All 30 teams will be in action Tuesday, leaving us with plenty of players to pick from in DFS. From top-tier pitchers to lineups with tremendous upside, there are a few different routes to consider when constructing your entry.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/15/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
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STARTING PITCHERS
Corey Kluber vs. Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $12,000
DraftKings = $13,600
Kluber’s consistency gives him an extremely high floor in DFS. He hasn’t allowed more than three runs in any start this season and he has pitched at least seven innings in 10 of his 14 outings. As good as his 0.87 WHIP was in 2017, he’s been even better so far this year with a 0.83 WHIP. He’s shown great control with a 0.9 BB/9, which certainly helps his pitch count and allows him to log so many innings each game. He thrives pitching in Progressive Field as well, recording a 1.26 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 10.3 K/9 there this season. He’s costly, but he should be worth it.
Seth Lugo vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $7,100
Lugo has pitched primarily out of the bullpen this season, but he should start until Noah Syndergaard (finger) returns from the DL. He pitched very well against a potent Yankees lineup in his last outing, striking out eight batters and allowing only two hits in eight scoreless innings. He has a career-high 9.3 K/9 this season with some of that possibility attributed to his average fastball velocity of 93.8 mph, which is up significantly from 91.8 mph last year. Some of that might be because he is giving max effort in short relief appearances, so it will be interesting to see if he can maintain that increased velocity as a starter. The Diamondbacks lineup has been much better lately, but they still have the third-lowest OPS against righties (.664) in baseball.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Matt Adams vs. Aaron Sanchez, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,900
The Nationals have been using Adams and Mark Reynolds to fill in at first base for Ryan Zimmerman (back), with Adams normally playing against righties. With the DH in Toronto, both could play Friday anyways. Adams had an excellent .367 wOBA against righties last year but has been even better this season with a .415 wOBA against them. Left-handed hitters have had a lot of success against Sanchez as well with a .406 wOBA this year.
Greg Bird vs. Nathan Eovaldi, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,100
Bird is finally healthy, but he’s only batting .200 in his first 14 games. His .229 BABIP certainly isn’t helping his cause, but he is hitting for power with three home runs and four doubles. Eovaldi is not a big strikeout pitcher and he has allowed a .342 wOBA against lefties for his career, so this could be the matchup that Bird needs to start turning things around.
Others to consider: Anthony Rizzo (first base) and Wilson Ramos (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Scooter Gennett vs. Chad Kuhl, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,700
Gennett is off to a scorching start with a .347 average, but his .397 BABIP indicates a bit of luck has been involved. That might be bad news if you own him in season-long leagues, but we can continue to ride his hot streak in DFS. Kuhl allows a lot of base runners with a 1.36 WHIP and also gives up a lot of homers with a 1.5 HR/9. He has held right-handed hitters to a .313 wOBA, but lefties have had a lot of success against him with a .363 wOBA.
Jedd Gyorko vs. Jon Lester, Chicago Cubs
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,400
Gyorko is one of my favorite cheap players to target when he is facing a lefty since he has a 239 wRC+ against them this season. He has also owned Lester during his career, batting 9-for-22 (.409) with three home runs. Gennett may have a higher upside, but the savings you can get with Gyorko might make him just as valuable.
Others to consider: Gleyber Torres and Josh Harrison
THIRD BASE
Justin Turner vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,000
Normally an excellent hitter for average, Turner is batting just .253 this season. He may still be shaking off some rust after missing the start of the year with a wrist injury, but it’s a good sign that he has a 37.5% hard-hit rate. He still has a 173 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers despite his struggles, making him a great option against the underwhelming Holland.
Colin Moran vs. Matt Harvey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $3,200
The Pirates try to limit Moran’s exposure to lefties, but that won’t be an issue against Harvey. Harvey is also horrid against left-handed hitters, allowing a .406 wOBA against them. Moran doesn’t have a lot of power upside, but all five of his home runs this year have come off of righties.
Others to consider: Nolan Arenado and Miguel Andujar
SHORTSTOP
Didi Gregorius vs. Nathan Eovaldi, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,600
Gregorius couldn’t have been much worse in May, batting .151 with just one homer. He’s turned things around since the calendar flipped to June, batting .270 with two home runs. He loves hitting at Yankee Stadium as 11 of his 13 homers have come there this season. He has the opportunity for plenty of counting stats in the middle of the loaded Yankees lineup, making him a great option now that he is swinging a hot bat again.
Chris Taylor vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,100
Holland isn’t much more than a journeyman starter at this point in his career, but he still has an excellent .195 wOBA against left-handed hitters this season. Righties have a .351 wOBA against him, though, bringing Taylor into the discussion for Friday. Taylor also hit lefties well with a .363 wOBA, leaving him as someone to consider if you don’t want to pay up for Gregorius.
Others to consider: Trevor Story and Trea Turner
OUTFIELD
Juan Soto vs. Aaron Sanchez, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,400
Soto is only 19 years old and has played just 20 games in the majors, but the numbers he is putting up are staggering. He is batting .344 with a 1.088 OPS and actually has more walks (12) than strikeouts (11). Considering his young age, that walk to strikeout rate is even more impressive. With Sanchez’s struggles against left-handed hitters already detailed, Soto is someone to target for your outfield.
Matt Kemp vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,200
Kemp’s second stint with the Dodgers couldn’t be going much better as he is batting .335 with 10 homers. He has cooled off some since hitting .361 in May, but he’s not exactly struggling with a .300 average in June. He’s another Dodger righty who hits lefties well considering he has a 183 wRC+ against them this season.
Brandon Nimmo vs. Zack Godley, Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,000
The Mets lineup has been terrible, but Nimmo has been one of their few bright spots. He’s shown a nice combination of power and speed with nine home runs and six steals. His .265 average isn’t off the charts, but he gets on base a lot with a .403 OBP. He has a .452 wOBA against right-handers pitchers and since Godley has a bloated 1.54 WHIP, Nimmo could find himself on base plenty in this game.
Others to consider: Yasiel Puig and Austin Meadows
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/25/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
May special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout
With only one day game Friday, there is a bevy of options to choose from for the main evening slate in DFS. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
STARTING PITCHERS
Max Scherzer vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $12,000
DraftKings = $14,000
Scherzer has won the Cy Young Award in both of the last two seasons and three times overall in his career. With the way he’s been pitching so far, he’s making a strong case to win it once again. He does an excellent job keeping runners off base with a 0.85 WHIP, which would be his fourth-straight season with a WHIP of 0.97 or lower. He also has a staggering 17.2% swinging-strike rate that has led to a career-high 14.3 K/9. What might be just as impressive is that he has only issued 16 walks in 65.2 innings. He’s a great option regardless of who he is facing, but especially against a Marlins team that has scored the fewest runs (167) in baseball.
Sean Manaea vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $8,300
DraftKings = $8,600
Manaea began the season by allowing two runs or fewer in each of his first six starts, highlighted by a no-hitter against the Red Sox. His last four starts haven’t gone nearly as well, allowing 16 runs (15 earned) in 22.2 innings. One of the main reasons for his recent struggles has been a regression in his BABIP allowed, which was .148 in those first six starts and was .301 in the last four outings. However, this might be the matchup he needs to get back on track since the Diamondbacks have scored the second-fewest runs (180) and they sorely miss A.J. Pollock (thumb).
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Matt Adams vs. Jose Urena, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,000
The Nationals have been decimated by injuries this season, opening up significant playing time for Adams. He’s come through in a major way, batting .273 with 11 home runs and 28 RBI. He even has those numbers despite his .264 BABIP being 50 percentage points lower than his career mark. He has followed up his .367 wOBA against lefties last year with a .441 wOBA this year, so Urena could have difficulty getting him out Friday.
Salvador Perez vs. Mike Minor, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,000
Minor’s transition back to being a starting pitcher has not gone well, allowing a 5.59 ERA and 1.32 WHIP across nine starts. His FIP has been a little better at 4.41, but he’s already allowed eight home runs in just 48.1 innings. He still gives left-handed hitters a lot of problems, but his .384 wOBA allowed to righties brings Perez into the discussion Friday.
Others to consider: Eric Hosmer (first base) and Edwin Encarnacion (first base)
SECOND BASE
Ozzie Albies vs. Eduardo Rodriguez, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $5,300
After hitting nine home runs in his first 27 games, Albies has slowed down a bit with five homers in his last 21 contests. He only hit 16 total home runs during his career in the minors, so it’s no surprise that he’s started to regress in that department. One interesting note is that 12 of his 14 home runs this year have come on the road. He is crushing lefties as well, posting a 232 wRC+ against them this season.
Whit Merrifield vs. Mike Minor, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,300
Stacking righties against Minor could be a path to success Friday. Merrifield broke out of his recent slump with two hits Thursday and is batting .286 this season. Not only has he shown a nice combination of speed and power this year, but he also has a 226 wRC+ against lefties.
Others to consider: Cesar Hernandez and Josh Harrison
THIRD BASE
Jose Ramirez vs. Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $5,300
Ramirez is officially over his early-season slump, batting .338 with seven homers and five steals in May. He only had a .241 BABIP heading into the month, so you knew he was bound to improve as the season progressed. Keuchel is certainly a good pitcher, but his wOBA against righties is 50 percentage points higher than it is against lefties in his career. This might not be an obvious matchup to take advantage of, but Ramirez has upside.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa vs, Eric Skoglund, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,500
Skoglund is getting his first chance to be a permanent member of the Royals starting rotation and it’s not going well as he has a 6.15 ERA and 1.32 WHIP across eight starts. He doesn’t carry strikeout upside with a 6.9 K/9 and has allowed a .357 wOBA against right-handed hitters, making Kiner-Falefa a cheap option who could provide value.
Others to consider: Nolan Arenado and Miguel Andujar
SHORTSTOP
Jurickson Profar vs. Eric Skoglund, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $3,700
With Skoglund and all of his struggles, the Rangers are another team to consider stacking. Profar is finally getting consistent playing time with all of the Rangers injury woes and although he is batting just .237, he is hitting 7-for-22 with a home run, three doubles and 11 RBI in his last six games. He received the day off Thursday and missed out on a prime matchup against Danny Duffy, but facing Skoglund is just as favorable.
Dansby Swanson vs. Eduardo Rodriguez, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,200
Swanson couldn’t capitalize on his first opportunity to be an everyday player in the majors last year, batting only .232 with six home runs. He’s still not hitting for much power this year, but his .273 batting average is much improved. His .374 BABIP is high, so his average could decline as the season progresses. However, that might not start against Rodriguez since Swanson has traditionally had much more success against lefties.
Others to consider: Manny Machado and Trevor Story
OUTFIELD
Austin Meadows vs. John Gant, St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $3,800
Meadows has wasted no time making his mark in six games with the Pirates, batting .440 with three home runs and two doubles. He already has four multi-hit games and is creating a hard decision for the Pirates to make when Starling Marte (oblique) returns. Until then, continue to ride his hot streak.
Juan Soto vs. Jose Urena, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $3,400
Another one of the hot young prospects in baseball, Soto is 3-for-10 with a home run since being called up by the Nationals. Down some key outfielders, Soto should at least stay in the majors for the foreseeable future. Urena’s wOBA against lefties is 64 percentage points higher than it is against righties, making Soto another Nationals hitter to target.
Brandon Nimmo vs. Junior Guerra, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,600
With Yoenis Cespedes (hip) and Juan Lagares (toe) on the DL, regular playing time has opened up for Nimmo. He hasn’t let the opportunity go to waste, batting .294 with a .450 OBP. His .394 BABIP screams regression, but he did hit .280 with a .388 OBP in his career in the minors. He also has a .476 wOBA against righties this year, so he might be worth taking a chance on against Guerra.
Others to consider: Bryce Harper and Charlie Blackmon
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/3/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/3/18
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Thursday brings a light schedule in baseball with 11 games, most of which start in the afternoon. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
STARTING PITCHERS
Patrick Corbin vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $10,000
DraftKings = $12,500
Corbin is off to a masterful start this season with a 2.25 ERA, 2.71 FIP, and 0.75 WHIP. He has been somewhat lucky with opponents posting a .222 BABIP, but his 33.7% hard-hit rate allowed is almost spot on with his career mark. The big difference this season has been his increased strikeouts with a 12.4 K/9 compared to an 8.1 K/9 for his career. He’s thrown a first-pitch strike to 68% of the hitters he has faced this season, which is the second-highest mark of his career. He’s already faced the Dodgers once this season, throwing 7.1 shutout innings and recording 12 strikeouts. With the Dodgers missing several key players in their lineup, Corbin could be in line for another strong start Thursday.
Sean Manaea vs. Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $9,000
DraftKings = $11,200
Manaea has had even better luck than Corbin with opponents recording just a .148 BABIP this year. His numbers are excellent with a 1.03 ERA and 0.62 WHIP through six outings. His K/9 remains on par with his career mark, but he’s cut down on his walks, posting just a 1.4 BB/9 so far. This will be his second start against the Mariners this year after he held them to one earned run with four strikeouts across seven innings in his first outing. If you are playing the night slate, Manaea is one of the best options to consider.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Hanley Ramirez vs. Mike Minor, Texas Rangers
Stadium = Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,400
The Red Sox have struggled against left-handed pitching this season, posting the second-lowest OPS (.619) against them in baseball. Ramirez is one of the few Red Sox that is having success against them this season with a .374 wOBA. Look for him to take advantage of Minor, who has allowed a .355 wOBA to righties in the early going.
Matt Adams vs. Trevor Williams, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,800
With the Nationals lineup riddled with injuries, Adams has proven to be an important part of their team. He’s mashed three home runs in his last two games and has a 1.111 OPS so far this season. Williams has a 2.29 ERA this year, but his 5.9 K/9 and opponents posting just a .222 BABIP doesn’t exactly bode well for his continued success. If you need to save money at first base, Adams is someone to consider in tournament play.
Others to consider: Albert Pujols (first base) and Kurt Suzuki (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Ozzie Albies vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $5,000
Albies is doing it all for the Braves and now has a prime spot hitting leadoff in their lineup. With Ronald Acuna Jr. and Freddie Freeman providing him with protection, he is an excellent position to produce. He finished with a .396 wOBA against lefties last year and sits at a staggering .716 wOBA against them this season, so don’t hesitate to add him to your lineup against Vargas.
Ian Kinsler vs. Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,700
Don’t get too excited about Tillman’s last start where he threw seven shutout innings as it came against one of the worst offenses in baseball in the Tigers. He had allowed at least four earned runs in each of his first four starts while recording only eight total strikeouts. Kinsler has batted .286 with two home runs in 31 career plate appearances against Tillman, making him a viable option Thursday.
Others to consider: Jed Lowrie and Asdrubal Cabrera
THIRD BASE
Matt Chapman vs. Wade LeBlanc, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,100
Chapman has slowed down after his hot start, going 3-for-22 in his last six games. He’s hitting the ball hard with a 45% hard-hit rate, but he’s not the type of player who is going to hit for a high average. He does have loads of power and has a .346 wOBA against lefties in his brief Major League career, so he could break out of his slump against the underwhelming LeBlanc on Thursday.
Luis Valbuena vs. Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,300
Valbuena is a cost-effective option to target against right-handed pitching because even though he had an unsightly 15 wRC+ against lefties last year, he was much better against righties with a 104 wRC+. He also has excellent numbers in his career against Tillman, batting .364 with a home run in 13 plate appearances.
Others to consider: Jeimer Candelario and Colin Moran
SHORTSTOP
Carlos Correa vs. Masahiro Tanaka, New York Yankees
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel =$4,200
DraftKings = $4,900
Tanaka can be a tough pitcher to gauge as he doesn’t seem to have much of a middle ground. This season has been a prime example of that with him allowing one earned run each in three of his six starts, but allowing at least five earned runs in two of his other outings. Home runs tend to be his issue, allowing a 1.8 HR/9 last year. Correa is hitting .316 with two home runs in 20 career plate appearances against Tanaka, so he might be worth the risk even considering his high price tag.
Marcus Semien vs. Wade LeBlanc, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,200
Semien has been consistent of late, getting at least one hit in nine of his last 10 games. His .356 BABIP means a regression in his batting average may be on the horizon, but it might not start Thursday against the LeBlanc, who will be making his first start in the majors since 2016. Semien also has a career. 344 wOBA against left-handed pitchers compared to .299 against righties.
Others to consider: Manny Machado and Andrelton Simmons
OUTFIELD
A.J. Pollock vs. Alex Wood, Los Angeles Dodgers
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $5,500
Pollack was limited to just 112 games due to injury last year, but he still managed to hit 14 home runs to go along with 20 steals. He’s off to an even better start this season, batting .300 with 10 home runs and seven steals. His .311 BABIP is actually a little lower than his career mark, so there’s no reason to believe he can’t keep hitting for a high average. His power numbers are likely unsustainable as they have largely been buoyed by a 44% hard-hit that that is almost 10 percent higher than what he has averaged over the course of his career. With a .421 average to go along with two home runs and three doubles across 19 plate appearances against Wood in his career, look for a productive day from Pollock.
Ronald Acuna Jr. vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,300
One of the elite prospects in all of baseball, Acuna appears to be in the majors to stay after his hot start, logging at least two hits in four of seven games since being called up. He’s shown excellent power as well, hitting one home run and five doubles. Vargas doesn’t exactly have an overpowering pitch arsenal with a career 6.0 K/9, so expect big things from Acuna in this contest.
Mark Canha vs. Wade LeBlanc, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,800
A career .242 hitter, Canha has far exceeded expectations this season with a .391 average. His .375 BABIP won’t hold, but he has shown he can hit for power in the minors. He has mashed left-handed pitchers this season with a 240 wRC+ and with LeBlanc not exactly having overpowering stuff, Canha could continue his hot streak Thursday.
Others to consider: Mike Trout and Corey Dickerson