There’s not much to speak of in the majors Monday with only five games making up the main evening slate in DFS. Viable starting pitching options will be hard to come by, so look for hitters to reign supreme.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/30/2019
Thursday’s seven-game evening slate in DFS has the potential for plenty of offense despite the limited schedule. While quality pitching options aren’t quite as bountiful, there are still a few who could provide a stellar stat line.
Read MoreMLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
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If you are playing in a head-to-head fantasy league, using starting pitchers that have two starts in a week can give you a significant edge over your opponent. Here are some starters who will each start two games in the week ahead that you should either target or avoid for your lineup.
Starters With Favorable Matchups
Luis Severino, New York Yankees: at TB, vs. KC
Severino hasn’t pitched well in his last two outings, allowing four home runs and seven runs across 10 innings. To show how dominant he was in the first half, he still has a 2.31 ERA and a 2.74 FIP overall. He doesn’t normally allow a lot of home runs with a 0.7 HR/9, so expect him to right the ship in that department sooner rather than later. Not only does he have a 10.1 K/9, but he does a great job limiting baserunners with a 1.01 WHIP. He has dominated the Rays in two previous starts this season, allowing two runs and recording 16 strikeouts over 15.1 innings. The Royals have scored the fewest runs (352) in baseball, setting up Severino for a big week.
Rick Porcello, Boston Red Sox: at BAL, vs. MIN
The Blue Jays hammered Porcello for eight runs across two innings in his last start, increasing his ERA from 3.58 to 4.13. He’s pitched better this year overall, though, in large part because he lowered his WHIP from 1.40 last year to 1.24. His 38.3% percent hard-hit rate in 2017 was significantly higher than his career mark, but that has normalized this season at 31.4%. He doesn’t have the same strikeout upside that Severino does, but he has a respectable 8.6 K/9. The Orioles have already traded away their best hitter in Manny Machado, leaving their lineup even more in shambles. The Twins lineup isn’t great either and they, too, could be looking to trade away some of their better players for prospects. Even if that doesn’t happen before Porcello faces them, look for him to quickly get back on track with two valuable performances for Week 18.
Zack Wheeler, New York Mets: vs. SD, at PIT
Wheeler’s 4.44 ERA isn’t inspiring, but his 3.74 FIP indicates he’s actually having a nice rebound campaign. His 1.34 WHIP is much improved from 1.59 last year and he hasn’t allowed a lot of home runs with a 0.9 HR/9. His 8.9 K/9 is bolstered by his 11% swinging-strike rate and hitters swinging at 31.5% of his pitches outside of the strike zone, both of which would be career-highs. The Padres have scored the fourth-fewest runs (380) in baseball, setting up Wheeler to start off Week 18 on a high note. The Pirates will be a tougher matchup, but Wheeler recorded seven strikeouts over seven scoreless innings against them earlier this year. Still available in 72% of Yahoo! leagues, Wheeler has upside, even though there is some risk he might be traded.
Carlos Rodon, Chicago White Sox: at LAA, vs. TOR
Rodon has come back from injury to record a 3.56 ERA in seven starts, but don’t get overly confident in him just yet. His FIP is 5.04 and opponents have been unlucky with a .225 BABIP. He’s also allowed seven home runs over 43 innings. He has a career 9.0 K/9, though, and has shown enough upside that you can still gain some value if you start him in the right situation. That could be the case for Week 18 as his first start comes against an Angels squad with the fourth-lowest OPS (.663) against lefties. The Blue Jays haven’t struggled as much with a .708 OPS against left-handers, but they are much better against righties with a .742 OPS. Rodon is still available in 74% of Yahoo! leagues and presents another viable streaming opportunity.
Starters to Avoid
Kevin Gausman, Baltimore Orioles: vs. BOS, vs. TB
Gausman has trouble keeping hitters in the park with a 1.5 HR/9, which would be the fourth straight season he has finished with an HR/9 of at least 1.4. Add in his 1.37 WHIP and uninspiring 7.8 K/9 and Gausman enters Week 18 with a 4.33 ERA and a 4.48 FIP. The Red Sox have scored by far the most runs (540) in baseball and destroyed Gausman for six runs in 4.2 innings earlier this season. The Rays are a better matchup, but they have scored nine runs over 10 innings in two games against Gausman. Keep him anchored to your bench.
Jose Urena, Miami Marlins: vs. ATL, vs. WAS
Urena finished with a 3.82 ERA in 2017, but he was lucky considering his 5.20 FIP. The opposite can be said for him this year as he has a 4.39 ERA, but a 3.71 FIP. He’s allowed a .304 BABIP, which is over 20 points higher than his career mark. The problem is he’s not fooling many batters with an 8.6% swinging-strike rate and a 7.4 K/9. The Braves are in the top third of baseball in runs scored and have scored seven runs over 12 innings against Urena this season. The Nationals lineup has been disappointing, but they still have plenty of potent hitters that can cause problems. With Urena’s limited strikeout upside, he’s not worth taking a chance on for Week 18.
Mike Minor, Texas Rangers: vs. OAK, at HOU
Minor was shelled by the lowly Orioles in his last start, allowing six runs (five earned) in 2.2 innings. He’s been able to stay healthy in his first season as a starting pitcher since 2014, but he hasn’t pitched well with a 4.89 ERA. He doesn’t walk many batters, but he doesn’t strikeout out many, either, with a 7.2 K/9. The Athletics are red-hot right now and have the second-highest road OPS (.788) in baseball. Minor has faced the Astros three times already, allowing 12 runs (11 earned) across 17 innings. You may have streamed him earlier this season, but stay away this week.
MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 8
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 8
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If you are playing in a head-to-head fantasy league, using starting pitchers that have two starts in a week can give you a significant edge over your opponent. Here are some starters who will each start two games in the week ahead that you should either target or avoid for your lineup.
Starters With Favorable Matchups
Patrick Corbin, Arizona Diamondbacks: vs. MIL, at NYM
Corbin has continued his torrid start, posting a 2.12 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, and 11.8 K/9 through eight starts. Not only is he recording strikeouts at the highest rate of his career, but he also has an excellent 2.3 BB/9. It is likely he is going to see some regression at some point though considering opponents have just a .217 BABIP against him. That may not come this week though with two matchups that lean heavily in his favor since the Brewers and Mets have the two lowest OPS’s in baseball against left-handed pitchers. If there was ever a time to sell high on him, it might be after this week.
Alex Wood, Los Angeles Dodgers: at MIA, at WAS
Wood’s 3.60 ERA is solid, but his performance this season has been even better when you consider he gave up seven runs in 3.2 innings in one game against the Athletics. He has done a great job limiting homers again with a 0.6 HR/9 and doesn’t walk many batters either, helping lead him to a 1.00 WHIP. His strikeout upside isn’t off the charts, but he can still provide value in the category with an 8.3 K/9 for his career. His first start for Week 8 brings the Marlins, who have scored the fewest runs (138) in baseball. He’ll then face the Nationals, who have the sixth-lowest OPS (.673) against lefties. He has actually already faced them once this season, allowing three runs (two earned) to go along with four strikeouts in six innings. Look for Wood to provide plenty of value in these two games.
Tyler Anderson, Colorado Rockies: at SD, at SF
Much like Wood, Anderson has had one bad start that has thrown off his numbers, allowing seven runs in 2.1 innings against the Diamondbacks in his first start of the season. Since then, he has allowed two earned runs or fewer in six of seven starts. He has had some control issues with a 4.0 BB/9, but he also has a career-high 9.4 K/9. He will be facing the Padres for the third time this season, allowing two runs to go along with 12 strikeouts in 12 innings across his first two starts. Both the Padres and the Giants are in the bottom seven in baseball in terms of runs scored, so Anderson could be a viable streaming option this week. He is still available in 80% of Yahoo! leagues.
Mike Minor, Texas Rangers: at SEA, at CWS
Minor’s transition back into a starting role in the majors for the first time since 2014 hasn’t been great, but it hasn’t been a disaster either. Through seven starts, Minor has a 4.73 ERA and 4.55 FIP. He’s allowing too many home runs with a 1.4 HR/9, but he does have a 1.20 WHIP. His .284 BABIP allowed is close to his career mark, but his 41.8% hard-hit rate allowed is abnormally high. This could be the week to take a chance on him though if you need starting pitching help. The Mariners just lost one of their best offensive players in Robinson Cano (hand) and the White Sox have the fourth-lowest OPS (.663) against left-handers. Minor is still available in 90% of Yahoo! leagues.
Starters to Avoid
Jose Quintana, Chicago Cubs: vs. ATL, at CIN
Quintana’s 4.42 ERA this season isn’t terrible, but he’s lucky it’s even that low considering his 1.47 WHIP. Control has been an issue, allowing 4.4 BB/9 and throwing a first-pitch strike to only 62.5% of the batters that he has faced, which would be his lowest mark since his rookie season. He had an excellent 9.9 K/9 last year, but that was much higher than the 7.8 K/9 he has for his career. He’s regressed back to a 7.9 K/9 this season, so we may have just seen a one-year anomaly. The Braves have one of the best lineups in all of baseball and the Reds have the 10th highest OPS (.765) against lefties, so this may not be the week to ride with Quintana.
Joey Lucchesi, San Diego Padres: vs. COL, at PIT
The Padres desperately need quality starting pitching and Lucchesi has stepped up in his first taste of big league action, recording a 2.98 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 9.8 K/9. He’s had some problems providing length though, throwing 5.2 innings or fewer in six of his eight starts. His .292 BABIP allowed isn’t low, but his 39.3% hard-hit rate allowed is concerning. This week could bring a mixed bag of results based on his two opponents. He’ll face the Rockies for the third time, allowing two unearned runs to go along with 15 strikeouts in the first two starts. However, the Rockies are tied for the seventh-highest OPS (.774) against lefties. The Pirates absolutely mash lefties with a .850 OPS against them, which is almost 40 percentage points higher than any other team.
Francisco Liriano, Detroit Tigers: vs. CLE, at SEA
Liriano’s 3.35 ERA looks nice, but he’s been playing with fire due to a 4.5 BB/9. He has a 1.17 WHIP, but that’s largely been aided by opposing hitters recording just a .226 BABIP. He doesn’t provide much in the way of strikeouts either with a 6.5 K/9. Liriano did hold the Indians to two runs in six innings earlier this season, but their lineup is rolling right now and they are in the top 10 in terms of OPS against left-handed pitchers overall. The Mariners matchup is better without Cano, but they still have some excellent power bats that can take advantage of Liriano if he doesn’t cut down on his walks. Without much strikeout upside, it’s not worth trying to stream Liriano for Week 8.