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MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/26/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

June special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout

With 14 of the 15 games in baseball Tuesday making up the main evening slate in DFS, there is a bevy of options to choose from for your entry. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/26/18

James Paxton vs. Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $9,600
DraftKings = $12,500

Paxton has been hit hard in his last two outings, allowing 10 runs over 7.1 innings. Those starts came against the Red Sox and Yankees, two of the best offenses in all of baseball. Before that, he had allowed three runs or fewer in nine consecutive starts. He’s done a great job limiting baserunners with a 1.12 WHIP and he has a career-high 31.5% strikeout rate, helping him post a 3.72 ERA and a 3.08 FIP. The Orioles have scored the second-fewest runs (283) and have the third-lowest OPS against left-handed pitchers (.663) in baseball, so look for Paxton to get back on track.

Frankie Montas vs. Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $8,600
DraftKings = $7,600

With the Athletics dealing with multiple injuries to their staff, they have been forced to put Montas into their starting rotation. He hadn’t started a game in the majors since he was a member of the White Sox in 2015 and didn’t have much success out of the bullpen for the Athletics last year, posting a 7.03 ERA, 7.13 FIP, and a 1.84 WHIP. He’s grabbed a hold of his spot in the rotation with a 2.41 ERA, 3.70 FIP and a 1.25 WHIP across five starts. His 5.6 K/9 isn’t great, but he has allowed just two home runs in 33.2 innings. Three of his five starts have come against bad teams in the Padres and Royals, but he’ll face another weak lineup in the Tigers, making him a viable option in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/26/18

Paul Goldschmidt vs. Elieser Hernandez, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $5,200

Goldschmidt logged just one hit Monday, but he now has at least one hit in 23 of his last 25 games. He has increased his batting average from .201 to .264 during that stretch while also slugging 11 home runs. Hernandez is starting in place of the injured Jose Urena (shoulder) and hasn’t pitched well this season with a 5.12 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP. This presents another opportunity for Goldschmidt to extend his hot streak.

Tom Muphy vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $3,300

Murphy has never had more than 49 plate appearances in a season in the majors, but he has hit .281 with a .885 OPS during his career in the minors. He was mashing at Triple-A earlier this season before being calling up, hitting .289 with a 1.001 OPS. He hasn’t hit a home run since being recalled, but he’s still swinging a hot bat with a .306 average. Holland has allowed a .361 wOBA against right-handed hitter this season, making Murphy someone to consider in tournament play.

Others to consider: Freddie Freeman (first base) and Eric Hosmer (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/26/18

Ozzie Albies vs. Matt Harvey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $5,000

Albies lit the league on fire at the start of the season but has since cooled off considerably. He had nine home runs heading into the month of May but has only gone deep eight times since. He has also seen his batting average decrease from .293 to .269. The good news is that he is showing signs of getting hot again, hitting 15-for-33 (.455) over his current seven-game hitting streak. Harvey has allowed a .386 wOBA to lefties this year, setting up the potential for Albies to give him a lot of trouble.

Dee Gordon vs. Kevin Gausman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,900

With two more hits Monday, Gordon is now 20-for-58 (.345) in his last 13 games. He has only one extra-base hit during that stretch, but he has scored nine runs and recorded five RBI. You can’t count on Gordon for power numbers, but he does hit for a high average regularly and can steal bases in bunches. If you can’t fit Albies and his expensive price into your entry, Gordon is a viable secondary option.

Others to consider: Scooter Gennett and Eduardo Nunez

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/26/18

Nolan Arenado vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $5,800

Arenado doesn’t hit as well away from Coors Field, which can sometimes make him a risky play on the road considering his price tag. He does have good numbers against lefties, though, with a 259 wRC+ against them this season. With Holland’s struggles against righties, this might be one of those road games where Arenado is still worth paying up for.

Justin Turner vs. Jon Lester, Chicago Cubs
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,600

A career .287 hitter, Turner is hitting just .250 after getting a late start to the season due to a fractured wrist. His power numbers are down considerably, which can sometimes be an issue with players returning from a wrist injury. Even with his slow start, Turner has a .438 wOBA against lefties this year.

Others to consider: Eduardo Escobar and Jake Lamb

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/26/18

Xander Bogaerts vs. John Lamb, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $5,000

The Angels starting rotation is depleted by injuries, leaving Lamb with an opportunity for his first taste of action in the majors since 2016. The fact that he had a 5.37 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP at Triple-A last year shows just how desperate things are for the Angels. His 3.41 ERA at Triple-A this season is better, but his 1.29 WHIP indicates he wasn’t exactly dominating before being recalled. He’s allowed five runs and three home runs across 8.1 innings in two starts in the majors and has a tough task ahead of him against the Red Sox. They present a great stacking opportunity, Bogaerts included.

Kike Hernandez vs. Jon Lester, Chicago Cubs
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,500

Not known to be much of a power hitter, Hernandez has three home runs in his last two games. That brings his season total to 13, which is already his career-high. He’s still not hitting for a high average at .234, but he’s someone to target against lefties since he had a .390 wOBA against them last year and has a .357 mark this season.

Others to consider: Brandon Crawford and Marcus Semien

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/26/18

J.D. Martinez vs. John Lamb, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $5,700

The Red Sox signing of Martinez could turn out to be one of the most important moves made by any team in the offseason. He’s continued to mash with his new squad, batting .325 with 23 home runs and 18 doubles. The Red Sox lineup around him has been good as well, helping Martinez amass 60 RBI and 53 runs scored. He has hit lefties well throughout his career with a .385 wOBA and is someone to build your lineup around Tuesday.

Shin-Soo Choo vs. Tyson Ross, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,900

A lot has gone wrong for the Rangers this year, but Choo has certainly not been one of their concerns. He enters Tuesday hitting .285 with a .395 OBP and a .879 OPS, each of which would be his highest mark since his last season with the Reds in 2013. His .346 BABIP is very close to his career mark of .338, which is good news for his prognosis moving forward. He also has a .407 wOBA against right-handed pitchers, so look to ride his success in a matchup against Ross.

Mark Canha vs. Blaine Hardy, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,700

With a lefty on the mound, it’s time to target one of my favorite cheap plays in Canha. He only has a .282 wOBA against righties this year, but he has a .418 wOBA against left-handed pitchers. Hardy is having a good season for the Tigers with a 3.30 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP, but he doesn’t strike out many hitters and has a wOBA against righties that is 40 points higher than it is against lefties.

Others to consider: Nelson Cruz and Mitch Haniger

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/8/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

June special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout

With only one day game Friday, we’re back to a packed night slate in DFS for baseball. 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 6/8/18

Justin Verlander vs. Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $11,600
DraftKings = $12,400

Verlander didn’t exactly struggle in his last few seasons with the Tigers, but he’s taken his game to another level since joining the Astros. His 1.24 ERA is likely to increase as the season wears on, but his 2.20 FIP indicates he could still finish with great numbers. Not only has he shown excellent control with a 1.8 BB/9, but his 31.9% strikeout rate is the highest of his career. He has already faced the Rangers three times this season, allowing two runs to go along with 23 strikeouts across 20 innings. He’s certainly expensive, but he has terrific upside.

Frankie Montas vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $8,500
DraftKings = $7,900

Montas made 23 appearances out of the bullpen for the Athletics last year and did not pitch well with a 7.03 ERA, 7.13 FIP, and a 1.84 WHIP. He did show strikeout upside, though, with a 10.1 K/9. He had a 9.2 K/9 for his career in the minors, so that lofty mark wasn’t exactly out of left field. The Athletics have been hit hard by injuries, forcing Montas to join the starting rotation. He’s made two starts so far, allowing one run in 14 innings. His last start came against these same Royals and he threw eight shutout innings to go along with two strikeouts. The lack of strikeouts was disappointing, but the Royals do have the fewest strikeouts (454) in baseball. They are in the bottom-third in runs scored, though, leaving Montas as a cost-effective option in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/8/18

Mitch Moreland vs. Dylan Covey, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,600

Covey has trouble keeping runners off base, resulting in a 1.43 WHIP this season. He had a similar problem last year when he posted a 1.67 WHIP across 18 games, 12 of which were starts. Moreland is having the best season of his career not only with a .303 average but also a .612 slugging percentage. He has a .441 wOBA against righties as well, making him a strong option for your entry.

C.J. Cron vs. Marco Gonzales, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,700

Cron is slumping a bit in June, hitting 3-for-23 (.130) in six games. He’s been dragged down by a .111 BABIP during that stretch and was hitting well coming into the month, so expect him to rebound sooner rather than later. This might be just the matchup he needs to get back on track since he has a .393 wOBA against left-handed pitchers.

Others to consider: Jose Martinez (first base) and Wilson Ramos (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/8/18

Daniel Descalso vs. German Marquez, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,100

Descalso has never hit for much power since the highest slugging percentage of his career was a .424 mark set in 2016. That is the only season he has finished with a slugging percentage over .400. This year has been a different story as he enters Friday with a .514 slugging percentage. Part of that increase is likely due to his career-high 42.4% hard-hit rate. Marquez allows a lot of base runners with a 1.46 WHIP and this game will be played in hitter-friendly Coors Field, leaving Descalso with significant upside.

Starlin Castro vs. Eric Lauer, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,600

The Padres have very little pitching depth, which has kept Lauer in the starting rotation despite his 6.82 ERA and 1.98 WHIP. He has a 4.5 BB/9 and a 1.8 HR/9, which has left him susceptible to ugly outings. Righties have had plenty of success against him with a .421 wOBA, so Castro is a viable option if you’re looking to save money at second base.

Others to consider: Jose Altuve and Ian Kinsler

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/8/18

Jose Ramirez vs. Michael Fulmer, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $5,300
DraftKings = $5,500

Ramirez has supplied the Indians with a lot of power this season, hitting 19 home runs and 19 doubles in 59 games. His batting average hasn’t suffered at the expense of his increased power since he is still hitting .298. He is 4-for-10 with two home runs and a double against Fulmer in his career, who doesn’t exactly have overpowering stuff with a 6.9 K/9 for his career.

Matt Carpenter vs. Matt Harvey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,000

Carpenter had batted at least .271 in each of his first five seasons in the majors but took a step backward last year with a .241 average. His strikeout rate only slightly increased and his walk rate actually improved, but he was somewhat unlucky with a .274 BABIP. His flyball rate was also almost 10 percentage points higher than his career mark. He’s continued to struggle with a .225 average this year and he only has a .267 wOBA against lefties. He is hitting righties better with a .332 wOBA and Harvey has allowed a .410 wOBA to left-handed hitters, so this matchup does swing in Carpenter’s favor.

Others to consider: Anthony Rendon and Brian Anderson

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/8/18

Xander Bogaerts vs. Dylan Covey, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $4,500

Bogaerts made the All-Star team in 2016 and finished the season with 21 home runs and 34 doubles. It looked like he was going to provide power at the shortstop position for years to come and while he did still have 32 doubles in 2017, he hit just 10 home runs. A lot of that had to do with a hand injury that he played through for much of the season. He’s healthy now and already has nine home runs. He has a .367 wOBA against righties as well, so don’t shy away from him just because he doesn’t have the righty/lefty advantage against Covey.

Brock Holt vs. Dylan Covey, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,500

With Dustin Pedroia (knee) back on the disabled list, it’s open up increased playing time for Holt again. Holt has cashed in his opportunity to get more at-bats this season as he is hitting .319 with a .389 OBP. He doesn’t hit for power, but he does only have 15 strikeouts compared to 11 walks. Most of his at-bats this year have come against right-handed pitchers, who he has a .348 wOBA against.

Others to consider: Jean Segura and Marwin Gonzalez

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/8/18

Andrew Benintendi vs. Dylan Covey, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $5,600

Benintendi enters this game red-hot as he has four home runs in his last five games. He has at least two hits in five of his last eight games to increase his average to .299. After posting his first 20 home run, 20 stolen base season last year, he looks to be on his way to reaching that mark again with 11 homers and 10 steals. If you’re looking to stack Red Sox hitters against Covey, Benintendi should be towards the top of your list.

Matt Kemp vs. Brandon McCarthy, Atlanta Braves
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,500

Kemp has at least one hit in 12 of his last 13 games, hitting 19-for-45 (.422) with five home runs. He is hitting .349 overall, but don’t expect that to hold considering his .404 BABIP. McCarthy’s 4.83 ERA isn’t great, but it really could be worse since he has a 1.50 WHIP. Keep riding Kemp’s hot bat.

Joc Pederson vs. Brandon McCarthy, Atlanta Braves
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $3,900

Pederson is hitting well right now also, batting 8-for-16 with five longballs in his last four games. He only has six home runs this year total, but he can do a lot of damage when he’s locked in. His .389 wOBA against righties makes him another Dodger worth considering for your entry.

Others to consider: Marcell Ozuna and David Peralta

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/6/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

June special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout

There are five games with early start times Wednesday, but let’s focus on 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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/6/18

Shohei Ohtani vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $8,600
DraftKings = $11,100

Ohtani’s bat has cooled off some after a hot start, but he’s still shown impressive two-way skills overall. He hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down on the mound, allowing two runs or fewer in each of his last four outings. His 3.18 ERA is supported by a strong 3.23 FIP and a 1.08 WHIP. A stellar 15.5% swinging-strike rate has helped result in an 11.3 K/9 as well. The Royals have a .720 OPS against lefties, but righties have held them to a .696 OPS. On a night with few elite pitchers taking the mound, Ohtani is one of the best options on the slate.

Eduardo Rodriguez vs. Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $8,100
DraftKings = $9,400

The Red Sox have some big names in their starting rotation, but Rodriguez has quietly put together an excellent season. He has a 3.88 ERA, 3.60 FIP and a 1.21 WHIP across 11 starts, all of which would be the best marks of his career. His .296 BABIP allowed is almost right in line with his career average, but he’s taken tremendous strides in the strikeout department with a 10.7 K/9. He’s been especially strong in his last three outings, allowing four runs and recording 21 strikeouts over 18 innings. The Tigers have hit well at home this season with a .763 OPS, but they have just a .670 OPS away from Comerica Park. With Rodriguez’s strikeout upside, he could provide plenty of value.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/6/18

Matt Olson vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,400

The wheels are starting to fall off for Colon as he has allowed 15 runs over 15.1 innings in his last three starts. Opponents have been very unlucky with just a .228 BABIP against him despite a 42.9% hard-hit rate, so expect Colon’s ERA to continue to increase. Olson has a .355 wOBA against right-handed pitchers this year and his power could give Colon a lot of trouble Wednesday.

Jose Martinez vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,700

Martinez only has five home runs this year, but he already has 15 doubles in 206 at-bats after slugging 13 doubles in 272 at-bats last year. He destroyed lefties last year with a 240 wRC+ but is off to a slow start this season with a 121 wRC+ against them. Righties have a robust .389 wOBA against Chen this year, so this could be just the matchup that Martinez needs to get back on track.

Others to consider: Greg Bird (first base) and Yadier Molina (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/6/18

Brian Dozier vs. Hector Santiago, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings =  $4,200

Dozier has been known for getting off to slow starts and the same thing happened to him this year. However, he showing signs of heating up, batting 11-for-34 (.324) with two home runs in his last eight games. He has finished with a wOBA of at least .397 in both of the last two seasons against lefties, so expect his current .317 wOBA against them to improve as he continues to heat up. Santiago allows way too many baserunners with a 1.62 WHIP, leaving Dozier as an excellent option for your entry.

Jedd Gyorko vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,700

With Chen taking the mound for the Marlins, you should be seeking out right-handed hitters on the Cardinals. Gyroko hasn’t had much success against righties, but he is mashing lefties with a 255 wRC+ this season. If you can’t make Dozier work with your budget, Gyorko is a cost-effective option with upside in tournament play. Of note, Gyorko is only second base eligible on FanDuel as he is listed at third base on DraftKings.

Others to consider: Jed Lowrie and Ian Kinsler

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/6/18

Miguel Sano vs. Hector Santiago, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,100

Sano is very much an all-or-nothing type of hitter. He has seven home runs in only 125 at-bats, but he is batting just .208 with a 39.6% strikeout rate. He’s probably never going to provide a high batting average, but his power is unquestioned. He has a career .364 wOBA against lefties, making him a viable candidate against the underwhelming Santiago.

Miguel Andujar vs. Sam Gaviglio, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,900

Andujar is an extra-base machine, hitting seven home runs and 20 doubles already this year. He doesn’t walk much, but he hits for a high average and only has an 18.5% strikeout rate. His splits are pretty even at home and on the road, so he’s not just taking advantage of hitter-friendly Yankee Stadium. He has a .396 wOBA against righties as well, so don’t be afraid to play him because he doesn’t have the righty/lefty advantage Wednesday.

Others to consider: Nolan Arenado and Luis Valbuena

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/6/18

Xander Bogaerts vs. Blaine Hardy, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,700

Hardy has done a nice job since entering the starting rotation for the Tigers, posting a 2.82 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP across four outings. He doesn’t strike out many hitters, though, with just a 7.5 K/9 for his career. It’s also an entirely different story facing the Red Sox, who have one of the most potent lineups in baseball. Bogaerts has a career .374 wOBA against lefties and is one of the best shortstops available Wednesday.

Chris Taylor vs. Trevor Williams, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,300

Taylor received his first opportunity to play every day last year and cashed in by hitting .288 with 21 home runs and 17 steals. He was aided by a .361 BABIP, likely making him a regression candidate heading into this season. That has indeed been the case as he is batting .257 with a .323 BABIP. He is still hitting for power with eight home runs, but he only has three steals. He does have at least two hits in three of his last four games and he has almost identical numbers against righties as he does lefties, so it might be worth taking a chance on his hot bat.

Others to consider: Didi Gregorius and Marcus Semien

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/6/18

J.D. Martinez vs. Blaine Hardy, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $5,000

Martinez is putting up insane numbers again, batting .318 with 20 home runs. He has been a monster in Fenway Park with a 1.206 OPS. With a career .384 wOBA against left-handed pitchers, he’s a hitter to build your entry around regardless of his expensive price.

Marcell Ozuna vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $3,800

Ozuna may have been trying too hard to make a good impression with his new team, getting off to a very slow start. He still only has five home runs this year, but he is 8-for-14 in his last four games and has his average all the way up to .281. He also has a .357 wOBA against lefties despite all of his issues, making him another Cardinals’ hitter to try and squeeze into your lineup.

Brett Gardner vs. Sam Gaviglio, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,200

Gardner entered the month of May batting .210 with one home run and four total extra-base hits. He’s been a different hitter since, batting .310 with three home runs, seven doubles, and two triples. One of the big reasons for his improvement has been better plate discipline. He had 27 strikeouts in his first 100 at-bats, but only has 15 strikeouts in 100 at-bats since. He gets plenty of chances to score runs hitting atop a loaded Yankees lineup too, further adding to his upside.

Others to consider: Mike Trout and Dustin Fowler

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/5/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/5/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

There aren’t many elite starting pitchers taking the mound Thursday, so this could be a night where offense is plentiful in DFS. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/5/18

Robbie Ray vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $9,600
DraftKings = $11,700

The night slate of games is really lacking star power in terms of starting pitchers, especially if you play on DraftKings where the Yankees and Rays game is not included. Ray stands out as the best starting pitcher available, even though he gave up six earned runs in five innings in his first start of the season against the Rockies. He still had eight strikeouts in that game and has excellent strikeout upside after posting a K/9 of at least 11.3 in both of the last two seasons. Ray was also very good on the road last season, posting a 1.86 ERA and 0.99 WHIP away from Chase Field. He’s certainly not cheap, but with unappealing options on the night slate, it might be wise to pay up to get him into your entry.

James Paxton vs. Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $8,800
DraftKings = $9,600

Paxton was limited to just 136 innings last year due to injury, but he was excellent when healthy, posting a 2.98 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 10.3 K/9. His FIP was even better at 2.61 and he only allowed 0.6 HR/9, leaving him with big expectations heading into 2018. His first start of the season did not go as planned, allowing six earned runs in 4.2 innings against the Indians. He walked four batters in that game, which is out of character since he had a BB/9 of 2.4 or lower in both of the last two seasons. He has strikeout upside, making him someone to consider Thursday.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/5/18

Joey Gallo vs. Daniel Mengden, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,300

Gallo has been about what you would have expected from him heading into the season, batting .214 with 10 strikeouts in seven games so far. He’s provided power with two home runs and a double and should continue to be a good source of homers this season. He’ll face a righty in Mengden on Thursday and Gallo crushed righties last year, posting a .364 wOBA and hitting 34 of his 41 home runs against them. This could be an excellent matchup to take advantage of Thursday.

Ian Desmond vs. Joey Lucchesi, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,800

The Rockies will face the lefty Lucchesi on Thursday who struggled in his first start of the season, allowing three earned runs in 4.2 innings to the Brewers. He didn’t issue a walk, but he only struck out one batter. The Rockies have some hitters who have very favorable splits against left-handed pitching, including Desmond, who has a career .280 batting average against them. This would be an even better matchup for Desmond if this game was being played in Coors Field, but he can still provide value for your entry.

Others to consider: Gary Sanchez (catcher) and Jose Martinez (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/5/18

Robinson Cano vs. Kyle Gibson, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $5,200

Cano is off to a great start this season, batting .500 with a hit in every game. He has yet to hit a home run, but he does have three doubles and six runs scored. He’ll face the righty in Gibson on Thursday, which is great news for Cano considering he posted a 138 wRC+ against right-handers last year. He also has good numbers against Gibson, batting .296 in 29 plate appearances in his career.

Yoan Moncada vs. Jordan Zimmermann, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,200

Moncada does have a hit in four of his first five games this season, but he doesn’t have a multi-hit game yet and already has seven strikeouts. He’s been a much better hitter batting from the left side during his brief career, posting a .348 wOBA in 2017 compared to just .283 from the right side. Zimmermann struggled against lefties in 2017, allowing a .376 wOBA. Moncada could be in line for his best game of the young season Thursday.

Others to consider: D.J. LeMahieu and Chris Owings

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/5/18

Nolan Arenado vs. Joey Lucchesi, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $5,400

Arenado has yet to have a big breakout game this season as he has only one home run, but he has recorded at least one RBI in three straight games. Like Desmond, Arenado gets the benefit of facing another left-hander on Thursday. Arenado had a staggering 220 wRC+ against lefties last year, which was third-best in baseball.

Matt Chapman vs. Martin Perez, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $3,700

Chapman played in just 82 games with the Athletics in 2017 but has established himself as their third baseman of the future. He batted only .234, but he showed plenty of power with 14 home runs and 23 doubles. He’s off to a hot start this season, batting .385 with two home runs and a .448 OBP. Perez is tough against lefties but allowed a wOBA of at least .341 to righties in both of the last two seasons.

Others to consider: Rafael Devers and Brandon Drury

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/5/18

Didi Gregorius vs. Andrew Cashner, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = NA

Gregorius is sometimes forgotten in a lineup that includes Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Gary Sanchez, but he is a very important part of the Yankees success. He’s moved into the cleanup spot against right-handed pitchers, a role he excelled in for the Yankees last season by driving in 40 runs in 42 games out of that spot. He’ll face Cashner on Thursday, who doesn’t have overpowering stuff with just a 7.0 K/9 for his career.

Xander Boegarts vs. Yonny Chirinos, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $5,000

Boegarts batted only .273 last year, but a lot of that had to do with injuries and an abnormally low .281 BABIP in the second half of the season. He’s off to a hot start this year, batting .357 with a home run and five doubles. Chirinos is the “starter” for the Rays on Thursday, but this is one of their planned bullpen days and he might not pitch that deep into the game. Their bullpen isn’t lights-out to begin with, which could lead to a big game for the Red Sox offense.

Others to consider: Jean Segura and Addison Russell

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/5/18

Giancarlo Stanton vs. Andrew Cashner, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = NA

After receiving boos because he struck out five times in the Yankees home opener, Stanton mashed a home run that brought the stadium to their feet Wednesday. He only has five hits so far this season, but three of them have been home runs. With Cashner not having overpowering stuff at this point in his career, don’t be surprised if Stanton gets a hold of one again Thursday.

Nicholas Castellanos vs. James Shields, Chicago White Sox
Stadium- Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,900

Castellanos has yet to leave the park this season, but he does already have three multi-hit games. He set career-highs with 26 home runs and 101 RBI last year, so expect him to straighten things out in the power department soon. Thursday brings an excellent opportunity to do so against Shields who allowed 2.1 HR/9 last year and isn’t much more than a journeyman starter at this stage of his career.

Hunter Renfroe vs. Tyler Anderson, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,000

The Padres had a crowded outfield heading into this season, but some playing time has now opened up with Wil Myers (arm) on the DL. Renfroe is going to get his chance to shine and he just might do that Thursday against the lefty Anderson as Renfroe had a .439 wOBA against lefties in 2017.

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/3/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/3/18

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STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/3/18

Chris Sale vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $11,400
DraftKings = $12,900

Sale picked up where he left off last year with his first start of 2018, pitching six shutout innings and recording nine strikeouts against the Rays. Sale is one of the most dominant strikeout pitchers in all of baseball, posting a K/9 of at least 10.8 in three of the last four seasons. The Marlins tore down their team over the winter and while they have had a couple of nice offensive showings already this season, facing Sale is a whole different story. Don’t hesitate to pay up to get Sale into your lineup.

Chase Anderson vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $7,800
DraftKings = $10,100

Anderson had a breakout campaign for the Brewers last year, posting a 2.74 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 8.5 K/9. His FIP was 3.58 and opponents did have just a .268 BABIP, so he could be in line for some regression this season, but likely not one that significant. He had control issues by allowing three walks in his first start of the season against the Padres, but by allowing just one hit and striking out eight batters, he did not allow an earned run. He’ll get a tougher opponent in the Cardinals on Tuesday, but he can still provide value at this reasonable price.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/3/18

Freddie Freeman vs. A.J. Cole (Washington Nationals)
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,600

Freeman continues to be an on-base machine for the Braves as he already has eight walks in four games this season. He’s done damage as well, recording a home run and five RBI so far. He’ll face a right-hander in Cole on Tuesday, which is good news considering Freeman dominated righties last year with a .422 wOBA. Cole also allowed a .414 wOBA to lefties last year, so this could be the perfect storm for Freeman.

Willson Contreras vs. Cody Reed (Cincinnati Reds)
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,600

Contreras is off to a slow start this year, hitting 4-for-21 (.190) with just one RBI. Tuesday brings a favorable matchup though against Reed, who had a 5.09 ERA and 1.70 WHIP in 17.2 innings for the Reds last year. He did make 10 starts for the Reds in 2016, but he was even worse with a 7.36 ERA and 1.80 WHIP. Contreras had a .386 wOBA against lefties last year, so it might be worth taking a chance that Tuesday is his first breakout game of the season.

Others to consider: Joey Gallo (first base) and Brian McCann (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/3/18

Ozzie Albies vs. A.J. Cole (Washington Nationals)
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,600

Albies is not off to a great start this season either, recording only two hits in his first four games. He does have a home run, two RBI and three runs scored, helping to salvage some of his lines. The Nationals have a great starting rotation, but he’ll get to face one of their weaker links in Cole on Tuesday. Cole had a 3.81 ERA last year, but his 5.20 FIP suggests that should have been much higher. He also has problems keeping runners off base with a career 1.45 WHIP.

Javier Baez vs. Cody Reed (Cincinnati Reds)
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,000

Baez only has two hits through the first five games of the season and has struck out five times while drawing just one walk. He struck out 144 times in 145 games last year and had just a .317 OBP, so his starts in those departments aren’t all that surprising. He batted .315 with nine home runs against lefties last year though, making him possibly worth the risk for your lineup Tuesday at this price.

Others to consider: Whit Merrifield and Rougned Odor

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/3/18

Anthony Rendon vs. Julio Teheran (Atlanta Braves)
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,300

The Nationals have a potent lineup and Rendon gets the benefit of hitting between Adam Eaton and Bryce Harper on most nights. Teheran will have a tough task ahead of him, especially considering he had a 5.86 ERA and 1.50 WHIP at home last season. He wasn’t any better in his first start at home in 2018 against the Phillies, allowing four runs in 5.2 innings on Opening Day. The Nationals could put up a crooked number Tuesday with Rendon right in the middle of the action.

Jeimer Candelario vs. Jakob Junis (Kansas City Royals)
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = NA

The Tigers are rebuilding and Candelario is considered one of the important parts of their future. He played well in 27 games with the Tigers last year, hitting .330 with a .406 OBP. While he likely can’t keep that up in 2018, he did post a .270 average and .350 OBP during his career in the minors. He’ll bat second and from the left side of the plate against Junis on Tuesday, who allowed lefties to bat .274 against him in 2017 compared to righties batting just .246. He’s only available on FanDuel as DraftKings is not including this game in their early slate.

Others to consider: Kris Bryant and Alex Bregman

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/3/18

Xander Bogaerts vs. Jose Urena (Miami Marlins)
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,400

Bogaerts is red hot to start the season, recording at least two hits in four of his first five games. He’s hit for power as well with one home run and five doubles. He’ll face the default ace for the Marlins in Urena on Tuesday, who allowed five runs in four innings against the Cubs on Opening Day. Urena has a career FIP of 5.07, so Bogaerts could play a big role in a potential offensive explosion for the Red Sox in this game.

Alcides Escobar vs. Matthew Boyd (Detroit Tigers)
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $2,200
DraftKings = NA

Escobar recorded his first hits of the season Monday against the Tigers, going 2-for-3 with a double, triple and a run scored. He only hits eighth in the Royals lineup, which hurts his value in DFS based on the limited amount of at-bats he gets batting that low in the order. However, he gets a favorable matchup against Boyd, who allowed a .357 wOBA against righties last year compared to just .313 against lefties. Escobar is very cheap and could allow you to add a couple of big sluggers to your entry with the savings he will provide. He’s only available on FanDuel as DraftKings is not including this game in their early slate.

Others to consider: Trea Turner and Elvis Andrus

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/3/18

Bryce Harper vs. Atlanta Braves (Julio Teheran)
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $5,300

Harper is off to a torrid start this season, batting .417 with a .550 OBP, three home runs and seven RBI. Talent has never been the question with Harper as he usually produces when he’s healthy.  He has also owned Teheran during his career, batting .459 with seven home runs and 17 RBI in 45 career plate appearances against him. Harper is expensive, but he also has tremendous upside Tuesday.

Adam Eaton vs. Atlanta Braves (Julio Teheran)
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,700

Speaking of hot starts, Eaton is 8-for-13 with two home runs, five RBI and seven runs scored through just three games. He’s hitting leadoff for one of the best lineups in baseball, so he is going to have plenty of opportunities to provide value. The Nationals may be cautious with him to start the season after he was limited to just 23 games last year, but he didn’t play Monday, so expect him to be back in the lineup and providing value Tuesday.

Mitch Haniger vs. Ty Blach (San Francisco Giants)
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,400

Haniger completes today’s trio of outfielders who have started off the season well as he is 5-for-8 with two home runs and a double so far this season. He’ll face a lefty in Blach who struggled to get out righties last year, allowing a .350 wOBA to them compared to just .261 against lefties. If you want to pay up to get Harper in your lineup, Haniger is a viable budget-friendly option to consider pairing him with.

Others to consider: Charlie Blackmon and Carlos Gomez