Header Image - PICK LIKE THE PROS
PICK LIKE THE PROSLineup Lab is an advanced MLB, NBA, NFL, and NHL daily fantasy lineup optimizer for Fanduel, Draftkings, and Yahoo. Pros use a DFS optimizer, so why don't you? Pick like the pros. Use the worlds most advanced projections and optimization techniques. Join today, and start winning!
start winning

Tag Archives

6 Articles

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/12/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

July special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

Only seven games make up the main evening slate in DFS on Thursday, but the night is loaded with pitching as Max Scherzer, Corey Kluber, Luis Severino, Blake Snell and James Paxton are all scheduled to start. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/12/18

Max Scherzer vs. New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $12,000
DraftKings = $13,300

Scherzer had a subpar performance by his standards in his last start against the Marlins, allowing four runs in seven innings. He gave up three home runs and only recorded three strikeouts. He has allowed 0.9 HR/9 and has a 12.5 K/9 for the season overall, so don’t read too much into one bad outing. After winning the Cy Young award in both of the last two seasons, he’s going for three straight with his 2.33 ERA, 2.60 FIP, and 0.89 WHIP. The Mets have scored the third-fewest runs (347) in baseball, setting Scherzer up for a potentially dominant outing.

Steven Matz vs. Washington Nationals
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $7,800
DraftKings = $5,900

With so many aces taking the mound Thursday, there is no shortage of top options. However, if you want to go the cheap route, Matz is someone to consider. He has allowed three earned runs or fewer in eight of his last nine starts, lowering his ERA to 3.31 overall. He had problems keeping runners off base last year with a 1.53 WHIP, but he has made significant progress this season with a 1.23 WHIP. His strikeouts are back up as well with an 8.1 K/9. The Nationals lineup had a couple of good games recently against the Marlins, but have scored four runs or fewer in nine of their last 12 games. The Mets probably won’t be able to get him a win facing off against Scherzer, but that doesn’t mean Matz can’t provide value.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/12/18

Jesus Aguilar vs. Jameson Taillon, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $4,800

Aguilar racked up three more hits Wednesday and is now 25-for-72 (.347) with 10 home runs in his last 20 games. He’s put to rest any fears people had about him against right-handed pitching, posting a .409 wOBA against them this season. He’s expensive, but he carries significant upside again Thursday.

Steve Pearce vs. J.A. Happ, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,500

Pearce is off to a hot start with his new team as he is 11-for-24 (.458) with a home run and four doubles. He’s normally someone you want to target against lefties considering his career .363 wOBA against them. He is 10-for-28 (.357) with five home runs in his career against Happ as well.

Others to consider: Yasmani Grandal (catcher) and Josh Bell (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/12/18

Max Muncy vs. Tyson Ross, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $4,900

Muncy logged two more hits Wednesday, bumping his average up to .276 this season. He’s done a great job of getting on base in general with a .416 OBP, not to mention his 21 homers in only 262 plate appearances. He presents a very tough matchup for Ross, who has allowed a .381 wOBA to lefties this year. Of note, Muncy is only eligible at second base on FanDuel as he is listed at first base and third base on DraftKings.

Joey Wendle vs. Kyle Gibson, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,500

Wendle doesn’t play against left-handed pitchers, but he’ll likely be in the lineup Thursday against Gibson. He doesn’t provide much power, but he’s currently on a seven-game hitting streak and is batting .278 overall this season. Gibson has pretty even splits against lefties and righties, but Wendle is someone to consider if you don’t want to pay up for Muncy.

Others to consider: Eduardo Nunez and Josh Harrison

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/12/18

Matt Duffy vs. Kyle Gibson, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,100

Third base is a little thin, especially with top options like Jose Ramirez and Eduardo Escobar dealing with tough matchups. It might be a position to target spending less on as a result. Duffy isn’t exactly dirt cheap, but he won’t bust your budget either. He’s 5-for-12 in his last three games to raise his overall average to .310 this year. He also only has a 16.5% strikeout rate. Home runs have been few and far between, but Duffy has proven to be one of the most consistent hitters for the Rays.

David Freese vs. Wade Miley, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $3,200

Miley made just two starts for the Brewers this season before landing on the DL with an oblique injury. He’s been out for over two months but is expected to start Thursday. He allows a ton of base runners with a 1.40 WHIP for his career and was hit hard as a member of the Orioles last season, resulting in a 5.61 ERA. Freese has a career .357 wOBA against lefties and might be worth the risk in tournament play at this price.

Others to consider: Travis Shaw and Yangervis Solarte

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/12/18

Xander Bogaerts vs. J.A. Happ, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,200

Bogaerts’ power stroke is back this season as he has 14 home runs and 25 doubles in only 75 games. The Red Sox offense has been one of the most potent in all of baseball, which has helped Bogaerts amass 57 RBI and 43 runs scored. Happ has allowed 20 runs across 22.2 innings in his last four starts, leaving Bogaerts and the Red Sox with the potential for another big offensive performance.

Jean Segura vs. Tyler Skaggs, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,100

Segura made the All-Star team this year for the second time in his career. The honor was well deserved as he is batting a career-high .329 with seven home runs and 14 steals. He’s also scored 63 runs and is on pace to top 100 runs scored for only the second time in his career. He doesn’t have the power upside that Bogaerts does, but Segura has a .389 wOBA against lefties.

Others to consider: Chris Taylor and Jordy Mercer

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/12/18

Christian Yelich vs. Jameson Taillon, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,800

Yelich is coming off a series against his former team in the Marlins where he finished 6-for-16 with two doubles, five RBI, three runs scored and a steal. That’s the type of well-rounded production we have become accustomed to getting from him. With 11 home runs and 12 steals overall, this could be the season he finally reaches the 20-20 club. He’s had his problems against left-handed pitchers but has been much better with a .368 wOBA against righties.

Starling Marte vs. Wade Miley, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,800

Speaking of players with a great combination of speed and power, Marte already has 11 home runs and 23 steals this year. He’s currently on a seven-game hitting streak, going 12-for-26 (.462) with two home runs and five steals during that stretch. Marte should be one of the top hitters included in any Pirates stack against Miley.

Andrew Toles vs. Tyson Ross, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $2,000
DraftKings = $3,700

With Yasiel Puig (oblique) on the DL, Toles is going to get a chance to play against right-handed pitchers. He has a career .352 wOBA against them in parts of three seasons in the majors. He has a .311 career batting average in the minor leagues and could be worth taking a chance on in tournament play, especially at the minimum price on FanDuel.

Others to consider: J.D. Martinez and Randal Grichuk

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/9/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

July special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

Although there are a couple of doubleheaders Monday, only nine games will make up the main slate in DFS. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/9/18

Jose Berrios vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $10,100
DraftKings = $12,100

Berrios has allowed five home runs in his last two starts and has had problems keeping hitters inside the park this season with a 1.3 HR/9. However, he still has a 3.54 ERA and a 3.39 FIP in large part because of his 1.00 WHIP. He had control issues when he began his career in the majors, but he’s thrown a first-pitch strike to 65.6% of the batters that he has faced and has a 2.0 BB/9 this year. He also has career highs in swinging-strike rate (11.4%) and K/9 (9.0). The Royals have hit the fewest home runs (70) and scored the fewest runs (310) in baseball, making Berrios one of the top pitching options.

Kyle Hendricks vs. San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $7,000
DraftKings = $7,300

Hendricks has never finished with an ERA over 3.96 or a FIP over 3.88 in his career, but he has a 4.27 ERA and a 4.80 FIP this season. Both his 1.25 WHIP and 1.5 HR/9 would also be the highest marks of his career. He’s never been an overpowering pitcher, but he has just a 6.7 K/9. He’s allowed 13 runs over 13.1 innings in his last three starts, but he gave up only one run and recorded seven strikeouts over seven innings in his first start against the Giants this year. The Giants are in the bottom-third of the league in runs scored, so Hendricks is a viable option in tournament play despite his lack of strikeout potential.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/9/18

Yuli Gurriel vs. Frankie Montas, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,700

Gurriel has only hit six home runs this season, but he has followed up his .299 average last year with a .303 mark. He hasn’t been completely devoid of power as he does have 22 doubles on his way to what could be his second-straight season with at least 40 doubles. He doesn’t walk much, but he also only has a 10.6% strikeout rate. Montas has allowed a lot of baserunners with a 1.47 WHIP, so he could be in trouble with Gurriel’s ability to make contact.

Wilson Ramos vs. Francisco Liriano, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKing = $4,200

Ramos has been named to his second All-Star team in the last three seasons. He’s earned the honor to start for the AL by batting .289 with 12 home runs. The Rays have scored the fifth-fewest runs in baseball, that hasn’t stopped Ramos from recording 47 RBI. His .368 wOBA against lefties makes him a great option against Liriano.

Others to consider: Matt Adams (first base) and C.J. Cron (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/9/18

Max Muncy vs. Luis Perdomo, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $5,200

Muncy finished a rough three-game set against the Angels 1-for-11 with six strikeouts. This might be just the matchup he needs to get back on track as Perdomo has followed up his 1.51 WHIP last year with a 2.19 WHIP in five starts this year. He has also allowed a .361 wOBA against lefties for his career. Of note, Muncy is only second base eligible on FanDuel as he is listed at first base and third base on DraftKings.

Eduardo Nunez vs. Mike Minor, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,700

The Rangers starting rotation has been a mess this season. Minor’s numbers aren’t great, but he’s been one of their more reliable pitchers with a 4.63 ERA and a 4.41 FIP. He only has a 1.20 WHIP, but he’s been hurt by allowing 1.4 HR/9. Minor has held lefties to a .308 wOBA, but righties have had more success with a .336 wOBA. Nunez won’t cost much, but he is a viable option to consider in tournament play if you need to save money at second base.

Others to consider: Brian Dozier and Daniel Robertson

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/9/18

Jose Ramirez vs. Anthony DeSclafani, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $5,700

Ramirez already has more steals (19) this year than he did in all of 2017 (17) and his 24 home runs put him only five behind last year’s mark. His batting average remains excellent at .292 and he has 54 walks compared to only 44 strikeouts. He has a lofty .433 wOBA against righties, making him a great option again Monday even at this expensive price.

Matt Duffy vs. Francisco Liriano, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,500

Liriano has dominated lefties this season by holding them to a .207 wOBA, but right-handed hitters have had plenty of success with a .343 wOBA. His ERA looks respectable at 4.03, but his 5.27 FIP indicates he is not having a good year. The Rays don’t exactly have a potent offense, but Duffy hits for a high average and has some upside Monday despite his lack of homers.

Others to consider: Alex Bregman and Colin Moran

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/9/18

Xander Bogaerts vs. Mike Minor, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $5,000

Bogaerts entered Monday 6-for-12 with two home runs, two doubles, and 10 RBI in his last four games. Three of those contests came against the Royals terrible staff, but as already detailed, Minor hasn’t exactly pitched well either. Bogaerts has hit for a ton of power this season with a .520 slugging percentage and his batting average hasn’t suffered either at .281. He only has two stolen bases, but it’s hard to complain about the production he has provided.

Jorge Polanco vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,800

Duffy has been prone to horrendous starts this season, allowing at least five runs in seven of his 18 outings. The end result has been a 5.19 ERA that is supported by a 5.39 FIP. Until he makes major improvements on his 1.50 WHIP and 1.7 HR/9, continue to target hitters against Duffy in DFS. Polanco has only played in seven games this year due to suspension, but he could be one of several Twins to have a valuable performance.

Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Chris Taylor

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/9/18

Mookie Betts vs. Mike Minor, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $6,100

Betts continues to swing a hot bat for the Red Sox as he is 23-for-64 (.359) with four home runs in his last 16 games. He only has six RBI during that stretch, but he scored 16 runs and had 12 walks compared to just eight strikeouts. His 212 wRC+ against lefties overall this year makes him a great option even though he will cost you a ton on both sites.

Juan Soto vs. Ivan Nova, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,800

Nova does a great job limiting walks, but he’s an average starting pitcher at best. He doesn’t have great stuff with just a 6.9 K/9, which is a big reason why he has also allowed 1.7 HR/9. He has allowed a wOBA of at least .361 against lefties in each of the last three seasons and is close to that mark again this year by allowing a .358 wOBA. Stacking lefties against him Monday could be a wise move, Soto included.

Kyle Tucker vs. Frankie Montas, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $2,000
DraftKings = $4,000

Tucker had plenty of success at Triple-A this season before the Astros called him up, batting .306 with 14 home runs, 14 steals and a .371 OBP. He’s 1-for-7 in his first two games with the big club, but he has some potential Monday considering Montas has allowed a .361 wOBA against lefties. His price isn’t great on DraftKings, but at the minimum on FanDuel, he could be worth the risk in tournament play.

Others to consider: Christian Yelich and Joc Pederson

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/2/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

July special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

Monday brings a light slate in the majors with only 10 games, nine of which make up the main evening slate in DFS. There may be fewer options to choose from than normal, but there are still some great matchups you can take advantage of. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/2/18

Corey Kluber vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $11,200
DraftKings = $12,500

Kluber’s last start was a disaster as he allowed six runs in only 1.2 innings to the Cardinals. It marked the second time in his last three games that Kluber has allowed at least four earned runs after having allowed three runs or fewer in each of his first 14 outings. Even with his recent brief rough patch, Kluber still has outstanding numbers with a 2.54 ERA, 3.29 FIP, and a 0.86 WHIP. The Royals have scored the fewest runs (288) in baseball, so look for Kluber to get back on track in a major way.

Nathan Eovaldi vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $8,700

Eovaldi has been inconsistent since returning from Tommy John surgery, but his 4.08 ERA, 4.87 FIP and 0.82 WHIP in six starts is certainly respectable since he hadn’t pitched since 2016. The Rays rotation has been hit hard by injuries, leaving Eovaldi as one of the few healthy traditional starters they have left. He doesn’t have significant strikeout potential with a 6.6 K/9 for his career, but this is a great matchup against a Marlins team that has scored the third-fewest runs (311) in baseball.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/2/18

Wilson Ramos vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,900

Chen pitched well in his last start, but he’ll likely be a popular pitcher to stack against Monday with his 6.17 ERA and 1.62 WHIP this season. He doesn’t strike out many hitters with a 6.6 K/9 and has allowed 1.6 HR/9, which is especially damaging considering his WHIP. Ramos is having one of the best seasons of his career and has a .380 wOBA against left-handed pitchers this year, making him a key part of any Rays stack you might consider.

Yonder Alonso vs. Jakob Junis, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,800

Junis has allowed at least five runs in three of his last four starts, giving up at least three home runs in all three of those contests as well. He has a 2.1 HR/9 this year and allowed 1.4 HR/9 in 2017, so this isn’t just an isolated bad stretch. Alonso has hit nine of his 12 homers off of righties and has a .355 wOBA against them this season, leaving him as a viable option at a reasonable price on both sites.

Others to consider: Edwin Encarnacion (first base) and Greg Bird (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/2/18

Scooter Gennett vs. James Shields, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $5,000

Shields’ time with the White Sox had largely been a disaster, but he’s shown significant improvement this year with a 4.29 ERA, 4.44 FIP, and a 1.24 WHIP. That being said, he’s still not a dominating pitcher by any stretch of the imagination and will have no easy task against Gennett on Monday. Gennett has a lofty .332 average to go along with 13 homers and a .371 wOBA against right-handers.

Gleyber Torres vs. Anibal Sanchez, Atlanta Braves
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,200

There aren’t a lot of great cheap options at second base Monday, so if you don’t want to add Gennett to your entry, Torres is another option to consider. He went deep again Sunday night and incredibly has 15 home runs already after never hitting more than 11 in a season in the minors. Sanchez has a sparkling 2.68 ERA this year, but he’s been a bit lucky considering his 4.05 FIP and .238 BABIP allowed.

Others to consider: Jason Kipnis and Yoan Moncada

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/2/18

Max Muncy vs. Nick Kingham, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,600

Muncy has played at various positions for the Dodgers as they try to keep his hot bat in the lineup. He was declared the everyday second baseman over the weekend, locking him into a significant role that he has earned by hitting .273 with 17 home runs and a .416 OBP. With his .419 wOBA against righties, don’t hesitate to play him against Kingham.

Matt Duffy vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,000

Duffy doesn’t get much hype, mainly because he has just four home runs this year. He’s played very well for the Rays, though, batting a career-high .321. He was particularly hot in June by hitting .340 with a .394 OBP. Currently on a 10-game hitting streak, he is a great cheaper option if you want to save money at third base, especially on FanDuel.

Others to consider: Jose Ramirez and Miguel Andujar

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/2/18

Francisco Lindor vs. Jakob Junis, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $5,400

With Junis’ recent struggles, he’s another great stacking target. Lindor has been not only one of the best hitters on his team, but he’s been one of the best hitters in all of baseball with a .296 average to go along with 21 home runs and 10 steals. He has scored exactly 99 runs in both of the last two seasons but is on pace to blow past that mark with 70 runs already this year. Although he has better numbers against lefties, his .376 wOBA against righties still makes him a great option Monday.

Willy Adames vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,700

With Chen on the mound, it might be a good idea to target a couple of cheap hitters on the Rays who can help you fill out the rest of your lineup with high-priced studs. Adames is cheap on both sites and while he hasn’t taken off yet in his first taste of action in the majors, Chen has allowed a .398 wOBA to righties.

Others to consider: Trevor Story and Didi Gregorius

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/2/18

Aaron Judge vs. Anibal Sanchez, Atlanta Braves
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $5,300

Simply put, Judge loves hitting at Yankee Stadium. He hit .312 with 33 home runs there in last year and is batting .357 with 15 home runs there so far this season. Don’t worry that he doesn’t have the platoon advantage against Sanchez as Judge’s wOBA against righties (.422) is actually much higher than it is against lefties (.367) for his career.

Nick Markakis vs. Jonathan Loaisiga, New York Yankees
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,500

Injuries have forced the Yankees to insert Loaisiga into their starting rotation even though he had never pitched above Double-A. He had an 11.5 K/9 there before being called up and has carried that success over with an 11.6 K/9 through three starts. Two of his three starts came against the Rays and Phillies, so this will be a tougher test against the Braves. Markakis has a .361 wOBA against righties this year, leaving him as a viable option to consider for your lineup.

Lonnie Chisenhall vs. Jakob Junis, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $3,400

Whenever a righty is on the mound, Chisenhall is a cheap option to target for your outfield. He’s only played 29 games this season due to injury, but he’s hit well with a .321 average and a .394 OBP. He still only has one home run, but he has a .368 wOBA against righties.

Others to consider: Joc Pederson and Jesse Winker

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/22/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

June special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout

Friday brings the return of a full slate of baseball, but the evening is light on starting pitching overall. It could free you up with more money to operate with than usual for your hitters. 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 6/22/18

Sean Newcomb vs. Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $8,900
DraftKings = $10,500

Newcomb was hit hard two starts ago, but he rebounded quickly to record seven strikeouts over six scoreless innings in his last start against the Padres. That marked the fifth time this season that he hasn’t allowed a run in a start, leading to a 2.70 ERA and a 3.23 FIP overall. After finishing with a 1.57 WHIP last year, Newcomb has been much better at limiting baserunners with a 1.18 WHIP. He’s an excellent source for strikeouts as well with a 9.1 K/9. This is a great matchup to take advantage of considering the Orioles have scored the fewest runs (260) in baseball and won’t have the use of the DH playing in Atlanta.

Chris Stratton vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $7,200
DraftKings = $7,300

With a general lack of high-end starters taking the mound Friday, it’s a good night to take a chance on cheap pitchers. Stratton has allowed more than three earned runs in a start only three times this season, but his 1.35 WHIP is concerning. He’s not a big strikeout pitcher with a 7.1 K/9 for his career and is someone you only want to consider using in the right matchup. That will be the case when he faces the Padres, who are in the bottom-third of the league in runs scored while also posting the lowest OPS (.658) against right-handed pitching. Stratton already faced them once this season and threw seven shutout innings.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/22/18

Ian Desmond vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,900

The Rockies should be a popular stack with Chen taking the mound. Not only is this game in hitter-friendly Coors Field, but Chen is really struggling with a 5.91 ERA, 5.78 FIP, and a 1.62 WHIP. He’s had problems keeping hitters in the ballpark as well with a 1.8 HR/9. Desmond’s overall numbers are poor this season, but he’s 13-for-38 (.342) with four home runs in his last 11 games. Most of his struggles this year have come against right-handed pitchers as he has a .423 wOBA against lefties.

Buster Posey vs. Clayton Richard, San Diego Padres
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,800

Posey continues to be a steady contributor for the Giants, hitting .290 with five home runs. He might not hit for a ton of power, but he puts a lot of balls in play with just an 11.5% strikeout rate. Not only does Posey have a .392 wOBA against lefties, but he is 12-for-32 (.375) with two home runs in his career against Richard. Richard is not a strikeout pitcher and he has only struck out Posey one time in his career.

Others to consider: Paul Goldschmidt (first base) and Evan Gattis (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/22/18

Jose Altuve vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,400

There are few hitters in the league hotter than Altuve right now, who is 42-for-97 (.433) with five home runs and seven steals in his last 25 games. That has brought his season average up to .347, which would make the third time in the last five seasons that Altuve has hit at least .340. He has great numbers versus a lot of pitchers over the course of his career, including Duffy, who he is 8-for-16 (.500) against.

Daniel Descalso vs. Ivan Nova, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,800

Nova had a couple of great seasons with the Yankees, but he’s generally been an average pitcher over the course of his career. This season has been no different with him posting a 4.42 ERA, 4.15 FIP and a 1.32 WHIP across 13 starts. He doesn’t get a lot of strikeouts and his .369 wOBA against left-handed hitters this year would mark the fourth-straight season where he has allowed a wOBA of at least .361 to lefties. Descalso has a .384 wOBA against righties and could be problematic for Nova.

Others to consider: DJ LeMahieu and Ketel Marte

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/22/18

Nolan Arenado vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $5,100
DraftKings = $5,900

Arenado should be the centerpiece of any Rockies stack against Chen. He’s extremely hot right now, hitting 12-for-29 (.414) with four home runs in his last seven games. His numbers are much better in Coors Field and he has a lofty 235 wRC+ against lefties, so look for him to excel in this game.

Matt Duffy vs. C.C. Sabathia, New York Yankees
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,900

Duffy is quietly having a very good season for the Rays. He only has four home runs, but he is batting a career-high .317. He’s been aided by a .377 BABIP, but he also made major improvements that have resulted in a 33.7% hard-hit rate. Sabathia has a 2.74 ERA at home this year, but he’s struggled on the road with a 4.13 ERA. Duffy is a cheap option with upside in tournament play if you don’t want to spend big bucks for Arenado.

Others to consider: Alex Bregman and Miguel Andujar

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/22/18

Trevor Story vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $5,700

Story’s home and road splits this year are rather staggering. He’s batting only .224 with a .612 OPS on the road, but he is hitting .322 with a 1.191 OPS in Coors Field. Throw in the fact that he has a .436 wOBA against lefties and he could do a lot of damage against Chen.

Marwin Gonzalez vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $3,600

Gonzalez hit .303 for the Astros last year, but he entered the month of June batting only .217. He’s doing his best to dig out of that hole, though, batting .429 since the calendar flipped to June. He’s still not hitting for much power, but he’s a viable cheap option in tournament play considering how poorly Duffy has pitched. Of note, Gonzalez is only shortstop eligible on FanDuel as he is listed at both first base and outfield on DraftKings.

Others to consider: Carlos Correa and Xander Bogaerts

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/22/18

George Springer vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $5,000

The Astros will likely be a popular stack as well. Springer is one of the premier options if you choose to go that route, batting .279 with 15 home runs this season. He’s been one of the best hitters in baseball against left-handed pitchers in recent years, recording a wOBA of at least .400 against them in each of the last four seasons if you include his .419 mark in 2018.

Nick Markakis vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,300

The Orioles signing of Cobb has been a disaster so far as he has a 7.14 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP in his first 12 starts. He’s not striking many hitters out and has allowed 1.9 HR/9, which is really troubling when you consider how many runners have reached base against him. Markakis has cooled off some after his torrid start, but he’s had a lot of success against right-handers with a .363 wOBA.

Kole Calhoun vs. Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $2,300
DraftKings = $2,600

Calhoun has been one of the worst hitters in baseball this season with a .158 batting average. He recently spent some time on the DL with a strained oblique and the time off might have been just what he needed to clear his head. In three games since being activated, Calhoun is 4-for-10 with two home runs. Estrada has struggled on the road this year and doesn’t have overpowering stuff, setting up Calhoun as a cheap option who might be worth taking a chance on in tournament play.

Others to consider: Juan Soto and Nomar Mazara

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/12/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

June special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout

Baseball is back in full swing with 15 games on the schedule Tuesday. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/12/18

Mike Foltynewicz vs. New York Mets
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $9,000
DraftKings = $11,800

Foltynewicz had 85 career appearances in the majors, 65 of which were starts, heading into this season, but he didn’t have much success. He finished with an ERA of at least 4.31 and a WHIP of at least 1.30 in each of his previous four years. This season has been a different story with his 2.31 ERA, 2.98 FIP and a 1.20 WHIP across 13 starts. He’s still issuing a lot of walks with a 4.0 BB/9, but he’s cut down on allowing homers and has a career-high 10.7 K/9. Look for him to keep things rolling against a Mets offense that is really struggling and just made a shakeup to their lineup by releasing Adrian Gonzalez. They still don’t have a lot of great options, though, and have scored the third-fewest runs (237) in baseball.

Jaime Barria vs. Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $6,800
DraftKings = $9,200

Barria is being recalled from Triple-A to start Tuesday with Shohei Ohtani (elbow) on the disabled list. Barria made seven starts for the Angels previously this year, recording a 2.48 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP. His 3.87 FIP and .248 opponents BABIP suggest he was somewhat lucky, but he also was able to get batters to swing at 37.4% of pitches outside the strike zone. His matchups haven’t been easy either since he has already faced the Yankees, Astros and the Rockies in Coors Field. The Mariners have an excellent .767 OPS on the road, but they only have a .708 OPS at home. Barria isn’t overly expensive on either site, but he is really cheap on FanDuel, making him someone to consider for tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/12/18

Jose Martinez vs. Matt Strahm, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,500

Martinez is on one of those streaks where you want to keep plugging him into your lineup and riding the wave. Not only is he on a nine-game hitting streak, but he is 17-for-32 (.531) with five home runs during that stretch. This will likely be a bullpen game with Strahm scheduled to start things off, so don’t hesitate to roll with Martinez again.

C.J. Cron vs. Jaime Garcia, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,100

Right-handed pitchers have held Cron to a .328 wOBA this season, but he has a .398 wOBA against lefties. Garcia has certainly been an underwhelming member of the Blue Jays rotation, posting a 5.57 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP in 11 starts. He walks a lot of batters and gives up plenty of homers as well, potentially setting up Cron and the Rays for an offensive outburst.

Others to consider: Freddie Freeman (first base) and Wilson Ramos (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/12/18

Whit Merrifield vs. Sal Romano, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,900

The only real negative with Merrifield this year is that he only has four home runs after hitting 19 last year. He hasn’t been totally devoid of power, though, since he does have 20 doubles. He’s still hitting for average at .286 and has been showcasing his speed with 14 stolen bases. He has also doubled his walk rate up to 9.2%. Romano has an unsightly 6.23 ERA this year, so be sure to take advantage with Merrifield.

Daniel Descalso vs. Trevor Williams, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,800

Descalso continued to swing a hot bat Monday, going 2-for-5 with a triple and three RBI. His slugging percentage sits at .510 overall, significantly higher than his .370 career mark. He’s someone you especially want to target against right-handers since he has a 151 wRC+ against them this year. Williams has allowed at least four runs in each of his last four starts, opening up an opportunity for Descalso to excel again Tuesday.

Others to consider: Scooter Gennett and Ben Zobrist

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/12/18

Mike Moustakas vs. Sal Romano, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,300

The Royals lineup isn’t normally one you want to target for a stacking opportunity, but you should against Romano. Moustakas is another great option since Romano has a 1.7 HR/9. Moustakas crushed 38 homers in 2017 and has followed that up with 13 in the early going. 11 of those have come against righties, who he has a .378 wOBA against.

Matt Duffy vs. Jaime Garcia, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,200

Duffy is finally healthy and is showing flashes of the success he had with the Giants in 2015 when he batted .295 with 12 home runs. He only has two homers this year, but he’s currently on a seven-game hitting streak that has helped boost his average to .318 overall. His abnormally high .397 BABIP isn’t a good sign for his long-term prognosis, but he’s still someone to consider at this cheap price based on Garcia’s struggles.

Others to consider: Jose Ramirez and Max Muncy

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/12/18

Francisco Lindor vs. James Shields, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $5,000

Lindor couldn’t cash in on a great matchup Monday against Lucas Giolito, finishing o-for-4 with a walk. That marked the sixth time in the last seven games that he has failed to get into the hit column. He was really hot heading into this recent dry spell and is a career .293 hitter, so don’t expect this slump to last too much longer. This could be just the matchup he needs to get back on track considering Shields’ struggles and that Lindor is 4-for-7 with a home run against him in his career.

Brandon Crawford vs. Trevor Richards, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,100

The Giants lineup is filled with plenty of veteran bats, but it hasn’t exactly been stellar this year. One player who has stood out is Crawford, who is batting a career-high .338. He likely won’t be able to keep up his .394 BABIP, but it is encouraging that he has 39.3% hard-hit rate. Richards allows way too many baserunners with a 1.50 WHIP, making Crawford a viable option for your entry if you can’t afford Lindor’s hefty price tag.

Others to consider: Didi Gregorius and Willy Adames

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/12/18

Marcell Ozuna vs. Matt Strahm, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $3,800

Martinez is certainly swinging a hot bat for the Cardinals, but he’s not their only hitter who is currently on top of his game. Ozuna is 13-for-34 (.382) with three home runs in his last nine games. He’s shown an excellent eye at the plate with only two strikeouts to go along with three walks during that stretch. He had a 24.1% strikeout rate heading into May, but he only has a 12.8% strikeout rate since, which has helped boost his average from .250 to .278.

Joc Pederson vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $4,300

Colon’s 4.18 ERA doesn’t tell the real story of how he is pitching this season. He does have great control with a 1.3 BB/9, but opponents aren’t going to have just a .231 BABIP against him over the entire season. He doesn’t have strikeout stuff and has allowed 2.0 HR/9, which is going to open him up to some bad games when hitters stop being so unlucky in terms of BABIP. Pederson has a .395 wOBA against righties this year and has six home runs in his last six games.

Alex Gordon vs. Sal Romano, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = #3,100

We’ve already established that Romano has been bad this year, but he’s been even worse against lefties as they have a .400 wOBA against him. Gordon is nowhere near the hitter he was in his prime, but he’s hitting a respectable .269 after really being dominated the last two years. You can’t even consider playing him against lefties, but his .346 wOBA against righties makes him a cost-effective option worth considering against Romano.

Others to consider: Nick Markakis and Lonnie Chisenhall

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/11/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/11/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

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

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/11/18

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

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

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

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

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/11/18

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

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

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

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

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

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/11/18

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

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

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

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

Others to consider: Zack Cozart and Scooter Gennett

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/11/18

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

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

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

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

Others to consider: Kris Bryant and Matt Carpenter

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/11/18

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

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

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

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

Others to consider: Trea Turner and Dansby Swanson

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/11/18

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

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

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

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

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

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

Others to consider: Yoenis Cespedes and Preston Tucker