Thursday’s limited schedule leaves us with only six games for the main evening slate in DFS. While there are a couple of promising pitchers, the majority of the matchups indicate we could be in for plenty of scoring across the league.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/23/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
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Monday brings a busy schedule with 13 games across the majors, but keep an eye on the weather as it could cause issues for a few games once again. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
STARTING PITCHERS
Jacob deGrom vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $11,500
DraftKings = $12,200
deGrom was supposed to face a tough matchup against the Yankees on Sunday, but a rainout pushed him back to a much easier game against the Padres. He’s been one of the few bright spots on the Mets, posting a 1.68 ERA, 2.33 FIP, and a 0.97 WHIP. He continues to be an elite source for strikeouts with a 10.9 K/9 and has allowed only seven home runs over 123.1 innings. The Padres have scored the fourth-fewest runs (380) in baseball, so don’t hesitate to pay the premium required to get deGrom into your entry as long as the weather holds up.
Sean Newcomb vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $7,100
DraftKings = $8,200
Newcomb has been battered around in his last three starts, allowing 13 runs across 12 innings. He gave up four homers during that stretch after allowing just three home runs in his first 12 starts. He’s had problems with walks, but his WHIP is still down significantly overall this season at 1.28 compared to 1.57 in 2017. This will be his third start of the season against the Marlins after he held them to one run over 12 innings in the first two. Considering the Marlins’ offensive deficiencies, Newcomb has some upside at this cheap price in tournament play.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Yonder Alonso vs. Trevor Williams, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,700
Williams has done a nice job for the Pirates with a 4.36 ERA and a 4.45 FIP, but he doesn’t have a large major for error with only a 6.5 K/9. The Indians are a much better hitting team at home than on the road and Williams will have to deal with the DH with this game being in Cleveland. Alonso is one of several Indians’ to consider based on his .353 wOBA against right-handed pitchers.
Robinson Chirinos vs. Brett Anderson, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $4,100
Chirinos has had a disappointing season as he is batting only .209 with a .319 OBP. The big reason for his struggles is an ugly 37.4% strikeout rate. He’s still hitting for power, though, with 12 home runs and he has a .363 wOBA against lefties for his career. Anderson is not an overpowering pitcher with a 6.6 K/9 for his career, leaving Chirinos as a cheap option with upside.
Others to consider: Freddie Freeman (first base) and Greg Bird (first base)
SECOND BASE
Whit Merrifield vs. Francisco Liriano, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,700
After slugging 19 home runs last year, Merrifield has only five homers this season. He’s managed to still provide some power with 30 doubles, which is only two away from his mark in 2017. He’s hit for a high average as well at .302 and has almost doubled his walk rate. This matchup against Liriano is one to target since Merrifield has a 182 wRC+ against lefties.
Daniel Murphy vs. Jhoulys Chacin, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,300
Murphy is still hitting for very little power, but he is 12-for-26 (.462) with four walks and just one strikeout across his last nine games. He has paltry 14.6% hard-hit rate this season, which is a big reason why he only has a .337 slugging percentage. His upside is limited right now, but his recent hot streak and his career .353 wOBA against righties makes him someone to consider, especially at his cheap price on FanDuel.
Others to consider: Scooter Gennett and Ian Kinsler
THIRD BASE
Matt Carpenter vs. Luis Castillo, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $5,500
Carpenter had gone deep in six straight games before failing to hit a home run Sunday. He has put up some staggering numbers in July, batting .355 with 1o home runs and a 1.432 OPS. He has a .399 wOBA against righties overall, so keep riding his hot bat against Castillo and his 1.38 WHIP.
Adrian Beltre vs. Brett Anderson, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $3,900
Beltre has been one of the more consistent hitters in baseball in recent years, but injuries have taken a toll on him this season. Not only is his slugging percentage down significantly at .408, but he has an uncharacteristic 21.1% strikeout rate. He still has a .352 wOBA against lefties despite his struggles and with this favorable matchup against Anderson, don’t be surprised if he puts up a vintage performance.
Others to consider: Jose Ramirez and Matt Chapman
SHORTSTOP
Elvis Andrus vs. Brett Anderson, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,300
Andrus has dealt with his own injury problems this season, limiting him to 39 games. It’s taken him some time to get back on track, but he’s showing signs of life by going 9-for-27 (.333) with three doubles and four steals across his last seven games. His 20 home runs last year appear to be an abnormality, but that doesn’t mean Andrus still can’t have a productive evening against Anderson.
Marcus Semien vs. Cole Hamels, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,300
Hamels has been excellent on the road this year, but he has a 5.83 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP at home. It’s possible the Rangers move him before the trade deadline, so that’s a stat to keep in mind if you play season-long fantasy. He’ll run into the buzzsaw that is the Athletics on Monday, who have won 17 of their last 22 games. Semien’s overall numbers don’t jump off the charts, but he is batting .267 with a .362 OBP in July.
Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Xander Bogaerts
OUTFIELD
Andrew Benintendi vs. Kevin Gausman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $5,600
Gausman has trouble keeping hitters in the park with a 1.5 HR/9, which would be the fourth straight season he has finished with an HR/9 of at least 1.4. Add in his 1.37 WHIP and uninspiring 7.8 K/9 and Gausman could be in for a long night against the Red Sox. Benintendi is scorching hot right now, hitting 19-for-37 (.514) with 12 runs and six RBI in his last 10 games. He also has a .410 wOBA against righties for the year.
Khris Davis vs. Cole Hamels, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,600
Davis has been in a homer drought, but he launched two Sunday to bring his total to 23 for the season. Although the power numbers haven’t been there, he is batting .328 with a .364 OBP in July. He’s got a ways to go if he is going to hit at least 40 home runs for the third consecutive season, but he can hit them in bunches when he gets hot. With Hamels’ struggles at home, Davis carries significant upside.
Jesse Winker vs. Daniel Poncedeleon, St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,700
Winker has shown an excellent eye at the plate, drawing 49 walks compared to 46 strikeouts. He only has a 5.7% swinging-strike rate to go along with a 44.2% hard-hit rate, which has helped him bat .300 in his first full season in the majors. His excelled with a .382 wOBA against righties and will be facing one in Poncedeleon who will be making his first appearance in the majors. Winker’s price is high on DraftKings, but he could provide excellent value on FanDuel.
Others to consider: Bryce Harper and A.J. Pollock
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/29/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
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STARTING PITCHERS
Jacob deGrom vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $11,700
DraftKings = $13,600
This is the premier pitching matchup to target for your entry. The Mets season has been a disappointment, but deGrom has been spectacular with a 1.69 ERA, 2.14 FIP, and a 1.01 WHIP. He’s always provided plenty of strikeouts, but he currently has career-highs in both swinging-strike rate (15.2%) and strikeout rate (31.4%). When hitters do actually make contact, they haven’t squared him up with a 27.8% hard-hit rate and only five home runs in 101.1 innings. The Marlins have one of the worst lineups in baseball, leaving deGrom with tremendous upside.
Marco Gonzales vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $7,300
DraftKings = $7,800
Gonzales had a daunting two-start week last week, facing both the Red Sox and Yankees on the road. He understandably struggled, allowing 11 runs in 12.1 innings. Before those bad outings, he had allowed three runs or fewer in six straight starts. He’s not a great source for strikeouts, but he’s shown excellent control by throwing a first-pitch strike to 67.6% of the hitters that he has faced and allowing just 2.0 BB/9. The Royals have scored the fewest runs (283) in baseball, leaving Gonzales with upside in tournament play despite his lack of strikeout potential.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Jesus Aguilar vs. Sal Romano, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $5,200
Aguilar went deep again Thursday, marking his third straight game with a home run. He is absolutely on fire right now, hitting 16-for-36 (.444) with nine home runs and three doubles in his last 11 games. Even with Eric Thames healthy, the Brewers are not going to take Aguilar out of their lineup. Romano has allowed 1.5 HR/9 and plenty of base runners with a 1.47 WHIP, potentially setting Aguilar up for another big performance.
Yonder Alonso vs. Paul Blackburn, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,600
After a series in St. Louis without the DH limited Alonso’s playing time, the Indians return to American League play Friday. You want to avoid playing Alonso against lefties, but he’s a great option against righties since he has a .352 wOBA against them this season. Blackburn allows a ton of baserunners and doesn’t have strikeout stuff, so Alonso is a cheap option with upside if you don’t want to pay up for Aguilar.
Others to consider: Jose Abreu (first base) and Tucker Barnhart (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Dee Gordon vs. Ian Kennedy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,300
Gordon continues to hit for a high average and is 24-for-73 (.329) in his last 16 games. He provides close to nothing in terms of power, but he did score 11 runs over that stretch. Kennedy is having another bad season with a 5.09 ERA and allows plenty of base runners with a 1.45 WHIP, leaving Gordon as someone to consider despite his lack of home run potential.
Yoan Moncada vs. Yovani Gallardo, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,500
Gallardo hasn’t finished with an ERA below 5.42 since 2015. He’s only made two starts for the Rangers and didn’t pitch well in either of them, allowing nine runs and 17 total base runners in 10.1 innings. He also allowed three home runs after posting a 1.7 HR/9 with the Mariners last year. Moncada only has a .199 wOBA against left-handed pitchers, but he’s been much better against righties with a .336 wOBA.
Others to consider: Scooter Gennett and Jason Kipnis
THIRD BASE
Jose Ramirez vs. Paul Blackburn, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $5,400
Considering Blackburn has an 8.83 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP, the Indians could be one of the most popular stacking plays Friday. Ramirez has not only been one of the best hitters on the team this season, but he’s been one of the best hitters in all of baseball by batting .291 with 23 home runs, 52 RBI, 55 runs scored and 13 steals.
Justin Turner vs. Tyler Anderson, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,900
Turner is showing signs of getting his power stroke back, slugging two home runs in his last five games. He’s had a slow start in general since returning from a wrist injury but is 6-for-15 (.400) during that same five-game stretch. Turner not only has a .436 wOBA against lefties this year, but he is 10-for-18 with a home run and three doubles against Anderson in his career.
Others to consider: Matt Carpenter and Adrian Beltre
SHORTSTOP
Francisco Lindor vs. Paul Blackburn, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $5,300
Lindor had a rough series against the Cardinals, finishing 1-for-12 with one walk. He had homered in three straight games before the series began and is having the best power season of his career with a .539 slugging percentage. He’s still hitting for average as well at .288, so look for him to get back on track facing a much easier opponent Friday.
Kike Hernandez vs. Tyler Anderson, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,500
Even though Chris Taylor returned from a hamstring injury Thursday, the Dodgers still found a way to keep Hernandez in their lineup. He rewarded them with two hits and two RBI and is now 19-for-55 (.345) with six home runs, 12 RBI and 14 runs scored in his last 16 games. With a .359 wOBA against lefties, expect the Dodgers to start him against Anderson.
Others to consider: Jean Segura and Tim Anderson
OUTFIELD
Nelson Cruz vs. Ian Kennedy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,800
Kennedy has allowed at least 31 home runs in each of the last three seasons and is on pace to do that again this year with 15 home runs allowed in 86.2 innings. That plays right into Cruz’s wheelhouse as he already has 21 homers this year and has slugged at least 39 home runs in each of the last four seasons.
Rhys Hoskins vs. Erick Fedde, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,900
Hoskins couldn’t buy a hit in May, batting only .161 with two home runs in the month. Hoskins then fractured his jaw after fouling off a pitch at the end of the month, forcing him to hit the DL. He came back quickly and has found his stroke again, batting .329 with seven home runs and 20 RBI in 18 games. Fedde has a 5.32 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP in four starts this season and is really only in the starting rotation due to injuries to Stephen Strasburg and Jeremy Hellickson.
Avisail Garcia vs. Yovani Gallardo, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $3,600
The White Sox struggle to score runs, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look to stack them against Gallardo based on how poorly he has been pitching. Garcia was one of the prime regression candidates at the start of the season as his .338 average last year was largely aided by an unsustainable .392 BABIP. Injuries have limited him to 104 plate appearances, but he has two home runs during his current five-game hitting streak and is worth the risk at this cheap price.
Others to consider: Shin-Soo Choo and Nomar Mazara
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/23/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
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There are games spread out throughout the day Wednesday, but let’s focus on the main 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
Jacob deGrom vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $10,400
DraftKings = $13,200
deGrom dealt with a hyperextended elbow recently, but showed no ill effects in his last start, allowing one run to go along with 13 strikeouts in seven innings against the Diamondbacks. He’s been fantastic when healthy this season, posting a 1.75 ERA, 1.81 FIP, and a 1.01 WHIP. He’s always carried significant strikeout upside and has a lofty 12.1 K/9 this season. Although deGrom gave up four runs over six innings in his first start against the Marlins this year, they have scored the fewest runs (165) and hit the fewest home runs (37) in baseball. Look for deGrom to have a much better performance in their rematch.
Alex Cobb vs. Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $6,100
DraftKings = $5,400
Cobb could not have been much worse in his first three starts this season, allowing 17 earned runs in 11.2 innings. He signed with the Orioles late and didn’t get a full spring training, which may have led to some of his struggles. He’s been much better since then, allowing nine earned runs over 24 innings in his last four starts. That’s even more impressive when you consider that three of those starts came against the Angels, Athletics and Red Sox. He’ll face a much easier opponent in the White Sox on Wednesday, who have scored the second-fewest runs (171) in baseball. At this dirt cheap price, he’s someone to consider in tournament play.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Anthony Rizzo vs. Adam Plutko, Cleveland Indians
Stadium – Wrigley Field
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,500
Plutko will be making his second start of the season Wednesday and he did pitch well in his first outing, allowing three runs in 7.1 innings against the Blue Jays. He did give up three solo home runs in that contest and had a 1.6 HR/9 at Triple-A last year, which is a bit concerning. He’s not much of a strikeout pitcher either with a career 7.5 K/9 in the minors. Rizzo is off to a bad start this season, but he does have a career .372 wOBA against right-handed pitchers, so this could be just the matchup he needs to have a big game.
Josh Bell vs. Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,000
Whenever Bailey takes the mound, you should be looking to stack hitters against him. He’s off to a terrible start with a 6.11 ERA, 6.04 FIP, and a 1.60 WHIP. His lowly 7% swinging-strike rate has helped result in a 5.4 K/9 and he has already allowed 12 home runs in 53 innings. Bell has yet to break out in the home run department with just three longballs this season, but he could provide excellent value Wednesday.
Others to consider: Mike Zunino (catcher) and Chris Davis (first base)
SECOND BASE
Gleyber Torres vs. Doug Fister, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,500
In what has been a dream start to his major league career, Torres is batting .330 with seven home runs in 26 games. He’s been hitting ninth, but just about every spot in the loaded Yankees lineup provides plenty of opportunities for counting stats. He’s never hit more than 11 home runs in a season in the minors, so don’t expect him to keep hitting homers at this pace. He does have a career .285 average and .362 OBP in the minors and was rated as one of the top prospects in all of baseball. Fister’s 4.72 FIP indicates he hasn’t pitched as well as his 3.43 ERA would lead you to believe and he only has a 6.6 K/9, leaving Torres with another favorable opportunity to produce.
Scooter Gennett vs. Chad Kuhl, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,400
Gennett had a breakout campaign last year, batting .295 with 27 home runs and 97 RBI. He’s doing his best to prove that was no fluke, batting .324 with eight home runs and 33 RBI so far this season. He had a .388 wOBA against right-handers last year and has followed it up with a .395 wOBA against them so far this year, leaving him with significant upside against Kuhl.
Others to consider: Javier Baez and Jonathan Schoop
THIRD BASE
Colin Moran vs. Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,700
The Pirates really try to keep Moran away from lefties, resulting in him logging only 10 plate appearances against them this season. Wednesday won’t present that problem though against Bailey and Moran is hitting righties well with a .370 wOBA. He went deep in Tuesday’s game against Matt Harvey and should be a part of any Pirates stack you plan to deploy versus Bailey.
Pedro Alvarez vs. Dylan Covey, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,700
The Orioles against Covey presents another excellent stacking opportunity. He was horrible in 18 games (12 starts) for the White Sox last season, recording a 7.71 ERA, 7.20 FIP and 1.67 WHIP. He had almost as many walks (34) as he had strikeouts (41) and allowed a staggering 20 home runs in 70 innings. Despite his struggles in the batting average department, Alvarez still has eight home runs this season and has much better career numbers against righties, so he might be worth the risk in tournament play.
Others to consider: Matt Chapman and Kyle Seager
SHORTSTOP
Manny Machado vs. Dylan Covey, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $5,500
Machado has been one of the best hitters in baseball this season, batting .335 with 15 home runs and 43 RBI. He’s been one of the few bright spots in what has otherwise been a struggling Orioles lineup that is in the bottom-third of baseball in runs scored. His walk rate is up and his strikeout rate is down, which is good news for him to be able to sustain this type of production moving forward. With Covey’s poor performance already detailed, the time might be right to pay up for Machado.
Jean Segura vs. Daniel Gossett, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,500
The Mariners lineup was expected to be their strength heading into this season, but they are seriously depleted right now without Robinson Cano (suspension) and Dee Gordon (toe). To make matters worse, Nelson Cruz has also missed the last two games with an elbow injury and may not be able to play Wednesday either. Segura is one of the best hitters they have left as he is batting .315 with 11 stolen bases this season. Gossett has a 6.48 ERA and 1.63 WHIP in 20 career starts, so Segura is someone to target if you don’t want to pay up for Machado.
Others to consider: Chris Taylor and Marcus Semien
OUTFIELD
Mike Trout vs. Aaron Sanchez, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $5,300
Trout’s .289 batting average this season is nothing special by his standards, which could be due to his .304 BABIP being almost 50 percentage points lower than his career mark. He is still hitting for a ton of power and has more walks (42) than strikeouts (41). Aaron Sanchez has allowed way too many baserunners this year with a 1.53 WHIP and doesn’t have overpowering stuff with a 7.2 K/9, so expect him to have a lot of trouble trying to get Trout out.
Austin Meadows vs. Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $4,100
Meadows is living up to his lofty prospect status through four games, hitting 6-for-15 with two home runs. The scary part is that the Pirates outfield is so deep, he might be sent back down once Starling Marte (oblique) comes off the DL. With Bailey allowing a .400 wOBA against left-handed hitters this season, Meadows is someone to target for your entry.
Mark Canha vs. Marco Gonzales, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,500
Gonzales’ 4.66 ERA isn’t great, but his 3.37 FIP would suggest he’s not off to that bad of a start. If he’s going to lower his ERA though, he’ll need to improve his 1.47 WHIP significantly. Righties have given him problems throughout his career, resulting in a .380 wOBA against them. Canha has thrived on lefties this year with a 195 wRC+, making him a viable cost-effective option with upside.
Others to consider: Kyle Schwarber and Adam Jones
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/27/18
Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/27/18
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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
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
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
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
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
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
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 4/10/18
Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/10/18
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With bad weather continuing to wreak havoc across the league, Major League Baseball will attempt to play 15 games Tuesday. 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
Jacob deGrom vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $9,600
DraftKings = $12,400
The Mets starting rotation is finally healthy and they have gotten the team off to an 8-1 start. deGrom has done his part, allowing two earned runs and recording 12 strikeouts over 11.2 innings in his first two starts. Opponents are batting just .190 against him so far with a 20% hard-hit rate. The Marlins stripped their roster of their best talent this winter, which has resulted in their lineup batting just .221 in the early going. Look for deGrom to take advantage with another strong outing Tuesday.
Felix Hernandez vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $7,900
Hernandez was shelled in his last start against the Giants, allowing eight earned runs in just four innings. Hernandez walked five batters in that game, which is uncharacteristic since he had a 2.7 BB/9 last season. He’s nowhere near the pitcher that he once was in his prime, but he did manage to record 8.1 K/9 last year. He gets a favorable matchup Tuesday against a Royals lineup that lost two big pieces in Eric Hosmer and Lorenzo Cain this winter and has scored the second-fewest runs (26) this season as a result. If you want to take a chance on a cheap starter in tournament play, Hernandez might be worth the risk.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Albert Pujols vs. Martin Perez, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,200
Pujols is off to a fine start this season, batting .277 with two home runs and five RBI through 11 games. He hit just .241 in 2017, but some of that had to do with his low .249 BABIP. He’ll face the left-handed Perez on Tuesday, who allowed a .362 wOBA to righties last year compared to just .293 against lefties. Pujols has fared well against him in his career, batting .304 with five walks in 28 plate appearances. The price might be right to take a chance on Pujols extending his success against Perez on Tuesday.
Chris Iannetta vs. Joey Lucchesi, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,100
Iannetta is in his second stint with the Rockies and has played well so far, batting .345 with a .441 OBP through nine games. A career .232 hitter, he is obviously not going to keep up at this pace. However, he does excel against left-handed pitching, recording a lofty 148 wRC+ against them in 2017. With a lefty taking the mound in Lucchesi on Tuesday, Iannetta may be in line for another valuable day at the plate.
Others to consider: Justin Smoak (first base) and Ian Desmond (first base)
SECOND BASE
Zack Cozart vs. Martin Perez, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,500
Cozart batted .297 for the Reds last year but is a prime candidate for regression since his .312 BABIP was significantly higher than his career mark of .280. It’s come back down to Earth this year at .262, resulting in a .265 average. He can still provide plenty of value Tuesday though against Perez as he mashed lefties for a .440 wOBA in 2017.
Asdrubal Cabrera vs. Caleb Smith, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,300
The Mets couldn’t have asked for a much better start from Cabrera, who has a hit in eight of the nine games. He’s done some damage as well with one home run and three doubles. Cabrera does a good job of limiting his strikeouts, posting a 15.4% strikeout rate in 2017. He’ll face the lefty Smith on Tuesday, which is good news since he had a wOBA of at least .356 against lefties in back-to-back seasons.
Others to consider: Cesar Hernandez and Jed Lowrie
THIRD BASE
Matt Chapman vs. Hyun-Jin Ryu, Los Angeles Dodgers
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $3,800
Chapman is following up the promise that he showed in 2017 by batting .375 with three home runs already this season. His .429 BABIP screams regression, but he has increased his walk rate and decreased his strikeout rate so far. He is punishing the ball as well with a 54.8% hard-hit percentage. He’ll face Ryu on Tuesday, who has allowed at least 1.6 HR/9 in back-to-back seasons. Chapman is expensive, but he also has great power upside.
Christian Villanueva vs. Tyler Anderson, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,000
Anderson pitched a good game against Villanueva and the Padres earlier this season, logging six scoreless innings. That game was in San Diego, but pitching at Coors Field is a whole different story. He also has problems against right-handed hitters, allowing a .358 wOBA to them in 2017 compared to only .309 against lefties. Villanueva hasn’t gone deep since hitting three home runs in one game last Tuesday, but the price is right to take a chance on him against Anderson in tournament play, especially if you are playing on FanDuel.
Others to consider: Todd Frazier and Adrian Beltre
SHORTSTOP
Jean Segura vs. Eric Skoglund, Kanas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $3,700
Although the Mariners are missing a very important part of their lineup in Nelson Cruz (ankle), Segura still has a great spot in the lineup batting between Dee Gordon and Robinson Cano. Segura likely won’t hit many home runs, but he has batted at least .300 in back-to-back seasons and is hitting .333 in the early part of 2018. Segura hit lefties very well last year with a .353 wOBA, so look for him to take advantage of this matchup against Skoglund on Tuesday, who is making his first start of the season after pitching just 18 innings in the majors last year.
Paul DeJong vs. Brent Suter, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,900
This is a prime example of two big splits you want to take advantage of, especially at this price. The lefty Suter struggled against right-handed hitters last year, allowing a .324 wOBA to them compared to .236 against lefties. DeJong also destroyed lefties in 2017, posting a .392 wOBA. If you are looking for power upside, go with DeJong over Segura in your entry.
Others to consider: Elvis Andrus and Andrelton Simmons
OUTFIELD
Rhys Hoskins vs. Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $5,400
Hoskins has followed up his strong debut last year with a .429 average, two home runs, and five doubles so far. He has shown a great eye at the plate as well, drawing eight walks compared to seven strikeouts. Tuesday brings an excellent matchup against Bailey, who has battled injuries and ineffectiveness for each of the last three seasons. He had just a 6.6 K/9 last year to go along with a 1.69 WHIP, so it might be worth paying up for Hoskins in this game.
Justin Upton vs. Martin Perez, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,300
Upton continues to be a proven power bat in the middle of the Angels lineup, hitting three home runs and three doubles already this season. Upton posted a 201 wRC+ against lefties in 2017, which ranked seventh-highest in baseball behind names including J.D. Martinez, Nolan Arenado, and Giancarlo Stanton. With Perez’s struggles against righties already detailed, Upton is another Angels bat you should consider.
David Peralta vs. Tyler Beede, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,300
Peralta is swinging a hot bat right now, recording two hits in three of his last five games. Beede is making his Major League debut Wednesday but hasn’t put up great numbers in the minors. He only pitched one season at Triple-A and has a 7.3 K/9 and a 3.3 BB/9 for his career at all levels in the minors. Peralta had a .353 wOBA against lefties in 2017 and is at .428 so far in 2018, so this might be a matchup to take advantage of for your entry.
Others to consider: Mitch Haniger and Jose Pirela
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Lineup Stacks for September 5, 2017
*Austyn Varney*
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Lineup Stacks – Tuesday, September 5, 2017
*STARTING PITCHERS*
Jacob DeGrom Vs Philadelphia Phillies
Park – Citi Field
Opp implied total – 3.31
When I first looked at this slate, Jacob DeGrom immediately stuck out to me as the top option. When deciding whether or not to play DeGrom, this first thing I look at is if he’s at home. In Citi Field, DeGrom has sported a .276 wOBA, compared to the .308 on the road. He’s also held lefties and righties to a combined .246 wOBA and 10 K/9. He’s dotted the edges extremely well over his last few starts, striking out 23 to just 2 walks. DeGrom has slipped with injuries this year, but he’s still one of the brightest young arms in baseball. His velocity is as high as ever and his change-up has induced an incredible 52% GB rate. He faces off with the Phillies tonight, which doesn’t need much explanation. They’ve posted a .286 wOBA against Phillies in the last 2 months and only have a few guys who deserve to be in a major league lineup. They strikeout close to 25% of the time and make hard contact just 24%. They also move from Citizens Bank Park (top 10) to Citi Field (23rd for hitting). DeGrom should have an extremely solid performance tonight and I’m a big fan in both cash games and tournaments.
Danny Salazar @ Chicago White Sox
Park – Guaranteed Rate Field
Vegas O/U – 3.62
At this point in the season, there’s a whole lot of attacking offenses. We have a few offenses in the league that stand out as being far worse than the field. The White Sox are certainly in that grouping. Jose Abreu is the only hitter to be afraid of and to be honest, I’m not that worried against a righty with one of the more devastating sliders around. The rest of the order is pretty garbage, with guys like Yolmer Sanchez and Matt Davidson surrounding Abreu. Looking further down the lineup may induce some gag reflex, so be cautious. Guys like Rob Brantly and Adam Engel are AA talent hitters that are pretty solid in the field. Good thing that doesn’t matter in the slightest. As for Danny Salazar, you know what you’re going to get. He is predictably unpredictable. No matter the opponent, Salazar can b one of the more frustrating pitchers to watch. I can vividly remember multiple occasions of wanting to pull my hair out as Salazar walks the pitcher or goes 3-0 to a catcher in the 8 hole. On the other side of things, he can be one of the more rewarding pitchers to have. Those same memories are matched by Salazar on the mound, dicing and dealing for 7-9 innings of no-run baseball. He has been dominant against both sides of the plate this year and has held a K rate over 10. He has one of the best match-ups he’ll see al year, so if his stuff is on, you will see 7+ innings and 10+ strikeouts. If he’s off, there’s no telling when the wheels will fall off. You will know by the 2nd inning.
*OFFENSIVE STACKS*
Cleveland Indians @ David Holmberg (White Sox)
Park – Guaranteed Rate Field
Implied Total – 6.11
We’ll stick right in Chicago here with the Indians, who are facing off with David Holmberg and have the highest Vegas O/U outside of Coors on the day. it only makes sense when you look at the match-up. David Holmberg has struggled (.341 wOBA) against both sides of the plate since coming up and a .250 BABIP just tells me some more impending doom is on the way. To put it simply, the Indians aren’t a team to mess with. You won’t go out and throw weird pitches that get them to chase. They will happily walk all night long and wait for some in the zone. The targets are pretty obvious but you will have to choose between Encarnacion and Santana. I personally prefer Encarnacion against a lefty, due to Santana being far better against righties. Jose Ramirez and Francisco Lindor are also locks and I wouldn’t consider an Indians stack without either. After that, you can go anywhere. Austin Jackson is actually the guy I have a lot of interest in, as he hits lefties well and should go relatively ignored.
Main Stack – Edwin Encarnacion, Austin Jackson, Jose Ramirez, Francisco Lindor
Sneaky Stack – Jose Ramirez, Edwin Encarnacion, Jay Bruce, Francisco Lindor
Colorado Rockies Vs Ty Blach (Giants)
Park – Coors Field
Implied Total – 6.38
I know, you can’t get any more obvious than this. Truth be told, I’m not a huge fan of stacking any other teams than the 2 we’re touching on. I like mixing and matching in tournaments today and there are quite a few options I like across the board on different teams. As for the Rockies, they could easily put up double digits tonight. Ty Blach is a left-handed pitcher that fully relies on the ballpark to save him. He strikes out just over 3 (YES, 3!) batters per 9 innings and has a GB rate that doesn’t do much. In turn, he is giving up more fly-balls than any other pitcher. In the spacious AT&T Park, it’s perfect. it takes a tank to get one over the wall. With this move into Coors Field, the same cannot be said. Those same routing flyouts to left field are going to be 10 rows deep in CoorLiterallyitterally. This Rockies team can certainly hit lefties and there are a few guys that have to be licking their chops. My 2 favorites are Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story. I know Story might sound a bit crazy, but listen. He strikes out about 100% of the time and hits an HR the rest. Against Blach, those K numbers fall dramatically. When you can guarantee me a guy with 52% hard contact against lefties is going to see at last 2 at-bats with contact, I’ll take it. The rest of the order is pretty spread out and you can go wherever you’d like. Charlie Blackmon isn’t a must, but he will likely see some righties out of the pen, so don’t count on him busting.
Main Stack – Nolan Arenado, Charlie Blackmon, Mark Reynolds, Ian Desmond
Sneaky Stack – Nolan Arenado, Mark Reynolds, Trevor Story, Jonathan Lucroy
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Lineup Stacks for July 24, 2017
*Austyn Varney*
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Lineup Stacks – Monday, July 24, 2017
*STARTING PITCHERS*
Jacob deGrom @ San Diego Padres
Park – Petco Park
Vegas O/U – 7.5
Jacob deGrom gets to face off with the San Diego Padres tonight. It should be easy work, especially in Petco Park. Petco Park is one of the 3 best pitcher ballparks in the game and deGrom is a guy that really benefits. He gives up a lot of flyouts, so extra space in the OF is going to help a ton. You then look at the match-up, which is perfect. The Padres are one of the worst teams in the league against righties (.299 wOBA) and don’t offer much in terms of upside. Wil Myers obviously solid, but everyone else is very up and down. deGrom has controlled games this year, which has always been one of his problems. He’s been solid against both sides of the plate with a .291 wOBA and also strikes out over 10 batters per 9 innings. The Padres hold an implied team total of just 3.30 and Vegas fully expect deGrom to handle these guys. deGrom is an extremely strong option in both cash games and tournaments.
Gerrit Cole @ San Francisco Giants
Park – AT&T Park
Vegas O/U – 8
Without having many solid options at pitcher tonight, Gerrit Cole is a great way to go. As we all know at this point, the Giants don’t have much of an offense. Against righties, they have no offense. They hold the leagues lowest wOBA at .290 and are on the way down. While the Giants used to be a team we avoided, the bottom of the order is now very bad. They strikeout a ton and don’t offer much power at AT&T Park. You then look at Gerrit Cole, who has been a solid pitcher his entire career. He’s always going to struggle a bit against lefties, but he makes it up with his effectiveness against right-handers. He strikes out 8 batters per 9 innings and walks just under 2. He’s priced down on both sites and makes for a very solid option in all formats.
*OFFENSIVE STACKS*
Los Angeles Dodgers Vs. Bartolo Colon (Minnesota Twins)
Park – Dodger Stadium
Implied Total – 5.67
The Dodgers are one of my favorite offenses of the entire season tonight. Yes, all year long. Sure, Bartolo Colon isn’t the worst. He’ll probably last 3-5 innings and give up 4 or 5 runs. He is horrible against both righties and lefties and has given up a .352 wOBA. The Dodgers are one of the best offenses in the entire league and I think they end up bolstering Colon and the average Twins bullpen. The Dodgers have some real obvious bats to target in Corey Seager and Cody Bellinger, who I would never leave off of a stack. You then get to the likes of Grandal and Utley, who are great values at the weaker 2 positions of the slate. If you’re looking to go contrarian, Joc Pederson and Yasiel Puig have a ton of upside.
Main Stack – Corey Seager, Chase Utley, Cody Bellinger, Yasmani Grandal
Sneaky Stack – Corey Seager, Cody Bellinger, Joc Pederson, Yasiel Puig
Miami Marlins @ Martin Perez (Texas Rangers)
Park – Globe Life Park in Arlington
Implied Total – 5.03
I absolutely love this stack if you’re paying up for pitcher. You can get your 2 expensive bats in Giancarlo Stanton and Marcell Ozuna. They are 2 of the best options on the slate and are my 2 top choices for an HR. You can then also get Martin Prado and Tyler Moore, who are cost-effective righties that hit lefties extremely well. The Marlins will be moving into GLobe Life Park, which is a top 4 ballpark for power in the summer months. You can expect some HR’s to be hit here and the value options on the Marlins are solid. Martin Perez is a very average pitcher, but he struggles a ton with righties. So far in 2017, he’s allowed a .364 wOBA and 10 homers in just 80 innings of work. The Marlins may be a bit sneaky and they have as much upside as anyone on the slate.
Main Stack – Giancarlo Stanton, Marcell Ozuna, Martin Prado, Tyler Moore
Sneaky Stack – Giancarlo Stanton, Marcell Ozuna, Christian Yelich, Martin Prado
DraftKings FanDuel MLB Lineup Picks for June 30, 2017
*Chris Durell*
DraftKings / FanDuel MLB Lineup Picks for June 30, 2017
Welcome back for another huge night in daily fantasy baseball. Friday brings us a full 15-game slate tonight and while we don’t have that elite ace, there are still plenty of options to choose from not mention the bats in great spots. Let’s jump in and take a look at a couple pitching and stacking option.
Put your favorite Draftkings / Fanduel MLB Lineup Picks from the article below in our lineup optimizer and hit calculate. You can let it fill in the rest of the spots for you or choose your personal favorites from the MLB Player Lab.
Starting Pitchers
Jacob deGrom
Opponent – vs. PHI
Park – Citi Field (Pitchers Park)
Vegas Favorite (NYM -245)
Vegas Total (8.5)
Without a clear elite ace on the mound, we get two pitchers at the top who have reached a season high salary. Alex Wood and Jacob deGrom have both been good this season but I lean on deGrom as he gets the slightly better matchup and has more of a track record of going deep into games. Since being blown up by the Rangers in early June, deGrom has been red hot winning three straight starts, going at least eight innings in all of them while allowing just two total earned runs despite walking seven batters. The strikeout has got him out of a lot of trouble as he has racked up 19 in that time to give him an elite 10.5 K/9 for the season. He now gets a great matchup vs. the Phillies who rank near the bottom of the league in runs scored and hitting against right-handed pitching. Go ahead and roll out deGrom in all formats tonight.
Sonny Gray
Opponent – vs. ATL
Park – Oakland Coliseum (Pitchers Park)
Vegas Favorite (OAK -160)
Vegas Total (8.5)
On the value end of things, I will be using Sonny Gray as my SP2 on DraftKings and as a GPP pivot on FanDuel tonight. He and the A’s are the fourth biggest favorite on the board currently and after a disaster of a 2016 season, Gray looks back near top form. He is striking out 9.1 batters per nine which is his highest K rate since his rookie season back in 2013. He has walked a few more batters than league average and had a few blips on the radar but overall has held opponents to three or less earned runs in eight of his 11 starts. He also pitches in a great pitchers environment and faces a team in the bottom third of the league in hitting vs. righties.
Stacks of the Night
Tampa Bay Ray vs. Chris Tillman (BAL)
Not only do the Rays sit with the highest implied run total of the day, they also get to tee off on Chris Tillman who, if the O’s had other options, would not be in the majors still. He strikes out less than 6.5 batters per nine while walking the ballpark(4.9 BB/9) and comes in with a 8.39 ERA on the season. Even the xFIP sits at 5.71 and he is giving up a career-high 36% hard contact rate and 17.9% HR/FB rate. The Rays are also a team that has more than one way to stack and allows you to get creative. Look for them to go ham tonight.
Top Players to Stack – Evan Longoria, Corey Dickerson, Logan Morrison
Value Options – Mallex Smith, Steven Souza Jr., Shane Peterson
Seattle Mariners vs. Parker Bridwell (LAA)
The Mariners, in my opinion, make an excellent high upside stack tonight and could be low owned for a couple reasons on the main slate. First of all, the game is at 10:00 ET which usually helps wit ownership considering all the lineups aren’t always in before the 7:05 lock. Second, the Mariners sit in the middle of the pack today when looking at implied runs and the overall Vegas Total. I think these projections come from fact that the game is in a pitchers park and Parker Bridwell sits with an ERA below 3.00 for the season. Don’t fooled, however, as he has been getting extremely lucky when looking at the other metrics. He is striking out just five batters per nine and is holding runners on at a very unsustainable 95% rate and sits with a 5.32 xFIP. Best of all, he has been giving up over 35% hard contact with a 19.2% HR/FB rate. Load up on M’s.
Top Players to Stack – Nelson Cruz, Robinson Cano, Kyle Seager, Jean Segura
Value Options – Mitch Haniger, Ben Gamel