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MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/21/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

Tuesday brings a packed slate in the majors with all 15 games included in the main contests for DFS. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/21/18

Blake Snell vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $9,600
DraftKings = $11,500

The Rays have brought Snell back slowly since being activated from the DL. He’s been on a pitch count, but he threw 76 pitchers in his last start against the Yankees, so he should be close to full-go Tuesday. He’s having a spectacular season with a 2.10 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP across 23 starts. Luck has been somewhat on his side with opponents posting just a .233 BABIP against him, but his 13.5% swinging-strike rate has led to a career-high 10.1 K/9. The Royals have scored the fewest runs (459) in baseball, potentially setting up Snell for another dominant outing.

Tyler Anderson vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $6,600
DraftKings = $6,900

Anderson hasn’t been pitching at his best lately, allowing 21 runs over 20.1 innings in his last four starts. It’s no coincidence that three of those outings came on the road. Anderson has thrived pitching at Coors Field, posting a 3.47 ERA there compared to a 5.37 ERA on the road. He had similar splits last year with a 5.44 ERA on the road and a 4.14 ERA at home. The Padres struggle to score runs and have the second-most strikeouts (1,190) in the league, leaving Anderson with upside in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/21/18

Jesus Aguilar vs. Sal Romano, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $5,200

Aguilar had his worst month of the season in July, batting only .202 for the month. He’s righted the ship in August, batting .308 with a .446 OBP across 17 games. He’s finally received everyday playing time this year and he’s taken full advantage of his opportunity, batting .283 with 29 home runs. Romano has allowed 1.5 HR/9 this season, so Aguilar is a threat to go deep again in this contest.

Ji-Man Choi vs. Glenn Sparkman, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $3,800

Choi went 1-for-2 with two walks Monday to extend his current hitting streak to eight games. He’s shown some power over that stretch, as well, with two home runs and three doubles. Choi also has a .358 wOBA against right-handed pitchers overall, making him a viable option at this cheap price against Sparkman and his 1.55 WHIP.

Others to consider: Matt Olson (first base) and Buster Posey (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/21/18

Travis Shaw vs. Sal Romano, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,600

Shaw cashed in a prime matchup against Homer Bailey on Monday, finishing the game 1-for-3 with a home run. Shaw’s only batting .247 this season, but he now has 25 homers and is well on his way to hitting at least 30 for the second straight season. With his .376 wOBA against righties, he’s another Brewer to target for your lineup.

Jonathan Villar vs. Sam Gaviglio, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,800

When the Brewers loaded up in their infield to make a run at the playoffs, Villar was jettisoned to the Orioles. The Orioles found themselves extremely thin in their infield after trading away Manny Machado and Jonathan Schoop, leaving Villar with a clear path to an everyday role. He hasn’t exactly excelled, but he is hitting .269 with a .347 OBP since joining the Orioles. He has plenty of speed and swiped two bases on Monday. Gaviglio allows a lot of baserunners with his 1.46 WHIP and Blue Jays’ catcher Danny Jansen has allowed nine stolen bases in six games since being called up from the minors, leaving Villar as an intriguing option.

Others to consider: Jeff McNeil and Joey Wendle

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/21/18

Nolan Arenado vs. Robbie Erlin, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $5,700

Erlin has pitched mostly out of the bullpen this season, but he’s started in each of his last three outings. He has a 3.33 ERA and a 3.12 FIP overall this year, but he doesn’t have an overpowering arsenal with just a 6.7 K/9 for his career. Arenado has a staggering 231 wRC+ against lefties this year, so don’t hesitate to pay up for his services.

Evan Longoria vs. Steven Matz, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,500

Longoria’s been limited to 90 games due to injuries in his first season with the Giants and he hasn’t played well when healthy, posting a .282 OBP and a .699 OPS. Most of his struggles have come against righties, who he has a .268 wOBA against. He’s had much more success versus lefties, though, with a .359 wOBA.

Others to consider: Mike Moustakas and Matt Chapman

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/21/18

Trevor Story vs. Robbie Erlin, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $5,800

Story hasn’t exactly struggled on the road this season with a .275 average and a .780 OPS. However, he’s been out of this world hitting in Coors Field with a .316 average and a 1.048 OPS. Considering he also has a .431 wOBA against left-handed pitchers and both he and Arenado could do plenty of damage Tuesday.

Marcus Semien vs. Ariel Jurado, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,200

Jurado’s first taste of action in the majors has not gone well. He’s only made five starts, but he has a 6.41 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. Just as concerning is that he only has 11 strikeouts across 26.2 innings. He only had a 5.1 K/9 at Double-A this season before being recalled, so don’t expect him to suddenly start striking out a lot of hitters.  Semien could provide value at this cheap price, especially since he is hitting .405 with three home runs and three doubles over his last nine games.

Others to consider: Xander Bogaerts and Amed Rosario

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/21/18

Khris Davis vs. Ariel Jurado, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $5,100

Here we go again. Davis went deep Monday after hitting two home runs Sunday. When he’s hot, he can hit home runs in bunches. He’s slugged 37 homers this season and while his excellent power numbers are nothing new, his .261 batting average would be his highest mark in any season where he played at least 100 games.

Lorenzo Cain vs. Sal Romano, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,600

Cain doesn’t have much home run upside, but he enters Tuesday with a .304 average and a .396 OBP. He’s already swiped 24 bases, three of which have come across his last four games. Not only does Romano have a hard time keeping hitters inside the park, but he’s had difficulty keeping men off base, in general, with a 1.45 WHIP.

Stephen Piscotty vs. Ariel Jurado, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $2,100
DraftKings = $3,500

Piscotty is starting to heat up again as he is 10-for-33 (.303) with a home run and five doubles over his last eight games. His .255 batting average this season doesn’t jump off the page, but he’s provided power with 16 homers and 34 doubles. He has almost even splits versus lefties and righties this year, so he might be worth the risk at this very cheap price even though he doesn’t have the platoon advantage facing Jurado.

Others to consider: A.J. Pollock and Christian Yelich

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 22

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*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

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 22

Zack Wheeler, New York Mets: vs. SF, vs. WAS

Not much has gone right for the Mets this season, but Wheeler has made significant improvements. After finishing with a 5.21 ERA and a 5.03 FIP in 2017, he has a 3.75 ERA and a 3.43 FIP this year. Not only has he reduced his WHIP from 1.59 to 1.23, but he’s only allowed 0.8 HR/9 compared to 1.6 HR/9 last year. He’s on a hot streak right now, as well, allowing five runs and recording 30 strikeouts over 33 innings in his last five starts. His first start of Week 22 is a fantastic matchup considering the Giants have the third-lowest OPS on the road (.664) in baseball. The Nationals are certainly a tougher opponent, but they’ve only averaged 4.4 runs over their last 10 games.

Carlos Rodon, Chicago White Sox: vs. MIN, at DET

Rodon enters Week 22 having allowed three runs or fewer in seven straight starts. He has a sparkling 2.69 ERA overall, but his 4.17 FIP and .210 opponents’ BABIP would suggest luck has been on his side. His 7.2 K/9 is by far the lowest mark of his career, but his 9.7% swinging-strike rate is almost right on par with his career average. Some regression might be in his future, but it’s not likely to start this week. The Twins have the sixth-lowest OPS against lefties (.683) and the Tigers have scored the fourth-fewest runs overall (484) in the league.

Kevin Gausman, Atlanta Braves: at PIT, at MIA

Gausman has shown improvement since joining the Braves, allowing five runs across 19 innings in three starts. He only had 12 total strikeouts, but it’s very encouraging that he also allowed just one home run. Homers have been a problem for him this season since he’s allowed 1.4 HR/9 overall. The move from the American League to the National League can provide a big boost for pitchers, which could be the case even more so for Gausman since he was pitching in the AL East. Both the Pirates and the Marlins are in the bottom-third in baseball in home runs and the Marlins struggle to score runs, in general, leaving Gausman with the potential for a valuable week.

Tyler Anderson, Colorado Rockies: vs. SD, vs. STL

Anderson isn’t exactly at the top of his game right now as he’s allowed 21 runs over 20.1 innings in his last four starts. It’s no coincidence that three of those outings came on the road. Anderson actually has thrived pitching at Coors Field, posting a 3.47 ERA there compared to a 5.37 ERA on the road. He had similar splits last year with a 5.44 ERA on the road and a 4.14 ERA at home. The Padres struggle to score runs and have the second-most strikeouts (1,190) in baseball, leaving Anderson with a great matchup in his first start of the week. The Cardinals will be a tougher foe, but Anderson is still available in 69% of Yahoo! leagues and is someone to consider streaming if you need a starter.

Starters to Avoid

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 22

Shane Bieber, Cleveland Indians: at BOS, at KC

Bieber has an unsightly 1.41 WHIP this season, but he’s been extremely unlucky with opponents posting a .372 BABIP against him. He has allowed a 42.2% hard-hit rate, though, an area he’ll need to improve on to start lowering that BABIP. He has shown good control by issuing 2.0 BB/9 to go along with a 9.4 K/9. His second start of the week against the Royals stands out as a great matchup, but he’ll have to face the Red Sox in Fenway Park first. The Red Sox have the second-highest OPS at home (.829) and the highest OPS against righties (.816), which could prove disastrous for Bieber. It might be wise to keep him anchored to your bench as a result.

Nathan Eovaldi, Boston Red Sox: vs. CLE, at TB

Eovaldi started off his Red Sox tenure with a bang, throwing 15 shutouts innings in his first two starts. His last two haven’t gone nearly as well as he allowed 11 runs (five earned) across 7.2 innings. His 1.04 WHIP overall this season would be the best mark of his career, but it’s been aided by an abnormally low .265 opponents’ BABIP. The Indians present a dangerous matchup because even though they haven’t been as good offensively on the road, they still have the third-most runs scored (628) in baseball. The Rays aren’t a bad matchup, but with Eovaldi having to face the Indians and his general lack of strikeout upside, he may not be worth the risk.

Robbie Erlin, San Diego Padres: at COL, at LAD

Erlin has pitched mostly out of the bullpen this season, but he’s done a nice job with a 3.33 ERA that is supported by a 3.12 FIP. He has allowed two earned runs or fewer in three straight starts, but he’s not someone to consider streaming this week. The Rockies have a .812 OPS at home and a .803 OPS against left-handed pitchers, both of which are in the top-three in baseball. Facing the Dodgers won’t be much easier as they have scored the seventh-most runs (594) in the league.

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/15/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

Although 10 games make up the main slate Wednesday in DFS, the night is generally short on elite starting pitching options. It could lead to several high-scoring games. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/15/18

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

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

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

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

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/15/18

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

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

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

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

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

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/15/18

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

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

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

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

Others to consider: Ozzie Albies and Joey Wendle

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/15/18

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

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

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

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

Others to consider: Anthony Rendon and Miguel Andujar

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/15/18

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

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

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

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

Others to consider: Manny Machado and Freddy Galvis

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/15/18

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

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

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

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

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

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

Others to consider: Justin Upton and Michael Brantley

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/30/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

July special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

There are only nine games across baseball Monday, leaving fewer options than usual when crafting your DFS 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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/30/18

Tyler Anderson vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $8,600
DraftKings = $8,200

Anderson has bounced back from his 4.81 ERA last year to record a 3.57 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP this season, although he has been a little lucky based on his 4.21 FIP. He’s allowed 1.3 HR/9, which isn’t all that bad considering he has to pitch his home games at Coors Field. Like most pitchers who have played for the Rockies during their career, Anderson has better numbers on the road this year with a 3.48 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP across 10 outings. He’s been hot of late, allowing just five runs (four earned) over 35.1 innings in his last five starts. There aren’t many aces taking the mound Monday, leaving Anderson as an excellent option to consider.

Robbie Ray vs. Texas Rangers
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $8,300
DraftKings = $8,000

Ray had the best season of his career in 2017, but injuries have limited him to just 12 starts this year. It’s mostly been a struggle when he has been healthy, posting a 4.90 ERA and a 4.65 FIP. One of the main reasons for his decline is likely his a 1.42 WHIP after finishing with a 1.15 WHIP last year. On the bright side, he’s still getting plenty of strikeouts with a 12.0 K/9. The Rangers are a lethal lineup at home, but their .680 OPS on the road is in the bottom third of baseball. They also won’t have the benefit of using the DH in Arizona.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/30/18

Paul Goldschmidt vs. Martin Perez, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,700

Remember the panic after a horrid month of May for Goldschmidt? Well, he’s done everything to put those fears to rest, hitting .364 with 10 home runs in June and .330 with six home runs in July. He’s boosted his overall OPS up to .909, which would be the fifth time in the last six seasons he finished with an OPS of at least .900. The one season he didn’t, his OPS finished at .899. With a 178 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers, he’s worth his hefty price tag Monday.

Yonder Alonso vs. Ervin Santana, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,600

Alonso is on a five-game hitting streak that has seen him hit 7-for-20 (.350) with three home runs and seven RBI. His OBP is down 31 points from 2017, but he’s still batting .265 with 18 home runs. He’s usually someone to avoid against lefties, but he’s a viable option against Santana based on his .357 wOBA against right-handed pitchers.

Others to consider: Buster Posey (catcher) and Justin Bour (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/30/18

Ozzie Albies vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $5,300

Chen’s 2018 campaign has been a disappointment with his 5.65 ERA and 1.49 WHIP. He’s not a big strikeout pitcher with a 7.0 K/9 and he’s already allowed 12 home runs across 78 innings. The switch-hitting Albies has a .365 wOBA against lefties, making him someone to target against Chen.

Ketel Marte vs. Martin Perez, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,400

The Diamondbacks are likely going to be a popular stack Monday based on Perez’s 7.08 ERA that is supported by a 6.36 FIP. He’s allowed a ton of base runners with a 2.02 WHIP, not to mention giving up nine homers in 40.2 innings. Marte is 11-for-33 (.333) across his last nine games and has a .393 wOBA against lefties this year overall.

Others to consider: Jed Lowrie and Starlin Castro

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/30/18

Johan Camargo vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,100

There have been some rumors about the Braves possibly acquiring a third baseman before the trade deadline, but Camargo has played well for them. His numbers don’t jump off the page, but he hasn’t exactly been a detriment to them by batting .253 with 11 home runs. He has excelled with a .369 wOBA against lefties and isn’t expensive on either site, making him a great option for a Braves stack.

Evan Longoria vs. Eric Lauer, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,900

The Giants were counting on Longoria to solidify third base for them and provide a power bat in the middle of their lineup, but he’s only played 71 games due to injury. He hasn’t been great when he’s been on the field, too, batting .248 with a .282 OBP. He’s still provided some pop with 10 homers and could provide value against the underwhelming Lauer based on Longoria’s .384 wOBA against lefties.

Others to consider: Jose Ramirez and Martin Prado

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/30/18

Francisco Lindor vs. Ervin Santana, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $5,600

Unless there is a true elite ace on the mound, there are few matchups that don’t lean in Lindor’s favor. He’s putting together an MVP-caliber season, batting .291 with 27 home runs, 15 steals and 90 runs scored. Santana made his first start of the year last week against the Blue Jays and is understandably a little rusty, so look for Lindor to take advantage Monday.

Nick Ahmed vs. Martin Perez, Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $4,300

With three more hits Sunday, Ahmed is now batting .300 in July. He’s hit for power as well with a .575 slugging percentage during that stretch and should continue to see plenty of playing time with Jake Lamb (shoulder) on the DL. He’s yet another Diamondbacks hitter who performs better versus left-handed pitching, posting a .359 wOBA against them this year.

Others to consider: Marcus Semien and Jorge Polanco

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/30/18

A.J. Pollock vs. Martin Perez, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Chase FIeld
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $5,100

Last, but certainly not least in the group of Diamondbacks who could provide value, is their star outfielder Pollock. Injuries have been a problem for him in recent years, with 2018 being no exception. He’s healthy now and is batting .293 with three home runs in 83 plate appearances since being activated from his most recent DL stint. Perez could have plenty of troubles getting him out considering Pollock’s career .366 wOBA against lefties.

Wil Myers vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,600

Myers has been limited to 42 games this year due to injuries of his own, but he’s batting .291 with a .557 slugging percentage, both of which would be the best marks of his career. Holland has an impressive .221 wOBA against left-handed hitters, but righties have had far more success against him with a .341 wOBA.

Manuel Margot vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,000

Margot enters Monday on a 10-game hitting streak where he is 14-for-37 (.378) with a home run and 10 runs scored. His .254 batting average and .315 OBP overall aren’t great, but he’s shown an improved eye at the plate by lowering his strikeout rate over three percentage points compared to last year. With Holland’s struggles against righties already detailed, Margot comes in as a cost-effective option with upside Monday.

Others to consider: Ronald Acuna Jr. and Michael Brantley

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 19

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
July 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

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 19

Robbie Ray, Arizona Diamondbacks: vs. TEX, vs. SF

Ray had a breakout campaign in 2017, but injuries have limited him to only 12 starts this year. His overall numbers aren’t great, either, with a 4.90 ERA and a 4.65 FIP. One of the main reasons for his decline is likely his a 1.42 WHIP after he recorded just a 1.15 WHIP last year. The good news is he’s still getting plenty of strikeouts with a 12.0 K/9. The Rangers are a deadly lineup at home, but their .680 OPS on the road is in the bottom third of baseball. They also won’t have the benefit of using the DH in Arizona. The Giants are in the bottom third of baseball in runs scored, leaving Ray with an excellent opportunity for two valuable outings.

Tyler Anderson, Colorado Rockies: at STL, at MIL

Anderson has quietly put up some nice numbers after recording a bloated 4.81 ERA last year. He enters Week 19 with a 3.57 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP, although he has been a little lucky based on his 4.21 FIP. He’s allowed 1.3 HR/9, which isn’t all that bad considering he has to pitch his home games in Coors Field. He’ll avoid that issue with both of his starts coming on the road, where he has a 3.48 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP across 10 outings. Considering he has allowed just five runs (four earned) over 35.1 innings in his last five starts as well, he could be in store for a big week.

Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals: at CWS, at MIN

Duffy was crushed in his last start against the Tigers, allowing seven runs in 5.2 innings. It marked the eighth time he has allowed at least five runs in a game this season. He was excellent heading into that start, allowing one run over 20 innings in his previous three games. He’s actually allowed one earned run or fewer 11 times, taking owners on a bit of a rollercoaster ride. Run support might be hard to come by after the Royals traded away Mike Moustakas, but both the White Sox and the Twins are in the bottom-six of baseball in OPS against left-handed pitching. There’s some risk involved with starting Duffy, but he does carry upside for Week 19.

Anibal Sanchez, Atlanta Braves: vs. MIA, at NYM

Sanchez had been terrible for the Tigers the last two years, recording a combined 6.09 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. However, the move to the National League seems to have rejuvenated his career. In 14 appearances (13 starts), he has a 3.00 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. It’s hard to imagine those numbers holding up, though, since opponents have just a .249 BABIP against him. While his numbers might regress, it doesn’t mean that regression is going to start during Week 19. He’ll get two great matchups against the Marlins and Mets with both teams in the bottom five of the league in runs scored.

Starters to Avoid

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 19

David Price, Boston Red Sox: vs. PHI, vs. NYY

Price’s first matchup against the Phillies leans in his favor, but his second start against the Yankees could be a disaster. In his first two outings against them this season, he allowed 15 runs in 4.1 innings. This is nothing new for Price considering he has a 4.90 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP against the Yankees in his career. Since joining the Red Sox, he has allowed 44 runs over 47 innings against them. Although the Yankees are missing two key bats in Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez, they still have plenty of hitters who can do damage. This might be the week to put Price on your bench.

Shane Bieber, Cleveland Indians: at MIN, vs. LAA

After a dominant stretch in June, Bieber has a 7.84 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP in the month of July. He allowed four home runs during that stretch and only had a 7.4 K/9, which is not exactly a recipe for success. The lack of strikeouts isn’t all that surprising, either, since he posted an 8.4 K/9 during his career in the minors. The Twins only have a .671 OPS against left-handed pitchers, but they have a .735 OPS against righties. The Angels are also much better versus right-handed pitchers, posting the third-highest OPS (.775) against them in the league.

Freddy Peralta, Milwaukee Brewers: at LAD, vs. COL

Peralta has electric stuff, resulting in an 11.8 K/9 during his first taste of major league action. He’s been wild, though, with a 4.6 BB/9. After not allowing a single run in three of his first four starts, he’s allowed at least three runs in three of his last four outings. The Nationals hung a crooked number on him Wednesday, scoring seven runs across six innings. Although his strikeout upside makes him intriguing, this might not be the week to take a chance on him. The Dodgers have the second-highest OPS against right-handed pitchers (.777) in baseball. He’ll avoid Coors Field in his second start, but the Rockies still have several potent bats who can cause problems.

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 16

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
July 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

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 16

Jose Berrios, Minnesota Twins: vs. KC, vs. TB

Berrios has allowed five home runs in his last two starts and has had problems keeping hitters inside the park, in general, this year with a 1.3 HR/9. However, he still has a 3.54 ERA and a 3.39 FIP because he has kept runners off base with a 1.00 WHIP. He had control issues when he was first called up, but he’s thrown a first-pitch strike to 65.6% of the batters that he has faced and has a 2.0 BB/9 this year. He also has career highs in swinging-strike rate (11.4%) and K/9 (9.0). His first start in Week 16 against the Royals is an excellent matchup considering they have hit the fewest home runs (70) and scored the fewest runs (310) in baseball. The Rays aren’t much better as they have the fifth-fewest home runs (79) and the fifth-fewest runs scored (347).

Kyle Hendricks, Chicago Cubs: at SF, at SD

Hendricks has never finished with an ERA over 3.96 or a FIP over 3.88 in his career, but he has a 4.27 ERA and a 4.80 FIP this season. Not only would his 1.25 WHIP be the highest of his career, but so would his 1.5 HR/9. He’s never been an overpowering pitcher, but he has just a 6.7 K/9. He’s allowed 13 runs over 13.1 innings in his last three starts, but his fortunes could change this week since both the Giants and the Padres are in the bottom-third of the league in runs scored. He has yet to face the Padres this year, but he allowed only one run and recorded seven strikeouts over seven innings in his lone start against the Giants. You shouldn’t count on him for strikeouts, but he can still provide value in Week 16.

Zach Eflin, Philadelphia Phillies: at NYM, at MIA

Eflin was supposed to start twice in Week 15 but left his first start with a blister issue. The Phillies decided to give him an extra day of rest for his next outing, pushing him from Sunday to Monday. He was rolling before suffering the blister against the Orioles, allowing two runs and recording six strikeouts in seven innings. He’s having by far the best season of his young career, posting a 2.97 ERA, 2.92 FIP, and a 1.08 WHIP over 11 starts. Not only does he get to face the aforementioned poor Marlins lineup, but the Mets have been even worse, scoring the third-fewest runs (336). As long as his blister doesn’t cause further issues, this is shaping up to be an excellent week for Eflin.

Jhoulys Chacin, Milwaukee Brewers: at MIA, at PIT

Chacin has been a good addition to the Brewers starting staff, posting a 3.63 ERA, 3.84 FIP, and a 1.29 WHIP across 19 starts. He has only allowed 0.6 HR/9, which is nothing new considering he has a 0.8 HR/9 for his career. That’s especially impressive considering he spent six seasons having to pitch in Coors Field as a member of the Rockies. The Marlins have had a couple of big offensive performances lately, but they have still scored four runs or fewer in 8 of their last 13 games. The Pirates offense is middle of the pack at best, setting up Chacin with the potential for two strong performances. He is still available in 67% of Yahoo! leagues, so pick him up if you are looking to stream someone.

Starters to Avoid

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 16

Mike Leake, Seattle Mariners: at LAA, at COL

Leake was stellar for the Mariners in June, recording a 2.57 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP in six starts. He was aided by a .225 opponents BABIP though and even with that hot stretch, he still has a 4.11 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP for the season overall. He’s never provided many strikeouts and this season has been no different with a 5.6 K/9. Leake has already faced the Angels three times this year and while he did have one good start where he allowed one run in six innings, he allowed seven runs (six earned) over 9.1 innings in the other two. It doesn’t get any easier having to pitch in Coors Field for his second start of the week, so this is not the week to take a chance on putting Leake into your lineup.

Tyler Anderson, Colorado Rockies: vs. ARI, vs. SEA

Like many of the Rockies’ pitchers, Anderson struggles to pitch in Coors Field. He has a 3.48 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP on the road this year, but a 4.37 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP at home. He has thrown seven fewer innings at home, but he has allowed three more home runs there than he has on the road. The Diamondbacks have had much more success against lefties with a .762 OPS this year and hammered Anderson for seven runs over 2.1 innings in their first meeting. The Mariners won’t have the use of the DH playing in the National League, but they still have a potent offense that can score in bunches. Keep Anderson on your bench.

Marcus Stroman, Toronto Blue Jays: at ATL, at BOS

Stroman got off to an abysmal start this season, then landed on the DL with a shoulder issue. He put together two strong starts upon first being activated, but was rocked for six runs over 4.2 innings in his last outing against the Mets. Things get much harder for him this week against the Braves and the Red Sox as both teams are in the top-six in baseball in runs scored. The Red Sox have also hit the second-most home runs (128). This has the potential to be a really rough Week 16 for Stroman.

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 8

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 8

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 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

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 8

Patrick Corbin, Arizona Diamondbacks: vs. MIL, at NYM

Corbin has continued his torrid start, posting a 2.12 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, and 11.8 K/9 through eight starts. Not only is he recording strikeouts at the highest rate of his career, but he also has an excellent 2.3 BB/9. It is likely he is going to see some regression at some point though considering opponents have just a .217 BABIP against him. That may not come this week though with two matchups that lean heavily in his favor since the Brewers and Mets have the two lowest OPS’s in baseball against left-handed pitchers. If there was ever a time to sell high on him, it might be after this week.

Alex Wood, Los Angeles Dodgers: at MIA, at WAS

Wood’s 3.60 ERA is solid, but his performance this season has been even better when you consider he gave up seven runs in 3.2 innings in one game against the Athletics. He has done a great job limiting homers again with a 0.6 HR/9 and doesn’t walk many batters either, helping lead him to a 1.00 WHIP. His strikeout upside isn’t off the charts, but he can still provide value in the category with an 8.3 K/9 for his career. His first start for Week 8 brings the Marlins, who have scored the fewest runs (138) in baseball. He’ll then face the Nationals, who have the sixth-lowest OPS (.673) against lefties. He has actually already faced them once this season, allowing three runs (two earned) to go along with four strikeouts in six innings. Look for Wood to provide plenty of value in these two games.

Tyler Anderson, Colorado Rockies: at SD, at SF

Much like Wood, Anderson has had one bad start that has thrown off his numbers, allowing seven runs in 2.1 innings against the Diamondbacks in his first start of the season. Since then, he has allowed two earned runs or fewer in six of seven starts. He has had some control issues with a 4.0 BB/9, but he also has a career-high 9.4 K/9. He will be facing the Padres for the third time this season, allowing two runs to go along with 12 strikeouts in 12 innings across his first two starts. Both the Padres and the Giants are in the bottom seven in baseball in terms of runs scored, so Anderson could be a viable streaming option this week. He is still available in 80% of Yahoo! leagues.

Mike Minor, Texas Rangers: at SEA, at CWS

Minor’s transition back into a starting role in the majors for the first time since 2014 hasn’t been great, but it hasn’t been a disaster either. Through seven starts, Minor has a 4.73 ERA and 4.55 FIP. He’s allowing too many home runs with a 1.4 HR/9, but he does have a 1.20 WHIP. His .284 BABIP allowed is close to his career mark, but his 41.8% hard-hit rate allowed is abnormally high. This could be the week to take a chance on him though if you need starting pitching help. The Mariners just lost one of their best offensive players in Robinson Cano (hand) and the White Sox have the fourth-lowest OPS (.663) against left-handers. Minor is still available in 90% of Yahoo! leagues.

Starters to Avoid

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 8

Jose Quintana, Chicago Cubs: vs. ATL, at CIN

Quintana’s 4.42 ERA this season isn’t terrible, but he’s lucky it’s even that low considering his 1.47 WHIP. Control has been an issue, allowing 4.4 BB/9 and throwing a first-pitch strike to only 62.5% of the batters that he has faced, which would be his lowest mark since his rookie season. He had an excellent 9.9 K/9 last year, but that was much higher than the 7.8 K/9 he has for his career. He’s regressed back to a 7.9 K/9 this season, so we may have just seen a one-year anomaly. The Braves have one of the best lineups in all of baseball and the Reds have the 10th highest OPS (.765) against lefties, so this may not be the week to ride with Quintana.

Joey Lucchesi, San Diego Padres: vs. COL, at PIT

The Padres desperately need quality starting pitching and Lucchesi has stepped up in his first taste of big league action, recording a 2.98 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 9.8 K/9. He’s had some problems providing length though, throwing 5.2 innings or fewer in six of his eight starts. His .292 BABIP allowed isn’t low, but his 39.3% hard-hit rate allowed is concerning. This week could bring a mixed bag of results based on his two opponents. He’ll face the Rockies for the third time, allowing two unearned runs to go along with 15 strikeouts in the first two starts. However, the Rockies are tied for the seventh-highest OPS (.774) against lefties. The Pirates absolutely mash lefties with a .850 OPS against them, which is almost 40 percentage points higher than any other team.

Francisco Liriano, Detroit Tigers: vs. CLE, at SEA

Liriano’s 3.35 ERA looks nice, but he’s been playing with fire due to a 4.5 BB/9. He has a 1.17 WHIP, but that’s largely been aided by opposing hitters recording just a .226 BABIP. He doesn’t provide much in the way of strikeouts either with a 6.5 K/9. Liriano did hold the Indians to two runs in six innings earlier this season, but their lineup is rolling right now and they are in the top 10 in terms of OPS against left-handed pitchers overall. The Mariners matchup is better without Cano, but they still have some excellent power bats that can take advantage of Liriano if he doesn’t cut down on his walks. Without much strikeout upside, it’s not worth trying to stream Liriano for Week 8.