There will be no shortage of action Monday with 12 games making up the main evening slate in DFS. Let’s try to start the week off on a high note by discussing some players who could help you emerge with some extra cash in your pocket.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/2/2019
Get ready for a wild night in the majors with 15 games on the schedule Tuesday.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/10/2019
Monday brings nine games across the majors, all with evening start times. There are some excellent pitchers who are expected to start as well as a potential slugfest between the Cubs and Rockies at Coors Field.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/18/2019
Thursday brings another limited evening slate that is thin on quality starting pitching options. Hitting might not be hard to come by, so selecting the correct pitchers could be the key to ending the night in the money.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/1/2019
Welcome to our first daily fantasy baseball article of the season. We have 13 games across the majors on Monday, nine of which will make up the main evening slate. Let’s dive into the matchups to see which players stand out as having favorable opportunities to be productive.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/22/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout
There are 15 games in the majors Wednesday, but only 10 of them will make up the main slate in DFS. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
STARTING PITCHERS
Noah Syndergaard vs. San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $9,800
DraftKings = $10,200
Syndergaard has been so good in recent years that his 3.40 ERA and 1.25 WHIP this season are actually a bit disappointing for his standards. His 9.4 K/9 would also be the lowest mark of his career, but he’s shown great control with a 1.9 BB/9 and he’s only allowed six home runs across 100.2 innings. He still has a tremendously high ceiling in DFS and his numbers could actually be a little better based on his 2.68 FIP. The Giants have the second-lowest OPS on the road (.656) in baseball, making Syndergaard someone to build your lineup around.
Lance Lynn vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $8,000
Lynn was hit hard in his last outing against the Blue Jays, giving up five runs over 4 innings. However, he had allowed one run across 16.2 innings in his first three appearances with the Yankees. He hasn’t allowed a home run since being traded either. He’s been a good source for strikeouts with a 9.3 K/9 overall this season and an 8.6 K/9 for his career. This is an excellent opportunity to take a chance on Lynn in tournament play since the Marlins have scored the second-fewest runs (474) and have hit the second-fewest home runs (104) in the league.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Paul Goldschmidt vs. Odrisamer Despaigne, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $5,500
Goldschmidt is on fire again as he is 23-for-55 (.418) with four home runs and five doubles during his current 13-game hitting streak. He does have better numbers against left-handed pitching, but his .384 wOBA against righties this year isn’t exactly worrisome. Despaigne has mostly pitched out of the bullpen for the Marlins and Angels and hasn’t performed well, posting a combined 6.29 ERA and 1.56 WHIP. Goldschmidt certainly has a favorable chance to at least extend his hitting streak based on this matchup.
Ji-Man Choi vs. Jakob Junis, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $3,600
Choi didn’t play Tuesday, so he carries his own eight-game hitting streak into Wednesday’s contest against Junis. Junis has allowed four runs over 16.1 innings in his last three starts, but he’s struggled with consistency throughout the season, resulting in a 4.76 ERA and a 4.99 FIP. He’s had trouble keeping batters inside the park with a 1.8 HR/9 and has allowed a .351 wOBA against lefties, giving Choi some upside at this cheap price.
Others to consider: Eric Hosmer (first base) and Yan Gomes (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Jeff McNeil vs. Casey Kelly, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,700
McNeil has provided the Mets with an injection of offense, batting .326 with a .388 OBP in 27 games since being recalled from the minors. His plate discipline has been encouraging with six walks and 10 strikeouts across 100 plate appearances. He had 14 walks and 19 strikeouts across 143 plate appearances at Triple-A, as well. Casey has mostly pitched in Triple-A for the Giants this year and hasn’t stood out, recording a 4.78 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and a 7.2 K/9.
Neil Walker vs. Trevor Richards, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $3,500
The Yankees lineup has turned into a mash unit. They are already without Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez, then Didi Gregorius joined them on the DL Tuesday. Walker was already seeing regular playing time in the outfield, but now he’ll fill in at second base with Gleyber Torres moving over to shortstop. Walker has started to thrive with everyday at-bats, hitting .306 with four home runs over his last 23 games.
Others to consider: Javier Baez and Joey Wendle
THIRD BASE
Miguel Andujar vs. Trevor Richards, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $5,000
With all of the Yankees injuries, Andujar has been moved up in their lineup. He’s making a strong case to win the AL Rookie of the Year, batting .297 with 20 home runs and 36 doubles. Not only has he hit for a lot of power, but he only has a 17.1% strikeout rate. Richards has actually had more success against left-handed hitters (.274 wOBA) than he has against righties (.381 wOBA), making Andujar a great option for your entry.
Eduardo Escobar vs. Odrisamer Despaigne, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,900
With Despaigne on the mound, the Diamondbacks are likely going to be a popular stack Wednesday. I’m not really high on any of the cheap options at third base, so it might make sense to pay up for the position. Escobar is slightly cheaper than Andujar and he has similar upside with a .375 wOBA against righties.
Others to consider: Jose Ramirez and Yandy Diaz
SHORTSTOP
Gleyber Torres vs. Trevor Richards, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $3,800
Torres struggled mightily after a stint on the DL, but he’s starting to get back on track as he is 8-for-20 during his current five-game hitting streak. Richards allows a lot of baserunners with a 1.44 WHIP and with his struggles against right-handed hitters already detailed, Torres could be another viable option to consider. Of note, Torres is only eligible at shortstop on FanDuel as he is listed at second base on DraftKings.
Willy Adames vs. Jakob Junis, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $3,800
The Rays are giving Adames a chance to play every day down the stretch and he hasn’t disappointed, batting .356 with four home runs in August. His .386 BABIP during that stretch isn’t sustainable, but he did bat .286 at Triple-A this year. Adames has a higher wOBA against righties (.323) than he does lefties (.263), leaving him as someone to potentially target at shortstop in tournament play.
Others to consider: Trevor Story and Amed Rosario
OUTFIELD
David Peralta vs. Odrisamer Despaigne, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $5,500
Peralta went 3-for-3 with a home run Tuesday and is now batting .384 with eight home runs and seven doubles across his last 25 games. He has a 162 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers overall and while he’s pricey, he could still provide significant production against Despaigne.
Melky Cabrera vs. Brian Johnson, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,300
The Red Sox haven’t been able to solve Cabrera in the first two games of this series as he is 5-for-7 with two home runs and a double. He’s now homered in three-straight contests and five times in his last nine games, overall. He’s become an important part of the Indians outfield and is a great option against Johnson based on his .424 wOBA against lefties.
Mallex Smith vs. Jakob Junis, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,300
Smith had two more hits Tuesday, marking his fifth multi-hit game in his last six contests. This isn’t some brief hot streak, either, as he is batting .374 with a .455 OBP since July 1. He only has two home runs this season, but he still has considerable upside if he can continue to get on base at such a high rate due to his ability to steal bases.
Others to consider: A.J. Pollock and Jon Jay
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/21/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout
Tuesday brings a packed slate in the majors with all 15 games included in the main contests for DFS. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
STARTING PITCHERS
Blake Snell vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $9,600
DraftKings = $11,500
The Rays have brought Snell back slowly since being activated from the DL. He’s been on a pitch count, but he threw 76 pitchers in his last start against the Yankees, so he should be close to full-go Tuesday. He’s having a spectacular season with a 2.10 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP across 23 starts. Luck has been somewhat on his side with opponents posting just a .233 BABIP against him, but his 13.5% swinging-strike rate has led to a career-high 10.1 K/9. The Royals have scored the fewest runs (459) in baseball, potentially setting up Snell for another dominant outing.
Tyler Anderson vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $6,600
DraftKings = $6,900
Anderson hasn’t been pitching at his best lately, allowing 21 runs over 20.1 innings in his last four starts. It’s no coincidence that three of those outings came on the road. Anderson has thrived pitching at Coors Field, posting a 3.47 ERA there compared to a 5.37 ERA on the road. He had similar splits last year with a 5.44 ERA on the road and a 4.14 ERA at home. The Padres struggle to score runs and have the second-most strikeouts (1,190) in the league, leaving Anderson with upside in tournament play.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Jesus Aguilar vs. Sal Romano, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $5,200
Aguilar had his worst month of the season in July, batting only .202 for the month. He’s righted the ship in August, batting .308 with a .446 OBP across 17 games. He’s finally received everyday playing time this year and he’s taken full advantage of his opportunity, batting .283 with 29 home runs. Romano has allowed 1.5 HR/9 this season, so Aguilar is a threat to go deep again in this contest.
Ji-Man Choi vs. Glenn Sparkman, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $3,800
Choi went 1-for-2 with two walks Monday to extend his current hitting streak to eight games. He’s shown some power over that stretch, as well, with two home runs and three doubles. Choi also has a .358 wOBA against right-handed pitchers overall, making him a viable option at this cheap price against Sparkman and his 1.55 WHIP.
Others to consider: Matt Olson (first base) and Buster Posey (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Travis Shaw vs. Sal Romano, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,600
Shaw cashed in a prime matchup against Homer Bailey on Monday, finishing the game 1-for-3 with a home run. Shaw’s only batting .247 this season, but he now has 25 homers and is well on his way to hitting at least 30 for the second straight season. With his .376 wOBA against righties, he’s another Brewer to target for your lineup.
Jonathan Villar vs. Sam Gaviglio, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,800
When the Brewers loaded up in their infield to make a run at the playoffs, Villar was jettisoned to the Orioles. The Orioles found themselves extremely thin in their infield after trading away Manny Machado and Jonathan Schoop, leaving Villar with a clear path to an everyday role. He hasn’t exactly excelled, but he is hitting .269 with a .347 OBP since joining the Orioles. He has plenty of speed and swiped two bases on Monday. Gaviglio allows a lot of baserunners with his 1.46 WHIP and Blue Jays’ catcher Danny Jansen has allowed nine stolen bases in six games since being called up from the minors, leaving Villar as an intriguing option.
Others to consider: Jeff McNeil and Joey Wendle
THIRD BASE
Nolan Arenado vs. Robbie Erlin, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $5,700
Erlin has pitched mostly out of the bullpen this season, but he’s started in each of his last three outings. He has a 3.33 ERA and a 3.12 FIP overall this year, but he doesn’t have an overpowering arsenal with just a 6.7 K/9 for his career. Arenado has a staggering 231 wRC+ against lefties this year, so don’t hesitate to pay up for his services.
Evan Longoria vs. Steven Matz, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,500
Longoria’s been limited to 90 games due to injuries in his first season with the Giants and he hasn’t played well when healthy, posting a .282 OBP and a .699 OPS. Most of his struggles have come against righties, who he has a .268 wOBA against. He’s had much more success versus lefties, though, with a .359 wOBA.
Others to consider: Mike Moustakas and Matt Chapman
SHORTSTOP
Trevor Story vs. Robbie Erlin, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $5,800
Story hasn’t exactly struggled on the road this season with a .275 average and a .780 OPS. However, he’s been out of this world hitting in Coors Field with a .316 average and a 1.048 OPS. Considering he also has a .431 wOBA against left-handed pitchers and both he and Arenado could do plenty of damage Tuesday.
Marcus Semien vs. Ariel Jurado, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,200
Jurado’s first taste of action in the majors has not gone well. He’s only made five starts, but he has a 6.41 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. Just as concerning is that he only has 11 strikeouts across 26.2 innings. He only had a 5.1 K/9 at Double-A this season before being recalled, so don’t expect him to suddenly start striking out a lot of hitters. Semien could provide value at this cheap price, especially since he is hitting .405 with three home runs and three doubles over his last nine games.
Others to consider: Xander Bogaerts and Amed Rosario
OUTFIELD
Khris Davis vs. Ariel Jurado, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $5,100
Here we go again. Davis went deep Monday after hitting two home runs Sunday. When he’s hot, he can hit home runs in bunches. He’s slugged 37 homers this season and while his excellent power numbers are nothing new, his .261 batting average would be his highest mark in any season where he played at least 100 games.
Lorenzo Cain vs. Sal Romano, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,600
Cain doesn’t have much home run upside, but he enters Tuesday with a .304 average and a .396 OBP. He’s already swiped 24 bases, three of which have come across his last four games. Not only does Romano have a hard time keeping hitters inside the park, but he’s had difficulty keeping men off base, in general, with a 1.45 WHIP.
Stephen Piscotty vs. Ariel Jurado, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $2,100
DraftKings = $3,500
Piscotty is starting to heat up again as he is 10-for-33 (.303) with a home run and five doubles over his last eight games. His .255 batting average this season doesn’t jump off the page, but he’s provided power with 16 homers and 34 doubles. He has almost even splits versus lefties and righties this year, so he might be worth the risk at this very cheap price even though he doesn’t have the platoon advantage facing Jurado.
Others to consider: A.J. Pollock and Christian Yelich
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/20/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout
Monday brings plenty of options in DFS with 10 games on the schedule. It should be an exciting night with games including the Indians against the Red Sox, the Astros versus the Mariners and the Cardinals taking on the Dodgers. 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
Zack Wheeler vs. San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $9,100
DraftKings = $9,300
In what has been a lost season for the Mets, Wheeler has made significant improvements. After finishing with a 5.21 ERA and a 5.03 FIP in 2017, he has a 3.75 ERA and a 3.43 FIP this year. Not only has he reduced his WHIP from 1.59 to 1.23, but he’s allowed 0.8 HR/9 compared to 1.6 HR/9 last year. He’s on a hot streak right now, as well, allowing five runs and recording 30 strikeouts over 33 innings in his last five starts. The Giants have the third-lowest OPS on the road (.664) in baseball, potentially setting up Wheeler for a great performance.
Kevin Gausman vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $7,100
Gausman has pitched well since joining the Braves, allowing five runs across 19 innings in three starts. He only had 12 total strikeouts, but it’s encouraging that he also allowed just one home run. Homers have been a problem for him this season since he’s allowed 1.4 HR/9 overall. The move from the American League to the National League can provide a big boost for pitchers, which could be the case even more so for Gausman since he was pitching in the AL East. The Pirates are in the bottom third of baseball in home runs, so Gausman might be worth considering in tournament play.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Matt Olson vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,100
Bartolo Colon was originally scheduled to start Sunday, but he was pushed back a day after dealing with some back stiffness. That’s good news for Olson and the A’s since Colon has a 5.19 ERA and has allowed 1.7 HR/9. Olson only has a .309 wOBA against left-handed pitchers, but he has a .348 wOBA against righties. He’s hit 19 of his 23 homers off of righties as well.
Ji-Man Choi vs. Jorge Lopez, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $2,000
DraftKings = $3,700
The Rays could prove to be a productive stack Monday. Lopez mostly pitched in relief for the Brewers Triple-A squad this season, posting a 5.65 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. His first start for the Royals did not go well as he allowed six runs over 4.2 innings to the Blue Jays. Choi is currently on a seven-game hitting streak and he has a .349 wOBA against righties, making him a great cheap option with upside.
Others to consider: Jesus Aguilar (first base) and Robinson Chirinos (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Travis Shaw vs. Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,700
The Brewers will likely be another popular stack with Bailey starting for the Reds. Bailey allowed 10 runs over 8.2 innings in his last two starts and has a 6.33 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP overall. He’s had trouble keeping hitters inside the park, as well, giving up 1.9 HR/9. Shaw has plenty of power and has hit 23 of his 24 home runs against righties this year.
Joey Wendle vs. Jorge Lopez, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $2,300
DraftKings = $3,900
Wendle might not be flashy, but he’s batting .327 with 12 RBI so far in August. He doesn’t hit many home runs, but he’s been a reliable hitter for the Rays with a .291 average this season. He doesn’t have nearly the ceiling that Shaw does, but that doesn’t mean he can’t provide value at this price against the underwhelming Lopez.
Others to consider: Rougned Odor and Brian Dozier
THIRD BASE
Justin Turner vs. Austin Gomber, St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,500
Turner is one of the hottest hitters in baseball right now as he is 24-for-52 (.462) with three homers and six doubles during his current 13-game hitting streak. Gomber has largely pitched well for the Cardinals, but with the way Turner is hitting and his 175 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers this season, don’t count on his hitting streak ending Monday.
Matt Chapman vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,300
Chapman is not only one of the premier defensive third baseman in baseball, he’s one of the best defenders in general. He seems to make sparkling plays on a nightly basis, but he’s done far more than just excel in the field. He’s made a significant improvement at the plate, batting .276 with a .363 OBP. He’s batting .311 with four homers in August and is another A’s hitter to consider against Colon.
Others to consider: Mike Moustakas and Todd Frazier
SHORTSTOP
Jorge Polanco vs. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,200
There is no shortage of bad starting pitchers scheduled to appear Monday. Giolito has managed to stay in the White Sox rotation the entire season, but he’s been awful with a 6.15 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. He’s had significant control problems, issuing 72 walks compared to only 91 strikeouts. Polanco might not have a ton of power, but he does have a stellar .395 wOBA against right-handed pitchers.
Jose Peraza vs. Chase Anderson, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,500
Peraza has been more disciplined at the plate this year, recording only a 10.4% strikeout rate. He still doesn’t walk a lot, but his .292 batting average is a significant improvement from his .259 mark last season. Although he’s not a power hitter, he has slugged a home run in both of his last two games and has at least two hits in four-straight contests. I prefer Polanco out of the two as they both have similar prices, but Peraza could also provide value for your entry.
Others to consider: Amed Rosario and Marcus Semien
OUTFIELD
Khris Davis vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $5,000
The A’s have not only played their way into the Wild Card race, but they are also giving the Astros a run for their money in the AL West. Davis has been a huge reason for their success, hitting 36 home runs to go along with 98 RBI. He’s well on his way to his third-straight season with at least 40 homers and 100 RBI. With Colon’s propensity to give up the long ball, Davis could be in for a monster night.
Max Kepler vs. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,900
Kepler struggles with his batting average, but he’s followed up his 19 home runs in 2017 with 16 homers so far this season. He’s actually having a respectable month, overall, in August, batting .255 with a .367 wOBA. Giolito has allowed a .374 wOBA against left-handed hitters, making Kepler a viable option at this cheap price in tournament play.
Mallex Smith vs. Jorge Lopez, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,600
Although the Rays acquired Tommy Pham and Austin Meadows at the trade deadline, Smith isn’t going anywhere in their outfield. He’s been red-hot since July 1, batting .365 with a .448 OBP. He’s a terror when he’s on the bases, swiping 11 bags during that stretch and 26 for the season overall. With Lopez’s struggles to keep runners off base, Smith carries plenty of upside in this game despite his lack of power.
Others to consider: Christian Yelich and Lorenzo Cain