Monday’s seven-game evening slate in DFS is certainly short on quality pitching options. However, there are still a couple of hurlers that stand out as viable targets. Let’s dive into their matchups, as well as highlight some of the hitters who could be in positions to thrive.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/26/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
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With 14 of the 15 games in baseball Tuesday making up the main evening slate in DFS, there is a bevy of options to choose from for your entry. 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. Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $9,600
DraftKings = $12,500
Paxton has been hit hard in his last two outings, allowing 10 runs over 7.1 innings. Those starts came against the Red Sox and Yankees, two of the best offenses in all of baseball. Before that, he had allowed three runs or fewer in nine consecutive starts. He’s done a great job limiting baserunners with a 1.12 WHIP and he has a career-high 31.5% strikeout rate, helping him post a 3.72 ERA and a 3.08 FIP. The Orioles have scored the second-fewest runs (283) and have the third-lowest OPS against left-handed pitchers (.663) in baseball, so look for Paxton to get back on track.
Frankie Montas vs. Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $8,600
DraftKings = $7,600
With the Athletics dealing with multiple injuries to their staff, they have been forced to put Montas into their starting rotation. He hadn’t started a game in the majors since he was a member of the White Sox in 2015 and didn’t have much success out of the bullpen for the Athletics last year, posting a 7.03 ERA, 7.13 FIP, and a 1.84 WHIP. He’s grabbed a hold of his spot in the rotation with a 2.41 ERA, 3.70 FIP and a 1.25 WHIP across five starts. His 5.6 K/9 isn’t great, but he has allowed just two home runs in 33.2 innings. Three of his five starts have come against bad teams in the Padres and Royals, but he’ll face another weak lineup in the Tigers, making him a viable option in tournament play.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Paul Goldschmidt vs. Elieser Hernandez, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $5,200
Goldschmidt logged just one hit Monday, but he now has at least one hit in 23 of his last 25 games. He has increased his batting average from .201 to .264 during that stretch while also slugging 11 home runs. Hernandez is starting in place of the injured Jose Urena (shoulder) and hasn’t pitched well this season with a 5.12 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP. This presents another opportunity for Goldschmidt to extend his hot streak.
Tom Muphy vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $3,300
Murphy has never had more than 49 plate appearances in a season in the majors, but he has hit .281 with a .885 OPS during his career in the minors. He was mashing at Triple-A earlier this season before being calling up, hitting .289 with a 1.001 OPS. He hasn’t hit a home run since being recalled, but he’s still swinging a hot bat with a .306 average. Holland has allowed a .361 wOBA against right-handed hitter this season, making Murphy someone to consider in tournament play.
Others to consider: Freddie Freeman (first base) and Eric Hosmer (first base)
SECOND BASE
Ozzie Albies vs. Matt Harvey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $5,000
Albies lit the league on fire at the start of the season but has since cooled off considerably. He had nine home runs heading into the month of May but has only gone deep eight times since. He has also seen his batting average decrease from .293 to .269. The good news is that he is showing signs of getting hot again, hitting 15-for-33 (.455) over his current seven-game hitting streak. Harvey has allowed a .386 wOBA to lefties this year, setting up the potential for Albies to give him a lot of trouble.
Dee Gordon vs. Kevin Gausman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,900
With two more hits Monday, Gordon is now 20-for-58 (.345) in his last 13 games. He has only one extra-base hit during that stretch, but he has scored nine runs and recorded five RBI. You can’t count on Gordon for power numbers, but he does hit for a high average regularly and can steal bases in bunches. If you can’t fit Albies and his expensive price into your entry, Gordon is a viable secondary option.
Others to consider: Scooter Gennett and Eduardo Nunez
THIRD BASE
Nolan Arenado vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $5,800
Arenado doesn’t hit as well away from Coors Field, which can sometimes make him a risky play on the road considering his price tag. He does have good numbers against lefties, though, with a 259 wRC+ against them this season. With Holland’s struggles against righties, this might be one of those road games where Arenado is still worth paying up for.
Justin Turner vs. Jon Lester, Chicago Cubs
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,600
A career .287 hitter, Turner is hitting just .250 after getting a late start to the season due to a fractured wrist. His power numbers are down considerably, which can sometimes be an issue with players returning from a wrist injury. Even with his slow start, Turner has a .438 wOBA against lefties this year.
Others to consider: Eduardo Escobar and Jake Lamb
SHORTSTOP
Xander Bogaerts vs. John Lamb, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $5,000
The Angels starting rotation is depleted by injuries, leaving Lamb with an opportunity for his first taste of action in the majors since 2016. The fact that he had a 5.37 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP at Triple-A last year shows just how desperate things are for the Angels. His 3.41 ERA at Triple-A this season is better, but his 1.29 WHIP indicates he wasn’t exactly dominating before being recalled. He’s allowed five runs and three home runs across 8.1 innings in two starts in the majors and has a tough task ahead of him against the Red Sox. They present a great stacking opportunity, Bogaerts included.
Kike Hernandez vs. Jon Lester, Chicago Cubs
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,500
Not known to be much of a power hitter, Hernandez has three home runs in his last two games. That brings his season total to 13, which is already his career-high. He’s still not hitting for a high average at .234, but he’s someone to target against lefties since he had a .390 wOBA against them last year and has a .357 mark this season.
Others to consider: Brandon Crawford and Marcus Semien
OUTFIELD
J.D. Martinez vs. John Lamb, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $5,700
The Red Sox signing of Martinez could turn out to be one of the most important moves made by any team in the offseason. He’s continued to mash with his new squad, batting .325 with 23 home runs and 18 doubles. The Red Sox lineup around him has been good as well, helping Martinez amass 60 RBI and 53 runs scored. He has hit lefties well throughout his career with a .385 wOBA and is someone to build your lineup around Tuesday.
Shin-Soo Choo vs. Tyson Ross, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,900
A lot has gone wrong for the Rangers this year, but Choo has certainly not been one of their concerns. He enters Tuesday hitting .285 with a .395 OBP and a .879 OPS, each of which would be his highest mark since his last season with the Reds in 2013. His .346 BABIP is very close to his career mark of .338, which is good news for his prognosis moving forward. He also has a .407 wOBA against right-handed pitchers, so look to ride his success in a matchup against Ross.
Mark Canha vs. Blaine Hardy, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,700
With a lefty on the mound, it’s time to target one of my favorite cheap plays in Canha. He only has a .282 wOBA against righties this year, but he has a .418 wOBA against left-handed pitchers. Hardy is having a good season for the Tigers with a 3.30 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP, but he doesn’t strike out many hitters and has a wOBA against righties that is 40 points higher than it is against lefties.
Others to consider: Nelson Cruz and Mitch Haniger