All 30 teams will be in action Tuesday, leaving us with plenty of players to pick from in DFS. From top-tier pitchers to lineups with tremendous upside, there are a few different routes to consider when constructing your entry.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/24/2019
We have our customary chunk of day games Wednesday, leaving us with eight contests to choose from for the main evening slate in DFS. Despite the limited schedule, there are a lot of appealing matchups to exploit.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/3/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout
After a wild night of offense Thursday, there are several aces taking the mound Friday. 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
Patrick Corbin vs. San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $9,800
DraftKings = $10,400
There has been no slowing down Corbin, who has a 3.26 ERA that is supported by an even better 2.65 FIP. He’s missing plenty of bats with a 14.8% swinging-strike rate, which has helped him record a 1.06 WHIP and an 11.0 K/9. His 42.6% hard-hit rate is substantially higher than his career mark, but opponents haven’t been unlucky with a .292 BABIP against him. He’s already faced the Giants four times this year, giving up five runs and recording 29 strikeouts over 26.2 innings. The Giants are in the bottom third of the league in runs scored, so look for Corbin to provide another valuable performance.
Vince Velasquez vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $8,100
DraftKings = $8,000
Velasquez had a bloated 1.50 WHIP last year, but he’s made significant progress this season with a 1.24 WHIP. His .289 BABIP allowed isn’t low, either, which is encouraging news for his value moving forward. His 4.02 ERA doesn’t stand out, but some of that is due to an awful start against the Brewers towards the beginning of June when he allowed 10 runs over 3.2 innings. Since that outing, he has a 2.48 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP across 40 innings. The Marlins have scored the fourth-fewest runs (421) in the league, making Velasquez an excellent cost-effective option to consider.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Edwin Encarnacion vs. Jaime Barria, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,800
Barria hasn’t pitched as well as his 3.74 ERA and 1.20 WHIP would seem to indicate. His FIP stands at 5.12 and opposing hitters only have a .256 BABIP against him, so luck has been on his side. He’s not fooling many batters with a 6.5 K/9 and he’s already allowed 14 home runs in just 77 innings. Encarnacion doesn’t have the platoon advantage in this game, but Barria has allowed a .397 wOBA against right-handed hitters.
Jake Bauers vs. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,400
The White Sox continue to run Giolito out there, but he hasn’t had much success with a 6.26 ERA and a 6.10 FIP. He has an unsightly 1.54 WHIP and has allowed 65 walks compared to just 71 strikeouts. With Giolito’s .384 wOBA against left-handed hitters, Bauers could be in for a big night.
Others to consider: Jose Abreu (first base) and Robinson Chirinos (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Rougned Odor vs. David Hess, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $5,100
Stacking against the Orioles is going to be popular more often than not down the stretch. Their starting rotation isn’t great and their bullpen is severely short on talent after they dealt away a couple of key relievers. Odor has been one of the Rangers hottest hitters, going 31-for-89 (.378) with seven home runs over his last 25 games. He’s increased his walk rate significantly this year and can cause trouble on the basepaths as well.
Joey Wendle vs. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,900
Wendle enters Friday 8-for-21 (.381) with three walks and four runs scored during his current six-game hitting streak. He doesn’t hit many home runs, but he’s increased his batting average by 25 points since July 1. With the problems Giolito has limiting baserunners, Wendle is a cheap option to consider in tournament play.
Others to consider: Daniel Murphy and Niko Goodrum
THIRD BASE
Eugenio Suarez vs. Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $5,000
Suarez drove in two runs Thursday, setting a new career high with 83 RBI. He’s batting .300 with 25 home runs as he tries to establish himself as one of the better young third basemen in baseball. He absolutely destroys left-handed pitching with a 213 wRC+ against them, so don’t hesitate to pay up for him against Gonzalez and his 1.45 WHIP.
Jurickson Profar vs. David Hess, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,600
Profar has been one of the more highly regarded prospects in the Rangers organization, but injuries and limited opportunities for him in the majors had put a damper on his career. With the Rangers having one of the worst records in baseball, Profar is finally getting extended playing time this year. His numbers aren’t great, but he’s hitting a respectable .252 with 11 home runs and eight steals. He loves hitting at home with a .273 average and eight home runs at Globe Life Park in Arlington compared to a .231 average and three homers on the road.
Others to consider: Matt Chapman and Adrian Beltre
SHORTSTOP
Trea Turner vs. Anthony DeSclafani, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $5,200
Turner is scorching-hot right now, hitting 14-for-34 (.412) with two home runs, 12 runs scored, seven RBI and eight steals across his last seven games. He’s not stealing bases at nearly the rate that he was last year, but his recent hot streak bumped his total up to 30 for the season. DeSclafani has a 5.47 ERA and an even worse 6.07 FIP, setting up Turner nicely for another hefty stat line.
Marcus Semien vs. Blaine Hardy, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,200
Hardy has pitched very well out of the bullpen, recording a 1.69 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and a 9.3 K/9 across 10 appearances. He hasn’t had nearly that much success as a starter, though, with a 4.01 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and a 5.9 K/9 over 10 outings. Semien has three straight multi-hit games and is 14-for-43 (.326) across his last 10 contests.
Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Elvis Andrus
OUTFIELD
Bryce Harper vs. Anthony DeSclafani, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,300
Participating in the Home Run Derby sure hasn’t hurt Harper, who is 14-for-39 (.359) with three home runs and four doubles since taking home the crown. He’s batting a disappointing .230 overall, but he still has a .377 OBP and has slugged 26 homers. The Nationals will also likely be a popular stack against DeSclafani with Harper having the highest upside of the bunch.
Shin-Soo Choo vs. David Hess, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,900
The Rangers scored 17 runs Thursday in the first game of what figures to be a high scoring series against the Orioles. Choo didn’t exactly shine, but he still provided value by finishing the game 2-for-6 with a double and two runs scored. He’s someone to target again Friday with his .398 wOBA against right-handed pitchers. He doesn’t help your budget much on DraftKings, but his price on FanDuel could lead to tremendous value.
Mark Canha vs. Blaine Hardy, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $4,200
If there is a lefty on the mound against the A’s, that means it’s Canha time. He’s having a good season overall by batting .265 with 14 home runs, but he’s been exceptional with a .419 wOBA against lefties. With Hardy’s underwhelming arsenal, make sure Canha is in your lineup.
Others to consider: Nelson Cruz and Joey Gallo
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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 6/21/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
June special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout
With several teams off and a few day games on the schedule Thursday, there are only seven games to pick 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
Max Scherzer vs. Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $12,200
DraftKings = $14,500
Scherzer is the clear top option on the slate Thursday. He has continued to be one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball with a 2.06 ERA, 1.94 FIP, and a 0.84 WHIP. He has only allowed eight home runs in 100.2 innings and has a career-high 13.6 K/9. This will mark his second start of the season against the Orioles after he recorded 12 strikeouts over eight scoreless innings in their first matchup. He’ll eat up a significant portion of your budget, but his upside is off the charts.
Tyson Ross vs. San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $7,400
DraftKings = $7,800
Ross couldn’t have looked much worse for the Rangers last year, posting a 7.71 ERA and a 1.84 WHIP. His return the Padres has rejuvenated his career, though, as he has a 3.51 ERA, 3.60 FIP and a 1.20 WHIP in 14 starts. He’s done a tremendous job cutting down on his walks, following up his 6.8 BB/9 last year with a 3.2 mark this season. Hitters are also chasing more pitches outside of the strike zone, helping boost his K/9 to 9.0. He has already faced the Giants twice this season, allowing two runs (one earned) and recording 14 strikeouts in 12 innings.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Anthony Rizzo vs. Matt Harvey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,700
Rizzo is still trying to dig out of a horrid start that saw him enter May hitting .149. He batted .303 in May and is hitting .274 in June, helping boost his average to .247 overall. He has a .346 wOBA against right-handed pitching and will face the struggling Harvey, who has a 5.09 ERA and a 5.13 FIP since being traded to the Reds.
Matt Olson vs. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,900
With Giolito on the mound, stacking Athletics’ hitters could be a sound strategy. Giolito has a bloated 1.64 WHIP and actually has more walks (45) than strikeouts (40). The result has been a 7.19 ERA and 6.29 FIP across 14 starts. He’s also allowed a .401 wOBA to left-handed hitters, making Olson a great option if you can’t afford to fit Rizzo into your entry.
Others to consider: Joey Votto (first base) and Wilson Contreras (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Jed Lowrie vs. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,200
As we continue our Athletics stack, Lowrie weighs in as one of the top options at second base. He’s cooled off considerably from his hot start to the season, but he is 9-for-23 (.391) with two home runs during his current five-game hitting streak. The switch-hitting Lowrie is also better from the left side of the plate, posting a .371 wOBA against right-handed pitchers.
Jedd Gyorko vs. Brent Suter, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,200
With the lefty Suter on the mound, Gyorko jumps out as a cheap option with upside in tournament play. He has a paltry 65 wRC+ against righties this year but has mashed lefties with a 201 wRC+. He has three home runs in 39 plate appearances against lefties compared to only two home runs in 123 plate appearances against right-handers.
Others to consider: Scooter Gennett and Daniel Descalso
THIRD BASE
Anthony Rendon vs. Kevin Gausman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $3,900
With the likes of Bryce Harper, Daniel Murphy, Juan Soto and Adam Eaton, the Nationals lineup is loaded with very good left-handed hitters. Rendon is an important right-handed bat in their lineup who destroys left-handed pitching. He doesn’t exactly struggle against righties, either, posting a .349 wOBA against them this year. With at least two hits in five of his last six games, Rendon is still an excellent option Thursday even though he doesn’t have the platoon advantage against Gausman.
Matt Davidson vs. Chris Bassitt, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,900
When you take a chance on Davidson, you’re hoping he connects for a home run since he is only batting .226 for his career. He does have 13 homers this year, including two in his last four games. Bassitt has only made two starts for the Athletics this season, the last of which he allowed six runs (two earned) in only four innings against the Angels. He had a 6.10 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP at Triple-A before being called up and is really only in the rotation right now due to all of Oakland’s injuries.
Others to consider: Kris Bryant and Jake Lamb
SHORTSTOP
Trea Turner vs. Kevin Gausman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,700
Although Turner’s 20 steals would be great for most players, it’s a bit disappointing for him considering he had 46 steals in only 98 games last year. He’s been caught stealing just twice, but his .266 average isn’t helping with his opportunities. He does have at least one hit in seven of his last eight games and actually has better numbers against righties (.335 wOBA) than lefties (.314 wOBA), bringing him into the discussion for this limited slate.
Marcus Semien vs. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,100
Semien has busted out his power stroke of late, recording two home runs and three doubles in his last five games. Giolito has had problems with home runs throughout his career in the majors, resulting in a 1.7 HR/9. Semien has very similar splits against lefties and righties, making him another viable option for an Athletics stack.
Others to consider: Andrelton Simmons and Addison Russell
OUTFIELD
Tommy Pham vs. Brent Suter, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,700
Pham has been on a rollercoaster ride this season. He was on fire at the start of the year, batting .341 through April. However, he couldn’t buy a hit in May as he hit only .195. He’s found a happy medium by batting .260 in June, recording at least one hit in all but three games he has played in the month. With a .361 wOBA against lefties, Pham has the potential for a big performance against Suter.
Kyle Schwarber vs. Matt Harvey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,300
We’ve already detailed that Harvey has struggled in general this season, but he has had even bigger problems against lefties, allowing a .393 wOBA. Harvey also gives up a lot of home runs with a 1.9 HR/9. Schwarber doesn’t hit for a high average and strikes out a lot, but he has a ton of power and enters Thursday having hit a home run in back-to-back games.
Jason Heyward vs. Matt Harvey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,900
Heyward hasn’t been able to live up to his big contract, although the Cubs did finally break their long World Series drought in his first season with the team in 2016. Heyward is currently having his best season in Chicago, batting .269 with a .749 OPS. He got off to a slow start, but he hit .283 in May and is batting .286 so far in June. You want to avoid him against left-handed pitching, but he’s some to consider against Harvey since he has a .349 wOBA against righties this year.
Others to consider: Juan Soto and Marcell Ozuna
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/22/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
May special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout
With several bad starting pitchers taking the mound Tuesday, there could be plenty of runs to come by across the majors. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
STARTING PITCHERS
Gerrit Cole vs. San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $11,800
DraftKings = $12,900
It’s hard to argue against starting Cole regardless of who he is facing. To illustrate how great of a season he is having, his worst outing of the year came in his last start against the Angels. He didn’t exactly get hammered either, giving up three runs and recording seven strikeouts in five innings. Cole’s 1.75 ERA has been backed by a 1.95 FIP and he is getting a ton of strikeouts with a 13.6 K/9. He gets a great matchup Tuesday against the Giants, who have struck out the fourth-most times (455) in baseball this season.
Kevin Gausman vs. Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $8,300
DraftKings = $7,600
The Orioles always seem to be searching for reliable starting pitchers, but Gausman has been a bright spot for their rotation. His 3.88 ERA and 4.56 FIP aren’t great, but a lot of the damage against him came over two starts where he allowed a total of 12 runs. Outside of those two bad performances, he has allowed two runs or fewer in six of seven outings. The White Sox lineup still leaves a lot to be desired, scoring the second-fewest runs (168) in baseball. Gausman doesn’t have a ton of strikeout upside, but the price might be right to take a chance on him in tournament play.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Mark Reynolds vs. Eric Lauer, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $3,700
The Nationals lost their regular first baseman in Ryan Zimmerman (back), but they luckily still have great options at the position with Reynolds and Matt Adams. Reynolds has only played six games this season, but he’s made an immediate impact with four home runs. He’ll likely get the start against left-hander Eric Lauer, who has been terrible this year with an 8.14 ERA and 2.10 WHIP.
Matt Olson vs. Mike Leake, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,800
Olson continues to strike out way too much with a 29.5% strikeout rate. His power numbers are down too, but the good news is that he has a 50% hard-hit rate. He’s shown signs of coming out of his early slump as well, hitting 8-for-27 with three home runs and two doubles in his last seven games. He also has a .394 career wOBA against right-handers, leaving him as a cost-effective option with upside against Leake.
Others to consider: Josh Bell (first base) and John Hicks (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Jed Lowrie vs. Mike Leake, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,200
Lowrie has slowed down a bit after his hot start as he hasn’t hit a home run in his last nine games. He’s still hitting .288 in May with his BABIP at a more reasonable .327, which is good news for his value moving forward. Leake presents a prime stacking opportunity with his 6.00 ERA and 1.53 WHIP this season. Lowrie also excels against right-handers, following up his .353 wOBA against them last year with a .424 wOBA this season.
Starlin Castro vs. Zack Wheeler, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,300
The Marlins rebuilding efforts have considerably weakened their lineup, resulting in them scoring the fewest runs in baseball so far. Castro has been one of their few bright spots, batting .296 in the early going. His power numbers are way down with only two home runs and he doesn’t get a lot of chances to drive in runs, which has resulted in only 20 RBI. He’s still someone to consider playing against Wheeler though, who has struggled to keep runners off base with a 1.55 WHIP through seven starts.
Others to consider: Gleyber Torres and Dee Gordon
THIRD BASE
Anthony Rendon vs. Eric Lauer, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $3,900
With Lauer taking the mound for the Padres, filling your lineup with Nationals’ hitters could pay off. Rendon has been limited to 27 games due to injury this season and has yet to get into a groove with only a .248 average. He’s been a bit unlucky with a .259 BABIP and he still isn’t striking out much, so expect him to turn things around soon. With a 186 wRC+ against lefties last year, he could be in line for a breakout performance Tuesday.
Colin Moran vs. Matt Harvey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,500
Moran doesn’t hit for a lot of power, but he is batting .286 and only has 15.8% strikeout rate. He does a great job getting on base in general as well with a .381 OBP. Not only does he have a .359 wOBA against righties this year, but he gets a great matchup against a struggling one in Harvey. If you don’t want to pay up for Rendon, Moran is an excellent budget-friendly option.
Others to consider: Mike Moustakas and Travis Shaw
SHORTSTOP
Trea Turner vs. Eric Lauer, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $4,800
Lauer has held lefties to a .260 wOBA in his brief time in the majors this season, but righties have had a ton of success with a .472 wOBA. As we continue to look for righties to stack against him, Turner leads the way as one of the best options available at shortstop. He is only hitting .246 in May, but a lot of that has to do with his abnormally low .234 BABIP. He does have five home runs this month, so don’t hesitate to add him to your entry.
Marcus Semien vs. Mike Leake, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,000
Semien has been one of the Athletics most consistent hitters of late, recording at least two hits in six of his last 10 games. He’s not just slapping singles either, recording two home runs and two doubles during that same stretch. He doesn’t get the lefty/righty advantage against Leake, but Leake hasn’t exactly been lights out against righties this year, allowing a .387 wOBA.
Others to consider: Xander Bogaerts and Jean Segura
OUTFIELD
Mookie Betts vs. Jake Faria, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $6,000
Unless Betts is facing one of the truly elite pitchers in baseball, you can pretty much make a case for playing him every day. There are a ton of crazy stats showing that he is off to one of the best starts we have seen in a long time, including his .365 average, 15 home runs and 48 runs scored in 43 games. Just as impressive is that he has almost as many walks (20) as he does strikeouts (21). Don’t expect Faria to be able to slow him down.
Corey Dickerson vs. Matt Harvey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $3,900
After moving on from franchise player Andrew McCutchen, Dickerson has proven to be a prudent addition for the Pirates. He made his first All-Star team last year and is off to a great start, batting .307 with five home runs and 29 RBI. He has hit at least 33 doubles in back-to-back seasons and is on pace to reach that feat again this year with 14 doubles already. Harvey allowed a .426 wOBA against lefties last year and hasn’t been much better by allowing a .397 wOBA to them this season.
Austin Meadows vs. Matt Harvey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $4,100
Rounding out our trio of Pirates’ lefties to play against Harvey, the up-and-coming Meadows checks in as a viable cheap option, especially on FanDuel. He went 5-for-11 with a home run in his first three games against the Padres after posting a .294 average in Triple-A. With a career .292 average during his time in the minor leagues, his future is certainly bright. It’s unclear if he’s going to stick around once Starling Marte (oblique) returns, but that’s of no concern Tuesday.
Others to consider: Mike Trout and Joey Gallo
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/1/18
Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/1/18
Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout
If you like ace starting pitchers, you are in luck Tuesday with Max Scherzer, Chris Sale, Clayton Kershaw, Justin Verlander and Noah Syndergaard all scheduled to take the mound. Offense might be hard to come by in those games, but there are still a lot of great hitting options for the night 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
Chris Sale vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $11,300
DraftKings = $12,400
Where to begin? Sale was one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball last year, finishing with a 2.90 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and 12.9 K/9. It marked the third time in the last four seasons that he finished with a K/9 of at least 10.8. He hasn’t slowed down this season, posting a 2.31 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and 11.6 K/9 through six starts. He owns left-handed hitters, holding them to a .234 wOBA last year. Some of the Royals best hitters are left-handed, which is not good news for their offensive potential Tuesday. Their lineup has been bad in general this year, scoring the fewest runs (95) with the sixth-lowest OPS (.681) in baseball. Of all the aces taking the mound Tuesday, Sale might finish with the most impressive performance.
Sean Newcomb vs. New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $7,400
DraftKings = $7,600
The Braves are loaded with young talent, including Newcomb, who they are relying on to be an important part of their starting rotation. He’s had control issues in his brief Major League career, posting a 5.0 BB/9 through 127.2 innings. The good news is he doesn’t allow a lot of solid contact with a 27.4% hard-hit rate for his career. Add in his 9.7 K/9 last year and he can provide value despite his high walk rate. The Mets have the second-lowest OPS (.605) against left-handed pitching this season, so Newcomb might be worth the risk Tuesday.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
C.J. Cron vs. Matthew Boyd, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $3,900
Cron has provided the Rays with an excellent power bat of late, hitting five home runs in his last eight games. He’s never played more than 116 games in a season, but should easily top that this season if he can stay healthy. Boyd’s 2.74 ERA looks nice, but his 4.72 FIP indicates he has not pitched that well and he’s been lucky with opponents having just a .194 BABIP. Cron might be one player who turns Boyd’s luck around Tuesday.
Albert Pujols vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,600
Pujols isn’t exactly red-hot right now and hasn’t had a multi-hit performance in any of his last 12 games. However, Cobb has been one of the worst pitchers in baseball during the early going, allowing a 13.11 ERA and 2.83 WHIP. He has allowed at least 10 hits in each of his first three starts and only has four total strikeouts. At this cheap price, Pujols could be worth the risk in tournament play.
Others to consider: Joey Votto (first base) and J.T. Realmuto (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Robinson Cano vs. Andrew Triggs, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $3,900
Cano only has three home runs this year, but he’s batting .313 with a .422 OBP. He has shown an excellent eye at the plate, drawing 17 walks and striking out just 18 times. With a career .379 wOBA against right-handed pitchers, Cano could be in line for a big performance Tuesday.
Ian Kinsler vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,800
Kinsler has already spent some time on the DL this season, limiting him to only 15 games. He’s struggled to the tune of a .224 batting average, but his abnormally low .218 BABIP and 25% hard-hit rate suggest better things to come. With Cobb’s struggles already detailed, Kinsler is another Angels’ hitter to consider adding to your entry.
Others to consider: Jed Lowrie and Matt Carpenter
THIRD BASE
Christian Villanueva vs. Andrew Suarez, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,400
The Padres couldn’t have asked for more from Villanueva to start the season, hitting .321 with a 1.103 OPS, eight home runs, and 19 RBI. His .370 BABIP might not be sustainable though and he batted only .269 with a .780 OPS during his career in the minors. While regression is likely in his future, it might not come Tuesday against the left-handed Suarez since Villanueva has a 339 wRC+ (you’re not reading that wrong) against lefties in his brief Major League career.
Martin Prado vs. Zach Eflin, Philadelphia Phillies
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,000
A career .291 hitter, injuries limited Prado to only 37 games last year and only three games this season. He doesn’t hit for a lot of power, but he doesn’t strike out much either with an 11.2% strikeout rate for his career. Eflin will be making his first start of the season after finishing with a 1.42 WHIP and 4.9 K/9 last year, bringing Prado and his cheap price into the conversation for Tuesday.
Others to consider: Alex Bregman and Daniel Robertson
SHORTSTOP
Trea Turner vs. Chad Kuhl, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,300
Turner was in a funk to start the season but has broken out of it, hitting 13-for-30 (.433) in his last seven games. He’s been excellent on the bases as well, recording four steals and five runs scored during that same stretch. Kuhl has struggled to keep runners off base with a 1.43 career WHIP, so don’t be surprised if Turner has another multi-hit performance in this game.
Andrelton Simmons vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,900
Simmons is one of the best defensive shortstops in baseball, but don’t forget that he has batted at least .278 in back-to-back seasons. He’s off to an even better start this season at .312, but a lot of that has to do with his 39.5% hard-hit rate, which is over 13% higher than his career mark. With Cobb on the mound Tuesday though, he’s yet another Angels’ hitter who could provide value.
Others to consider: Carlos Correa and Adeiny Hechavarria
OUTFIELD
Bryce Harper vs. Chad Kuhl, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $5,300
Harper is hitting just .247 this season, but his .219 BABIP indicates that won’t hold up. He’s still hitting the ball well, posting a 40.3% hard-hit rate. His eye at the plate has been impeccable with 38 walks and only 21 strikeouts this year, leading to a lofty .458 OBP. With Kuhl’s struggles to keep runners off base, Harper might be worth paying up for Tuesday.
Marcell Ozuna vs. James Shields, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,800
After setting career-highs with a .312 average and 37 home runs in 2017, it was going to be tough for Ozuna to duplicate that for his new team this year. He’s off to a slow start batting .250, but his .313 BABIP isn’t that low. It should be noted that his career batting average is .276 and his career BABIP is .326, so he may have just played over his head last year. He’s still someone to consider Tuesday though against Shields, who doesn’t have overpowering stuff and finished with a 1.44 WHIP last year.
Max Kepler vs. Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,400
Kepler is a much better hitter against righties, finishing with a .350 wOBA against them last year compared to .203 against lefties. Of the 19 home runs he hit last year, 17 of them came off of righties. Estrada allowed 31 home runs last year and has already given up seven this season, making Kepler a viable option at a cheap price.
Others to consider: Mike Trout and Christian Yelich
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/18/18
Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/18/18
Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout
Wednesday consists of several day games in Major League Baseball, leaving a lot of options for both the early and late slates in DFS. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
STARTING PITCHERS
Jose Berrios vs. Cleveland Indians
Stadium – Hiram Bithorn Stadium
FanDuel = $9,800
DraftKings = $11,000
Berrios is one of the jewels of the Twins farm system and he was excellent in his first significant run in the starting rotation last year, finishing with a 3.89 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and 8.6 K/9 in 145.2 innings. He held batters to just a 27.9% hard-hit rate and a 9.1% HR/FB rate. He’s off to an even better start this year, posting a 2.18 ERA, 1.68 FIP and a microscopic 0.63 WHIP through three outings. Teams continue to have a hard time squaring him up with an 18.4% hard-hit rate to go along with his 10.5 K/9. The Indians have the lowest team batting average (.208) and OBP (.284) in the majors, leaving Berrios with excellent upside.
Jake Faria vs. Texas Rangers
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $6,200
Faria was hit hard in his second start of the season against the Red Sox, allowing eight earned runs in 1.2 innings. He had major control issues in that game that resulted in five walks. Outside of that, he allowed two earned runs total in 9.1 innings in his other two outings. It may not be a coincidence that he was destroyed in his only road start so far this season and that he didn’t pitch nearly as poorly at home. He finished with a 3.10 ERA at Tropicana Field last year compared to 3.72 on the road, but more importantly, he had just a 1.06 WHIP at home while posting a 1.35 WHIP on the road. Against an easier lineup in the Rangers on Wednesday, he might be worth the risk in tournament play for the early late.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Cody Bellinger vs. Luis Perdomo, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,500
Bellinger has yet to display the same power that he had in 2017, slugging just two home runs so far. He hasn’t struggled though, posting a .297 average in the early going. He dominated right-handed pitching last year, resulting in a .383 wOBA against them. Perdomo also had his struggles against left-handed hitters by allowing a .349 wOBA to them last year, making Bellinger an excellent option to consider Wednesday.
Yasmani Grandal vs. Luis Perdomo, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $3,800
Grandal is swinging a hot bat right now, hitting 10-for-29 with two home runs and nine RBI in his last seven games. A switch-hitter, Grandal has been better against righties in his career with a .343 wOBA. Not only does Perdomo struggle against lefties, but he has a hard time keeping runners off base in general with a career 1.57 WHIP, which includes his staggering 2.09 WHIP through three starts this season.
Others to consider: Paul Goldschmidt (first base) and C.J. Cron (first base)
SECOND BASE
Jose Altuve vs. Mike Leake, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $5,000
Altuve is hitting for a high average again at .314, but he has shown very little power with just two doubles and no home runs. He has hit at least 39 doubles in four straight seasons and hit exactly 24 home runs in each of the late two years, so expect him to turn things around sooner rather than later. He could be in line for a big performance Wednesday against Leake, who doesn’t have an overpowering pitch arsenal with a career 6.1 K/9.
Howie Kendrick vs. Steven Matz, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,500
Kendrick continues to fly under the radar as an important part of the Nationals lineup, hitting .300 with two home runs and seven RBI this season. His .348 BABIP is almost right on par with his career mark of .340, so it’s not unreasonable to think that he can continue to hit for a high average. He finished with a 137 wRC+ against lefties last year, making him a cost-effective option to consider against Matz on Wednesday.
Others to consider: Jed Lowrie and Cesar Hernandez
THIRD BASE
Travis Shaw vs. Tyler Mahle, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,600
Mahle threw six shutout innings in his first start of the season against the Cubs but has come crashing back down to Earth by allowing 10 total runs in his last two starts. Hitters have been squaring him up well with a 40% hard-hit rate overall. Shaw posted a 127 wRC+ against righties last year, so don’t be surprised if he has a big game against Mahle.
Jeimer Candelario vs. Kevin Gausman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,400
Candelario showed promise in his brief stint with the Tigers last year, batting .330 with a .406 OBP in 27 games. He had a .270 average and .350 OBP during his career in the minors, so regression was likely in the cards heading into this season. He has only hit .220 out of the gates, but he does have four doubles, two triples and one home run so far. Gausman is struggling yet again with a 1.60 WHIP through three starts, so it might be worth taking a chance on Candelario at this cheap price.
Others to consider: Yangervis Solarte and David Freese
SHORTSTOP
Trea Turner vs. Steven Matz, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,600
Turner has shown signs of coming out of his slump in the first two games of this series, hitting a combined 5-for-9 with three runs scored and two stolen bases. He’ll continue to bat leadoff with Adam Eaton (ankle) sidelined, giving him added value in DFS. It also gives him a chance to swipe more bases as well.
Corey Seager vs. Luis Perdomo, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,400
Seager recorded just his third multi-hit game of the season Tuesday and is only batting .212 so far. He’s been very unlucky with a .236 BABIP, so don’t expect him to continue to hit this poorly for much longer. He finished with a .353 wOBA against right-handed pitching last year, which should make him a candidate for your entry against the struggling Perdomo on Wednesday.
Others to consider: Manny Machado and Trevor Story
OUTFIELD
J.D. Martinez vs. Tyler Skaggs, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,900
Martinez hasn’t carried over his torrid pace from the end of last year to his new team, but he certainly hasn’t struggled by hitting .271 with three home runs and 13 RBI. He absolutely destroyed left-handed pitching last year, finishing with a 235 wRC+ against them that ranked second in baseball. Skaggs is off to a great start, but he could be in for trouble against Martinez.
Josh Reddick vs. Mike Leake, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,100
The Astros lineup is loaded with excellent right-handed hitters, making Reddick an extremely important left-handed compliment. He does his job well, posting a .363 wOBA against righties in 2017. He’s off to another great start against them this year with a .443 wOBA, so don’t hesitate to add him to your lineup Wednesday.
Franchy Cordero vs. Kenta Maeda, Los Angeles Dodgers
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,500
One of the up-and-coming young players in the Padres system, Cordero is getting a chance to show his stuff with Wil Myers (arm) and Manuel Margot (ribs) on the DL. He’s only hit .231 through seven games, but he has already slugged two home runs. He was a career .282 hitter in the minors, so he should show improvement in his batting average as he continues to get accustomed to the league. Maeda has a 2.08 ERA so far this season, but it could have been worse due to his 1.73 WHIP. If you want to take a chance on a cheap outfielder with upside, Cordero might be your man.
Others to consider: Mookie Betts and Christian Yelich
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/13/18
Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/13/18
Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout
Only two of the 15 games in the majors on Friday have an early start time, leaving you with plenty of options to choose from in DFS. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
STARTING PITCHERS
Gerrit Cole vs. Texas Rangers
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $10,000
DraftKings = $12,100
The Astros brought in Cole during the offseason after he had an off year with the Pirates, posting a career-high 4.26 ERA. One of the biggest reasons for his jump in ERA is that he allowed 1.4 HR/9, a significant jump over his previous career worse of 0.7 HR/9. Things couldn’t have gone much better for him in his first two starts this season, allowing one run while recording 22 strikeouts in 14 innings. He’s never had a K/9 above 9.0 previously in his career, so it’s unlikely he will be able to keep up at this pace. He does get a favorable matchup Friday against a Rangers team that is missing both Elvis Andrus (elbow) and Rougned Odor (hamstring) from their lineup. Cole is the most expensive pitcher of the night, but he also has one of the highest upsides.
Vince Velasquez vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $6,700
DraftKings = $7,900
Velasquez has a lot of potential, but he has struggled with consistency in his career. He has a hard time pitching deep into games, averaging less than five innings per start in 2017. Hitters didn’t have a hard time squaring him up either with Velasquez posting a 38.1% hard hit percentage and a 20.8% HR/FB ratio. He was hit hard in his first start of the season against the Braves, but he settled down to allow one run in six innings in his second outing against the Marlins. He’ll face a similarly weak lineup in the Rays on Friday, who are tied for the third-fewest runs scored (39) in baseball. Velasquez also has strikeout upside, making him someone worth considering in tournament play.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Buster Posey vs. Tyson Ross, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,700
Posey has been a model of consistency, batting at least .311 in three of the last four seasons. His home runs have been on the decline, but he did hit a career-high 34 doubles in 2017. He’s off to another great start this season, batting .375 with two home runs and eight RBI. He already has five multi-hit games as well. Friday brings a matchup against the struggling Ross, making Posey a viable option for your entry.
Mitch Moreland vs. Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $3,300
Red Sox first baseman Hanley Ramirez was hit on the wrist and had to leave Thursday’s game against the Yankees. Initial results revealed it’s only a contusion, but it might be too much to expect him to play Friday. If he can’t play, Moreland should get the start at first base. Tillman allowed a staggering .429 wOBA to lefties last year, making Moreland a cheap option who could provide value.
Others to consider: Carlos Santana (first base) and Josh Bell (first base)
SECOND BASE
Cesar Hernandez vs. Jake Faria, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,400
Hernandez has been swinging a hot bat at the start of the season, recording at least one hit in all but one game that he has played. He already has 10 walks in 11 games as well, resulting in an excellent 440 OBP. The switch-hitting Hernandez hit right-handers well last season, posting a .345 wOBA against them. Faria has a 14.29 ERA and 3.00 WHIP through two starts, so Hernandez could be in line for a big performance.
Howie Kendrick vs. Kyle Freeland, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,600
Kendrick might not stand out in a loaded Nationals lineup that includes Bryce Harper and Trea Turner, but he’s been excellent with a .349 batting average this season. A career .291 hitter, Kendrick’s right-handed bat is a key part of their lineup. He dominated lefties with a .385 wOBA in 2017 and Freeland also struggled to get righties out, allowing a .345 wOBA to them last year. Kendrick has a nice price on both sites, making him an excellent option to consider for your entry.
Others to consider: Joe Panik and Brock Holt
THIRD BASE
Rafael Devers vs. Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,100
Devers got off to a great start this season but has cooled off to go 0-for-12 in his last three games. He’ll get an excellent opportunity to right the ship against Tillman with his struggles against left-handed hitters already detailed above. Tillman doesn’t have an overpowering pitch arsenal either, recording just three total strikeouts in his first two starts.
Evan Longoria vs. Tyson Ross, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $2,900
After spending his entire career with the Rays, Longoria was dealt to the Giants over the winter, a team that badly needed a boost offensively. Longoria hasn’t been able to deliver for them so far, batting just .163. Longoria has been unlucky though, posting a .207 BABIP this season compared to his career mark of .298. He’s been hitting the ball well with a 36.7% hard hit percentage, so he’s unlikely to keep hitting this poorly for much longer. At this cheap price, he might be worth the risk against Ross.
Others to consider: Anthony Rendon and Luis Valbuena
SHORTSTOP
Trea Turner vs. Kyle Freeland, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,500
With Adam Eaton (ankle) on the DL, Turner has moved back to the leadoff spot for the Nationals. He was a steals machine in that role last season, swiping 46 bases in only 90 games. Turner uncharacteristically struggled against lefties last year with a .281 wOBA, but he has shown improvement this season with a .375 wOBA against them. This could be just the matchup Turner needs to break out of his slump.
Scott Kingery vs. Jake Faria, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,800
Kingery has shown he can hit for power in his first 10 games of the season, slugging two home runs to go along with three doubles. The Phillies will get to use the DH playing in Tampa Bay on Friday, which will help free up some of the logjams they have in the outfield and infield. Kingery was a consistent hitter in the minors with a career .284 average and is a viable option against the struggling Faria.
Others to consider: Carlos Correa and Andrelton Simmons
OUTFIELD
Mookie Betts vs. Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $5,100
Betts hit only .264 in 2017, but a lot of that was due to his abnormally low .268 BABIP. He’s rebounded in a big way so far, batting .370 with a .455 OBP this season. He has been crushing the ball with a 50% hard-hit rate. Betts has historically been a better hitter at home, posting a career .312 average ar Fenway park compared to .276 on the road. Don’t hesitate to pay up for him against Tillman on Friday.
Michael Conforto vs. Zach Davies, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,800
After a brief stint on the DL to start the season, Conforto is healthy now and batting .333 in his first six games. He crushed right-handed pitching in 2017 posting a 164 wRC+, which ranked sixth-highest in the majors behind players including Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, and Joey Votto. That could spell trouble for the right-handed Davies on Friday.
Kole Calhoun vs. Jason Hammel, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,100
The Angels lineup has a lot of excellent right-handed hitters in Mike Trout, Justin Upton, and Albert Pujols, but Calhoun provides an important compliment from the left side. Calhoun had just an 89 wRC+ against lefties last year but posted a 102 wRC+ against righties. His upside isn’t off the charts, but he is still a viable option Friday if you’re looking for a cheap outfielder to help fill out your lineup.
Others to consider: Shoei Ohtani and Andrew Benintendi