Header Image - PICK LIKE THE PROS

Tag Archives

8 Articles

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/15/18

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

Although 10 games make up the main slate Wednesday in DFS, the night is generally short on elite starting pitching options. It could lead to several high-scoring 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 8/15/18

Shane Bieber vs. Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $7,900
DraftKings = $8,300

Bieber’s ERA doesn’t stand out at 4.24, but his 3.02 FIP indicates he has pitched well in his first stint in the majors. Opponents have a .368 BABIP against him, so expect his ERA to improve as that number starts to normalize. He’s only allowed six home runs across 63.2 innings and has provided value in the strikeout department with a 9.3 K/9. The Reds have only averaged 2.8 runs over their last 10 games and have struggled more against right-handed pitching this season, leaving Bieber with significant upside Wednesday.

Tyler Anderson vs. Houston Astros
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $7,000
DraftKings = $8,400

Anderson was great in his last start against a potent Dodgers lineup, giving up only one run and recording six strikeouts over six innings. He’s now allowed two earned runs or fewer in six of his last eight starts, helping lower his ERA to 3.94 overall. He’s not a big strikeout pitcher with an 8.3 K/9, but his 1.20 WHIP would be the best mark of his career. Although Carlos Correa is back, the Astros are still missing two key bats from their lineup in Jose Altuve and George Springer. The Astros have only averaged 3.7 runs across their last 10 games and that includes one contest where they scored 14 runs. Anderson might be worth the risk in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/15/18

Freddie Freeman vs. Jose Urena, Miami Marlins
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $5,100

Although his performance has been overshadowed by the red-hot Ronald Acuna Jr., Freeman has two hits and a home run in both of the last two games against the Marlins. He’s batting .373 over his last 15 contests, recording eight RBI and 11 runs scored during that stretch. Look for another big game from him Wednesday as he is also 8-for-20 (.400) with two home runs and two doubles in his career against Urena.

Danny Jansen vs. Jorge Lopez, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $2,100
DraftKings = $3,600

The Blue Jays still haven’t called up Vladimir Guerrero Jr., but Jansen is getting his first crack at the majors. He was hitting well in Triple-A, posting a .275 average, .390 OBP and 12 home runs. He’s wasted no time since being recalled, going 3-for-7 with a homer in two games. Lopez has pitched out of the bullpen for the Brewers and their Triple-A affiliate this year and didn’t pitch well at either level, making Jansen a cheap option to target.

Others to consider: Yonder Alonso (first base) and Ji-Man Choi (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/15/18

Jason Kipnis vs. Robert Stephenson, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,200

Kipnis’ multi-hit streak ended at three games Tuesday, but he salvaged the evening by walking and stealing a base. He gets to face another subpar pitcher in Stephenson, who has a 5.16 ERA and a 1.61 WHIP in his major league career. Kipnis’ price is climbing, but he’s still a viable option to consider.

Neil Walker vs. Jake Faria, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $3,600

Faria has made two appearances out of the bullpen after a lengthy stint on the DL, allowing one run over 6.2 innings. He’ll return to the rotation Wednesday, a role he struggled in before getting hurt. Walker has had a renaissance at the plate, batting .310 with three home runs in his last 18 games. He’s been a much better hitter against righties this year, as well, making him someone to consider at his cheap price in tournament play.

Others to consider: Ozzie Albies and Joey Wendle

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/15/18

Jose Ramirez vs. Robert Stephenson, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $5,300
DraftKings = $6,000

Ramirez has destroyed the Reds in the first two games of this series, going 6-for-10 with two home runs, five RBI, and five runs scored. He now has three straight multi-hit performances, boosting his average up to .305 for the season to go along with 36 homers and 27 steals. With his 195 wRC+ against righties this year, this could be another long night for the Stephenson and the Reds.

Justin Turner vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,200

Turner went 3-for-4 with three doubles Tuesday, marking the fifth multi-hit game in his last six contests. He’s still trying to get things going in the home run department, but he’s batting .293 with a .384 OBP and has almost as many walks (24) as he does strikeouts (27). He also has a 191 wRC+ against lefties, giving him an excellent opportunity to shine against Holland.

Others to consider: Anthony Rendon and Miguel Andujar

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/15/18

Didi Gregorius vs. Jake Faria, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,900

Gregorius is in the midst of another productive homestand, going 8-for-23 (.348) over the last six games. It should come as no surprise because although he’s batting just .236 with seven homers on the road, he is batting .302 with 14 home runs at Yankee Stadium. Adding to his appeal against Faria is that Gregorius has a .348 wOBA against right-handers this year.

Willy Adames vs. Luis Cessa, New York Yankees
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $4,100

Adames has cemented himself as the everyday shortstop for the rest of the season with Adeiny Hechavarria now with the Pirates. He’s taken full advantage of his opportunity, batting .410 with three home runs and four steals in August. Cessa doesn’t have an overwhelming arsenal with a career 6.4 K/9 in the majors, so don’t be surprised if Adames continues to swing a hot bat in this contest.

Others to consider: Manny Machado and Freddy Galvis

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/15/18

Ronald Acuna Jr. vs. Jose Urena, Miami Marlins
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $5,700

At this point, you almost have to play Acuna no matter his price. He’s hitting insanely well, going 16-for-34 (.471) with eight home runs in his last eight games. Add in 15 RBI and 13 runs scored during that stretch and he’s provided tremendous value in DFS. Urena has allowed at least four runs in four of his last five starts and only has a 7.3 K/9 this year, which could prove troublesome against Acuna.

Mallex Smith vs. Luis Cessa, New York Yankees
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,800

Smith if 0-for-7 in his last two games, but he’s still batting .364 over his last 24 contests. He’s not a home run hitter, but he did chip in six doubles and four triples during that stretch. He’s a terror on the base paths, too, recording nine steals over that time frame. Smith isn’t cheap on DraftKings, but the price might be right to take a chance on him if you are playing on FanDuel.

Melky Cabrera vs. Robert Stephenson, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,900

Cabrera only has 142 plate appearances this season and he hasn’t exactly thrived with a .266 average and two home runs. He’s not much more than a journeyman outfielder at this stage of his career, but he’s still someone who can provide value in the right matchup. He’s 7-for-12 over his last three games and could be one of the cheaper players to target for an Indians stack.

Others to consider: Justin Upton and Michael Brantley

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/13/18

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

Monday brings plenty of action across the majors with 10 games making up the main slate in DFS. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/13/18

Mike Clevinger vs. Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $9,300
DraftKings = $9,200

The Indians starting rotation is certainly one of the deepest in baseball. Clevinger has been a big part of their success with a 3.38 ERA that is backed by a 3.35 FIP. After issuing at least 4.4 BB/9 in both of his first two seasons, Clevinger has been much better with a 2.8 BB/9 this year. He’s also allowed just 13 home runs across 146.2 innings. He won’t have to deal with the DH pitching at Cincinnati and the Reds haven’t been hitting well of late, either, averaging 3.5 runs over their last 10 games.

Sean Reid-Foley vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $4,400

The Blue Jays will give Reid-Foley his first start in the majors Monday. He’s earned the call with a strong performance at Triple-A, posting a 3.50 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP across 15 starts. He allowed just five home runs over 82.1 innings to go along with a stellar 10.3 K/9. His success in the strikeout department should come as no surprise since he has a 10.0 K/9 for his career in the minors. The Royals have scored the fewest runs (428) in baseball, so Reid-Foley might be worth the risk at this dirt cheap price in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/13/18

Paul Goldschmidt vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,700

Goldschmidt launched two home runs Sunday and is 10-for-28 during his current six-game hitting streak. His RBI total is down this year at 64, but he’s managed to hit .282 with 26 homers despite a horrendous month of May. Colon has allowed 1.8 HR/9 this season to go along with his 5.18 ERA, leaving Goldschmidt with plenty of upside.

Yonder Alonso vs. Homey Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,200

With Bailey on the mound for the Reds, the Indians should be one of the most popular stacks Monday. Bailey gave up five runs over 3.1 innings in his last start against the lowly Mets, leaving him with a 6.19 ERA overall. He gives up a ton of baserunners with a 1.59 WHIP and has allowed a .363 wOBA against left-handed hitters, making Alonso a viable target at first base.

Others to consider: Freddie Freeman (first base) and Yadier Molina (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/13/18

Ozzie Albies vs. Merandy Gonzalez, Miami Marlins
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,700

In the second game of their doubleheader, the Marlins plan to give Gonzalez his first career start. He hasn’t pitched well in seven relief appearances, recording a 5.71 ERA and a 1.79 WHIP. He’s spent most of the season in Double-A where he has a 4.32 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. He’s not a big strikeout pitcher with a career 7.4 K/9 in the minor leagues, so he could have plenty of trouble trying to get out Albies, who has at least one hit in four of his last five games.

Jason Kipnis vs. Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,000

Kipnis is having another disappointing season, batting only .226 with 11 home runs. His .363 slugging percentage would be the second-worst mark of his career. On the bright side, he does have at least two hits in three of his last six starts and he has a career .341 wOBA against righties. With how poorly Bailey is pitching, Kipnis is a viable option in tournament play.

Others to consider: Yoan Moncada and Daniel Descalso

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/13/18

Eduardo Escobar vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,600

Escobar got off to a great start with the Twins this season, but he’s been even better since joining the Diamondbacks. In 13 games with his new team, he’s batting .324 with two home runs and five doubles. He has just a .306 wOBA against lefties this season, but look to exploit this matchup against Colon based on his .384 wOBA against righties.

Jedd Gyorko vs. Tommy Milone, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $4,100

Milone allowed four total runs across his first two starts, but they came against two poor hitting teams in the Marlins and Mets. He didn’t fare well in his third start against a vastly superior Braves lineup, giving up seven runs over six innings. Gyorko is not having a good season overall, but he’s still someone to target versus lefties considering his 170 wRC+ against them.

Others to consider: Matt Chapman and Christian Villanueva

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/13/18

Francisco Lindor vs. Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $5,900

Lindor couldn’t cash in a prime matchup against Dylan Covey on Sunday, finishing 0-for-5 with a walk and four strikeouts. He’ll get a chance to redeem himself against another underwhelming starter in Bailey on Monday. He’s batting .292 with 29 home runs and a .372 OBP, so expect him to rebound with a better performance.

Paul DeJong vs. Tommy Milone, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,200

DeJong burst onto the scene last year by hitting .285 with 25 home runs in only 108 games. He’s been bothered by injuries this year and hasn’t played well when healthy, batting .244 with 12 home runs across 72 contests. However, he might be heating up at just the right time for the Cardinals as he has three home runs over his last five games. Based on Milone’s struggles, DeJong could provide value if you need to save money at shortstop.

Others to consider: Aledmys Diaz and Marcus Semien 

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/13/18

Ronald Acuna Jr. vs. Merandy Gonzalez, Miami Marlins
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,800

Acuna is hot right now, slugging a home run in four of his last five contests. He has 15 long balls in only 64 games overall, showing why he is one of the most exciting young players in the league. He doesn’t have the platoon advantage against Gonzalez, but that shouldn’t be a concern since Acuna has a .373 wOBA against right-handed pitchers.

Jon Jay vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $4,300

With the Diamondbacks faced with a good chance to score plenty of runs against Colon, their usual leadoff hitter Jay could be in line for a productive night. He’s largely struggled since joining the Diamondbacks, but with at least two hits in five of his last seven starts, he’s someone to target Monday, especially at his cheap price on FanDuel.

Harrison Bader vs. Tommy Milone, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $4,400

Even though Tyler O’Neill is likely to be activated from the DL on Tuesday, Bader should continue to see plenty of playing time down the stretch. He hasn’t hit for a ton of power, but he’s batting .275 with a .345 OBP. He’s also flashed some speed on the base paths with 12 steals. Add in his .402 wOBA against lefties and he’s another Cardinal to target against Milone.

Others to consider: Michael Brantley and David Peralta

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/2/18

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

Only nine games make up the main evening slate in DFS on Thursday, but there are excellent pitching options available with Max Scherzer, Zack Greinke, Clayton Kershaw and Madison Bumgarner all scheduled to take the mound. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/2/18

Max Scherzer vs. Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $11,800
DraftKings = $13,000

Scherzer mowed down the Marlins in his last start, giving up one unearned run and recording 11 strikeouts over eight innings. He allowed just four baserunners, helping lower his WHIP to 0.90. This would mark the fourth consecutive season that Scherzer has finished with a WHIP of 0.97 or lower. He continues to be an elite source for strikeouts, as well, with a 12.1 K/9. This will mark his second start of the year against the Reds after he had 10 strikeouts in six scoreless innings during their first matchup. He’s expensive, but he also has the highest ceiling of anyone taking the mound Thursday.

Nick Pivetta vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $8,300
DraftKings = $8,500

Pivetta has hit a rough patch, posting a 7.71 ERA and a 1.67 ERA across his last six outings, five of which were starts. However, his FIP wasn’t nearly as bad at 4.83 and he was very unlucky with opponents posting a .410 BABIP. He also had a 12.7 K/9 during that stretch, helping boost his overall K/9 to 11.2 this season. He pitched well in his only other start against the Marlins, recording nine strikeouts over 5.2 scoreless innings. The Marlins have scored the fifth-fewest runs (419) in baseball, making Pivetta a great cost-effective to consider.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/2/18

Justin Smoak vs. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,100

Although he’s still only 32 years old, Hernandez has thrown more than 2,600 innings in his career. It appears all those innings have taken a toll on him as his average fastball velocity is a career-low 90.2 mph this year. Hernandez hasn’t been able to adjust to his dip in velocity so far, resulting in a 5.58 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. Smoak has a .379 wOBA against right-handed pitchers and could provide plenty of value at his reasonable price on both sites.

Kurt Suzuki vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,800

The Braves will likely be one of the most popular stacks of the day with Vargas on the mound for the Mets. He’s had a disastrous first season in New York, posting an 8.36 ERA and a 1.79 WHIP. Suzuki doesn’t have great numbers overall, but he does have a .352 wOBA against lefties.

Others to consider: Steve Pearce (first base) and Wilson Contreras (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/2/18

Ozzie Albies vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $5,000

Albies only had three home runs in July, but he posted a .304 batting average, which was his highest of any month this season. He doesn’t walk much, but he doesn’t strikeout out a ton, either, with a 16.9% strikeout rate. He’s another Brave to target versus Vargas based on his .357 wOBA against lefties.

Daniel Murphy vs. Tyler Mahle, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,500

Another popular stack will likely be the Nationals against Mahle. Not only does Mahle allow plenty of baserunners with a 1.52 WHIP, but he’s also given up 21 home runs in 107.1 innings. Left-handed hitters have a robust .414 wOBA against him, potentially setting up Murphy for a big night.

Others to consider: Javier Baez and Rougned Odor

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/2/18

Anthony Rendon vs. Tyler Mahle, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,700

Rendon doesn’t get the platoon advantage in this game, but he has a .352 wOBA against righties. He’s hot right now, batting .317 with four home runs, 16 RBI and 14 runs scored across his last 15 games. His walk rate is down significantly this year, but his .523 slugging percentage would be the second-highest mark of his career.

Johan Camargo vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,100

The Braves did not add a third baseman at the trade deadline, which should allow Camargo to have a significant role down the stretch. He had only four home runs in 241 at-bats last year, but he has 12 long balls in 268 at-bats this season. He has a .388 wOBA against lefties, so he should be included in any Braves stack, especially when you consider his price.

Others to consider: Maikel Franco and Adrian Beltre

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/2/18

Trea Turner vs. Tyler Mahle, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $5,200

Turner’s .270 batting average has been a disappointment, but he is 12-for-30 (.400) over his last six games. He’s done damage when on the basepaths during that stretch, swiping six bags and scoring 10 runs. With Mahle’s struggles to keep runners off base, Turner carries tremendous upside.

Tim Beckham vs. Yovani Gallardo, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,800

The Orioles lineup has been stripped down significantly after the trades of Manny Machado and Jonathan Schoop. They are likely going to have trouble scoring runs, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find value in some of their hitters. In his last 13 games. Beckham is 14-for-51 (.275) with two home runs and three doubles. Gallardo is not an overwhelming pitcher with a 1.56 WHIP and a 5.6 K/9, leaving Beckham as a viable option in tournament play.

Others to consider: Elvis Andrus and Asdrubal Cabrera

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/2/18

Ronald Acuna Jr. vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,600

Acuna’s .264 batting average since being activated from the DL at the end of June isn’t overly impressive, but he has six home runs and seven doubles during those 24 games. He’s gone deep in back-to-back games and has a good chance to make it three straight Thursday since Vargas has allowed 2.6 HR/9.

Shin-Soo Choo vs. Andrew Cashner, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $4,900

Choo already has 20 home runs this year, which is only three away from setting a new career best. He’s always done a great job getting on base and this season has been no different with a .389 OBP. Cashner has an unsightly 1.50 WHIP and has allowed a .356 wOBA against left-handed hitters. Choo isn’t cheap on DraftKings, but his price on FanDuel could be a bargain.

Nick Williams vs. Pablo Lopez, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $4,100

Lopez posted a 2.93 ERA during his career in the minors, but he didn’t show dominant stuff with a 7.0 K/9. He has a 7.2 K/9 through his first five starts in the majors and has been hit hard with a 5.34 ERA, He’s also given up five home runs over 28.2 innings. Williams had his best month of the season in July by batting .311 with five home runs, making him a viable option in tournament play.

Others to consider: Juan Soto and Joey Gallo

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/3/18

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/3/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

Thursday brings a light schedule in baseball with 11 games, most of which start in the afternoon. 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 5/3/18

Patrick Corbin vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $10,000
DraftKings = $12,500

Corbin is off to a masterful start this season with a 2.25 ERA, 2.71 FIP, and 0.75 WHIP. He has been somewhat lucky with opponents posting a .222 BABIP, but his 33.7% hard-hit rate allowed is almost spot on with his career mark. The big difference this season has been his increased strikeouts with a 12.4 K/9 compared to an 8.1 K/9 for his career. He’s thrown a first-pitch strike to 68% of the hitters he has faced this season, which is the second-highest mark of his career. He’s already faced the Dodgers once this season, throwing 7.1 shutout innings and recording 12 strikeouts. With the Dodgers missing several key players in their lineup, Corbin could be in line for another strong start Thursday.

Sean Manaea vs. Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $9,000
DraftKings = $11,200

Manaea has had even better luck than Corbin with opponents recording just a .148 BABIP this year. His numbers are excellent with a 1.03 ERA and 0.62 WHIP through six outings. His K/9 remains on par with his career mark, but he’s cut down on his walks, posting just a 1.4 BB/9 so far. This will be his second start against the Mariners this year after he held them to one earned run with four strikeouts across seven innings in his first outing. If you are playing the night slate, Manaea is one of the best options to consider.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/3/18

Hanley Ramirez vs. Mike Minor, Texas Rangers
Stadium = Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,400

The Red Sox have struggled against left-handed pitching this season, posting the second-lowest OPS (.619) against them in baseball. Ramirez is one of the few Red Sox that is having success against them this season with a .374 wOBA. Look for him to take advantage of Minor, who has allowed a .355 wOBA to righties in the early going.

Matt Adams vs. Trevor Williams, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,800

With the Nationals lineup riddled with injuries, Adams has proven to be an important part of their team. He’s mashed three home runs in his last two games and has a 1.111 OPS so far this season. Williams has a 2.29 ERA this year, but his 5.9 K/9 and opponents posting just a .222 BABIP doesn’t exactly bode well for his continued success. If you need to save money at first base, Adams is someone to consider in tournament play.

Others to consider: Albert Pujols (first base) and Kurt Suzuki (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/3/18

Ozzie Albies vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $5,000

Albies is doing it all for the Braves and now has a prime spot hitting leadoff in their lineup. With Ronald Acuna Jr. and Freddie Freeman providing him with protection, he is an excellent position to produce. He finished with a .396 wOBA against lefties last year and sits at a staggering .716 wOBA against them this season, so don’t hesitate to add him to your lineup against Vargas.

Ian Kinsler vs. Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,700

Don’t get too excited about Tillman’s last start where he threw seven shutout innings as it came against one of the worst offenses in baseball in the Tigers. He had allowed at least four earned runs in each of his first four starts while recording only eight total strikeouts. Kinsler has batted .286 with two home runs in 31 career plate appearances against Tillman, making him a viable option Thursday.

Others to consider: Jed Lowrie and Asdrubal Cabrera

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/3/18

Matt Chapman vs. Wade LeBlanc, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,100

Chapman has slowed down after his hot start, going 3-for-22 in his last six games. He’s hitting the ball hard with a 45% hard-hit rate, but he’s not the type of player who is going to hit for a high average. He does have loads of power and has a .346 wOBA against lefties in his brief Major League career, so he could break out of his slump against the underwhelming LeBlanc on Thursday.

Luis Valbuena vs. Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,300

Valbuena is a cost-effective option to target against right-handed pitching because even though he had an unsightly 15 wRC+ against lefties last year, he was much better against righties with a 104 wRC+. He also has excellent numbers in his career against Tillman, batting .364 with a home run in 13 plate appearances.

Others to consider: Jeimer Candelario and Colin Moran

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/3/18

Carlos Correa vs. Masahiro Tanaka, New York Yankees
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel =$4,200
DraftKings = $4,900

Tanaka can be a tough pitcher to gauge as he doesn’t seem to have much of a middle ground. This season has been a prime example of that with him allowing one earned run each in three of his six starts, but allowing at least five earned runs in two of his other outings. Home runs tend to be his issue, allowing a 1.8 HR/9 last year. Correa is hitting .316 with two home runs in 20 career plate appearances against Tanaka, so he might be worth the risk even considering his high price tag.

Marcus Semien vs. Wade LeBlanc, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,200

Semien has been consistent of late, getting at least one hit in nine of his last 10 games. His .356 BABIP means a regression in his batting average may be on the horizon, but it might not start Thursday against the LeBlanc, who will be making his first start in the majors since 2016. Semien also has a career. 344 wOBA against left-handed pitchers compared to .299 against righties.

Others to consider: Manny Machado and Andrelton Simmons

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/3/18

A.J. Pollock vs. Alex Wood, Los Angeles Dodgers
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $5,500

Pollack was limited to just 112 games due to injury last year, but he still managed to hit 14 home runs to go along with 20 steals. He’s off to an even better start this season, batting .300 with 10 home runs and seven steals. His .311 BABIP is actually a little lower than his career mark, so there’s no reason to believe he can’t keep hitting for a high average. His power numbers are likely unsustainable as they have largely been buoyed by a 44% hard-hit that that is almost 10 percent higher than what he has averaged over the course of his career. With a .421 average to go along with two home runs and three doubles across 19 plate appearances against Wood in his career, look for a productive day from Pollock.

Ronald Acuna Jr. vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,300

One of the elite prospects in all of baseball, Acuna appears to be in the majors to stay after his hot start, logging at least two hits in four of seven games since being called up. He’s shown excellent power as well, hitting one home run and five doubles. Vargas doesn’t exactly have an overpowering pitch arsenal with a career 6.0 K/9, so expect big things from Acuna in this contest.

Mark Canha vs. Wade LeBlanc, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,800

A career .242 hitter, Canha has far exceeded expectations this season with a .391 average. His .375 BABIP won’t hold, but he has shown he can hit for power in the minors. He has mashed left-handed pitchers this season with a 240 wRC+ and with LeBlanc not exactly having overpowering stuff, Canha could continue his hot streak Thursday.

Others to consider: Mike Trout and Corey Dickerson