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 7/20/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

July special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

Friday brings the first packed schedule in baseball since the All-Star break, leaving plenty of options to choose from in DFS. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/20/18

Trevor Bauer vs. Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $12,200
DraftKings = $13,600

Bauer was selected to be an All-Star for the first time in his career, but he did not appear in the game because he last pitched Sunday. He was fantastic in the first half, posting a 2.24 ERA, 2.23 FIP, and a 1.08 WHIP. Not only does he have an 11.6 K/9, but he’s allowed just six home runs in 136.1 innings. He was on top of his game heading into the break, allowing seven runs (six earned) and recording 54 strikeouts across 42.2 innings in his last six starts. The Rangers have struck out the second-most times (916) in baseball this season and didn’t do much against Bauer in their first meeting, scoring two runs and striking out 11 times over 6.2 innings.

Kyle Gibson vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $8,600
DraftKings = $8,600

The Twins disappointing start might turn them into sellers as we approach the trade deadline, but Gibson has been one of their few bright spots. After posting underwhelming numbers the last two seasons, he has a 3.42 ERA this year. His FIP is improved as well at 3.79 in large part because of his 1.23 WHIP, which is significantly lower than his 1.41 career mark. He also has an 8.9 K/9 after never posting a K/9 higher than 6.9 previously in his career. This is a great matchup against a Royals team that has scored the fewest runs (337) in baseball. Gibson had no trouble handling them in their first meeting when he recorded eight strikeouts across seven shutout innings.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/20/18

Steve Pearce vs. Matthew Boyd, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,000

The Red Sox couldn’t have asked for a better start to Pearce’s tenure with the team as he is 11-for-26 (.423) with a home run and four doubles in 10 games. He has a .433 wOBA against lefties this season, which is nothing new since he has a .364 wOBA against them for his career. Boyd pitched well to start the season for the Tigers, but he has allowed at least five runs in four of his last five outings.

Yan Gomes vs. Martin Perez, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,300
DraftKings = $4,300

The Indians appear to be confident enough in Gomes moving forward that they traded top catching prospect Francisco Mejia to the Padres on Thursday. Gomes’ offensive numbers aren’t flashy, but he has a .422 wOBA against left-handed pitchers this season. Perez has a tendency to give up plenty of runs in large part due to his 1.47 career WHIP.

Others to consider: Paul Goldschmidt (first base) and Brandon Belt (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/20/18

Brian Dozier vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,700

Dozier is starting to heat up as he is 13-for-40 (.325) with four home runs and three doubles in his last 10 games. He’s shown a trend of being a better hitter in the second half of the season and could be in for a strong finish, although it might not be as a member of the Twins. Duffy gives left-handed hitters plenty of problems, but he’s allowed a .345 wOBA to righties.

Joey Wendle vs. Dan Straily, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $4,000

Speaking of hot hitters, Wendle is 17-for-42 (.405) with two home runs and eight RBI in July. He tends to sit against lefties, but he’s someone to target against righties. Straily’s 4.29 ERA doesn’t look terrible, but his 5.43 FIP indicates he has been a bit lucky. He allows plenty of base runners with a 1.35 WHIP despite opponents posting just a .250 BABIP against him, so his numbers could be even worse.

Others to consider: Jed Lowrie and Dee Gordon

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/20/18

Jose Ramirez vs. Martin Perez, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $5,800

Stacking against Perez will likely be a popular strategy Friday. Not only does he allow a lot of hitters to reach base, but he’s not a strikeout pitcher with just a 5.4 K/9 for his career. Ramirez is making a case for AL MVP honors this season with his power, speed and ability to hit for a high average. Although he’s expensive, he’s one of the top options available at any position.

Kyle Seager vs. James Shields, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,300

Seager is only batting .233 this season in large part because of his career-high 21.9% strikeout rate and career-low 5.5% walk rate. He’s still hitting for power, though, with 16 home runs and 23 doubles, making him a viable cheap option with upside in tournament play. He’s also 8-for-22 (.364) with three homers in his career against Shields.

Others to consider: Justin Turner and Colin Moran

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/20/18

Xander Bogaerts vs. Matthew Boyd, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $5,000

Bogaerts has certainly regained his power stroke, posting a .535 slugging percentage after a disappointing .403 mark last year. He also has 64 RBI in a loaded Red Sox lineup and should easily surpass his career-high of 89 RBI as long as he stays healthy. The Red Sox should be another popular stack Friday with Bogaerts someone to key in on at shortstop.

Jorge Polanco vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,800

Polanco has yet to leave the yard since returning from suspension, but he’s flashed his speed on the base paths again with three steals in only 14 games. It’s hard to read too much into 60 plate appearances, but his walk rate has been much improved at 11.7%. His upside isn’t close to that of Bogaerts, but he can still provide value if you need to save money at shortstop.

Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Tim Anderson

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/20/18

J.D. Martinez vs. Matthew Boyd, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $5,300

It seemed nearly impossible for Martinez to keep up the torrid pace he was on as a member of the Diamondbacks last year, but he’s been just as good since joining the Red Sox. His homer rate isn’t as high, but he’s not exactly struggling with 29 dingers in 92 games. He had 104 RBI last year and is going to blow by that with 80 RBI this season already. He also has a .393 wOBA against lefties, so expect him to give Boyd plenty of problems.

Matt Kemp vs. Wade Miley, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,000

The Brewers sure could use another starting pitcher. They will continue to try and get by with Miley in the rotation for now, who has been injured for most of the season. Miley had a 5.61 ERA and a 1.73 WHIP with the Orioles last year and usually allows a lot of base runners with a 1.40 career WHIP. Kemp has a .402 wOBA against lefties this year, making him a great option at a reasonable price on both sites.

Steven Duggar vs. Edwin Jackson, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $3,600

Jackson continues to find his way onto a major league roster, making four starts for an Athletics team that has seen their rotation decimated by injuries. He’s posted a 2.59 ERA, but it’s hard to have much confidence in a journeyman pitcher who has finished with an ERA of at least 5.21 in both of the last two seasons. The left-handed Duggar should be in the lineup Friday and won’t cost much, leaving him as someone to consider in tournament play.

Others to consider: Rhys Hoskins and David Peralta

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/10/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

July special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

All 15 games in the majors will be played at night Tuesday, leaving an array of options to choose from in DFS. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/10/18

Trevor Bauer vs. Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $12,000
DraftKings = $13,600

Bauer continues to thrive in what is shaping up to be his breakout campaign. He has allowed two runs or fewer in four straight outings and has allowed more than three earned runs in a start only twice all year. He has a 2.45 ERA as a result, which is supported by his 2.17 FIP and 1.09 WHIP. His 13.1% swinging-strike rate is almost four percentage points higher than last year and has helped him post a career-high 11.6 K/9. After allowing at least 20 home runs in three straight seasons, he has given up just five homers in 121.1 innings. The Reds are in the top-third of baseball in runs scored, but Bauer’s tremendous strikeout upside still makes him a great option.

Jhoulys Chacin vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $7,700
DraftKings = $8,500

Chacin has been a valuable addition to the Brewers starting rotation, recording a 3.63 ERA, 3.84 FIP, and a 1.29 WHIP across 19 starts. He has only allowed 0.6 HR/9, which is no surprise considering he has a 0.8 HR/9 for his career. That’s particularly impressive since he spent six seasons pitching his home games in Coors Field as a member of the Rockies. The Marlins continue to struggle offensively, scoring four runs or fewer in 9 of their last 14 games. They have also hit the third-fewest home runs (77) in baseball overall. Chacin doesn’t provide a lot of strikeouts with a 7.2 K/9, but he this matchup leaves him with potential in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/10/18

Wilson Ramos vs. Matthew Boyd, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,300

Ramos came through with another productive game Monday, finishing 2-for-5 with a home run and two runs scored. His home run came off of Francisco Liriano and he now has a .393 wOBA against left-handed pitchers this season. He’ll face another one in Boyd on Tuesday, giving him significant upside once again.

Jose Martinez vs. Dylan Covey, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $4,300

Martinez’s struggles on defense have started to eat into his playing time. That won’t be an issue Tuesday, though, with the Cardinals getting the benefit of using the DH playing in Chicago. Martinez is certainly having another impressive offensive season, batting .296 with 13 home runs and 53 RBI. Covey started out hot but has regressed to the point where he now has a 5.54 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP for the season overall.

Others to consider: Paul Goldschmidt (first base) and Jesus Aguilar (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/10/18

Whit Merrifield vs. Aaron Slegers, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,300

Merrifield is 21-for-47 (.447) during his current 11-game hitting streak. He’s been one of the few bright spots in the Royals offense as he is batting .303 with a .369 OBP overall. He only has five home runs, but he continues to cause problems on the base paths with 16 steals. Slegers is not an overpowering pitching with a career 6.6 K/9 in the minors, leaving Merrifield with a favorable opportunity to continue his recent hot streak.

Brock Holt vs. Yovani Gallardo, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,400

Gallardo has not pitched well in four starts with the Rangers, posting a 5.87 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. He has allowed four home runs in just 23 innings and finished with three or fewer strikeouts in three of those four outings. Holt is 6-for-17 (.353) in his last four games and is one of the cheap Boston hitters to consider in what could be a high-scoring game.

Others to consider: Brian Dozier and Daniel Robertson

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/10/18

Eduardo Escobar vs. Ian Kennedy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,400

Ian Kennedy has been on the DL with an oblique injury but will be activated to start Tuesday. He’s having another rough campaign for the Royals with a 5.11 ERA, 4.81 FIP, and a 1.42 WHIP. Escobar has a .391 wOBA against right-handers this season and is 9-for-21 (.429) with two home runs in his career against Kennedy.

Matt Carpenter vs. Dylan Covey, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rated Field
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,800

With Covey on the mound, the Cardinals will likely be one of the most popular stacks. Covey has allowed a .364 wOBA to lefties, making Carpenter one of the Cardinals hitters to focus on. He has rebounded from his early-season slump and has a .382 wOBA against righties, which would be his fourth-straight season with a wOBA of at least .378 against them. He’s expensive on DraftKings, but his price on FanDuel is really appealing.

Others to consider: Justin Turner and Matt Duffy

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/10/18

Paul DeJong vs. Dylan Covey, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,100

DeJong missed about a month and a half with a hand injury, but he has at least one hit and one run scored in all three games since his return from the DL. He doesn’t have the platoon advantage in this contest, but he’s hit righties well this season with a .368 wOBA. His numbers were betters against left-handed pitchers last year, but he didn’t exactly struggle against righties then either with a .351 wOBA.

Chris Taylor vs. Eric Lauer, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $4,200

Lauer has a 4.84 ERA and a 4.73 FIP for the season, but he’s been much better lately by allowing three earned runs or fewer in seven straight starts. He still had a 1.51 WHIP during that stretch, though, and has had problems keeping runners off base all season. He has allowed a .386 wOBA to righties, making Taylor a viable option at a reasonable price.

Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Xander Bogaerts

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/10/18

A.J. Pollock vs. Tyler Anderson, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $5,400

Anderson has a 3.48 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP on the road this year, but a 4.37 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP at Coors Field. He has thrown seven fewer innings at home, but he has allowed three more home runs there than he has on the road. Pollock is still working his way back from a lengthy DL stint, but he does have at least two hits in two of his last three games and posted a .356 wOBA against lefties in 2017.

Matt Kemp vs. Eric Lauer, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,500

Kemp’s return to the Dodgers has gone better than anyone could have expected as he is batting .316 with 15 home runs and 58 RBI. He is crushing lefties again with a 170 wRC+ and it should also be noted that nine of the 10 home runs that Lauer has allowed this year have come off of right-handed hitters.

Harrison Bader vs. Dylan Covey, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $3,900

Bader has been forcing his way into the lineup for the Cardinals, hitting 14-for-37 (.378) with a home run and four doubles in his last 11 games. With Dexter Fowler batting only .167 this season, Bader should continue to receive plenty of at-bats. He’s not that cheap on DraftKings, but his low price on FanDuel makes him an intriguing tournament play against Covey.

Others to consider: Andrew Benintendi and Shin-Soo Choo

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/15/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

June special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout

Friday night brings a packed slate in baseball with 15 games. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/15/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/15/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/15/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/15/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/15/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/15/18

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 6/8/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

June special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout

With only one day game Friday, we’re back to a packed night slate in DFS for baseball. 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 6/8/18

Justin Verlander vs. Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $11,600
DraftKings = $12,400

Verlander didn’t exactly struggle in his last few seasons with the Tigers, but he’s taken his game to another level since joining the Astros. His 1.24 ERA is likely to increase as the season wears on, but his 2.20 FIP indicates he could still finish with great numbers. Not only has he shown excellent control with a 1.8 BB/9, but his 31.9% strikeout rate is the highest of his career. He has already faced the Rangers three times this season, allowing two runs to go along with 23 strikeouts across 20 innings. He’s certainly expensive, but he has terrific upside.

Frankie Montas vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $8,500
DraftKings = $7,900

Montas made 23 appearances out of the bullpen for the Athletics last year and did not pitch well with a 7.03 ERA, 7.13 FIP, and a 1.84 WHIP. He did show strikeout upside, though, with a 10.1 K/9. He had a 9.2 K/9 for his career in the minors, so that lofty mark wasn’t exactly out of left field. The Athletics have been hit hard by injuries, forcing Montas to join the starting rotation. He’s made two starts so far, allowing one run in 14 innings. His last start came against these same Royals and he threw eight shutout innings to go along with two strikeouts. The lack of strikeouts was disappointing, but the Royals do have the fewest strikeouts (454) in baseball. They are in the bottom-third in runs scored, though, leaving Montas as a cost-effective option in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/8/18

Mitch Moreland vs. Dylan Covey, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,600

Covey has trouble keeping runners off base, resulting in a 1.43 WHIP this season. He had a similar problem last year when he posted a 1.67 WHIP across 18 games, 12 of which were starts. Moreland is having the best season of his career not only with a .303 average but also a .612 slugging percentage. He has a .441 wOBA against righties as well, making him a strong option for your entry.

C.J. Cron vs. Marco Gonzales, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,700

Cron is slumping a bit in June, hitting 3-for-23 (.130) in six games. He’s been dragged down by a .111 BABIP during that stretch and was hitting well coming into the month, so expect him to rebound sooner rather than later. This might be just the matchup he needs to get back on track since he has a .393 wOBA against left-handed pitchers.

Others to consider: Jose Martinez (first base) and Wilson Ramos (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/8/18

Daniel Descalso vs. German Marquez, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,100

Descalso has never hit for much power since the highest slugging percentage of his career was a .424 mark set in 2016. That is the only season he has finished with a slugging percentage over .400. This year has been a different story as he enters Friday with a .514 slugging percentage. Part of that increase is likely due to his career-high 42.4% hard-hit rate. Marquez allows a lot of base runners with a 1.46 WHIP and this game will be played in hitter-friendly Coors Field, leaving Descalso with significant upside.

Starlin Castro vs. Eric Lauer, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,600

The Padres have very little pitching depth, which has kept Lauer in the starting rotation despite his 6.82 ERA and 1.98 WHIP. He has a 4.5 BB/9 and a 1.8 HR/9, which has left him susceptible to ugly outings. Righties have had plenty of success against him with a .421 wOBA, so Castro is a viable option if you’re looking to save money at second base.

Others to consider: Jose Altuve and Ian Kinsler

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/8/18

Jose Ramirez vs. Michael Fulmer, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $5,300
DraftKings = $5,500

Ramirez has supplied the Indians with a lot of power this season, hitting 19 home runs and 19 doubles in 59 games. His batting average hasn’t suffered at the expense of his increased power since he is still hitting .298. He is 4-for-10 with two home runs and a double against Fulmer in his career, who doesn’t exactly have overpowering stuff with a 6.9 K/9 for his career.

Matt Carpenter vs. Matt Harvey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,000

Carpenter had batted at least .271 in each of his first five seasons in the majors but took a step backward last year with a .241 average. His strikeout rate only slightly increased and his walk rate actually improved, but he was somewhat unlucky with a .274 BABIP. His flyball rate was also almost 10 percentage points higher than his career mark. He’s continued to struggle with a .225 average this year and he only has a .267 wOBA against lefties. He is hitting righties better with a .332 wOBA and Harvey has allowed a .410 wOBA to left-handed hitters, so this matchup does swing in Carpenter’s favor.

Others to consider: Anthony Rendon and Brian Anderson

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/8/18

Xander Bogaerts vs. Dylan Covey, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $4,500

Bogaerts made the All-Star team in 2016 and finished the season with 21 home runs and 34 doubles. It looked like he was going to provide power at the shortstop position for years to come and while he did still have 32 doubles in 2017, he hit just 10 home runs. A lot of that had to do with a hand injury that he played through for much of the season. He’s healthy now and already has nine home runs. He has a .367 wOBA against righties as well, so don’t shy away from him just because he doesn’t have the righty/lefty advantage against Covey.

Brock Holt vs. Dylan Covey, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,500

With Dustin Pedroia (knee) back on the disabled list, it’s open up increased playing time for Holt again. Holt has cashed in his opportunity to get more at-bats this season as he is hitting .319 with a .389 OBP. He doesn’t hit for power, but he does only have 15 strikeouts compared to 11 walks. Most of his at-bats this year have come against right-handed pitchers, who he has a .348 wOBA against.

Others to consider: Jean Segura and Marwin Gonzalez

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/8/18

Andrew Benintendi vs. Dylan Covey, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $5,600

Benintendi enters this game red-hot as he has four home runs in his last five games. He has at least two hits in five of his last eight games to increase his average to .299. After posting his first 20 home run, 20 stolen base season last year, he looks to be on his way to reaching that mark again with 11 homers and 10 steals. If you’re looking to stack Red Sox hitters against Covey, Benintendi should be towards the top of your list.

Matt Kemp vs. Brandon McCarthy, Atlanta Braves
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,500

Kemp has at least one hit in 12 of his last 13 games, hitting 19-for-45 (.422) with five home runs. He is hitting .349 overall, but don’t expect that to hold considering his .404 BABIP. McCarthy’s 4.83 ERA isn’t great, but it really could be worse since he has a 1.50 WHIP. Keep riding Kemp’s hot bat.

Joc Pederson vs. Brandon McCarthy, Atlanta Braves
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $3,900

Pederson is hitting well right now also, batting 8-for-16 with five longballs in his last four games. He only has six home runs this year total, but he can do a lot of damage when he’s locked in. His .389 wOBA against righties makes him another Dodger worth considering for your entry.

Others to consider: Marcell Ozuna and David Peralta

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 4/24/18

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