MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/29/18

MLB Daily Fantasy Picks

by Mike Barner on June 29, 20180 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

June special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

After a quiet Thursday, Friday brings a full slate of 15 games in the majors. 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 6/29/18

Jacob deGrom vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $11,700
DraftKings = $13,600

This is the premier pitching matchup to target for your entry. The Mets season has been a disappointment, but deGrom has been spectacular with a 1.69 ERA, 2.14 FIP, and a 1.01 WHIP. He’s always provided plenty of strikeouts, but he currently has career-highs in both swinging-strike rate (15.2%) and strikeout rate (31.4%). When hitters do actually make contact, they haven’t squared him up with a 27.8% hard-hit rate and only five home runs in 101.1 innings. The Marlins have one of the worst lineups in baseball, leaving deGrom with tremendous upside.

Marco Gonzales vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $7,300
DraftKings = $7,800

Gonzales had a daunting two-start week last week, facing both the Red Sox and Yankees on the road. He understandably struggled, allowing 11 runs in 12.1 innings. Before those bad outings, he had allowed three runs or fewer in six straight starts. He’s not a great source for strikeouts, but he’s shown excellent control by throwing a first-pitch strike to 67.6% of the hitters that he has faced and allowing just 2.0 BB/9. The Royals have scored the fewest runs (283) in baseball, leaving Gonzales with upside in tournament play despite his lack of strikeout potential.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/29/18

Jesus Aguilar vs. Sal Romano, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $5,200

Aguilar went deep again Thursday, marking his third straight game with a home run. He is absolutely on fire right now, hitting 16-for-36 (.444) with nine home runs and three doubles in his last 11 games. Even with Eric Thames healthy, the Brewers are not going to take Aguilar out of their lineup. Romano has allowed 1.5 HR/9 and plenty of base runners with a 1.47 WHIP, potentially setting Aguilar up for another big performance.

Yonder Alonso vs. Paul Blackburn, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,600

After a series in St. Louis without the DH limited Alonso’s playing time, the Indians return to American League play Friday. You want to avoid playing Alonso against lefties, but he’s a great option against righties since he has a .352 wOBA against them this season. Blackburn allows a ton of baserunners and doesn’t have strikeout stuff, so Alonso is a cheap option with upside if you don’t want to pay up for Aguilar.

Others to consider: Jose Abreu (first base) and Tucker Barnhart (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/29/18

Dee Gordon vs. Ian Kennedy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,300

Gordon continues to hit for a high average and is 24-for-73 (.329) in his last 16 games. He provides close to nothing in terms of power, but he did score 11 runs over that stretch. Kennedy is having another bad season with a 5.09 ERA and allows plenty of base runners with a 1.45 WHIP, leaving Gordon as someone to consider despite his lack of home run potential.

Yoan Moncada vs. Yovani Gallardo, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,500

Gallardo hasn’t finished with an ERA below 5.42 since 2015. He’s only made two starts for the Rangers and didn’t pitch well in either of them, allowing nine runs and 17 total base runners in 10.1 innings. He also allowed three home runs after posting a 1.7 HR/9 with the Mariners last year. Moncada only has a .199 wOBA against left-handed pitchers, but he’s been much better against righties with a .336 wOBA.

Others to consider: Scooter Gennett and Jason Kipnis

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/29/18

Jose Ramirez vs. Paul Blackburn, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $5,400

Considering Blackburn has an 8.83 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP, the Indians could be one of the most popular stacking plays Friday. Ramirez has not only been one of the best hitters on the team this season, but he’s been one of the best hitters in all of baseball by batting .291 with 23 home runs, 52 RBI, 55 runs scored and 13 steals.

Justin Turner vs. Tyler Anderson, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,900

Turner is showing signs of getting his power stroke back, slugging two home runs in his last five games. He’s had a slow start in general since returning from a wrist injury but is 6-for-15 (.400) during that same five-game stretch. Turner not only has a .436 wOBA against lefties this year, but he is 10-for-18 with a home run and three doubles against Anderson in his career.

Others to consider: Matt Carpenter and Adrian Beltre

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/29/18

Francisco Lindor vs. Paul Blackburn, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $5,300

Lindor had a rough series against the Cardinals, finishing 1-for-12 with one walk. He had homered in three straight games before the series began and is having the best power season of his career with a .539 slugging percentage. He’s still hitting for average as well at .288, so look for him to get back on track facing a much easier opponent Friday.

Kike Hernandez vs. Tyler Anderson, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,500

Even though Chris Taylor returned from a hamstring injury Thursday, the Dodgers still found a way to keep Hernandez in their lineup. He rewarded them with two hits and two RBI and is now 19-for-55 (.345) with six home runs, 12 RBI and 14 runs scored in his last 16 games. With a .359 wOBA against lefties, expect the Dodgers to start him against Anderson.

Others to consider: Jean Segura and Tim Anderson

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/29/18

Nelson Cruz vs. Ian Kennedy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,800

Kennedy has allowed at least 31 home runs in each of the last three seasons and is on pace to do that again this year with 15 home runs allowed in 86.2 innings. That plays right into Cruz’s wheelhouse as he already has 21 homers this year and has slugged at least 39 home runs in each of the last four seasons.

Rhys Hoskins vs. Erick Fedde, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,900

Hoskins couldn’t buy a hit in May, batting only .161 with two home runs in the month. Hoskins then fractured his jaw after fouling off a pitch at the end of the month, forcing him to hit the DL. He came back quickly and has found his stroke again, batting .329 with seven home runs and 20 RBI in 18 games. Fedde has a 5.32 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP in four starts this season and is really only in the starting rotation due to injuries to Stephen Strasburg and Jeremy Hellickson.

Avisail Garcia vs. Yovani Gallardo, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $3,600

The White Sox struggle to score runs, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look to stack them against Gallardo based on how poorly he has been pitching. Garcia was one of the prime regression candidates at the start of the season as his .338 average last year was largely aided by an unsustainable .392 BABIP. Injuries have limited him to 104 plate appearances, but he has two home runs during his current five-game hitting streak and is worth the risk at this cheap price.

Others to consider: Shin-Soo Choo and Nomar Mazara

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/20/18

MLB Daily Fantasy Picks

by Mike Barner on June 20, 20180 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

June special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout

Wednesday’s schedule is split evenly between day and night games, so let’s examine some favorable options for both 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 6/20/18

Corey Kluber vs. Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $12,100
DraftKings = $12,600

Kluber had his worst start of the season against the Twins in his last outing, allowing four runs in five innings. He had pitched at least six innings and allowed three runs or fewer in each of his previous 14 starts, so expect him to rebound quickly. He has a 2.24 ERA and his 0.84 WHIP is partly aided by his insanely low 0.9 BB/9. In his last start against the White Sox, he allowed three hits and recorded 10 strikeouts in six scoreless innings. Don’t hesitate to pay up for him in their rematch.

Frankie Montas vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $8,200
DraftKings = $6,700

Montas really struggled in his last start against the Astros, allowing seven runs (five earned) and recording only one strikeout in 5.1 innings. He was pitching well before that outing, allowing three runs across 21.2 innings in his first three starts. He’ll certainly get a much easier matchup in this game against a Padres team that has scored the sixth-fewest runs (285) in baseball. Montas hasn’t shown big strikeout upside, but the Padres do have the second most strikeouts (710), so he’s a viable cheap option in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/20/18

Brandon Belt vs. Jose Urena, Miami Marlins
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,700

Injuries have plagued Belt during his career, limiting him to 137 games or fewer in three of the last four seasons. He’s already made one trip to the DL this season, but he’s still managed to play in 57 games. He’s putting up excellent numbers when he’s on the field, batting .296 with 12 home runs. Facing the right-handed Urena makes Belt someone to target for your entry since he has a .409 wOBA against righties this year.

Devin Mesoraco vs. Chad Bettis, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,900

Bettis has been excellent on the road this season with a 2.70 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. He’s been on the opposite end of the spectrum pitching in Coors Field, recording a 7.76 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP. Bettis gives up plenty of homers with a 1.5 HR/9, leaving Mesoraco as a cheaper option with upside.

Others to consider: Ian Desmond (first base) and Yuli Gurriel (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/20/18

Asdrubal Cabrera vs. Chad Bettis, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,400

The Mets don’t have a great lineup, but going against Bettis in Coors Field makes them a stacking option to consider for your entry. Cabrera has enjoyed hitting in Coors Field so far as he is 4-for-10 with two RBI in the first two games of this series. He was in a slump to start the month of June, but he’s showing signs of turning things around during his current four-game hitting streak. He only has a .308 wOBA against lefties this year, but he has a .351 wOBA against righties.

Whit Merrifield vs. Austin Bibens-Dirkx, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,900

The Royals are clearly sellers heading into the trade deadline as they have already moved Jon Jay and Kelvin Herrera. Merrifield is one of the building blocks of their team, though, batting .290 with 16 steals this season. He only has four home runs, but he already has 22 doubles in 269 at-bats after finishing with 32 doubles in 587 at-bats last year. Bibens-Dirkx has only made two starts for the Rangers this season, but he wasn’t impressive in either outing as he allowed 10 runs (eight earned) in 11 innings combined.

Others to consider: Scooter Gennett and Dee Gordon

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/20/18

Matt Carpenter vs. Jake Arrieta, Philadelphia Phillies
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,200

Carpenter is red-hot right now, hitting 13-for-43 (.302) with five home runs in his last 10 games. His overall numbers still aren’t great, but his .282 BABIP is still significantly lower than his career mark. He has a .351 wOBA against right-handed pitchers this season despite his struggles, leaving him with the opportunity for a big game against Arrieta, who only has a 6.0 K/9.

Brian Anderson vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,700

Anderson has taken full advantage of being given an everyday role with the Marlins, batting .294 with a .373 OBP. His BABIP is high at .363, but his 41.1% hard-hit rate is encouraging. Holland has allowed a .360 wOBA to righties this year, making Anderson a viable option for your entry despite his lack of home run upside.

Others to consider: Nolan Arenado and Anthony Rendon

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/20/18

Didi Gregorius vs. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,800

Gregorius has officially busted out of his prolonged slump as he is 13-for-33 (.394) across his last nine games. Not only does he have a .359 wOBA against righties this year, but 12 of his 14 home runs have come at Yankee Stadium. Once one of the most dominating pitchers in baseball, Hernandez has had trouble getting left-handed hitters out as he has allowed a .350 wOBA to them this year.

Amed Rosario vs. Chad Bettis, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,500

Rosario is 7-for-21 (.333) during his current five-game hitting streak. It’s no coincidence that streak has come on the road as Rosario is batting .282 away from Citi Field this year. With Bettis’ considerable struggles in Coors Field, Rosario could provide value based on his cheap price on both sites.

Others to consider: Manny Machado and Marcus Semien

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/20/18

Brandon Nimmo vs. Chad Bettis, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,000

Nimmo has been one of the bigger surprise success stories in baseball this year as he is batting .287 with 12 home runs and seven stolen bases. His BABIP is high at .358, but his 12.6% walk rate and 43% hard-hit rate are good signs for his continued success. His .454 wOBA against right-handers makes him someone you can build your entry around with Bettis on the mound.

Juan Soto vs. Andrew Cashner, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,600

Cashner will be activated from the DL to start this game, but he wasn’t pitching well before going down with a back injury. He allows a lot of base runners with a 1.69 WHIP and has had troubles keeping hitters in the ballpark with a 1.6 HR/9, which has lead to his 4.98 ERA and 5.17 FIP. Soto continues to shine since being recalled from the minors, posting a .326 batting average and 1.013 OPS.

Lonnie Chisenhall vs. Reynaldo Lopez, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,200

Chisenhall still doesn’t have a home run this year, but he’s been an asset to the Indians with a .339 average and a .439 OBP. His .404 BABIP won’t hold, but his .385 wOBA against righties makes him someone to consider in tournament play against Lopez, who doesn’t exactly have an overpowering arsenal with a 6.6 K/9 for his career.

Others to consider: Aaron Hicks and Nomar Mazara

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/19/18

MLB Daily Fantasy Picks

by Mike Barner on June 19, 20180 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

June special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout

There are a few aces taking the mound Tuesday, but there are also a lot of bad pitchers projected to start that could lead to some big offensive numbers. 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 6/19/18

Justin Verlander vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $11,500
DraftKings = $13,300

Verlander has not allowed more than three earned runs in a start this season and he has four starts where he hasn’t allowed a single run. The end result has been a 1.61 ERA, 2.48 FIP and a 0.76 WHIP in 15 outings. He has thrown a first-pitch strike to 65.2% of the batters that he has faced and has a 12.8% swinging-strike rate, which has helped result in a 10.8 K/9. The Rays don’t score many runs, leaving Verlander with the potential for another excellent outing.

Vince Velasquez vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $8,800
DratfKings = $8,600

Velasquez’s 4.74 ERA is a bit deceiving. He allowed 10 runs over 3.2 innings in one start against the Brewers but has allowed three runs or fewer in 10 of his 14 outings. A lot of his struggles last year were due to his 1.50 WHIP and a 1.9 HR/9, but he’s improved in both areas with a 1.30 WHIP and a 1.2 HR/9 this season. His strikeout rate is up significantly at 28.3%, mirroring his 2016 campaign when he finished with a 27.6% strikeout rate and looked like a promising young piece the Phillies could build their rotation around. He doesn’t always pitch deep into games because of elevated pitch counts, but his strikeout upside is significant enough to make him a viable option in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/19/18

Paul Goldschmidt vs. Felix Pena, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $5,700

Goldschmidt buried himself in a deep hole by batting .144 with three home runs in May. He’s trying to make up for lost time in a hurry, batting .426 with eight home runs so far in June. He has boosted his overall batting average to .265 in the process and his .523 slugging percentage isn’t far off from his .531 career mark. Pena will be making his first start of the season after posting an underwhelming 3.78 ERA and 1.38 WHIP in Triple-A, leaving Goldschmidt with an excellent opportunity to continue his recent success.

Dominic Smith vs. German Marquez, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,000

This could be a high scoring game with two bad pitchers in Marquez and Jason Vargas taking the mound. Marquez has a 5.13 ERA and 1.48 WHIP in 14 starts and has struggled even more with a 7.71 ERA and a 1.90 WHIP at Coors Field. If you’re stacking Mets on Tuesday, Smith is a great option based on his price.

Others to consider: Ian Desmond (first base) and Devin Mesoraco (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/19/18

DJ LeMahieu vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,900

Stacking Rockies will probably be the most popular play of the night. Vargas has been awful this year with a 7.39 ERA and a 1.70 WHIP across eight starts. He hasn’t thrown more than five innings in any of his starts and has allowed eight home runs in 35.1 innings. LeMahieu has a .433 wOBA against lefties this year, which would mark his third straight season with a wOBA of at least .397 against left-handed pitchers.

Jed Lowrie vs. Eric Lauer, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,800

Lowrie was one of the hottest hitters in baseball over the first month of the season as he entered May batting .339 with six home runs. He’s cooled off dramatically since, batting .255 with three home runs in May and .228 with no home runs so far in June. He is 6-for-13 with two doubles in his last three games and this matchup is in his favor against the struggling Lauer, who has a 6.20 ERA and a 1.98 WHIP. If you can’t squeeze LeMahieu into your lineup based on his price tag, Lowrie is a cost-effective option with upside.

Others to consider: Asdrubal Cabrera and Daniel Descalso

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/19/18

Nolan Arenado vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $5,700

Arenado has significant home and road splits. He is hitting .276 with a .868 OPS on the road, but he is batting .339 with a 1.020 OPS at Coors Field. He also destroys left-handed pitching, posting a 211 wRC+ against them this season after finishing with a 220 wRC+ last year.

Adrian Beltre vs. Jason Hammel, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,700

Beltre is locked in since returning from his second stint on the DL this season, batting 16-for-47 (.340) with two home runs and 10 RBI in 14 games. The Rangers lineup is finally at full strength with Elvis Andrus back from the DL as well, opening up the possibility of more counting stats for Beltre. Arenado has significantly more upside based on his power, but Beltre is also someone to consider against Hammel, who hasn’t been impressive with a 4.89 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP.

Others to consider: Jeimer Candelario and Colin Moran

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/19/18

Trevor Story vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $5,500

Story looked like one of the best young players in baseball after hitting .272 with 27 home runs in only 97 games in 2016. He took a step backward last year, finishing with a .239 average and 24 home runs in 145 games. One reason for his struggles was his 34.4% strikeout rate. He’s cut that down to 26.4% this season, which has helped lead him to a .268 average. He hasn’t sacrificed his power numbers, either, as he has 15 homers. His home and road splits are even more dramatic than Arenado’s since 12 of Story’s 15 home runs this season have come at Coors Field.

Amed Rosario vs. German Marquez, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,600

Rosario is batting only .207 at Citi Field this season but he has been much better on the road with a .283 average. He took advantage of the friendly confines of Coors Field on Monday, finishing 3-for-5 with two doubles. He’s not exactly having a great season with a .246 average and four home runs, but he sticks out as a nice value play based on this matchup.

Others to consider: Elvis Andrus and Freddy Galvis

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/19/18

Brandon Nimmo vs. German Marquez, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,800

The Mets have struggled to score runs, but that certainly hasn’t been Nimmo’s fault. He couldn’t have had a better start to this series against the Rockies, finishing 4-for-6 with two home runs and four RBI Monday. He has been one of the Mets most consistent hitters and he has a .459 wOBA against righties, making him someone to build your lineup around Tuesday.

Odubel Herrera vs. Luke Weaver, St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,100

Herrara is heating up, hitting 9-for-23 with three home runs in his last five games. Weaver is going in the opposite direction, allowing 13 runs (11 earned) over 19.1 innings in his last four starts. Righties only have a .281 wOBA against Weaver this season, but lefties have had much more success with a .340 wOBA.

Mark Canha vs. Eric Lauer, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,600

Canha’s overall numbers aren’t very good with a .244 average and a .758 OPS this season. He especially struggled in May, hitting just .183 with a .226 BABIP. However, he is a cheap option to target against lefties since he has a .384 wOBA against them this year.

Others to consider: Juan Soto and Nomar Mazara

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/15/18

MLB Daily Fantasy Picks

by Mike Barner on June 15, 20180 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 6/5/18

MLB Daily Fantasy Picks

by Mike Barner on June 5, 20180 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
May special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout

Outside of a doubleheader between the Twins and White Sox, we’ve got a full slate of night baseball in the majors 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 6/5/18

Max Scherzer vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $12,000
DraftKings = $13,300

Scherzer mowed down the Orioles in his last start, allowing just three base runners and recording 12 strikeouts in eight shutout innings. In his 12 starts this season, Scherzer has allowed one or no runs six times. His 1.92 ERA is supported by a strong 1.94 FIP and 0.85 WHIP. Keeping runners off base continues to be a strength for Scherzer as this would mark his fourth straight season with a WHIP of 0.97 or lower. The Rays have scored the sixth-fewest runs (238) in baseball and won’t have the benefit of the designated hitter either, so don’t hesitate to pay up for Scherzer.

Sean Newcomb vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $8,900
DraftKings = $9,200

The Braves rotation has been much improved this year with Newcomb becoming one of the best pitchers on the staff. Other than a 4.3 BB/9, there is a lot to like about his numbers. In his 11 starts, he has a 2.73 ERA, 3.13 FIP, and a 1.21 WHIP. He’s only allowed three home runs in 62.2 innings and is getting plenty of strikeouts with a 9.2 K/9. His numbers are even better on the road, recording a 2.06 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and a 10.8 K/9 across seven outings. The Padres have struck out the second-most times (581) in baseball, leaving Newcomb with the potential for a valuable performance.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/5/18

Mitch Moreland vs. Artie Lewicki, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,600

Moreland is now locked in at first base for the Red Sox with Hanley Ramirez no longer with the team. Moreland is off to great start, hitting for both average and power. Not only is he batting .305, but his .631 slugging percentage would be by far the highest of his career. With a lofty .442 wOBA against right-handed pitching this year, Moreland is an excellent option against the underwhelming Lewicki, who will be making his first start of the season.

Greg Bird vs. Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,100

After going hitless in his first game of the season, Bird has at least one hit in each of his last six games. He adds another power bat to an already loaded Yankees lineup as he already has two home runs and two doubles. Estrada gives up a ton of homers, following up his 1.5 HR/9 in 2017 with a 1.8 HR/9 this season. A Yankees stack could provide a lot of production Tuesday, Bird included.

Others to consider: Anthony Rizzo (first base) and Gary Sanchez (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/5/18

Whit Merrifield vs. Andrew Heaney, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,300

Merrifield is a bright building block for the Royals, hitting .288 with 19 home runs and 34 stolen bases in his first full season in the majors last year. He only has four homers this season, but he’s batting .291 with 14 steals. He’s also shown an improved eye at the plate, already recording 26 walks in 258 plate appearances after drawing just 29 walks in 630 plate appearances last year. With a career .389 wOBA against lefties, he’s a prime target facing Heaney.

Jonathan Schoop vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,500

Schoop was a force in the Orioles’ lineup last year, batting .293 with 32 home runs. He hasn’t been able to follow that up with a good start this season as he is batting just .238 with five homers. His hard-hit rate is way down at 22.3%, which is almost 14 percentage points lower than last year. Even with all of his struggles, he still has a .320 wOBA against lefties. Vargas has been getting hammered this season, so this might be the time to take a chance on Schoop in tournament play.

Others to consider: Gleyber Torres and Jed Lowrie

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/5/18

Eugenio Suarez vs. Kyle Freeland, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $5,100

After providing reliable production the last two seasons, the Reds locked up Suarez to a long-term deal this spring. He has rewarded their faith in him, batting .297 with 11 home runs and 44 RBI. Although the .297 average is the highest of his career, his .308 BABIP is actually slightly lower than his career mark. His 244 wRC+ against lefties this year is especially impressive, which could make him a tough out for Freeland.

Matt Chapman vs. Matt Moore, Texas Rangers
Stadium = Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $4,100

Moore is one of my favorite pitchers to stack against. He is having a terrible year with a 7.85 ERA and a 2.00 WHIP. He has allowed fewer than three runs in only one of his starts and doesn’t carry much strikeout upside. Righties have a .390 wOBA against him as well, so Chapman is someone to consider even though he has cooled off after a red-hot start.

Others to consider: Jose Ramirez and Miguel Andujar

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/5/18

Manny Machado vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,200

Machado is thriving in a contract year and could end up being one of the highest paid players in baseball this winter. He requested to be moved back to shortstop likely to increase his value, so he’s well aware of the impact an excellent season could have on his next deal. He has a 1.030 OPS this season after never posting an OPS above .876 in his career. You could go on for days about his excellent numbers, but another key stat is that he has a .405 wOBA against left-handed pitchers.

Brock Holt vs. Artie Lewicki, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,300

Holt is in line for more playing time with Dustin Pedroia (knee) back on the DL. Holt has dealt with his fair share of injuries during his career as well, but he’s healthy right now and batting a career-high .319. He’s been boosted by a .364 BABIP, but his strikeout rate is also down significantly. He has a .350 wOBA against righties this year, leaving him as a cost-effective option with upside.

Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Xander Bogaerts

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/5/18

Aaron Judge vs. Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $5,100
DraftKings = $5,400

Judge had a day to forget in a doubleheader against the Tigers on Monday, striking out a combined eight times. There’s no question that Judge is going to strike out a lot, but he still has a .271 average for his career. Considering Estrada gives up a lot of home runs and doesn’t have overpowering stuff, it’s no surprise that Judge is 8-for-20 (.400) with two home runs and two doubles against him.

Khris Davis vs. Matt Moore, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,900

Davis’ .230 average leaves a lot to be desired, but he hasn’t disappointed in the power department with 13 home runs already despite spending 10 days on the DL. His .248 BABIP is also 30 points below his career mark, so he has some room for improvement with his average. Davis has pretty close splits against lefties and righties for his career and is an excellent option against Moore.

Brandon Nimmo vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,400

Cobb was hammered in his first three starts with the Orioles and while he has shown improvement, he has allowed 16 runs (15 earned) in his last 22.2 innings. He has allowed at least one home run in seven of his nine starts as well. Nimmo has played his way into the Mets leadoff role, batting .271 with a .421 OBP. He has seven home runs and six stolen bases and should continue to play every day even when Yoenis Cespedes (hip) does eventually return. Righties have found it very difficult to get Nimmo out as he has a .475 wOBA against them.

Others to consider: Nelson Cruz and Adam Jones

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 11

MLB Fantasy Baseball Strategy

by Mike Barner on June 4, 20180 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
June special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout

If you are playing in a head-to-head fantasy league, using starting pitchers that have two starts in a week can give you a significant edge over your opponent. Here are some starters who will each start two games in the week ahead that you should either target or avoid for your lineup.

Starters With Favorable Matchups

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 11

Luis Severino, New York Yankees: at DET, at NYM

The Yankees potent lineup gets the majority of the headlines, but Severino is just as important as anyone on the team. He put together a breakout campaign in 2017, finishing with a 2.98 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and a 10.7 K/9. He’s been even better through his first 12 starts this year with a 2.31 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and a 10.6 K/9. His average fastball velocity is 98.2 mph and he has thrown a first-pitch strike to an impressive 70.1% of the batters that he has faced. The Mets are tied for the fourth-fewest runs scored (230) in baseball and the Tigers lineup has been middle of the pack, leaving Severino with the potential for an extremely valuable week.

Carlos Martinez, St. Louis Cardinals: vs. MIA, at CIN

Martinez has not pitched in almost a month due to a strained lat, but he will be activated from the disabled list Tuesday. He had a sparkling 1.62 ERA before the injury, but his 3.35 FIP and .237 opponents BABIP indicate he has been a bit lucky. The FIP is still good, though, and he’s only allowed one home run in 50 innings. His first start of the week comes against a Marlins team that has scored the fewest runs (196) in baseball. The Reds are certainly better offensively, but Martinez has already faced them twice this year, throwing 13 scoreless innings while recording 18 strikeouts. Get him right back into your lineup.

Kyle Hendricks, Chicago Cubs: vs. PHI, vs. PIT

Hendricks isn’t a big strikeout pitcher with a 7.6 K/9 for his career. He doesn’t walk many hitters and does a good job keeping runners off base in general, which has helped him quietly become a very successful pitcher. He’s off to another good start this year with a 3.19 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. He doesn’t get hit hard often, allowing more than three earned runs in a game only one time this season. The Phillies are in the bottom-third of the league in runs scored and while the Pirates have scored more runs, Hendricks has held them to four runs in 11 innings in their first two meetings this year.

Nick Tropeano, Los Angeles Angels: vs. KC, at MIN

Tropeano missed the entire 2017 season after having Tommy John surgery and hasn’t made more than 13 starts in a season during his career. He’s been able to make eight starts so far this year, posting a 3.80 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. His 4.91 FIP and 1.6 HR/9 are a bit concerning, limiting his upside over the course of the season. This is setting up to be a nice week for him, though, against the Royals and Twins as neither team scores a ton of runs. He has already faced both teams once this season, throwing 6.2 scoreless innings and recording six strikeouts against the Royals while allowing three runs to go along with two strikeouts in six innings against the Twins. Tropeano is still available in 82% of Yahoo! leagues and is a viable streaming option.

Starters to Avoid

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 11

Zack Godley, Arizona Diamondbacks: at SF, at COL

Godley isn’t off to a great start with a 4.38 ERA and a 4.44 FIP through 11 outings. His success last year was in large part due to his 1.14 WHIP, which has ballooned to 1.54 this year. His .316 BABIP allowed isn’t much higher than his career mark, which is not good news for his value moving forward. His first matchup this week against the Giants is not bad, but his second outing in Coors Field could be a nightmare. That game alone is a reason to keep him on your bench in Week 11.

Clayton Richard, San Diego Padres: vs. ATL, at MIA

It’s been another underwhelming season for Richard, who has a 4.74 ERA and a 4.14 FIP in 12 starts. His 1.31 WHIP isn’t terrible, but he has very little strikeout upside with a 5.9 K/9 for his career. His second start this week against the Marlins is a great matchup, but don’t get too excited about him as a streaming option. The Braves are not only tied for the fourth-most runs scored (293) in baseball, but they also have the highest OPS against lefties (.806). Since he likely won’t provide a lot of strikeouts even in his start against the Marlins, it might be best to avoid him altogether.

Jason Vargas, New York Mets: vs. BAL, vs. NYY

Vargas won a career-high 18 games for the Royals last year and made the All-Star team for the first time. He moved to the Mets in the offseason but he has been limited to six starts due to injury. He was hammered in his first three outings but hasn’t given up a run in two of his last three starts. One of those came against the Braves, which is particularly impressive considering their success against lefties. Even with his recent success, you still want to stay away from streaming him this week. The Orioles aren’t exactly imposing, but the Yankees have the second-highest OPS against lefties (.799) and can still do a ton of damage even without the luxury of having the DH playing at Citi Field.

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/29/18

MLB Daily Fantasy Picks

by Mike Barner on May 29, 20180 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
May special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout

Baseball brings a full night of action Tuesday, leaving a lot 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 5/29/18

Charlie Morton vs. New York Yankees
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $9,900
DraftKings = $12,100

Starting a pitcher on the road against the Yankees powerful lineup isn’t usually a good idea. However, you may want to do just that Tuesday. Morton continues to be a key part of the deepest rotation in baseball, recording a 2.04 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in 10 starts. He is likely in line for some regression with his 3.32 FIP and .235 BABIP allowed, but he’s an excellent source for strikeouts with a 10.9 K/9. He has already faced the Yankees once this season, allowing one run to go along with 10 strikeouts in 7.2 innings. On a night lacking elite pitching options, Morton may have the highest upside of anyone available.

Luis Castillo vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $7,800
DraftKings = $8,000

Castillo was horrible out of the gate, allowing 25 runs in 28.2 innings across his first six starts. He’s been a different pitcher since, though, allowing 10 runs (nine earned) in 28.2 innings over his last five starts. The key is after posting a 1.67 WHIP in those first six outings, he’s had a 1.22 WHIP in the last five. Add that with his excellent strikeout upside and he’s returning to the type of pitcher that showed so much promise last year. The Diamondbacks lineup is struggling to produce offense, recording the fewest hits (370) in baseball by a wide margin while also scoring the second-fewest runs (200).

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/29/18

Mitch Moreland vs. Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,100

The Red Sox decided to part ways with Hanley Ramirez and while a lot of that was financially motivated, it’s also because Moreland has been so reliable. Not only would his .317 average be the highest of his career, but he’s hitting for a ton of power as well with a .642 slugging percentage. He’s not likely to keep up this pace, though, with a .349 BABIP that is 61 points higher than his career average. He doesn’t always have success against left-handed pitching, but he is dominating righties with a .454 wOBA against them this season.

Wilson Ramos vs. Daniel Gossett, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,300

Ramos made the All-Star team with the Nationals in 2016 but only played 64 games in his first season with the Rays last year due to injury. He’s already played 41 games this season and has returned to his form with the Nationals, batting .310 with six home runs. He’s currently on an eight-game hitting streak, recording four multi-hit performances over that stretch. At this cheap price, it might be worth taking a chance on him continuing to swing a hot bat Tuesday.

Others to consider: Freddie Freeman (first base) and Joey Votto (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/29/18

Ozzie Albies vs. Steven Matz, New York Mets
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $5,100

The Braves lineup suffered a big loss with Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee/back) landing on the DL, but they still have another young phenom in Albies. He’s slowed down a bit in the power department, hitting just one home run in his last 13 games. That was to be expected considering the pace he was on, but he’s still a dangerous hitter. He’s someone you normally want to target when facing lefties as well considering he has a .433 wOBA against them in his brief career.

Brian Dozier vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $3,900

Dozier had made significant improvements with his batting average the last two seasons but is hitting just .243 so far this year. His .271 BABIP is in line with his career mark, but he’s historically been a better hitter in the second half of the season. He’s already starting to show signs of heating up, hitting 9-for-28 in his last seven games. Duffy is really struggling and has been hit hard by righties, making Dozier a viable option for your entry.

Others to consider: Scooter Gennett and Joey Wendle

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/29/18

Matt Carpenter vs. Zach Davies, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $3,800

Carpenter dug himself a huge hole this season, batting .155 through his first 25 games. He was extremely unlucky, though, with just a .190 BABIP. He’s rebounded nicely in May, batting .291 on the strength of his .373 BABIP. Davies allows plenty of baserunners and doesn’t have an overpowering arsenal with only a 6.5 K/9 for his career, so look for Carpenter to keep his hot streak alive.

Kyle Seager vs. Austin Bibens-Dirkx, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,500

Seager has never been a great hitter for average, but at only .226 this season, he’s been a major disappointment. He has been unlucky with a .241 BABIP, but it’s not a good sign that his strikeout rate is up while his walk rate is down. He’s been a much better hitter against right-handers in his career and faces an underwhelming one in Bibens-Dirkx, who has spent most of this season in Triple-A. If you want to go cheap at third base, Seager is someone to consider.

Others to consider: Rafael Devers and Miguel Sano

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/29/18

Jurickson Profar vs. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,600
DratfKings = $3,600

Hernandez has been in a downward spiral the last couple of years. He’s hit a new low through 11 starts this season with a 5.58 ERA, 5.08 FIP, and a 1.39 WHIP. His average fastball velocity is down to 90.5 mph this season, significantly below his career average of 93.8 mph. Profar has been a better hitter against lefties, but Hernandez’s lack of overpowering stuff still makes him a viable option for your entry.

Dansby Swanson vs. Steven Matz, New York Mets
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,300

Albies isn’t the only Braves hitter who is better against lefties as Swanson has a .368 wOBA against them this season compared to .293 against righties. Swanson doesn’t hit for a ton of power and his batting average has been on the decline as his BABIP has normalized, but he might be worth taking a chance on in tournament play at this price.

Others to consider: Xander Bogaerts and Carlos Correa

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/29/18

Andrew Benintendi vs. Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $5,100

Benintendi only has a .275 wOBA for his career against lefties but has had much more success against righties with a .365 wOBA. He’s been even better against righties this season with a .405 wOBA. His batting average is also 32 points higher at Fenway Park than it is on the road for his career, making him another Red Sox to target against Estrada.

Nomar Mazara vs. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,200

It’s hard to believe that not only is Mazara already in his third season in the majors at only 23 years old, but he also hit exactly 20 home runs in both of his first two seasons. He’s well on his way to that threshold again this year with 12 homers. Stacking Rangers hitters against Hernandez could yield excellent results, Mazara included.

Brandon Nimmo vs. Anibal Sanchez, Atlanta Braves
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,800

Nimmo has done a great job getting on base with a .408 OBP this year, helping him secure the leadoff job for the Mets. He’s provided some pop as well with four doubles, four triples, and five home runs. His 194 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers makes him a great cost-effective option against Sanchez, who is making his first start for the Braves in over a month.

Others to consider: Michael Conforto and Adam Jones

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/25/18

MLB Daily Fantasy Picks

by Mike Barner on May 25, 20180 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
May special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout

With only one day game Friday, there is a bevy of options to choose from for the main evening slate in DFS. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/25/18

Max Scherzer vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $12,000
DraftKings = $14,000

Scherzer has won the Cy Young Award in both of the last two seasons and three times overall in his career. With the way he’s been pitching so far, he’s making a strong case to win it once again. He does an excellent job keeping runners off base with a 0.85 WHIP, which would be his fourth-straight season with a WHIP of 0.97 or lower. He also has a staggering 17.2% swinging-strike rate that has led to a career-high 14.3 K/9. What might be just as impressive is that he has only issued 16 walks in 65.2 innings. He’s a great option regardless of who he is facing, but especially against a Marlins team that has scored the fewest runs (167) in baseball.

Sean Manaea vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $8,300
DraftKings = $8,600

Manaea began the season by allowing two runs or fewer in each of his first six starts, highlighted by a no-hitter against the Red Sox. His last four starts haven’t gone nearly as well, allowing 16 runs (15 earned) in 22.2 innings. One of the main reasons for his recent struggles has been a regression in his BABIP allowed, which was .148 in those first six starts and was .301 in the last four outings. However, this might be the matchup he needs to get back on track since the Diamondbacks have scored the second-fewest runs (180) and they sorely miss A.J. Pollock (thumb).

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/25/18

Matt Adams vs. Jose Urena, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,000

The Nationals have been decimated by injuries this season, opening up significant playing time for Adams. He’s come through in a major way, batting .273 with 11 home runs and 28 RBI. He even has those numbers despite his .264 BABIP being 50 percentage points lower than his career mark. He has followed up his .367 wOBA against lefties last year with a .441 wOBA this year, so Urena could have difficulty getting him out Friday.

Salvador Perez vs. Mike Minor, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,000

Minor’s transition back to being a starting pitcher has not gone well, allowing a 5.59 ERA and 1.32 WHIP across nine starts. His FIP has been a little better at 4.41, but he’s already allowed eight home runs in just 48.1 innings. He still gives left-handed hitters a lot of problems, but his .384 wOBA allowed to righties brings Perez into the discussion Friday.

Others to consider: Eric Hosmer (first base) and Edwin Encarnacion (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/25/18

Ozzie Albies vs. Eduardo Rodriguez, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $5,300

After hitting nine home runs in his first 27 games, Albies has slowed down a bit with five homers in his last 21 contests. He only hit 16 total home runs during his career in the minors, so it’s no surprise that he’s started to regress in that department. One interesting note is that 12 of his 14 home runs this year have come on the road. He is crushing lefties as well, posting a 232 wRC+ against them this season.

Whit Merrifield vs. Mike Minor, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,300

Stacking righties against Minor could be a path to success Friday. Merrifield broke out of his recent slump with two hits Thursday and is batting .286 this season. Not only has he shown a nice combination of speed and power this year, but he also has a 226 wRC+ against lefties.

Others to consider: Cesar Hernandez and Josh Harrison

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/25/18

Jose Ramirez vs. Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $5,300

Ramirez is officially over his early-season slump, batting .338 with seven homers and five steals in May. He only had a .241 BABIP heading into the month, so you knew he was bound to improve as the season progressed. Keuchel is certainly a good pitcher, but his wOBA against righties is 50 percentage points higher than it is against lefties in his career. This might not be an obvious matchup to take advantage of, but Ramirez has upside.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa vs, Eric Skoglund, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,500

Skoglund is getting his first chance to be a permanent member of the Royals starting rotation and it’s not going well as he has a 6.15 ERA and 1.32 WHIP across eight starts. He doesn’t carry strikeout upside with a 6.9 K/9 and has allowed a .357 wOBA against right-handed hitters, making Kiner-Falefa a cheap option who could provide value.

Others to consider: Nolan Arenado and Miguel Andujar

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/25/18

Jurickson Profar vs. Eric Skoglund, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $3,700

With Skoglund and all of his struggles, the Rangers are another team to consider stacking. Profar is finally getting consistent playing time with all of the Rangers injury woes and although he is batting just .237, he is hitting 7-for-22 with a home run, three doubles and 11 RBI in his last six games. He received the day off Thursday and missed out on a prime matchup against Danny Duffy, but facing Skoglund is just as favorable.

Dansby Swanson vs. Eduardo Rodriguez, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,200

Swanson couldn’t capitalize on his first opportunity to be an everyday player in the majors last year, batting only .232 with six home runs. He’s still not hitting for much power this year, but his .273 batting average is much improved. His .374 BABIP is high, so his average could decline as the season progresses. However, that might not start against Rodriguez since Swanson has traditionally had much more success against lefties.

Others to consider: Manny Machado and Trevor Story

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/25/18

Austin Meadows vs. John Gant, St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $3,800

Meadows has wasted no time making his mark in six games with the Pirates, batting .440 with three home runs and two doubles. He already has four multi-hit games and is creating a hard decision for the Pirates to make when Starling Marte (oblique) returns. Until then, continue to ride his hot streak.

Juan Soto vs. Jose Urena, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $3,400

Another one of the hot young prospects in baseball, Soto is 3-for-10 with a home run since being called up by the Nationals. Down some key outfielders, Soto should at least stay in the majors for the foreseeable future. Urena’s wOBA against lefties is 64 percentage points higher than it is against righties, making Soto another Nationals hitter to target.

Brandon Nimmo vs. Junior Guerra, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,600

With Yoenis Cespedes (hip) and Juan Lagares (toe) on the DL, regular playing time has opened up for Nimmo. He hasn’t let the opportunity go to waste, batting .294 with a .450 OBP. His .394 BABIP screams regression, but he did hit .280 with a .388 OBP in his career in the minors. He also has a .476 wOBA against righties this year, so he might be worth taking a chance on against Guerra.

Others to consider: Bryce Harper and Charlie Blackmon

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/23/18

MLB Daily Fantasy Picks

by Mike Barner on May 23, 20180 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
May special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout

There are games spread out throughout the day Wednesday, but let’s focus on the main 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 5/23/18

Jacob deGrom vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $10,400
DraftKings = $13,200

deGrom dealt with a hyperextended elbow recently, but showed no ill effects in his last start, allowing one run to go along with 13 strikeouts in seven innings against the Diamondbacks. He’s been fantastic when healthy this season, posting a 1.75 ERA, 1.81 FIP, and a 1.01 WHIP. He’s always carried significant strikeout upside and has a lofty 12.1 K/9 this season. Although deGrom gave up four runs over six innings in his first start against the Marlins this year, they have scored the fewest runs (165) and hit the fewest home runs (37) in baseball. Look for deGrom to have a much better performance in their rematch.

Alex Cobb vs. Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $6,100
DraftKings = $5,400

Cobb could not have been much worse in his first three starts this season, allowing 17 earned runs in 11.2 innings. He signed with the Orioles late and didn’t get a full spring training, which may have led to some of his struggles. He’s been much better since then, allowing nine earned runs over 24 innings in his last four starts. That’s even more impressive when you consider that three of those starts came against the Angels, Athletics and Red Sox. He’ll face a much easier opponent in the White Sox on Wednesday, who have scored the second-fewest runs (171) in baseball. At this dirt cheap price, he’s someone to consider in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/23/18

Anthony Rizzo vs. Adam Plutko, Cleveland Indians
Stadium – Wrigley Field
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,500

Plutko will be making his second start of the season Wednesday and he did pitch well in his first outing, allowing three runs in 7.1 innings against the Blue Jays. He did give up three solo home runs in that contest and had a 1.6 HR/9 at Triple-A last year, which is a bit concerning. He’s not much of a strikeout pitcher either with a career 7.5 K/9 in the minors. Rizzo is off to a bad start this season, but he does have a career .372 wOBA against right-handed pitchers, so this could be just the matchup he needs to have a big game.

Josh Bell vs. Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,000

Whenever Bailey takes the mound, you should be looking to stack hitters against him. He’s off to a terrible start with a 6.11 ERA, 6.04 FIP, and a 1.60 WHIP. His lowly 7% swinging-strike rate has helped result in a 5.4 K/9 and he has already allowed 12 home runs in 53 innings. Bell has yet to break out in the home run department with just three longballs this season, but he could provide excellent value Wednesday.

Others to consider: Mike Zunino (catcher) and Chris Davis (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/23/18

Gleyber Torres vs. Doug Fister, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,500

In what has been a dream start to his major league career, Torres is batting .330 with seven home runs in 26 games. He’s been hitting ninth, but just about every spot in the loaded Yankees lineup provides plenty of opportunities for counting stats. He’s never hit more than 11 home runs in a season in the minors, so don’t expect him to keep hitting homers at this pace. He does have a career .285 average and .362 OBP in the minors and was rated as one of the top prospects in all of baseball. Fister’s 4.72 FIP indicates he hasn’t pitched as well as his 3.43 ERA would lead you to believe and he only has a 6.6 K/9, leaving Torres with another favorable opportunity to produce.

Scooter Gennett vs. Chad Kuhl, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,400

Gennett had a breakout campaign last year, batting .295 with 27 home runs and 97 RBI. He’s doing his best to prove that was no fluke, batting .324 with eight home runs and 33 RBI so far this season. He had a .388 wOBA against right-handers last year and has followed it up with a .395 wOBA against them so far this year, leaving him with significant upside against Kuhl.

Others to consider: Javier Baez and Jonathan Schoop

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/23/18

Colin Moran vs. Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,700

The Pirates really try to keep Moran away from lefties, resulting in him logging only 10 plate appearances against them this season. Wednesday won’t present that problem though against Bailey and Moran is hitting righties well with a .370 wOBA. He went deep in Tuesday’s game against Matt Harvey and should be a part of any Pirates stack you plan to deploy versus Bailey.

Pedro Alvarez vs. Dylan Covey, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,700

The Orioles against Covey presents another excellent stacking opportunity. He was horrible in 18 games (12 starts) for the White Sox last season, recording a 7.71 ERA, 7.20 FIP and 1.67 WHIP. He had almost as many walks (34) as he had strikeouts (41) and allowed a staggering 20 home runs in 70 innings. Despite his struggles in the batting average department, Alvarez still has eight home runs this season and has much better career numbers against righties, so he might be worth the risk in tournament play.

Others to consider: Matt Chapman and Kyle Seager

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/23/18

Manny Machado vs. Dylan Covey, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $5,500

Machado has been one of the best hitters in baseball this season, batting .335 with 15 home runs and 43 RBI. He’s been one of the few bright spots in what has otherwise been a struggling Orioles lineup that is in the bottom-third of baseball in runs scored. His walk rate is up and his strikeout rate is down, which is good news for him to be able to sustain this type of production moving forward. With Covey’s poor performance already detailed, the time might be right to pay up for Machado.

Jean Segura vs. Daniel Gossett, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,500

The Mariners lineup was expected to be their strength heading into this season, but they are seriously depleted right now without Robinson Cano (suspension) and Dee Gordon (toe). To make matters worse, Nelson Cruz has also missed the last two games with an elbow injury and may not be able to play Wednesday either. Segura is one of the best hitters they have left as he is batting .315 with 11 stolen bases this season. Gossett has a 6.48 ERA and 1.63 WHIP in 20 career starts, so Segura is someone to target if you don’t want to pay up for Machado.

Others to consider: Chris Taylor and Marcus Semien

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/23/18

Mike Trout vs. Aaron Sanchez, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $5,300

Trout’s .289 batting average this season is nothing special by his standards, which could be due to his .304 BABIP being almost 50 percentage points lower than his career mark. He is still hitting for a ton of power and has more walks (42) than strikeouts (41). Aaron Sanchez has allowed way too many baserunners this year with a 1.53 WHIP and doesn’t have overpowering stuff with a 7.2 K/9, so expect him to have a lot of trouble trying to get Trout out.

Austin Meadows vs. Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $4,100

Meadows is living up to his lofty prospect status through four games, hitting 6-for-15 with two home runs. The scary part is that the Pirates outfield is so deep, he might be sent back down once Starling Marte (oblique) comes off the DL. With Bailey allowing a .400 wOBA against left-handed hitters this season, Meadows is someone to target for your entry.

Mark Canha vs. Marco Gonzales, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,500

Gonzales’ 4.66 ERA isn’t great, but his 3.37 FIP would suggest he’s not off to that bad of a start. If he’s going to lower his ERA though, he’ll need to improve his 1.47 WHIP significantly. Righties have given him problems throughout his career, resulting in a .380 wOBA against them. Canha has thrived on lefties this year with a 195 wRC+, making him a viable cost-effective option with upside.

Others to consider: Kyle Schwarber and Adam Jones

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/15/18

MLB Daily Fantasy Picks

by Mike Barner on May 15, 20180 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/15/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

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

STARTING PITCHERS

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

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

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

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

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/15/18

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

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

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

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

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

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/15/18

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

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

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

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

Others to consider: Cesar Hernandez and Jonathan Schoop

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/15/18

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

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

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

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

Others to consider: Jose Ramirez and Rafael Devers

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/15/18

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

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

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

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

Others to consider: Manny Machado and Jean Segura

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/15/18

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

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

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

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

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

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

Others to consider: Jorge Soler and Joey Gallo

Tag Archives

STARTING PITCHERS

Jacob deGrom vs. Miami Marlins Stadium – Marlins Park FanDuel = $11,700 DraftKings = $13,600

Marco Gonzales vs. Kansas City Royals Stadium – Safeco Field FanDuel = $7,300 DraftKings = $7,800

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

Jesus Aguilar vs. Sal Romano, Cincinnati Reds Stadium – Great American Ball Park FanDuel = $3,700 DraftKings = $5,200

Yonder Alonso vs. Paul Blackburn, Oakland Athletics Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum FanDuel = $3,000 DraftKings = $3,600

SECOND BASE

Dee Gordon vs. Ian Kennedy, Kansas City Royals Stadium – Safeco Field FanDuel = $3,500 DraftKings = $4,300

Yoan Moncada vs. Yovani Gallardo, Texas Rangers Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington FanDuel = $3,300 DraftKings = $4,500

THIRD BASE

Jose Ramirez vs. Paul Blackburn, Oakland Athletics Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum FanDuel = $5,000 DraftKings = $5,400

Justin Turner vs. Tyler Anderson, Colorado Rockies Stadium – Dodger Stadium FanDuel = $3,400 DraftKings = $3,900

SHORTSTOP

Francisco Lindor vs. Paul Blackburn, Oakland Athletics Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum FanDuel = $4,700 DraftKings = $5,300

Kike Hernandez vs. Tyler Anderson, Colorado Rockies Stadium – Dodger Stadium FanDuel = $2,900 DraftKings = $3,500

OUTFIELD

Nelson Cruz vs. Ian Kennedy, Kansas City Royals Stadium – Safeco Field FanDuel = $4,000 DraftKings = $4,800

Rhys Hoskins vs. Erick Fedde, Washington Nationals Stadium – Citizens Bank Park FanDuel = $3,600 DraftKings = $4,900

Avisail Garcia vs. Yovani Gallardo, Texas Rangers Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington FanDuel = $2,400 DraftKings = $3,600

STARTING PITCHERS

Corey Kluber vs. Chicago White Sox Stadium – Progressive Field FanDuel = $12,100 DraftKings = $12,600

Frankie Montas vs. San Diego Padres Stadium – Petco Park FanDuel = $8,200 DraftKings = $6,700

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

Brandon Belt vs. Jose Urena, Miami Marlins Stadium – AT&T Park FanDuel = $3,700 DraftKings = $4,700

Devin Mesoraco vs. Chad Bettis, Colorado Rockies Stadium – Coors Field FanDuel = $3,400 DraftKings = $3,900

SECOND BASE

Asdrubal Cabrera vs. Chad Bettis, Colorado Rockies Stadium – Coors Field FanDuel = $4,000 DraftKings = $4,400

Whit Merrifield vs. Austin Bibens-Dirkx, Texas Rangers Stadium – Kauffman Stadium FanDuel = $3,200 DraftKings = $3,900

THIRD BASE

Matt Carpenter vs. Jake Arrieta, Philadelphia Phillies Stadium – Citizens Bank Park FanDuel = $3,900 DraftKings = $4,200

Brian Anderson vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants Stadium – AT&T Park FanDuel = $3,300 DraftKings = $3,700

SHORTSTOP

Didi Gregorius vs. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners Stadium – Yankee Stadium FanDuel = $4,000 DraftKings = $4,800

Amed Rosario vs. Chad Bettis, Colorado Rockies Stadium – Coors Field FanDuel = $3,300 DraftKings = $3,500

OUTFIELD

Brandon Nimmo vs. Chad Bettis, Colorado Rockies Stadium – Coors Field FanDuel = $4,300 DraftKings = $5,000

Juan Soto vs. Andrew Cashner, Baltimore Orioles Stadium – Nationals Park FanDuel = $3,800 DraftKings = $4,600

Lonnie Chisenhall vs. Reynaldo Lopez, Chicago White Sox Stadium – Progressive Field FanDuel = $3,100 DraftKings = $3,200

STARTING PITCHERS

Justin Verlander vs. Tampa Bay Rays Stadium – Minute Maid Park FanDuel = $11,500 DraftKings = $13,300

Vince Velasquez vs. St. Louis Cardinals Stadium – Citizens Bank Park FanDuel = $8,800 DratfKings = $8,600

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

Paul Goldschmidt vs. Felix Pena, Los Angeles Angels Stadium – Angel Stadium FanDuel = $4,600 DraftKings = $5,700

Dominic Smith vs. German Marquez, Colorado Rockies Stadium – Coors Field FanDuel = $3,000 DraftKings = $4,000

SECOND BASE

DJ LeMahieu vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets Stadium – Coors Field FanDuel = $4,100 DraftKings = $4,900

Jed Lowrie vs. Eric Lauer, San Diego Padres Stadium – Petco Park FanDuel = $3,200 DraftKings = $3,800

THIRD BASE

Nolan Arenado vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets Stadium – Coors Field FanDuel = $5,000 DraftKings = $5,700

Adrian Beltre vs. Jason Hammel, Kansas City Royals Stadium – Kauffman Stadium FanDuel = $3,100 DraftKings = $3,700

SHORTSTOP

Trevor Story vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets Stadium – Coors Field FanDuel = $4,800 DraftKings = $5,500

Amed Rosario vs. German Marquez, Colorado Rockies Stadium – Coors Field FanDuel = $3,000 DraftKings = $3,600

OUTFIELD

Brandon Nimmo vs. German Marquez, Colorado Rockies Stadium – Coors Field FanDuel = $4,000 DraftKings = $4,800

Odubel Herrera vs. Luke Weaver, St. Louis Cardinals Stadium – Citizens Bank Park FanDuel = $3,400 DraftKings = $4,100

Mark Canha vs. Eric Lauer, San Diego Padres Stadium – Petco Park FanDuel = $3,000 DraftKings = $3,600

STARTING PITCHERS

Corey Kluber vs. Minnesota Twins Stadium – Progressive Field FanDuel = $12,000 DraftKings = $13,600

Seth Lugo vs. Arizona Diamondbacks Stadium – Chase Field FanDuel = $6,400 DraftKings = $7,100

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

Matt Adams vs. Aaron Sanchez, Toronto Blue Jays Stadium – Rogers Centre FanDuel = $3,400 DraftKings = $3,900

Greg Bird vs. Nathan Eovaldi, Tampa Bay Rays Stadium – Yankee Stadium FanDuel = $3,100 DraftKings = $4,100

SECOND BASE

Scooter Gennett vs. Chad Kuhl, Pittsburgh Pirates Stadium – PNC Park FanDuel = $4,200 DraftKings = $4,700

Jedd Gyorko vs. Jon Lester, Chicago Cubs Stadium – Busch Stadium FanDuel = $2,800 DraftKings = $3,400

THIRD BASE

Justin Turner vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants Stadium – Dodger Stadium FanDuel = $3,600 DraftKings = $4,000

Colin Moran vs. Matt Harvey, Cincinnati Reds Stadium – PNC Park FanDuel = $2,500 DraftKings = $3,200

SHORTSTOP

Didi Gregorius vs. Nathan Eovaldi, Tampa Bay Rays Stadium – Yankee Stadium FanDuel = $4,300 DraftKings = $4,600

Chris Taylor vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants Stadium – Dodger Stadium FanDuel = $3,800 DraftKings = $4,100

OUTFIELD

Juan Soto vs. Aaron Sanchez, Toronto Blue Jays Stadium – Rogers Centre FanDuel = $3,800 DraftKings = $4,400

Matt Kemp vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants Stadium – Dodger Stadium FanDuel = $3,700 DraftKings = $4,200

Brandon Nimmo vs. Zack Godley, Arizona Diamondbacks Stadium – Chase Field FanDuel = $3,300 DraftKings = $4,000

STARTING PITCHERS

Max Scherzer vs. Tampa Bay Rays Stadium – Nationals Park FanDuel = $12,000 DraftKings = $13,300

Sean Newcomb vs. San Diego Padres Stadium – Petco Park FanDuel = $8,900 DraftKings = $9,200

Jacob deGrom vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $11,700
DraftKings = $13,600

Marco Gonzales vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $7,300
DraftKings = $7,800

Jesus Aguilar vs. Sal Romano, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $5,200

Yonder Alonso vs. Paul Blackburn, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,600

Dee Gordon vs. Ian Kennedy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,300

Yoan Moncada vs. Yovani Gallardo, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,500

Jose Ramirez vs. Paul Blackburn, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $5,400

Justin Turner vs. Tyler Anderson, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,900

Francisco Lindor vs. Paul Blackburn, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $5,300

Kike Hernandez vs. Tyler Anderson, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,500

Nelson Cruz vs. Ian Kennedy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,800

Rhys Hoskins vs. Erick Fedde, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,900

Avisail Garcia vs. Yovani Gallardo, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $3,600

Corey Kluber vs. Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $12,100
DraftKings = $12,600

Frankie Montas vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $8,200
DraftKings = $6,700

Brandon Belt vs. Jose Urena, Miami Marlins
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,700

Devin Mesoraco vs. Chad Bettis, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,900

Asdrubal Cabrera vs. Chad Bettis, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,400

Whit Merrifield vs. Austin Bibens-Dirkx, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,900

Matt Carpenter vs. Jake Arrieta, Philadelphia Phillies
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,200

Brian Anderson vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,700

Didi Gregorius vs. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,800

Amed Rosario vs. Chad Bettis, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,500

Brandon Nimmo vs. Chad Bettis, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,000

Juan Soto vs. Andrew Cashner, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,600

Lonnie Chisenhall vs. Reynaldo Lopez, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,200

Justin Verlander vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $11,500
DraftKings = $13,300

Vince Velasquez vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $8,800
DratfKings = $8,600

Paul Goldschmidt vs. Felix Pena, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $5,700

Dominic Smith vs. German Marquez, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,000

DJ LeMahieu vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,900

Jed Lowrie vs. Eric Lauer, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,800

Nolan Arenado vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $5,700

Adrian Beltre vs. Jason Hammel, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,700

Trevor Story vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $5,500

Amed Rosario vs. German Marquez, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,600

Brandon Nimmo vs. German Marquez, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,800

Odubel Herrera vs. Luke Weaver, St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,100

Mark Canha vs. Eric Lauer, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,600

Corey Kluber vs. Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $12,000
DraftKings = $13,600

Seth Lugo vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $7,100

Matt Adams vs. Aaron Sanchez, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,900

Greg Bird vs. Nathan Eovaldi, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,100

Scooter Gennett vs. Chad Kuhl, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,700

Jedd Gyorko vs. Jon Lester, Chicago Cubs
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,400

Justin Turner vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,000

Colin Moran vs. Matt Harvey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $3,200

Didi Gregorius vs. Nathan Eovaldi, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,600

Chris Taylor vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,100

Juan Soto vs. Aaron Sanchez, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,400

Matt Kemp vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,200

Brandon Nimmo vs. Zack Godley, Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,000

Max Scherzer vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $12,000
DraftKings = $13,300

Sean Newcomb vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $8,900
DraftKings = $9,200

Mitch Moreland vs. Artie Lewicki, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,600

Greg Bird vs. Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,100

Whit Merrifield vs. Andrew Heaney, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,300

Jonathan Schoop vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,500

Eugenio Suarez vs. Kyle Freeland, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $5,100

Matt Chapman vs. Matt Moore, Texas Rangers
Stadium = Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $4,100

Manny Machado vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,200

Brock Holt vs. Artie Lewicki, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,300

Aaron Judge vs. Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $5,100
DraftKings = $5,400

Khris Davis vs. Matt Moore, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,900

Brandon Nimmo vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,400

Charlie Morton vs. New York Yankees
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $9,900
DraftKings = $12,100

Luis Castillo vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $7,800
DraftKings = $8,000

Mitch Moreland vs. Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,100

Wilson Ramos vs. Daniel Gossett, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,300

Ozzie Albies vs. Steven Matz, New York Mets
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $5,100

Brian Dozier vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $3,900

Matt Carpenter vs. Zach Davies, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $3,800

Kyle Seager vs. Austin Bibens-Dirkx, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,500

Jurickson Profar vs. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,600
DratfKings = $3,600

Dansby Swanson vs. Steven Matz, New York Mets
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,300

Andrew Benintendi vs. Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $5,100

Nomar Mazara vs. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,200

Brandon Nimmo vs. Anibal Sanchez, Atlanta Braves
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,800

Max Scherzer vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $12,000
DraftKings = $14,000

Sean Manaea vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $8,300
DraftKings = $8,600