We don’t have a lot of options to choose from in baseball Thursday with just five games making up the main evening slate in DFS. However, there’s still money to be won, so let’s dive into the viable options that do stand out.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/25/2019
Scoring might be hard to come by for Thursday’s five-game evening slate in DFS with so many top pitchers set to take the mound. There are still a couple of stacks to take advantage of, but they figure to have high ownership percentages based on the limited options.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/18/2019
Thursday brings another limited evening slate that is thin on quality starting pitching options. Hitting might not be hard to come by, so selecting the correct pitchers could be the key to ending the night in the money.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/15/2019
Monday brings a nine-game evening slate across DFS that will feature some of the better starters in the league. There are also plenty of stacking situations to target with some teams trotting out a member of the back of their rotation.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/8/2019
Monday brings 10 games in the majors, eight of which will make up the main evening slate in DFS. Whether you want to roll with an ace pitcher or load up on bats, there are plenty of options for either strategy.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/1/2019
Welcome to our first daily fantasy baseball article of the season. We have 13 games across the majors on Monday, nine of which will make up the main evening slate. Let’s dive into the matchups to see which players stand out as having favorable opportunities to be productive.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/28/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout
Tuesday is loaded with elite starting pitching options across the majors including Max Scherzer, Jacob deGrom, and Aaron Nola. There is a great second tier of options behind them as well. 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
Clay Buchholz vs. San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $9,100
DraftKings = $10,000
Buchholz is having an incredible season for the Diamondbacks. He’s allowed more than three runs in only one of his 13 starts this season, resulting in a 2.25 ERA. His FIP is higher at 3.39, but that’s still excellent considering he missed almost all of last season due to injury. His 7.7 K/9 isn’t great, but he has a 1.03 WHIP and has given up only eight home runs across 80 innings. He’s already faced the Giants twice this season, allowing four runs and recording 15 strikeouts over 12 innings. He’s certainly not the flashiest of starting pitching options Tuesday, but he could still provide excellent value.
Brian Johnson vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $5,900
DraftKings = $7,000
With so many great starting pitchers to choose from, it might not be a bad idea to go with a cheap pitcher in tournament play and load up on some of the expensive bats that have favorable matchups. If you want to go that route, Johnson might be your man. He’s made 10 starts for the Red Sox, posting a 3.63 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and an 8.0 K/9. He started against the Marlins earlier this season, holding them to one run and recording five strikeouts in six innings. The Marlins have the fourth-lowest OPS against left-handed pitchers (.655) in baseball, so don’t be surprised if Johson has similar success.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Max Muncy vs. Ariel Jurado, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $5,400
The Dodgers are likely going to be a popular stack with Jurado on the mound. He’s been terrible for the Rangers with a 6.40 ERA and a 5.75 FIP across his first six starts. He has a bloated 1.55 WHIP and only struck out 12 batters over 32.1 innings. Muncy has seen his playing time decrease some lately due to the additions of Manny Machado and Brian Dozier, but he still has four home runs in his last eight games. With the DH available in this contest, expect Muncy to be in the lineup.
Danny Jansen vs. Josh Rogers, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,900
Jansen certainly earned his call-up to the majors, batting .275 with a .390 OBP at Triple-A. He drew 44 walks compared to 49 strikeouts over 360 plate appearances. He’s carried that success over to the Blue Jays, going 10-for-30 with a home run and five doubles in his first nine games. He’s a great cheap option to consider against Rogers, who will be making his first appearance in the majors and doesn’t exactly have an overwhelming arsenal based on his 6.5 K/9 at Triple-A this year.
Others to consider: Matt Carpenter (first base) and Yasmani Grandal (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Whit Merrifield vs. Matthew Boyd, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $5,100
Merrifield might not get a lot of publicity playing for a bad Royals squad, but he’s a great hitter. He only has 10 home runs, but he’s batting .307 with a .374 OBP and 35 doubles. He’s a terror on the bases as well with 28 steals. He has a career .375 wOBA against lefties, so it’s not surprising that he is also 8-for-19 in his career against Boyd.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. vs. Josh Rogers, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $4,200
Gurriel took a seat for the Blue Jays on Monday after starting his first three games since being activated from the DL. He’s one of the bright young players in their organization, so expect him to get plenty of playing time down the stretch. He was one of the hottest hitters in baseball before landing on the DL and is batting .307 overall, leaving him as a someone to consider in tournament play if you don’t want to pay up for Merrifield.
Others to consider: Travis Shaw and Jonathan Villar
THIRD BASE
Justin Turner vs. Ariel Jurado, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $5,600
Injuries have hampered Turner’s season, but he’s doing his best to make up for a slow start. He’s been red-hot in August, batting .405 with five homers and 10 doubles. He has outstanding numbers against left-handed pitchers, but he could still be in line for a big night against the struggling Jurado based on his .356 wOBA against righties.
Wil Myers vs. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,400
Hernandez is only 33 years old, but he’s a shell of his former self. He was demoted to the bullpen at one point but is back in the starting rotation out of necessity for the Mariners. He’s hasn’t been terrible at home, but he has a staggering 7.46 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP on the road. Myers has almost identical numbers against both righties and lefties throughout his career, so don’t pass over him for your entry just because he doesn’t have the platoon advantage against Hernandez.
Others to consider: Miguel Andujar and Matt Chapman
SHORTSTOP
Manny Machado vs. Ariel Jurado, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,500
Machado is still adjusting to his new team and moving to a new league, batting .266 overall since joining the Dodgers. He is starting to heat up again, though, batting .286 with five home runs across his last 11 games. He won’t come cheap on either site, but he has significant upside against Jurado in hitter-friendly Globe Life Park in Arlington.
Freddy Galvis vs. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,600
Galvis has never really been a great hitter, batting .245 with a .661 OPS for his career. He’s put up similar numbers overall this year, but he’s been hot in August, batting .264 with a .834 OPS. If you decide to spend big at starting pitcher, Galvis is a cheap player to consider to help balance your budget with Hernandez on the mound.
Others to consider: Gleyber Torres and Trevor Story
OUTFIELD
Mitch Haniger vs. Jacob Nix, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,900
Haniger was limited to 96 games last year due to injury, but he still hit 16 home runs and 25 doubles. He’s been able to stay healthy this season and remains extremely productive, slugging 22 homers and 28 doubles. He’s also batting .281 with a .368 OBP, showing he’s not just selling out for power. Nix has a 1.63 WHIP through three starts with the Padres, so this could be a high-scoring game for Haniger and the Mariners.
Yasiel Puig vs. Ariel Jurado, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,400
Puig is struggling, batting .171 with just one extra-base hit over his last 10 games. His .433 slugging percentage overall in August would be his lowest mark of any month this season, However, this might be just the matchup that Puig needs to get back on track. With Jurado’s struggles already detailed, it’s also important to note that Puig has had more success against right-handed pitchers (134 wRC+) this year than he has lefties (71 wRC+).
Carlos Gonzalez vs. Noe Ramirez, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $4,300
Ramirez is expected to start Tuesday after recording a save in Monday’s contest. This will be a bullpen game for the Angels, which is good news for the Rockies since the Angels bullpen has the fifth-highest FIP (4.44) in the majors. Gonzalez enters this game on a five-game hitting streak and is hitting .310 overall in August, making him someone to target at this reasonable price.
Others to consider: J.D. Martinez and Tyler O’Neill
MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 21
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
August special! Use Code MCMLB50 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
Mike Clevinger, Cleveland Indians: at CIN, vs. BAL
The Indians starting rotation is so deep that Clevinger often gets lost behind Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer, and Carlos Carrasco. His contributions should not go unnoticed, though, considering his 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 a much improved 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 in his first start of Week 21. The Reds haven’t been hitting well of late either, averaging 3.5 runs over their last 10 games. The Orioles and their stripped-down lineup also present a favorable matchup in his second start, potentially setting up Clevinger for a valuable week.
J.A. Happ, New York Yankees: vs. TB, vs. TOR
Happ has pitched well since joining the Yankees, allowing four runs and recording 11 strikeouts across 12 innings. Desperate for help in their rotation, Happ could be a key addition for the Yankees down the stretch. His 4.07 ERA overall doesn’t exactly stand out, but he has a 1.14 WHIP and a 10.1 K/9. He also had a 5.22 ERA pitching in the Rogers Centre this year, so a move out of Toronto could provide a boost to his value. The Rays are in the bottom-third of baseball in runs scored and the Blue Jays lineup isn’t exactly all that imposing either, making Happ a great option for Week 21.
Anibal Sanchez, Atlanta Braves: vs. MIA, vs. COL
Sanchez left his last outing early after getting hit on the calf, but he’s expected to be fine for his next start Tuesday. Sanchez finished with an ERA of 4.99 or higher in each of the last three seasons with the Tigers, but he’s been much improved with the Braves. While it will be hard for him to maintain his current 2.83 ERA, his FIP is still strong at 3.73. One of the main reasons for his success has been cutting back on allowing home runs. He allowed 1.7 HR/9 or more in each of his previous three seasons but has only allowed 1.0 HR/9 this year. His first start against the Marlins is a great matchup since they have scored the second-fewest runs (444) in baseball. The Rockies are more dangerous, but they only have a .689 OPS on the road.
Blaine Hardy, Detroit Tigers: vs. CWS, at MIN
After pitching out of the bullpen for his entire career, Hardy has been given a chance to start this year. He’s made 12 starts over 22 appearances, posting a 3.63 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP overall. He’s shown good control by issuing just 2.3 BB/9, but he doesn’t have much strikeout upside with a 6.5 K/9. That being said, you might be able to squeeze some value out of him. The White Sox and Twins both struggle to score runs and are in the bottom third of baseball in OPS against left-handed pitching. In two previous starts against the White Sox, Hardy allowed two runs over 12.1 innings. He’s had similar success against the Twins, giving up four runs across 11 innings in two outings. Hardy is still available in 97% of Yahoo! leagues.
Starters to Avoid
Marco Gonzales, Seattle Mariners: at OAK, vs. LAD
Gonzales has pitched well in first extended look in the majors, posting a 3.79 ERA, 3.59 FIP, and a 1.20 WHIP. He only has a 7.9 K/9, but he’s shown excellent control with a 1.6 BB/9. He did allow seven runs in his last start against the Rangers, marking the third time in his last nine outings that he allowed at least five runs. The A’s and Dodgers both have deep lineups that can score a lot of runs, which could prove troublesome for Gonzales. With his lack of strikeout upside, this might be the week to put him on your bench.
Nick Pivetta, Philadelphia Phillies: vs. BOS, vs. NYM
Pivetta has been a tremendous source for strikeouts with an 11.1 K/9. His 4.51 ERA doesn’t entirely paint an accurate picture of his performance, either, based on his 3.47 FIP. His WHIP is also down from 1.51 last year to 1.28 this season. However, he can tend to give up runs in bunches, which could be disastrous against the Red Sox. His second start against the Mets is extremely favorable, but the damage might have already been done to his week by the time he gets there.
Ryan Borucki, Toronto Blue Jays: at KC, at NYY
Borucki has a 2.81 ERA across eight starts for the Blue Jays, but his 1.38 WHIP doesn’t inspire much confidence. He’s allowed just one home run over 48 innings, so his ERA could increase quickly if he can’t continue to keep hitters inside the park. Don’t count on him for many strikeouts, either, based on his 6.0 K/9. His first matchup this week against the Royals is certainly in his favor. While he did hold the Yankees to one run across even innings previously, it’s important to note that game was in Toronto. The Yankees have a .739 OPS on the road but a much better .834 OPS at home. The start against the Royals makes him an enticing streaming option, but I don’t think he’s worth the risk against the Yankees.
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/9/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout
There are only six games to choose from Thursday for the main slate in DFS, but there are still some great matchups that stand out. 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
James Paxton vs. Houston Astros
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $10,000
DraftKings = $10,600
Paxton has picked up right where he left off after a brief stint on the DL, allowing three runs and recording 15 strikeouts across 14 innings since he was activated. His 3.51 ERA overall is supported by an even better 3.05 FIP and he’s done an excellent job keeping runners off base with a 1.07 WHIP. His 11.5 K/9 would also be the highest mark of his career. You don’t normally target pitchers against the Astros, but their lineup is a shell of itself with Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and George Springer all on the DL. They enter Thursday having scored three runs or fewer in nine of their last 12 games.
Yonny Chirinos vs. Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $5,700
I don’t like any of the cheap starting pitching options Thursday. Tyler Anderson, Ross Stripling, and J.A. Happ are all good pitchers and don’t cost much, but their matchups aren’t great. The Rays are actually starting Hunter Wood in this game, but he’s not going to throw more than a couple of innings. Chirinos is one of the more likely options to follow him since he last pitched five days ago and Jake Faria is dealing with a sore neck. He’s pitched well with a 3.70 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and an 8.5 K/9, so he could provide a lot of value at this price. Keep an eye on reports leading up to this game and if Chirinos is confirmed to follow Wood, he’s someone worth considering on a night with so few quality options.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Jake Bauers vs. David Hess, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,400
Hess hadn’t started a game since June for the Orioles, but he returned to the rotation last Friday against the Rangers. That game certainly didn’t go well as he allowed seven runs (five earned) across 3.1 innings. If the Orioles had any other viable options, Hess likely wouldn’t be starting because of his 6.41 ERA and 1.54 WHIP. He’s also allowed 2.2 HR/9, giving Bauers and the Rays an excellent opportunity to put up some big numbers.
Steve Pearce vs. Ryan Borucki, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,300
Borucki has pitched well across his seven starts, posting a 2.30 ERA, 2.52 FIP, and a 1.26 WHIP. His only bad outing came against these same Red Sox when he allowed seven runs (four earned) in three innings. It’s going to be awfully difficult for him to have success in their rematch Thursday, especially considering his underwhelming 6.3 K/9. Pearce is one Red Sox to target in particular based on his 189 wRC+ against lefties.
Others to consider: Greg Bird (first base) and Francisco Cervelli (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Gleyber Torres vs. Ariel Jurado, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,300
Torres has played better than anyone could have expected since being recalled, batting .274 with 18 home runs in only 266 at-bats. He’s loved hitting at home so far, batting .307 with 10 homers at Yankee Stadium. Jurado is not an overwhelming pitcher with a career 6.9 K/9 in the minors, leaving Torres with plenty of upside once again.
Joey Wendle vs. David Hess, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $4,100
With Hess on the mound for the Orioles, the Rays are likely going to be one of the most heavily used stacks for the evening. Wendle has cashed in his first opportunity to get extended playing time in the majors, batting .292 across 322 at-bats. He doesn’t have a lot of power, but he at least has the potential to get on base a couple of times in this contest.
Others to consider: Josh Harrison and Neil Walker
THIRD BASE
Miguel Andujar vs. Ariel Jurado, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,300
If it wasn’t for the crazy start to Torres’ career, Andujar would be getting much more press. His defense has been shaky, to say the least, but his bat is going to be special. He has 30 doubles to go along with 15 home runs, but he’s not just about power numbers with his .289 batting average. He actually has slightly better numbers against righties, so don’t worry about him not having the platoon advantage against Jurado.
David Freese vs. Andrew Suarez, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $2,300
DraftKings = $4,100
Expect Freese to be in the lineup against the left-handed Suarez based on his .363 wOBA against left-handed pitchers for his career. Suarez had a very productive stretch from June into the beginning of July, but he’s allowed 19 runs over 21.2 innings in his last four starts.
Others to consider: Justin Turner and Matt Duffy
SHORTSTOP
Didi Gregorius vs. Ariel Jurado, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,900
There are a lot of Yankees’ hitters who have better numbers at home, but Gregorius has one of the most extreme splits. He’s batting .236 with seven homers on the road compared to .296 with 13 long balls at Yankee Stadium. This could be a high scoring game for the Yankees even with Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez still sidelined, with Gregorius potentially playing a key role.
Xander Bogaerts vs. Ryan Borucki, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Center
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,200
Bogaerts is in a power drought, failing to hit a home run since the All-Star break. He’s only hit .216 during that stretch, but he has recorded a hit in three straight games. With at least one walk in four consecutive contests, as well, he’s showing signs of coming back around. He’s had a great season batting .274 with 16 home runs and is someone to consider if you don’t want to pay up for Gregorius.
Others to consider: Manny Machado and Willy Adames
OUTFIELD
J.D. Martinez vs. Ryan Borucki, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $5,600
Martinez is locked in, batting .404 with five home runs and seven doubles over his last 13 games. He has 16 RBI during that time frame, bringing his total to 98 for the season. With his career .387 wOBA against left-handed pitchers, he could give Borucki plenty of problems.
Mallex Smith vs. David Hess, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,700
Smith is on a hot streak of his own, going 12-for-24 over his last eight games. He swiped two more bases Wednesday, upping his total to 25 overall. With Smith hitting this well and Hess struggling to keep runners off base, you could get plenty of production even without Smith having any power upside.
Randal Grichuk vs. Rick Porcello, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,800
Grichuk logged two hits Wednesday, marking his third multi-hit performance in his last five games. He’s been one of the better Blue Jays’ hitters of late, batting .339 with two home runs and six doubles across his last 13 contests. He has better numbers against right-handed pitchers throughout his career, so he might be worth the risk in tournament play.
Others to consider: Mookie Betts and Steven Duggar
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/7/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout
There are some excellent pitching options Tuesday, but there could be plenty of high-scoring games, as well, with several teams throwing out their back of the rotation starters. 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
Carlos Carrasco vs. Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $10,600
DraftKings = $11,500
The Indians starting rotation is so deep that Carrasco doesn’t always get the recognition that he deserves. He’s having another fantastic season with a 3.66 ERA, 3.25 FIP, and a 1.13 WHIP. He’s shown excellent control by issuing only 1.9 BB/9 and his 10.1 K/9 would mark the third time in the last four seasons that he has finished with a K/9 of at least 10. This will be his second straight start against the Twins after he recorded 10 strikeouts over 7.1 scoreless innings last Wednesday. With Eduardo Escobar and Brian Dozier no longer on the team, this is an excellent lineup to exploit.
C.C. Sabathia vs. Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $7,300
DraftKings = $7,400
It’s not always pretty, but Sabathia seems to find a way to get the job done more often than not. His velocity is down significantly at this point in his career, but his 3.59 ERA would be his third straight season with a sub-4.00 ERA. You shouldn’t count on him for a lot of strikeouts, though, considering his 7.3 K/9. His upside isn’t the greatest as a result, but he can still provide value in the right matchups. The White Sox have scored the seventh-fewest runs (456) in baseball and only have a .693 OPS against left-handed pitching, so Sabathia might be worth the risk in tournament play.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Matt Carpenter vs. Pablo Lopez, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $5,700
Carpenter is on another power surge, slugging three home runs over his last four games. He’s already set a new career-high with 29 long balls and his .281 batting average would be his highest mark since 2013. He has an insane 50.3% hard-hit rate, but his .313 BABIP is actually slightly lower than his career numbers. Lopez has allowed at least one home run in five of his six starts this season and hasn’t shown an overpowering arsenal with a 7.3 K/9, leaving Carpenter with tremendous upside once again.
Tucker Barnhart vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $2,300
DraftKings = $3,700
Barnhart is struggling right now, batting .170 across his last 18 games. This might be just the matchup he needs to get back on track considering Vargas has an 8.23 ERA and a 1.79 WHIP. Barnhart has also excelled against lefties this year with a .382 wOBA.
Others to consider: Jake Bauers (first base) and Kendrys Morales (first base)
SECOND BASE
Rougned Odor vs. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $5,400
Odor has been a different hitter since the calendar changed to July, batting .340 with nine home runs and eight doubles over 106 at-bats. His batting average is up to .269 for the season overall, which has helped make up for his decrease in home runs. He’s only batting .239 on the road this season, but he’s recorded a .295 average with a .500 slugging percentage at home.
Jonathan Villar vs. Tyler Glasnow, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium = Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,800
Villar is likely going to get plenty of playing time down the stretch for an Orioles team that stripped it’s lineup at the trade deadline passed. The move to Baltimore has paid off for him so far as he is 8-for-17 (.471) through four games. He has struggled to build off of his breakout 2016 campaign where he hit 19 home runs and stole 62 bases, but he can still wreak havoc on the base paths and is worth considering in tournament play at this cheap price.
Others to consider: Whit Merrifield and Joey Wendle
THIRD BASE
Eugenio Suarez vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $5,300
Suarez is likely going to be a popular play Tuesday based on his 213 wRC+ against lefties. Vargas gives up a ton of runs and doesn’t provide the Mets with much length, which helps make the case for Suarez even stronger considering their lack of quality arms in the bullpen. He doesn’t come cheap, but he could be a player to build your entry around.
Jurickson Profar vs. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,800
Hernandez has a respectable 4.02 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP at home, but he’s been crushed on the road with a 7.58 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP. The Rangers are a far better offensive team at home, so expect them to be one of the most widely used stacks for the evening. Profar has better numbers against lefties, but he’s 23-for-77 (.299) with 15 runs and 13 RBI over his last 22 games overall.
Others to consider: Colin Moran and Kyle Seager
SHORTSTOP
Aledmys Diaz vs. Drew Pomeranz, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,000
Diaz has seen steady playing time with Lourdes Gurriel on the DL and has taken advantage of the opportunity by going 8-for-24 (.333) with four home runs over seven games. Although he doesn’t walk much, he’s quietly rebounded from a disappointing 2017 season to bat .261 with 14 home runs overall. Pomeranz has allowed six runs across 9.2 innings in two starts since being activated from the DL and has pitched poorly, in general, this year with a 6.56 ERA and a 1.80 WHIP.
Andrelton Simmons vs. Jacob Turner, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,000
Turner appeared in four games for the Marlins earlier this season, allowing 10 runs over 5.2 innings. He’s moved on to the Tigers and has since made 11 starts at Triple-A, but he didn’t exactly pitch well there with a 4.01 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and a 6.3 K/9. With a 5.26 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP for his career in the majors, the Angels could be in for a big night even with Mike Trout sidelined. Simmons is batting .306 with only 22 strikeouts this year, so he could be on base plenty in this game.
Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Jose Peraza
OUTFIELD
Nelson Cruz vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $5,500
Cruz failed to take Martin Perez deep Monday, but he still finished the game 2-for-5 with a walk. He’ll get another excellent chance to hit one out of the park Tuesday since Colon has given up 1.8 HR/9. Colon doesn’t fool many batters at this stage of his career with a 5.2 K/9, so don’t be surprised if Cruz and the Mariners hang a crooked number on him in this contest.
Kole Calhoun vs. Jacob Turner, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,100
Calhoun’s .207 average still looks horrible, but he’s batting .294 over 29 games since July 1. He hasn’t just hit for average during that stretch, either, recording 11 home runs, 27 RBI and 23 runs scored. With how poorly Tuner has pitched, it’s hard to pass up Calhoun based on his reasonable price on both sites.
Shohei Ohtani vs. Jacob Turner, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,400
Ohtani’s elbow injury has prevented him from pitching, but he’s still been able to DH for the Angels while he works his way back to the mound. He’s pretty much unplayable versus lefties considering his .243 wOBA against them. However, he has a .422 wOBA against righties with all 11 of his home runs coming against them.
Others to consider: Joey Gallo and Mark Canha