After a night of terrible pitching options Monday, there is no shortage of aces Tuesday. Quality hitters are bountiful, as well, which makes things interesting.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/5/2019
There will be no shortage of action Monday with 12 games making up the main evening slate in DFS. Let’s try to start the week off on a high note by discussing some players who could help you emerge with some extra cash in your pocket.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/16/2019
There’s no shortage of options Tuesday with all 15 games included in the main evening DFS slate.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/3/2019
We have another hectic night in the majors Wednesday with 14 games making up the main slate in DFS. Highlighted by a potentially high-scoring game between the Astros and Rockies at Coors Field, scoring shouldn’t be that hard to come by.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/13/2019
There are only two afternoon games Thursday, leaving nine games for the main evening slate in DFS.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/23/2019
We have an odd slate in the majors Thursday with only two games starting after 6 PM EST. Keeping that in mind, let’s break down the early DFS slate that encompasses six games.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/25/2019
Scoring might be hard to come by for Thursday’s five-game evening slate in DFS with so many top pitchers set to take the mound. There are still a couple of stacks to take advantage of, but they figure to have high ownership percentages based on the limited options.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/24/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout
Friday brings a full slate of action across the majors, but the evening is generally lacking elite starting pitching options for DFS. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
STARTING PITCHERS
Mike Foltynewicz vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $10,500
DraftKings = $11,100
Foltynewicz has had a breakout campaign for the Braves, posting a 2.72 ERA, 3.38 FIP, and a 1.15 WHIP. He’s only allowed 14 home runs across 139 innings and has a 10.4 K/9, making him a consistent source for production. He’s been even better of late, allowing six runs (four earned) and recording 28 strikeouts over 26.2 innings in his last four starts. One of those came against these same Marlins when he allowed one run and recorded seven strikeouts over eight innings. With the Marlins inability to score runs, Foltynewicz has tremendous upside Friday.
Rich Hill vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $8,800
DraftKings = $9,800
Hill battled ineffectiveness and injury earlier this season, but he’s turned things around with a 2.92 ERA, 3.58 FIP, and a 1.14 WHIP since July 1. He chipped in 9.5 K/9 during that stretch while also logging at least six innings in six of his eight starts. This lines up as a great matchup for Hill as not only have the Padres scored the fifth-fewest runs (496) in baseball, but they have also struck out the second-most times (1,221).
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Ryan Zimmerman vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $5,100
Zimmerman was one of the more surprising success stories in baseball last year, batting .303 with 36 home runs and 108 RBI. One of the keys to his success was his ability to stay healthy, playing in at least 140 games for the first time since 2013. He hasn’t had the same luck this season, logging only 56 games so far. He is coming on strong down the stretch, though, batting .360 with six home runs and 17 RBI across his last 15 games.
Yuli Gurriel vs. Andrew Heaney, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,000
Heaney’s season has taken a turn for the worse with a 6.46 ERA and 1.39 WHIP over four starts in August. He’s already thrown 140 innings this season after throwing less than 50 combined innings in the minors and majors last year, so he might be wearing down. Gurriel will look to take advantage of Heaney’s struggles considering his .364 wOBA against left-handed pitchers.
Others to consider: Carlos Santana (first base) and Victor Martinez (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Brian Dozier vs. Clayton Richard, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,300
Speaking of pitchers who have struggled recently, Richard has a 6.94 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP since July 1. He’s been much better at home this season with a 3.94 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP, but he has a bloated 6.28 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP on the road. The Dodgers will likely be a popular stack Friday with Dozier providing a quality option at a reasonable price on both sites.
Neil Walker vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,600
The Yankees hitters are dropping like flies, making the addition of Walker in the offseason an extremely important move. He can play multiple positions and currently is expected to fill in at second base while Gleyber Torres shifts over to shortstop. His overall numbers this season aren’t great, but Walker is batting .307 with four home runs and 15 RBI over his last 24 games. He’s had more success against righties, as well, making him someone to consider in tournament play.
Others to consider: Jed Lowrie and Ian Kinsler
THIRD BASE
Justin Turner vs. Clayton Richard, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,800
Turner is firing on all cylinders right now, batting .391 with a .481 OBP in August. He had five home runs and eight doubles for the season entering the month but he has hit four homers and seven doubles since. He also mashes left-handed pitching, posting a 186 wRC+ against them this season.
Todd Frazier vs. Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $4,500
Frazier is one of the many players on the Mets who has battled injuries, limiting him to only 82 games. His .233 average seems poor, but it’s actually his highest mark since 2015. He’s also been a much better hitter of late, batting .323 with four home runs and five doubles in his last 17 games. Gonzalez has allowed at least five runs in four of his last six starts and has a 1.55 WHIP overall, potentially setting up Fraizer to continue his recent run of success.
Others to consider: Anthony Rendon and Alex Bregman
SHORTSTOP
Manny Machado vs. Clayton Richard, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $4,800
Machado hasn’t played well by his standards since joining the Dodgers, batting .275 with a .816 OPS. By comparison, he hit .315 with a .963 OPS with the Orioles. He may have just needed an adjustment period as he is batting .324 with three home runs over his last eight games. He has a .382 wOBA against lefties this year, making him another Dodger to target against Richard.
Willy Adames vs. Hector Velazquez, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,900
Velazquez has mostly pitched in relief for the Red Sox, but he’ll make another start Friday with Chris Sale still on the DL. His 2.74 ERA this season looks good, but his 4.33 FIP and 1.39 WHIP indicate he is not pitching nearly that well. Adames has settled in nicely to regular playing time, batting .348 with a .989 OPS in August.
Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Marcus Semien
OUTFIELD
Khris Davis vs. Jake Odorizzi, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,300
Davis went deep again Thursday, marking his fifth home run over his last five games and 39th on the season overall. When he’s on one of these types of streaks, it makes a lot of sense to keep rolling with him in your lineup. It also helps his cause that Odorizzi has a 5.29 ERA over his last seven outings.
Greg Allen vs. Brad Keller, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,800
Allen hasn’t hit for much power in the minors, but he did bat .298 with a .395 OBP at Triple-A this year. He’s become an important part of the Indians outfield lately, batting .341 with eight runs scored and five stolen bases across his last 13 games. He’s proven to be a much better hitter against righties, giving him a chance to provide value at this cheap price in tournament play.
Jim Adduci vs. Reynaldo Lopez, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,500
At 33 years old, Adduci is certainly not one of the young up and coming players in the Tigers system. He’s still played well when given the opportunity this season, especially of late as he is batting .352 in August. Lopez has allowed at least four runs in five of his last seven starts and has given up plenty of baserunners this season overall with a 1.39 WHIP. At his dirt cheap price on both sites, Adduci might be a risk worth taking Friday. Of note, he is only eligible at outfield on FanDuel as he is listed at first base on DraftKings.
Others to consider: Ronald Acuna Jr. and Stephen Piscotty
MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 21
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout
If you are playing in a head-to-head fantasy league, using starting pitchers that have two starts in a week can give you a significant edge over your opponent. Here are some starters who will each start two games in the week ahead that you should either target or avoid for your lineup.
Starters With Favorable Matchups
Mike Clevinger, Cleveland Indians: at CIN, vs. BAL
The Indians starting rotation is so deep that Clevinger often gets lost behind Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer, and Carlos Carrasco. His contributions should not go unnoticed, though, considering his 3.38 ERA that is backed by a 3.35 FIP. After issuing at least 4.4 BB/9 in both of his first two seasons, Clevinger has a much improved 2.8 BB/9 this year. He’s also allowed just 13 home runs across 146.2 innings. He won’t have to deal with the DH pitching at Cincinnati in his first start of Week 21. The Reds haven’t been hitting well of late either, averaging 3.5 runs over their last 10 games. The Orioles and their stripped-down lineup also present a favorable matchup in his second start, potentially setting up Clevinger for a valuable week.
J.A. Happ, New York Yankees: vs. TB, vs. TOR
Happ has pitched well since joining the Yankees, allowing four runs and recording 11 strikeouts across 12 innings. Desperate for help in their rotation, Happ could be a key addition for the Yankees down the stretch. His 4.07 ERA overall doesn’t exactly stand out, but he has a 1.14 WHIP and a 10.1 K/9. He also had a 5.22 ERA pitching in the Rogers Centre this year, so a move out of Toronto could provide a boost to his value. The Rays are in the bottom-third of baseball in runs scored and the Blue Jays lineup isn’t exactly all that imposing either, making Happ a great option for Week 21.
Anibal Sanchez, Atlanta Braves: vs. MIA, vs. COL
Sanchez left his last outing early after getting hit on the calf, but he’s expected to be fine for his next start Tuesday. Sanchez finished with an ERA of 4.99 or higher in each of the last three seasons with the Tigers, but he’s been much improved with the Braves. While it will be hard for him to maintain his current 2.83 ERA, his FIP is still strong at 3.73. One of the main reasons for his success has been cutting back on allowing home runs. He allowed 1.7 HR/9 or more in each of his previous three seasons but has only allowed 1.0 HR/9 this year. His first start against the Marlins is a great matchup since they have scored the second-fewest runs (444) in baseball. The Rockies are more dangerous, but they only have a .689 OPS on the road.
Blaine Hardy, Detroit Tigers: vs. CWS, at MIN
After pitching out of the bullpen for his entire career, Hardy has been given a chance to start this year. He’s made 12 starts over 22 appearances, posting a 3.63 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP overall. He’s shown good control by issuing just 2.3 BB/9, but he doesn’t have much strikeout upside with a 6.5 K/9. That being said, you might be able to squeeze some value out of him. The White Sox and Twins both struggle to score runs and are in the bottom third of baseball in OPS against left-handed pitching. In two previous starts against the White Sox, Hardy allowed two runs over 12.1 innings. He’s had similar success against the Twins, giving up four runs across 11 innings in two outings. Hardy is still available in 97% of Yahoo! leagues.
Starters to Avoid
Marco Gonzales, Seattle Mariners: at OAK, vs. LAD
Gonzales has pitched well in first extended look in the majors, posting a 3.79 ERA, 3.59 FIP, and a 1.20 WHIP. He only has a 7.9 K/9, but he’s shown excellent control with a 1.6 BB/9. He did allow seven runs in his last start against the Rangers, marking the third time in his last nine outings that he allowed at least five runs. The A’s and Dodgers both have deep lineups that can score a lot of runs, which could prove troublesome for Gonzales. With his lack of strikeout upside, this might be the week to put him on your bench.
Nick Pivetta, Philadelphia Phillies: vs. BOS, vs. NYM
Pivetta has been a tremendous source for strikeouts with an 11.1 K/9. His 4.51 ERA doesn’t entirely paint an accurate picture of his performance, either, based on his 3.47 FIP. His WHIP is also down from 1.51 last year to 1.28 this season. However, he can tend to give up runs in bunches, which could be disastrous against the Red Sox. His second start against the Mets is extremely favorable, but the damage might have already been done to his week by the time he gets there.
Ryan Borucki, Toronto Blue Jays: at KC, at NYY
Borucki has a 2.81 ERA across eight starts for the Blue Jays, but his 1.38 WHIP doesn’t inspire much confidence. He’s allowed just one home run over 48 innings, so his ERA could increase quickly if he can’t continue to keep hitters inside the park. Don’t count on him for many strikeouts, either, based on his 6.0 K/9. His first matchup this week against the Royals is certainly in his favor. While he did hold the Yankees to one run across even innings previously, it’s important to note that game was in Toronto. The Yankees have a .739 OPS on the road but a much better .834 OPS at home. The start against the Royals makes him an enticing streaming option, but I don’t think he’s worth the risk against the Yankees.
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/6/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout
Baseball kicks off the week with 10 evening games Monday, leaving plenty of quality options to choose from in DFS. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
STARTING PITCHERS
Cole Hamels vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $8,500
DraftKings = $9,000
Hamels being traded to the Cubs should provide a significant boost to his value. He was terrible pitching at home for the Rangers, posting a 6.41 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP across 10 starts. He has a 2.69 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP over his other 11 starts outside of Globe Life Park in Arlington. The move to the National League helps, as well, since he will get to avoid the DH. He will have to navigate the DH playing in Kansas City on Monday, but the Royals have scored the fewest runs (413) in the league.
Matthew Boyd vs. Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angels Stadium
FanDuel = $7,600
DraftKings = $7,600
Boyd closed out July on a high note, allowing three runs and recording 20 strikeouts over 19 innings in his last three starts. Two of those starts came against the Royals and the Reds, but one was against the potent Red Sox lineup. Boyd has been aided by a .264 opponents’ BABIP this season, but his 4.22 ERA is actually slightly higher than his 3.84 FIP indicates that it should be. He does have a respectable 8.2 K/9 and can provide value in the right matchup, which could be the case Monday since the Angels have the third lowest OPS against lefties (.656) in baseball.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Anthony Rizzo vs. Jakob Junis, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,800
The Cubs have been hitting Rizzo leadoff lately and the move has paid off as he’s batting .370 with a .458 OBP in that spot of the order. He’s also slugged six home runs, helping to boost his total to 17 for the season. While he may have a hard time hitting at least 30 homers for the fifth straight season, he could still be in line for a big finish to the season. Lefties have held Rizzo to a .266 wOBA this year, but he’s a great option against Junis since he has a .374 wOBA against right-handed pitchers.
Jose Martinez vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $4,000
Martinez has found himself on the bench more often than not lately because he is a defensive liability. However, with Dexter Fowler and Tyler O’Neill injured, he’s going to see some time in the outfield moving forward. He can hit, posting a .298 average and a .462 slugging percentage. Chen has allowed a .374 wOBA to righties this year, making Martinez a cost-effective option with upside.
Others to consider: Jose Abreu (first base) and J.T. Realmuto (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Javier Baez vs. Jakob Junis, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $5,500
Baez is showing no signs of slowing down, batting .362 with five home runs, five doubles and 14 RBI over his last 16 games. He’s already set new career-highs in home runs and RBI and is making a case to be named the NL MVP. Don’t worry about him not having the platoon advantage against Junis because Baez has a .376 wOBA against righties.
Ben Zobrist vs. Jakob Junis, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,700
Zobrist only hit .232 last year, but he was dragged down by an abnormally low .251 BABIP. He’s been on the opposite end of the spectrum this season with a .335 BABIP, leading to a .310 batting average. He’s in line for some regression, but that might not start Monday considering his .391 wOBA against right-handed pitchers.
Others to consider: Gleyber Torres and Neil Walker
THIRD BASE
Jurickson Profar vs. Wade LeBlanc, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,700
LeBlanc has hit a bit of a rough patch, posting a 6.11 ERA across his last five starts. He has a 3.50 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP at home overall but has had issues on the road with a 4.57 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. Profar is finally getting a chance to play every day and is swinging a hot bat right now as he is 22-for-72 (.306) with 14 runs and 12 RBI over his last 21 games. He’s also excelled with a .361 wOBA against left-handed pitchers this season.
Jedd Gyorko vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,000
Gyorko slugged 30 home runs over 400 at-bats in 2016 but followed that up with only 20 homers across 426 at-bats last year. His power numbers have continued to regress this year with just eight homers in 246 at-bats. However, his 181 wRC+ against lefties still makes him someone to consider in tournament play at this cheap price.
Others to consider: Miguel Andujar and Maikel Franco
SHORTSTOP
Didi Gregorius vs. Dylan Covey, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $5,100
Gregorius’ batting average is down this year, but his walk rate has almost doubled at 8.1%. He’s already reached the 20-homer plateau for the third-straight year and his 10 steals are a new career best. He’s more deadly at Yankee Stadium, but he could still put up big numbers Monday considering Covey’s 5.57 ERA and 1.57 WHIP.
Jean Segura vs. Martin Perez, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,600
Perez was initially slated to start Sunday against the Orioles, but he was pushed back a day in favor of Drew Hutchinson. That’s good news for the Mariners since Perez has an unsightly 6.50 ERA and a 1.97 WHIP. He’s allowed 10 home runs in only 45.2 innings and doesn’t miss many bats with a 5.9 K/9. Segura might not carry the greatest home run upside, but he’s batting .309 and could be on base plenty in this game.
Others to consider: Trevor Story and Elvis Andrus
OUTFIELD
Nelson Cruz vs. Martin Perez, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $5,200
Cruz is on another power surge, slugging four home runs in his last five games to bring his total to 29 for the season. He’s been one of the most consistent power hitters in baseball, hitting at least 39 home runs in four straight seasons. With Perez’s propensity to give up the long ball, Cruz is someone to build your lineup around.
Jason Heyward vs. Jakob Junis, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,000
Heyward isn’t exactly knocking the cover off the ball, but he’s made significant strides this season to bat .283 with a .347 OBP. He has a career-low 11.7% strikeout rate and his 31.8% hard-hit rate is his highest mark since 2012. Junis has allowed a .360 wOBA against left-handed hitters, making Heyward a viable option at his reasonable price on both sites.
Harrison Bader vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $3,800
Bader was already starting to see more playing time after Tommy Pham was traded to the Rays, but the injuries to Fowler and O’Neill is going to leave him with all the starts he can handle. He has a promising mix of power and speed, finishing with 20 home runs and 15 steals at Triple-A in 2017. He’s only gone deep six times with the Cardinals this year, but he’s flashed his speed with 11 steals and is batting a respectable .271. If you want to take a chance on a cheap outfielder in tournament play, Bader could provide value against Chen.
Others to consider: Kyle Schwarber and Mitch Haniger