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MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/15/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/15/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

With only one day game Tuesday, we’ve got plenty of options to choose from in DFS for the evening slate. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/15/18

Gerrit Cole vs. Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $11,800
DraftKings = $13,900

There has been no slowing down Cole, who has a 1.43 ERA and 1.54 FIP through eight starts. His .257 BABIP allowed is low, but he largely has seen his numbers improve because of his lofty 13.7 K/9. He has recorded at least eight strikeouts in all but one of his starts this season and has only allowed three total home runs. Even though he’ll be facing a tough Angels lineup that is in the top-five in baseball in runs scored, his strikeout upside still makes him a great option Tuesday.

Jack Flaherty vs. Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $7,300

Flaherty is one of the bright young prospects in the Cardinals system, posting a 2.73 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 9.1 K/9 during his career in the minors. He has kept hitters in the park as well with a 0.5 HR/9. This will be his third Major League start this season and his first two brought mixed results. He allowed one earned run and recorded nine strikeouts over five innings in his first start against the Brewers, but then he allowed three runs while recording only two strikeouts across five innings against the Pirates. Considering his cheap price and the fact that the Twins have scored the fourth-fewest runs (158) in baseball, he could be worth the risk in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/15/18

Carlos Santana vs. Andrew Cashner, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,900
DratfKings = $4,400

Santana has broken out after a slow start, batting .289 with five home runs in May. He still only has a .216 BABIP this month, leaving him with even more room for improvement. Cashner is off to a bad start as well with a 5.74 FIP and 1.50 WHIP through eight starts. Santana has hit right-handers well in his career and has a .337 wOBA against them this year despite all his struggles, making him an excellent option to consider Tuesday.

Nick Goodrum vs. Josh Tomlin, Cleveland Indians
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $3,100

Tomlin immediately comes to mind as someone you want to stack against since he has an 8.06 ERA and 1.79 WHIP. He’s never been a big strikeout pitcher either with a 6.1 K/9 for his career. The problem is the Tigers are depleted by injuries with Miguel Cabrera (hamstring), Jeimer Candelario (wrist) and Leonys Martin (hamstring) all on the DL. Goodrum is playing every day as a result, hitting 8-for-17 with three home runs and two doubles in his last four games. At this price, he could be well worth the risk in tournament play.

Others to consider: Salvador Perez (catcher) and John Hicks (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/15/18

Asdrubal Cabrera vs. Jaime Garcia, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $3,900

The Mets will be facing the lefty Garcia, which is not good news since they have the lowest OPS against lefties (.568) in baseball. Cabrera is one player who does hit them well, posting a .407 wOBA against them last year and .364 wOBA this season. Garica has struggled to keep runners off base with a 1.57 WHIP, so Cabrera might be the one Mets’ hitter you want to use in this matchup.

Whit Merrifield vs. Anthony Banda, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,300

Merrifield has followed up his .288 average and .784 OPS from 2017 with a .287 average and .783 OPS this year. His power numbers are slightly down, but he’s also shown a better eye at the plate with a 9.0% walk rate. The Rays will start the lefty Banda, who is making his first appearance in the majors this year. Merrifield has a .384 wOBA against lefties for his career, making him a nice option for your entry, especially considering his price on FanDuel.

Others to consider: Cesar Hernandez and Jonathan Schoop

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/15/18

Eugenio Suarez vs. Ty Blach, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,400

Suarez’s .297 BABIP is actually below his .314 career mark, but he is still batting a career-high .286. He has cut down on his strikeouts and has a superb 50% hard-hit rate, which has helped him get off to a hot start. After finishing with a 135 wRC+ against left-handers last year, he is mashing them for a 278 wRC+ in 2018.

Miguel Andujar vs. Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,300

Andujar took over as the everyday third baseman for the Yankees when Brandon Drury (impaired vision) went on the DL. The Yankees actually activated Drury on Monday but optioned him to Triple-A to continue his rehab. There has been no rush to bring him back with how well Andujar has played and he may not get the job back even when he is deemed fully healthy. Andujar is currently on a six-game hitting streak and although he hasn’t recorded an extra-base hit during that stretch, he is a viable option if you want to save money at third base.

Others to consider: Jose Ramirez and Rafael Devers

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/15/18

Francisco Lindor vs. Francisco Liriano, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $5,200

Lindor only had a .288 BABIP heading into May, leading to a .245 average. He’s been on a heater since the new month began, batting .450 with a .442 BABIP and eight home runs. He is striking out more this year, but he also has a 43.1% hard-hit rate that is by far the highest of his career. With a career .365 wOBA against lefties, Lindor could provide significant production against Liriano.

Chris Taylor vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,000

Chen has allowed 13 runs in his last two starts, resulting in a 10.22 ERA and 1.95 WHIP through three outings. He was never a big strikeout pitcher, but he has only a 4.4 K/9 during that stretch. He’s had control issues as well with a 5.8 BB/9. The Dodgers lineup hasn’t been great this season, but Taylor, with a .355 wOBA against lefties last year, could provide value if you don’t want to pay up for Lindor.

Others to consider: Manny Machado and Jean Segura

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/15/18

Odubel Herrera vs. Andrew Cashner, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,400

Herrera couldn’t be off to a much better start, batting .360 with a .992 OPS. He likely won’t be able to sustain that average considering his .400 BABIP, but it is encouraging that his walk rate is up while his strikeout rate is down. His .436 wOBA against righties this year makes him another Phillies’ hitter who could provide value.

Nomar Mazara vs. Mike Leake, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,100

The Rangers lineup suffered another tough blow over the weekend with Adrian Beltre reaggravating a hamstring injury that has already cost him one stint on the DL this season. He’ll likely be placed back on it Tuesday, joining Elvis Andrus (elbow) as two key pieces that they will sorely miss. They’ll still get a great matchup against Leake on Tuesday though, who has a 5.72 ERA and 1.51 WHIP. Mazara has a .380 wOBA against righties this year and isn’t overly expensive, making him someone to strongly consider.

Shin-Soo Choo vs. Mike Leake, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,400

Choo is a cheap option who should come to mind against right-handed pitchers since he has a .382 wOBA against them in his career. His .245 average this season isn’t great, but he’s still striking the ball well with a 42.4% hard-hit rate. He also has hit Leake well, going 6-for-17 with two home runs and two doubles against him in his career. Using both Mazara and Choo in your entry could be a nice mini-stack to take advantage of.

Others to consider: Jorge Soler and Joey Gallo

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 8

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 8

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 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 8

Patrick Corbin, Arizona Diamondbacks: vs. MIL, at NYM

Corbin has continued his torrid start, posting a 2.12 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, and 11.8 K/9 through eight starts. Not only is he recording strikeouts at the highest rate of his career, but he also has an excellent 2.3 BB/9. It is likely he is going to see some regression at some point though considering opponents have just a .217 BABIP against him. That may not come this week though with two matchups that lean heavily in his favor since the Brewers and Mets have the two lowest OPS’s in baseball against left-handed pitchers. If there was ever a time to sell high on him, it might be after this week.

Alex Wood, Los Angeles Dodgers: at MIA, at WAS

Wood’s 3.60 ERA is solid, but his performance this season has been even better when you consider he gave up seven runs in 3.2 innings in one game against the Athletics. He has done a great job limiting homers again with a 0.6 HR/9 and doesn’t walk many batters either, helping lead him to a 1.00 WHIP. His strikeout upside isn’t off the charts, but he can still provide value in the category with an 8.3 K/9 for his career. His first start for Week 8 brings the Marlins, who have scored the fewest runs (138) in baseball. He’ll then face the Nationals, who have the sixth-lowest OPS (.673) against lefties. He has actually already faced them once this season, allowing three runs (two earned) to go along with four strikeouts in six innings. Look for Wood to provide plenty of value in these two games.

Tyler Anderson, Colorado Rockies: at SD, at SF

Much like Wood, Anderson has had one bad start that has thrown off his numbers, allowing seven runs in 2.1 innings against the Diamondbacks in his first start of the season. Since then, he has allowed two earned runs or fewer in six of seven starts. He has had some control issues with a 4.0 BB/9, but he also has a career-high 9.4 K/9. He will be facing the Padres for the third time this season, allowing two runs to go along with 12 strikeouts in 12 innings across his first two starts. Both the Padres and the Giants are in the bottom seven in baseball in terms of runs scored, so Anderson could be a viable streaming option this week. He is still available in 80% of Yahoo! leagues.

Mike Minor, Texas Rangers: at SEA, at CWS

Minor’s transition back into a starting role in the majors for the first time since 2014 hasn’t been great, but it hasn’t been a disaster either. Through seven starts, Minor has a 4.73 ERA and 4.55 FIP. He’s allowing too many home runs with a 1.4 HR/9, but he does have a 1.20 WHIP. His .284 BABIP allowed is close to his career mark, but his 41.8% hard-hit rate allowed is abnormally high. This could be the week to take a chance on him though if you need starting pitching help. The Mariners just lost one of their best offensive players in Robinson Cano (hand) and the White Sox have the fourth-lowest OPS (.663) against left-handers. Minor is still available in 90% of Yahoo! leagues.

Starters to Avoid

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 8

Jose Quintana, Chicago Cubs: vs. ATL, at CIN

Quintana’s 4.42 ERA this season isn’t terrible, but he’s lucky it’s even that low considering his 1.47 WHIP. Control has been an issue, allowing 4.4 BB/9 and throwing a first-pitch strike to only 62.5% of the batters that he has faced, which would be his lowest mark since his rookie season. He had an excellent 9.9 K/9 last year, but that was much higher than the 7.8 K/9 he has for his career. He’s regressed back to a 7.9 K/9 this season, so we may have just seen a one-year anomaly. The Braves have one of the best lineups in all of baseball and the Reds have the 10th highest OPS (.765) against lefties, so this may not be the week to ride with Quintana.

Joey Lucchesi, San Diego Padres: vs. COL, at PIT

The Padres desperately need quality starting pitching and Lucchesi has stepped up in his first taste of big league action, recording a 2.98 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 9.8 K/9. He’s had some problems providing length though, throwing 5.2 innings or fewer in six of his eight starts. His .292 BABIP allowed isn’t low, but his 39.3% hard-hit rate allowed is concerning. This week could bring a mixed bag of results based on his two opponents. He’ll face the Rockies for the third time, allowing two unearned runs to go along with 15 strikeouts in the first two starts. However, the Rockies are tied for the seventh-highest OPS (.774) against lefties. The Pirates absolutely mash lefties with a .850 OPS against them, which is almost 40 percentage points higher than any other team.

Francisco Liriano, Detroit Tigers: vs. CLE, at SEA

Liriano’s 3.35 ERA looks nice, but he’s been playing with fire due to a 4.5 BB/9. He has a 1.17 WHIP, but that’s largely been aided by opposing hitters recording just a .226 BABIP. He doesn’t provide much in the way of strikeouts either with a 6.5 K/9. Liriano did hold the Indians to two runs in six innings earlier this season, but their lineup is rolling right now and they are in the top 10 in terms of OPS against left-handed pitchers overall. The Mariners matchup is better without Cano, but they still have some excellent power bats that can take advantage of Liriano if he doesn’t cut down on his walks. Without much strikeout upside, it’s not worth trying to stream Liriano for Week 8.

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/10/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/10/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

Thursday brings a limited slate of games, but there are still plenty of great options both on the mound and in the batter’s box to take advantage of in DFS. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/10/18

Walker Buehler vs. Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $8,600
DraftKings = $10,500

With the Dodgers dealing with injuries to their starting rotation, Buehler is here to stay. He’s made an immediate impact in his first three starts, posting a 1.13 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 10.7 K/9. He dominated with a 12.4 K/9 during his career in the minors, so his strikeout upside is legitimate. The only real negative you can say about his first three starts is that they came against the Marlins, Giants, and Padres, who are three of the worst offensive teams in baseball. The Reds haven’t been much better though and have the fifth-worst OPS against right-handed pitchers (.671) in baseball, so Buehler may be able to keep his hot streak alive for at least one more start.

Miles Mikolas vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $8,500
DraftKings = $10,200

Mikolas has been impressive in his first action in the majors since 2014 and clearly made significant improvements during his time in Japan. Through six starts this season, he has a 2.70 ERA and 0.98 WHIP. His 7.0 K/9 isn’t great, but he’s shown impeccable control with 0.5 BB/9. He’s pitching deep into games as well, logging at least 6.1 innings in all but one of his outings. The Padres have the third-lowest OPS against righties (.648) and have had trouble scoring runs in general, leaving Mikolas with the potential to provide value again Thursday.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/10/18

Cody Bellinger vs. Tyler Mahle, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,200

After bursting onto the scene last year with a .933 OPS, Bellinger hasn’t hit for much power yet this season, resulting in a .794 OPS. He’s still hitting for a high average and has a 39% hard-hit rate, so he should start slugging more long balls sooner rather than later. He finished with a 140 wRC+ against righties last and has a 142 mark against them so far this season, so facing Mahle could lead to a breakout game.

Justin Bour vs. Mike Foltynewicz, Atlanta Braves
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,400

Foltynewicz has made improvements this season, but his 1.35 WHIP is still too high. Left-handed hitters have given him troubles in his career, including Bour, who is 8-for-14 with two home runs against him. Bour is off to a slow start this season, but he still has a .367 wOBA against righties, making him a cost-effective option to consider.

Others to consider: Gary Sanchez (catcher) and Lucas Duda (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/10/18

Whit Merrifield vs. Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,300

Merrifield is batting only .261 this season, but that won’t last for long if he keeps up his 42.6% hard-hit rate. His K% is right in line with his career mark and he’s drawing more walks as well. With Tillman taking the mound, this is going to be a great opportunity to stack Royals in DFS since he has allowed at least four earned runs in all but one of his starts this season.

Jonathan Schoop vs. Ian Kennedy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKinfs = $3,500

In two games since coming off the DL, Schoop is 3-for-9 with a double, two RBI and three runs scored. His slow start and stint on the DL have helped lower his price after a breakout campaign helped plenty of people win money in DFS last year. He doesn’t have the righty/lefty advantage in this matchup, but he’s still priced low enough to potentially use in tournament play.

Others to consider: Gleyber Torres and Eduardo Nunez

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/10/18

Mike Moustakas vs. Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,500

Moustakas had the best power season of his career in 2017 with 38 home runs and he hasn’t slowed down this year, slugging 10 homers in 36 games. He’s batting .292 as well and while that seems unsustainable, his .278 BABIP is actually not high. This is a prime opportunity to play him against Tillman, who allowed a .429 wOBA to lefties last year.

Yangervis Solarte vs. Mike Leake, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,900

Solarte has cashed in everyday playing time to bat .271 with nine homers this year. Solarte does a great job limiting his strikeouts, posting an 11.8 K% for his career. He has a .374 wOBA against right-handers this year and Leake has allowed a .366 wOBA to lefties, so Solarte could be an option if you need to save money at third base.

Others to consider: Travis Shaw and Matt Carpenter

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/10/18

Paul DeJong vs. Jordan Lyles, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,000

Lyles has pitched exclusively out of the bullpen this season, logging 19.2 innings across 13 appearances. He did pitch three innings in one appearance earlier this year, but it doesn’t seem like he’ll have built up enough arm strength to pitch deep into this game. He struggled in five starts for the Padres last year, recording a 9.39 ERA and 1.96 WHIP. This could end up being a bullpen day for the Padres, so with several of the top shortstops dealing with difficult matchups Thursday, DeJong becomes a viable option with homer upside.

Chris Taylor vs. Tyler Mahle, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $3,800

Taylor seemed like a regression candidate heading into this season as his .288 average in 2017 was largely aided by a .361 BABIP. He’s had a bigger drop off than expected this year though, batting .235 with a .284 BABIP. He’ll probably end the season somewhere in the middle and is an important player on a Dodgers team that is now missing their star shortstop in Corey Seager (elbow). Mahle has a 4.92 FIP through seven starts and has been prone to giving up the long ball, leaving Taylor as another shortstop worth considering.

Others to consider: Eduardo Escobar and Jean Segura

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/10/18

Giancarlo Stanton vs. Eduardo Rodriguez, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $5,100

Stanton normally hits lefties well, posting a .430 wOBA against them for his career. This year has been no different with an incredible .621 wOBA against them so far. He already has six home runs in only 34 plate appearance against lefties as well. He’s stepped up in the first two games of this series against the Red Sox and will look for another big performance against Rodriguez as the Yankees go for the sweep.

Jorge Soler vs. Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,200

Continuing our stack of Royals’ hitters against Tillman, Soler is another great option. He’s on fire right now, recording at least two hits in five of his last 10 games while also hitting three home runs in that same stretch. Even though Soler has much better numbers this season against lefties than righties, he’s not exactly struggling against righties with a .362 wOBA.

Alex Gordon vs. Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,800

Let’s go to the well against Tillman one more time with Gordon, who is batting .313 in the early going. He is still having troubles against left-handed pitching, but righties have not proven to be nearly as difficult, resulting in a .412 wOBA. Since he will help with your budget as well, it makes a lot of sense to try riding Gordon’s hot streak in this game.

Others to consider: Charlie Blackmon and Christian Yelich

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/27/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/27/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

There is only one day game Friday, leaving you with a lot of options to sift through for the night slate in DFS. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/27/18

Jacob deGrom vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $10,600
DraftKings = $12,400

deGrom was one of the few Mets starters to stay healthy last year, logging a career-high 201.1 innings. He made significant strides in the strikeout department, finishing with a 10.7 K/9 that was a full strikeout higher than his previous career best. He’s continued his increased pace this season with an 11.3 K/9 through five starts. Not only does he have excellent control with a career 2.3 BB/9, but he doesn’t allow many baserunners in general with a career 1.12 WHIP. The Padres have struck out more times (273) than any other team in baseball this season and have the sixth-lowest batting average against right-handed pitchers (.223), leaving deGrom as someone to target for your entry Friday.

Miles Mikolas vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $6,700
DraftKings = $7,600

Mikolas returned to the majors for the first time since 2014 after pitching the last three years in Japan. The transition back has gone smoothly so far, posting a 3.46 ERA and 3.89 FIP across four starts. He’s done a great job limiting base runners with a 1.00 WHIP and has shown impeccable control with a 0.7 BB/9. His strikeout upside isn’t great, but he has the potential to sustain a low ERA if he can continue to limit walks. If you are looking to go really cheap in tournament play, he has the potential to at least throw a quality start.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/27/18

Joey Votto vs. Phil Hughes, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,100

Votto certainly didn’t play well out of the gate, but it appears he has righted the ship. Not only is he on a five-game hitting streak, but he has also hit a home run in three straight. His .270 BABIP is well below his career mark of .352, so expect his batting average to continue to improve. He dominated right-handed pitchers last year with a .433 wOBA, leaving him with significant upside against Hughes on Friday.

C.J. Cron vs. Drew Pomeranz, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,800

Cron is on fire right now, batting 16-for-47 (.340) with five home runs and 14 RBI in his last 11 games. He’s hitting the ball with authority this year, posting a 42.9% hard-hit rate compared to his 32.6% career mark. Pomeranz has held left-handed hitters to a .273 wOBA in his career, but righties have posted a .315 wOBA. It might not be a bad idea to ride Cron’s hot bat for at least one more game.

Others to consider: Gary Sanchez (catcher) and Jose Martinez (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/27/18

Scooter Gennett vs. Phil Hughes, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $3,400

Gennett almost doubled his previous career high with 27 home runs last year but has only gone deep twice in 2018. He’s still hitting for average though at .283, which still keeps him in the discussion for DFS despite his lack of power. He had a .388 wOBA against righties last year and faces a struggling one in Hughes on Friday. Hughes has been limited by injuries the last two years but hasn’t pitched well when healthy, posting a WHIP of at least 1.51 in both of those seasons.

Starlin Castro vs. Tyler Anderson, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,200

Speaking of players who haven’t hit for power this year, Castro has only hit four doubles and is still looking for his first home run. His 39.5% hard-hit rate this year is actually much higher than his career mark, but his 56.6% ground-ball rate is also a career high. Anderson has a 1.52 WHIP through five starts this season and a 1.33 WHIP for his career, so he generally has a hard time keeping runners off base. At this cheap price, Castro has upside while also providing salary relief for your entry.

Others to consider: Cesar Hernandez and Gleyber Torres

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/27/18

Jeimer Candelario vs. Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,200

Candelario continues to impress in his first full season as a starter, hitting .290 with a .908 OPS. He’s been batting second in the Tigers lineup, which is a great spot with Miguel Cabrera providing him with protection. Tillman has been awful this year with a 9.87 ERA and 2.37 WHIP, so don’t hesitate to add Candelario to your lineup.

Matt Davidson vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,500

Davidson is only batting .225 this year, but he’s been lethal when he makes contact with a 55% hard-hit rate. It’s led to seven home runs and three doubles despite his 31 strikeouts in 85 plate appearances. Duffy dominated left-handed hitters last year, holding them to a .199 wOBA. Righties hit him much better though with a .329 wOBA. I wouldn’t be surprised if Davidson goes deep in this game.

Others to consider: Todd Frazier and Daniel Roberston

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/27/18

Paul DeJong vs. Steven Brault, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,300

DeJong burst onto the scene for the Cardinals last year, batting .285 with 25 home runs in 108 games. He’s showed no signs of a sophomore slump, hitting .281 with seven home runs so far. He recorded a .392 wOBA against left-handers last year and will take on one in Brault on Friday, who doesn’t have overpowering stuff either with a career 6.5 K/9.

Adeiny Hechavarria vs. Drew Pomeranz, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,100

Hechavarria didn’t get a hit Thursday against the Orioles but had at least two hits in four of six games entering that matchup. Known for his defensive abilities, Hechavarria is batting .273 overall this season. He’s hit better against lefties throughout his career, so he might be with the risk at this price against Pomeranz on Friday.

Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Eduardo Nunez

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/27/18

Tommy Pham vs. Steven Brault, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,700

Pham is doing his best to prove that his breakout season in 2017 was no fluke, batting .368 with a .484 OBP so far this year. After finishing last season with 23 home runs and 25 steals, he’s also continued to show his power and speed combo with three homers and five steals through 22 games. With a 153 wRC+ against lefties last year, Pham is another Cardinals right-handed hitter to key in on Friday.

Yoenis Cespedes vs. Clayton Richard, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,100

Cespedes is only batting .211 this year, but his .300 BABIP is right in line with his career numbers. The problem is he has struck out a whopping 41 times in 103 plate appearances. To put that into perspective, he struck out 61 times in 321 plate appearances last year. He’ll need to show significant improvement in that area to makes gains with his batting average, but he still has a ton of power. Richard allowed 23 of his 24 home runs to right-handed hitters last year, leaving Cespedes as an option to consider for your entry.

Matt Kemp vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,800

This matchup screams split advantage. Holland was awful against righties last year, allowing a .408 wOBA. On the flip side, Kemp has a .391 wOBA against lefties for his career. If you are looking for a cost-effective outfielder Friday, look no further.

Others to consider: Mookie Betts and Leonys Martin

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/25/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/25/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

Games will be spread throughout the day Wednesday, leaving fewer options than normal if you are playing the 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 4/25/18

Clayton Kershaw vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $11,400
DraftKings = 14,000

Kershaw is well on his way to another dominant season. Although he is only 1-3 through five starts, he has a sparkling 2.45 ERA and 0.87 WHIP. His strikeouts are slightly down at 9.5 K/9, but with a K/9 of at least 10.4 in four straight seasons, don’t expect that to be a trend that continues much longer. He has also shown impeccable control with a 0.8 BB/9 and throwing a first-pitch strike to 70% of the batters that he has faced. He’s an excellent option regardless of opponent, but he gets an extremely favorable matchup against a Marlins offense that has hit the fewest home runs (14) and has the third-lowest batting average (.223) in baseball.

Jake Faria vs. Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $5,900
DraftKings = $6,300

The Rays and Orioles were rained out Tuesday, pushing Faria’s start to Wednesday. His 5.82 ERA and 1.59 WHIP this season don’t exactly look appealing, but a lot of that was due to him giving up eight earned runs in 1.2 innings against the Red Sox during his second start of the season. He’s been much better outside of that outing, allowing three earned runs across 15.1 innings in his other starts. He has also shown some strikeout upside, registering at least six of them in back-to-back starts. The Orioles have the lowest batting average (.215) in baseball, so Faria might be worth the risk in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/25/18

Cody Bellinger vs. Trevor Richards, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,500

Bellinger isn’t exactly on fire right now, hitting 2-for-16 in his last five games. However, his two hits were a double and a home run and he also drew three walks during that stretch. He only has three home runs this season overall, but he’s batted a respectable .271. Bellinger had a .383 wOBA against right-handers last year, so facing Richards and his 1.68 WHIP might be just what he needs to start a hot streak.

Matt Olson vs. Doug Fister, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $4,300

Olson hit for a ton of power in 59 games last year, finishing with a .651 slugging percentage. His 40.3% hard-hit rate was excellent and has been even better this season at 50%. He only has three home runs to show for it, but that shouldn’t last for long if he keeps hitting the ball with this kind of authority. He had a 181 wRC+ against righties last year, leaving him with excellent upside against Fister, who doesn’t have an overpowering pitch arsenal.

Others to consider: Joey Gallo (first base) and Yasmani Grandal (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/25/18

Jed Lowrie vs. Doug Fister, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,600

At this point, the only reason not to play Lowrie in DFS is if you can’t fit his price tag into your entry. He already has 12 multi-hit games this season and is batting .363 with six home runs and eight doubles. The Athletics have had one of the most potent offenses in baseball in the early going and Lowrie’s success in a big reason why. He also has a .344 average in 33 career plate appearances against Fister, so he makes a lot of sense again Wednesday.

Joey Wendle vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,200

Wendle is not a big home run hitter, but he did have a career .288 batting average in 641 games in the minors. He’s getting a chance to play every day for the rebuilding Rays and is off to a hot start, hitting .304 with a .385 OBP. His 40.5% hard-hit rate is probably unsustainable, so he may experience some regression as the league gets more familiar with how to pitch to him. Cobb has a horrible 15.43 ERA and 3.14 WHIP through his first two starts, so Wendle might be able to provide value.

Others to consider: Brock Holt and Chase Utley

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/25/18

Mike Moustakas vs. Jhoulys Chacin, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,300

The Royals have one of the worst lineups in baseball despite bringing back Moustakas, who hit a career-high 38 home runs last year. He certainly hasn’t been the problem, batting .307 with six home runs and five doubles so far. He had a .353 wOBA against right-handers last year and is at .470 against them so far in 2018, leaving him as a great option to consider for your entry.

Jeimer Candelario vs. Chad Kuhl, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = NA

Candelario has been one of the better hitters this season for the rebuilding Tigers, hitting .277 with three home runs, 10 RBI, and a .355 OBP. Kuhl’s 4.57 ERA this year is not terrible, but he’s allowed way too many baserunners with a 1.62 WHIP. That’s been a trend for him throughout his career with a WHIP of  1.44 in 249.2 innings. He also allowed a .376 wOBA to left-handed hitters last year, which is good news for the switch-hitting Candelario on Wednesday.

Others to consider: Travis Shaw and Rafael Devers

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/25/18

Manny Machado vs. Jake Faria, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $4,800

Machado is looking to put his .259 batting average from last year firmly in the rearview mirror, hitting .360 out of the gates this season. His power numbers haven’t suffered either with eight home runs and seven doubles through 23 games. Most of his struggles came on the road last season, hitting .229 compared to .288 at home. Although I think using Faria in tournament play is a viable option based on the Orioles lineup as a whole, Machado could give him problems.

Corey Seager vs. Trevor Richards, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,400

Seager is not off to a good start this season with a .241 average and just one home run. He has a .275 BABIP and his 35.7% hard-hit rate is well below his career mark, which has been a big reason for his struggles. Richards isn’t a strikeout pitcher though and Seager did have a .353 wOBA against righties last year, so don’t be surprised if he busts out of his funk Wednesday.

Others to consider: Paul DeJong and Adeiny Hechavarria

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/25/18

Christian Yelich vs. Jason Hammel, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,600

Yelich has been limited to only 12 games this season due to injury, but he’s performed well in limited action with a .319 average and two home runs. He continues to show an excellent eye at the plate with a .407 OBP after posting an OBP of at least .362 in every season of his career. He finished with a 123 wRC+ last year against righties compared to just 94 against lefties, so he could be in line for a valuable performance against Hammel.

Denard Span vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,500

Span is off to a very unlikely start, driving in 17 runs in 18 games. Last year he had only 43 RBI in 129 games for the Giants. He has mostly batted leadoff this season, with the extra at-bats giving him a boost in DFS. He’s not going to keep up with this RBI pace, but he’s a viable option to consider Tuesday against the struggling Cobb.

Matt Joyce vs. Doug Fister, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,500

Joyce is one of those cheap options you want to target when he’s facing a right-handed pitcher. He has just a 62 wRC+ against lefties in his career, but a 123 wRC+ against righties. Fister allowed a .365 wOBA to lefties last year, so make sure to take advantage of the budget savings that Joyce can provide.

Others to consider: Tommy Pham and Shin-Soo Choo

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/24/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/24/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

Tuesday could be a big night for offense in baseball as many teams will be sending a member of the back end of their rotation to the mound. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/24/18

Kenta Maeda vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $9,100
DraftKings = $9,300

Maeda is off to a strange start. His ERA sits at 3.77 despite having a 1.06 FIP. He has a crazy high 1.74 WHIP but has accompanied that with an equally stunning 15.1 K/9. For his career, he has a 1.17 WHIP and 9.5 K/9. He’s not going to keep up this strikeout pace, but his opponents .513 BABIP obviously won’t hold up either. Tuesday brings a great matchup against the Marlins who are in the bottom-five in baseball in runs scored, batting average and slugging percentage. Maeda isn’t overly expensive either, making him a pitcher to build your team around.

Zach Davis vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $8,000
DraftKings = $7,000

Davies finished with a respectable 3.90 ERA in 2017 despite having a career-low 5.8 K/9. A lot of his success can be attributed to his career-low 28.8% hard-hit rate. He’s off to an inconsistent start this season, to say the least, through four starts. In two starts against the Cardinals and Mets, he allowed 11 earned runs in 10 innings. In his other to starts, he allowed one earned run in 12.1 innings against the Cubs and Reds. He’s a bit of a risky play, but the good news is that he gets to face a Royals lineup that has scored the fewest runs in baseball this season. His strikeout upside isn’t great, but he’s still a tournament play option.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/24/18

Josh Bell vs. Jordan Zimmermann, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,500

Bell is off to a slow start in the power department, slugging just one home run so far this season. His ISO is only .120, but don’t expect it to stay that low for too much longer considering his career mark of .188. After posting a .343 wOBA against right-handers last year, he gets to face Zimmermann on Tuesday, who lefties crushed for a .375 wOBA in 2017.

Brandon Belt vs. Tanner Roark, Washington Nationals
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,700

Last year was a season to forget for Belt, who hit .241 and was limited to 104 games due to injury. He had only a .284 BABIP compared to his career mark of .334 and he still had a hard-hit rate of 38.4%, so he was a candidate to improve this season as long as he can stay healthy. He’s been just that so far and is off to a fantastic start, batting .290 with five home runs and a .392 OBP. Not only does he have a career 132 wRC+ against righties, but he has had excellent success against Roark, hitting 5-for-12 with a home run and three walks against him in his career.

Others to consider: Justin Smoak (first base) and Yasmani Grandal (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/24/18

Jed Lowrie vs. Cole Hamels, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,500

Lowrie may be off to one of the most surprising starts in baseball this season, tied for the second-most RBI (23) in the league. He’s batting a lofty .357, but a lot of that has to do with his .403 BABIP, which is over one hundred points higher than his career mark. A switch-hitter, he has a career .340 wOBA against lefties, so look to ride his hot streak again Tuesday.

Joey Wendle vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,100

Wendle is not a big home run hitter, but he did have a career .288 batting average in 641 games in the minors. He’s getting a chance to play every day for the rebuilding Rays and is off to a hot start, hitting .304 with a .385 OBP. His 40.5% hard-hit rate is probably unsustainable, so he may experience some regression as the league gets more familiar with how to pitch to him. Cobb has a horrible 15.43 ERA and 3.14 WHIP through his first two starts, so Wendle might be able to provide value.

Others to consider: DJ LeMahieu and Howie Kendrick

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/24/18

Nolan Arenado vs. Eric Lauer, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $5,100
DraftKings = $5,400

Arenando has been on fire since returning from his suspension, going 9-for-16 with three home runs and six RBI in four games. This will be left-hander Lauer’s first appearance in the majors, which is no easy task at Coors Field. Arenado had a 220 wRC+ against lefties last year, so don’t be surprised if he greets Lauer rudely Tuesday.

Matt Chapman vs. Cole Hamels, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,100

Chapman has slowed down a bit after his torrid start, but he still has a hit in four of his last five games. He’s shown a significant improvement in his pitch selection in the early going, increasing his walk rate and decreasing his strikeout rate from last year. Hamels held lefties to a sparkling .215 wOBA last year, but righties fared much better at .324. This could be a good game to stack Athletic righties, Chapman included.

Others to consider: Adrian Beltre and Daniel Robertson

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/24/18

Manny Machado vs. Jake Faria, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $5,200

Machado is looking to put his .259 batting average from last year firmly in the rearview mirror, hitting .360 out of the gates this season. His power numbers haven’t suffered either with eight home runs and seven doubles through 23 games. Most of his struggles came on the road last season, hitting .229 compared to .288 at home. Faria doesn’t exactly have overpowering stuff, so Machado could keep things rolling in this game.

Marcus Semien vs. Cole Hamels, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $3,700

Semien has been hitting the ball with authority so far this season, posting a 37.3% hard-hit rate compared to his 29.1% career mark. He has shown he can hit for power when healthy, clubbing 27 home runs in 159 games in 2016. Right-handed pitchers have given him trouble with a career .299 wOBA, but he’s recorded a .344 wOBA against lefties. He’s yet another Athletics right-handed hitter with upside Tuesday.

Others to consider: Trea Turner and Adeiny Hechavarria

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/24/18

Khris Davis vs. Cole Hamels, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,700

Davis rounds out the list of righties you may want to stack against Hamels. Not only is Davis off to a great start with six home runs and 21 RBI, but he has owned Hamels in his career, hitting three home runs and drawing five walks in 18 plate appearances.

Denard Span vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,300

Span is another player on the list for most unlikely start, driving in 17 runs in 18 games. Last year he had only 43 RBI in 129 games for the Giants. He has mostly batted leadoff this season, with the extra at-bats giving him a boost in DFS. He’s not going to keep up with this RBI pace, but he’s a viable option to consider Tuesday against the struggling Cobb.

Matt Kemp vs. Dillon Peters, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,600

Kemp hasn’t disappointed so far in his second stint with the Dodgers, batting .321 with three home runs. He is a prime regression candidate though with his .417 BABIP and 46.2% hard-hit rate both well above his career marks. He does mash lefties with a career 147 wRC+ and faces a struggling one in Peters on Tuesday. Based on his cheap price, Kemp could provide significant value in this game, especially on FanDuel.

Others to consider: J.D. Martinez and Mallex Smith

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 5

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 5

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

As we get ready to approach May, we’re finally moving away from the cold weather that has led to some abnormal starts this season. 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. He 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 5

Carlos Carrasco, Cleveland Indians: at BAL, vs. SEA

Carrasco is off to a great start this season, posting a 2.60 ERA and 0.80 WHIP through four starts. His K/9 sits at only 6.8, but expect that to change quickly considering his 8.9 career K/9. He limited batters to a 29.3% hard-hit rate last year and has been even better this season at 20.8%. His first start of the week against the Orioles is a great matchup considering their .215 team batting average is the lowest in baseball. He’ll face a much tougher lineup in the Mariners for his second start, but he’s still someone who could be in line for an excellent week.

Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals: at SF, vs. AZ

Gonzalez had a surprisingly stellar season in 2017, finishing with a 2.96 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 8.4 K/9. A deeper dive indicates he was a bit lucky though since his FIP was 3.93 and opponents had just a .258 BABIP. He saw a dip in velocity for his fastball, but he countered that by throwing his changeup a career-high 18.5% of the time. Both trends have continued this season as well, resulting in him again having success with a 2.49 ERA through four starts. He’ll face one of the worst offenses in baseball in the Giants for his first start and then he’ll get the Diamondbacks at home after pitching to a 2.76 ERA at Nationals Park in 2017.

Kenta Maeda, Los Angeles Dodgers: vs. MIA, at SF

Maeda is off to a strange start. His ERA sits at 3.77 despite having a 1.06 FIP. He has a crazy high 1.74 WHIP but has accompanied that with an equally stunning 15.1 K/9. For his career, he has a 1.17 WHIP and 9.5 K/9. He’s not going to keep up this strikeout pace, but his opponents .513 BABIP obviously won’t hold up either. This is shaping up to be a dream week against the lowly Marlins and Giants, so look for Maeda to provide tremendous value.

Chad Bettis, Colorado Rockies: vs. SD, at MIA

Bettis has a 1.44 ERA through four starts, but his 4.32 FIP suggests he has not pitched nearly that well. He’s been helped by opponents posting a .217 BABIP, leading to a 1.08 WHIP that is well below his career WHIP of 1.45. He’s not a big strikeout pitcher either with just a 5.4 K/9 this season. All that being said, he gets two favorable matchups this week against the Padres and Marlins. He faced the Padres in his first start of the season as well, allowing two runs and recording four strikeouts in five innings. Both teams are in the bottom-10 in baseball in runs scored, so Bettis is a viable streaming option this week who is still available in 56% of Yahoo! leagues.

Starters to Avoid

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 5

C.C. Sabathia, New York Yankees: vs. MIN, at LAA

Don’t let Sabathia’s 2.70 ERA this season fool you, he’s not that type of pitcher anymore. His FIP through three starts sits at 6.01 and he has already given up three home runs in just 13.1 innings. He doesn’t pitch deep into games anymore and isn’t a strikeout pitcher with only a 7.3 K/9 last year. Both the Twins and the Angels have right-handed power bats that could prove troublesome for Sabathia, so it might be a good idea to stay away from starting him this week.

Jake Odorizzi, Minnesota Twins: at NYY, vs. CIN

Odorizzi is another starter who has a deceivingly low ERA in the early going at 3.38 despite his 5.36 FIP. He had control issues last year with a 3.8 BB/9 and has carried those problems into 2018 with a 4.6 BB/9 through four starts. Home runs have been a problem for him as well, allowing 1.9 HR/9 last year. That’s not a recipe for success in his first start on the road against the powerful Yankees lineup. Facing the Reds in his second start will be a much easier task, but that first start against the Yankees could really put you in a hole right out of the gate.

Bryan Mitchell, San Diego Padres: at COL, vs. NYM

Talk about two rough matchups for Mitchell. He has to face the Rockies in Coors Field first, then he has to face a Mets offense that has the eighth-highest OBP (.333) in baseball. Mitchell walks way too many batters, recording 7.8 BB/9 through his first four starts. He doesn’t have overpowering stuff either with just a 5.4 K/9 for his career. If you are looking for a low owned player to stream this week, look elsewhere.

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/18/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/18/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

Wednesday consists of several day games in Major League Baseball, leaving a lot of options for both the early and late slates in DFS. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/18/18

Jose Berrios vs. Cleveland Indians
Stadium – Hiram Bithorn Stadium
FanDuel = $9,800
DraftKings = $11,000

Berrios is one of the jewels of the Twins farm system and he was excellent in his first significant run in the starting rotation last year, finishing with a 3.89 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and 8.6 K/9 in 145.2 innings. He held batters to just a 27.9% hard-hit rate and a 9.1% HR/FB rate. He’s off to an even better start this year, posting a 2.18 ERA, 1.68 FIP and a microscopic 0.63 WHIP through three outings. Teams continue to have a hard time squaring him up with an 18.4% hard-hit rate to go along with his 10.5 K/9. The Indians have the lowest team batting average (.208) and OBP (.284) in the majors, leaving Berrios with excellent upside.

Jake Faria vs. Texas Rangers
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $6,200

Faria was hit hard in his second start of the season against the Red Sox, allowing eight earned runs in 1.2 innings. He had major control issues in that game that resulted in five walks. Outside of that, he allowed two earned runs total in 9.1 innings in his other two outings. It may not be a coincidence that he was destroyed in his only road start so far this season and that he didn’t pitch nearly as poorly at home. He finished with a 3.10 ERA at Tropicana Field last year compared to 3.72 on the road, but more importantly, he had just a 1.06 WHIP at home while posting a 1.35 WHIP on the road. Against an easier lineup in the Rangers on Wednesday, he might be worth the risk in tournament play for the early late.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/18/18

Cody Bellinger vs. Luis Perdomo, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,500

Bellinger has yet to display the same power that he had in 2017, slugging just two home runs so far. He hasn’t struggled though, posting a .297 average in the early going. He dominated right-handed pitching last year, resulting in a .383 wOBA against them. Perdomo also had his struggles against left-handed hitters by allowing a .349 wOBA to them last year, making Bellinger an excellent option to consider Wednesday.

Yasmani Grandal vs. Luis Perdomo, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $3,800

Grandal is swinging a hot bat right now, hitting 10-for-29 with two home runs and nine RBI in his last seven games. A switch-hitter, Grandal has been better against righties in his career with a .343 wOBA. Not only does Perdomo struggle against lefties, but he has a hard time keeping runners off base in general with a career 1.57 WHIP, which includes his staggering 2.09 WHIP through three starts this season.

Others to consider: Paul Goldschmidt (first base) and C.J. Cron (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/18/18

Jose Altuve vs. Mike Leake, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $5,000

Altuve is hitting for a high average again at .314, but he has shown very little power with just two doubles and no home runs. He has hit at least 39 doubles in four straight seasons and hit exactly 24 home runs in each of the late two years, so expect him to turn things around sooner rather than later. He could be in line for a big performance Wednesday against Leake, who doesn’t have an overpowering pitch arsenal with a career 6.1 K/9.

Howie Kendrick vs. Steven Matz, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,500

Kendrick continues to fly under the radar as an important part of the Nationals lineup, hitting .300 with two home runs and seven RBI this season. His .348 BABIP is almost right on par with his career mark of .340, so it’s not unreasonable to think that he can continue to hit for a high average. He finished with a 137 wRC+ against lefties last year, making him a cost-effective option to consider against Matz on Wednesday.

Others to consider: Jed Lowrie and Cesar Hernandez

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/18/18

Travis Shaw vs. Tyler Mahle, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,600

Mahle threw six shutout innings in his first start of the season against the Cubs but has come crashing back down to Earth by allowing 10 total runs in his last two starts. Hitters have been squaring him up well with a 40% hard-hit rate overall. Shaw posted a 127 wRC+ against righties last year, so don’t be surprised if he has a big game against Mahle.

Jeimer Candelario vs. Kevin Gausman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,400

Candelario showed promise in his brief stint with the Tigers last year, batting .330 with a .406 OBP in 27 games. He had a .270 average and .350 OBP during his career in the minors, so regression was likely in the cards heading into this season. He has only hit .220 out of the gates, but he does have four doubles, two triples and one home run so far. Gausman is struggling yet again with a 1.60 WHIP through three starts, so it might be worth taking a chance on Candelario at this cheap price.

Others to consider: Yangervis Solarte and David Freese

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/18/18

Trea Turner vs. Steven Matz, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,600

Turner has shown signs of coming out of his slump in the first two games of this series, hitting a combined 5-for-9 with three runs scored and two stolen bases. He’ll continue to bat leadoff with Adam Eaton (ankle) sidelined, giving him added value in DFS. It also gives him a chance to swipe more bases as well.

Corey Seager vs. Luis Perdomo, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,400

Seager recorded just his third multi-hit game of the season Tuesday and is only batting .212 so far. He’s been very unlucky with a .236 BABIP, so don’t expect him to continue to hit this poorly for much longer. He finished with a .353 wOBA against right-handed pitching last year, which should make him a candidate for your entry against the struggling Perdomo on Wednesday.

Others to consider: Manny Machado and Trevor Story

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/18/18

J.D. Martinez vs. Tyler Skaggs, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,900

Martinez hasn’t carried over his torrid pace from the end of last year to his new team, but he certainly hasn’t struggled by hitting .271 with three home runs and 13 RBI. He absolutely destroyed left-handed pitching last year, finishing with a 235 wRC+ against them that ranked second in baseball. Skaggs is off to a great start, but he could be in for trouble against Martinez.

Josh Reddick vs. Mike Leake, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,100

The Astros lineup is loaded with excellent right-handed hitters, making Reddick an extremely important left-handed compliment. He does his job well, posting a .363 wOBA against righties in 2017. He’s off to another great start against them this year with a .443 wOBA, so don’t hesitate to add him to your lineup Wednesday.

Franchy Cordero vs. Kenta Maeda, Los Angeles Dodgers
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,500

One of the up-and-coming young players in the Padres system, Cordero is getting a chance to show his stuff with Wil Myers (arm) and Manuel Margot (ribs) on the DL. He’s only hit .231 through seven games, but he has already slugged two home runs. He was a career .282 hitter in the minors, so he should show improvement in his batting average as he continues to get accustomed to the league. Maeda has a 2.08 ERA so far this season, but it could have been worse due to his 1.73 WHIP. If you want to take a chance on a cheap outfielder with upside, Cordero might be your man.

Others to consider: Mookie Betts and Christian Yelich

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/17/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/17/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

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

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/17/18

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

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

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

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

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/17/18

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

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

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

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

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

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/17/18

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

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

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

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

Others to consider: Jose Altuve and Ian Kinsler

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/17/18

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

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

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

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

Others to consider: Todd Frazier and Matt Carpenter

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/17/18

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

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

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

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

Others to consider: Zack Cozart and Marcus Semien

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/17/18

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

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

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

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

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

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

Others to consider: Charlie Blackmon and Jose Pirela

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/6/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/6/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

This will be an usually quiet Friday in the majors with only nine games on the schedule, which particularly hurts in terms of options at starting pitcher in DFS. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/6/18

Lance McCullers Jr. vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $8,600
DraftKings = $12,300

McCullers’ overall numbers don’t look great on the surface, finishing with a 4.25 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 2017. However, his FIP was 3.10 and he was a bit unlucky with opposing batters posting a .333 BABIP. He had a 10 K/9 and a 0.6 HR/9, making him a candidate for significant improvement in 2018. McCullers had a brief scare when he was hit by a comebacker in his first start of the season against the Rangers, but stayed in the game, finishing with 10 strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. The Padres lineup isn’t great, to begin with, but it’s even thinner right now with Wil Myers (elbow) on the DL. McCullers could be in line for another strong performance Friday as a result.

Luis Castillo vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $7,100
DraftKings = $8,700

Castillo had a great start to his career during his brief time in the majors last year, posting a 3.12 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 9.9 K/9 in 89 1/3 innings. He showed excellent control for a young power pitcher, allowing just 1.8 BB/9. He induced a lot of grounders as well with a 58.8% ground-ball rate. Castillo had to face the Nationals in his first start of the season, who have one of the best lineups in the league. He allowed six earned runs in five innings, but he did still record six strikeouts. Friday brings an easier opponent in the Pirates, leaving Castillo as a tournament play option at this price.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/6/18

Freddie Freeman vs. German Marquez, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $5,700

Freeman has started off about as well as anyone so far this season, batting .421 with two home runs and nine RBI. He has a crazy .621 OBP and has only struck out three times. He’ll face the righty Marquez on Friday, which should benefit him greatly since he had a ridiculous .422 wOBA against righties in 2017.

Kendrys Morales vs. Matt Moore, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $2,900

Morales is only 2-for-14 to start the season and has yet to record an extra-base hit. Friday might be the day his fortunes change though against Moore and the Rangers. A switch-hitter, Morales is much better from the right side of the plate, posting a 165 wRC+ in 2017 compared to a 77 wRC+ from the left side. Moore struggled with a 1.53 WHIP last year and doesn’t have overpowering stuff, making Morales an option to consider at this cheap price.

Others to consider: Justin Smoak (first base) and Brian McCann (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/6/18

Scooter Gennett vs. Trevor Williams, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,500

Gennett had the best season of his career in 2017, hitting .295 with 27 home runs and 97 RBI. His previous career-highs were 14 home runs and 56 RBI, so the leap that he made was significant, to say the least. He’s not off to a hot start with his counting stats this year, but he is batting .429 in the early goings. Right-handed pitching provided little troubles for Gennett as he posting a .388 wOBA against them last year compared to just .296 against lefties. Based on those extreme splits, he might be worth taking a chance on in tournament play Friday.

Kike Hernandez vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,500

The injury to Justin Turner (wrist) has opened up some playing time for Hernandez, but he is only hitting .188 so far this season. He has dominated left-handed pitching though, posting a .390 wOBA against them in 2017. He’ll face the lefty Holland for the second time of the season on Friday after going 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI in their first matchup. Of note, Hernandez is only listed at second base on FanDuel as he is listed as an outfielder on DraftKings.

Others to consider: Joe Panik and Jed Lowrie

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/6/18

Josh Donaldson vs. Matt Moore, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $4,800

Donaldson has battled through a dead arm to start the season, but it has really only limited him in the field. He has two home runs and a double so far to go along with a .400 OBP. He owned lefties last year, finishing with a 171 wRC+. In limited plate appearances against Moore in his career, Donaldson is also 3-for-8 with a home run, one double and one walk. Expect him to give Moore troubles again Friday.

Luis Valbuena vs. Daniel Gossett, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $3,000

Valbuena is off to a terrible start this season, hitting .167  with just two extra-base hits. The good news is that he is getting plenty of playing time with Ian Kinsler (groin) on the DL, which moved Zack Cozart from third to second base. Gossett struggled with a 6.11 ERA and 1.61 WHIP last year while also recording just 7.1 K/9. Valbuena is a much better hitter against righties, posting a .324 wOBA against them in 2017 compared to just .194 against lefties.

Others to consider: Nolan Arenado and Ryan Flaherty

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/6/18

Carlos Correa vs. Luis Perdomo, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $5,000

Correa suffered a minor toe injury and sat out Wednesday, but he should return Friday after receiving two days of rest. He was hot before the injury, batting .474 with two home runs and eight RBI. Although he hits lefties extremely well, righties don’t really give him problems either, finishing with a .380 wOBA against them in 2017. The right-hander Perdomo had a WHIP of at least 1.51 in both of the last two seasons and his K/9 did not exceed 6.5 in either year, which doesn’t exactly make him an imposing force for Correa to face.

Manny Machado vs. C.C. Sabathia, New York Yankees
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,200

Machado has yet to drive in a run and is hitting only .222 this season, so he doesn’t exactly come into Friday swinging the bat well. He’s had good numbers against Sabathia in his career though, batting .316 with three home runs and six doubles in 57 career at-bats. Sabathia is still a serviceable starting pitcher, but he’s not nearly as overpowering as he was earlier in his career. This might be just the matchup that Machado needs to get going.

Others to consider: Addison Russell Andrelton Simmons

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/6/18

Charlie Blackmon vs. Brandon McCarthy, Atlanta Braves
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $5,300
DraftKings = $5,800

Blackmon has yet to play a single game in the friendly confines of Coors Field, yet he is still batting .345 with four home runs. He finally returns home Friday, a place where he batted .391 and hit 24 of his 37 home runs last season. He also destroyed righties last year with a 145 wRC+, so don’t hesitate to pay up to get him into your lineup against McCarthy on Friday.

Josh Reddick vs. Luis Perdomo, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,000

Reddick was hitless in his first two games of 2018 but has gone 6-for-10 with two home runs in three games since. The Astros lineup is loaded with excellent right-handed hitters and Reddick provides an important compliment from the left-hand side, posting a wOBA of at least .356 against righties in each of the last four seasons. He has an excellent chance to extend his recent hot streak Friday.

Nomar Mazara vs. Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,400

Mazara is swinging a hot bat right now, recording at least two hits in four of his last six games. He batted a disappointing .253 in 2017, but a lot of that was because he hit only .228 against lefties. Most of his power came against right-handers as well, hitting 19 of his 20 home runs against them. At this cheap price, he’s worth taking a chance on in tournament play against a righty in Estrada who doesn’t have overpowering stuff.

Others to consider: Mike Trout and Preston Tucker