Monday brings eight games for us to choose from for the main evening slate in DFS. There aren’t many exciting series set to begin, so let’s try to add some juice to the night by highlighting some players who could help lead to a profitable night.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/17/2019
If you like excellent starting pitching, you might want to avert your eyes for Wednesday’s set of evening games. With several bad starting pitchers set to take the mound, we could be in line for an offensive explosion.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/18/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
June special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout
There are only 10 games in the majors Monday, but there are still a lot of great options to choose from in DFS. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
STARTING PITCHERS
Trevor Bauer vs. Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $11,200
DraftKings = $12,400
On many other teams, Bauer would be considered a staff ace. He doesn’t get that distinction in Cleveland with Corey Kluber ahead of him, but his 2.69 ERA and 2.32 FIP this year are impressive. His 1.12 WHIP has been a big reason for his success. His .303 BABIP allowed is right in line with his career mark, which makes his hot start even more encouraging for his long-term value. He also has at least 10 strikeouts in five of his last six starts, leading to an 11.6 K/9 overall. He faced these same White Sox in his last start, allowing three runs and recording 12 strikeouts in 7.2 innings. Look for him to have another great game Monday.
Andrew Suarez vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $6,600
DraftKings = $6,800
Suarez’s 4.92 ERA leaves a lot to be desired, but his 3.85 FIP indicates he isn’t pitching that poorly. He has a respectable 1.26 WHIP and an 8.5 K/9, but he’s been done in by a 1.4 HR/9. Most of his struggles have come on the road this season with a 6.18 ERA and a 1.66 WHIP, compared to a 3.55 ERA and a 0.83 WHIP at AT&T Park. Not only does he have the home start working in his favor, but he is also facing a Marlins team that has scored the second-fewest runs (253) and has hit the fewest home runs (56) in baseball. Suarez is a cheap option with upside in tournament play.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Evan Gattis vs. Ryne Stanek, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,300
Gattis is on a crazy run right now, hitting 17-for-44 (.386) with six home runs and 21 RBI in his last 11 games. The Astros lineup has been hot as a whole, which helped lead to that lofty RBI total. This will be another bullpen day for the Rays since Stanek has not pitched more than two innings in a game this season. Keeping riding Gattis’ hot bat until he shows signs of slowing down.
Yuli Gurriel vs. Ryne Stanek, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,800
Gurriel was batting only .224 entering May, but he batted .310 that month and has been even better with a .362 average in June. He only has two home runs this season overall, but he does have 13 RBI in his last 14 games with the Astros scoring in bunches. He doesn’t have the upside that Gattis does, but he’s still someone to consider at this reasonable price.
Others to consider: Paul Goldschmidt (first base) Cody Bellinger (first base)
SECOND BASE
Josh Harrison vs. Jhoulys Chacin, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,900
Harrison doesn’t put up flashy numbers, but he’s been a valuable part of the Pirates lineup this season. He’s batting .294 and although he doesn’t hit for a lot of power, he also doesn’t strike out much with a 13.7% strikeout rate. He is batting 15-for-41 (.366) in his last 10 games and has similar numbers against both lefties and righties, so don’t shy away from him because he doesn’t have the platoon advantage against Chacin.
Daniel Descalso vs. Jaime Barria, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,900
The Diamondbacks lineup struggled at the start of the season but has really turned things around of late. Descalso has been one of their constants this year, batting .281 with eight home runs. He is swinging at fewer pitches outside of the strike zone and has a 44.4% hard-hit rate, two factors that have been driving forces to his success. He also has a .407 wOBA against right-handed pitchers, making him someone to target against Barria
Others to consider: Jose Altuve and Asdrubal Cabrera
THIRD BASE
Mike Moustakas vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $3,900
Colon was pitching surprisingly well to start the season, but opponents had a crazy low BABIP against him and he wasn’t recording many strikeouts, so it was only a matter of time before his numbers started to decline. He’s been destroyed in his last five starts, allowing 25 runs in 23.2 innings. He also allowed 10 home runs during that stretch, setting up a nice matchup for the power-hitting Moustakas.
Adrian Beltre vs. Ian Kennedy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $3,700
Beltre has been bothered by hamstring problems this year, leaving him to play only 42 games. He’s performed well when he has been on the field, batting .326 with a .388 OBP. His power numbers aren’t great, but he has at least two hits in four of his last five starts. Kennedy allows a lot of baserunners and has had equal problems against both lefties and righties, so look for Beltre to continue to swing a hot bat in this game.
Others to consider: Max Muncy and Justin Turner
SHORTSTOP
Carlos Correa vs. Ryne Stanek, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,800
It’s amazing to think what numbers Correa could have put up last season if he didn’t get hurt. Despite playing only 109 games, he still had 24 home runs and 84 RBI. He also hit a career-high .315, but that was partly aided by his .352 BABIP. His .273 average this year is more in line with his first two seasons in the majors as a result of his BABIP dropping to .318. Like several of the Astros hitters, Correa is playing well right now, hitting 12-for-36 (.333) with three homers in his last nine games.
Jurickson Profar vs. Ian Kennedy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $3,900
Profar is finally getting a chance to play every day with Elvis Andrus (elbow) on the DL. His numbers aren’t great, but with the Rangers buried in the standings, it might be a wise idea for them to continue to find at-bats for him even when Andrus returns. Profar is 7-for-23 (.304) with two home runs during his current five-game hitting streak and is a viable option if you don’t want to pay up for Correa.
Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Chris Taylor
OUTFIELD
David Peralta vs. Jaime Barria, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,800
Peralta couldn’t find his way at the plate in May, batting .211 with two home runs. He’s making up for that lack of production in June, batting .350 with seven home runs in 60 at-bats. With a career .370 wOBA against right-handed pitchers, he’s someone you want to target for your entry, especially considering his price on FanDuel.
Joey Gallo vs. Ian Kennedy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,900
Gallo is a risky play because he’s an all-or-nothing hitter. He’s hitting .198 with a 37.1% strikeout rate, but he also has 18 home runs. Kennedy is on pace to allow at least 1.5 HR/9 for the fourth straight season, so this might be the night to take the gamble and roll with Gallo.
Joc Pederson vs. Tyler Chatwood, Chicago Cubs
Stadium – Wrigley Field
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,400
Pederson has had problems striking out in his career, but he’s made significant improvement with just a 14.2% strikeout rate this season. It’s no coincidence that his .276 average is by far the highest of his career. His improved plate discipline hasn’t come at the expense of his power numbers, though, as he still has eight homers and 14 doubles. He also has a .406 wOBA against righties and gets a struggling one in Chatwood on Monday.
Others to consider: Matt Kemp and Lonnie Chisenhall
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/17/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/17/18
Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout
There are a lot of teams off Thursday, leaving only nine games for 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
Tyler Skaggs vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $9,000
DraftKings = $10,400
Skaggs is on pace for the best season of his career, posting a 3.07 ERA and 3.19 FIP through eight starts. He had finished with a WHIP of at least 1.39 in back-to-back seasons but has been able to cut that down to 1.21 this year. He’s allowed a .300 BABIP and a 37.1% hard-hit rate, which are both either at or higher than his career marks, so he’s not exactly getting lucky either. His 9.4 K/9 this season has been aided by the fact that he has thrown a first-pitch strike to 65.8% of the batters that he has faced and a career-best 10.4% swinging strike rate. His price is climbing, but he’s certainly one of the best options Thursday.
Chad Bettis vs. San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $7,200
DraftKings = $7,400
Bettis’ 3.12 ERA looks nice, but he’s been lucky with a 4.35 FIP and a .257 BABIP allowed that is over 50 percentage points lower than his career mark. He doesn’t have an overpowering arsenal either with just a 6.6 K/9 for his career. Like many pitchers, Bettis struggles in Coors field with a 5.37 ERA there for his career compared to a 4.29 ERA on the road. Those splits have been even more drastic this year with a 6.89 ERA in three home starts and a 1.35 ERA in five games on the road. Although his strikeout upside isn’t great, Bettis could be worth the risk in tournament play based on his price.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Eric Hosmer vs. Chad Kuhl, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $3,800
After recording only two home runs and four RBI in his first 26 games, Hosmer has picked up his production with four home runs and 12 RBI in his last 14 contests. He’s only batted .231 over that 14-game stretch, but that’s mostly because of his abnormally low .205 BABIP. Hosmer has followed up his stellar .400 wOBA against right-handed pitchers in 2017 with a .377 mark this season, making him a great option against Kuhl, who really struggles against lefties.
Matt Olson vs. Aaron Sanchez, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,600
Olson’s power numbers are way down, following up his .652 slugging percentage in 2017 with only a .404 mark this year. His strikeout rate sits at 30.4%, which certainly isn’t helping his cause any. He is only batting .238, which is a bit scary when you consider he has a favorable .323 BABIP. Despite all his struggles, he still has a .359 wOBA against righties this year and won’t face an overpowering one in Sanchez on Thursday, so he could provide upside considering his price.
Others to consider: Justin Smoak (first base) and James McCann (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Jed Lowrie vs. Aaron Sanchez, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,100
Lowrie has cooled off some after his torrid start, but he’s still batting .296 in May. His power numbers are on the decline with one double and three home runs this month, but that was to be expected considering his career .414 slugging percentage. He hit righties well last year with a .353 wOBA and has been even better with a .423 wOBA this season, making him another Athletics’ hitter who could provide value against Sanchez.
Rougned Odor vs. James Shields, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,100
Odor batted only .204 last year, but he provided plenty of power with 30 home runs. Injuries have limited him to just 16 games this season, but he’s still looking for his first homer. Shields doesn’t exactly have electric stuff anymore with a 5.44 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 5.3 K/9 this season and Odor does have more success against righties, so he may have some upside.
Others to consider: Ozzie Albies and Sean Rodriguez
THIRD BASE
Nolan Arenado vs. Jeff Samardzija, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $5,100
Samardzija is struggling, to say the least, recording a 6.94 ERA, 6.27 FIP and 1.71 WHIP across his first five starts. He’s had major control issues with a 5.8 BB/9 and has already allowed five home runs in just 23.1 innings. Things could get ugly for him again Thursday, especially against Arenado since he is 12-for-29 (.414) against him in his career.
Danny Valencia vs. David Price, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,800
Price hasn’t pitched well since leaving his start against the Yankees April 11 with an injury, watching his ERA increase from 2.40 to 4.89 since. He’s pitched more than 5.2 innings only after that game and could be risky moving forward due to his battle with carpal tunnel syndrome. Valencia hits lefties well and is 13-for-22 (.591) against Price in his career.
Others to consider: Josh Donaldson and Matt Chapman
SHORTSTOP
Manny Machado vs. David Price, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $5,600
Machado is a good player to target most nights unless he’s facing one of the true elite aces in the league. Not only is he batting a robust .342, but he also has 13 home runs and 11 doubles. He has hit Price well in his career too, going 11-for-37 (.297) with four home runs.
Jose Iglesias vs. Marco Gonzales, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,000
If you can make Machado work in your budget, he’s the option I prefer at shortstop. However, if you need to save some money at the position, Iglesias is someone to have on your radar. He has really struggled against righties with a .282 wOBA against them for his career but has a .328 wOBA against lefties. Gonzales has had troubles keeping runners off base with a 1.64 WHIP for his career, so Iglesias may be able to find his way on base a couple of times in this game.
Others to consider: Jean Segura and Marcus Semien
OUTFIELD
Mookie Betts vs. Kevin Gausman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $5,300
DraftKings = $5,800
I’ve already discussed a couple of Orioles’ hitters with favorable matchups in this game, but now it’s time to move to the other dugout with Betts. He’s been one of the elite hitters in all of baseball this year and even though Gausman is off to an encouraging start, Betts is 12-for-29 (.414) with three home runs against him in his career. Betts actually has more walks (four) than strikeouts (three) against Gausman.
Joey Gallo vs. James Shields, Chicago White Sox
Stadium = Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,300
When you play Gallo, it’s for his home run upside since he is only batting .201 for his career. This year has been no different with a .200 average and a 34.3% strikeout rate. The power is still there though and Shields has a HR/9 of at least 2.0 in back-to-back seasons, so Gallo could be worth the risk at this price.
Gerardo Parra vs. Jeff Samardzija, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,300
Parra really struggles against lefties, but his wOBA for his career is almost 50 percentage points higher against righties. He’s not off to a great start this season with a .674 OPS, but facing Samardzija might be just what he needs since he is 12-for-20 (.400) with two home runs against him in his career.
Others to consider: Nomar Mazara and Franchy Cordero
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/16/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/16/18
Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout
As is the case most Wednesday’s, we’ve got game spread out between the day and evening slates for DFS today. 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
Walker Buehler vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $9,500
DraftKings = $8,500
Regarded as one of the top prospects in baseball, Buehler has continued to shine in the majors. He’s making a case to stick in the Dodgers’ rotation even when they get healthy, posting a 1.64 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 11.0 K/9 through four starts. His FIP stands at 1.64 and he’s allowed a .288 BABIP, so his supporting numbers further highlight his strong start. His first start of the year came against these same Marlins, holding them scoreless over five innings while recording five strikeouts. Since they have scored the fewest runs (142) and hit the fewest home runs (31) in baseball, Buehler could again be in line for a valuable performance.
J.A. Happ vs. New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $8,600
DraftKings = $9,400
Happ’s 4.80 ERA doesn’t instill confidence, but it is a bit inflated after he allowed seven runs in 3.1 innings in his last start against the Mariners. He has allowed three earned runs or fewer in five of his eight outings and has a career-high 11.2 K/9, led by an 11.7% swinging strike rate. The Mets have one of the worst offenses in the league, scoring the sixth-fewest runs (165). They also have the worst OPS against left-handed pitchers (.593) by a wide margin, leaving Happ as a viable option in tournament play if you are playing the early slate.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Carlos Santana vs. Andrew Cashner, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,900
DratfKings =$4,900
Santana has finally woken up after a slow start, batting .289 with five home runs in May. He still only has a .216 BABIP this month, leaving him with even more room for improvement. Cashner is off to a bad start as well with a 5.74 FIP and 1.50 WHIP through eight outings. Santana has hit right-handers well in his career and has a .337 wOBA against them this year despite all his struggles, so don’t sleep on him Wednesday.
Jose Osuna vs. Hector Santiago, Chicago White Sox
Stadium = PNC Park
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,000
Santiago has made 11 appearances for the White Sox this season, but Wednesday will mark only his third start. He hasn’t pitched well, posting a 5.60 ERA, 5.67 FIP, and 1.68 WHIP. He started 14 of his 15 games last season and wasn’t any better, finishing with a 5.63 ERA, 6.02 FIP, and 1.44 WHIP. Osuna is batting cleanup in this game and already has two home runs in 10 plate appearances against lefties this year, so he might be worth the risk in tournament play. Of note, he is only first base eligible on DraftKings as he is listed as an outfielder on FanDuel.
Others to consider: Anthony Rizzo (first base) and Wilson Contreras (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Javier Baez vs, Brandon McCarthy, Atlanta Braves
Stadium – SunTrust Field
FanDuel = $4,500
DratfKings = $4,500
McCarthy got off to a hot start by allowing three runs or fewer in each of his first four starts but he has allowed at least five runs in three of his last four. His last two outings were particularly concerning since he gave up 14 runs to the Giants and Marlins, neither of which have a great lineup. The Cubs present an excellent stacking opportunity Wednesday, Baez included.
Howie Kendrick vs. C.C. Sabathia, New York Yankees
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,300
Sabathia’s 2.23 ERA and 1.02 WHIP look great, but he’s been a bit lucky with opponents posting just a .255 BABIP. He doesn’t have overpowering stuff anymore with a 6.9 K/9 this year, but he’s helped make up for it with a career-low 1.2 BB/9. Kendrick recorded a .385 wOBA against lefties last year, leaving him with a favorable chance to provide value.
Others to consider: Cesar Hernandez and Joey Wendle
THIRD BASE
Jose Ramirez vs. Ryan Carpenter, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $5,100
Ramirez is rolling right now, hitting 8-for-20 with three home runs and three doubles in his last five games. The lefty Carpenter did make one start for the Tigers earlier this year, allowing three runs in three innings against the Pirates. He wasn’t exactly pitching well in Triple-A this season either with a 5.01 ERA and 1.43 WHIP across seven starts. Ramirez finished with a .395 wOBA against lefties last year and has been even better with a .419 mark this season. He is one of several Indians hitters who could excel in this game.
Justin Turner vs. Caleb Smith, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,700
Turner played in his first game Tuesday after missing the start of the season with a wrist injury. The Dodgers badly need his bat in their lineup with the loss of Corey Seager (elbow), so he is certainly a welcomed addition. He mashed left-handers for a 206 wRC+ last year, so don’t hesitate to add him to your entry even though it’s only his second game back.
Others to consider: Eugenio Suarez and Daniel Descalso
SHORTSTOP
Francisco Lindor vs. Ryan Carpenter, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $5,500
Lindor’s 15-game hitting streak was snapped Tuesday, but that’s mostly because he didn’t get a chance to do much damage, drawing a walk in four of his five plate appearances. He’s one of the hottest hitters in the league right now and already has eight home runs in May, making him yet another Indians’ hitter you want to try and squeeze into your entry.
Brandon Crawford vs. Matt Harvey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,300
Speaking of shortstops on a hot streak, Crawford is batting .412 with 1.017 OPS in May. Harvey pitched well in his first start with the Reds, but he still only had two strikeouts in four innings. After he allowed a .426 wOBA to left-handed hitters last year, Crawford could have a good chance of keeping his hot streak alive for at least one more game.
Others to consider: Trea Turner and Chris Taylor
OUTFIELD
Odubel Herrera vs. Andrew Cashner, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,800
Herrera has been hot out of the gate, batting .360 with a .992 OPS. He likely won’t be able to sustain that average considering his .400 BABIP, but it is encouraging that his walk rate is up while his strikeout rate is down. His .436 wOBA against righties this year makes him another Phillies’ hitter to target against Cashner.
Nomar Mazara vs. Christian Bergman, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,200
Bergman will be making his first start in the majors Wednesday, although he hasn’t exactly dominated in the minors this year with a 3.40 ERA and 1.44 WHIP. He’s had trouble keeping runners off base in his previous appearances in the majors, posting a 1.50 WHIP for his career. Mazara only has a .272 wOBA in his career against lefties but has been much better against righties with a .340 wOBA.
Joey Gallo vs. Christian Bergman, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,000
It’s all or nothing when it comes to Gallo, who has 12 home runs despite batting .199 and striking out in one-third of his plate appearances. Not only has Bergman struggled to keep runners off base, but he also has a 1.6 HR/9 for his career to go along with only a 5.5 K/9. This is the type of matchup that Gallo thrives off of.
Others to consider: Kyle Schwarber and Denard Span
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/5/18
Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/5/18
Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout
There aren’t many elite starting pitchers taking the mound Thursday, so this could be a night where offense is plentiful 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
Robbie Ray vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $9,600
DraftKings = $11,700
The night slate of games is really lacking star power in terms of starting pitchers, especially if you play on DraftKings where the Yankees and Rays game is not included. Ray stands out as the best starting pitcher available, even though he gave up six earned runs in five innings in his first start of the season against the Rockies. He still had eight strikeouts in that game and has excellent strikeout upside after posting a K/9 of at least 11.3 in both of the last two seasons. Ray was also very good on the road last season, posting a 1.86 ERA and 0.99 WHIP away from Chase Field. He’s certainly not cheap, but with unappealing options on the night slate, it might be wise to pay up to get him into your entry.
James Paxton vs. Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $8,800
DraftKings = $9,600
Paxton was limited to just 136 innings last year due to injury, but he was excellent when healthy, posting a 2.98 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 10.3 K/9. His FIP was even better at 2.61 and he only allowed 0.6 HR/9, leaving him with big expectations heading into 2018. His first start of the season did not go as planned, allowing six earned runs in 4.2 innings against the Indians. He walked four batters in that game, which is out of character since he had a BB/9 of 2.4 or lower in both of the last two seasons. He has strikeout upside, making him someone to consider Thursday.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Joey Gallo vs. Daniel Mengden, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,300
Gallo has been about what you would have expected from him heading into the season, batting .214 with 10 strikeouts in seven games so far. He’s provided power with two home runs and a double and should continue to be a good source of homers this season. He’ll face a righty in Mengden on Thursday and Gallo crushed righties last year, posting a .364 wOBA and hitting 34 of his 41 home runs against them. This could be an excellent matchup to take advantage of Thursday.
Ian Desmond vs. Joey Lucchesi, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,800
The Rockies will face the lefty Lucchesi on Thursday who struggled in his first start of the season, allowing three earned runs in 4.2 innings to the Brewers. He didn’t issue a walk, but he only struck out one batter. The Rockies have some hitters who have very favorable splits against left-handed pitching, including Desmond, who has a career .280 batting average against them. This would be an even better matchup for Desmond if this game was being played in Coors Field, but he can still provide value for your entry.
Others to consider: Gary Sanchez (catcher) and Jose Martinez (first base)
SECOND BASE
Robinson Cano vs. Kyle Gibson, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $5,200
Cano is off to a great start this season, batting .500 with a hit in every game. He has yet to hit a home run, but he does have three doubles and six runs scored. He’ll face the righty in Gibson on Thursday, which is great news for Cano considering he posted a 138 wRC+ against right-handers last year. He also has good numbers against Gibson, batting .296 in 29 plate appearances in his career.
Yoan Moncada vs. Jordan Zimmermann, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,200
Moncada does have a hit in four of his first five games this season, but he doesn’t have a multi-hit game yet and already has seven strikeouts. He’s been a much better hitter batting from the left side during his brief career, posting a .348 wOBA in 2017 compared to just .283 from the right side. Zimmermann struggled against lefties in 2017, allowing a .376 wOBA. Moncada could be in line for his best game of the young season Thursday.
Others to consider: D.J. LeMahieu and Chris Owings
THIRD BASE
Nolan Arenado vs. Joey Lucchesi, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $5,400
Arenado has yet to have a big breakout game this season as he has only one home run, but he has recorded at least one RBI in three straight games. Like Desmond, Arenado gets the benefit of facing another left-hander on Thursday. Arenado had a staggering 220 wRC+ against lefties last year, which was third-best in baseball.
Matt Chapman vs. Martin Perez, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $3,700
Chapman played in just 82 games with the Athletics in 2017 but has established himself as their third baseman of the future. He batted only .234, but he showed plenty of power with 14 home runs and 23 doubles. He’s off to a hot start this season, batting .385 with two home runs and a .448 OBP. Perez is tough against lefties but allowed a wOBA of at least .341 to righties in both of the last two seasons.
Others to consider: Rafael Devers and Brandon Drury
SHORTSTOP
Didi Gregorius vs. Andrew Cashner, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = NA
Gregorius is sometimes forgotten in a lineup that includes Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Gary Sanchez, but he is a very important part of the Yankees success. He’s moved into the cleanup spot against right-handed pitchers, a role he excelled in for the Yankees last season by driving in 40 runs in 42 games out of that spot. He’ll face Cashner on Thursday, who doesn’t have overpowering stuff with just a 7.0 K/9 for his career.
Xander Boegarts vs. Yonny Chirinos, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $5,000
Boegarts batted only .273 last year, but a lot of that had to do with injuries and an abnormally low .281 BABIP in the second half of the season. He’s off to a hot start this year, batting .357 with a home run and five doubles. Chirinos is the “starter” for the Rays on Thursday, but this is one of their planned bullpen days and he might not pitch that deep into the game. Their bullpen isn’t lights-out to begin with, which could lead to a big game for the Red Sox offense.
Others to consider: Jean Segura and Addison Russell
OUTFIELD
Giancarlo Stanton vs. Andrew Cashner, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = NA
After receiving boos because he struck out five times in the Yankees home opener, Stanton mashed a home run that brought the stadium to their feet Wednesday. He only has five hits so far this season, but three of them have been home runs. With Cashner not having overpowering stuff at this point in his career, don’t be surprised if Stanton gets a hold of one again Thursday.
Nicholas Castellanos vs. James Shields, Chicago White Sox
Stadium- Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,900
Castellanos has yet to leave the park this season, but he does already have three multi-hit games. He set career-highs with 26 home runs and 101 RBI last year, so expect him to straighten things out in the power department soon. Thursday brings an excellent opportunity to do so against Shields who allowed 2.1 HR/9 last year and isn’t much more than a journeyman starter at this stage of his career.
Hunter Renfroe vs. Tyler Anderson, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,000
The Padres had a crowded outfield heading into this season, but some playing time has now opened up with Wil Myers (arm) on the DL. Renfroe is going to get his chance to shine and he just might do that Thursday against the lefty Anderson as Renfroe had a .439 wOBA against lefties in 2017.
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Lineup Stacks for August 16, 2017
*Austyn Varney*
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Lineup Stacks – Wednesday, August 16, 2017
*STARTING PITCHERS*
Yu Darvish Vs Chicago White Sox
Park – Dodger Stadium
Opp implied total – 2.70
When first glancing at this slate, it became clear how much of a premium a good starter will hold. Out of the 18 teams on this slate, 15 are projected for over 4 runs and 8 teams with run totals over 5. Fortunately, we do have a couple very solid options to look at. I do think the first one is pretty clear with Yu Darvish. Darvish and the Dodgers will welcome the lowly White Sox into Dodger Stadium tonight with full anticipation of destroying them. With an 8 over/under, the Sox are expected to put up 2.70 to the Dodgers’ 5.30. Darvish is the biggest favorite on the board and has a price across the industry that provides a ton of safety. He’s been excellent all season and his numbers figure to only go up with the pitcher-friendly Dodger Stadium his new home. He’s posted a .296 wOBA on the year and has backed it up with a 10.15 K/9. This is as safe as it gets for Darvish and he will be plugged into 100% of my lineups. I’m not sure you can afford fading him on a slate with so many explosive offenses in the minefield.
Marcus Stroman Vs Toronto Blue Jays
Park – Tropicana Field
Vegas O/U – 3.94
If you’re unwilling to pay the hefty price for Darvish or need a high-end SP2, Stroman is your guy. While some may go after Carrasco, who is perfectly fine, I slightly prefer Stroman. He will be lower owned and has a similar floor and ceiling. The Rays are projected to put up 3.94 runs and the Jays come in at -148 favorites. We know how bad the Rays are against righties and we should always be looking to take advantage. While the Rays hold up their wOBA against righties with guys like Corey Dickerson and Logan Morrison, but the rest of the order surely weighs it down. What those 2 guys don’t do is bolster the K rate. Against right-handers, the Rays have struck out the 2nd most at 25.2%. The upside is undeniable here for Stroman and with him pitching so much better at home, I’m fine with him in all formats.
*OFFENSIVE STACKS*
Texas Rangers Vs Anibal Sanchez (Tigers)
Park – Globe Life Park
Implied Total – 6.03
There are definitely a lot of offenses to choose from here, which is a ton of fun. When you can go in knowing that your stack is going to be less than 20% owned, you don’t have to worry about going contrarian at all. You can grab whoever you want from these teams tonight and you won’t see any ridiculous ownership. My favorite of the bunch is the Texas Rangers. The Rangers are hosting the Detroit Tigers, who bolster an atrocious rotation and bullpen. Anibal Sanchez will take the mound as one of the absolute worst pitchers in the entire league, undoubtedly. Against righties, he’s posted a .409 wOBA and 12 homers in less than 40 innings. Yes, you read that correctly. He now moves into one of the best hitting parks in the league and figures to get knocked around. I don’t mind any of these Rangers bats, but definitely prefer a few. Rougned Odor and Joey Gallo are 2 of my favorite HR candidates on the slate and I’ll have a ton of both all over my teams. Beltre, Mazara, and Choo are all very similar and I can understand going either way. Furthermore, the bottom of the order is full of guys with upside. You can pick 1 if you want, but will have to sacrifice a bigger bat.
Main Stack – Rougned Odor, Joey Gallo, Adrian Beltre, Shin-Soo Choo
Sneaky Stack – Rougned Odor, Joey Gallo, Nomar Mazara, Delino DeShields
Chicago Cubs Vs Homer Bailey (Reds)
Park – Wrigley Field
Implied Total – N/A
The Cubs are always a team you can target in Wrigley Field, but especially tonight. They face off with Homer Bailey, who like Anibal Sanchez, has been absolutely atrocious against both lefties and righties. With a combined wOBA of .417, it’s quite clear where Bailey does or doesn’t belong. He won’t be in the majors for too much longer and we should be targeting him as much as possible. He has a huge HR and when you combine that with Wrigley Field and this lineup, good things (for us) happen. Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant are obviously amazing and always the top 2 hitters in this order. After that, you can really go anywhere. Avila/Contreras and Schwarber are my next 2 favorite and I think they have a ton of HR potential. The Cubs do have a somewhat-concentrated offense, but production can still come from guys like Javier Baez and Jason Heyward. The Cubs are expected to have a huge night and you have to love where they come in pricewise.
Main Stack – Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, Alex Avila/Willson Contreras
Sneaky Stack – Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Alex Avila/Willson Contreras, Ben Zobrist