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MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/24/18

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
May special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout

There aren’t a lot of options in DFS with only eight games in the majors Thursday. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/24/18

Charlie Morton vs. Cleveland Indians
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $10,200
DraftKings = $11,400

Morton has done a tremendous job keeping runners off base this year, posting a 0.93 WHIP. His 3.35 FIP indicates his 1.94 ERA won’t hold, but he’s going to continue to have plenty of success by allowing so few base runners. His 97.2 mph average fastball velocity is the highest of his career and he has a 13.3% swinging-strike rate, which has led to a lofty 11.3 K/9. He had success against the Indians in his last start, allowing one run to go along with eight strikeouts in seven innings. He’s the one elite strikeout pitcher taking the mound Thursday, so it makes a lot of sense to pay up for him.

Luis Castillo vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $7,300
DraftKings = $7,800

Castillo looked primed for an excellent season after excelling in 15 starts last year, but he has a 5.61 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP so far. A lot of that damage came early on as he allowed at least four runs in four of his first six starts. He’s been much better in his last four outings, allowing eight runs (seven earned) to go along with 26 strikeouts in 22.2 innings. His swinging-strike rate is actually higher this year at 15.2%, so expect his ERA to continue to decrease as the season wears on. His price still hasn’t jumped up yet, leaving him with significant upside.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/24/18

Matt Olson vs. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,800

Despite being only 32 years old, Hernandez has already thrown over 2,500 innings during his career. He’s clearly not the same pitcher that he was in his prime and his 90.5 mph average fastball velocity this season that is the lowest he has ever posted. He’s not fooling many hitters with an 8.0% swinging-strike rate, which has been a major factor in his bloated 5.53 ERA and 1.43 WHIP. Olson has a career .393 wOBA against right-handed pitchers and could give Hernandez plenty of trouble.

Jesus Aguilar vs. Steven Matz, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,100

Eric Thames (thumb) is still on the DL, but Ryan Braun was activated Wednesday. That could cut into Aguilar’s playing time, but the Brewers might be wise to keep him in their lineup Thursday. He’s been swinging the bat well, going 8-for-20 with four home runs and nine RBI in his last five games. He also excels against left-handed pitching with a .355 wOBA against them for his career.

Others to consider: Justin Smoak (first base) and Salvador Perez (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/24/18

Whit Merrifield  vs. Austin Bibens-Dirkx, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,500

Merrifield is in a mini-slump, failing to a record a hit in four straight games. He’s batting .281 this year and is a .285 hitter for his career, so don’t expect this to last too long. Bibens-Dirkx will be making his first start in the majors this season and hasn’t exactly been dominating Triple-A, posting a 3.72 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and 7.4 K/9. He struggled with a 4.67 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and 4.9 K/9 in 69.1 innings with the Rangers last year as well, leaving this as a great opportunity for Merrifield to get back into the hit column.

Yangervis Solarte vs. Nick Tropeano, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,500

Solarte might be one of the more underrated players in the league. He’s batting a respectable .265 this season and has hit for plenty of power with 11 home runs and nine doubles. He doesn’t strikeout out much with a career 11.8% strikeout rate and can play multiple positions. His splits are fairly even from both sides of the plate, so there is no need to platoon him either. He has at least two hits in each of his last four games and has hit homers in back-to-back contests as well.

Others to consider: Jed Lowrie and Jonathan Schoop

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/24/18

Mike Moustakas vs. Austin Bibens-Dirkx, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,400

Moustakas is in a bit of a power drought, failing to go deep in 14 straight games. He still has 10 home runs on the season overall though after hitting a career-high 38 dingers last year. Bibens-Dirkx allowed 1.8 HR/9 last year and Moustakas has been much better against righties, so this could be the day he breaks his streak.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,300

Duffy has been getting shelled this year, posting a 6.88 ERA and 6.44 FIP. He has a 1.73 WHIP and it’s concerning that his .314 BABIP allowed isn’t that high either. Righties have hit him particularly hard with a .426 wOBA. Kiner-Falefa doesn’t have a lot of power, but he’s hitting .260 and has done a nice job overall filling in for Adrian Beltre (hamstring). He’s priced low enough to be a viable option in tournament play.

Others to consider: Eugenio Suarez and Kyle Seager

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/24/18

Jurickson Profar vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $3,500

Profar has been a highly thought of prospect coming up through the Rangers system, but he’s yet to have consistent success in the majors. He’s never played more than 90 games in a season and is batting just .231 for his career. Injuries to several players on the Rangers have forced him into regular playing time this year, already appearing in 45 games. He continues to struggle with a .237 average, but he is hitting 7-for-22 with a home run, three doubles and 11 RBI in his last six games. With Duffy on the mound, look for him to continue his hot hitting.

Marcus Semien vs. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,900

With Hernandez taking the mound, the Athletics present a viable stacking opportunity. Semien has hit Fernandez well in his career, going 11-for-33 (.333) with four home runs. His overall numbers this season aren’t flashy, but this is the kind of matchup that is hard to pass up.

Others to consider: Manny Machado and Andrelton Simmons

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/24/18

Mike Trout vs. Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $5,400

The combination of power and speed that Trout has is certainly impressive, but what stands out to me is that he has 45 walks compared to 41 strikeouts this season. He also has a staggering .444 OBP, which would be his third-straight season with an OBP of at least .441. Estrada is prone to giving up home runs and isn’t a big strikeout pitcher, leaving Trout with a high ceiling one again.

Shohei Ohtani vs. Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,600

In one of the crazier stats of the season, Ohtani has more RBI this season as a hitter (19) than runs he has allowed as a pitcher (15). He is destroying right-handed pitching with a .445 wOBA and all six of his home runs have come against them. Estrada has allowed a .363 wOBA to lefties this year, so stacking both Trout and Ohtani in your outfield could provide a big return.

Scott Schebler vs. Ivan Nova, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,800

When Nova is taking the mound, you want to target left-handed hitters on the opposing team. Not only does Nova have a hard time striking hitters out in general, but he has allowed a wOBA of at least .361 in each of the last three seasons against lefties heading into 2018. This season has been no different with a .376 wOBA allowed to lefties. Schebler has also hit him well in his career, batting .368 (7-for-19) with a home run.

Others to consider: Justin Upton and Adam Jones

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/23/18

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
May special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/23/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/23/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/23/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/23/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/23/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/23/18

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 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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/17/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/17/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/17/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/17/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/17/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/17/18

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 5/3/18

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/3/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

Thursday brings a light schedule in baseball with 11 games, most of which start in the afternoon. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/3/18

Patrick Corbin vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $10,000
DraftKings = $12,500

Corbin is off to a masterful start this season with a 2.25 ERA, 2.71 FIP, and 0.75 WHIP. He has been somewhat lucky with opponents posting a .222 BABIP, but his 33.7% hard-hit rate allowed is almost spot on with his career mark. The big difference this season has been his increased strikeouts with a 12.4 K/9 compared to an 8.1 K/9 for his career. He’s thrown a first-pitch strike to 68% of the hitters he has faced this season, which is the second-highest mark of his career. He’s already faced the Dodgers once this season, throwing 7.1 shutout innings and recording 12 strikeouts. With the Dodgers missing several key players in their lineup, Corbin could be in line for another strong start Thursday.

Sean Manaea vs. Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $9,000
DraftKings = $11,200

Manaea has had even better luck than Corbin with opponents recording just a .148 BABIP this year. His numbers are excellent with a 1.03 ERA and 0.62 WHIP through six outings. His K/9 remains on par with his career mark, but he’s cut down on his walks, posting just a 1.4 BB/9 so far. This will be his second start against the Mariners this year after he held them to one earned run with four strikeouts across seven innings in his first outing. If you are playing the night slate, Manaea is one of the best options to consider.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/3/18

Hanley Ramirez vs. Mike Minor, Texas Rangers
Stadium = Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,400

The Red Sox have struggled against left-handed pitching this season, posting the second-lowest OPS (.619) against them in baseball. Ramirez is one of the few Red Sox that is having success against them this season with a .374 wOBA. Look for him to take advantage of Minor, who has allowed a .355 wOBA to righties in the early going.

Matt Adams vs. Trevor Williams, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,800

With the Nationals lineup riddled with injuries, Adams has proven to be an important part of their team. He’s mashed three home runs in his last two games and has a 1.111 OPS so far this season. Williams has a 2.29 ERA this year, but his 5.9 K/9 and opponents posting just a .222 BABIP doesn’t exactly bode well for his continued success. If you need to save money at first base, Adams is someone to consider in tournament play.

Others to consider: Albert Pujols (first base) and Kurt Suzuki (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/3/18

Ozzie Albies vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $5,000

Albies is doing it all for the Braves and now has a prime spot hitting leadoff in their lineup. With Ronald Acuna Jr. and Freddie Freeman providing him with protection, he is an excellent position to produce. He finished with a .396 wOBA against lefties last year and sits at a staggering .716 wOBA against them this season, so don’t hesitate to add him to your lineup against Vargas.

Ian Kinsler vs. Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,700

Don’t get too excited about Tillman’s last start where he threw seven shutout innings as it came against one of the worst offenses in baseball in the Tigers. He had allowed at least four earned runs in each of his first four starts while recording only eight total strikeouts. Kinsler has batted .286 with two home runs in 31 career plate appearances against Tillman, making him a viable option Thursday.

Others to consider: Jed Lowrie and Asdrubal Cabrera

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/3/18

Matt Chapman vs. Wade LeBlanc, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,100

Chapman has slowed down after his hot start, going 3-for-22 in his last six games. He’s hitting the ball hard with a 45% hard-hit rate, but he’s not the type of player who is going to hit for a high average. He does have loads of power and has a .346 wOBA against lefties in his brief Major League career, so he could break out of his slump against the underwhelming LeBlanc on Thursday.

Luis Valbuena vs. Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,300

Valbuena is a cost-effective option to target against right-handed pitching because even though he had an unsightly 15 wRC+ against lefties last year, he was much better against righties with a 104 wRC+. He also has excellent numbers in his career against Tillman, batting .364 with a home run in 13 plate appearances.

Others to consider: Jeimer Candelario and Colin Moran

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/3/18

Carlos Correa vs. Masahiro Tanaka, New York Yankees
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel =$4,200
DraftKings = $4,900

Tanaka can be a tough pitcher to gauge as he doesn’t seem to have much of a middle ground. This season has been a prime example of that with him allowing one earned run each in three of his six starts, but allowing at least five earned runs in two of his other outings. Home runs tend to be his issue, allowing a 1.8 HR/9 last year. Correa is hitting .316 with two home runs in 20 career plate appearances against Tanaka, so he might be worth the risk even considering his high price tag.

Marcus Semien vs. Wade LeBlanc, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,200

Semien has been consistent of late, getting at least one hit in nine of his last 10 games. His .356 BABIP means a regression in his batting average may be on the horizon, but it might not start Thursday against the LeBlanc, who will be making his first start in the majors since 2016. Semien also has a career. 344 wOBA against left-handed pitchers compared to .299 against righties.

Others to consider: Manny Machado and Andrelton Simmons

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/3/18

A.J. Pollock vs. Alex Wood, Los Angeles Dodgers
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $5,500

Pollack was limited to just 112 games due to injury last year, but he still managed to hit 14 home runs to go along with 20 steals. He’s off to an even better start this season, batting .300 with 10 home runs and seven steals. His .311 BABIP is actually a little lower than his career mark, so there’s no reason to believe he can’t keep hitting for a high average. His power numbers are likely unsustainable as they have largely been buoyed by a 44% hard-hit that that is almost 10 percent higher than what he has averaged over the course of his career. With a .421 average to go along with two home runs and three doubles across 19 plate appearances against Wood in his career, look for a productive day from Pollock.

Ronald Acuna Jr. vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,300

One of the elite prospects in all of baseball, Acuna appears to be in the majors to stay after his hot start, logging at least two hits in four of seven games since being called up. He’s shown excellent power as well, hitting one home run and five doubles. Vargas doesn’t exactly have an overpowering pitch arsenal with a career 6.0 K/9, so expect big things from Acuna in this contest.

Mark Canha vs. Wade LeBlanc, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,800

A career .242 hitter, Canha has far exceeded expectations this season with a .391 average. His .375 BABIP won’t hold, but he has shown he can hit for power in the minors. He has mashed left-handed pitchers this season with a 240 wRC+ and with LeBlanc not exactly having overpowering stuff, Canha could continue his hot streak Thursday.

Others to consider: Mike Trout and Corey Dickerson

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/1/18

Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/1/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

If you like ace starting pitchers, you are in luck Tuesday with Max Scherzer, Chris Sale, Clayton Kershaw, Justin Verlander and Noah Syndergaard all scheduled to take the mound. Offense might be hard to come by in those games, but there are still a lot of great hitting options for the night 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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/1/18

Chris Sale vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $11,300
DraftKings = $12,400

Where to begin? Sale was one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball last year, finishing with a 2.90 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and 12.9 K/9. It marked the third time in the last four seasons that he finished with a K/9 of at least 10.8. He hasn’t slowed down this season, posting a 2.31 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and 11.6 K/9 through six starts. He owns left-handed hitters, holding them to a .234 wOBA last year. Some of the Royals best hitters are left-handed, which is not good news for their offensive potential Tuesday. Their lineup has been bad in general this year, scoring the fewest runs (95) with the sixth-lowest OPS (.681) in baseball. Of all the aces taking the mound Tuesday, Sale might finish with the most impressive performance.

Sean Newcomb vs. New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $7,400
DraftKings = $7,600

The Braves are loaded with young talent, including Newcomb, who they are relying on to be an important part of their starting rotation. He’s had control issues in his brief Major League career, posting a 5.0 BB/9 through 127.2 innings. The good news is he doesn’t allow a lot of solid contact with a 27.4% hard-hit rate for his career. Add in his 9.7 K/9 last year and he can provide value despite his high walk rate. The Mets have the second-lowest OPS (.605) against left-handed pitching this season, so Newcomb might be worth the risk Tuesday.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/1/18

C.J. Cron vs. Matthew Boyd, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $3,900

Cron has provided the Rays with an excellent power bat of late, hitting five home runs in his last eight games. He’s never played more than 116 games in a season, but should easily top that this season if he can stay healthy. Boyd’s 2.74 ERA looks nice, but his 4.72 FIP indicates he has not pitched that well and he’s been lucky with opponents having just a .194 BABIP. Cron might be one player who turns Boyd’s luck around Tuesday.

Albert Pujols vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,600

Pujols isn’t exactly red-hot right now and hasn’t had a multi-hit performance in any of his last 12 games. However, Cobb has been one of the worst pitchers in baseball during the early going, allowing a 13.11 ERA and 2.83 WHIP. He has allowed at least 10 hits in each of his first three starts and only has four total strikeouts. At this cheap price, Pujols could be worth the risk in tournament play.

Others to consider: Joey Votto (first base) and J.T. Realmuto (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/1/18

Robinson Cano vs. Andrew Triggs, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $3,900

Cano only has three home runs this year, but he’s batting .313 with a .422 OBP. He has shown an excellent eye at the plate, drawing 17 walks and striking out just 18 times. With a career .379 wOBA against right-handed pitchers, Cano could be in line for a big performance Tuesday.

Ian Kinsler vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,800

Kinsler has already spent some time on the DL this season, limiting him to only 15 games. He’s struggled to the tune of a .224 batting average, but his abnormally low .218 BABIP and 25% hard-hit rate suggest better things to come. With Cobb’s struggles already detailed, Kinsler is another Angels’ hitter to consider adding to your entry.

Others to consider: Jed Lowrie and Matt Carpenter

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/1/18

Christian Villanueva vs. Andrew Suarez, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,400

The Padres couldn’t have asked for more from Villanueva to start the season, hitting .321 with a 1.103 OPS, eight home runs, and 19 RBI. His .370 BABIP might not be sustainable though and he batted only .269 with a .780 OPS during his career in the minors. While regression is likely in his future, it might not come Tuesday against the left-handed Suarez since Villanueva has a 339 wRC+ (you’re not reading that wrong) against lefties in his brief Major League career.

Martin Prado vs. Zach Eflin, Philadelphia Phillies
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,000

A career .291 hitter, injuries limited Prado to only 37 games last year and only three games this season. He doesn’t hit for a lot of power, but he doesn’t strike out much either with an 11.2% strikeout rate for his career. Eflin will be making his first start of the season after finishing with a 1.42 WHIP and 4.9 K/9 last year, bringing Prado and his cheap price into the conversation for Tuesday.

Others to consider: Alex Bregman and Daniel Robertson

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/1/18

Trea Turner vs. Chad Kuhl, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,300

Turner was in a funk to start the season but has broken out of it, hitting 13-for-30 (.433) in his last seven games. He’s been excellent on the bases as well, recording four steals and five runs scored during that same stretch. Kuhl has struggled to keep runners off base with a 1.43 career WHIP, so don’t be surprised if Turner has another multi-hit performance in this game.

Andrelton Simmons vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,900

Simmons is one of the best defensive shortstops in baseball, but don’t forget that he has batted at least .278 in back-to-back seasons. He’s off to an even better start this season at .312, but a lot of that has to do with his 39.5% hard-hit rate, which is over 13% higher than his career mark. With Cobb on the mound Tuesday though, he’s yet another Angels’ hitter who could provide value.

Others to consider: Carlos Correa and Adeiny Hechavarria

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/1/18

Bryce Harper vs. Chad Kuhl, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $5,300

Harper is hitting just .247 this season, but his .219 BABIP indicates that won’t hold up. He’s still hitting the ball well, posting a 40.3% hard-hit rate. His eye at the plate has been impeccable with 38 walks and only 21 strikeouts this year, leading to a lofty .458 OBP. With Kuhl’s struggles to keep runners off base, Harper might be worth paying up for Tuesday.

Marcell Ozuna vs. James Shields, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,800

After setting career-highs with a .312 average and 37 home runs in 2017, it was going to be tough for Ozuna to duplicate that for his new team this year. He’s off to a slow start batting .250, but his .313 BABIP isn’t that low. It should be noted that his career batting average is .276 and his career BABIP is .326, so he may have just played over his head last year. He’s still someone to consider Tuesday though against Shields, who doesn’t have overpowering stuff and finished with a 1.44 WHIP last year.

Max Kepler vs. Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,400

Kepler is a much better hitter against righties, finishing with a .350 wOBA against them last year compared to .203 against lefties. Of the 19 home runs he hit last year, 17 of them came off of righties. Estrada allowed 31 home runs last year and has already given up seven this season, making Kepler a viable option at a cheap price.

Others to consider: Mike Trout and Christian Yelich

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/19/18

Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/19/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

There are only nine games in baseball Thursday and they are spread out throughout the day, leaving limited choices for both slates in DFS.  Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/19/18

Zack Greinke vs. San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $8,900
DraftKings = $10,600

Greinke’s ERA is ugly at 5.29 through his first three starts, but his 4.05 FIP indicates he has not pitched that poorly. He’s done a nice job keeping runners off base with a 1.18 WHIP, but he’s been done in by four home runs. He’s shown great control other than that, recording 21 strikeouts and allowing just one walk. A better pitcher at home, Greinke had a 2.87 ERA and 0.96 WHIP at Chase Field last year compared to a 3.65 ERA and 1.23 WHIP on the road. The Giants have scored the fewest runs in baseball this year, making Greinke an excellent option for your entry.

Chase Anderson vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $7,900
DraftKings = $9,500

Anderson has a sparkling 2.82 ERA through four starts in large part because he has allowed just a 0.99 WHIP. His overall numbers indicate he has been lucky though with a 5.17 FIP and opponents posting just a .193 BABIP. To his credit, he has induced a lot of soft contact with a 26.2% hard-hit rate. He’s probably a regression candidate in season-long fantasy, but he projects to have a favorable matchup Thursday against a Marlins team that is tied for the seventh-fewest runs scored in baseball. Anderson was also excellent at home last year, posting a sparkling 2.51 ERA and 1.02 WHIP.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/19/18

Jose Martinez vs. Jon Lester, Chicago Cubs
Stadium – Wrigley Field
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $3,600

Martinez is dealing with a couple of nagging injuries right now, but he should be helped by the rainout that occurred in this series Wednesday. He’s been extremely productive so far this season, batting .339 with three home runs and 15 RBI. His .333 BABIP is not crazy high and his 31.5% hard-hit rate is actually down from his career mark of 36.6%, so he may be able to continue to hit for a high average this season. He destroys left-handed pitching, finishing with the highest wRC+ (240) against them in all of baseball last season.

Yuli Gurriel vs. Marco Gonzales, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,300

Gurriel has been limited to just six games this season due to suspension and injury. He was a key part of the Astros success last year, batting .299 with 18 home runs and 43 doubles. He’ll face the left-handed Gonzales on Thursday who has struggled to get out righties in his career, allowing a .392 wOBA against them compared to .321 against lefties.

Others to consider: Justin Smoak (first base) and Yadier Molina (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/19/18

Ian Kinsler vs. Eduardo Rodriguez, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,100

Kinsler hit just .236 with the Tigers last season, but a lot of that had to do with his abnormally low .244 BABIP. He’s been limited to just five games this season due to injury, but it is encouraging that he has at least one hit in four of those games, two of which were multi-hit performances. Despite his struggles last year, Kinsler still had a .374 wOBA against left-handers, making him an excellent option to consider against Rodriguez on Thursday.

Brock Holt vs. Nick Tropeano, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,000

Holt has been filling in at shortstop with Xander Bogaerts (ankle) on the DL and is 5-for-13 with one home run in his last three games. He doesn’t provide much power with only 14 career home runs, but he doesn’t strike out much either with an 18.5% strikeout rate. Tropeano has allowed a .348 wOBA in his career against lefties, making Holt a cheap option with upside in tournament play.

Others to consider: Jose Altuve and Asdrubal Cabrera

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/19/18

Rafael Devers vs. Nick Tropeano, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $3,700

Devers is off to a great start this year, batting .273 with three home runs and 15 RBI. He’s hitting the ball well with a 44% hard-hit rate after posting a 34.5% hard-hit rate in 58 games last year. The Red Sox have one of the most potent lineups in baseball after the addition of J.D. Martinez, which should leave Devers with plenty of opportunities to provide counting stats. With Tropeano’s struggles against left-handed hitters already detailed, Devers is another Red Sox lefty you might want to deploy Thursday.

Jeimer Candelario vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,400

Candelario continues to swing a hot bat for the Tigers, hitting 8-for-24 with three doubles and two home runs in his last six games. The Tigers lineup isn’t great as they work their way through a rebuild, but Candelario has a favorable spot in the order hitting second in front of Miguel Cabrera. Cobb will be making just his second start of the season after signing with the Orioles during spring training and should have better results than when he was pounded by the Red Sox in his first outing, but Candelario is still a viable option at this price.

Others to consider: Ryan Flaherty and Miguel Andujar

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/19/18

Manny Machado vs. Jordan Zimmermann, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,900

The Orioles lineup has been terrible this year, scoring the sixth-fewest runs in baseball. It certainly hasn’t been Machado’s fault, who is hitting .319 with three home runs and six doubles through 18 games. Thursday brings a great matchup against Zimmermann who certainly does not have overpowering stuff, recording a K/9 of 5.8 or lower in both of the last two seasons.

Jedd Gyorko vs. Jon Lester, Chicago Cubs
Stadium – Wrigley Field
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $2,900

Gyorko has spent the bulk of the season on the DL with a hamstring injury and returns to find himself likely in a utility role for the Cardinals. Thursday seems like a prime spot to get his bat in the lineup though against Lester since Gyorko has a career .344 wOBA against lefties. He has also owned Lester, batting .316 with two home runs in 21 plate appearances against him. Of note, Gyorko is listed at shortstop on FanDuel, but he is only eligible at third base on DraftKings.

Others to consider: Carlos Correa and Zack Cozart

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/19/18

Justin Upton vs. Eduardo Rodriguez, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,500

The Angels have been one of the most productive lineups in baseball, tied for the second-most runs scored behind only the Red Sox. Upton has been no exception, batting .278 with four home runs. His strikeout rate is down as well at 20.5% compared to his career mark of 24.9%. He has a career .380 wOBA against left-handed pitching, making him a strong option to consider against Rodriguez.

Adam Jones vs. Jordan Zimmermann, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,200

Stacking Orioles hitters Thursday is a great idea against the struggling Zimmermann. Jones is off to a terrible start with just a .227 average, but he has hit well against Zimmermann in his career, posting a .273 average with three home runs in 23 plate appearances. This might be just the matchup he needs to bust out of his slump.

Adam Frazier vs. Jake Arrieta, Philadelphia Phillies
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $2,100
DraftKings = $3,100

Frazier should see increased playing time with Josh Harrison (hand) currently on the DL. He hit leadoff against the Rockies on Wednesday, finishing 3-for-5 with two runs scored. He could be in that role again Thursday against Arrieta since Frazier is a much better hitter against righties than lefties. Although he doesn’t provide power upside, he can be valuable at this price, especially if he hits leadoff again.

Others to consider: Mike Trout and Steve Pearce

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/17/18

Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/17/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

The weather doesn’t seem like it will be a big issue in baseball Tuesday, which should hopefully leave us with a full night of options in DFS. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/17/18

Patrick Corbin vs. San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $9,500
DraftKings = $9,800

Corbin is off to an excellent start this season, posting a 2.45 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and 14.2 K/9 through three starts. He’s never had a K/9 above 8.4 and has a career WHIP of 1.34, so he is likely in line for some regression across the board as the season wears on. However, Tuesday brings an excellent matchup against a bad Giants lineup that has scored the second-fewest runs (49) in baseball this season. Although both Corey Kluber and Shohei Ohtani are taking the mound Tuesday, Corbin could provide similarly excellent results at a more reasonable price.

Yonny Chirinos vs. Texas Rangers
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $4,700

Chirinos has been one of the pitchers the Rays have thrown out first on their “bullpen days”, but he’s pitched so well that he’s made a case to be in the starting rotation moving forward. In 14.1 innings this season, he has yet to allow a run and has a sparkling 0.70 WHIP. His K/9 isn’t great at 7.5, but he’s shown excellent control with a 1.3 BB/9. He’s obviously going to give up a run at some point and has been a bit lucky with opponents posting a .222 BABIP, but he’ll face a Rangers lineup Tuesday that is missing Elvis Andrus (elbow), Rougned Odor (hamstring) and Delino DeShields Jr. (hand). At this price, Chirinos might be worth the risk in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/17/18

Yasmani Grandal vs. Bryan Mitchell, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $3,600

The Padres have a lot of young promising players, but Mitchell is not one of them. Brought over in a trade from the Yankees to help fill out their rotation, Mitchell has been awful through three starts. Not only does he have a 6.64 FIP, but he has only three strikeouts compared to 14 walks. He doesn’t have overpowering stuff by any means, making Grandal a great option for your entry considering the hot bat he is swinging as well.

C.J. Cron vs. Matt Moore, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $2,800

Moore has been almost as bad as Mitchell, recording an 8.76 ERA and 2.11 WHIP through three starts. Opponents are squaring him up well with a 44.7% hard-hit rate after he allowed a career-high 34.7% hard-hit rate in 2017. Cron is a better hitter against lefties, finishing with a .331 wOBA against them last year. If you’re looking to save money at the position. Cron is a viable option.

Others to consider: Cody Bellinger (first base) and Joey Votto (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/17/18

Jed Lowrie vs. Miguel Gonzalez, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $3,900

Lowrie is off to a scorching start this season, batting .343 with four home runs and 14 RBI. His BABIP sits at .392, so expect that to come down close to his career mark of .296 at some point in the near future. He could keep his hot streak going for at least one more game Tuesday though, in a favorable matchup against Gonzalez, who only has a career 6.3 K/9. Lowrie also hits right-handers well, finishing with a 123 wRC+ against them in 2017.

Jonathan Villar vs. Sal Romano, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,000

After a breakout 2016 campaign, Villar came crashing back to Earth last year hitting .241 with a .293 OBP. His .373 BABIP from 2016 dropped to .330 last season, which was a big reason for his decline in production. He’s shown improvement with a .273 average in the early going and will get to bat from his stronger side of the plate against the righty Romano on Tuesday, who has struggled with a 1.50 WHIP in his brief Major League career.

Others to consider: Jose Altuve and Ian Kinsler

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/17/18

Kris Bryant vs. Adam Wainwright, St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – Wrigley Field
FanDuel = $5,100
DraftKings = $5,100

Bryant is not only batting .352 this season, but he has more walks (10) than strikeouts (eight). He’ll face Wainwright on Tuesday who is a shell of his former self, posting an ERA of at least 4.62 and a WHIP of at least 1.40 in both of the last two seasons. He hasn’t been any better in 2018, recording  5.06 ERA and 1.50 WHIP through two starts.

Travis Shaw vs. Sal Romano, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,100

Shaw is off to a bit of a slow start, hitting only .266 through the first 16 games of the season. He has just a 23.5% hard-hit rate, which is significantly lower than his career mark of 33.7%. Facing Romano might be just what he needs to jump-start his bat since he had a .373 wOBA against right-handers in 2017.

Others to consider: Todd Frazier and Matt Carpenter

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/17/18

Carlos Correa vs. Ariel Miranda, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $4,800

Miranda is making his first start of the season after finishing with a 5.12 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 7.7 K/9 in 2017. He wasn’t a big strikeout pitcher in the minors either with a career 8.3 K/9. Correa’s 187 wRC+ against left-handed pitching ranked inside the top-15 in the majors last year, leaving him as an excellent option to consider Tuesday.

Corey Seager vs. Bryan Mitchell, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,200

Seager is batting just .200 so far this season, but he has been victimized by a .224 BABIP. A lot of that could be because he is not hitting the ball hard, posting a 28% hard-hit rate compared to his career mark of 41.4%. However, with Mitchell’s struggles and lack of an overpowering pitch arsenal, this could be a breakout performance from Seager.

Others to consider: Zack Cozart and Marcus Semien

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/17/18

George Springer vs. Ariel Miranda, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $4,700

Springer’s bat is starting to heat up, collecting at least two hits in three of his last four games. He hit for excellent power over that stretch as well, slugging three home runs. Like Correa, Springer also excels against left-handed pitching, posting a 165 wRC+ against them in 2017.

Dexter Fowler vs. Tyler Chatwood, Chicago Cubs
Stadium – Wrigley Field
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,600

After being limited to just 118 games due to injury last year, Fowler is not off to the kind of fresh start he hoped for with a .183 average. You might be able to take advantage of his reduced price Tuesday though against Chatwood, who allowed a .360 wOBA to left-handers last year. The switch-hitting Fowler is better against righties, finishing with a wOBA of at least .363 against them in both of the last two seasons.

Matt Joyce vs. Miguel Gonzalez, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,100

Joyce is someone you normally want to target as a cost-effective outfield option against right-handed pitching since he has a .351 wOBA against them in his career. This season has been no different as he has a .362 wOBA versus lefties in his first 17 games. Lefties were able to finish with a .360 wOBA against Gonzalez in 2017, making Joyce an excellent option once again Tuesday.

Others to consider: Charlie Blackmon and Jose Pirela

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/13/18

Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/13/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

Only two of the 15 games in the majors on Friday have an early start time, leaving you with plenty of 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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/13/18

Gerrit Cole vs. Texas Rangers
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $10,000
DraftKings = $12,100

The Astros brought in Cole during the offseason after he had an off year with the Pirates, posting a career-high 4.26 ERA. One of the biggest reasons for his jump in ERA is that he allowed 1.4 HR/9, a significant jump over his previous career worse of 0.7 HR/9. Things couldn’t have gone much better for him in his first two starts this season, allowing one run while recording 22 strikeouts in 14 innings. He’s never had a K/9 above 9.0 previously in his career, so it’s unlikely he will be able to keep up at this pace. He does get a favorable matchup Friday against a Rangers team that is missing both Elvis Andrus (elbow) and Rougned Odor (hamstring) from their lineup. Cole is the most expensive pitcher of the night, but he also has one of the highest upsides.

Vince Velasquez vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $6,700
DraftKings = $7,900

Velasquez has a lot of potential, but he has struggled with consistency in his career. He has a hard time pitching deep into games, averaging less than five innings per start in 2017. Hitters didn’t have a hard time squaring him up either with Velasquez posting a 38.1% hard hit percentage and a 20.8% HR/FB ratio. He was hit hard in his first start of the season against the Braves, but he settled down to allow one run in six innings in his second outing against the Marlins. He’ll face a similarly weak lineup in the Rays on Friday, who are tied for the third-fewest runs scored (39) in baseball. Velasquez also has strikeout upside, making him someone worth considering in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/13/18

Buster Posey vs. Tyson Ross, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,700

Posey has been a model of consistency, batting at least .311 in three of the last four seasons. His home runs have been on the decline, but he did hit a career-high 34 doubles in 2017. He’s off to another great start this season, batting .375 with two home runs and eight RBI. He already has five multi-hit games as well. Friday brings a matchup against the struggling Ross, making Posey a viable option for your entry.

Mitch Moreland vs. Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $3,300

Red Sox first baseman Hanley Ramirez was hit on the wrist and had to leave Thursday’s game against the Yankees. Initial results revealed it’s only a contusion, but it might be too much to expect him to play Friday. If he can’t play, Moreland should get the start at first base. Tillman allowed a staggering .429 wOBA to lefties last year, making Moreland a cheap option who could provide value.

Others to consider: Carlos Santana (first base) and Josh Bell (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/13/18

Cesar Hernandez vs. Jake Faria, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,400

Hernandez has been swinging a hot bat at the start of the season, recording at least one hit in all but one game that he has played. He already has 10 walks in 11 games as well, resulting in an excellent 440 OBP. The switch-hitting Hernandez hit right-handers well last season, posting a .345 wOBA against them. Faria has a 14.29 ERA and 3.00 WHIP through two starts, so Hernandez could be in line for a big performance.

Howie Kendrick vs. Kyle Freeland, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,600

Kendrick might not stand out in a loaded Nationals lineup that includes Bryce Harper and Trea Turner, but he’s been excellent with a .349 batting average this season. A career .291 hitter, Kendrick’s right-handed bat is a key part of their lineup. He dominated lefties with a .385 wOBA in 2017 and Freeland also struggled to get righties out, allowing a .345 wOBA to them last year. Kendrick has a nice price on both sites, making him an excellent option to consider for your entry.

Others to consider: Joe Panik and Brock Holt

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/13/18

Rafael Devers vs. Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,100

Devers got off to a great start this season but has cooled off to go 0-for-12 in his last three games. He’ll get an excellent opportunity to right the ship against Tillman with his struggles against left-handed hitters already detailed above. Tillman doesn’t have an overpowering pitch arsenal either, recording just three total strikeouts in his first two starts.

Evan Longoria vs. Tyson Ross, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $2,900

After spending his entire career with the Rays, Longoria was dealt to the Giants over the winter, a team that badly needed a boost offensively. Longoria hasn’t been able to deliver for them so far, batting just .163. Longoria has been unlucky though, posting a .207 BABIP this season compared to his career mark of .298. He’s been hitting the ball well with a 36.7% hard hit percentage, so he’s unlikely to keep hitting this poorly for much longer. At this cheap price, he might be worth the risk against Ross.

Others to consider: Anthony Rendon and Luis Valbuena

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/13/18

Trea Turner vs. Kyle Freeland, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,500

With Adam Eaton (ankle) on the DL, Turner has moved back to the leadoff spot for the Nationals. He was a steals machine in that role last season, swiping 46 bases in only 90 games. Turner uncharacteristically struggled against lefties last year with a .281 wOBA, but he has shown improvement this season with a .375 wOBA against them. This could be just the matchup Turner needs to break out of his slump.

Scott Kingery vs. Jake Faria, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,800

Kingery has shown he can hit for power in his first 10 games of the season, slugging two home runs to go along with three doubles. The Phillies will get to use the DH playing in Tampa Bay on Friday, which will help free up some of the logjams they have in the outfield and infield. Kingery was a consistent hitter in the minors with a career .284 average and is a viable option against the struggling Faria.

Others to consider: Carlos Correa and Andrelton Simmons

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/13/18

Mookie Betts vs. Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $5,100

Betts hit only .264 in 2017, but a lot of that was due to his abnormally low .268 BABIP. He’s rebounded in a big way so far, batting .370 with a .455 OBP this season. He has been crushing the ball with a 50% hard-hit rate. Betts has historically been a better hitter at home, posting a career .312 average ar Fenway park compared to .276 on the road. Don’t hesitate to pay up for him against Tillman on Friday.

Michael Conforto vs. Zach Davies, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,800

After a brief stint on the DL to start the season, Conforto is healthy now and batting .333 in his first six games. He crushed right-handed pitching in 2017 posting a 164 wRC+, which ranked sixth-highest in the majors behind players including Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, and Joey Votto. That could spell trouble for the right-handed Davies on Friday.

Kole Calhoun vs. Jason Hammel, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,100

The Angels lineup has a lot of excellent right-handed hitters in Mike Trout, Justin Upton, and Albert Pujols, but Calhoun provides an important compliment from the left side. Calhoun had just an 89 wRC+ against lefties last year but posted a 102 wRC+ against righties. His upside isn’t off the charts, but he is still a viable option Friday if you’re looking for a cheap outfielder to help fill out your lineup.

Others to consider: Shoei Ohtani and Andrew Benintendi

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/11/18

Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/11/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

There are 15 games in Major League Baseball on Wednesday, but many of them have afternoon starts. As a result, there is plenty of action for both the day and evening slates in DFS. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/11/18

James Paxton vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $8,400
DraftKings = $10,400

Injuries limited Paxton to only 136 innings in 2017, but he pitched well when healthy, finishing with a 2.98 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 10.3 K/9. He allowed just 0.6 HR/9, which was on par with his career mark of 0.7 HR/9. Although he saw a significant increase in strikeouts, his control didn’t suffer, finishing with a 2.4 BB/9. Tuesday brings an excellent matchup against the Royals, who have scored the fewest runs (29) in the league so far this year. Many of their best hitters are left-handed as well, which is great for Paxton since he allowed a .210 wOBA to lefties last year. If you are playing the day slate, Paxton could be in line for a big performance.

Zack Wheeler vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $7,500

Once one of the prized young pitchers in the Mets organization, injuries have kept Wheeler from fulfilling his potential. He only pitched 86.1 innings in 2017 but struggled with a 5.21 ERA and 1.59 WHIP. He had significant control issues, allowing 4.2 BB/9. Luck wasn’t exactly on his side either with opponents posting a .332 BABIP. Wheeler will be making his first start of the season for the Mets on Wednesday and faces a Marlins lineup that is a shell of itself from last year. To no surprise, they have struggled this season, batting just .229 with only five total home runs. Wheeler is certainly a risky play, but he has upside at this cheap price and is worth considering in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/11/18

Freddie Freeman vs. A.J Cole, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $5,200

Freeman had a rough couple of games against Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg, but he’ll get a much easier matchup against Cole on Wednesday. Cole had a horrendous first start of the season against these same Braves, allowing 10 earned runs in 3.2 innings. Freeman took Cole deep in that game, finishing 2-for-3 with four RBI and two walks overall. Freeman destroyed righties with a .422 wOBA in 2017, making him an excellent option to consider for your entry.

Willson Contreras vs. Steven Brault, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Wrigley Field
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,300

Contreras already has four multi-hit games this season, leaving him with a .333 average in the early going. He won’t be able to sustain his .448 BABIP, but his 41.4% hard-hit rate is encouraging. He gets a favorable matchup against the left-handed Brault on Wednesday after posting a 137 wRC+ against lefties in 2017.

Others to consider: Albert Pujols (first base) and Wilmer Flores (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/11/18

Ozzie Albies vs. A.J. Cole, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $3,800

Albies is not off to the best start this season, batting .250 with no walks and nine strikeouts. He does have just a .250 BABIP, so he should improve in that area as the season progresses. He also had a .354 OBP in 2017, so he’s not going to keep this BB:K ratio up either. Like Freeman, he excelled in his first matchup against Cole this season, finishing 3-for-5 with one double, one RBI and three runs scored. Don’t hesitate to add him to your entry Wednesday.

Asdrubal Cabrera vs. Jarlin Garcia, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $3,200

Cabrera came through with a big performance facing left-hander Caleb Smith on Wednesday, hitting a home run off him in the fourth inning. The switch-hitting Cabrera hit a home run against a righty later in the game as well and now has three home runs in his last three games. He had a wOBA of at least .356 against lefties in both of the last two seasons and he’ll get to face another one in Garcia on Wednesday.

Others to consider: Zack Cozart and Scooter Gennett

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/11/18

Travis Shaw vs. Adam Wainwright, St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $3,800

A notoriously fast starter, Shaw is doing it again in 2018, batting .292 with one home run and five doubles. He is also a much better hitter against righties, posting a .373 wOBA against them in 2017 compared to .326 against lefties. Wainwright was once one of the best pitchers in the National League, but he hasn’t been the same since injuring his Achilles and missing most of the 2015 season. In two seasons since, he has posted an ERA of at least 4.62 and a WHIP of at least 1.40 both times. Shaw has a good chance of extending his hot start in this game.

Matt Duffy vs. James Shields, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,300

The Rays made some significant changes to their roster this winter and appear to be in the middle of another rebuilding process, especially with their lineup. Duffy is usually going to hit in the top-half of their order, giving him appeal in DFS based on the extra at-bats. He’ll face the struggling Shields on Wednesday who clearly doesn’t have overpowering stuff, recording just one strikeout in 11 innings this season.

Others to consider: Kris Bryant and Matt Carpenter

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/11/18

Jean Segura vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $3,700

Duffy was shelled in his last start against the White Sox, allowing five runs and three home runs in only four innings. Duffy is dominant against left-handed hitters, holding them to a wOBA of .201 or lower in back-to-back seasons. Righties have fared much better though, posting wOBA’s of .325 and .329 in 2016 and 2017, respectively. Segura hit lefties very well last year with a .353 wOBA, making him a viable option to consider Wednesday.

Andrelton Simmons vs. Matt Moore, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,500

Simmons hit his first home run of the season Tuesday and recorded his sixth multi-hit game. Although he’s better known for his stellar defense, he has batted at least .27 8 in both of the last two years. Wednesday brings a matchup against Moore who isn’t much more than a back-of-the-rotation starter at this point in his career. He’s off to a bad start this year too, allowing nine earned runs in just 7 1/3 innings.

Others to consider: Trea Turner and Dansby Swanson

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/11/18

Mike Trout vs. Matt Moore, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $5,300
DraftKings = $5,700

Trout is hitting just .245 this season, but his BABIP is an unusually low .229. He’s still hitting for plenty of power with four home runs and three doubles already. Neither handed pitchers usually give Trout problems, so it’s no surprise that he finished with a 147 wRC+ against lefties in 2017. With Moore’s struggles, it might not be a bad idea to pay up to get Trout into your entry.

Justin Upton vs. Matt Moore, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,700

Upton has done a great job of driving in runs this season, already recording 10 RBI in 12 games. With Zack Cozart and Trout hitting in front of him, this should be a trend that continues throughout the season. He’s another Angels’ righty who crushes left-handed pitching, posting a 201 wRC+ against them in 2017.

Curtis Granderson vs. Kevin Gausman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park a Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,400

Granderson provides the Blue Jays with an important left-handed hitter in an outfield that consists of righties Kevin Pillar, Randal Grichuk and Steve Pearce. Granderson isn’t the hitter that he was in his prime, but he still hits right-handers well, posting a wOBA of at least .343 against them in each of the last three seasons. If you are looking for a cheaper outfield option to fill out your lineup, Granderson could provide upside against the inconsistent Gausman.

Others to consider: Yoenis Cespedes and Preston Tucker

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/10/18

Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/10/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/10/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/10/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/10/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/10/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/10/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/10/18

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