Los Angeles Dodgers – Page 4

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/29/18

MLB Daily Fantasy Picks

by Mike Barner on August 29, 20180 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

With several day games across the majors Wednesday, nine evening games make up the main slate in DFS. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/29/18

C.C. Sabathia vs. Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $8,200
DraftKings = $8,900

After a brief stint on the DL, Sabathia didn’t miss a beat in his first start since being activated, allowing two runs and recording eight strikeouts across six innings against the Orioles. Sabathia has posted at least seven strikeouts in four of his last five outings, increasing his K/9 to 8.2 for the season. He’s been stellar pitching at Yankee Stadium with a 2.44 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP across 12 starts. He held the White Sox to one run while registering 12 strikeouts over 5.2 innings in their first meeting this season and while that strikeout total will be hard to match, he can still provide value for your entry.

Alex Cobb vs. Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $7,200
DraftKings = $6,400

Cobb’s overall numbers don’t look great based on his 5.00 ERA and 1.41 WHIP. However, much of the damage done against him came during the first half of the season. He’s trying to end the year on a high note, posting a 1.80 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP in August. Maybe the most impressive part about his recent success is that four of those five starts game against the Yankees, Red Sox and Indians. He doesn’t have much strikeout upside with a 6.1 K/9, but he’s still someone to consider in tournament play at this cheap price.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/29/18

Matt Carpenter vs. Trevor Williams, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,100

Carpenter cooled off a bit after his torrid start to August, but he’s starting to heat up again with six hits over his last two games. He’s provided a ton of power this season with 34 home runs and 38 doubles and is on pace to finish with an OBP of at least .380 for the third straight season. He could be in for another big performance Wednesday considering he has a .400 wOBA against right-handed pitchers and that he is 7-for-16 with three homers in his career against Williams.

Wilson Ramos vs. Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $4,900

Injuries have limited Ramos to just eight games since being traded to the Phillies, but he’s 14-for-30 with a home run and six doubles with his new team. He hasn’t started more than two consecutive days since joining the Phillies, but since he only appeared as a pinch hitter Tuesday, he should start this contest. It would also be wise for the Phillies to get him back into their lineup based on his 161 wRC+ against lefties.

Others to consider: Edwin Encarnacion (first base) and Brandon Belt (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/29/18

Jonathan Villar vs. Ryan Borucki, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,300

Villar has had plenty of success in the first two games of this series, going 5-for-7 with four runs scored and two steals. He has swiped seven bases since joining the Orioles, raising his total to 21 for the season. He now has four steals in his last five games against the Blue Jays and runners have already stolen 11 bases off of their catcher Danny Jansen in just 10 games. Borucki has allowed plenty of baserunners with his 1.53 WHIP, so Villar might run wild again in this contest.

Jason Kipnis vs. Kohl Stewart, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,100

The Indians are likely going to be a popular stack for the evening. They only have a .736 OPS on the road, but they have a .805 OPS at home. They also get a favorable matchup against Stewart, who has allowed nine runs over 11.2 innings in his first three starts for the Twins. Kipnis is batting .204 with a .555 OPS on the road, but he has a .250 batting average and a .807 OPS at home.

Others to consider: Travis Shaw and Brian Dozier

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/29/18

Justin Turner vs. Mike Minor, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $5,300

Turner logged two more hits Tuesday, marking his fourth straight multi-hit game. He’s turned his season around in August, batting .404 with five home runs and 11 doubles since the month began. Add in his 193 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers, overall, this season and Turner might be well worth his lofty price against Minor.

Mike Moustakas vs. Matt Harvey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,400

Harvey had a disastrous start to the season with the Mets, but he’s posted a respectable 4.14 ERA since joining the Reds. He does still have problems with home runs, though, giving up 14 in 95.2 innings since joining the team. Moustakas has hit 19 of his 24 homers off of righties this season, so he could be a threat to leave the yard again Wednesday.

Others to consider: Jose Ramirez and Miguel Andujar

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/29/18

Manny Machado vs. Mike Minor, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $5,200

Believe it or not, Machado has never recorded 100 RBI in a season during his career. He drove in four runs in the first game of this series Tuesday, bringing his total to 86 for the season. He has a great chance at cracking the 100-RBI plateau, especially as part of a much more potent lineup with the Dodgers. He’s batting .302 with a .970 OPS over his last 12 games and has a high ceiling in this contest at hitter-friendly Globe Life Park in Arlington.

Tim Beckham vs. Ryan Borucki, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,300
DraftKings = $3,300

Beckham was a different hitter after joining the Orioles during the 2017 season, batting .306 with a .523 slugging percentage over 50 games. He hasn’t been able to follow that up with a strong campaign, though, batting .220 with a .355 slugging percentage. The good news is he plays every day now with Manny Machado and Jonathan Schoop no longer in the folder and his .409 slugging percentage in August is his highest of any month this season. With Borucki’s inability to limit baserunners, Beckham might be worth the risk in tournament play at this dirt cheap price.

Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Trea Turner

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/29/18

Christian Yelich vs. Matt Harvey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $5,800

Yelich has been everything the Brewers could have hoped for since acquiring him from the Marlins. He’s already set a new career-high with 25 home runs, seven of which have come across his last nine games. His walk rate is down, but his .310 batting average would also be the highest mark of his career. Harvey doesn’t exactly have overpowering stuff anymore, potentially setting up Yelich for a valuable performance.

Melky Cabrera vs. Kohl Stewart, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,400

Cabrera has hit his way into an everyday role with the Indians, batting .314 with six home runs and five doubles across his last 34 games. He’s also been able to provide plenty of counting stats with 16 RBI and 16 runs scored during that stretch. With the potential for this to be another high-scoring game for the Indians against Stewart, Cabrera is a viable option to consider for your entry.

Trey Mancini vs. Ryan Borucki, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,000

Mancini has caught fire, going 8-for-15 with two home runs, four doubles and a triple over his last four games. After batting .293 last year, his .241 average this season has been a significant disappointment. However, he’s still managed to hit for power with 19 homers and 20 doubles. At this cheap price, he could be well worth the risk in tournament play.

Others to consider: Greg Allen and Tyler O’Neill

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/28/18

MLB Daily Fantasy Picks

by Mike Barner on August 28, 20180 Comments

*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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/28/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/28/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/28/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/28/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/28/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/28/18

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 8/24/18

MLB Daily Fantasy Picks

by Mike Barner on August 24, 20180 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

Friday brings a full slate of action across the majors, but the evening is generally lacking elite starting pitching options for DFS. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/24/18

Mike Foltynewicz vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $10,500
DraftKings = $11,100

Foltynewicz has had a breakout campaign for the Braves, posting a 2.72 ERA, 3.38 FIP, and a 1.15 WHIP. He’s only allowed 14 home runs across 139 innings and has a 10.4 K/9, making him a consistent source for production. He’s been even better of late, allowing six runs (four earned) and recording 28 strikeouts over 26.2 innings in his last four starts. One of those came against these same Marlins when he allowed one run and recorded seven strikeouts over eight innings. With the Marlins inability to score runs, Foltynewicz has tremendous upside Friday.

Rich Hill vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $8,800
DraftKings = $9,800

Hill battled ineffectiveness and injury earlier this season, but he’s turned things around with a 2.92 ERA, 3.58 FIP, and a 1.14 WHIP since July 1. He chipped in 9.5 K/9 during that stretch while also logging at least six innings in six of his eight starts. This lines up as a great matchup for Hill as not only have the Padres scored the fifth-fewest runs (496) in baseball, but they have also struck out the second-most times (1,221).

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/24/18

Ryan Zimmerman vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $5,100

Zimmerman was one of the more surprising success stories in baseball last year, batting .303 with 36 home runs and 108 RBI. One of the keys to his success was his ability to stay healthy, playing in at least 140 games for the first time since 2013. He hasn’t had the same luck this season, logging only 56 games so far. He is coming on strong down the stretch, though, batting .360 with six home runs and 17 RBI across his last 15 games.

Yuli Gurriel vs. Andrew Heaney, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,000

Heaney’s season has taken a turn for the worse with a 6.46 ERA and 1.39 WHIP over four starts in August. He’s already thrown 140 innings this season after throwing less than 50 combined innings in the minors and majors last year, so he might be wearing down. Gurriel will look to take advantage of Heaney’s struggles considering his .364 wOBA against left-handed pitchers.

Others to consider: Carlos Santana (first base) and Victor Martinez (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/24/18

Brian Dozier vs. Clayton Richard, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,300

Speaking of pitchers who have struggled recently, Richard has a 6.94 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP since July 1. He’s been much better at home this season with a 3.94 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP, but he has a bloated 6.28 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP on the road. The Dodgers will likely be a popular stack Friday with Dozier providing a quality option at a reasonable price on both sites.

Neil Walker vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,600

The Yankees hitters are dropping like flies, making the addition of Walker in the offseason an extremely important move. He can play multiple positions and currently is expected to fill in at second base while Gleyber Torres shifts over to shortstop. His overall numbers this season aren’t great, but Walker is batting .307 with four home runs and 15 RBI over his last 24 games. He’s had more success against righties, as well, making him someone to consider in tournament play.

Others to consider: Jed Lowrie and Ian Kinsler

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/24/18

Justin Turner vs. Clayton Richard, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,800

Turner is firing on all cylinders right now, batting .391 with a .481 OBP in August. He had five home runs and eight doubles for the season entering the month but he has hit four homers and seven doubles since. He also mashes left-handed pitching, posting a 186 wRC+ against them this season.

Todd Frazier vs. Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $4,500

Frazier is one of the many players on the Mets who has battled injuries, limiting him to only 82 games. His .233 average seems poor, but it’s actually his highest mark since 2015. He’s also been a much better hitter of late, batting .323 with four home runs and five doubles in his last 17 games. Gonzalez has allowed at least five runs in four of his last six starts and has a 1.55 WHIP overall, potentially setting up Fraizer to continue his recent run of success.

Others to consider: Anthony Rendon and Alex Bregman

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/24/18

Manny Machado vs. Clayton Richard, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $4,800

Machado hasn’t played well by his standards since joining the Dodgers, batting .275 with a .816 OPS. By comparison, he hit .315 with a .963 OPS with the Orioles. He may have just needed an adjustment period as he is batting .324 with three home runs over his last eight games. He has a .382 wOBA against lefties this year, making him another Dodger to target against Richard.

Willy Adames vs. Hector Velazquez, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,900

Velazquez has mostly pitched in relief for the Red Sox, but he’ll make another start Friday with Chris Sale still on the DL. His 2.74 ERA this season looks good, but his 4.33 FIP and 1.39 WHIP indicate he is not pitching nearly that well. Adames has settled in nicely to regular playing time, batting .348 with a .989 OPS in August.

Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Marcus Semien

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/24/18

Khris Davis vs. Jake Odorizzi, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,300

Davis went deep again Thursday, marking his fifth home run over his last five games and 39th on the season overall. When he’s on one of these types of streaks, it makes a lot of sense to keep rolling with him in your lineup. It also helps his cause that Odorizzi has a 5.29 ERA over his last seven outings.

Greg Allen vs. Brad Keller, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,800

Allen hasn’t hit for much power in the minors, but he did bat .298 with a .395 OBP at Triple-A this year. He’s become an important part of the Indians outfield lately, batting .341 with eight runs scored and five stolen bases across his last 13 games. He’s proven to be a much better hitter against righties, giving him a chance to provide value at this cheap price in tournament play.

Jim Adduci vs. Reynaldo Lopez, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,500

At 33 years old, Adduci is certainly not one of the young up and coming players in the Tigers system. He’s still played well when given the opportunity this season, especially of late as he is batting .352 in August. Lopez has allowed at least four runs in five of his last seven starts and has given up plenty of baserunners this season overall with a 1.39 WHIP. At his dirt cheap price on both sites, Adduci might be a risk worth taking Friday. Of note, he is only eligible at outfield on FanDuel as he is listed at first base on DraftKings.

Others to consider: Ronald Acuna Jr. and Stephen Piscotty

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/20/18

MLB Daily Fantasy Picks

by Mike Barner on August 20, 20180 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

Monday brings plenty of options in DFS with 10 games on the schedule. It should be an exciting night with games including the Indians against the Red Sox, the Astros versus the Mariners and the Cardinals taking on the Dodgers. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/20/18

Zack Wheeler vs. San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $9,100
DraftKings = $9,300

In what has been a lost season for the Mets, Wheeler has made significant improvements. After finishing with a 5.21 ERA and a 5.03 FIP in 2017, he has a 3.75 ERA and a 3.43 FIP this year. Not only has he reduced his WHIP from 1.59 to 1.23, but he’s allowed 0.8 HR/9 compared to 1.6 HR/9 last year. He’s on a hot streak right now, as well, allowing five runs and recording 30 strikeouts over 33 innings in his last five starts. The Giants have the third-lowest OPS on the road (.664) in baseball, potentially setting up Wheeler for a great performance.

Kevin Gausman vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $7,100

Gausman has pitched well since joining the Braves, allowing five runs across 19 innings in three starts. He only had 12 total strikeouts, but it’s encouraging that he also allowed just one home run. Homers have been a problem for him this season since he’s allowed 1.4 HR/9 overall. The move from the American League to the National League can provide a big boost for pitchers, which could be the case even more so for Gausman since he was pitching in the AL East. The Pirates are in the bottom third of baseball in home runs, so Gausman might be worth considering in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/20/18

Matt Olson vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,100

Bartolo Colon was originally scheduled to start Sunday, but he was pushed back a day after dealing with some back stiffness. That’s good news for Olson and the A’s since Colon has a 5.19 ERA and has allowed 1.7 HR/9. Olson only has a .309 wOBA against left-handed pitchers, but he has a .348 wOBA against righties. He’s hit 19 of his 23 homers off of righties as well.

Ji-Man Choi vs. Jorge Lopez, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $2,000
DraftKings = $3,700

The Rays could prove to be a productive stack Monday. Lopez mostly pitched in relief for the Brewers Triple-A squad this season, posting a 5.65 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. His first start for the Royals did not go well as he allowed six runs over 4.2 innings to the Blue Jays. Choi is currently on a seven-game hitting streak and he has a .349 wOBA against righties, making him a great cheap option with upside.

Others to consider: Jesus Aguilar (first base) and Robinson Chirinos (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/20/18

Travis Shaw vs. Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,700

The Brewers will likely be another popular stack with Bailey starting for the Reds. Bailey allowed 10 runs over 8.2 innings in his last two starts and has a 6.33 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP overall. He’s had trouble keeping hitters inside the park, as well, giving up 1.9 HR/9. Shaw has plenty of power and has hit 23 of his 24 home runs against righties this year.

Joey Wendle vs. Jorge Lopez, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $2,300
DraftKings = $3,900

Wendle might not be flashy, but he’s batting .327 with 12 RBI so far in August. He doesn’t hit many home runs, but he’s been a reliable hitter for the Rays with a .291 average this season. He doesn’t have nearly the ceiling that Shaw does, but that doesn’t mean he can’t provide value at this price against the underwhelming Lopez.

Others to consider: Rougned Odor and Brian Dozier

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/20/18

Justin Turner vs. Austin Gomber, St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,500

Turner is one of the hottest hitters in baseball right now as he is 24-for-52 (.462) with three homers and six doubles during his current 13-game hitting streak. Gomber has largely pitched well for the Cardinals, but with the way Turner is hitting and his 175 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers this season, don’t count on his hitting streak ending Monday.

Matt Chapman vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,300

Chapman is not only one of the premier defensive third baseman in baseball, he’s one of the best defenders in general. He seems to make sparkling plays on a nightly basis, but he’s done far more than just excel in the field. He’s made a significant improvement at the plate, batting .276 with a .363 OBP. He’s batting .311 with four homers in August and is another A’s hitter to consider against Colon.

Others to consider: Mike Moustakas and Todd Frazier

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/20/18

Jorge Polanco vs. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,200

There is no shortage of bad starting pitchers scheduled to appear Monday. Giolito has managed to stay in the White Sox rotation the entire season, but he’s been awful with a 6.15 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. He’s had significant control problems, issuing 72 walks compared to only 91 strikeouts. Polanco might not have a ton of power, but he does have a stellar .395 wOBA against right-handed pitchers.

Jose Peraza vs. Chase Anderson, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,500

Peraza has been more disciplined at the plate this year, recording only a 10.4% strikeout rate. He still doesn’t walk a lot, but his .292 batting average is a significant improvement from his .259 mark last season. Although he’s not a power hitter, he has slugged a home run in both of his last two games and has at least two hits in four-straight contests. I prefer Polanco out of the two as they both have similar prices, but Peraza could also provide value for your entry.

Others to consider: Amed Rosario and Marcus Semien

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/20/18

Khris Davis vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $5,000

The A’s have not only played their way into the Wild Card race, but they are also giving the Astros a run for their money in the AL West. Davis has been a huge reason for their success, hitting 36 home runs to go along with 98 RBI. He’s well on his way to his third-straight season with at least 40 homers and 100 RBI. With Colon’s propensity to give up the long ball, Davis could be in for a monster night.

Max Kepler vs. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,900

Kepler struggles with his batting average, but he’s followed up his 19 home runs in 2017 with 16 homers so far this season. He’s actually having a respectable month, overall, in August, batting .255 with a .367 wOBA. Giolito has allowed a .374 wOBA against left-handed hitters, making Kepler a viable option at this cheap price in tournament play.

Mallex Smith vs. Jorge Lopez, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,600

Although the Rays acquired Tommy Pham and Austin Meadows at the trade deadline, Smith isn’t going anywhere in their outfield. He’s been red-hot since July 1, batting .365 with a .448 OBP. He’s a terror when he’s on the bases, swiping 11 bags during that stretch and 26 for the season overall. With Lopez’s struggles to keep runners off base, Smith carries plenty of upside in this game despite his lack of power.

Others to consider: Christian Yelich and Lorenzo Cain

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/15/18

MLB Daily Fantasy Picks

by Mike Barner on August 15, 20180 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

Although 10 games make up the main slate Wednesday in DFS, the night is generally short on elite starting pitching options. It could lead to several high-scoring 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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/15/18

Shane Bieber vs. Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $7,900
DraftKings = $8,300

Bieber’s ERA doesn’t stand out at 4.24, but his 3.02 FIP indicates he has pitched well in his first stint in the majors. Opponents have a .368 BABIP against him, so expect his ERA to improve as that number starts to normalize. He’s only allowed six home runs across 63.2 innings and has provided value in the strikeout department with a 9.3 K/9. The Reds have only averaged 2.8 runs over their last 10 games and have struggled more against right-handed pitching this season, leaving Bieber with significant upside Wednesday.

Tyler Anderson vs. Houston Astros
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $7,000
DraftKings = $8,400

Anderson was great in his last start against a potent Dodgers lineup, giving up only one run and recording six strikeouts over six innings. He’s now allowed two earned runs or fewer in six of his last eight starts, helping lower his ERA to 3.94 overall. He’s not a big strikeout pitcher with an 8.3 K/9, but his 1.20 WHIP would be the best mark of his career. Although Carlos Correa is back, the Astros are still missing two key bats from their lineup in Jose Altuve and George Springer. The Astros have only averaged 3.7 runs across their last 10 games and that includes one contest where they scored 14 runs. Anderson might be worth the risk in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/15/18

Freddie Freeman vs. Jose Urena, Miami Marlins
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $5,100

Although his performance has been overshadowed by the red-hot Ronald Acuna Jr., Freeman has two hits and a home run in both of the last two games against the Marlins. He’s batting .373 over his last 15 contests, recording eight RBI and 11 runs scored during that stretch. Look for another big game from him Wednesday as he is also 8-for-20 (.400) with two home runs and two doubles in his career against Urena.

Danny Jansen vs. Jorge Lopez, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $2,100
DraftKings = $3,600

The Blue Jays still haven’t called up Vladimir Guerrero Jr., but Jansen is getting his first crack at the majors. He was hitting well in Triple-A, posting a .275 average, .390 OBP and 12 home runs. He’s wasted no time since being recalled, going 3-for-7 with a homer in two games. Lopez has pitched out of the bullpen for the Brewers and their Triple-A affiliate this year and didn’t pitch well at either level, making Jansen a cheap option to target.

Others to consider: Yonder Alonso (first base) and Ji-Man Choi (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/15/18

Jason Kipnis vs. Robert Stephenson, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,200

Kipnis’ multi-hit streak ended at three games Tuesday, but he salvaged the evening by walking and stealing a base. He gets to face another subpar pitcher in Stephenson, who has a 5.16 ERA and a 1.61 WHIP in his major league career. Kipnis’ price is climbing, but he’s still a viable option to consider.

Neil Walker vs. Jake Faria, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $3,600

Faria has made two appearances out of the bullpen after a lengthy stint on the DL, allowing one run over 6.2 innings. He’ll return to the rotation Wednesday, a role he struggled in before getting hurt. Walker has had a renaissance at the plate, batting .310 with three home runs in his last 18 games. He’s been a much better hitter against righties this year, as well, making him someone to consider at his cheap price in tournament play.

Others to consider: Ozzie Albies and Joey Wendle

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/15/18

Jose Ramirez vs. Robert Stephenson, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $5,300
DraftKings = $6,000

Ramirez has destroyed the Reds in the first two games of this series, going 6-for-10 with two home runs, five RBI, and five runs scored. He now has three straight multi-hit performances, boosting his average up to .305 for the season to go along with 36 homers and 27 steals. With his 195 wRC+ against righties this year, this could be another long night for the Stephenson and the Reds.

Justin Turner vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,200

Turner went 3-for-4 with three doubles Tuesday, marking the fifth multi-hit game in his last six contests. He’s still trying to get things going in the home run department, but he’s batting .293 with a .384 OBP and has almost as many walks (24) as he does strikeouts (27). He also has a 191 wRC+ against lefties, giving him an excellent opportunity to shine against Holland.

Others to consider: Anthony Rendon and Miguel Andujar

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/15/18

Didi Gregorius vs. Jake Faria, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,900

Gregorius is in the midst of another productive homestand, going 8-for-23 (.348) over the last six games. It should come as no surprise because although he’s batting just .236 with seven homers on the road, he is batting .302 with 14 home runs at Yankee Stadium. Adding to his appeal against Faria is that Gregorius has a .348 wOBA against right-handers this year.

Willy Adames vs. Luis Cessa, New York Yankees
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $4,100

Adames has cemented himself as the everyday shortstop for the rest of the season with Adeiny Hechavarria now with the Pirates. He’s taken full advantage of his opportunity, batting .410 with three home runs and four steals in August. Cessa doesn’t have an overwhelming arsenal with a career 6.4 K/9 in the majors, so don’t be surprised if Adames continues to swing a hot bat in this contest.

Others to consider: Manny Machado and Freddy Galvis

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/15/18

Ronald Acuna Jr. vs. Jose Urena, Miami Marlins
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $5,700

At this point, you almost have to play Acuna no matter his price. He’s hitting insanely well, going 16-for-34 (.471) with eight home runs in his last eight games. Add in 15 RBI and 13 runs scored during that stretch and he’s provided tremendous value in DFS. Urena has allowed at least four runs in four of his last five starts and only has a 7.3 K/9 this year, which could prove troublesome against Acuna.

Mallex Smith vs. Luis Cessa, New York Yankees
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,800

Smith if 0-for-7 in his last two games, but he’s still batting .364 over his last 24 contests. He’s not a home run hitter, but he did chip in six doubles and four triples during that stretch. He’s a terror on the base paths, too, recording nine steals over that time frame. Smith isn’t cheap on DraftKings, but the price might be right to take a chance on him if you are playing on FanDuel.

Melky Cabrera vs. Robert Stephenson, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,900

Cabrera only has 142 plate appearances this season and he hasn’t exactly thrived with a .266 average and two home runs. He’s not much more than a journeyman outfielder at this stage of his career, but he’s still someone who can provide value in the right matchup. He’s 7-for-12 over his last three games and could be one of the cheaper players to target for an Indians stack.

Others to consider: Justin Upton and Michael Brantley

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/14/18

MLB Daily Fantasy Picks

by Mike Barner on August 14, 20180 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

Tuesday brings a packed schedule across the majors with 14 games making up the main slate in DFS. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/14/18

Anibal Sanchez vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $8,600
DraftKings = $8,600

Sanchez left his last outing early after getting hit on the calf, but he’s not expected to miss any time. He finished with an ERA of 4.99 or higher in each of the last three seasons with the Tigers, but he’s been a different pitcher since joining the Braves. While it will be hard for him to maintain his current 2.83 ERA, his FIP is still strong at 3.73. One of the main reasons for his success has been cutting back on allowing home runs. He allowed at least 1.7 HR/9 in each of his previous three seasons but has only allowed 1.0 HR/9 this year. The Marlins have scored the second-fewest runs (444) in baseball, so start Sanchez with confidence.

Jameson Taillon vs. Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $8,200
DraftKings = $9,000

Taillon finished with a 4.44 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP last year, but that was a bit deceiving based on his 3.48 FIP and opponents’ posting a .352 BABIP against him. His BABIP against has normalized to .300 this year, helping reduce his ERA to 3.63 and his WHIP to 1.22. He had a few big blowups early in the season, but Taillon has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 13 straight starts. Although he’ll have to deal with the DH Tuesday, the Twins lineup suffered a big blow when Brian Dozier was traded to the Dodgers. Look for Taillon to continue his recent run of success.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/14/18

Paul Goldschmidt vs. Yovani Gallardo, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,200

After swiping at least 18 bases in three straight seasons, Goldschmidt’s stolen base Monday marked only his fifth of the year. He still finished the game with two hits and is now on a seven-game hitting streak. Although he doesn’t have a platoon advantage against Gallardo, Goldschmidt hasn’t struggled versus righties with a .380 wOBA against them this year.

Yadier Molina vs. Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,100

Molina is currently on a five-game hitting streak and is batting .315 with four home runs and 10 doubles since July 1. He’s been one of the best offensive catchers in baseball, batting .288 with 15 homers overall. Gonzalez has allowed plenty of baserunners with a 1.48 WHIP, giving Molina an excellent opportunity to extend his hitting streak.

Others to consider: Yonder Alonso (first base) and Jose Martinez (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/14/18

Daniel Murphy vs. John Gant, St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,200

After playing at least 140 games in five of the last six years, Murphy has been limited to just 50 games this year due to injury. It took him a while to shake off the rust from a lengthy stint on the DL, but Murphy is 23-for-59 (.390) with three home runs and four doubles across his last 16 games. He’s struggled with a .279 wOBA against left-handed pitchers, but he’s had far more success against righties with a .360 wOBA.

Jason Kipnis vs. Sal Romano, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,100

In a great matchup against Homer Bailey on Monday, Kipnis finished the game 2-for-5 with a double, two RBI and a run scored. It actually marked his third-straight multi-hit performance. He gets another plus matchup Tuesday against Romano, who has a 1.39 WHIP and doesn’t strike out many batters with a 6.4 K/9.

Others to consider: Jeff McNeil and Jonathan Villar

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/14/18

Justin Turner vs. Andrew Suarez, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,300

Turner went deep Monday, marking just his seventh home run this season. While his power numbers are down, he’s still batting .284 with a .378 OBP. He’s always someone to target versus lefties, as well, considering his 180 wRC+ against them. Suarez doesn’t exactly come into this contest on top of his game, allowing 22 runs in 26.2 innings across his last five starts.

Jedd Gyorko vs. Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $4,000

Gyorko is starting to heat up for the Cardinals, batting .325 so far in August. His power numbers haven’t been great, but he did slug his ninth homer of the season Monday. He’s been almost as good against lefties as Turner has, posting a 173 wRC+ this year.

Others to consider: Jose Ramirez and Miguel Andujar

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/14/18

Paul DeJong vs. Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,200

DeJong only has one multi-hit performance during his current seven-game hitting streak, but he’s hit four home runs during that stretch. He hit 25 home runs and posted a .532 slugging percentage last year in only 108 games, so he carries significant power potential down the stretch. Gonzalez doesn’t give up a ton of home runs, but 11 of the 13 that have been hit off of him this year have been by righties.

Tim Beckham vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,900

Vargas has been a trainwreck for the Mets. He’s only made 12 starts, but he’s posted an 8.75 ERA and a 1.84 WHIP. He’s also allowed a staggering 12 home runs across 47.1 innings. The Orioles lineup is extremely thin after the trades of Manny Machado and Jonathan Schoop, but there are still some players that could provide value against Vargas. Beckham could be one of them as he is batting .283 with three home runs over his last 13 games.

Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Didi Gregorius

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/14/18

Kole Calhoun vs. Brett Kennedy, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,100

Calhoun has brought one of the craziest swings of production we have seen this season. Entering July, he was batting .162 with three home runs. Since then, he is hitting .311 with 13 homers. Kennedy put up some good numbers in Triple-A this year, but his first career start was a disaster as he gave up six runs over four innings. With the way Calhoun is swinging the bat, he’s an excellent option at this reasonable price on both sites.

Mark Trumbo vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,600

Trumbo has been battling knee soreness, but he’s hopeful to return to the lineup Tuesday. He’s stepped up since the trades of Machado and Schoop, batting .368 with five home runs in August. His .468 slugging percentage overall is a big improvement over his .397 mark in 2017. As long as he’s in the lineup, he’s someone to target against Vargas.

Harrison Bader vs. Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $4,500

The Cardinals trading away Tommy Pham was a sign they were gaining more confidence in Bader and Tyler O’Neill. Once Dexter Fowler and O’Neill both landed on the DL, they had to lean heavily on Bader. He’s hasn’t let them down, batting .325 with two home runs so far in August. He’s not that cheap on DraftKings, but he’s a great option at his price on FanDuel considering his .407 wOBA against lefties.

Others to consider: Michael Brantley and Cedric Mullins

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/8/18

MLB Daily Fantasy Picks

by Mike Barner on August 8, 20180 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

Wednesday brings 14 games across the majors, but only nine of them make up 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 8/8/18

Jose Quintana vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $8,200
DraftKings = $8,300

Quintana has had control problems this season, issuing a career-high 4.1 BB/9. His 4.12 ERA isn’t terrible, but it could be worse considering his 4.60 FIP and 1.38 WHIP. He has pitched better of late, allowing two runs or fewer in four of his last five starts. Of those four starts, three of them came against bad lineups in the Tigers, Giants, and Padres. He gets another great matchup Wednesday against a Royals squad that has scored the fewest runs (414) in baseball, giving him an excellent opportunity to continue his recent run of success.

Jhoulys Chacin vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $8,000
DraftKings = $7,500

Chacin was hammered in his last start against the Dodgers, allowing nine runs (eight earned) and three home runs across 4.1 innings. The Dodgers have one of the best lineups in the National League, though, so don’t read too much into one bad outing. He had allowed two runs or fewer in five of his six previous starts. Don’t count on him for a lot of strikeouts with his 7.2 K/9, but he’s only allowed 13 home runs across 132 innings. The Padres have the second-lowest OPS against right-handed pitchers (.653), setting up Chacin nicely for a rebound performance.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/8/18

Matt Carpenter vs. Trevor Richards, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $5,400

Carpenter went deep again Tuesday, marking his fourth home run in the last five games. If it wasn’t for such a horrible start, Carpenter could have one of the better cases for NL MVP. Even with his early struggles, he’s still batting .282 with a .393 OBP and 30 home runs. Keeping riding his hot bat against Richards and his 1.39 WHIP.

Yasmani Grandal vs. Mike Fiers, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,300

The A’s are making a push for the playoffs and have added a few players for the stretch run. One of the guys they brought in was Fiers, who will be making his first start since being acquired from the Tigers. His 3.48 ERA looks nice, but his 4.65 FIP indicates he is not pitching that well. He’s also had problems keeping hitters inside the park with a 1.5 HR/9. The switch-hitting Grandal has had very little success against lefties, but he has a .382 wOBA against right-handed pitching.

Others to consider: Anthony Rizzo (first base) and Jake Bauers (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/8/18

Javier Baez vs. Heath Fillmyer, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $5,700

Baez is having a great season, in general, but he’s been even hotter of late by hitting .378 with six homers and five doubles over his last 11 games. His .346 BABIP this season looks high, but it’s actually almost in line with his .336 career mark. Fillmyer has a 4.83 FIP and a 1.42 WHIP with the Royals and posted 5.75 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP at Triple-A, making Baez an extremely appealing option.

Neil Walker vs. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $3,800

Walker has struggled with the Yankees, often finding himself on the bench due to the stellar play of Gleyber Torres and Miguel Andujar. Playing time has opened up for him lately with Aaron Judge on the DL as he now starts most games against right-handed pitchers. He’s taken advantage of his opportunity, batting .364 with a home run and a double of his last 41 plate appearances. At this cheap price, he’s someone to consider against Giolito based on his 1.49 WHIP.

Others to consider: Joey Wendle and Jonathan Villar

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/8/18

Jose Ramirez vs. Jake Odorizzi, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $5,300
DraftKings = $6,000

Ramirez has already tied or surpassed his previous career-highs in home runs, RBI, and stolen bases this season. His batting average hasn’t suffered at the expense of his power at .297 and he actually has more walks (74) than strikeouts (55). In three previous starts against the Indians this season, Odorizzi has allowed 16 runs (15 earned) across 13.2 innings. Look for them to have another big night Wednesday with Ramirez likely right in the middle of all the action.

Johan Camargo vs. Tommy Milone, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,100

With the Nationals thin at starting pitcher, they have turned to the journeyman Milone to fill a spot in their rotation. Milone has had some success during his minor league career, but he has a 4.35 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP over his career in the majors. Camargo has excelled with a .389 wOBA against lefties this year, making him a great option if you don’t want to pay up for Ramirez.

Others to consider: Miguel Andujar and Mike Moustakas

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/8/18

Didi Gregorius vs. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $5,000

One of the deepest lineups in baseball heading into the season, the Yankees really need Gregorius to be productive right now with Judge and Gary Sanchez both sidelined. While his numbers aren’t off the charts, he is batting .279 with two home runs, seven RBI and eight runs scored across 11 games since Judge hit the DL. He has a .348 wOBA against righties and provides significant upside against the underwhelming Giolito.

Aledmys Diaz vs. Brian Johnson, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,900

Diaz came through with another hit Tuesday to extend his hitting streak to five games. Although he broke a streak of five straight games with at least one run scored, Diaz is locked into significant playing time with Lourdes Gurriel on the DL. Johnson has posted a 3.74 ERA for the Red Sox, but that’s not likely going to hold up based on his 1.42 WHIP. At this cheap price on both sites, Diaz could provide plenty of value.

Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Xander Bogaerts

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/8/18

J.D. Martinez vs. Mike Hauschild, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $5,500

Martinez is flat out amazing. He’s given the Red Sox everything they could have hoped for after signing him to a big contract, batting .328 with 34 home runs and 97 RBI. With all the talented hitters around him, Martinez gets plenty of opportunities to rack up counting stats. The Red Sox are likely going to be a popular stack against Hauschild based on his 4.88 ERA and 1.55 WHIP at Triple-A this year.

Mallex Smith vs. Andrew Cashner, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,700

When the Rays acquired Tommy Pham and Austin Meadows, it looked like Smith might be in line for a smaller role. However, the Rays sent Meadows directly to Triple-A and Pham quickly landed on the DL with a foot injury. Smith is getting all the playing time he can handle as a result and is hot right now, going 11-for-19 with six walks over his last seven games. He’s a terror when he’s on base that much, resulting in five steals over that stretch. Cashner struggles to keep runners off base with his 1.56 WHIP, making Smith a viable option despite his lack of power.

Yasiel Puig vs. Mike Fiers, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $4,400

The ability to use the DH in this series helps the Dodgers free up a bit of a logjam they have created for their lineup after adding Manny Machado and Brian Dozier. It also gives the hitters in the lineup added opportunities for counting stats without the pitcher being required to hit. Puig has at least two hits in three of his last four games and while he doesn’t have the platoon advantage against Fiers, he actually has a higher wOBA against righties (.382) than he does lefties (.283).

Others to consider: Randal Grichuk and Jackie Bradley Jr.

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 20

MLB Fantasy Baseball Strategy

by Mike Barner on August 6, 20180 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

If you are playing in a head-to-head fantasy league, using starting pitchers that have two starts in a week can give you a significant edge over your opponent. Here are some starters who will each start two games in the week ahead that you should either target or avoid for your lineup.

Starters With Favorable Matchups

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 20

Trevor Bauer, Cleveland Indians: vs. MIN, at CWS

Bauer has been extremely consistent for the Indians. He hasn’t allowed more than four earned runs in any of his starts this season and he’s allowed two earned runs or fewer in 17 of his 23 outings. The end result has been a sparkling 2.34 ERA that is backed by a 2.42 FIP. Luck hasn’t been a factor as opponents have a .305 BABIP against him. One of the big reasons for his improvement is his career-high 13% swinging-strike rate, which has resulted in an 11.4 K/9. The Twins have had their struggles scoring runs and traded away two of their best hitters in Eduardo Escobar and Brian Dozier. The White Sox are in the bottom third of baseball in runs scored, as well, setting up Bauer for a very productive Week 20.

Cole Hamels, Chicago Cubs: at KC, vs. WAS

Hamels has to be happy after being traded to the Cubs. He was awful pitching at home for the Rangers, posting a 6.41 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP across 10 starts. He has a 2.69 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP over his other 11 starts outside of Globe Life Park in Arlington. The move to the National League helps, too, since he will get to avoid the DH. Although he won’t get that luxury in his first start of Week 20 playing in Kansas City, the Royals have scored the fewest runs (413) in the league. The Nationals are certainly a much tougher opponent, but they only have a .708 OPS on the road compared to a .775 OPS at home.

C.C. Sabathia, New York Yankees: at CWS, vs. TEX

Sabathia has found a way to pitch with diminished velocity and still be a valuable part of the Yankees rotation. He sometimes struggles to provide length, but he’s still managed to record a 3.59 ERA. His 4.70 FIP suggests he’s been a bit lucky, but his .282 opponents’ BABIP is close to his .293 career mark. With the White Sox struggles offensively already detailed, Sabathia could start Week 20 off on a high note. The Rangers are an excellent hitting team at home, but they have the sixth-lowest OPS (.682) on the road. To top it off, Sabathia has a 2.69 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP over 11 starts at Yankee Stadium.

Matthew Boyd, Detroit Tigers: at LAA, vs. MIN

Boyd finished July strong, allowing three runs and recording 20 strikeouts across 19 innings in his last three starts. Although two of those starts came against the Royals and the Reds, one was against the vaunted Red Sox lineup. Boyd has been aided by a .264 opponents’ BABIP this season, but his 4.22 ERA is actually higher than his 3.84 indicates it should be. He does have a respectable 8.2 K/9 and can provide value in the right matchup. Both the Angels and the Twins are in the bottom five of baseball in terms of OPS against left-handed pitching, making Boyd a viable streaming option who is still available in 80% of Yahoo! leagues.

Starters to Avoid

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 20

Rich Hill, Los Angeles Dodgers: at OAK, at COL

Hill has been limited by injuries again this season, but he’s pitched well when healthy. He’s been especially hot of late, recording a 2.90 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and a 10.5 K/9 over his last seven outings. His first start of the week isn’t bad because even though he has to face the DH, the Athletics are actually a far worse hitting team at home than on the road. However, his second start at Coors Field is scary. The Rockies have the second-highest OPS against left-handed pitching (.798) and the third-highest OPS at home (.827). Hill might not be worth the risk.

Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners: at TEX, at HOU

Hernandez might be at a crossroads in his career. He’s struggled with diminished velocity, resulting in a 5.49 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP this year. His strikeouts are down, as well, with a 7.4 K/9. He’ll need to make an adjustment like Sabathia did to once again become a viable fantasy commodity. He has a respectable 4.02 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP at home, but he’s been destroyed on the road with a 7.58 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP. The Rangers love hitting at home and the Astros are still dangerous despite some key injuries, so make sure to keep Hernandez out of your lineup.

Marcus Stroman, Toronto Blue Jays: vs. BOS, vs. TB

Stroman was crushed in his last start against the Athletics, giving up seven runs over five innings. He’s been prone to blowups this season, allowing at least five runs in six of his 15 starts. His 1.49 WHIP is by far the highest mark of his career, which is a problem considering he doesn’t have an overpowering arsenal. Facing the Red Sox in his first start for Week 20 could be a disaster. The Rays aren’t as daunting of a task, but they have averaged 5.3 runs across their last 20 games. With his limited strikeout potential, Stroman seems like an unnecessary to take if you need a streaming option.

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/1/18

MLB Daily Fantasy Picks

by Mike Barner on August 1, 20180 Comments

*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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/1/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/1/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/1/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/1/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/1/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/1/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/31/18

MLB Daily Fantasy Picks

by Mike Barner on July 31, 20180 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

July special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

Tuesday afternoon brings the MLB trade deadline, so make sure to keep your eye on the news as deals could have a significant impact on the night 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 7/31/18

Trevor Bauer vs. Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $11,800
DraftKings = $13,300

Bauer dominated the Pirates in his last start, recording 10 strikeouts and allowing just five base runners over seven innings. It marked the fifth time this season he hasn’t allowed a run, helping lead to his career-best 2.32 ERA. His ERA hasn’t really been aided by luck, either, considering his 2.25 FIP and .312 opponents’ BABIP. Hitters have swung at 32.3% of pitches he has thrown outside of the strike zone, helping him post a lofty 11.7 K/9. The Twins lineup is even thinner after they traded Eduardo Escobar to the Diamondbacks and they could make more trades Tuesday. Bauer stands out as one of the premier starting pitching options on the slate.

James Shields vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $7,200
DraftKings = $6,000

Shields hasn’t been terrible this season, but his 4.59 ERA and 1.30 WHIP aren’t exactly stellar. He doesn’t have an overpowering arsenal with a 6.8 K/9 and opponents’ have actually been somewhat unlucky with a .264 BABIP against him. This matchup does lean in his favor, though, considering his 3.51 ERA and 1.22 WHIP across 13 starts at Guaranteed Rate Field. He also gets the benefit of facing a Royals lineup that has scored the fewest runs (384) in the league and just traded away one of their best hitters in Mike Moustakas. He won’t cost you much, leaving Shields with the potential to provide value in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/31/18

Jose Abreu vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,200

Abreu has had a disappointing season by his standards, but he’s closing out the month of July strong by hitting 10-for-28 (.357) with three home runs across his last seven games. Even with his down batting average overall, he still has a .357 wOBA against left-handed pitchers. In his career against Duffy, Abreu is 16-for-50 (.320) with two home runs.

Tucker Barnhart vs. Matthew Boyd, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,800

Barnhart has logged a hit in each of his last seven starts, but he didn’t finish with multiple hits in any of those contests. His overall numbers aren’t anything special with a .252 batting average and a .371 slugging percentage, but he does have a .398 wOBA against lefties. At this cheap price, Barnhart might be worth the risk in tournament play.

Others to consider: Paul Goldschmidt (first base) and John Hicks (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/31/18

Rougned Odor vs. Zack Godley, Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,900

Odor has completely turned his season around with a great month in July, batting .357 with six home runs, 12 RBI, and six steals. He still only has 10 home runs total, but his .268 average is a drastic improvement over his .206 mark in 2017. Godley allows a ton of baserunners with his 1.53 WHIP, so look for Odor to finish the month on a high note.

Neil Walker vs. Yefry Ramirez, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,900

The Yankees brought in Walker to provide depth for their young infield, but he struggled out of the gate with his new team. Injuries have opened up regular playing time for him lately and he’s cashed in the opportunity, hitting 18-for-43 (.419) with 10 RBI and eight runs scored over his last 14 games. The Yankees are likely looking to acquire another hitter, but Walker should be in the lineup Tuesday. If you can’t pay up for Odor, Walker is an excellent cost-effective option with upside.

Others to consider: Jed Lowrie and Starlin Castro

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/31/18

Eugenio Suarez vs. Matthew Boyd, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,900

Suarez might not get a lot of press on a bad Reds team, but he’s mashing with a .298 batting average and a .383 OBP. He also has 24 home runs and 80 RBI and should easily set new career highs in both categories. He has an incredible 218 wRC+ against lefties and could give Boyd plenty of trouble in this game.

Eduardo Escobar vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,700

Colon has found a way to hang around, but he hasn’t pitched well with a 5.02 ERA and a 5.12 FIP. His 1.26 WHIP is largely aided by the fact that he doesn’t walk many batters, not because he doesn’t allow a lot of hits. He doesn’t miss many bats, either, with a 5.4% swinging-strike rate and a 5.2 K/9. The Diamondbacks will likely be a popular stack Tuesday, Escobar included.

Others to consider: Manny Machado and Miguel Andujar

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/31/18

Didi Gregorius vs. Yefry Ramirez, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,900

Whenever the Yankees are playing at home, Gregorius vaults up towards the top-tier of shortstops in DFS. He is batting .240 with five home runs on the road, but he has a .283 average and 13 homers at Yankee Stadium. Add in his .351 wOBA against righties and Gregorius could provide plenty of value for your entry.

Chris Taylor vs. Wade Miley, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,200

Miley has a sparkling 2.01 ERA across five starts this year, but don’t get too excited based on his 3.97 FIP and 1.39 WHIP. He also has more walks (13) than he does strikeouts (12). He was a disaster for the Orioles last year with a 5.61 ERA and a 1.73 WHIP over 32 starts, so expect his ERA to climb sooner rather than later. Taylor is 13-for-45 (.289) with seven runs scored and nine RBI since the All-Star break, putting him on the map against Miley based on his reasonable prices on both sites.

Others to consider: Elvis Andrus and Jose Peraza

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/31/18

A.J. Pollock vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $5,200

Pollock didn’t cash in on a great matchup against Martin Perez on Monday, finishing the game 1-for-5. He’ll get a chance to redeem himself against another struggling pitcher in Colon. Pollock does have better numbers against lefties, but he’s hit righties well also with a .377 wOBA.

Avisail Garcia vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,500

Garcia has been injured for much of this season, which has been a major disappointment considering his excellent performance in 2017. Although his walk rate is a ridiculously low 1.7%, he’s hit .277 with 11 home runs in only 181 plate appearances. He has a .368 wOBA against lefties and has also had plenty of success against Duffy as he is 11-for-33 (.333) against him in his career.

Leonys Martin vs. Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,900

Bailey came off the DL last week and allowed only two runs over 6.2 innings against the Cardinals, striking out eight batters. It was a rare strong performance based on his 6.29 ERA and 1.63 WHIP overall. It was only the fourth time in 13 starts that he didn’t allow a home run and just the second time that he struck out more than four batters in a game. Don’t shy away from stacking against him because of one good outing, he’s still not a good pitcher at this stage of his career. The Tigers might not have a lot of great hitters, but Martin stands out based on his .340 wOBA against righties this year.

Others to consider: Mike Trout and Kole Calhoun

Tag Archives

STARTING PITCHERS

C.C. Sabathia vs. Chicago White Sox Stadium – Yankee Stadium FanDuel = $8,200 DraftKings = $8,900

Alex Cobb vs. Toronto Blue Jays Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards FanDuel = $7,200 DraftKings = $6,400

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

Matt Carpenter vs. Trevor Williams, Pittsburgh Pirates Stadium – Busch Stadium FanDuel = $4,300 DraftKings = $5,100

Wilson Ramos vs. Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals Stadium – Citizens Bank Park FanDuel = $2,700 DraftKings = $4,900

SECOND BASE

Jonathan Villar vs. Ryan Borucki, Toronto Blue Jays Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards FanDuel = $3,200 DraftKings = $4,300

Jason Kipnis vs. Kohl Stewart, Minnesota Twins Stadium – Progressive Field FanDuel = $2,800 DraftKings = $4,100

THIRD BASE

Justin Turner vs. Mike Minor, Texas Rangers Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington FanDuel = $4,100 DraftKings = $5,300

Mike Moustakas vs. Matt Harvey, Cincinnati Reds Stadium – Great American Ball Park FanDuel = $3,700 DraftKings = $4,400

SHORTSTOP

Manny Machado vs. Mike Minor, Texas Rangers Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington FanDuel = $4,400 DraftKings = $5,200

Tim Beckham vs. Ryan Borucki, Toronto Blue Jays Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards FanDuel = $2,300 DraftKings = $3,300

OUTFIELD

Christian Yelich vs. Matt Harvey, Cincinnati Reds Stadium – Great American Ball Park FanDuel = $4,000 DraftKings = $5,800

Melky Cabrera vs. Kohl Stewart, Minnesota Twins Stadium – Progressive Field FanDuel = $3,400 DraftKings = $4,400

Trey Mancini vs. Ryan Borucki, Toronto Blue Jays Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards FanDuel = $2,800 DraftKings = $4,000

STARTING PITCHERS

Clay Buchholz vs. San Francisco Giants Stadium – AT&T Park FanDuel = $9,100 DraftKings = $10,000

Brian Johnson vs. Miami Marlins Stadium – Fenway Park FanDuel = $5,900 DraftKings = $7,000

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

Max Muncy vs. Ariel Jurado, Texas Rangers Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington FanDuel = $4,000 DraftKings = $5,400

Danny Jansen vs. Josh Rogers, Baltimore Orioles Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards FanDuel = $2,600 DraftKings = $3,900

SECOND BASE

Whit Merrifield vs. Matthew Boyd, Detroit Tigers Stadium – Kauffman Stadium FanDuel = $3,600 DraftKings = $5,100

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. vs. Josh Rogers, Baltimore Orioles Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards FanDuel = $2,600 DraftKings = $4,200

THIRD BASE

Justin Turner vs. Ariel Jurado, Texas Rangers Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington FanDuel = $4,100 DraftKings = $5,600

Wil Myers vs. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners Stadium – Petco Park FanDuel = $3,100 DraftKings = $4,400

SHORTSTOP

Manny Machado vs. Ariel Jurado, Texas Rangers Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington FanDuel = $4,300 DraftKings = $5,500

Freddy Galvis vs. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners Stadium – Petco Park FanDuel = $2,700 DraftKings = $3,600

OUTFIELD

Mitch Haniger vs. Jacob Nix, San Diego Padres Stadium – Petco Park FanDuel = $3,700 DraftKings = $4,900

Yasiel Puig vs. Ariel Jurado, Texas Rangers Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington FanDuel = $3,300 DraftKings = $4,400

Carlos Gonzalez vs. Noe Ramirez, Los Angeles Angels Stadium – Angel Stadium FanDuel = $2,900 DraftKings = $4,300

STARTING PITCHERS

Mike Foltynewicz vs. Miami Marlins Stadium – Marlins Park FanDuel = $10,500 DraftKings = $11,100

Rich Hill vs. San Diego Padres Stadium – Dodger Stadium FanDuel = $8,800 DraftKings = $9,800

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

Ryan Zimmerman vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets Stadium – Citi Field FanDuel = $3,600 DraftKings = $5,100

Yuli Gurriel vs. Andrew Heaney, Los Angeles Angels Stadium – Angel Stadium FanDuel = $2,800 DraftKings = $4,000

SECOND BASE

Brian Dozier vs. Clayton Richard, San Diego Padres Stadium – Dodger Stadium FanDuel = $3,300 DraftKings = $4,300

Neil Walker vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards FanDuel = $2,800 DraftKings = $3,600

THIRD BASE

Justin Turner vs. Clayton Richard, San Diego Padres Stadium – Dodger Stadium FanDuel = $4,300 DraftKings = $4,800

Todd Frazier vs. Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals Stadium – Citi Field FanDuel = $2,400 DraftKings = $4,500

SHORTSTOP

Manny Machado vs. Clayton Richard, San Diego Padres Stadium – Dodger Stadium FanDuel = $4,600 DraftKings = $4,800

Willy Adames vs. Hector Velazquez, Boston Red Sox Stadium – Tropicana Field FanDuel = $3,100 DraftKings = $3,900

OUTFIELD

Khris Davis vs. Jake Odorizzi, Minnesota Twins Stadium – Target Field FanDuel = $4,300 DraftKings = $5,300

Greg Allen vs. Brad Keller, Kansas City Royals Stadium – Kauffman Stadium FanDuel = $2,800 DraftKings = $3,800

Jim Adduci vs. Reynaldo Lopez, Chicago White Sox Stadium – Comerica Park FanDuel = $2,600 DraftKings = $3,500

STARTING PITCHERS

Zack Wheeler vs. San Francisco Giants Stadium – Citi Field FanDuel = $9,100 DraftKings = $9,300

Kevin Gausman vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Stadium – PNC Park FanDuel = $7,500 DraftKings = $7,100

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

Matt Olson vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum FanDuel = $3,300 DraftKings = $4,100

Ji-Man Choi vs. Jorge Lopez, Kansas City Royals Stadium – Tropicana Field FanDuel = $2,000 DraftKings = $3,700

SECOND BASE

Travis Shaw vs. Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds Stadium – Miller Park FanDuel = $3,700 DraftKings = $4,700

Joey Wendle vs. Jorge Lopez, Kansas City Royals Stadium – Tropicana Field FanDuel = $2,300 DraftKings = $3,900

THIRD BASE

Justin Turner vs. Austin Gomber, St. Louis Cardinals Stadium – Dodger Stadium FanDuel = $4,000 DraftKings = $4,500

Matt Chapman vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum FanDuel = $3,000 DraftKings = $4,300

SHORTSTOP

Jorge Polanco vs. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox Stadium – Target Field FanDuel = $3,200 DraftKings = $4,200

Jose Peraza vs. Chase Anderson, Milwaukee Brewers Stadium – Miller Park FanDuel = $3,100 DraftKings = $4,500

OUTFIELD

Khris Davis vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum FanDuel = $3,500 DraftKings = $5,000

Max Kepler vs. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox Stadium – Target Field FanDuel = $2,900 DraftKings = $3,900

Mallex Smith vs. Jorge Lopez, Kansas City Royals Stadium – Tropicana Field FanDuel = $2,800 DraftKings = $4,600

STARTING PITCHERS

Shane Bieber vs. Cincinnati Reds Stadium – Great American Ball Park FanDuel = $7,900 DraftKings = $8,300

Tyler Anderson vs. Houston Astros Stadium – Minute Maid Park FanDuel = $7,000 DraftKings = $8,400

C.C. Sabathia vs. Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $8,200
DraftKings = $8,900

Alex Cobb vs. Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $7,200
DraftKings = $6,400

Matt Carpenter vs. Trevor Williams, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,100

Wilson Ramos vs. Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $4,900

Jonathan Villar vs. Ryan Borucki, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,300

Jason Kipnis vs. Kohl Stewart, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,100

Justin Turner vs. Mike Minor, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $5,300

Mike Moustakas vs. Matt Harvey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,400

Manny Machado vs. Mike Minor, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $5,200

Tim Beckham vs. Ryan Borucki, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,300
DraftKings = $3,300

Christian Yelich vs. Matt Harvey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $5,800

Melky Cabrera vs. Kohl Stewart, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,400

Trey Mancini vs. Ryan Borucki, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,000

Clay Buchholz vs. San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $9,100
DraftKings = $10,000

Brian Johnson vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $5,900
DraftKings = $7,000

Max Muncy vs. Ariel Jurado, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $5,400

Danny Jansen vs. Josh Rogers, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,900

Whit Merrifield vs. Matthew Boyd, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $5,100

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. vs. Josh Rogers, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $4,200

Justin Turner vs. Ariel Jurado, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $5,600

Wil Myers vs. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,400

Manny Machado vs. Ariel Jurado, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,500

Freddy Galvis vs. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,600

Mitch Haniger vs. Jacob Nix, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,900

Yasiel Puig vs. Ariel Jurado, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,400

Carlos Gonzalez vs. Noe Ramirez, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $4,300

Mike Foltynewicz vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $10,500
DraftKings = $11,100

Rich Hill vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $8,800
DraftKings = $9,800

Ryan Zimmerman vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $5,100

Yuli Gurriel vs. Andrew Heaney, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,000

Brian Dozier vs. Clayton Richard, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,300

Neil Walker vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,600

Justin Turner vs. Clayton Richard, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,800

Todd Frazier vs. Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $4,500

Manny Machado vs. Clayton Richard, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $4,800

Willy Adames vs. Hector Velazquez, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,900

Khris Davis vs. Jake Odorizzi, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,300

Greg Allen vs. Brad Keller, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,800

Jim Adduci vs. Reynaldo Lopez, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,500

Zack Wheeler vs. San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $9,100
DraftKings = $9,300

Kevin Gausman vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $7,100

Matt Olson vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,100

Ji-Man Choi vs. Jorge Lopez, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $2,000
DraftKings = $3,700

Travis Shaw vs. Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,700

Joey Wendle vs. Jorge Lopez, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $2,300
DraftKings = $3,900

Justin Turner vs. Austin Gomber, St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,500

Matt Chapman vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,300

Jorge Polanco vs. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,200

Jose Peraza vs. Chase Anderson, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,500

Khris Davis vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $5,000

Max Kepler vs. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,900

Mallex Smith vs. Jorge Lopez, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,600

Shane Bieber vs. Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $7,900
DraftKings = $8,300

Tyler Anderson vs. Houston Astros
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $7,000
DraftKings = $8,400

Freddie Freeman vs. Jose Urena, Miami Marlins
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $5,100

Danny Jansen vs. Jorge Lopez, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $2,100
DraftKings = $3,600

Jason Kipnis vs. Robert Stephenson, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,200

Neil Walker vs. Jake Faria, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $3,600

Jose Ramirez vs. Robert Stephenson, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $5,300
DraftKings = $6,000

Justin Turner vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,200

Didi Gregorius vs. Jake Faria, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,900

Willy Adames vs. Luis Cessa, New York Yankees
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $4,100

Ronald Acuna Jr. vs. Jose Urena, Miami Marlins
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $5,700

Mallex Smith vs. Luis Cessa, New York Yankees
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,800

Melky Cabrera vs. Robert Stephenson, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,900

Anibal Sanchez vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $8,600
DraftKings = $8,600

Jameson Taillon vs. Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $8,200
DraftKings = $9,000

Paul Goldschmidt vs. Yovani Gallardo, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,200

Yadier Molina vs. Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,100

Daniel Murphy vs. John Gant, St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,200

Jason Kipnis vs. Sal Romano, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,100

Justin Turner vs. Andrew Suarez, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,300

Jedd Gyorko vs. Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $4,000

Paul DeJong vs. Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,200

Tim Beckham vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,900

Kole Calhoun vs. Brett Kennedy, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,100

Mark Trumbo vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,600

Harrison Bader vs. Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $4,500

Jose Quintana vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $8,200
DraftKings = $8,300

Jhoulys Chacin vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $8,000
DraftKings = $7,500