While Monday’s slate was short on quality pitchers, Tuesday is loaded with top-tier options. We also have a few lineups that will carry tremendous upsides, making for some difficult decisions when compiling your entry.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/7/2019
We only have five games making up the main evening slate of DFS on Wednesday. Also, it will be an early start time at 6:40 PM EST, so be ready to get those lineups in early.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/16/2019
There’s no shortage of options Tuesday with all 15 games included in the main evening DFS slate.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/4/2019
If you’re looking to kick back with some DFS fun after your barbeque Thursday, there isn’t much action to speak of with only four games making up the evening slate. There are still a handful of strong starters set to take the mound, so scoring might not be all that easy to come by.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/3/2019
We have another hectic night in the majors Wednesday with 14 games making up the main slate in DFS. Highlighted by a potentially high-scoring game between the Astros and Rockies at Coors Field, scoring shouldn’t be that hard to come by.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/22/2019
Wednesday’s evening slate of action will be highlighted by an excellent pitching matchup between Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom. They aren’t the only stud pitchers set to take the mound, either.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/3/2019
Wednesday brings a lot of day games across the majors, leaving just five games to choose from for the main evening slate in DFS. While quality pitching options are hard to come by, the night still has plenty of great hitters to choose from.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/11/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
July special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout
There are a few day games Wednesday, but there are still 11 games 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
Chris Sale vs. Texas Rangers
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $12,600
DraftKings = $13,000
Sale has finished in the top-five for the Cy Young voting in five straight seasons but has yet to take home the award. He’s making another excellent case for consideration this season with a 2.36 ERA, 2.27 FIP, and a 0.89 WHIP. He has recorded at least 11 strikeouts in four straight games and has a career-high 13.0 K/9. It’s no surprise that he dominated the Rangers in their first meeting this season, allowing one run and recording 12 strikeouts in seven innings. The Rangers have struck out the third-most times (870) in baseball, so expect another great performance in their rematch.
Vince Velasquez vs. New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $8,200
DraftKings = $8,100
Velasquez was struck on his right forearm by a line drive in his last outing, landing him on the DL. He ended up missing just one start as he plans to return for this game Wednesday. He hasn’t pitched as poorly as his 4.69 ERA indicates as he has a 3.84 FIP and he has done a better job keeping runners off base with a 1.29 WHIP. Strikeouts are his strong suit as he has a 10.9 K/9 this year and a 10.0 K/9 for his career. The Mets have scored the third-fewest runs (344) in baseball and are a mess right now, making Velasquez a cheaper option to consider in tournament play.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Paul Goldschmidt vs. German Marquez, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $5,900
Marquez has been excellent on the road this season with a 2.62 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP across nine starts. However, he’s been hammered at Coors Field with a 7.93 ERA and a 1.95 WHIP over nine outings. He’s made two starts against the Diamondbacks already this season. It’s no coincidence that he allowed one unearned run over five innings in the one start on the road, but he allowed five earned runs in four innings against them during his start at Coors Field. The Diamondbacks will likely be a popular stack Wednesday with Goldschmidt one of their key hitters to target. He is 8-for-15 (.533) with two doubles and three home runs in his career against Marquez.
Jose Martinez vs. Carlos Rodon, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,900
Martinez came through with three hits Tuesday and now has six hits and three RBI in his last two games. He was the designated hitter Tuesday and should found himself in that same spot Wednesday against the left-handed Rodon. Martinez’s defense has come into question, but he’s a reliable bat who has plenty of upside at this cheap price on both sites.
Others to consider: Jesus Aguilar (first base) and Yadier Molina (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Jonathan Schoop vs. Sonny Gray, New York Yankees
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,700
Schoop couldn’t have started off much worse this season, but he appears to be finally finding himself at the plate. He had two more hits Tuesday and is 16-for-37 (.432) with two home runs during his current nine-game hitting streak. Gray has been a mess this season with a 5.85 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP, leaving Schoop with an excellent opportunity to extend his streak.
Jedd Gyorko vs. Carlos Rodon, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,600
With Paul DeJong healthy, Gyorko may start to see less playing time. The use of the DH may help with that Wednesday, but it would also be a wise move for the Cardinals to put him in their lineup considering he has a 185 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers this year.
Others to consider: Dee Gordon and Brock Holt
THIRD BASE
Justin Turner vs. Joey Lucchesi, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $3,700
Turner is still looking for his first home run in July and he has only five home runs overall this season. His wrist injury at the start of the season might be contributing to his lack of power, but he’s also batting just .266. The good news is he is still showing an excellent eye at the plate with 20 walks compared to just 18 strikeouts. He also has a .406 wOBA against lefties, making him someone to consider facing Lucchesi.
Rafael Devers vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $4,000
Colon has allowed three runs or fewer in four straight games, but he only recorded 11 strikeouts across 26 innings during that stretch. He’s not an overpowering pitcher by any means and can be prone to giving up runs in bunches as a result. The Red Sox scored four runs against him in seven innings earlier this season when all four runs came on solo homers. Devers has been much better against righties this year and is a cheaper option with upside based on this matchup.
Others to consider: Nolan Arenado and Kyle Seager
SHORTSTOP
Trevor Story vs. Shelby Miller, Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $5,300
Story hasn’t hit well on the road this year with a .260 average and only three home runs. He’s been a force at Coors Field, though, batting .320 with 13 homers. He’s been better against left-handed pitchers, but he’s still had enough success against righties with a .352 wOBA. Miller has looked awful in his return from Tommy John surgery, making Story a great option despite his lack of platoon advantage.
Paul DeJong vs. Carlos Rodon, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,900
DeJong chipped in during the Cardinals offensive outburst Tuesday, finishing 2-for-6 with three runs scored. He now has at least one hit in all four games since returning from a lengthy DL stint and could provide value again Wednesday considering he had a .392 wOBA against lefties last year.
Others to consider: Manny Machado and Chris Taylor
OUTFIELD
Charlie Blackmon vs. Shelby Miller, Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $5,400
This could be a very high scoring game considering both pitchers on the mound. Blackmon is having a down season by his standards, but he’s still putting up valuable numbers by hitting .277 with 17 home runs. He has a .365 wOBA against righties and has fared well against Miller in his career, hitting 7-for-23 (.304) with a home run.
David Peralta vs. German Marquez, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $5,200
Peralta is in the middle of the best season of his career, batting .290 with 16 home runs and 52 RBI. He has already hit two more home runs this year than he did in 140 games in 2017 and is only two homers away from setting a new career best. He’s yet another Diamondbacks hitter who has great numbers against Marquez as he is 7-for-17 (.412) with three doubles and a home run against him.
Harrison Bader vs. Carlos Rodon, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $3,700
Bader sat out Tuesday’s blowout against the White Sox, but he is 14-for-37 (.378) with a home run and four doubles in his last 11 games. He might not have played due to his .293 wOBA against righties, but he could be back in the lineup against Rodon since he has a .389 wOBA against lefties. If he plays, he could be worth the risk in tournament play.
Others to consider: Andrew Benintendi and Christian Yelich
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/6/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
July special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout
Friday brings a lot of high-end pitching options across baseball, so finding the right bats for your entry could be the key to bringing home some cash. 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
Chris Sale vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $12,500
DraftKings = $14,000
Sale continues to blow hitters away as he has allowed four runs and recorded 54 strikeouts across 35 innings in his last five starts. Two of those starts were shutouts against the Mariners and the Yankees. He’s towards the top of the Cy Young discussion again this year with a 2.41 ERA, 2.38 FIP, and a 0.89 WHIP. Not only does he have a 12.7 K/9, but his 0.8 HR/9 would be his lowest mark since 2014. The Royals have scored the fewest runs (297) in baseball, so don’t hesitate to pay the premium necessary to get him into your entry.
Dereck Rodriguez vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $8,600
DraftKings = $7,700
Rodriguez had never pitched above Double-A before this year, but he pitched well in his first taste of action at Triple-A by posting a 3.40 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and a 9.5 K/9 prior to being called up. Although his WHIP has room for improvement at 1.32 since being recalled, he has a respectable 3.16 ERA and a 3.34 FIP. His strikeouts aren’t as high with an 8.0 K/9, but he has only issued nine walks in 37 innings. It took him a few starts to get acclimated, but he has allowed six runs across 25 innings in his last four starts. Three of those starts came against the Marlins and Padres, so he will be faced with a tougher task against the Cardinals. That being said, he’s still priced low enough to warrant consideration in tournament play if you want to go heavy with high-priced hitters.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Yasmani Grandal vs. Felix Pena, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,900
After getting off to a great start, Grandal really struggled in May and June by hitting .181 or lower in both months. He’s shown signs that he is coming out of his slump as he is 7-for-10 with two doubles, a triple and a home run in his last four games. Although he’s a switch-hitter, he’s been much better against righties with a .367 wOBA. Pena is prone to allowing base runners as he had a 1.38 WHIP at Triple-A this year and has a 1.47 WHIP since being called up.
Yonder Alonso vs. Paul Blackburn, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $4,500
Blackburn shut out the Indians over 6.1 innings in his last start, but the Indians have hit much better at home this season. Alonso has similar averages at home and on the road, but he has two more home runs at Progressive Field in 31 fewer plate appearances. He also has a .349 wOBA against righties, so look for him to be one of several Indians’ hitters who fair better in this rematch.
Others to consider: Matt Adams (first base) and Chris Hermann (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Max Muncy vs. Felix Pena, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $5,000
It’s pretty well noted by now that Muncy has been one of the most unexpected sources for power with 20 home runs in 236 plate appearances. He also gets on base a lot with a .419 OBP and has been hitting second, helping him score nine runs in his last four games. His price has increased significantly, but it’s hard not to ride his hot bat until he shows signs of cooling off. Of note, Muncy is only listed at second base on FanDuel as he is eligible at first base and third base on DraftKings.
Brock Holt vs. Jason Hammel, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,500
Hammel’s 4.20 FIP suggests he hasn’t pitched as badly as his 5.56 ERA would lead you to believe, but his 1.55 WHIP leaves him with a small margin for error. The Red Sox will likely be a popular stack, but if you want to get one of the elite starting pitchers into your entry, you’ll need to find some cheap bats with upside. Holt doesn’t provide much power, but his .294 average and .371 OBP make him someone to consider.
Others to consider: Starlin Castro and Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
THIRD BASE
Jose Ramirez vs. Paul Blackburn, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $5,800
Ramirez has chipped in three steals in his last three games, bringing his total to 17 for the season. Add that to his 24 home runs and 24 doubles and he is one of most valuable players at any position most nights. He has a ridiculous .436 wOBA against right-handed pitchers this year, setting him up nicely against the underwhelming Blackburn.
Rafael Devers vs. Jason Hammel, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $4,500
As we continue to hunt for cheap Red Sox hitters to include in a stack, Devers checks in as a viable option at third base. He hasn’t been as impressive this year, but he is still hitting for power with 14 home runs and 20 doubles. He’s virtually unplayable against lefties with a 56 wRC+, but with a 103 wRC+ against righties, he might be able to take advantage of this matchup.
Others to consider: Alex Bregman and Adrian Beltre
SHORTSTOP
Francisco Lindor vs. Paul Blackburn, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $5,100
DraftKings = $5,900
Lindor’s five-game hitting streak came to an end Wednesday, but he still drew a walk, stole a base and scored a run. His .297 average and .374 at the top of the Indians lineup has already led to 75 runs scored, which is only 25 away from breaking his previous career high. Add that to his excellent power numbers and Lindor will likely play a key role if the Indians are going to be successful against Blackburn.
Trea Turner vs. Dan Straily, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,700
Turner helped the Nationals earn a comeback victory against the Marlins on Thursday by going 3-for-5 with two home runs and eight RBI. Turner is known more for his prowess on the base paths, but he does have 11 home runs already this year. He might not have the platoon advantage against Straily, but Turner actually has a higher wOBA against righties (.363) than he does against lefties (.317) for his career.
Others to consider: Chris Taylor and Jorge Polanco
OUTFIELD
Juan Soto vs. Dan Straily, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,600
Soto was right in the middle of the Nationals wild win Thursday, finishing the game 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI. He continues to show an excellent eye at the plate, drawing four walks and striking out only three times in his last five games. Straily has allowed plenty of baserunners this year with a 1.38 WHIP and has a .360 wOBA against lefties, possibly setting up Soto for another productive night.
Andrew Benintendi vs. Jason Hammel, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,900
Benintendi is mired in a slump as he is only 6-for-38 (.158) in his last 10 games. He’s been a bit unlucky with a .214 BABIP, but he’s also struck out more with a 24.4% strikeout rate. Hammel is not a strikeout pitcher, though, with just a 5.9 K/9. Benintendi also has a .381 wOBA against righties, so this might be the game he gets back on track.
Josh Reddick vs. Reynaldo Lopez, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $4,000
Before Reddick was placed on the DL towards the end of May with a knee infection, he was hitting just .227 with a .337 OBP. The time off seems to have done him good as he is hitting .329 with a .356 OBP since being activated. He’s someone to avoid against lefties, but his .341 wOBA against righties for his career makes him a cost-effective option with upside.
Others to consider: Michael Brantley and Brandon Nimmo
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/14/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
June special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout
Thursday brings only nine games in the baseball that are spread out throughout the day. Let’s take a look at some players in both the early and evening slates for 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
Mike Clevinger vs. Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $8,800
DraftKings = $9,700
After posting a 10.1 K/9 last year, Clevinger hasn’t been nearly as successful in that department this season with a 7.4 K/9. His swinging-strike rate is pretty close to last year’s and hitters are actually swinging at more pitches outside of the strike zone, so don’t be surprised if he starts to make gains in that area throughout the summer. Even with fewer strikeouts, he’s still been excellent this season with a 3.31 ERA, 3.46 FIP, and a 1.21 WHIP. He allowed one run and recorded seven strikeouts over 6.2 innings in his first start against the White Sox this year and has the potential for another valuable outing in their rematch.
Anibal Sanchez vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $5,500
If you are playing the evening slate, it’s slim pickings in terms of starting pitchers. After Blake Snell and David Price, there is a big drop off to the next tier of options. If you want to take a chance on a cheap option with upside in tournament play, Sanchez might be your man. Injuries have limited him to six appearances this year, five of which were starts. His 2.37 ERA likely won’t hold based on his 4.81 FIP, but he has done a good job limiting baserunners with a 1.06 WHIP. The Padres don’t have a great lineup, to begin with, but they especially struggle against right-handed pitchers with second-lowest OPS against them (.659) in baseball.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Freddie Freeman vs. Tyson Ross, San Diego Padres
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $5,400
Freeman has at least one hit in 23 of his last 24 games, batting 37-for-96 (.385) with six home runs during that stretch. He’s shown an excellent eye at the play this season, drawing 41 walks and striking out only 47 times. Ross has allowed a .364 wOBA to lefties this year, helping to make Freeman one of the better plays at any position.
Wilson Ramos vs. Domingo German, New York Yankees
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,500
Catcher may be one of the weakest positions in fantasy baseball, but Ramos has established himself as one of the best players at the position this season. He’s hitting .284 with eight home runs in the early going after being limited to just 64 games last year due to injury. He has at least one hit in five of his last six games and will get to face one of the Yankees weaker starting pitchers in German, who has a 5.32 ERA and is only starting because Jordan Montgomery (elbow) is out for the season.
Others to consider: Paul Goldschmidt (first base) and Ryon Healy (first base)
SECOND BASE
Cesar Hernandez vs. German Marquez, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,900
Hernandez batted exactly .294 in both of the last two seasons but has been held to .264 this year. His .326 BABIP isn’t bad, but it is below his career mark of .350. The good news is that he already has seven home runs, which is only two shy of his total from last year. Marquez allows a lot of baserunners with a 1.48 WHIP and even though this game won’t be played in Coors Field, Hernandez is still a viable option for the limited slate.
Joey Wendle vs. Domingo German, New York Yankees
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $3,200
Wendle doesn’t play much against lefties, but that won’t be a problem against the right-handed German. Wendle doesn’t hit many home runs, but he’s been a pleasant surprise for the Rays this year by hitting .280 with five steals. His upside isn’t great, but if you want to save money at second base, he is someone to consider in tournament play.
Others to consider: Ozzie Albies and Joe Panik
THIRD BASE
Rafael Devers vs. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $3,400
Devers hit an impressive .284 with 10 home runs over 58 games in his first taste of the majors last year. He does have 10 home runs already this season, but he’s been a disappointment overall with just a .231 average. His strikeout rate has increased over three percentage points this year and his BABIP has also fallen to .284 after it was .342 last season. He is finally starting to show signs of coming around, though, and is currently on an eight-game hitting streak. It also helps his cause Thursday that Hernandez has allowed a .351 wOBA to lefties this season.
Brian Anderson vs. Dereck Rodriguez, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,200
Anderson wasn’t able to log another hit Wednesday, but he still had two walks, two runs scored and an RBI. His .311 average and .384 OBP has made him one of the better hitters in an otherwise lackluster lineup for the Marlins. Although his numbers are better against left-handed pitchers, he’s not exactly struggling with a .350 wOBA against righties.
Others to consider: Jose Ramirez and Jeimer Candelario
SHORTSTOP
Jean Segura vs. David Price, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,900
Segura logged another three hits Wednesday and now has at least two hits in six of his last nine games. His average is all the way up to .347, which has also helped him score 51 runs in 65 games. He’s been especially valuable against lefties as he has a .401 wOBA against them this season. Keep riding his hot bat Thursday.
Brock Holt vs. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,400
The Red Sox continue to find ways to play Holt every day and even started him at first base Wednesday. While he’s obviously not going to be taking Mitch Moreland’s job, it shows that the Red Sox are determined to find ways to keep Holt’s hot bat in their lineup. He went 2-for-3 in that game, raising his average to .309. Expect him to play against the righty Hernandez on Thursday since Holt has a .342 wOBA against righties.
Others to consider: Xander Bogaerts and Ketel Marte
OUTFIELD
Andrew Benintendi vs. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $5,700
Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez might get all the headlines, but Benintendi is having a heck of a season. He has hit a home run in three of his last four games and already has 12 on the season overall. His batting average has improved to .302 and he’s still been aggressive on the base paths with 11 stolen bases. He only has a 98 wRC+ against lefties but has crushed righties with a 168 wRC+.
Nelson Cruz vs. David Price, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,400
Price appears to have righted the ship after a tough start to the season as he has allowed two runs or fewer in five of his last six starts. He’ll face a tough old nemesis in Cruz on Thursday, who is 14-for-41 (.341) with four home runs against him in his career. Cruz has a 203 wRC+ against lefties this year as well and could put up big numbers against Price once again.
Leonys Martin vs. Lance Lynn, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,400
Martin hit a putrid .172 for the Cubs and Mariners combined last season, but he has found himself batting leadoff for the rebuilding Tigers. The move has paid off so far with Martin hitting .263 with a career-high .332 OBP. His walk rate is up and his strikeout rate is down, which will only help him hang onto the role moving forward. Left-handed pitchers still give him a lot of problems, but his .371 wOBA against righties this year makes him a viable option against Lynn.
Others to consider: Eddie Rosario and Mitch Haniger