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 8/21/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout
Tuesday brings a packed slate in the majors with all 15 games included in the main contests for DFS. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
STARTING PITCHERS
Blake Snell vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $9,600
DraftKings = $11,500
The Rays have brought Snell back slowly since being activated from the DL. He’s been on a pitch count, but he threw 76 pitchers in his last start against the Yankees, so he should be close to full-go Tuesday. He’s having a spectacular season with a 2.10 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP across 23 starts. Luck has been somewhat on his side with opponents posting just a .233 BABIP against him, but his 13.5% swinging-strike rate has led to a career-high 10.1 K/9. The Royals have scored the fewest runs (459) in baseball, potentially setting up Snell for another dominant outing.
Tyler Anderson vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $6,600
DraftKings = $6,900
Anderson hasn’t been pitching at his best lately, allowing 21 runs over 20.1 innings in his last four starts. It’s no coincidence that three of those outings came on the road. Anderson has thrived pitching at Coors Field, posting a 3.47 ERA there compared to a 5.37 ERA on the road. He had similar splits last year with a 5.44 ERA on the road and a 4.14 ERA at home. The Padres struggle to score runs and have the second-most strikeouts (1,190) in the league, leaving Anderson with upside in tournament play.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Jesus Aguilar vs. Sal Romano, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $5,200
Aguilar had his worst month of the season in July, batting only .202 for the month. He’s righted the ship in August, batting .308 with a .446 OBP across 17 games. He’s finally received everyday playing time this year and he’s taken full advantage of his opportunity, batting .283 with 29 home runs. Romano has allowed 1.5 HR/9 this season, so Aguilar is a threat to go deep again in this contest.
Ji-Man Choi vs. Glenn Sparkman, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $3,800
Choi went 1-for-2 with two walks Monday to extend his current hitting streak to eight games. He’s shown some power over that stretch, as well, with two home runs and three doubles. Choi also has a .358 wOBA against right-handed pitchers overall, making him a viable option at this cheap price against Sparkman and his 1.55 WHIP.
Others to consider: Matt Olson (first base) and Buster Posey (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Travis Shaw vs. Sal Romano, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,600
Shaw cashed in a prime matchup against Homer Bailey on Monday, finishing the game 1-for-3 with a home run. Shaw’s only batting .247 this season, but he now has 25 homers and is well on his way to hitting at least 30 for the second straight season. With his .376 wOBA against righties, he’s another Brewer to target for your lineup.
Jonathan Villar vs. Sam Gaviglio, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,800
When the Brewers loaded up in their infield to make a run at the playoffs, Villar was jettisoned to the Orioles. The Orioles found themselves extremely thin in their infield after trading away Manny Machado and Jonathan Schoop, leaving Villar with a clear path to an everyday role. He hasn’t exactly excelled, but he is hitting .269 with a .347 OBP since joining the Orioles. He has plenty of speed and swiped two bases on Monday. Gaviglio allows a lot of baserunners with his 1.46 WHIP and Blue Jays’ catcher Danny Jansen has allowed nine stolen bases in six games since being called up from the minors, leaving Villar as an intriguing option.
Others to consider: Jeff McNeil and Joey Wendle
THIRD BASE
Nolan Arenado vs. Robbie Erlin, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $5,700
Erlin has pitched mostly out of the bullpen this season, but he’s started in each of his last three outings. He has a 3.33 ERA and a 3.12 FIP overall this year, but he doesn’t have an overpowering arsenal with just a 6.7 K/9 for his career. Arenado has a staggering 231 wRC+ against lefties this year, so don’t hesitate to pay up for his services.
Evan Longoria vs. Steven Matz, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,500
Longoria’s been limited to 90 games due to injuries in his first season with the Giants and he hasn’t played well when healthy, posting a .282 OBP and a .699 OPS. Most of his struggles have come against righties, who he has a .268 wOBA against. He’s had much more success versus lefties, though, with a .359 wOBA.
Others to consider: Mike Moustakas and Matt Chapman
SHORTSTOP
Trevor Story vs. Robbie Erlin, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $5,800
Story hasn’t exactly struggled on the road this season with a .275 average and a .780 OPS. However, he’s been out of this world hitting in Coors Field with a .316 average and a 1.048 OPS. Considering he also has a .431 wOBA against left-handed pitchers and both he and Arenado could do plenty of damage Tuesday.
Marcus Semien vs. Ariel Jurado, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,200
Jurado’s first taste of action in the majors has not gone well. He’s only made five starts, but he has a 6.41 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. Just as concerning is that he only has 11 strikeouts across 26.2 innings. He only had a 5.1 K/9 at Double-A this season before being recalled, so don’t expect him to suddenly start striking out a lot of hitters. Semien could provide value at this cheap price, especially since he is hitting .405 with three home runs and three doubles over his last nine games.
Others to consider: Xander Bogaerts and Amed Rosario
OUTFIELD
Khris Davis vs. Ariel Jurado, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $5,100
Here we go again. Davis went deep Monday after hitting two home runs Sunday. When he’s hot, he can hit home runs in bunches. He’s slugged 37 homers this season and while his excellent power numbers are nothing new, his .261 batting average would be his highest mark in any season where he played at least 100 games.
Lorenzo Cain vs. Sal Romano, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,600
Cain doesn’t have much home run upside, but he enters Tuesday with a .304 average and a .396 OBP. He’s already swiped 24 bases, three of which have come across his last four games. Not only does Romano have a hard time keeping hitters inside the park, but he’s had difficulty keeping men off base, in general, with a 1.45 WHIP.
Stephen Piscotty vs. Ariel Jurado, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $2,100
DraftKings = $3,500
Piscotty is starting to heat up again as he is 10-for-33 (.303) with a home run and five doubles over his last eight games. His .255 batting average this season doesn’t jump off the page, but he’s provided power with 16 homers and 34 doubles. He has almost even splits versus lefties and righties this year, so he might be worth the risk at this very cheap price even though he doesn’t have the platoon advantage facing Jurado.
Others to consider: A.J. Pollock and Christian Yelich
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/12/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
July special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout
Only seven games make up the main evening slate in DFS on Thursday, but the night is loaded with pitching as Max Scherzer, Corey Kluber, Luis Severino, Blake Snell and James Paxton are all scheduled to start. 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
Max Scherzer vs. New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $12,000
DraftKings = $13,300
Scherzer had a subpar performance by his standards in his last start against the Marlins, allowing four runs in seven innings. He gave up three home runs and only recorded three strikeouts. He has allowed 0.9 HR/9 and has a 12.5 K/9 for the season overall, so don’t read too much into one bad outing. After winning the Cy Young award in both of the last two seasons, he’s going for three straight with his 2.33 ERA, 2.60 FIP, and 0.89 WHIP. The Mets have scored the third-fewest runs (347) in baseball, setting Scherzer up for a potentially dominant outing.
Steven Matz vs. Washington Nationals
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $7,800
DraftKings = $5,900
With so many aces taking the mound Thursday, there is no shortage of top options. However, if you want to go the cheap route, Matz is someone to consider. He has allowed three earned runs or fewer in eight of his last nine starts, lowering his ERA to 3.31 overall. He had problems keeping runners off base last year with a 1.53 WHIP, but he has made significant progress this season with a 1.23 WHIP. His strikeouts are back up as well with an 8.1 K/9. The Nationals lineup had a couple of good games recently against the Marlins, but have scored four runs or fewer in nine of their last 12 games. The Mets probably won’t be able to get him a win facing off against Scherzer, but that doesn’t mean Matz can’t provide value.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Jesus Aguilar vs. Jameson Taillon, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $4,800
Aguilar racked up three more hits Wednesday and is now 25-for-72 (.347) with 10 home runs in his last 20 games. He’s put to rest any fears people had about him against right-handed pitching, posting a .409 wOBA against them this season. He’s expensive, but he carries significant upside again Thursday.
Steve Pearce vs. J.A. Happ, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,500
Pearce is off to a hot start with his new team as he is 11-for-24 (.458) with a home run and four doubles. He’s normally someone you want to target against lefties considering his career .363 wOBA against them. He is 10-for-28 (.357) with five home runs in his career against Happ as well.
Others to consider: Yasmani Grandal (catcher) and Josh Bell (first base)
SECOND BASE
Max Muncy vs. Tyson Ross, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $4,900
Muncy logged two more hits Wednesday, bumping his average up to .276 this season. He’s done a great job of getting on base in general with a .416 OBP, not to mention his 21 homers in only 262 plate appearances. He presents a very tough matchup for Ross, who has allowed a .381 wOBA to lefties this year. Of note, Muncy is only eligible at second base on FanDuel as he is listed at first base and third base on DraftKings.
Joey Wendle vs. Kyle Gibson, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,500
Wendle doesn’t play against left-handed pitchers, but he’ll likely be in the lineup Thursday against Gibson. He doesn’t provide much power, but he’s currently on a seven-game hitting streak and is batting .278 overall this season. Gibson has pretty even splits against lefties and righties, but Wendle is someone to consider if you don’t want to pay up for Muncy.
Others to consider: Eduardo Nunez and Josh Harrison
THIRD BASE
Matt Duffy vs. Kyle Gibson, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,100
Third base is a little thin, especially with top options like Jose Ramirez and Eduardo Escobar dealing with tough matchups. It might be a position to target spending less on as a result. Duffy isn’t exactly dirt cheap, but he won’t bust your budget either. He’s 5-for-12 in his last three games to raise his overall average to .310 this year. He also only has a 16.5% strikeout rate. Home runs have been few and far between, but Duffy has proven to be one of the most consistent hitters for the Rays.
David Freese vs. Wade Miley, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $3,200
Miley made just two starts for the Brewers this season before landing on the DL with an oblique injury. He’s been out for over two months but is expected to start Thursday. He allows a ton of base runners with a 1.40 WHIP for his career and was hit hard as a member of the Orioles last season, resulting in a 5.61 ERA. Freese has a career .357 wOBA against lefties and might be worth the risk in tournament play at this price.
Others to consider: Travis Shaw and Yangervis Solarte
SHORTSTOP
Xander Bogaerts vs. J.A. Happ, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,200
Bogaerts’ power stroke is back this season as he has 14 home runs and 25 doubles in only 75 games. The Red Sox offense has been one of the most potent in all of baseball, which has helped Bogaerts amass 57 RBI and 43 runs scored. Happ has allowed 20 runs across 22.2 innings in his last four starts, leaving Bogaerts and the Red Sox with the potential for another big offensive performance.
Jean Segura vs. Tyler Skaggs, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,100
Segura made the All-Star team this year for the second time in his career. The honor was well deserved as he is batting a career-high .329 with seven home runs and 14 steals. He’s also scored 63 runs and is on pace to top 100 runs scored for only the second time in his career. He doesn’t have the power upside that Bogaerts does, but Segura has a .389 wOBA against lefties.
Others to consider: Chris Taylor and Jordy Mercer
OUTFIELD
Christian Yelich vs. Jameson Taillon, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,800
Yelich is coming off a series against his former team in the Marlins where he finished 6-for-16 with two doubles, five RBI, three runs scored and a steal. That’s the type of well-rounded production we have become accustomed to getting from him. With 11 home runs and 12 steals overall, this could be the season he finally reaches the 20-20 club. He’s had his problems against left-handed pitchers but has been much better with a .368 wOBA against righties.
Starling Marte vs. Wade Miley, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,800
Speaking of players with a great combination of speed and power, Marte already has 11 home runs and 23 steals this year. He’s currently on a seven-game hitting streak, going 12-for-26 (.462) with two home runs and five steals during that stretch. Marte should be one of the top hitters included in any Pirates stack against Miley.
Andrew Toles vs. Tyson Ross, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $2,000
DraftKings = $3,700
With Yasiel Puig (oblique) on the DL, Toles is going to get a chance to play against right-handed pitchers. He has a career .352 wOBA against them in parts of three seasons in the majors. He has a .311 career batting average in the minor leagues and could be worth taking a chance on in tournament play, especially at the minimum price on FanDuel.
Others to consider: J.D. Martinez and Randal Grichuk
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/29/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
June special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout
After a quiet Thursday, Friday brings a full slate of 15 games in the majors. 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
Jacob deGrom vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $11,700
DraftKings = $13,600
This is the premier pitching matchup to target for your entry. The Mets season has been a disappointment, but deGrom has been spectacular with a 1.69 ERA, 2.14 FIP, and a 1.01 WHIP. He’s always provided plenty of strikeouts, but he currently has career-highs in both swinging-strike rate (15.2%) and strikeout rate (31.4%). When hitters do actually make contact, they haven’t squared him up with a 27.8% hard-hit rate and only five home runs in 101.1 innings. The Marlins have one of the worst lineups in baseball, leaving deGrom with tremendous upside.
Marco Gonzales vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $7,300
DraftKings = $7,800
Gonzales had a daunting two-start week last week, facing both the Red Sox and Yankees on the road. He understandably struggled, allowing 11 runs in 12.1 innings. Before those bad outings, he had allowed three runs or fewer in six straight starts. He’s not a great source for strikeouts, but he’s shown excellent control by throwing a first-pitch strike to 67.6% of the hitters that he has faced and allowing just 2.0 BB/9. The Royals have scored the fewest runs (283) in baseball, leaving Gonzales with upside in tournament play despite his lack of strikeout potential.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Jesus Aguilar vs. Sal Romano, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $5,200
Aguilar went deep again Thursday, marking his third straight game with a home run. He is absolutely on fire right now, hitting 16-for-36 (.444) with nine home runs and three doubles in his last 11 games. Even with Eric Thames healthy, the Brewers are not going to take Aguilar out of their lineup. Romano has allowed 1.5 HR/9 and plenty of base runners with a 1.47 WHIP, potentially setting Aguilar up for another big performance.
Yonder Alonso vs. Paul Blackburn, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,600
After a series in St. Louis without the DH limited Alonso’s playing time, the Indians return to American League play Friday. You want to avoid playing Alonso against lefties, but he’s a great option against righties since he has a .352 wOBA against them this season. Blackburn allows a ton of baserunners and doesn’t have strikeout stuff, so Alonso is a cheap option with upside if you don’t want to pay up for Aguilar.
Others to consider: Jose Abreu (first base) and Tucker Barnhart (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Dee Gordon vs. Ian Kennedy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,300
Gordon continues to hit for a high average and is 24-for-73 (.329) in his last 16 games. He provides close to nothing in terms of power, but he did score 11 runs over that stretch. Kennedy is having another bad season with a 5.09 ERA and allows plenty of base runners with a 1.45 WHIP, leaving Gordon as someone to consider despite his lack of home run potential.
Yoan Moncada vs. Yovani Gallardo, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,500
Gallardo hasn’t finished with an ERA below 5.42 since 2015. He’s only made two starts for the Rangers and didn’t pitch well in either of them, allowing nine runs and 17 total base runners in 10.1 innings. He also allowed three home runs after posting a 1.7 HR/9 with the Mariners last year. Moncada only has a .199 wOBA against left-handed pitchers, but he’s been much better against righties with a .336 wOBA.
Others to consider: Scooter Gennett and Jason Kipnis
THIRD BASE
Jose Ramirez vs. Paul Blackburn, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $5,400
Considering Blackburn has an 8.83 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP, the Indians could be one of the most popular stacking plays Friday. Ramirez has not only been one of the best hitters on the team this season, but he’s been one of the best hitters in all of baseball by batting .291 with 23 home runs, 52 RBI, 55 runs scored and 13 steals.
Justin Turner vs. Tyler Anderson, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,900
Turner is showing signs of getting his power stroke back, slugging two home runs in his last five games. He’s had a slow start in general since returning from a wrist injury but is 6-for-15 (.400) during that same five-game stretch. Turner not only has a .436 wOBA against lefties this year, but he is 10-for-18 with a home run and three doubles against Anderson in his career.
Others to consider: Matt Carpenter and Adrian Beltre
SHORTSTOP
Francisco Lindor vs. Paul Blackburn, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $5,300
Lindor had a rough series against the Cardinals, finishing 1-for-12 with one walk. He had homered in three straight games before the series began and is having the best power season of his career with a .539 slugging percentage. He’s still hitting for average as well at .288, so look for him to get back on track facing a much easier opponent Friday.
Kike Hernandez vs. Tyler Anderson, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,500
Even though Chris Taylor returned from a hamstring injury Thursday, the Dodgers still found a way to keep Hernandez in their lineup. He rewarded them with two hits and two RBI and is now 19-for-55 (.345) with six home runs, 12 RBI and 14 runs scored in his last 16 games. With a .359 wOBA against lefties, expect the Dodgers to start him against Anderson.
Others to consider: Jean Segura and Tim Anderson
OUTFIELD
Nelson Cruz vs. Ian Kennedy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,800
Kennedy has allowed at least 31 home runs in each of the last three seasons and is on pace to do that again this year with 15 home runs allowed in 86.2 innings. That plays right into Cruz’s wheelhouse as he already has 21 homers this year and has slugged at least 39 home runs in each of the last four seasons.
Rhys Hoskins vs. Erick Fedde, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,900
Hoskins couldn’t buy a hit in May, batting only .161 with two home runs in the month. Hoskins then fractured his jaw after fouling off a pitch at the end of the month, forcing him to hit the DL. He came back quickly and has found his stroke again, batting .329 with seven home runs and 20 RBI in 18 games. Fedde has a 5.32 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP in four starts this season and is really only in the starting rotation due to injuries to Stephen Strasburg and Jeremy Hellickson.
Avisail Garcia vs. Yovani Gallardo, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $3,600
The White Sox struggle to score runs, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look to stack them against Gallardo based on how poorly he has been pitching. Garcia was one of the prime regression candidates at the start of the season as his .338 average last year was largely aided by an unsustainable .392 BABIP. Injuries have limited him to 104 plate appearances, but he has two home runs during his current five-game hitting streak and is worth the risk at this cheap price.
Others to consider: Shin-Soo Choo and Nomar Mazara
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/28/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
June special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout
Only four of the 10 games in baseball have evening start times Thursday, so let’s examine some players with favorable matchups throughout the day 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
Aaron Nola vs. Washington Nationals
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $9,700
DraftKings = $12,100
Nola had a very good campaign for the Phillies in 2017, but his numbers are off the charts this year. His 2.58 ERA is supported by a 2.83 FIP and a 1.02 WHIP despite the fact that his strikeout rate is actually down from 26.6% last year to 25.1% this season. His swinging-strike rate is actually up, though, at 11.2% and he’s done a great job keeping hitters in the ballpark with a 0.5 HR/9. He’s also been stellar pitching at home with a 1.86 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP. The Nationals lineup is finally getting healthy, but they have still only averaged 2.1 runs across their last seven games. One of those contests was against Nola, who held the Nationals to two runs while recording five strikeouts in six innings.
Chris Stratton vs. Colorado Rockies
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $6,900
Stratton’s numbers are very average this season with a 4.14 ERA, 4.00 FIP, and a 1.36 WHIP. Normally if you want to take a chance on a cheap pitcher in tournament play, you want to target someone with strikeout upside. That’s not Stratton’s strong suit as he only has a 6.9 K/9. However, he has pitched well in June with a 2.48 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP in five starts. The Rockies are juggernauts at Coors Field with a .804 OPS, but they only have a .676 OPS on the road. Stratton might still be worth the risk at this price despite his lack of strikeouts.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Jesus Aguilar vs. Anthony DeSclafani, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $5,200
Aguilar was presented with an opportunity to play every day when Eric Thames went down with an injury earlier this season and has played so well that he is still starting regularly even though Thames has returned. He has a ton of power with 18 home runs, four of which have come in his last four starts. His nine home runs in June are impressive, but equally as impressive is that he is hitting .300 in the month despite only having a .286 BABIP. He has shed his stigma of not being able to hit righties with a .399 wOBA against them this year, making him a great option again Wednesday.
Evan Gattis vs. Ryne Stanek, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,200
Stanek will start for the Rays, but this will be one of their bullpen games as Stanek hasn’t pitched more than two innings in a game this season. Lefty Ryan Yarbrough is expected to follow Stanek and should eat up several innings. He hasn’t exactly been lights out with a 3.96 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP and could have plenty of trouble with Gattis, who is batting .279 with eight home runs and a staggering 30 RBI in June, five of which have come in his last two games.
Others to consider: Mitch Moreland (first base) and Chris Herrmann (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Scooter Gennett vs. Junior Guerra, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,600
Gennett is 13-for-40 (.325) with three doubles, a home run and 10 runs scored during his current 10-game hitting streak. He has shown no signs of struggling after a breakout season in 2017, batting .336 with 13 home runs and 53 RBI this year. With a .377 wOBA against righties, Gennett is one of the best options available at his position Wednesday.
Dee Gordon vs. Jimmy Yacabonis, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,400
As if the Orioles starting rotation wasn’t bad enough, they’ll turn to Yacabonis to start against the Mariners. His 16 career appearances in the majors over the last two seasons have all come out of the bullpen and resulted in a 5.48 ERA and a 1.74 WHIP. His 3.14 ERA and 1.10 WHIP as a starter in Triple-A look nice, but it’s concerning that he only posted a 6.8 K/9. Gordon doesn’t strike out much and can do a lot of damage when he gets on base, giving him upside against the inexperienced Yacabonis.
Others to consider: Ian Kinsler and Brock Holt
THIRD BASE
Alex Bregman vs. Ryne Stanek, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $5,300
Bregman must be sad to see the Astros series against the Blue Jays come to an end as he was 9-for-14 with three home runs in five doubles in the three contests. He’s shown a much better eye at the plate this season and actually has more walks (47) than strikeouts (46). With a .400 wOBA against left-handed pitchers, he could put up some big numbers again once Yarbrough enters this game.
Kyle Seager vs. Jimmy Yacabonis, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,100
Seager has taken advantage of the Orioles’ mediocre pitching in this series, hitting 5-for-16 with two home runs in three games. His average still sits at an ugly .230, but he’s up to 15 home runs and 20 doubles. He’s not overly expensive on either site and could be a valuable part of any Mariners stack.
Others to consider: Jed Lowrie and Justin Turner
SHORTSTOP
Jean Segura vs. Jimmy Yacabonis, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,900
A Mariners stack against Yacabonis will probably be one of the most popular plays of the day. Add Segura into the mix, who appears to be fine after missing some time with a forearm infection as he is 5-for-9 with four runs scored in the last two games. Segura only has six home runs this year, but he’s hitting .338 and could score plenty of runs if the Mariners do explode offensively.
Kike Hernandez vs. Jose Quintana, Chicago Cubs
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,600
Hernandez has made a compelling case to start more regularly, hitting 17-for-51 (.333) with six home runs, 10 RBI and 13 runs scored in his last 15 games. Chris Taylor’s hamstring injury has opened up playing time for Hernandez, but he is expected to rejoin the lineup Thursday. Hernandez is much better against lefties with a .349 wOBA, so he still might find his way into the lineup.
Others to consider: Xander Bogaerts and Andrelton Simmons
OUTFIELD
Andrew Benintendi vs. Jaime Barria, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $5,000
Benintendi’s success is sometimes lost in the crazy seasons that Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez are having, but he’s been excellent as well by hitting .290 with 13 home runs and 13 steals. With so many potent bats around him in the Red Sox lineup, he’s racked up the counting stats with 51 RBI and 56 runs scored. Barria’s 4.77 FIP indicates he is not pitching as well as his 3.40 ERA might make you think. Benintendi only has a .297 wOBA against lefties but is much better against righties with a .404 wOBA.
Eddie Rosario vs. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $5,500
One of the key pieces of the trade that sent Adam Eaton to the Nationals, Giolito has been awful this year with a 7.01 ERA and a 1.61 WHIP. Not only does he have a 5.4 BB/9, but he’s allowed 12 home runs in 78.1 innings. He has allowed a .403 wOBA to left-handed hitters and will have to face one of the hottest ones in baseball in Rosario. He’s expensive on DraftKings, but his price on FanDuel provides the potential for excellent value.
Denard Span vs. Jimmy Yacabonis, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $4,100
Span has been a great addition for the Mariners, batting .296 with three home runs in 89 plate appearances since joining the team. He usually doesn’t provide much in the power department, but he is batting .282 for his career. He has a .347 wOBA against right-handed pitchers since the start of the 2015 season and is yet another Mariner worth considering for your entry.
Others to consider: Christian Yelich and Justin Upton
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/1/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
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STARTING PITCHERS
Chris Sale vs. Houston Astros
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $11,000
DraftKings = $11,000
Sale is coming off of his worst start of the season after allowing six runs in 4.1 innings against the Braves. The Braves have the highest OPS against left-handed pitching (.827) in baseball, so it wasn’t a favorable matchup, to begin with. Even with that blowup, Sale still has a 2.76 ERA, 2.94 FIP, and a 0.96 WHIP this year. He has continued to be one of the best strikeout pitchers with a 12.5 K/9 while also posting a career-high 15.9% swinging-strike rate. The Astros lineup is no cake walk either, but Sale is still a great option with his strikeout upside.
Nick Pivetta vs. San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $8,200
DraftKings = $10,000
Pivetta has been dominant in his last four outings, allowing three runs to go along with 32 strikeouts in 24 innings. He only issued four walks and gave up just one home run during that stretch as well. After pitching poorly in 26 starts last year, Pivetta has made significant improvement overall this season, resulting in a 3.26 ERA and a 2.75 FIP. He has been working ahead in the count, throwing a first-pitch strike to 65.7% of the batters that he has faced. Add that to his 10.4 K/9 and a much improved 2.2 BB/9 and Pivetta has an excellent 1.09 WHIP. This will be his second start of the season against the Giants after he held them scoreless while recording seven strikeouts in five innings during their first matchup. The Giants have struck out the third-most times (528) in baseball, leaving Pivetta with the potential for another valuable performance.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Jesus Aguilar vs. Hector Santiago, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,300
Aguilar has been mostly limited to facing left-handed pitching in his career but was forced into an everyday role this year with both Eric Thames (thumb) and Ryan Bruan on the DL at the same time. He played so well that he is still starting even though Braun has returned. Not only did eight of his nine home runs come in May, but he is also hitting .307 overall this season. His average will likely fall once his .355 BABIP normalizes, but he is a great source of power. With a career .360 wOBA against lefties, Aguilar might be able to do a lot of damage against the struggling Santiago.
Greg Bird vs. Andrew Cashner, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,900
Bird has been limited to four games due to injury this season, logging at least one hit in each of his last three contests. He has a ton of talent, but injuries have really hampered his career after bursting onto the scene with 11 homers in 46 games in 2015. Including this season, Cashner has allowed a wOBA of at least .378 to left-handed hitters in three of the last four years. Bird won’t destroy your budget either, making him a viable option to consider.
Others to consider: Anthony Rizzo (first base) and Wilson Ramos (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Javier Baez vs. Zack Wheeler, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,800
Wheeler has managed to stay healthy so far this season but has a 5.40 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. He only has four starts this year where he has allowed two or fewer earned runs, three of which came against bad lineups in the Marlins and Padres. Baez doesn’t struggle against right-handed pitching as he has a .378 wOBA against them this season, making him one of several Cubs who could have a big night.
Joey Wendle vs. Mike Leake, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,400
Wendle has played his way into a starting role with the Rays, batting .295 with a .344 OBP. Even though he doesn’t have much power, he does have at least one hit in 11 of his last 12 games. Leake is not an overpowering pitcher, but he’s been even worse this season with just a 5.3 K/9. If you don’t want to pay up for Baez, Wendle is a cheap option who could provide value.
Others to consider: Gleyber Torres and Scooter Gennett
THIRD BASE
Mike Moustakas vs. Frankie Montas, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,400
Moustakas has followed up his career season last year by hitting .280 with 12 home runs in 55 games. He only had 85 RBI in 2017 despite hitting 38 home runs, but he’s already chipped in 39 RBI this season. With a .390 wOBA against righties this year, he could put up big numbers against Montas, who has a 5.77 ERA and 1.65 WHIP for his career.
Pedro Alvarez vs. Sonny Gray, New York Yankees
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,400
With a rainout Thursday, Gray will be pushed back a day to start Friday. He’s been terrible in his 10 starts, recording a 5.98 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP. The Yankees have tried making Austin Romine has personal catcher since they have had some success together in the past, but Gray has still allowed five runs each in two of his last three starts. Alvarez is only batting .190 this year, but he has a lot of power and a career .341 wOBA against right-handers.
Others to consider: Justin Turner and Yairo Munoz
SHORTSTOP
Manny Machado vs. Sonny Gray, New York Yankees
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = 5,200
Machado has loved hitting at home, posting a .362 average there this season compared to a .296 mark on the road. 10 of his 16 home runs have also come at home despite having 23 more plate appearances on the road. With the way Gray has been pitching, Machado could be in for a huge night.
Andrelton Simmons vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,400
Simmons is on a nine-game hitting streak where he has hit 14-for-36 (.389). He is batting a robust .337 on the season overall, but he could experience some regression since his .339 BABIP is 57 points higher than his career mark. That may not start Friday, though, considering he is 12-for-26 (.462) in his career against Colon.
Others to consider: Chris Taylor and Jean Segura
OUTFIELD
Mike Trout vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $6,000
It’s not hard to argue for playing Trout regardless of who is taking the mound. He has a tremendous combination of power and speed and has also hit .302 with a crazy .444 OBP. He has absolutely destroyed Colon in his career, hitting 10-for-18 (.556) with three home runs. Don’t be afraid to pay up to get him into your entry.
Nicholas Castellanos vs. Jaime Garcia, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,300
Castellanos only has five home runs this season, but he already has 18 doubles and three triples. He is also batting a career-high .332, but that has largely been aided by his .410 BABIP. He is crushing lefties with a 197 wRC+ against them this season and gets to face the struggling Garcia, who has a 5.52 ERA and 1.51 WHIP.
Ben Zobrist vs. Zack Wheeler, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,900
Zobrist only hit .232 last year and entered this season in a fight for playing time with the Cubs having so much depth. He’s doing his best to show his poor performance last year was just a fluke, batting .291 with a .379 OBP so far. He has hit righties particularly well with a .382 wOBA and should be a part of any Cubs stack at this cheap price.
Others to consider: Brandon Nimmo and Khris Davis
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/24/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
May special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout
There aren’t a lot of options in DFS with only eight games in the majors Thursday. 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
Charlie Morton vs. Cleveland Indians
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $10,200
DraftKings = $11,400
Morton has done a tremendous job keeping runners off base this year, posting a 0.93 WHIP. His 3.35 FIP indicates his 1.94 ERA won’t hold, but he’s going to continue to have plenty of success by allowing so few base runners. His 97.2 mph average fastball velocity is the highest of his career and he has a 13.3% swinging-strike rate, which has led to a lofty 11.3 K/9. He had success against the Indians in his last start, allowing one run to go along with eight strikeouts in seven innings. He’s the one elite strikeout pitcher taking the mound Thursday, so it makes a lot of sense to pay up for him.
Luis Castillo vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $7,300
DraftKings = $7,800
Castillo looked primed for an excellent season after excelling in 15 starts last year, but he has a 5.61 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP so far. A lot of that damage came early on as he allowed at least four runs in four of his first six starts. He’s been much better in his last four outings, allowing eight runs (seven earned) to go along with 26 strikeouts in 22.2 innings. His swinging-strike rate is actually higher this year at 15.2%, so expect his ERA to continue to decrease as the season wears on. His price still hasn’t jumped up yet, leaving him with significant upside.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Matt Olson vs. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,800
Despite being only 32 years old, Hernandez has already thrown over 2,500 innings during his career. He’s clearly not the same pitcher that he was in his prime and his 90.5 mph average fastball velocity this season that is the lowest he has ever posted. He’s not fooling many hitters with an 8.0% swinging-strike rate, which has been a major factor in his bloated 5.53 ERA and 1.43 WHIP. Olson has a career .393 wOBA against right-handed pitchers and could give Hernandez plenty of trouble.
Jesus Aguilar vs. Steven Matz, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,100
Eric Thames (thumb) is still on the DL, but Ryan Braun was activated Wednesday. That could cut into Aguilar’s playing time, but the Brewers might be wise to keep him in their lineup Thursday. He’s been swinging the bat well, going 8-for-20 with four home runs and nine RBI in his last five games. He also excels against left-handed pitching with a .355 wOBA against them for his career.
Others to consider: Justin Smoak (first base) and Salvador Perez (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Whit Merrifield vs. Austin Bibens-Dirkx, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,500
Merrifield is in a mini-slump, failing to a record a hit in four straight games. He’s batting .281 this year and is a .285 hitter for his career, so don’t expect this to last too long. Bibens-Dirkx will be making his first start in the majors this season and hasn’t exactly been dominating Triple-A, posting a 3.72 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and 7.4 K/9. He struggled with a 4.67 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and 4.9 K/9 in 69.1 innings with the Rangers last year as well, leaving this as a great opportunity for Merrifield to get back into the hit column.
Yangervis Solarte vs. Nick Tropeano, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,500
Solarte might be one of the more underrated players in the league. He’s batting a respectable .265 this season and has hit for plenty of power with 11 home runs and nine doubles. He doesn’t strikeout out much with a career 11.8% strikeout rate and can play multiple positions. His splits are fairly even from both sides of the plate, so there is no need to platoon him either. He has at least two hits in each of his last four games and has hit homers in back-to-back contests as well.
Others to consider: Jed Lowrie and Jonathan Schoop
THIRD BASE
Mike Moustakas vs. Austin Bibens-Dirkx, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,400
Moustakas is in a bit of a power drought, failing to go deep in 14 straight games. He still has 10 home runs on the season overall though after hitting a career-high 38 dingers last year. Bibens-Dirkx allowed 1.8 HR/9 last year and Moustakas has been much better against righties, so this could be the day he breaks his streak.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,300
Duffy has been getting shelled this year, posting a 6.88 ERA and 6.44 FIP. He has a 1.73 WHIP and it’s concerning that his .314 BABIP allowed isn’t that high either. Righties have hit him particularly hard with a .426 wOBA. Kiner-Falefa doesn’t have a lot of power, but he’s hitting .260 and has done a nice job overall filling in for Adrian Beltre (hamstring). He’s priced low enough to be a viable option in tournament play.
Others to consider: Eugenio Suarez and Kyle Seager
SHORTSTOP
Jurickson Profar vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $3,500
Profar has been a highly thought of prospect coming up through the Rangers system, but he’s yet to have consistent success in the majors. He’s never played more than 90 games in a season and is batting just .231 for his career. Injuries to several players on the Rangers have forced him into regular playing time this year, already appearing in 45 games. He continues to struggle with a .237 average, but he is hitting 7-for-22 with a home run, three doubles and 11 RBI in his last six games. With Duffy on the mound, look for him to continue his hot hitting.
Marcus Semien vs. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,900
With Hernandez taking the mound, the Athletics present a viable stacking opportunity. Semien has hit Fernandez well in his career, going 11-for-33 (.333) with four home runs. His overall numbers this season aren’t flashy, but this is the kind of matchup that is hard to pass up.
Others to consider: Manny Machado and Andrelton Simmons
OUTFIELD
Mike Trout vs. Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $5,400
The combination of power and speed that Trout has is certainly impressive, but what stands out to me is that he has 45 walks compared to 41 strikeouts this season. He also has a staggering .444 OBP, which would be his third-straight season with an OBP of at least .441. Estrada is prone to giving up home runs and isn’t a big strikeout pitcher, leaving Trout with a high ceiling one again.
Shohei Ohtani vs. Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,600
In one of the crazier stats of the season, Ohtani has more RBI this season as a hitter (19) than runs he has allowed as a pitcher (15). He is destroying right-handed pitching with a .445 wOBA and all six of his home runs have come against them. Estrada has allowed a .363 wOBA to lefties this year, so stacking both Trout and Ohtani in your outfield could provide a big return.
Scott Schebler vs. Ivan Nova, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,800
When Nova is taking the mound, you want to target left-handed hitters on the opposing team. Not only does Nova have a hard time striking hitters out in general, but he has allowed a wOBA of at least .361 in each of the last three seasons against lefties heading into 2018. This season has been no different with a .376 wOBA allowed to lefties. Schebler has also hit him well in his career, batting .368 (7-for-19) with a home run.
Others to consider: Justin Upton and Adam Jones