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MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/10/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/10/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

Thursday brings a limited slate of games, but there are still plenty of great options both on the mound and in the batter’s box to take advantage of 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 5/10/18

Walker Buehler vs. Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $8,600
DraftKings = $10,500

With the Dodgers dealing with injuries to their starting rotation, Buehler is here to stay. He’s made an immediate impact in his first three starts, posting a 1.13 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 10.7 K/9. He dominated with a 12.4 K/9 during his career in the minors, so his strikeout upside is legitimate. The only real negative you can say about his first three starts is that they came against the Marlins, Giants, and Padres, who are three of the worst offensive teams in baseball. The Reds haven’t been much better though and have the fifth-worst OPS against right-handed pitchers (.671) in baseball, so Buehler may be able to keep his hot streak alive for at least one more start.

Miles Mikolas vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $8,500
DraftKings = $10,200

Mikolas has been impressive in his first action in the majors since 2014 and clearly made significant improvements during his time in Japan. Through six starts this season, he has a 2.70 ERA and 0.98 WHIP. His 7.0 K/9 isn’t great, but he’s shown impeccable control with 0.5 BB/9. He’s pitching deep into games as well, logging at least 6.1 innings in all but one of his outings. The Padres have the third-lowest OPS against righties (.648) and have had trouble scoring runs in general, leaving Mikolas with the potential to provide value again Thursday.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/10/18

Cody Bellinger vs. Tyler Mahle, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,200

After bursting onto the scene last year with a .933 OPS, Bellinger hasn’t hit for much power yet this season, resulting in a .794 OPS. He’s still hitting for a high average and has a 39% hard-hit rate, so he should start slugging more long balls sooner rather than later. He finished with a 140 wRC+ against righties last and has a 142 mark against them so far this season, so facing Mahle could lead to a breakout game.

Justin Bour vs. Mike Foltynewicz, Atlanta Braves
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,400

Foltynewicz has made improvements this season, but his 1.35 WHIP is still too high. Left-handed hitters have given him troubles in his career, including Bour, who is 8-for-14 with two home runs against him. Bour is off to a slow start this season, but he still has a .367 wOBA against righties, making him a cost-effective option to consider.

Others to consider: Gary Sanchez (catcher) and Lucas Duda (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/10/18

Whit Merrifield vs. Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,300

Merrifield is batting only .261 this season, but that won’t last for long if he keeps up his 42.6% hard-hit rate. His K% is right in line with his career mark and he’s drawing more walks as well. With Tillman taking the mound, this is going to be a great opportunity to stack Royals in DFS since he has allowed at least four earned runs in all but one of his starts this season.

Jonathan Schoop vs. Ian Kennedy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKinfs = $3,500

In two games since coming off the DL, Schoop is 3-for-9 with a double, two RBI and three runs scored. His slow start and stint on the DL have helped lower his price after a breakout campaign helped plenty of people win money in DFS last year. He doesn’t have the righty/lefty advantage in this matchup, but he’s still priced low enough to potentially use in tournament play.

Others to consider: Gleyber Torres and Eduardo Nunez

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/10/18

Mike Moustakas vs. Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,500

Moustakas had the best power season of his career in 2017 with 38 home runs and he hasn’t slowed down this year, slugging 10 homers in 36 games. He’s batting .292 as well and while that seems unsustainable, his .278 BABIP is actually not high. This is a prime opportunity to play him against Tillman, who allowed a .429 wOBA to lefties last year.

Yangervis Solarte vs. Mike Leake, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,900

Solarte has cashed in everyday playing time to bat .271 with nine homers this year. Solarte does a great job limiting his strikeouts, posting an 11.8 K% for his career. He has a .374 wOBA against right-handers this year and Leake has allowed a .366 wOBA to lefties, so Solarte could be an option if you need to save money at third base.

Others to consider: Travis Shaw and Matt Carpenter

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/10/18

Paul DeJong vs. Jordan Lyles, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,000

Lyles has pitched exclusively out of the bullpen this season, logging 19.2 innings across 13 appearances. He did pitch three innings in one appearance earlier this year, but it doesn’t seem like he’ll have built up enough arm strength to pitch deep into this game. He struggled in five starts for the Padres last year, recording a 9.39 ERA and 1.96 WHIP. This could end up being a bullpen day for the Padres, so with several of the top shortstops dealing with difficult matchups Thursday, DeJong becomes a viable option with homer upside.

Chris Taylor vs. Tyler Mahle, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $3,800

Taylor seemed like a regression candidate heading into this season as his .288 average in 2017 was largely aided by a .361 BABIP. He’s had a bigger drop off than expected this year though, batting .235 with a .284 BABIP. He’ll probably end the season somewhere in the middle and is an important player on a Dodgers team that is now missing their star shortstop in Corey Seager (elbow). Mahle has a 4.92 FIP through seven starts and has been prone to giving up the long ball, leaving Taylor as another shortstop worth considering.

Others to consider: Eduardo Escobar and Jean Segura

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/10/18

Giancarlo Stanton vs. Eduardo Rodriguez, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $5,100

Stanton normally hits lefties well, posting a .430 wOBA against them for his career. This year has been no different with an incredible .621 wOBA against them so far. He already has six home runs in only 34 plate appearance against lefties as well. He’s stepped up in the first two games of this series against the Red Sox and will look for another big performance against Rodriguez as the Yankees go for the sweep.

Jorge Soler vs. Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,200

Continuing our stack of Royals’ hitters against Tillman, Soler is another great option. He’s on fire right now, recording at least two hits in five of his last 10 games while also hitting three home runs in that same stretch. Even though Soler has much better numbers this season against lefties than righties, he’s not exactly struggling against righties with a .362 wOBA.

Alex Gordon vs. Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,800

Let’s go to the well against Tillman one more time with Gordon, who is batting .313 in the early going. He is still having troubles against left-handed pitching, but righties have not proven to be nearly as difficult, resulting in a .412 wOBA. Since he will help with your budget as well, it makes a lot of sense to try riding Gordon’s hot streak in this game.

Others to consider: Charlie Blackmon and Christian Yelich

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/9/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/9/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

We’ve got a good mix of day and night games in baseball Wednesday, so let’s take a look at some options to consider for both slates. 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 5/9/18

Gerrit Cole vs. Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $12,000
DraftKings = $13,400

Cole has been dominant for the Astros and has helped them to have one of the best, if not the best, starting rotation in baseball. Through seven starts with his new squad, he has a 1.42 ERA, 1.55 FIP, and 0.69 WHIP. After allowing 1.4 HR/9 last season, which was almost double his career mark, he has corrected that issue by allowing only three home runs in 50.2 innings. The biggest difference for Cole has been a massive increase in strikeouts with a 13.7 K/9. His ERA is unlikely to stay this low over the course of the entire season, especially considering his opponents only have a .247 BABIP. However, he is still going to provide a ton of strikeouts and is the best starting pitcher available if you are playing the afternoon slate.

Chris Stratton vs. Philadelphia Phillies
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $7,600
DraftKings = $5,900

Stratton didn’t have spectacular numbers in the minor leagues, recording a 4.07 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 7.9 K/9 in 623.2 innings. He only pitched 58.2 innings for the Giants last year and while he finished with a respectable 3.68 ERA, his 1.48 WHIP and 4.3 BB/9 were reasons for concern. One area that Stratton has excelled in during his brief Major League career is keeping batters in the ballpark, allowing 0.8 HR/9. He’s done a better job limiting baserunners this season with a 1.23 WHIP. His 3.99 ERA isn’t great, but a lot of that is because he gave up six earned runs in just 1.1 innings in one start against the Dodgers. He has allowed three earned runs or fewer in each of his other six outings. His strikeout upside isn’t great, but he’s someone to consider if you’re looking for a cheap starter for the night slate.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/9/18

Brandon Belt vs. Nick Pivetta, Philadelphia Phillies
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,000

Injuries limited Belt to 104 games last year, but he’s healthy now and putting up big numbers, batting .297 with six home runs and a .951 OPS. His .365 BABIP would seem to be very high, but with a career BABIP of .335, he might not actually be in line for that much of a regression over the course of the season. He had a wOBA of at least .362 against right-handers in each of the last three seasons and has a lofty .446 wOBA against them this year, making him a great option against Pivetta.

Ryon Healy vs. Jaime Garcia, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,800

Healy doesn’t walk much, drawing only 23 free passes last year in 605 plate appearances. Although he only has two walks so far this year, he’s batting a respectable .262 with five home runs. He showed he can hit for power in the minors and followed that up with 25 homers in his first full season in the majors last year. He recorded a .369 wOBA against left-handed pitchers in 2017, so he could provide value against the underwhelming Garcia.

Others to consider: Joey Votto (first base) and Wilson Contreras (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/9/18

Alen Hanson vs. Nick Pivetta, Philadelphia Phillies
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $3,000

Hanson has taken over at second base with Joe Panik (thumb) on the DL and the Giants really couldn’t have asked for much more from him so far. Not only is he batting .286, but he’s hit for power with a .571 slugging percentage. He didn’t show that kind of power upside in the minors, but he did hit .284 over eight seasons. He has a .400 wOBA against righties in limited action this season, so he might be worth the risk in tournament play.

Jonathan Schoop vs. Eric Skoglund, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,500

Schoop made his return from the DL on Tuesday, going 1-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored. He wasn’t hitting well before injuring his oblique, some of which can be attributed to just a 21.3 percent hard-hit rate. Despite his struggles, he still has a .324 wOBA against left-handers this year after posting a .397 wOBA against them in 2017. Skoglund hasn’t pitched well with a 6.84 ERA and 1.41 WHIP across five starts, making Schoop someone to consider at this cheap price.

Others to consider: Ozzie Albies and Whit Merrifield

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/9/18

Kris Bryant vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Wrigley Field
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $5,200

Bryant is batting .284 this season despite his .313 BABIP that is 31 points lower than his career mark. He’s hitting the ball hard with a 42 percent hard-hit rate and continues to draw plenty of walks, helping lead him to a .415 OBP. He’s finished with a wRC+ of at least 150 against lefties in back-to-back seasons and if off to an even better start this season with a 258 wRC+ against them. You’ll have to pay up to get him into your lineup, but he also carries significant upside.

Adrian Beltre vs. Francisco Liriano, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,400

Beltre wasted no time in his first game back from the DL on Tuesday, going 3-for-4 with two RBI. He has batted at least .300 in five of the last six seasons and is showing no signs of slowing down this year with a .330 average. He has fared very well against Liriano during his career, batting .314 with a home run and four doubles in 42 plate appearances.

Others to consider: Mike Moustakas and Colin Moran

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/9/18

Manny Machado vs. Eric Skoglund, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $4,900

Machado is in the midst of a power drought, homerless in nine straight games. He has just two doubles over that stretch as well. He only went hitless in two of those games though, so it’s not like he is in the middle of a prolonged slump in general. Facing Skoglund could be just what he needs to get his power swing back on track as he has a 1.4 HR/9 and has allowed a 50.6 percent hard-hit rate this season.

Jean Segura vs. Jaime Garcia, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,000

Segura has a prime spot in the Mariners lineup, hitting behind Dee Gordon with Robinson Cano and Nelson Cruz providing protection after him. It’s helped him score 23 runs and record 24 RBI in only 34 games. He’s only scored at least 100 runs in a season once in his career and has never had more than 64 RBI, so he could be on his to a special season. With Garcia allowing a .383 wOBA to righties this season, Segura is another Mariner to consider putting into your lineup.

Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Andrelton Simmons

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/9/18

Justin Upton vs. Tyler Anderson, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,800

Upton wasted no time in hitter-friendly Coors Field, hitting a home run in the first game of this series Tuesday. Upton demolished left-handers last year with a .472 wOBA. Considering Anderson allowed a .358 wOBA to righties last year, Upton could be in for another productive performance Wednesday.

Nelson Cruz vs. Jaime Garcia, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,200

If you are panicking because the normally reliable Cruz is batting only .255, you shouldn’t be. His BABIP sits at .254, which is over 50 percentage points lower than his career mark. He’s still hitting the ball well with a 43.6% hard-hit rate and his K% is actually down. With Garcia’s struggles against righties already detailed, Cruz isn’t someone to sleep on Wednesday.

Alex Gordon vs. Andrew Cashner, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,400

Just when you thought Gordon’s days of being a viable fantasy option were well behind him, he’s batting .321 so far this season. He’s not walking much, but he does have a career-low 15.7% K%. His .355 BABIP probably won’t hold up, so don’t run out and grab him off waivers if you play in a season-long league. However, Cashner allows a lot of base runners and struggles against left-handed hitters, so you may be able to take advantage of Gordon’s hot start in DFS.

Others to consider: Mike Trout and Jorge Soler

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/8/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/8/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

There is only one day game in the majors Tuesday, leaving a bevy of options to choose from for 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 5/8/18

Aaron Nola vs. San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $9,000
DraftKings = $10,100

Nola has followed up his breakout campaign last year with a 2.17 ERA, 2.98 FIP, and 0.92 WHIP through seven starts. His K/9 is only 6.9, but expect that to increase sooner rather than later since he has finished with a K/9 of at least 9.8 in back-to-back seasons. He has been a bit lucky with opponents posting a .236 BABIP, but he has thrown a first-pitch strike to 65.7% of the batters that he has faced and has a 33.2% O-swing % (the percentage of pitches a batter swings at outside the strike zone), both of which would be career highs. The Giants are tied for the eighth-fewest runs scored (141) in baseball, so look for a big performance from Nola.

Sean Newcomb vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $7,900
DraftKings = $8,500

Newcomb has pitched well out of the gate with a 3.38 ERA, 3.17 FIP, and 1.27 WHIP. He had control issues last year with a 5.1 BB/9, but he’s cut that down to 3.9 this season, some of which can be attributed to him throwing a first-pitch strike to 64.8% of the batters that he has faced. He also provides excellent strikeout upside with a 10.9 K/9. Newcomb has been a better pitcher on the road during his Major League career, posting a 3.23 ERA compared to a 4.79 ERA at home. If you’re looking for a more cost-effective option, Newcomb might be worth the risk in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/8/18

Edwin Encarnacion vs. Wade Miley, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,700

The Indians will lose the DH playing in Miller Park, but Encarnacion will likely start at first base over Yonder Alonso with the lefty Miley on the mound. Encarnacion is hitting just .198 this season, but a lot of that has to do with his .208 BABIP. He still has nine home runs and a 34.9% hard-hit rate that is actually slightly higher than his career mark. He has finished with a wOBA of at least .360 against lefties in eight straight seasons, so he could break out against Miley.

John Hicks vs. Mike Minor, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,500

With Miguel Cabrera (hamstring) on the DL, Hicks has been seeing regular playing time. Despite playing in only 14 games this year, he has three home runs and four doubles to go along with a .283 average. He’s never had more than 190 plate appearances in a single season during his Major League career, but he did bat .283 in seven seasons in the minors. Minor has held lefties to just a .231 wOBA this season, but righties have had more success with a .364 wOBA. If you want to go the cheaper route, Hicks could provide value.

Others to consider: Anthony Rizzo (first base) and Gary Sanchez (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/8/18

Robinson Cano vs. Marcus Stroman, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $3,700

Cano isn’t hitting home runs like he did in his heyday with the Yankees, but he actually has as many walks as strikeouts this season. He’s never been someone who strikes out much, but he has 20 walks in 143 plate appearances this season after finishing with 49 walks in 648 plate appearances last year. He’s still hitting for a high average and has a .378 wOBA against right-handed pitchers in his career, making him an excellent option against the struggling Stroman.

Howie Kendrick vs. Clayton Richard, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,800

Kendrick has proven to be an important part of the Nationals’ lineup this season due to several key injuries. His numbers aren’t flashy, but his .286 batting average is pretty much right in line with his career mark. He’s someone to target against left-handed pitchers after finishing with a .385 wOBA against them last year. Richard has allowed a .356 wOBA in his career against righties, making Kendrick a viable cost-effective option for your entry.

Others to consider: Starlin Castro and Cesar Hernandez

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/8/18

Eugenio Suarez vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,700

Vargas has been shelled in his two starts this season, recording a 16.20 ERA and 3.00 WHIP. He’s never had overpowering stuff with a 6.0 K/9 for his career, so add that to the fact that he has issued five walks and allowed five home runs in just 8.1 innings and you get a disaster. Suarez roughed up lefties for a 135 RC+ last year and has a 195 wRC+ against them this season, leaving you with a great opportunity to take advantage of Vargas.

Anthony Rendon vs. Clayton Richard, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,700

Rendon has only played three games since coming off the DL, but he hasn’t shown signs of rust, batting 3-for- 10 with two doubles, three RBI, and three walks. He destroyed left-handed pitchers with a 186 wRC+ last year and is another Nationals righty to consider stacking against Richard, especially with his reasonable price on both sites.

Others to consider: Jose Ramirez and Colin Moran

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/8/18

Manny Machado vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,900

Machado is off to one of the hottest starts in baseball with a 1.054 OPS that ranks fourth in the American League. He currently has the highest BB% and lowest K% of his career to go along with a .277 ISO. He has a .440 wOBA against left-handed pitchers this year and Duffy has had problems limiting home runs through his seven starts, giving Machado significant upside in this matchup.

Jose Peraza vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,200

Peraza still doesn’t draw many walks, but his .285 average this season has been a significant improvement over his .259 mark last year. He’s striking out less and making better contact with a 27.3% hard-hit rate, so he’s finally starting to show signs of why he was thought of so highly by some people when he was given an everyday job last year, myself included. With Vargas struggling mightily right now, Peraza could provide value at this price, especially on FanDuel.

Others to consider: Trea Turner and Tim Anderson

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/8/18

Rhys Hoskins vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,900

Hoskins hasn’t shown any signs of struggling in his first full season in the majors, batting .281 with .928 OPS. He’s not off to the torrid home run pace that he was last year, but five homers and 10 doubles through 34 games is still impressive. With a .421 wOBA against lefties in his brief career, he makes a lot of sense against the struggling Holland on Tuesday.

Kyle Schwarber vs. Jose Urena, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Wrigley Field
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,800

Schwarber has put his struggles from last year behind him so far, batting .269 with a .376 OBP this season. Always a power threat, he also has a .548 slugging percentage. He still had a .343 wOBA against righties last year despite all his issues and has posted a .424 wOBA against them so far this season. Urena doesn’t overmatch many hitters with a 5.9 K/9 for his career, so he could have trouble getting Schwarber out in this game.

Nomar Mazara vs. Mike Fiers, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,800

Mazara hit exactly 20 home runs in both of his first two seasons with the Rangers but has already slugged eight homers this year. He has a 40.2% hard-hit rate, which is almost nine percentage points higher than his career mark. Mazara only has a .270 wOBA against lefties in his career, but righties have not proven to be as difficult, resulting in a .338 wOBA against them. If you’re looking for a cheaper outfielder with upside, Mazara might be your man.

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/4/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/4/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

With a full slate of night games in baseball Friday, there are a lot of options to wade through while creating your DFS lineup. 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 5/4/18

Joey Lucchesi vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $8,600
DraftKings = $8,300

Lucchesi has burst onto the scene for a Padres team that desperately needs starting pitching, recording a 2.78 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 9.7 K/9 this season. His FIP sits at 3.13 and his .280 BABIP allowed isn’t terribly low, so there is a chance he could come close to sustaining this type of production moving forward. He has also shown strikeout upside in the minors with a 10.1 K/9 in 181 career innings. The Dodgers lineup has suffered some key injuries and has the fourth-lowest OPS against left-handed pitchers (.663) in baseball, making Lucchesi a viable option at a reasonable price Friday.

Francisco Liriano vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $6,500
DraftKings = 7,000

Liriano has stuck in the rotation for the rebuilding Tigers and has a 3.38 ERA through five starts. His FIP is 4.49 and opponents have just a .215 BABIP against him, so his ERA might not hold up this well for much longer. The good news is he still provides problems for left-handed hitters, holding them to a .286 wOBA in 2017 and a .127 wOBA so far this season. Some of the Royals best hitters are lefties, which could spell bad news for them Friday. This will actually be Liriano’s third start of the season against the Royals and he pitched well in the first two matchups, allowing a total of four earned runs to go along with nine strikeouts in 12 innings. If you are looking to go with a more cost-effective starter for your lineup, there is potential for value here with Liriano.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/4/18

Gary Sanchez vs. Josh Tomlin, Cleveland Indians
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,900

Sanchez is only batting .204 this season, but he’s made his hits count with eight home runs, eight doubles, and 27 RBI. His .200 BABIP is well below normal for him, so expect his batting average to increase as the season wears on. He has a .378 wOBA against right-handed pitchers in his career, so no worries there facing the righty Tomlin on Friday. Tomlin doesn’t have overpowering stuff and has a 9.16 ERA and 1.93 WHIP this year, so this could be the day to pay up for Sanchez.

Justin Bour vs. Sal Romano, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,500

Bour is one of the best hitters left in the Marlins lineup, but he is off to a slow start with a .244 average. His BABIP is low at .266 and he does still have five home runs, so he has value moving forward. He hit righties very well last year with a .384 wOBA and despite his struggles, he has a .362 wOBA against them this season as well. If you’re looking for a cheaper option at first base, Bour might be worth the risk in tournament play.

Others to consider: Edwin Encarnacion (first base) and Yuli Gurriel (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/4/18

Jed Lowrie vs. Andrew Cashner, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,500

Lowrie continues to swing a hot bat, going 5-for-12 with two home runs in his last three games. The Athletics finally return home after a lengthy road trip, which is great news for Lowrie since he batted .287 at home last year and is hitting .333 there so far this year. He has a crazy 200 wRC+ against right-handers in the early going and makes a great option in DFS again Friday.

Gleyber Torres vs. Josh Tomlin, Cleveland Indians
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,500

Torres may not be off to the flashy start that fellow star prospect Ronald Acuna Jr. is with the Braves, but he’s played well, batting .317 with five RBI and a steal in 12 games. He’s still looking for his first home run, but he has chipped in three doubles. He has shown he can hit for a high average in the minors and is locked in as the Yankees’ everyday second baseman. Considering Tomlin’s struggles this year, Torres could provide value at this price.

Others to consider: Jose Altuve and Asdrubal Cabrera

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/4/18

Jose Ramirez vs. C.C. Sabathia, New York Yankees
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,700

Ramirez was really struggling out of the gate, but he’s on fire right now. In his last five games, he is 10-for-23 with a home run, five doubles, and seven RBI. He’s hit at least .312 in back-to-back seasons, so it was only a matter of time before he got back on track. A switch-hitter, he particularly thrived against lefties last year with a .395 wOBA. Sabathia’s 1.71 ERA this season looks nice, but his 4.25 FIP indicates he has not pitched nearly that well. Ramirez looks to be in a prime spot to keep things rolling Friday.

Josh Donaldson vs. Andrew Kittredge, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $5,000

Donaldson returned from the DL in style Thursday, going 4-for-11 with two home runs and two doubles in a doubleheader against the Indians. It’s encouraging that the Blue Jays played him in both games on his first day back, which is a good sign for his value moving forward. Kittredge is starting for the Rays, but this will be another one of their bullpen days, so it might be a good idea to take advantage with Donaldson, especially with his cheap price on FanDuel.

Others to consider: Yangervis Solarte and Miguel Andujar

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/4/18

Didi Gregorius vs. Josh Tomlin, Cleveland Indians
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $5,000

Gregorius loves hitting at home, posting a .418 average and hitting nine of his 10 home runs there so far this season. He has become an excellent hitter, especially against righties after recording a .354 wOBA against them in 2017. He’s been even better with a lofty .475 wOBA against them this season, making him one of the best options at shortstop Friday.

Andrelton Simmons vs. Mike Leake, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,700

Simmons continues to show he’s much more than just an excellent defensive shortstop as he is currently on a seven-game hitting streak. He’s shown power over that stretch as well, slugging two home runs to go along with four doubles. He is batting .389 with a home run in 18 career plate appearances against Leake, so he’s someone worth considering for your entry.

Others to consider: Carlos Correa and Eduardo Escobar

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/4/18

Mike Trout vs. Mike Leake, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $5,700

Simply put, Trout is insane. You could go on for days about his excellent numbers. He hits for a high average, a ton of power, steals bases and has an OBP of at least .402 in three straight seasons entering 2018. He’s usually a good player to target regardless of matchup but could have an especially big performance against the underwhelming Leake on Friday.

Justin Upton vs. Mike Leake, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,300

Upton seems to have come out of his prolonged slump, hitting 6-for-17 with a home run and six RBI in his last four games. He has owned Mike Leake, batting .450 with a home run against him in 21 career plate appearances. An Angels stack could provide plenty of production Friday, Upton included.

Josh Reddick vs. Kris Medlen, Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,000

With Robbie Ray (oblique) on the DL, the Diamondbacks will call on Medlen to make his first appearance in the majors since 2016. A once promising young pitcher for the Braves, having Tommy John surgery for the second time in 2014 has derailed his career. He wasn’t exactly pitching well in Triple-A this season, recording a 6.00 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in four starts. Reddick has posted a wOBA of at least .356 against righties in each of the last four years and is a great option at a reasonable price against Medlen.

Others to consider: George Springer and Corey Dickerson

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/3/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/3/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

Thursday brings a light schedule in baseball with 11 games, most of which start in the afternoon. 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 5/3/18

Patrick Corbin vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $10,000
DraftKings = $12,500

Corbin is off to a masterful start this season with a 2.25 ERA, 2.71 FIP, and 0.75 WHIP. He has been somewhat lucky with opponents posting a .222 BABIP, but his 33.7% hard-hit rate allowed is almost spot on with his career mark. The big difference this season has been his increased strikeouts with a 12.4 K/9 compared to an 8.1 K/9 for his career. He’s thrown a first-pitch strike to 68% of the hitters he has faced this season, which is the second-highest mark of his career. He’s already faced the Dodgers once this season, throwing 7.1 shutout innings and recording 12 strikeouts. With the Dodgers missing several key players in their lineup, Corbin could be in line for another strong start Thursday.

Sean Manaea vs. Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $9,000
DraftKings = $11,200

Manaea has had even better luck than Corbin with opponents recording just a .148 BABIP this year. His numbers are excellent with a 1.03 ERA and 0.62 WHIP through six outings. His K/9 remains on par with his career mark, but he’s cut down on his walks, posting just a 1.4 BB/9 so far. This will be his second start against the Mariners this year after he held them to one earned run with four strikeouts across seven innings in his first outing. If you are playing the night slate, Manaea is one of the best options to consider.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/3/18

Hanley Ramirez vs. Mike Minor, Texas Rangers
Stadium = Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,400

The Red Sox have struggled against left-handed pitching this season, posting the second-lowest OPS (.619) against them in baseball. Ramirez is one of the few Red Sox that is having success against them this season with a .374 wOBA. Look for him to take advantage of Minor, who has allowed a .355 wOBA to righties in the early going.

Matt Adams vs. Trevor Williams, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,800

With the Nationals lineup riddled with injuries, Adams has proven to be an important part of their team. He’s mashed three home runs in his last two games and has a 1.111 OPS so far this season. Williams has a 2.29 ERA this year, but his 5.9 K/9 and opponents posting just a .222 BABIP doesn’t exactly bode well for his continued success. If you need to save money at first base, Adams is someone to consider in tournament play.

Others to consider: Albert Pujols (first base) and Kurt Suzuki (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/3/18

Ozzie Albies vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $5,000

Albies is doing it all for the Braves and now has a prime spot hitting leadoff in their lineup. With Ronald Acuna Jr. and Freddie Freeman providing him with protection, he is an excellent position to produce. He finished with a .396 wOBA against lefties last year and sits at a staggering .716 wOBA against them this season, so don’t hesitate to add him to your lineup against Vargas.

Ian Kinsler vs. Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,700

Don’t get too excited about Tillman’s last start where he threw seven shutout innings as it came against one of the worst offenses in baseball in the Tigers. He had allowed at least four earned runs in each of his first four starts while recording only eight total strikeouts. Kinsler has batted .286 with two home runs in 31 career plate appearances against Tillman, making him a viable option Thursday.

Others to consider: Jed Lowrie and Asdrubal Cabrera

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/3/18

Matt Chapman vs. Wade LeBlanc, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,100

Chapman has slowed down after his hot start, going 3-for-22 in his last six games. He’s hitting the ball hard with a 45% hard-hit rate, but he’s not the type of player who is going to hit for a high average. He does have loads of power and has a .346 wOBA against lefties in his brief Major League career, so he could break out of his slump against the underwhelming LeBlanc on Thursday.

Luis Valbuena vs. Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,300

Valbuena is a cost-effective option to target against right-handed pitching because even though he had an unsightly 15 wRC+ against lefties last year, he was much better against righties with a 104 wRC+. He also has excellent numbers in his career against Tillman, batting .364 with a home run in 13 plate appearances.

Others to consider: Jeimer Candelario and Colin Moran

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/3/18

Carlos Correa vs. Masahiro Tanaka, New York Yankees
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel =$4,200
DraftKings = $4,900

Tanaka can be a tough pitcher to gauge as he doesn’t seem to have much of a middle ground. This season has been a prime example of that with him allowing one earned run each in three of his six starts, but allowing at least five earned runs in two of his other outings. Home runs tend to be his issue, allowing a 1.8 HR/9 last year. Correa is hitting .316 with two home runs in 20 career plate appearances against Tanaka, so he might be worth the risk even considering his high price tag.

Marcus Semien vs. Wade LeBlanc, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,200

Semien has been consistent of late, getting at least one hit in nine of his last 10 games. His .356 BABIP means a regression in his batting average may be on the horizon, but it might not start Thursday against the LeBlanc, who will be making his first start in the majors since 2016. Semien also has a career. 344 wOBA against left-handed pitchers compared to .299 against righties.

Others to consider: Manny Machado and Andrelton Simmons

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/3/18

A.J. Pollock vs. Alex Wood, Los Angeles Dodgers
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $5,500

Pollack was limited to just 112 games due to injury last year, but he still managed to hit 14 home runs to go along with 20 steals. He’s off to an even better start this season, batting .300 with 10 home runs and seven steals. His .311 BABIP is actually a little lower than his career mark, so there’s no reason to believe he can’t keep hitting for a high average. His power numbers are likely unsustainable as they have largely been buoyed by a 44% hard-hit that that is almost 10 percent higher than what he has averaged over the course of his career. With a .421 average to go along with two home runs and three doubles across 19 plate appearances against Wood in his career, look for a productive day from Pollock.

Ronald Acuna Jr. vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,300

One of the elite prospects in all of baseball, Acuna appears to be in the majors to stay after his hot start, logging at least two hits in four of seven games since being called up. He’s shown excellent power as well, hitting one home run and five doubles. Vargas doesn’t exactly have an overpowering pitch arsenal with a career 6.0 K/9, so expect big things from Acuna in this contest.

Mark Canha vs. Wade LeBlanc, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,800

A career .242 hitter, Canha has far exceeded expectations this season with a .391 average. His .375 BABIP won’t hold, but he has shown he can hit for power in the minors. He has mashed left-handed pitchers this season with a 240 wRC+ and with LeBlanc not exactly having overpowering stuff, Canha could continue his hot streak Thursday.

Others to consider: Mike Trout and Corey Dickerson

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/2/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/2/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

Tuesday was a day filled with aces taking the mound, but Wednesday will bring plenty of star pitchers as well, including Corey Kluber and Luis Severino. 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 5/2/18

Corey Kluber vs. Texas Rangers
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $11,600
DraftKings = $13,200

Kluber is off to a great start this season, recording a 2.18 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, and 9.3 K/9 through six starts. He has pitched at least 6 2/3 innings and allowed three runs or fewer in each of those outings. Many hitters have found themselves in a hole early against Kluber, who has thrown a first-pitch strike to 66.5% of the batters that he has faced this season. Opponents have been a bit unlucky with a .198 BABIP against him, but his 33.3% hard-hit rate allowed is actually almost six percent higher than his career average. Kluber has been even more dominant pitching at Progressive Field, finishing with a 1.81 ERA there last year and allowing just three runs in 16 2/3 innings there this season. He’s expensive, but he should be worth it.

Sean Newcomb vs. New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $7,300
DraftKings = 7,600

Newcomb was originally scheduled to start Tuesday but was pushed back a day in favor of Mike Soroka making his Major League debut. Soroka is one of the rising stars in the Braves organization, but they are also relying on Newcomb to become 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 season and his 11.1 K/9 this year and he can provide value despite his high walk rate. The Mets have the second-lowest OPS (.603) against left-handed pitching this season, leaving Newcomb as a viable option at a reduced price.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/2/18

Justin Smoak vs. Fernando Romero, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $3,500

The right-handed Romero will be making his Major League debut Wednesday for the Twins after getting his first taste of Triple-A this season. He spent last season in Double-A, finishing with a 3.53 ERA and 8.6 K/9. He won’t get an easy task in the Blue Jays, who have the sixth-highest OPS (.757) against righties this year. Although Smoak does have better numbers against left-handed pitchers, his .359 wOBA against righties last year still makes him someone to consider for your entry.

Joe Mauer vs. Marcus Stroman, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,300

Mauer isn’t nearly the threat that he was in his prime, but don’t forget that he still hit .305 last year with a .384 OBP. He’s off to another good start this year with a .286 average and a lofty .439 OBP. He’s followed up his .354 wOBA against righties last year with a .378 mark this season. If you want to take a cheaper route at first base, Mauer is someone to consider even with his lack of power upside.

Others to consider: Hanley Ramirez (first base) and Salvador Perez (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/2/18

Javier Baez vs. Tyler Anderson, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Wrigley Field
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,400

Baez is off to a tremendous start this season with a .963 OPS, well above his career mark of .745. His .304 BABIP is lower than his career average, but he’s increased his hard-hit rate to 35.5% and his line-drive rate to 27%. Baez finished with a .378 wOBA against lefties in 2017, so he could be in line for a big day Wednesday.

Matt Carpenter vs. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,100
DratfKings = $3,800

Carpenter batted a career-low .241 last year and has followed that up with an even worse .170 average this season. His BABIP was low last year, but his .203 BABIP this year is far lower and indicates his numbers should be on the rise sooner rather than later. Giolito is off to a nightmarish start with a 7.71 ERA and 1.71 WHIP through five outings, leaving Carpenter with upside.

Others to consider: Whit Merrifield and Wilmer Difo

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/2/18

Christian Villanueva vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,400

Villanueva has continued his red-hot start and now has a 1.112 OPS this season, which actually leads the National League. He has a staggering 386 wRC+ against lefties this year and will take on the struggling Derek Holland on Wednesday, who allowed a .408 wOBA to right-handed hitters in 2017.

Eugenio Suarez vs. Wade Miley, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,500

Suarez has been limited to 14 games this season due to injury, but he’s hit when he’s been able to take the field, posting a .327 average and .410 OBP to go along with three home runs and 17 RBI. He had a .383 wOBA against lefties last year and Miley isn’t much more than a journeyman pitcher at this point in his career, so Suarez could provide excellent value.

Others to consider: Kris Bryant and Evan Longoria

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/2/18

Manny Machado vs. Andrew Heaney, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $4,900

Machado’s low BABIP in 2017 indicated he would be in for a much better season average-wise this year and he hasn’t disappointed, hitting .366 so far. His power numbers certainly haven’t suffered at the expense of his higher average, recording nine home runs and nine doubles through 29 games. He’s normally good against left-handed pitchers and is crushing them for a 209 wRC+ this season as well.

Jose Peraza vs. Wade Miley, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,700

Peraza and his .259 batting average last year were a major disappointment, but he’s batting .296 so far this season. His .317 BABIP isn’t overly high, but he’s making better contact with a 27.1% hard-hit rate, which is six percent higher than last year. The Reds are a great stacking opportunity against Miley on Wednesday, Peraza included.

Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Jean Segura

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/2/18

J.D. Martinez vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $5,300

Martinez hasn’t been able to keep up with the ridiculous home run pace that he was on with the Diamondbacks last year, but his .955 OPS this season would actually be the second-highest mark of his career. He’s always someone you want to target against left-handed pitchers after he finished with a .531 wOBA against them last year. Duffy is really tough against lefties, but righties had much better success against him last year with a .329 wOBA.

Mitch Haniger vs. Brett Anderson, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,900

Haniger played only 96 games last year but still managed to hit 16 home runs. He’s off to an even better power start this year, slugging 10 home runs and posting a 1.075 OPS through 28 games. He has been destroying lefties, recording a .443 wOBA against them this year. Anderson will be making his first start of the season for the Athletics after allowing a .351 wOBA to righties last year, making Haniger someone to consider for your entry.

Eddie Rosario vs. Marcus Stroman, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,500

Rosario is only hitting .242 this year in large part due to his .275 BABIP that is almost 50 points lower than his career average. He’s hitting the ball well with a 35.1% hard-hit rate, so expect his batting average to improve as the season wears on. After recording a .377 wOBA against righties last year, he’s a viable cost-effective option against the struggling Stroman on Wednesday.

Others to consider: Nelson Cruz and Curtis Granderson

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/1/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/1/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/1/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/1/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/1/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/1/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/1/18

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 4/27/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/27/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

There is only one day game Friday, leaving you with a lot of options to sift through for the night 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 4/27/18

Jacob deGrom vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $10,600
DraftKings = $12,400

deGrom was one of the few Mets starters to stay healthy last year, logging a career-high 201.1 innings. He made significant strides in the strikeout department, finishing with a 10.7 K/9 that was a full strikeout higher than his previous career best. He’s continued his increased pace this season with an 11.3 K/9 through five starts. Not only does he have excellent control with a career 2.3 BB/9, but he doesn’t allow many baserunners in general with a career 1.12 WHIP. The Padres have struck out more times (273) than any other team in baseball this season and have the sixth-lowest batting average against right-handed pitchers (.223), leaving deGrom as someone to target for your entry Friday.

Miles Mikolas vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $6,700
DraftKings = $7,600

Mikolas returned to the majors for the first time since 2014 after pitching the last three years in Japan. The transition back has gone smoothly so far, posting a 3.46 ERA and 3.89 FIP across four starts. He’s done a great job limiting base runners with a 1.00 WHIP and has shown impeccable control with a 0.7 BB/9. His strikeout upside isn’t great, but he has the potential to sustain a low ERA if he can continue to limit walks. If you are looking to go really cheap in tournament play, he has the potential to at least throw a quality start.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/27/18

Joey Votto vs. Phil Hughes, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,100

Votto certainly didn’t play well out of the gate, but it appears he has righted the ship. Not only is he on a five-game hitting streak, but he has also hit a home run in three straight. His .270 BABIP is well below his career mark of .352, so expect his batting average to continue to improve. He dominated right-handed pitchers last year with a .433 wOBA, leaving him with significant upside against Hughes on Friday.

C.J. Cron vs. Drew Pomeranz, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,800

Cron is on fire right now, batting 16-for-47 (.340) with five home runs and 14 RBI in his last 11 games. He’s hitting the ball with authority this year, posting a 42.9% hard-hit rate compared to his 32.6% career mark. Pomeranz has held left-handed hitters to a .273 wOBA in his career, but righties have posted a .315 wOBA. It might not be a bad idea to ride Cron’s hot bat for at least one more game.

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

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/27/18

Scooter Gennett vs. Phil Hughes, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $3,400

Gennett almost doubled his previous career high with 27 home runs last year but has only gone deep twice in 2018. He’s still hitting for average though at .283, which still keeps him in the discussion for DFS despite his lack of power. He had a .388 wOBA against righties last year and faces a struggling one in Hughes on Friday. Hughes has been limited by injuries the last two years but hasn’t pitched well when healthy, posting a WHIP of at least 1.51 in both of those seasons.

Starlin Castro vs. Tyler Anderson, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,200

Speaking of players who haven’t hit for power this year, Castro has only hit four doubles and is still looking for his first home run. His 39.5% hard-hit rate this year is actually much higher than his career mark, but his 56.6% ground-ball rate is also a career high. Anderson has a 1.52 WHIP through five starts this season and a 1.33 WHIP for his career, so he generally has a hard time keeping runners off base. At this cheap price, Castro has upside while also providing salary relief for your entry.

Others to consider: Cesar Hernandez and Gleyber Torres

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/27/18

Jeimer Candelario vs. Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,200

Candelario continues to impress in his first full season as a starter, hitting .290 with a .908 OPS. He’s been batting second in the Tigers lineup, which is a great spot with Miguel Cabrera providing him with protection. Tillman has been awful this year with a 9.87 ERA and 2.37 WHIP, so don’t hesitate to add Candelario to your lineup.

Matt Davidson vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,500

Davidson is only batting .225 this year, but he’s been lethal when he makes contact with a 55% hard-hit rate. It’s led to seven home runs and three doubles despite his 31 strikeouts in 85 plate appearances. Duffy dominated left-handed hitters last year, holding them to a .199 wOBA. Righties hit him much better though with a .329 wOBA. I wouldn’t be surprised if Davidson goes deep in this game.

Others to consider: Todd Frazier and Daniel Roberston

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/27/18

Paul DeJong vs. Steven Brault, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,300

DeJong burst onto the scene for the Cardinals last year, batting .285 with 25 home runs in 108 games. He’s showed no signs of a sophomore slump, hitting .281 with seven home runs so far. He recorded a .392 wOBA against left-handers last year and will take on one in Brault on Friday, who doesn’t have overpowering stuff either with a career 6.5 K/9.

Adeiny Hechavarria vs. Drew Pomeranz, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,100

Hechavarria didn’t get a hit Thursday against the Orioles but had at least two hits in four of six games entering that matchup. Known for his defensive abilities, Hechavarria is batting .273 overall this season. He’s hit better against lefties throughout his career, so he might be with the risk at this price against Pomeranz on Friday.

Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Eduardo Nunez

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/27/18

Tommy Pham vs. Steven Brault, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,700

Pham is doing his best to prove that his breakout season in 2017 was no fluke, batting .368 with a .484 OBP so far this year. After finishing last season with 23 home runs and 25 steals, he’s also continued to show his power and speed combo with three homers and five steals through 22 games. With a 153 wRC+ against lefties last year, Pham is another Cardinals right-handed hitter to key in on Friday.

Yoenis Cespedes vs. Clayton Richard, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,100

Cespedes is only batting .211 this year, but his .300 BABIP is right in line with his career numbers. The problem is he has struck out a whopping 41 times in 103 plate appearances. To put that into perspective, he struck out 61 times in 321 plate appearances last year. He’ll need to show significant improvement in that area to makes gains with his batting average, but he still has a ton of power. Richard allowed 23 of his 24 home runs to right-handed hitters last year, leaving Cespedes as an option to consider for your entry.

Matt Kemp vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,800

This matchup screams split advantage. Holland was awful against righties last year, allowing a .408 wOBA. On the flip side, Kemp has a .391 wOBA against lefties for his career. If you are looking for a cost-effective outfielder Friday, look no further.

Others to consider: Mookie Betts and Leonys Martin

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/26/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/26/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

Thursday brings a light schedule with only 10 games in the majors, but there are still plenty of great matchups to take advantage of 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 4/26/18

Dylan Bundy vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $9,700
DraftKings = $9,800

The Orioles have had little success developing quality starting pitchers from their farm system, but they finally might have something special in Bundy. He’s been stellar through five starts, posting a 1.42 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 11.4 K/9. His FIP isn’t much higher at 2.02 and his opponents BABIP of .321 is actually higher than his career mark of .286, which is a good sign for his continued success this season. He has started hitters off with a first-pitch strike 62% of the time this year and has increased the use of his slider, which could be a reason for his increased strikeout totals. Look for him to keep things rolling against the Rays on Thursday.

Sean Newcomb vs. Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $7,100
DraftKings = $8,700

The Braves are loaded with young talent and Newcomb is one of the up-and-coming players for their starting rotation. He has had control issues in his career, recording a 5.1 BB/9 last year and a 4.6 BB/9 so far this season. He provides excellent strikeout upside though with a 10.0 K/9 for his career. Hitters had a hard time squaring him up last year with a 27% hard-hit rate, so his numbers could really improve if he can cut down on his walks. The Reds are in the bottom 10 in the league in runs scored, so Thursday might be a good time to take a chance on Newcomb in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/26/18

Freddie Freeman vs. Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $5,300

Freeman is a rare talent in today’s game, recording more walks (19) than strikeouts (18) so far this season. With at least two hits in three of his last four games, Freeman is now batting .306 overall. He finished with a lofty .422 wOBA against right-handed pitchers last year, making him a great option against Bailey on Thursday.

Tyler Austin vs. Kyle Gibson, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $3,900

There are so many sluggers in the Yankees lineup that Austin has largely flown under the radar this year. He’s done an excellent job filling in for Greg Bird (ankle), batting .305 with five home runs and 16 RBI. Neil Walker has eaten into his playing time a bit, but Austin is going to get plenty of at-bats if he keeps this up. If you don’t want to pay up for Freeman, take advantage of Austin’s hot bat.

Others to consider: Gary Sanchez (catcher) and Lucas Duda (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/26/18

Cesar Hernandez vs. Matt Koch, Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,200

With all the hype surrounding Scott Kingery arriving in the majors this year, Hernandez continues to excel for the Phillies, hitting .313 with two home runs and five steals. His .400 BABIP is not sustainable, but it helps that he is being more selective at the plate with a career-high 17.6% walk rate. Koch does not have overpowering stuff with a career 5.7 K/9 in the minors, leaving Hernandez with an excellent opportunity to be productive in this game.

Brock Holt vs. Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,000

Injuries have marred Holt’s career recently, but he’s healthy now and getting a chance for regular playing time with Xander Bogaerts (ankle) on the DL. He’s made the most of his opportunity, hitting .327 with a .389 OBP. He’s currently on an eight-game hitting streak and is an option to consider if you want to save money at second base.

Others to consider: Brian Dozier and Whit Merrifield

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/26/18

Travis Shaw vs. Kyle Hendricks, Chicago Cubs
Stadium – Wrigley Field
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,200

Shaw is on a power surge, slugging three home runs in his last five games. He tends to get off to a hot start in the first half and this year has been no different, hitting .286 with five home runs so far. Hendricks has had trouble getting him out in his career, allowing Shaw to bat .333 with three home runs against him in 17 career plate appearances. Considering Shaw finished with a .373 wOBA against righties last year, he could continue his success against Hendricks on Thursday.

Miguel Sano vs. Jordan Montgomery, New York Yankees
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel  = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,000

It’s been all or nothing for Sano in the early going, hitting five home runs but striking out 32 times in 18 games. He’s going to need to cut down on his strikeouts to improve his .211 average, but his .286 BABIP is also well below his career mark of .358. He posted an impressive .408 wOBA against lefties last year, so this might be the day to take a chance on putting him in your lineup.

Others to consider: Mike Moustakas and Rafael Devers

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/26/18

Didi Gregorius vs. Kyle Gibson, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $5,100
DraftKings = $5,000

Gregorius is one of the hottest hitters in baseball, homering in four straight games. You really couldn’t have asked for a better start as he leads the American League in batting average (.372) and RBI (29) to go along with nine home runs. He hits in a prime spot in the order behind Aaron Judge and in front of Giancarlo Stanton and Gary Sanchez, so he is going to get plenty of chances to both drive in and score runs. Don’t hesitate to keep riding his hot streak Thursday.

Eduardo Escobar vs. Jordan Montgomery, New York Yankees
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,400

The Twins lineup overall this season has been terrible, tied for the second-fewest runs scored in baseball. Escobar is one of their few hitters off to a good start though, batting .306 with two home runs and eight doubles. His .362 BABIP is well above his .299 career mark, so he is a candidate for regression as the season wears on. However, with at least two hits in three of his last six games, he’s a viable option if you want to save a few bucks at shortstop Thursday.

Others to consider: Manny Machado and Eduardo Nunez

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/26/18

Kyle Schwarber vs. Chase Anderson, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Wrigley Field
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,700

Schwarber hit 30 home runs last year and continues to show excellent power with six home runs in 20 games this season. He’s batting a surprisingly high .288, which is helped by his .317 BABIP that is well above his career mark of .266. He still finished with a .343 wOBA against righties last year despite his struggles overall, making him a viable option that has home run upside Thursday.

Aaron Hicks vs. Kyle Gibson, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $3,800

The Yankees outfield is loaded with Judge, Stanton and Brett Gardner, but Hicks has established himself as the everyday center fielder, often pushing Stanton to DH. He was limited to only 88 games last year due to injury, but he still managed to finish with career bests in batting average (.266) and home runs (15). Injuries have limited him to just 11 games this year as well, but he’s hitting .270 with an excellent .426 OBP. The switch-hitting Hicks will bat from the left side against Gibson on Thursday, who allowed a .358 wOBA to lefties last year.

Ender Inciarte vs. Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,000

Inciarte enters Thursday having recorded at least two hits in four straight games. He isn’t off to a great start with just a .276 average, but he has added value hitting leadoff for a Braves lineup that is tied for the fourth-most runs scored in baseball. He doesn’t have much power upside, but the added at-bats and potential for runs scored makes him a cheaper option to consider in tournament play.

Others to consider: Aaron Judge and Jarrod Dyson

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/25/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/25/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

Games will be spread throughout the day Wednesday, leaving fewer options than normal if you are playing the 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 4/25/18

Clayton Kershaw vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $11,400
DraftKings = 14,000

Kershaw is well on his way to another dominant season. Although he is only 1-3 through five starts, he has a sparkling 2.45 ERA and 0.87 WHIP. His strikeouts are slightly down at 9.5 K/9, but with a K/9 of at least 10.4 in four straight seasons, don’t expect that to be a trend that continues much longer. He has also shown impeccable control with a 0.8 BB/9 and throwing a first-pitch strike to 70% of the batters that he has faced. He’s an excellent option regardless of opponent, but he gets an extremely favorable matchup against a Marlins offense that has hit the fewest home runs (14) and has the third-lowest batting average (.223) in baseball.

Jake Faria vs. Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $5,900
DraftKings = $6,300

The Rays and Orioles were rained out Tuesday, pushing Faria’s start to Wednesday. His 5.82 ERA and 1.59 WHIP this season don’t exactly look appealing, but a lot of that was due to him giving up eight earned runs in 1.2 innings against the Red Sox during his second start of the season. He’s been much better outside of that outing, allowing three earned runs across 15.1 innings in his other starts. He has also shown some strikeout upside, registering at least six of them in back-to-back starts. The Orioles have the lowest batting average (.215) in baseball, so Faria might be worth the risk in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/25/18

Cody Bellinger vs. Trevor Richards, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,500

Bellinger isn’t exactly on fire right now, hitting 2-for-16 in his last five games. However, his two hits were a double and a home run and he also drew three walks during that stretch. He only has three home runs this season overall, but he’s batted a respectable .271. Bellinger had a .383 wOBA against right-handers last year, so facing Richards and his 1.68 WHIP might be just what he needs to start a hot streak.

Matt Olson vs. Doug Fister, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $4,300

Olson hit for a ton of power in 59 games last year, finishing with a .651 slugging percentage. His 40.3% hard-hit rate was excellent and has been even better this season at 50%. He only has three home runs to show for it, but that shouldn’t last for long if he keeps hitting the ball with this kind of authority. He had a 181 wRC+ against righties last year, leaving him with excellent upside against Fister, who doesn’t have an overpowering pitch arsenal.

Others to consider: Joey Gallo (first base) and Yasmani Grandal (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/25/18

Jed Lowrie vs. Doug Fister, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,600

At this point, the only reason not to play Lowrie in DFS is if you can’t fit his price tag into your entry. He already has 12 multi-hit games this season and is batting .363 with six home runs and eight doubles. The Athletics have had one of the most potent offenses in baseball in the early going and Lowrie’s success in a big reason why. He also has a .344 average in 33 career plate appearances against Fister, so he makes a lot of sense again Wednesday.

Joey Wendle vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,200

Wendle is not a big home run hitter, but he did have a career .288 batting average in 641 games in the minors. He’s getting a chance to play every day for the rebuilding Rays and is off to a hot start, hitting .304 with a .385 OBP. His 40.5% hard-hit rate is probably unsustainable, so he may experience some regression as the league gets more familiar with how to pitch to him. Cobb has a horrible 15.43 ERA and 3.14 WHIP through his first two starts, so Wendle might be able to provide value.

Others to consider: Brock Holt and Chase Utley

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/25/18

Mike Moustakas vs. Jhoulys Chacin, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,300

The Royals have one of the worst lineups in baseball despite bringing back Moustakas, who hit a career-high 38 home runs last year. He certainly hasn’t been the problem, batting .307 with six home runs and five doubles so far. He had a .353 wOBA against right-handers last year and is at .470 against them so far in 2018, leaving him as a great option to consider for your entry.

Jeimer Candelario vs. Chad Kuhl, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = NA

Candelario has been one of the better hitters this season for the rebuilding Tigers, hitting .277 with three home runs, 10 RBI, and a .355 OBP. Kuhl’s 4.57 ERA this year is not terrible, but he’s allowed way too many baserunners with a 1.62 WHIP. That’s been a trend for him throughout his career with a WHIP of  1.44 in 249.2 innings. He also allowed a .376 wOBA to left-handed hitters last year, which is good news for the switch-hitting Candelario on Wednesday.

Others to consider: Travis Shaw and Rafael Devers

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/25/18

Manny Machado vs. Jake Faria, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $4,800

Machado is looking to put his .259 batting average from last year firmly in the rearview mirror, hitting .360 out of the gates this season. His power numbers haven’t suffered either with eight home runs and seven doubles through 23 games. Most of his struggles came on the road last season, hitting .229 compared to .288 at home. Although I think using Faria in tournament play is a viable option based on the Orioles lineup as a whole, Machado could give him problems.

Corey Seager vs. Trevor Richards, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,400

Seager is not off to a good start this season with a .241 average and just one home run. He has a .275 BABIP and his 35.7% hard-hit rate is well below his career mark, which has been a big reason for his struggles. Richards isn’t a strikeout pitcher though and Seager did have a .353 wOBA against righties last year, so don’t be surprised if he busts out of his funk Wednesday.

Others to consider: Paul DeJong and Adeiny Hechavarria

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/25/18

Christian Yelich vs. Jason Hammel, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,600

Yelich has been limited to only 12 games this season due to injury, but he’s performed well in limited action with a .319 average and two home runs. He continues to show an excellent eye at the plate with a .407 OBP after posting an OBP of at least .362 in every season of his career. He finished with a 123 wRC+ last year against righties compared to just 94 against lefties, so he could be in line for a valuable performance against Hammel.

Denard Span vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,500

Span is off to a very unlikely start, driving in 17 runs in 18 games. Last year he had only 43 RBI in 129 games for the Giants. He has mostly batted leadoff this season, with the extra at-bats giving him a boost in DFS. He’s not going to keep up with this RBI pace, but he’s a viable option to consider Tuesday against the struggling Cobb.

Matt Joyce vs. Doug Fister, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,500

Joyce is one of those cheap options you want to target when he’s facing a right-handed pitcher. He has just a 62 wRC+ against lefties in his career, but a 123 wRC+ against righties. Fister allowed a .365 wOBA to lefties last year, so make sure to take advantage of the budget savings that Joyce can provide.

Others to consider: Tommy Pham and Shin-Soo Choo