MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/3/18

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

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STARTING PITCHERS

Zach Eflin vs. Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $9,100
DraftKings = $9,900

Eflin made just 11 starts for the Phillies last year and didn’t pitch well with a 6.16 ERA and a 6.10 FIP. A lot of his struggles can be attributed to his 1.42 WHIP and 2.2 HR/9. He also didn’t help his cause with a lowly 4.9 K/9. However, he seems to have put those issues behind him with an excellent first half that resulted in a 3.02 ERA and a 2.86 FIP across 10 starts. He’s cut his WHIP down to 1.13 and has allowed only four home runs in 55.2 innings. His average fastball velocity is up from 93.7 mph last year to 95.1 mph this season to go along with a career-high 10.5% swinging-strike rate, helping him post a 9.1 K/9. The Orioles have scored the second-fewest runs (305) in baseball and won’t have the use of the DH in Philadelphia, making Eflin one of the better pitching options available for the night.

Chris Bassitt vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $7,000
DraftKings = $6,300

Bassitt hadn’t pitched in the big leagues since 2016 and even that year he only made five appearances. His last significant stretch in the majors came in 2015 when he finished with a 3.56 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP in 18 outings, 13 of which were starts. The Athletics have dealt with multiple injuries to their starters this season, leaving Bassitt with another chance to join their rotation. He’s had mixed results in four starts, but he’s also been done in by the Athletics defense as five of the 12 runs he has allowed have been unearned. He handled two bad offenses in the Royals and Tigers, allowing just one run and recording 11 strikeouts across 13 innings. The Padres have scored the fifth-fewest runs (321) in baseball, leaving Bassitt as someone to consider in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

Brandon Belt vs. Antonio Senzatela, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $5,500

After a hot start to the season, Belt cooled off in June by hitting .226 with two home runs. A lot of that had to do with his .238 BABIP. Even with his slump, he’s still hitting .295 with 13 homers for the season overall. He has a .419 wOBA against right-handed pitchers this year and gets the benefit of hitting in Coors Field on Tuesday, so this could be just the matchup he needs to start another hot streak.

Yan Gomes vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,200

Duffy can be tough to hit when he’s on top of his game, evident by the fact that he has allowed one or no runs in three of his last four starts. The problem is when he’s off, he’s really off as he has allowed at least five earned runs in a game six times this season. Gomes is 9-for-23 (.391) with two home runs against Duffy in his career and hits lefties well in general, making him a cost-effective option with upside.

Others to consider: Edwin Encarnacion (first base) and Carlos Santana (first base)

SECOND BASE

Joe Panik vs. Antonio Senzatela, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,400

Coors Field sure makes it hard for the Rockies to develop young starting pitchers. Senzatela has put up impressive numbers as a starter in the minors, but he’s struggled with the Rockies this year with a 6.23 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP in 10 relief appearances. Panik only has a .223 wOBA against lefties this year, but he’s a great option against Senzatela considering his .345 wOBA against righties.

Joey Wendle vs. Trevor Richards, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $3,000

Wendle sits against lefties. but should be in the lineup against the right-handed Richards. Richards’ 3.90 FIP indicates he hasn’t pitched as bad as his 5.06 ERA would lead you to believe, but he’s allowed a ton of baserunners with a 1.48 WHIP. Wendle doesn’t have much power upside with only two home runs, but if you want to go really cheap at second base in tournament play, he is someone to consider.

Others to consider: Scooter Gennett and Yoan Moncada

THIRD BASE

Max Muncy vs. Ivan Nova, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,700

Muncy hit another home run Monday, leaving him 11-for-33 (.333) with five homes in his last 10 games. He’s been one of the biggest surprises in all of baseball this season as he didn’t even play in the majors in 2017 and entered 2018 with only five career home runs. With his recent run of success, he is now batting .271 with 18 long balls. Look for him to keep things rolling against Nova, who doesn’t have an overpowering arsenal by any means with a 6.7 K/9 for his career.

Adrian Beltre vs. Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,800

Hamstring injuries have limited Beltre to only 54 games this year. It may also have something to do with his power drought as he only has four home runs. He still has a .309 average, though, and is drawing walks with a .373 OBP. He has a .376 wOBA against lefties so far and is 21-for-68 (.309) with two home runs and seven doubles against Keuchel in his career, so he has some upside at this price.

Others to consider: Jose Ramirez and Jed Lowrie

SHORTSTOP

Francisco Lindor vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $5,700

Lindor launched two homers Monday, marking his third-straight game with a home run and his third multi-hit game in his last four contests. The AL MVP race is loaded with great candidates, but Lindor should also be towards the top of the list since he is hitting .298 with 23 home runs, 55 RBI, and 73 runs scored. He has crushed lefties with a 185 wRC+ this year and should be a part of any Indians stack against Duffy.

Elvis Andrus vs. Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,900

Andrus missed over two months with an elbow injury and got off to a slow start when he did finally return. However, he’s shown signs of turning things around by hitting 8-for-29 (.276) across his current five-game hitting streak. He finished with a wOBA against lefties of at least .357 in both of the last two seasons and is someone to consider if you can’t make Lindor’s high salary work with your entry.

Others to consider: Brandon Crawford and Marcus Semien

OUTFIELD

Rhys Hoskins vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $5,200

Cobb has allowed at least five runs in three of his last four starts and seven times this season overall. His first year with the Orioles has been a disaster overall with a 6.75 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP. Hoskins has rebounded from his slow start to hit at least one home run in four of his last eight games. Considering all the baserunners Cobb allows, Hoskins could have plenty of opportunities to drive in runs in this game.

Scott Schebler vs. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,300

Giolito has been as bad as Cobb, recording a 6.59 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP in 16 starts. He’s allowed as many walks as he has strikeouts and has given up 13 home runs in only 84.2 innings. Lefties have posted a .397 wOBA against him, setting up Schebler with the potential for a big performance. Schebler not only has 11 home runs this season, but his .283 batting average and .357 OBP are both career highs.

Mark Canha vs. Clayton Richard, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,700

When a lefty is on the mound, it’s time to target Canha. He’s having a nice season overall with a .255 average and 10 home runs, but he is crushing left-handed pitching with a .422 wOBA. Eight of his 10 homers have come off lefties as well.

Others to consider: Ronald Acuna Jr. and Avisail Garcia