Wednesday brings plenty of tough choices across the DFS landscape with 11 games on the schedule. In particular, there are a lot of viable pitching options.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/29/2019
We won’t have a ton of options to choose from Monday with only seven games being played in the majors. With that being said, there are still quality options to choose from on both the pitching and hitting fronts.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/12/2019
We’re finally back from the All-Star break with a full slate of games across the majors Friday. There are only two early start times, leaving us with 13 games to choose from in DFS.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/14/2019
After a quiet Monday, we have a busy Tuesday across the majors with 12 games making up the main evening slate in DFS.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/8/2019
As per usual, a dose of day games leaves with us with a limited featured evening slate in DFS on Wednesday. With that being said, there are still a lot of great pitching and hitting options to consider.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/15/2019
Monday brings a nine-game evening slate across DFS that will feature some of the better starters in the league. There are also plenty of stacking situations to target with some teams trotting out a member of the back of their rotation.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/8/2019
Monday brings 10 games in the majors, eight of which will make up the main evening slate in DFS. Whether you want to roll with an ace pitcher or load up on bats, there are plenty of options for either strategy.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/28/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout
Tuesday is loaded with elite starting pitching options across the majors including Max Scherzer, Jacob deGrom, and Aaron Nola. There is a great second tier of options behind them as well. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
STARTING PITCHERS
Clay Buchholz vs. San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $9,100
DraftKings = $10,000
Buchholz is having an incredible season for the Diamondbacks. He’s allowed more than three runs in only one of his 13 starts this season, resulting in a 2.25 ERA. His FIP is higher at 3.39, but that’s still excellent considering he missed almost all of last season due to injury. His 7.7 K/9 isn’t great, but he has a 1.03 WHIP and has given up only eight home runs across 80 innings. He’s already faced the Giants twice this season, allowing four runs and recording 15 strikeouts over 12 innings. He’s certainly not the flashiest of starting pitching options Tuesday, but he could still provide excellent value.
Brian Johnson vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $5,900
DraftKings = $7,000
With so many great starting pitchers to choose from, it might not be a bad idea to go with a cheap pitcher in tournament play and load up on some of the expensive bats that have favorable matchups. If you want to go that route, Johnson might be your man. He’s made 10 starts for the Red Sox, posting a 3.63 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and an 8.0 K/9. He started against the Marlins earlier this season, holding them to one run and recording five strikeouts in six innings. The Marlins have the fourth-lowest OPS against left-handed pitchers (.655) in baseball, so don’t be surprised if Johson has similar success.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Max Muncy vs. Ariel Jurado, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $5,400
The Dodgers are likely going to be a popular stack with Jurado on the mound. He’s been terrible for the Rangers with a 6.40 ERA and a 5.75 FIP across his first six starts. He has a bloated 1.55 WHIP and only struck out 12 batters over 32.1 innings. Muncy has seen his playing time decrease some lately due to the additions of Manny Machado and Brian Dozier, but he still has four home runs in his last eight games. With the DH available in this contest, expect Muncy to be in the lineup.
Danny Jansen vs. Josh Rogers, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,900
Jansen certainly earned his call-up to the majors, batting .275 with a .390 OBP at Triple-A. He drew 44 walks compared to 49 strikeouts over 360 plate appearances. He’s carried that success over to the Blue Jays, going 10-for-30 with a home run and five doubles in his first nine games. He’s a great cheap option to consider against Rogers, who will be making his first appearance in the majors and doesn’t exactly have an overwhelming arsenal based on his 6.5 K/9 at Triple-A this year.
Others to consider: Matt Carpenter (first base) and Yasmani Grandal (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Whit Merrifield vs. Matthew Boyd, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $5,100
Merrifield might not get a lot of publicity playing for a bad Royals squad, but he’s a great hitter. He only has 10 home runs, but he’s batting .307 with a .374 OBP and 35 doubles. He’s a terror on the bases as well with 28 steals. He has a career .375 wOBA against lefties, so it’s not surprising that he is also 8-for-19 in his career against Boyd.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. vs. Josh Rogers, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $4,200
Gurriel took a seat for the Blue Jays on Monday after starting his first three games since being activated from the DL. He’s one of the bright young players in their organization, so expect him to get plenty of playing time down the stretch. He was one of the hottest hitters in baseball before landing on the DL and is batting .307 overall, leaving him as a someone to consider in tournament play if you don’t want to pay up for Merrifield.
Others to consider: Travis Shaw and Jonathan Villar
THIRD BASE
Justin Turner vs. Ariel Jurado, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $5,600
Injuries have hampered Turner’s season, but he’s doing his best to make up for a slow start. He’s been red-hot in August, batting .405 with five homers and 10 doubles. He has outstanding numbers against left-handed pitchers, but he could still be in line for a big night against the struggling Jurado based on his .356 wOBA against righties.
Wil Myers vs. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,400
Hernandez is only 33 years old, but he’s a shell of his former self. He was demoted to the bullpen at one point but is back in the starting rotation out of necessity for the Mariners. He’s hasn’t been terrible at home, but he has a staggering 7.46 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP on the road. Myers has almost identical numbers against both righties and lefties throughout his career, so don’t pass over him for your entry just because he doesn’t have the platoon advantage against Hernandez.
Others to consider: Miguel Andujar and Matt Chapman
SHORTSTOP
Manny Machado vs. Ariel Jurado, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,500
Machado is still adjusting to his new team and moving to a new league, batting .266 overall since joining the Dodgers. He is starting to heat up again, though, batting .286 with five home runs across his last 11 games. He won’t come cheap on either site, but he has significant upside against Jurado in hitter-friendly Globe Life Park in Arlington.
Freddy Galvis vs. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,600
Galvis has never really been a great hitter, batting .245 with a .661 OPS for his career. He’s put up similar numbers overall this year, but he’s been hot in August, batting .264 with a .834 OPS. If you decide to spend big at starting pitcher, Galvis is a cheap player to consider to help balance your budget with Hernandez on the mound.
Others to consider: Gleyber Torres and Trevor Story
OUTFIELD
Mitch Haniger vs. Jacob Nix, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,900
Haniger was limited to 96 games last year due to injury, but he still hit 16 home runs and 25 doubles. He’s been able to stay healthy this season and remains extremely productive, slugging 22 homers and 28 doubles. He’s also batting .281 with a .368 OBP, showing he’s not just selling out for power. Nix has a 1.63 WHIP through three starts with the Padres, so this could be a high-scoring game for Haniger and the Mariners.
Yasiel Puig vs. Ariel Jurado, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,400
Puig is struggling, batting .171 with just one extra-base hit over his last 10 games. His .433 slugging percentage overall in August would be his lowest mark of any month this season, However, this might be just the matchup that Puig needs to get back on track. With Jurado’s struggles already detailed, it’s also important to note that Puig has had more success against right-handed pitchers (134 wRC+) this year than he has lefties (71 wRC+).
Carlos Gonzalez vs. Noe Ramirez, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $4,300
Ramirez is expected to start Tuesday after recording a save in Monday’s contest. This will be a bullpen game for the Angels, which is good news for the Rockies since the Angels bullpen has the fifth-highest FIP (4.44) in the majors. Gonzalez enters this game on a five-game hitting streak and is hitting .310 overall in August, making him someone to target at this reasonable price.
Others to consider: J.D. Martinez and Tyler O’Neill
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/10/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout
With 14 games for the main slate Friday in DFS, there are a lot of options to wade through for your entry. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. 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
Nathan Eovaldi vs. Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $8,700
DraftKings = $9,700
Eovaldi has yet to allow a run since being traded. The fact that one of his two starts with the Red Sox came against the Yankees makes that even more impressive. He has a 3.38 ERA overall that has been aided by a sparkling 0.89 WHIP. That will likely be hard for him to sustain, though, since opponents only have a .230 BABIP against him. The good news is he gets to face an Orioles lineup that wasn’t great, to begin with, then traded away their two best hitters in Manny Machado and Jonathan Schoop. His strikeout upside is limited, but this is still a matchup to exploit.
Zach Eflin vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $8,500
DraftKings = $8,500
Eflin was a disaster over 11 starts last year with a 6.16 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. He’s shown significant improvement this year with a 3.61 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. Not only has he cut down his rate of home runs allowed, but he has also increased his K/9 from 4.9 last season to 8.3 this year. His 10.1% swinging-strike rate is almost three percentage points higher than it was in 2017. The Padres have struck out the third-most times (1,097) in baseball and have the second-lowest OPS against righties (.659), making Eflin an excellent option to consider.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Matt Carpenter vs. Burch Smith, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $5,800
There are few hitters in baseball that are hotter than Carpenter right now. He is 10-for-29 (.345) with five home runs during his current seven-game hitting streak. His 63 RBI don’t stand out, but he’s hitting for a ton of power with 31 home runs and 33 doubles. With Burch’s 1.53 WHIP and 1.8 HR/9, Carpenter is someone to build your lineup around.
Matt Olson vs. Felix Pena, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,200
Olson’s .235 average this season has been a disappointment, but he’s 10-for-33 (.303) with four doubles and a home run over his last nine games. His power numbers are virtually the same whether he’s been on the road or at home this season, but he’s hit for a higher average on the road at .256. That’s been a common theme for the A’s as they have much better offensive stats as a team on the road. Olson also has a .351 wOBA against right-handed pitching, leaving him as an intriguing option if you don’t want to pay up for Carpenter.
Others to consider: Jake Bauers (first base) and Yadier Molina (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Whit Merrifield vs. Austin Gomber, St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,800
Merrifield only has seven home runs this year, but he hasn’t been completely devoid of power with 31 doubles. He’s batting .300 with 25 steals and he’s shown a better eye at the plate, almost doubling his walk rate from 2017. He has a stellar .406 wOBA against left-handed pitching and could provide value against Gomber and his 1.37 WHIP.
Kolten Wong vs. Burch Smith, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $2,300
DraftKings = $3,600
With Smith on the mound Friday, the Cardinals present an excellent stacking opportunity. Carpenter is their big ticket player to target, but Wong is a strong candidate to outproduce his price point. His .229 average and seven home runs don’t jump off the page, but he’s batting .349 over his last 18 games.
Others to consider: Scooter Gennett and Joey Wendle
THIRD BASE
Eduardo Escobar vs. Anthony DeSclafani, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,400
Escobar is still looking for his first home run since being traded to the Diamondbacks, but he’s batting an impressive .333 with five doubles since joining his new team. The switch-hitting third baseman has a .377 wOBA against righties this year and DeSclafani has allowed a .410 to left-handed batters, setting up Escobar nicely to continue his recent run of success.
David Freese vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $2,300
DraftKings = $3,900
Freese came through Thursday with a big performance, finishing 2-for-5 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored. He’s come on strong down the stretch, batting .343 with three home runs and two doubles across his last 10 games. With his career .363 wOBA against left-handed pitchers, he’s a great cheap option with upside in tournament play.
Others to consider: Mike Moustakas and Rafael Devers
SHORTSTOP
Andrelton Simmons vs. Brett Anderson, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,200
Anderson tossed seven scoreless innings in his last start against the Tigers, but he had only two strikeouts against what is not an imposing lineup by any means. He’s generally had trouble keeping runners off base this season with a 1.48 WHIP and he’s not fooling many batters with a 4.4 K/9. Simmons doesn’t strike out much and he has a .364 wOBA against lefties, so he could be on base plenty in this game.
Asdrubal Cabrera vs. Jacob Nix, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,300
With the Padres desperate for starting pitching, Nix will make his major league debut Friday despite starting only one game at Triple-A. He had a 2.05 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP across nine starts at Double-A, but his 7.0 K/9 at that level doesn’t exactly foster a lot of confidence. The Phillies could be in for a big night, including Cabrera, who has a .366 wOBA against righties.
Others to consider: Paul DeJong and Carlos Correa
OUTFIELD
Khris Davis vs. Felix Pena, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $5,000
Davis is doing his best to get the A’s back into the playoffs, batting .311 with 12 home runs since July 1. His walk rate is down, but he’s also cut down on his strikeouts to boost his batting average to .256, which would be his highest mark since he played in only 56 games for the Brewers in 2013. Davis actually has better numbers against right-handed pitching and Pena has allowed 1.5 HR/9 for his career, leaving Davis with plenty of potential Friday.
David Peralta vs. Anthony DeSclafani
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $5,500
Peralta had a power outage with just one home run in July, but he’s already gone deep three times so far in August. He has a career-high 19 homers overall and is still hitting for a high average at .306. With DeSclafani’s struggles against left-handed hitters already detailed, Peralta stands out among outfield options, although he is pricey on DraftKings.
Mallex Smith vs. Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,600
Smith continues to find ways to get on base, going 1-for-2 with two walks Thursday. He doesn’t hit for any power, but he does have nine runs scored and seven stolen bases across his last nine games. Estrada is having another subpar season with a 4.65 ERA and a 4.64 FIP and he doesn’t have an overwhelming arsenal with a 6.6 K/9, so don’t be surprised if Smith finds himself on base a couple of times again in this contest.
Others to consider: Christian Yelich and Justin Upton
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/1/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout
After a busy trade deadline Tuesday, Wednesday brings a quiet main evening slate in DFS consisting of only six games. 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
Anibal Sanchez vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $8,500
DraftKings = $8,000
Sanchez was lined up to start twice this week, but the Braves decided to call up Kolby Allard to start Tuesday, pushing everyone back a day. Sanchez has been excellent in his return to the National League, posting a 3.00 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. It’s hard to imagine those numbers holding up, though, since opponents have just a .249 BABIP against him. The good news is he’s been a respectable source for strikeouts with an 8.5 K/9 and he gets to face a Marlins team Wednesday that has hit the second-fewest home runs (88) in baseball and generally doesn’t score much.
Cole Hamels vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $7,700
DraftKings = $7,900
Hamels finds himself back in the National League, last pitching there with the Phillies in 2015. Hamels was not having a good season prior to being dealt, posting a 4.72 ERA and a 5.20 FIP across 20 starts. He also has a 1.37 WHIP, which would be the highest mark of his career. Most of the damage against him came at Globe Life Park in Arlington, where he recorded a 6.41 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP. His road numbers are much better with a 2.93 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP, so a trade out of Texas might be just what he needed. On a night with limited pitching options, Hamels has some upside in tournament play.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Jake Bauers vs. Nick Tropeano, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,900
The Rays were certainly active on the trade market, making several deals to reshape their roster. Bauers is a key part of their future after batting .276 with a .361 OBP during his career in the minors. Although he’s batting just .234 since being called up, he’s still getting on base with a 12.5% walk rate. He’s hit for power, as well, with seven home runs and 15 doubles across 169 at-bats. Tropeano has allowed a .371 wOBA against left-handed hitters, leaving Bauers with an opportunity to do some more damage.
Lucas Duda vs. Dylan Covey, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $4,100
Duda mashed 30 home runs for the Mets and Rays combined last year, but he only has nine homers so far for the Royals. His walk rate is down considerably at 6.6% compared to 11.1% for his career as he is chasing way too many pitches outside of the strike zone. That being said, he has a .456 slugging percentage against righties this year. Covey is not an overpowering pitcher with a 6.6 K/9, so Duda might be worth a look in tournament play, especially with his price on FanDuel.
Others to consider: Freddie Freeman (first base) and Kurt Suzuki (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Javier Baez vs. Nick Kingham, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $5,200
Baez has already set a new career high with 82 RBI and is only two homers away from setting a new personal best in that category as well. It’s amazing that he is batting .300 despite swinging at nearly half of the pitches he has seen that are outside of the strike zone and posting an 18% swinging strike rate. With his .374 wOBA against righties, don’t shy away from using him Wednesday just because he doesn’t have the platoon advantage against Kingham.
Joey Wendle vs. Nick Tropeano, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,800
Wendle had his best month of the season in July, batting .360 with a .435 OBP. He only struck out nine times across 85 plate appearances and produced nine extra-base hits. He doesn’t play much against lefties and doesn’t hit for a ton of power in general, but he’s cheap enough to warrant considering on both sites facing Tropeano and his 4.82 ERA.
Others to consider: Ozzie Albies and Whit Merrifield
THIRD BASE
Manny Machado vs. Chase Anderson, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $4,800
The Dodgers pulled off a trade for Brian Dozier on Tuesday, but they had already made their biggest acquisition by bringing over Machado from the Orioles. He’s batting .286 with a .407 OBP since joining the team, but he only has two home runs in 49 at-bats. Anderson has had problems keeping hitters inside the park this season by allowing 1.5 HR/9, so Machado might be able to do some damage in this contest. Of note, Machado is only eligible at third base on FanDuel as he is listed at shortstop on DraftKings.
Jedd Gyorko vs. Kyle Freeland, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,900
Gyorko recently missed some time due to an illness but seems to be fine now as he has played in three straight games. His .248 average and eight home runs this season aren’t exactly inspiring, but he has a .447 wOBA against left-handed pitching. If you don’t want to pay up for Machado, Gyorko could also provide value based on his cheap prices on both sites.
Others to consider: Johan Camargo and Yolmer Sanchez
SHORTSTOP
Trevor Story vs. Luke Weaver, St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,500
The shortstop position is very thin Wednesday, especially if you are playing on FanDuel. Story is a monster at Coors Field, but he’s not usually someone you want to target on the road. Weaver pitched better in July, but don’t get too excited as two of his four starts came against the Giants and the White Sox. He has a 1.38 WHIP overall and at least Story provides power upside.
Adalberto Mondesi vs. Dylan Covey, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,300
One of the better prospects coming up through the Royals system, Mondesi should see plenty of playing time down the stretch. His numbers at Triple-A weren’t great before being recalled, but he did bat .305 with 13 home runs and 21 steals there in 2017. With Covey’s 1.55 WHIP, don’t be surprised if Mondesi finds his way on base a couple of times in this contest. He can do plenty of damage on the base paths with his speed, as well.
Others to consider: Andrelton Simmons
OUTFIELD
Mike Trout vs. Tyler Glasnow, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $5,300
DraftKings = $6,000
The Rays won’t waste any time showing off their new acquisition as they will start Glasnow in this game. However, he’s not expected to throw many innings after working as a reliever for the Pirates. A highly-regarded prospect, Glasnow has a career 1.71 WHIP in the majors. He’s expected to be followed by Jake Faria, who is just coming off of the 60-day DL. Faria struggled with a 5.48 ERA and a 5.09 FIP before getting injured. This has the makings of a huge night at the plate for Trout.
Kole Calhoun vs. Tyler Glasnow, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,900
Calhoun hit another home run Tuesday, finishing with 10 homers in July. His batting average is only .209, but that’s a vast improvement considering he entered the month batting .162. With the projected pitchers for the Rays, Calhoun could provide tremendous value based on his cheap prices on both sites.
Brett Phillips vs. Dylan Covey, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $2,100
DraftKings = $4,100
Phillips was the key return in the Royals trade that sent Mike Moustakas to the Brewers. The Brewers thought highly of Phillips, but there just wasn’t any room for him on the roster after they brought in Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich during the offseason. He was only batting .240 at Triple-A this year, but he’s a career .279 hitter with a .360 OBP. He’s not all that cheap on DraftKings, but he might be too hard to pass up against Covey at near the minimum price on FanDuel.
Others to consider: Ronald Acuna Jr. and Nick Markakis