilson Ramos vs. Mike Leake, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,800

Even though Ramos was limited to only 64 games due to injury last year, he still slugged 11 home runs. His batting average wasn’t great at .260, but his .262 BABIP certainly didn’t help his cause. He’s hitting for power again this season with seven home runs, but his .336 BABIP has helped boost his average to .290. His hard-hit rate is 40.3%, which might be unsustainable considering his 31.9% career mark. His splits are pretty close against righties and lefties, making him a cheap option with upside against Leake.

Others to consider: Anthony Rizzo (first base) and Carlos Santana (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/7/18

Brian Dozier vs. James Shields, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,200

The Twins lineup has been heating up as they have averaged 5.5 runs in their last 10 games. By comparison, they are averaging 4.3 runs per game this year overall. It’s no coincidence that Dozier is 12-for-38 (.316) over that stretch. He still has a lot of catching up to do with a .247 average overall, but he could be in line for a big performance Thursday since he is 12-for-38 with four home runs and five doubles in his career against Shields.

Jed Lowrie vs. Jason Hammel, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,500

After slugging six home runs in his first 28 games, Lowrie only has three longballs in his last 32 contests. He’s never hit more than 16 in a season, so it’s no surprise that he has cooled down in the power department. That doesn’t mean he’s not hitting in general, though, as he is 11-for-38 (.289) with five doubles in his last nine games. Considering how poorly Hammel has pitched, Lowrie is once again a viable option for your entry.

Others to consider: Dee Gordon and Joey Wendle

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/7/18

Eugenio Suarez vs. Tyler Anderson, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $5,100

Suarez has done a great job cutting down his strikeouts, posting a 17.9% strikeout rate this year compared to 23.4% for his career. Add that to a staggering 50% hard-hit rate and you get a career-high .305 average despite his BABIP being right in line with his career numbers. With a 232 wRC+ against lefties, Suarez could do a lot of damage against Anderson.

Danny Valencia vs. Jaime Garcia, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,300

Garcia is struggling to find his way with the Blue Jays, posting a 6.08 ERA and a 5.25 FIP in 10 starts. He’s had troubles keeping runners off base throughout his career, but he’s taken it to another level this year with a 1.61 WHIP. He also has a 1.7 HR/9 which, combined with his WHIP, is a big reason why he has such a bloated ERA. Valencia has a .369 wOBA against lefties for his career and could provide a lot of value at this cheap price.

Others to consider: Eduardo Escobar and Colin Moran

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/7/18

Manny Machado vs. Jaime Garcia, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $5,300

With Garcia’s struggles already outlined, stacking Orioles could be a wise strategy Thursday. Machado obviously won’t provide the cost savings that Valencia does, but he also has tremendous upside. He has a 1.014 OPS and is making a strong push in a contract year to have the best season of his career. He does actually have better numbers against righties this year, but he’s not exactly struggling against lefties with a .401 wOBA.

Jean Segura vs. Ryne Stanek, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,600

Stanek is starting this game for the Rays, but this will be another one of their bullpen games. Segura enters this game on an extended hot streak, hitting 43-for-102 (.422) since May 9th. He doesn’t hit a ton of home runs, but his .486 slugging percentage this year would be the second-highest mark of his career. If you can’t work Machado into your budget, Segura also has plenty of upside.

Others to consider: Xander Bogaerts and Marcus Semien

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/7/18

J.D. Martinez vs. Matthew Boyd, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $5,400

The Red Sox needed to add a power hitter during the offseason and boy did they ever. Martinez has certainly held up to lofty expectations right out of the gate as he is batting .317 with 20 home runs and 52 RBI. His career high for RBI in a season was the 104 that he had last year, so he could blow by that mark this year if he stays healthy. He has a career .384 wOBA against lefties and is worth paying up for against Boyd.

Adam Jones vs. Jaime Garcia, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,800

Jones only has six walks this year, but he’s not just a free swinger with a reasonable 16.5% strikeout rate. He’s batting .288 with 10 home runs on a bad team, which has resulted in him recording only 28 RBI. He’s 17-for-42 (.405) in his last 10 games and is a cheap option to target facing Garcia.

Dustin Fowler vs. Jason Hammel, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $4,300

Acquired from the Yankees last year in the Sonny Gray deal, the Athletics are hoping that Fowler is a big part of their future. He’s batting .250 through his first 64 at-bats and has shown a combination of speed and power with three home runs and four steals. He had 13 home runs and 13 steals in 70 games at Triple-A last year, so he has the potential to provide value in both categories. His price on DraftKings is high, but he’s a great bargain play on FanDuel facing Hammel.

Others to consider: Eddie Rosario and Odubel Herrera

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/6/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

June special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout

There are five games with early start times Wednesday, but let’s focus on the main evening slate in DFS. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/6/18

Shohei Ohtani vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $8,600
DraftKings = $11,100

Ohtani’s bat has cooled off some after a hot start, but he’s still shown impressive two-way skills overall. He hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down on the mound, allowing two runs or fewer in each of his last four outings. His 3.18 ERA is supported by a strong 3.23 FIP and a 1.08 WHIP. A stellar 15.5% swinging-strike rate has helped result in an 11.3 K/9 as well. The Royals have a .720 OPS against lefties, but righties have held them to a .696 OPS. On a night with few elite pitchers taking the mound, Ohtani is one of the best options on the slate.

Eduardo Rodriguez vs. Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $8,100
DraftKings = $9,400

The Red Sox have some big names in their starting rotation, but Rodriguez has quietly put together an excellent season. He has a 3.88 ERA, 3.60 FIP and a 1.21 WHIP across 11 starts, all of which would be the best marks of his career. His .296 BABIP allowed is almost right in line with his career average, but he’s taken tremendous strides in the strikeout department with a 10.7 K/9. He’s been especially strong in his last three outings, allowing four runs and recording 21 strikeouts over 18 innings. The Tigers have hit well at home this season with a .763 OPS, but they have just a .670 OPS away from Comerica Park. With Rodriguez’s strikeout upside, he could provide plenty of value.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/6/18

Matt Olson vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,400

The wheels are starting to fall off for Colon as he has allowed 15 runs over 15.1 innings in his last three starts. Opponents have been very unlucky with just a .228 BABIP against him despite a 42.9% hard-hit rate, so expect Colon’s ERA to continue to increase. Olson has a .355 wOBA against right-handed pitchers this year and his power could give Colon a lot of trouble Wednesday.

Jose Martinez vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,700

Martinez only has five home runs this year, but he already has 15 doubles in 206 at-bats after slugging 13 doubles in 272 at-bats last year. He destroyed lefties last year with a 240 wRC+ but is off to a slow start this season with a 121 wRC+ against them. Righties have a robust .389 wOBA against Chen this year, so this could be just the matchup that Martinez needs to get back on track.

Others to consider: Greg Bird (first base) and Yadier Molina (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/6/18

Brian Dozier vs. Hector Santiago, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings =  $4,200

Dozier has been known for getting off to slow starts and the same thing happened to him this year. However, he showing signs of heating up, batting 11-for-34 (.324) with two home runs in his last eight games. He has finished with a wOBA of at least .397 in both of the last two seasons against lefties, so expect his current .317 wOBA against them to improve as he continues to heat up. Santiago allows way too many baserunners with a 1.62 WHIP, leaving Dozier as an excellent option for your entry.

Jedd Gyorko vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,700

With Chen taking the mound for the Marlins, you should be seeking out right-handed hitters on the Cardinals. Gyroko hasn’t had much success against righties, but he is mashing lefties with a 255 wRC+ this season. If you can’t make Dozier work with your budget, Gyorko is a cost-effective option with upside in tournament play. Of note, Gyorko is only second base eligible on FanDuel as he is listed at third base on DraftKings.

Others to consider: Jed Lowrie and Ian Kinsler

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/6/18

Miguel Sano vs. Hector Santiago, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,100

Sano is very much an all-or-nothing type of hitter. He has seven home runs in only 125 at-bats, but he is batting just .208 with a 39.6% strikeout rate. He’s probably never going to provide a high batting average, but his power is unquestioned. He has a career .364 wOBA against lefties, making him a viable candidate against the underwhelming Santiago.

Miguel Andujar vs. Sam Gaviglio, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,900

Andujar is an extra-base machine, hitting seven home runs and 20 doubles already this year. He doesn’t walk much, but he hits for a high average and only has an 18.5% strikeout rate. His splits are pretty even at home and on the road, so he’s not just taking advantage of hitter-friendly Yankee Stadium. He has a .396 wOBA against righties as well, so don’t be afraid to play him because he doesn’t have the righty/lefty advantage Wednesday.

Others to consider: Nolan Arenado and Luis Valbuena

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/6/18

Xander Bogaerts vs. Blaine Hardy, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,700

Hardy has done a nice job since entering the starting rotation for the Tigers, posting a 2.82 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP across four outings. He doesn’t strike out many hitters, though, with just a 7.5 K/9 for his career. It’s also an entirely different story facing the Red Sox, who have one of the most potent lineups in baseball. Bogaerts has a career .374 wOBA against lefties and is one of the best shortstops available Wednesday.

Chris Taylor vs. Trevor Williams, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,300

Taylor received his first opportunity to play every day last year and cashed in by hitting .288 with 21 home runs and 17 steals. He was aided by a .361 BABIP, likely making him a regression candidate heading into this season. That has indeed been the case as he is batting .257 with a .323 BABIP. He is still hitting for power with eight home runs, but he only has three steals. He does have at least two hits in three of his last four games and he has almost identical numbers against righties as he does lefties, so it might be worth taking a chance on his hot bat.

Others to consider: Didi Gregorius and Marcus Semien

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/6/18

J.D. Martinez vs. Blaine Hardy, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $5,000

Martinez is putting up insane numbers again, batting .318 with 20 home runs. He has been a monster in Fenway Park with a 1.206 OPS. With a career .384 wOBA against left-handed pitchers, he’s a hitter to build your entry around regardless of his expensive price.

Marcell Ozuna vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $3,800

Ozuna may have been trying too hard to make a good impression with his new team, getting off to a very slow start. He still only has five home runs this year, but he is 8-for-14 in his last four games and has his average all the way up to .281. He also has a .357 wOBA against lefties despite all of his issues, making him another Cardinals’ hitter to try and squeeze into your lineup.

Brett Gardner vs. Sam Gaviglio, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,200

Gardner entered the month of May batting .210 with one home run and four total extra-base hits. He’s been a different hitter since, batting .310 with three home runs, seven doubles, and two triples. One of the big reasons for his improvement has been better plate discipline. He had 27 strikeouts in his first 100 at-bats, but only has 15 strikeouts in 100 at-bats since. He gets plenty of chances to score runs hitting atop a loaded Yankees lineup too, further adding to his upside.

Others to consider: Mike Trout and Dustin Fowler

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/2/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/2/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

Tuesday was a day filled with aces taking the mound, but Wednesday will bring plenty of star pitchers as well, including Corey Kluber and Luis Severino. 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 5/2/18

Corey Kluber vs. Texas Rangers
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $11,600
DraftKings = $13,200

Kluber is off to a great start this season, recording a 2.18 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, and 9.3 K/9 through six starts. He has pitched at least 6 2/3 innings and allowed three runs or fewer in each of those outings. Many hitters have found themselves in a hole early against Kluber, who has thrown a first-pitch strike to 66.5% of the batters that he has faced this season. Opponents have been a bit unlucky with a .198 BABIP against him, but his 33.3% hard-hit rate allowed is actually almost six percent higher than his career average. Kluber has been even more dominant pitching at Progressive Field, finishing with a 1.81 ERA there last year and allowing just three runs in 16 2/3 innings there this season. He’s expensive, but he should be worth it.

Sean Newcomb vs. New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $7,300
DraftKings = 7,600

Newcomb was originally scheduled to start Tuesday but was pushed back a day in favor of Mike Soroka making his Major League debut. Soroka is one of the rising stars in the Braves organization, but they are also relying on Newcomb to become 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 season and his 11.1 K/9 this year and he can provide value despite his high walk rate. The Mets have the second-lowest OPS (.603) against left-handed pitching this season, leaving Newcomb as a viable option at a reduced price.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/2/18

Justin Smoak vs. Fernando Romero, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $3,500

The right-handed Romero will be making his Major League debut Wednesday for the Twins after getting his first taste of Triple-A this season. He spent last season in Double-A, finishing with a 3.53 ERA and 8.6 K/9. He won’t get an easy task in the Blue Jays, who have the sixth-highest OPS (.757) against righties this year. Although Smoak does have better numbers against left-handed pitchers, his .359 wOBA against righties last year still makes him someone to consider for your entry.

Joe Mauer vs. Marcus Stroman, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,300

Mauer isn’t nearly the threat that he was in his prime, but don’t forget that he still hit .305 last year with a .384 OBP. He’s off to another good start this year with a .286 average and a lofty .439 OBP. He’s followed up his .354 wOBA against righties last year with a .378 mark this season. If you want to take a cheaper route at first base, Mauer is someone to consider even with his lack of power upside.

Others to consider: Hanley Ramirez (first base) and Salvador Perez (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/2/18

Javier Baez vs. Tyler Anderson, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Wrigley Field
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,400

Baez is off to a tremendous start this season with a .963 OPS, well above his career mark of .745. His .304 BABIP is lower than his career average, but he’s increased his hard-hit rate to 35.5% and his line-drive rate to 27%. Baez finished with a .378 wOBA against lefties in 2017, so he could be in line for a big day Wednesday.

Matt Carpenter vs. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,100
DratfKings = $3,800

Carpenter batted a career-low .241 last year and has followed that up with an even worse .170 average this season. His BABIP was low last year, but his .203 BABIP this year is far lower and indicates his numbers should be on the rise sooner rather than later. Giolito is off to a nightmarish start with a 7.71 ERA and 1.71 WHIP through five outings, leaving Carpenter with upside.

Others to consider: Whit Merrifield and Wilmer Difo

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/2/18

Christian Villanueva vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,400

Villanueva has continued his red-hot start and now has a 1.112 OPS this season, which actually leads the National League. He has a staggering 386 wRC+ against lefties this year and will take on the struggling Derek Holland on Wednesday, who allowed a .408 wOBA to right-handed hitters in 2017.

Eugenio Suarez vs. Wade Miley, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,500

Suarez has been limited to 14 games this season due to injury, but he’s hit when he’s been able to take the field, posting a .327 average and .410 OBP to go along with three home runs and 17 RBI. He had a .383 wOBA against lefties last year and Miley isn’t much more than a journeyman pitcher at this point in his career, so Suarez could provide excellent value.

Others to consider: Kris Bryant and Evan Longoria

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/2/18

Manny Machado vs. Andrew Heaney, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $4,900

Machado’s low BABIP in 2017 indicated he would be in for a much better season average-wise this year and he hasn’t disappointed, hitting .366 so far. His power numbers certainly haven’t suffered at the expense of his higher average, recording nine home runs and nine doubles through 29 games. He’s normally good against left-handed pitchers and is crushing them for a 209 wRC+ this season as well.

Jose Peraza vs. Wade Miley, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,700

Peraza and his .259 batting average last year were a major disappointment, but he’s batting .296 so far this season. His .317 BABIP isn’t overly high, but he’s making better contact with a 27.1% hard-hit rate, which is six percent higher than last year. The Reds are a great stacking opportunity against Miley on Wednesday, Peraza included.

Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Jean Segura

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/2/18

J.D. Martinez vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $5,300

Martinez hasn’t been able to keep up with the ridiculous home run pace that he was on with the Diamondbacks last year, but his .955 OPS this season would actually be the second-highest mark of his career. He’s always someone you want to target against left-handed pitchers after he finished with a .531 wOBA against them last year. Duffy is really tough against lefties, but righties had much better success against him last year with a .329 wOBA.

Mitch Haniger vs. Brett Anderson, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,900

Haniger played only 96 games last year but still managed to hit 16 home runs. He’s off to an even better power start this year, slugging 10 home runs and posting a 1.075 OPS through 28 games. He has been destroying lefties, recording a .443 wOBA against them this year. Anderson will be making his first start of the season for the Athletics after allowing a .351 wOBA to righties last year, making Haniger someone to consider for your entry.

Eddie Rosario vs. Marcus Stroman, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,500

Rosario is only hitting .242 this year in large part due to his .275 BABIP that is almost 50 points lower than his career average. He’s hitting the ball well with a 35.1% hard-hit rate, so expect his batting average to improve as the season wears on. After recording a .377 wOBA against righties last year, he’s a viable cost-effective option against the struggling Stroman on Wednesday.

Others to consider: Nelson Cruz and Curtis Granderson

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