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MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/10/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

With 14 games for the main slate Friday in DFS, there are a lot of options to wade through for your entry. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. 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 8/10/18

Nathan Eovaldi vs. Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $8,700
DraftKings = $9,700

Eovaldi has yet to allow a run since being traded. The fact that one of his two starts with the Red Sox came against the Yankees makes that even more impressive. He has a 3.38 ERA overall that has been aided by a sparkling 0.89 WHIP. That will likely be hard for him to sustain, though, since opponents only have a .230 BABIP against him. The good news is he gets to face an Orioles lineup that wasn’t great, to begin with, then traded away their two best hitters in Manny Machado and Jonathan Schoop. His strikeout upside is limited, but this is still a matchup to exploit.

Zach Eflin vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $8,500
DraftKings = $8,500

Eflin was a disaster over 11 starts last year with a 6.16 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. He’s shown significant improvement this year with a 3.61 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP. Not only has he cut down his rate of home runs allowed, but he has also increased his K/9 from 4.9 last season to 8.3 this year. His 10.1% swinging-strike rate is almost three percentage points higher than it was in 2017. The Padres have struck out the third-most times (1,097) in baseball and have the second-lowest OPS against righties (.659), making Eflin an excellent option to consider.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/10/18

Matt Carpenter vs. Burch Smith, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $5,800

There are few hitters in baseball that are hotter than Carpenter right now. He is 10-for-29 (.345) with five home runs during his current seven-game hitting streak. His 63 RBI don’t stand out, but he’s hitting for a ton of power with 31 home runs and 33 doubles. With Burch’s 1.53 WHIP and 1.8 HR/9, Carpenter is someone to build your lineup around.

Matt Olson vs. Felix Pena, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,200

Olson’s .235 average this season has been a disappointment, but he’s 10-for-33 (.303) with four doubles and a home run over his last nine games. His power numbers are virtually the same whether he’s been on the road or at home this season, but he’s hit for a higher average on the road at .256. That’s been a common theme for the A’s as they have much better offensive stats as a team on the road. Olson also has a .351 wOBA against right-handed pitching, leaving him as an intriguing option if you don’t want to pay up for Carpenter.

Others to consider: Jake Bauers (first base) and Yadier Molina (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/10/18

Whit Merrifield vs. Austin Gomber, St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,800

Merrifield only has seven home runs this year, but he hasn’t been completely devoid of power with 31 doubles. He’s batting .300 with 25 steals and he’s shown a better eye at the plate, almost doubling his walk rate from 2017. He has a stellar .406 wOBA against left-handed pitching and could provide value against Gomber and his 1.37 WHIP.

Kolten Wong vs. Burch Smith, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $2,300
DraftKings = $3,600

With Smith on the mound Friday, the Cardinals present an excellent stacking opportunity. Carpenter is their big ticket player to target, but Wong is a strong candidate to outproduce his price point. His .229 average and seven home runs don’t jump off the page, but he’s batting .349 over his last 18 games.

Others to consider: Scooter Gennett and Joey Wendle

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/10/18

Eduardo Escobar vs. Anthony DeSclafani, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,400

Escobar is still looking for his first home run since being traded to the Diamondbacks, but he’s batting an impressive .333 with five doubles since joining his new team. The switch-hitting third baseman has a .377 wOBA against righties this year and DeSclafani has allowed a .410 to left-handed batters, setting up Escobar nicely to continue his recent run of success.

David Freese vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $2,300
DraftKings = $3,900

Freese came through Thursday with a big performance, finishing 2-for-5 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored. He’s come on strong down the stretch, batting .343 with three home runs and two doubles across his last 10 games. With his career .363 wOBA against left-handed pitchers, he’s a great cheap option with upside in tournament play.

Others to consider: Mike Moustakas and Rafael Devers

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/10/18

Andrelton Simmons vs. Brett Anderson, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,200

Anderson tossed seven scoreless innings in his last start against the Tigers, but he had only two strikeouts against what is not an imposing lineup by any means. He’s generally had trouble keeping runners off base this season with a 1.48 WHIP and he’s not fooling many batters with a 4.4 K/9. Simmons doesn’t strike out much and he has a .364 wOBA against lefties, so he could be on base plenty in this game.

Asdrubal Cabrera vs. Jacob Nix, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,300

With the Padres desperate for starting pitching, Nix will make his major league debut Friday despite starting only one game at Triple-A. He had a 2.05 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP across nine starts at Double-A, but his 7.0 K/9 at that level doesn’t exactly foster a lot of confidence. The Phillies could be in for a big night, including Cabrera, who has a .366 wOBA against righties.

Others to consider: Paul DeJong and Carlos Correa

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/10/18

Khris Davis vs. Felix Pena, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $5,000

Davis is doing his best to get the A’s back into the playoffs, batting .311 with 12 home runs since July 1. His walk rate is down, but he’s also cut down on his strikeouts to boost his batting average to .256, which would be his highest mark since he played in only 56 games for the Brewers in 2013. Davis actually has better numbers against right-handed pitching and Pena has allowed 1.5 HR/9 for his career, leaving Davis with plenty of potential Friday.

David Peralta vs. Anthony DeSclafani
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $5,500

Peralta had a power outage with just one home run in July, but he’s already gone deep three times so far in August. He has a career-high 19 homers overall and is still hitting for a high average at .306. With DeSclafani’s struggles against left-handed hitters already detailed, Peralta stands out among outfield options, although he is pricey on DraftKings.

Mallex Smith vs. Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,600

Smith continues to find ways to get on base, going 1-for-2 with two walks Thursday. He doesn’t hit for any power, but he does have nine runs scored and seven stolen bases across his last nine games. Estrada is having another subpar season with a 4.65 ERA and a 4.64 FIP and he doesn’t have an overwhelming arsenal with a 6.6 K/9, so don’t be surprised if Smith finds himself on base a couple of times again in this contest.

Others to consider: Christian Yelich and Justin Upton

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/7/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

There are some excellent pitching options Tuesday, but there could be plenty of high-scoring games, as well, with several teams throwing out their back of the rotation starters. 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 8/7/18

Carlos Carrasco vs. Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $10,600
DraftKings = $11,500

The Indians starting rotation is so deep that Carrasco doesn’t always get the recognition that he deserves. He’s having another fantastic season with a 3.66 ERA, 3.25 FIP, and a 1.13 WHIP. He’s shown excellent control by issuing only 1.9 BB/9 and his 10.1 K/9 would mark the third time in the last four seasons that he has finished with a K/9 of at least 10. This will be his second straight start against the Twins after he recorded 10 strikeouts over 7.1 scoreless innings last Wednesday. With Eduardo Escobar and Brian Dozier no longer on the team, this is an excellent lineup to exploit.

C.C. Sabathia vs. Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $7,300
DraftKings = $7,400

It’s not always pretty, but Sabathia seems to find a way to get the job done more often than not. His velocity is down significantly at this point in his career, but his 3.59 ERA would be his third straight season with a sub-4.00 ERA. You shouldn’t count on him for a lot of strikeouts, though, considering his 7.3 K/9. His upside isn’t the greatest as a result, but he can still provide value in the right matchups. The White Sox have scored the seventh-fewest runs (456) in baseball and only have a .693 OPS against left-handed pitching, so Sabathia might be worth the risk in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/7/18

Matt Carpenter vs. Pablo Lopez, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $5,700

Carpenter is on another power surge, slugging three home runs over his last four games. He’s already set a new career-high with 29 long balls and his .281 batting average would be his highest mark since 2013. He has an insane 50.3% hard-hit rate, but his .313 BABIP is actually slightly lower than his career numbers. Lopez has allowed at least one home run in five of his six starts this season and hasn’t shown an overpowering arsenal with a 7.3 K/9, leaving Carpenter with tremendous upside once again.

Tucker Barnhart vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $2,300
DraftKings = $3,700

Barnhart is struggling right now, batting .170 across his last 18 games. This might be just the matchup he needs to get back on track considering Vargas has an 8.23 ERA and a 1.79 WHIP. Barnhart has also excelled against lefties this year with a .382 wOBA.

Others to consider: Jake Bauers (first base) and Kendrys Morales (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/7/18

Rougned Odor vs. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $5,400

Odor has been a different hitter since the calendar changed to July, batting .340 with nine home runs and eight doubles over 106 at-bats. His batting average is up to .269 for the season overall, which has helped make up for his decrease in home runs. He’s only batting .239 on the road this season, but he’s recorded a .295 average with a .500 slugging percentage at home.

Jonathan Villar vs. Tyler Glasnow, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium = Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,800

Villar is likely going to get plenty of playing time down the stretch for an Orioles team that stripped it’s lineup at the trade deadline passed. The move to Baltimore has paid off for him so far as he is 8-for-17 (.471) through four games. He has struggled to build off of his breakout 2016 campaign where he hit 19 home runs and stole 62 bases, but he can still wreak havoc on the base paths and is worth considering in tournament play at this cheap price.

Others to consider: Whit Merrifield and Joey Wendle

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/7/18

Eugenio Suarez vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $5,300

Suarez is likely going to be a popular play Tuesday based on his 213 wRC+ against lefties. Vargas gives up a ton of runs and doesn’t provide the Mets with much length, which helps make the case for Suarez even stronger considering their lack of quality arms in the bullpen. He doesn’t come cheap, but he could be a player to build your entry around.

Jurickson Profar vs. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,800

Hernandez has a respectable 4.02 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP at home, but he’s been crushed on the road with a 7.58 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP. The Rangers are a far better offensive team at home, so expect them to be one of the most widely used stacks for the evening. Profar has better numbers against lefties, but he’s 23-for-77 (.299) with 15 runs and 13 RBI over his last 22 games overall.

Others to consider: Colin Moran and Kyle Seager

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/7/18

Aledmys Diaz vs. Drew Pomeranz, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,000

Diaz has seen steady playing time with Lourdes Gurriel on the DL and has taken advantage of the opportunity by going 8-for-24 (.333) with four home runs over seven games. Although he doesn’t walk much, he’s quietly rebounded from a disappointing 2017 season to bat .261 with 14 home runs overall. Pomeranz has allowed six runs across 9.2 innings in two starts since being activated from the DL and has pitched poorly, in general, this year with a 6.56 ERA and a 1.80 WHIP.

Andrelton Simmons vs. Jacob Turner, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,000

Turner appeared in four games for the Marlins earlier this season, allowing 10 runs over 5.2 innings. He’s moved on to the Tigers and has since made 11 starts at Triple-A, but he didn’t exactly pitch well there with a 4.01 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and a 6.3 K/9. With a 5.26 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP for his career in the majors, the Angels could be in for a big night even with Mike Trout sidelined. Simmons is batting .306 with only 22 strikeouts this year, so he could be on base plenty in this game.

Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Jose Peraza

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/7/18

Nelson Cruz vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $5,500

Cruz failed to take Martin Perez deep Monday, but he still finished the game 2-for-5 with a walk. He’ll get another excellent chance to hit one out of the park Tuesday since Colon has given up 1.8 HR/9. Colon doesn’t fool many batters at this stage of his career with a 5.2 K/9, so don’t be surprised if Cruz and the Mariners hang a crooked number on him in this contest.

Kole Calhoun vs. Jacob Turner, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,100

Calhoun’s .207 average still looks horrible, but he’s batting .294 over 29 games since July 1. He hasn’t just hit for average during that stretch, either, recording 11 home runs, 27 RBI and 23 runs scored. With how poorly Tuner has pitched, it’s hard to pass up Calhoun based on his reasonable price on both sites.

Shohei Ohtani vs. Jacob Turner, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,400

Ohtani’s elbow injury has prevented him from pitching, but he’s still been able to DH for the Angels while he works his way back to the mound. He’s pretty much unplayable versus lefties considering his .243 wOBA against them. However, he has a .422 wOBA against righties with all 11 of his home runs coming against them.

Others to consider: Joey Gallo and Mark Canha

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/1/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

After a busy trade deadline Tuesday, Wednesday brings a quiet main evening slate in DFS consisting of only six games. 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 8/1/18

Anibal Sanchez vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $8,500
DraftKings = $8,000

Sanchez was lined up to start twice this week, but the Braves decided to call up Kolby Allard to start Tuesday, pushing everyone back a day. Sanchez has been excellent in his return to the National League, posting a 3.00 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. It’s hard to imagine those numbers holding up, though, since opponents have just a .249 BABIP against him. The good news is he’s been a respectable source for strikeouts with an 8.5 K/9 and he gets to face a Marlins team Wednesday that has hit the second-fewest home runs (88) in baseball and generally doesn’t score much.

Cole Hamels vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $7,700
DraftKings = $7,900

Hamels finds himself back in the National League, last pitching there with the Phillies in 2015. Hamels was not having a good season prior to being dealt, posting a 4.72 ERA and a 5.20 FIP across 20 starts. He also has a 1.37 WHIP, which would be the highest mark of his career. Most of the damage against him came at Globe Life Park in Arlington, where he recorded a 6.41 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP. His road numbers are much better with a 2.93 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP, so a trade out of Texas might be just what he needed. On a night with limited pitching options, Hamels has some upside in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/1/18

Jake Bauers vs. Nick Tropeano, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,900

The Rays were certainly active on the trade market, making several deals to reshape their roster. Bauers is a key part of their future after batting .276 with a .361 OBP during his career in the minors. Although he’s batting just .234 since being called up, he’s still getting on base with a 12.5% walk rate. He’s hit for power, as well, with seven home runs and 15 doubles across 169 at-bats. Tropeano has allowed a .371 wOBA against left-handed hitters, leaving Bauers with an opportunity to do some more damage.

Lucas Duda vs. Dylan Covey, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $4,100

Duda mashed 30 home runs for the Mets and Rays combined last year, but he only has nine homers so far for the Royals. His walk rate is down considerably at 6.6% compared to 11.1% for his career as he is chasing way too many pitches outside of the strike zone. That being said, he has a .456 slugging percentage against righties this year. Covey is not an overpowering pitcher with a 6.6 K/9, so Duda might be worth a look in tournament play, especially with his price on FanDuel.

Others to consider: Freddie Freeman (first base) and Kurt Suzuki (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/1/18

Javier Baez vs. Nick Kingham, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $5,200

Baez has already set a new career high with 82 RBI and is only two homers away from setting a new personal best in that category as well. It’s amazing that he is batting .300 despite swinging at nearly half of the pitches he has seen that are outside of the strike zone and posting an 18% swinging strike rate. With his .374 wOBA against righties, don’t shy away from using him Wednesday just because he doesn’t have the platoon advantage against Kingham.

Joey Wendle vs. Nick Tropeano, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,800

Wendle had his best month of the season in July, batting .360 with a .435 OBP. He only struck out nine times across 85 plate appearances and produced nine extra-base hits. He doesn’t play much against lefties and doesn’t hit for a ton of power in general, but he’s cheap enough to warrant considering on both sites facing Tropeano and his 4.82 ERA.

Others to consider: Ozzie Albies and Whit Merrifield

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/1/18

Manny Machado vs. Chase Anderson, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $4,800

The Dodgers pulled off a trade for Brian Dozier on Tuesday, but they had already made their biggest acquisition by bringing over Machado from the Orioles. He’s batting .286 with a .407 OBP since joining the team, but he only has two home runs in 49 at-bats. Anderson has had problems keeping hitters inside the park this season by allowing 1.5 HR/9, so Machado might be able to do some damage in this contest. Of note, Machado is only eligible at third base on FanDuel as he is listed at shortstop on DraftKings.

Jedd Gyorko vs. Kyle Freeland, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,900

Gyorko recently missed some time due to an illness but seems to be fine now as he has played in three straight games. His .248 average and eight home runs this season aren’t exactly inspiring, but he has a .447 wOBA against left-handed pitching. If you don’t want to pay up for Machado, Gyorko could also provide value based on his cheap prices on both sites.

Others to consider: Johan Camargo and Yolmer Sanchez

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/1/18

Trevor Story vs. Luke Weaver, St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,500

The shortstop position is very thin Wednesday, especially if you are playing on FanDuel. Story is a monster at Coors Field, but he’s not usually someone you want to target on the road. Weaver pitched better in July, but don’t get too excited as two of his four starts came against the Giants and the White Sox. He has a 1.38 WHIP overall and at least Story provides power upside.

Adalberto Mondesi vs. Dylan Covey, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,300

One of the better prospects coming up through the Royals system, Mondesi should see plenty of playing time down the stretch. His numbers at Triple-A weren’t great before being recalled, but he did bat .305 with 13 home runs and 21 steals there in 2017. With Covey’s 1.55 WHIP, don’t be surprised if Mondesi finds his way on base a couple of times in this contest. He can do plenty of damage on the base paths with his speed, as well.

Others to consider: Andrelton Simmons

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/1/18

Mike Trout vs. Tyler Glasnow, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $5,300
DraftKings = $6,000

The Rays won’t waste any time showing off their new acquisition as they will start Glasnow in this game. However, he’s not expected to throw many innings after working as a reliever for the Pirates. A highly-regarded prospect, Glasnow has a career 1.71 WHIP in the majors. He’s expected to be followed by Jake Faria, who is just coming off of the 60-day DL. Faria struggled with a 5.48 ERA and a 5.09 FIP before getting injured. This has the makings of a huge night at the plate for Trout.

Kole Calhoun vs. Tyler Glasnow, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,900

Calhoun hit another home run Tuesday, finishing with 10 homers in July. His batting average is only .209, but that’s a vast improvement considering he entered the month batting .162. With the projected pitchers for the Rays, Calhoun could provide tremendous value based on his cheap prices on both sites.

Brett Phillips vs. Dylan Covey, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $2,100
DraftKings = $4,100

Phillips was the key return in the Royals trade that sent Mike Moustakas to the Brewers. The Brewers thought highly of Phillips, but there just wasn’t any room for him on the roster after they brought in Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich during the offseason. He was only batting .240 at Triple-A this year, but he’s a career .279 hitter with a .360 OBP. He’s not all that cheap on DraftKings, but he might be too hard to pass up against Covey at near the minimum price on FanDuel.

Others to consider: Ronald Acuna Jr. and Nick Markakis

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/22/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

June special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout

Friday brings the return of a full slate of baseball, but the evening is light on starting pitching overall. It could free you up with more money to operate with than usual for your hitters. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/22/18

Sean Newcomb vs. Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $8,900
DraftKings = $10,500

Newcomb was hit hard two starts ago, but he rebounded quickly to record seven strikeouts over six scoreless innings in his last start against the Padres. That marked the fifth time this season that he hasn’t allowed a run in a start, leading to a 2.70 ERA and a 3.23 FIP overall. After finishing with a 1.57 WHIP last year, Newcomb has been much better at limiting baserunners with a 1.18 WHIP. He’s an excellent source for strikeouts as well with a 9.1 K/9. This is a great matchup to take advantage of considering the Orioles have scored the fewest runs (260) in baseball and won’t have the use of the DH playing in Atlanta.

Chris Stratton vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $7,200
DraftKings = $7,300

With a general lack of high-end starters taking the mound Friday, it’s a good night to take a chance on cheap pitchers. Stratton has allowed more than three earned runs in a start only three times this season, but his 1.35 WHIP is concerning. He’s not a big strikeout pitcher with a 7.1 K/9 for his career and is someone you only want to consider using in the right matchup. That will be the case when he faces the Padres, who are in the bottom-third of the league in runs scored while also posting the lowest OPS (.658) against right-handed pitching. Stratton already faced them once this season and threw seven shutout innings.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/22/18

Ian Desmond vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,900

The Rockies should be a popular stack with Chen taking the mound. Not only is this game in hitter-friendly Coors Field, but Chen is really struggling with a 5.91 ERA, 5.78 FIP, and a 1.62 WHIP. He’s had problems keeping hitters in the ballpark as well with a 1.8 HR/9. Desmond’s overall numbers are poor this season, but he’s 13-for-38 (.342) with four home runs in his last 11 games. Most of his struggles this year have come against right-handed pitchers as he has a .423 wOBA against lefties.

Buster Posey vs. Clayton Richard, San Diego Padres
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,800

Posey continues to be a steady contributor for the Giants, hitting .290 with five home runs. He might not hit for a ton of power, but he puts a lot of balls in play with just an 11.5% strikeout rate. Not only does Posey have a .392 wOBA against lefties, but he is 12-for-32 (.375) with two home runs in his career against Richard. Richard is not a strikeout pitcher and he has only struck out Posey one time in his career.

Others to consider: Paul Goldschmidt (first base) and Evan Gattis (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/22/18

Jose Altuve vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,400

There are few hitters in the league hotter than Altuve right now, who is 42-for-97 (.433) with five home runs and seven steals in his last 25 games. That has brought his season average up to .347, which would make the third time in the last five seasons that Altuve has hit at least .340. He has great numbers versus a lot of pitchers over the course of his career, including Duffy, who he is 8-for-16 (.500) against.

Daniel Descalso vs. Ivan Nova, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,800

Nova had a couple of great seasons with the Yankees, but he’s generally been an average pitcher over the course of his career. This season has been no different with him posting a 4.42 ERA, 4.15 FIP and a 1.32 WHIP across 13 starts. He doesn’t get a lot of strikeouts and his .369 wOBA against left-handed hitters this year would mark the fourth-straight season where he has allowed a wOBA of at least .361 to lefties. Descalso has a .384 wOBA against righties and could be problematic for Nova.

Others to consider: DJ LeMahieu and Ketel Marte

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/22/18

Nolan Arenado vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $5,100
DraftKings = $5,900

Arenado should be the centerpiece of any Rockies stack against Chen. He’s extremely hot right now, hitting 12-for-29 (.414) with four home runs in his last seven games. His numbers are much better in Coors Field and he has a lofty 235 wRC+ against lefties, so look for him to excel in this game.

Matt Duffy vs. C.C. Sabathia, New York Yankees
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,900

Duffy is quietly having a very good season for the Rays. He only has four home runs, but he is batting a career-high .317. He’s been aided by a .377 BABIP, but he also made major improvements that have resulted in a 33.7% hard-hit rate. Sabathia has a 2.74 ERA at home this year, but he’s struggled on the road with a 4.13 ERA. Duffy is a cheap option with upside in tournament play if you don’t want to spend big bucks for Arenado.

Others to consider: Alex Bregman and Miguel Andujar

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/22/18

Trevor Story vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $5,700

Story’s home and road splits this year are rather staggering. He’s batting only .224 with a .612 OPS on the road, but he is hitting .322 with a 1.191 OPS in Coors Field. Throw in the fact that he has a .436 wOBA against lefties and he could do a lot of damage against Chen.

Marwin Gonzalez vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $3,600

Gonzalez hit .303 for the Astros last year, but he entered the month of June batting only .217. He’s doing his best to dig out of that hole, though, batting .429 since the calendar flipped to June. He’s still not hitting for much power, but he’s a viable cheap option in tournament play considering how poorly Duffy has pitched. Of note, Gonzalez is only shortstop eligible on FanDuel as he is listed at both first base and outfield on DraftKings.

Others to consider: Carlos Correa and Xander Bogaerts

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/22/18

George Springer vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $5,000

The Astros will likely be a popular stack as well. Springer is one of the premier options if you choose to go that route, batting .279 with 15 home runs this season. He’s been one of the best hitters in baseball against left-handed pitchers in recent years, recording a wOBA of at least .400 against them in each of the last four seasons if you include his .419 mark in 2018.

Nick Markakis vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,300

The Orioles signing of Cobb has been a disaster so far as he has a 7.14 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP in his first 12 starts. He’s not striking many hitters out and has allowed 1.9 HR/9, which is really troubling when you consider how many runners have reached base against him. Markakis has cooled off some after his torrid start, but he’s had a lot of success against right-handers with a .363 wOBA.

Kole Calhoun vs. Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $2,300
DraftKings = $2,600

Calhoun has been one of the worst hitters in baseball this season with a .158 batting average. He recently spent some time on the DL with a strained oblique and the time off might have been just what he needed to clear his head. In three games since being activated, Calhoun is 4-for-10 with two home runs. Estrada has struggled on the road this year and doesn’t have overpowering stuff, setting up Calhoun as a cheap option who might be worth taking a chance on in tournament play.

Others to consider: Juan Soto and Nomar Mazara

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/12/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

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Baseball is back in full swing with 15 games on the schedule Tuesday. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/12/18

Mike Foltynewicz vs. New York Mets
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $9,000
DraftKings = $11,800

Foltynewicz had 85 career appearances in the majors, 65 of which were starts, heading into this season, but he didn’t have much success. He finished with an ERA of at least 4.31 and a WHIP of at least 1.30 in each of his previous four years. This season has been a different story with his 2.31 ERA, 2.98 FIP and a 1.20 WHIP across 13 starts. He’s still issuing a lot of walks with a 4.0 BB/9, but he’s cut down on allowing homers and has a career-high 10.7 K/9. Look for him to keep things rolling against a Mets offense that is really struggling and just made a shakeup to their lineup by releasing Adrian Gonzalez. They still don’t have a lot of great options, though, and have scored the third-fewest runs (237) in baseball.

Jaime Barria vs. Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $6,800
DraftKings = $9,200

Barria is being recalled from Triple-A to start Tuesday with Shohei Ohtani (elbow) on the disabled list. Barria made seven starts for the Angels previously this year, recording a 2.48 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP. His 3.87 FIP and .248 opponents BABIP suggest he was somewhat lucky, but he also was able to get batters to swing at 37.4% of pitches outside the strike zone. His matchups haven’t been easy either since he has already faced the Yankees, Astros and the Rockies in Coors Field. The Mariners have an excellent .767 OPS on the road, but they only have a .708 OPS at home. Barria isn’t overly expensive on either site, but he is really cheap on FanDuel, making him someone to consider for tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/12/18

Jose Martinez vs. Matt Strahm, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,500

Martinez is on one of those streaks where you want to keep plugging him into your lineup and riding the wave. Not only is he on a nine-game hitting streak, but he is 17-for-32 (.531) with five home runs during that stretch. This will likely be a bullpen game with Strahm scheduled to start things off, so don’t hesitate to roll with Martinez again.

C.J. Cron vs. Jaime Garcia, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,100

Right-handed pitchers have held Cron to a .328 wOBA this season, but he has a .398 wOBA against lefties. Garcia has certainly been an underwhelming member of the Blue Jays rotation, posting a 5.57 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP in 11 starts. He walks a lot of batters and gives up plenty of homers as well, potentially setting up Cron and the Rays for an offensive outburst.

Others to consider: Freddie Freeman (first base) and Wilson Ramos (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/12/18

Whit Merrifield vs. Sal Romano, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,900

The only real negative with Merrifield this year is that he only has four home runs after hitting 19 last year. He hasn’t been totally devoid of power, though, since he does have 20 doubles. He’s still hitting for average at .286 and has been showcasing his speed with 14 stolen bases. He has also doubled his walk rate up to 9.2%. Romano has an unsightly 6.23 ERA this year, so be sure to take advantage with Merrifield.

Daniel Descalso vs. Trevor Williams, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,800

Descalso continued to swing a hot bat Monday, going 2-for-5 with a triple and three RBI. His slugging percentage sits at .510 overall, significantly higher than his .370 career mark. He’s someone you especially want to target against right-handers since he has a 151 wRC+ against them this year. Williams has allowed at least four runs in each of his last four starts, opening up an opportunity for Descalso to excel again Tuesday.

Others to consider: Scooter Gennett and Ben Zobrist

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/12/18

Mike Moustakas vs. Sal Romano, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,300

The Royals lineup isn’t normally one you want to target for a stacking opportunity, but you should against Romano. Moustakas is another great option since Romano has a 1.7 HR/9. Moustakas crushed 38 homers in 2017 and has followed that up with 13 in the early going. 11 of those have come against righties, who he has a .378 wOBA against.

Matt Duffy vs. Jaime Garcia, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,200

Duffy is finally healthy and is showing flashes of the success he had with the Giants in 2015 when he batted .295 with 12 home runs. He only has two homers this year, but he’s currently on a seven-game hitting streak that has helped boost his average to .318 overall. His abnormally high .397 BABIP isn’t a good sign for his long-term prognosis, but he’s still someone to consider at this cheap price based on Garcia’s struggles.

Others to consider: Jose Ramirez and Max Muncy

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/12/18

Francisco Lindor vs. James Shields, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $5,000

Lindor couldn’t cash in on a great matchup Monday against Lucas Giolito, finishing o-for-4 with a walk. That marked the sixth time in the last seven games that he has failed to get into the hit column. He was really hot heading into this recent dry spell and is a career .293 hitter, so don’t expect this slump to last too much longer. This could be just the matchup he needs to get back on track considering Shields’ struggles and that Lindor is 4-for-7 with a home run against him in his career.

Brandon Crawford vs. Trevor Richards, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,100

The Giants lineup is filled with plenty of veteran bats, but it hasn’t exactly been stellar this year. One player who has stood out is Crawford, who is batting a career-high .338. He likely won’t be able to keep up his .394 BABIP, but it is encouraging that he has 39.3% hard-hit rate. Richards allows way too many baserunners with a 1.50 WHIP, making Crawford a viable option for your entry if you can’t afford Lindor’s hefty price tag.

Others to consider: Didi Gregorius and Willy Adames

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/12/18

Marcell Ozuna vs. Matt Strahm, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $3,800

Martinez is certainly swinging a hot bat for the Cardinals, but he’s not their only hitter who is currently on top of his game. Ozuna is 13-for-34 (.382) with three home runs in his last nine games. He’s shown an excellent eye at the plate with only two strikeouts to go along with three walks during that stretch. He had a 24.1% strikeout rate heading into May, but he only has a 12.8% strikeout rate since, which has helped boost his average from .250 to .278.

Joc Pederson vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $4,300

Colon’s 4.18 ERA doesn’t tell the real story of how he is pitching this season. He does have great control with a 1.3 BB/9, but opponents aren’t going to have just a .231 BABIP against him over the entire season. He doesn’t have strikeout stuff and has allowed 2.0 HR/9, which is going to open him up to some bad games when hitters stop being so unlucky in terms of BABIP. Pederson has a .395 wOBA against righties this year and has six home runs in his last six games.

Alex Gordon vs. Sal Romano, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = #3,100

We’ve already established that Romano has been bad this year, but he’s been even worse against lefties as they have a .400 wOBA against him. Gordon is nowhere near the hitter he was in his prime, but he’s hitting a respectable .269 after really being dominated the last two years. You can’t even consider playing him against lefties, but his .346 wOBA against righties makes him a cost-effective option worth considering against Romano.

Others to consider: Nick Markakis and Lonnie Chisenhall

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/6/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

June special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout

There are five games with early start times Wednesday, but let’s focus on the main evening slate in DFS. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/6/18

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

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

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

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

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/6/18

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

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

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

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

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

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/6/18

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

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

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

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

Others to consider: Jed Lowrie and Ian Kinsler

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/6/18

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

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

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

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

Others to consider: Nolan Arenado and Luis Valbuena

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/6/18

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

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

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

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

Others to consider: Didi Gregorius and Marcus Semien

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/6/18

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

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

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

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

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

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

Others to consider: Mike Trout and Dustin Fowler

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/4/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
May special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout

Monday brings an extremely light slate with only five games, four of which make up the main evening contests in DFS. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/4/18

Nick Tropeano vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $8,000
DraftKings = $8,300

Tropeano missed the 2017 season after having Tommy John surgery and hasn’t made more than 13 starts in a season during his career. He’s been able to make eight starts so far this year, posting a 3.80 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. His 4.91 FIP and 1.6 HR/9 are a bit concerning, especially if you own him in season-long fantasy. This sets up to be a favorable matchup against the Royals, though, who struggle against right-handed pitching. They have a .749 OPS against lefties, but only a .692 OPS against righties. With no elite aces taking the mound, Tropeano has the potential to provide value.

Julio Teheran vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $7,600
DraftKings = $9,800

Teheran had a subpar year for the Braves in 2017, finishing with a 4.49 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. A lot of that had to do with his troubles pitching in the new SunTrust Park as he had a 5.86 ERA there compared to a 3.14 ERA on the road. He has experienced similar results this year with a 4.91 ERA at home and a 3.18 ERA on the road. That’s good news Monday considering this game is in Petco Park, especially when you add in the fact that the Padres have the third-lowest OPS against righties (.652) in baseball.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/4/18

Greg Bird vs. Mike Fiers, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,000

The Yankees and Tigers are playing a doubleheader Monday, so not all of their regulars might play in the night portion. If Bird takes the field for the Yankees, he’s definitely someone to consider for your entry. After failing to record a hit in his first game of the season, he has logged at least one in five straight games. He’s shown power a well with a home run and two doubles. Fiers has allowed a .367 wOBA against lefties this season.

John Ryan Murphy vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,700

Murphy showed some promise early in his career as the backup catcher for the Yankees, but he didn’t play much in the majors the last two seasons. He’s only played 34 games this year, but he has already set career highs with eight home runs and 17 RBI. Five of his eight home runs have come in the last eight games. Murphy won’t be able to keep this pace up, but it’s worth trying to ride his hot bat Monday against the struggling Holland.

Others to consider: Buster Posey (catcher) and Albert Pujols (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/4/18

Joe Panik vs. Zack Godley, Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,000

Panik was carrying the Giants offense earlier this season before landing on the DL with a thumb injury. He has picked up right where he left off, hitting 6-for-11 in the three games since he has returned. Godley has pretty even splits against lefties and righties in his career, but he’s allowing way too many baserunners with a 1.54 WHIP this season. Panik won’t cost much either, making him viable option to consider.

Ian Kinsler vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,900

Kinsler is finally starting to show signs of life, hitting 12-for-28 (.429) in his last seven games. He’s provided plenty of power during that stretch as well with three home runs and three doubles. He still only has a .215 BABIP, leaving him with plenty of room to continue to improve his batting average. Duffy has pitched better his last two starts, but he has allowed a .393 wOBA to right-handed hitters. Look for Kinsler to continue his hot hitting Monday.

Others to consider: Ozzie Albies and Gleyber Torres

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/4/18

Jeimer Candelario vs. Domingo German, New York Yankees
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $3,900

The Tigers are at the start of what could be a lengthy rebuilding process, but they may have found their third baseman of the future with Candelario. After batting .330 with two home runs in 27 games with the Tigers at the end of last year, he is off to a great start by hitting .276 with nine home runs and 13 doubles. His .370 OBP percentage is impressive as well. German has had his moments filling in for the injured Jordan Montgomery (elbow) but has generally struggled with a 5.45 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. If Candelario is indeed in the lineup for the nightcap, he is an excellent option to consider.

Miguel Andujar vs. Mike Fiers, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,100

Speaking of promising young third baseman, Andujar is making a case to be locked in at the hot corner for the Yankees for years to come. Not only is he batting .294, but his six home runs and 18 doubles have led to an impressive .517 slugging percentage. Don’t be worried that he doesn’t get the righty/lefty split advantage here because he is actually hitting better against righties with a .376 wOBA.

Others to consider: Zack Cozart

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/4/18

Didi Gregorius vs. Mike Fiers, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,300

Gregorius couldn’t have been much worse in May, batting .151 with one home run. He was hitting .327 with 10 home runs before the month began, providing fantasy owners with two extreme swings in production. He’s showing signs of coming out of his funk now, hitting 8-for-22 (.364) across his last five games. He has a .349 wOBA against righties this year even after his massive slump, leaving him with a favorable matchup against Fiers.

Dansby Swanson vs. Clayton Richard, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $2,800
DragyKings = $3,500

Swanson only hit six homers in 144 games for the Braves last year, but he’s already up to five this season with two of them coming in his last three games. He never hit more than nine home runs in a season in the minors, but he could hit double-digit homers if he can stay healthy. He’s a cheap option to target against lefties as well since his career wOBA is 37 points higher against them than it is against righties.

Others to consider: Andrelton Simmons and Brandon Crawford

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/4/18

Mike Trout vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $6,000

Trout is a great choice most nights, but with so few games Monday leaving fewer high-end options than normal, he stands out from the crowd. His numbers are great across the board, but he also has a lofty 220 wRC+ against lefties this year. Pay up to get him into your lineup.

Justin Upton vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,000

Upton is still hitting for power with 12 home runs, but his .235 average is certainly disappointing. His .284 BABIP is 42 points below his career mark, so he could make gains with his average as the season wears on. He generally hits lefties well and has had excellent success against Duffy in his career, hitting 6-for-17 (.353) with two home runs and two doubles.

Leonys Martin vs. Domingo German, New York Yankees
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,700

Martin was horrid splitting time between the Mariners and Cubs last year, hitting only .172 with a .281 slugging percentage. He was dragged down by a .207 BABIP that was almost 100 points lower than his career mark. His BABIP is much more reasonable at .291 this year, resulting in a .257 average. He’s hit for power too with seven home runs and 10 doubles. With a .377 wOBA against righties, Martin is a cheap option with upside.

Others to consider: Aaron Judge and Nicholas Castellanos

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 11

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
June special! Use Code PAMLB30 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

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 11

Luis Severino, New York Yankees: at DET, at NYM

The Yankees potent lineup gets the majority of the headlines, but Severino is just as important as anyone on the team. He put together a breakout campaign in 2017, finishing with a 2.98 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and a 10.7 K/9. He’s been even better through his first 12 starts this year with a 2.31 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and a 10.6 K/9. His average fastball velocity is 98.2 mph and he has thrown a first-pitch strike to an impressive 70.1% of the batters that he has faced. The Mets are tied for the fourth-fewest runs scored (230) in baseball and the Tigers lineup has been middle of the pack, leaving Severino with the potential for an extremely valuable week.

Carlos Martinez, St. Louis Cardinals: vs. MIA, at CIN

Martinez has not pitched in almost a month due to a strained lat, but he will be activated from the disabled list Tuesday. He had a sparkling 1.62 ERA before the injury, but his 3.35 FIP and .237 opponents BABIP indicate he has been a bit lucky. The FIP is still good, though, and he’s only allowed one home run in 50 innings. His first start of the week comes against a Marlins team that has scored the fewest runs (196) in baseball. The Reds are certainly better offensively, but Martinez has already faced them twice this year, throwing 13 scoreless innings while recording 18 strikeouts. Get him right back into your lineup.

Kyle Hendricks, Chicago Cubs: vs. PHI, vs. PIT

Hendricks isn’t a big strikeout pitcher with a 7.6 K/9 for his career. He doesn’t walk many hitters and does a good job keeping runners off base in general, which has helped him quietly become a very successful pitcher. He’s off to another good start this year with a 3.19 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. He doesn’t get hit hard often, allowing more than three earned runs in a game only one time this season. The Phillies are in the bottom-third of the league in runs scored and while the Pirates have scored more runs, Hendricks has held them to four runs in 11 innings in their first two meetings this year.

Nick Tropeano, Los Angeles Angels: vs. KC, at MIN

Tropeano missed the entire 2017 season after having Tommy John surgery and hasn’t made more than 13 starts in a season during his career. He’s been able to make eight starts so far this year, posting a 3.80 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. His 4.91 FIP and 1.6 HR/9 are a bit concerning, limiting his upside over the course of the season. This is setting up to be a nice week for him, though, against the Royals and Twins as neither team scores a ton of runs. He has already faced both teams once this season, throwing 6.2 scoreless innings and recording six strikeouts against the Royals while allowing three runs to go along with two strikeouts in six innings against the Twins. Tropeano is still available in 82% of Yahoo! leagues and is a viable streaming option.

Starters to Avoid

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 11

Zack Godley, Arizona Diamondbacks: at SF, at COL

Godley isn’t off to a great start with a 4.38 ERA and a 4.44 FIP through 11 outings. His success last year was in large part due to his 1.14 WHIP, which has ballooned to 1.54 this year. His .316 BABIP allowed isn’t much higher than his career mark, which is not good news for his value moving forward. His first matchup this week against the Giants is not bad, but his second outing in Coors Field could be a nightmare. That game alone is a reason to keep him on your bench in Week 11.

Clayton Richard, San Diego Padres: vs. ATL, at MIA

It’s been another underwhelming season for Richard, who has a 4.74 ERA and a 4.14 FIP in 12 starts. His 1.31 WHIP isn’t terrible, but he has very little strikeout upside with a 5.9 K/9 for his career. His second start this week against the Marlins is a great matchup, but don’t get too excited about him as a streaming option. The Braves are not only tied for the fourth-most runs scored (293) in baseball, but they also have the highest OPS against lefties (.806). Since he likely won’t provide a lot of strikeouts even in his start against the Marlins, it might be best to avoid him altogether.

Jason Vargas, New York Mets: vs. BAL, vs. NYY

Vargas won a career-high 18 games for the Royals last year and made the All-Star team for the first time. He moved to the Mets in the offseason but he has been limited to six starts due to injury. He was hammered in his first three outings but hasn’t given up a run in two of his last three starts. One of those came against the Braves, which is particularly impressive considering their success against lefties. Even with his recent success, you still want to stay away from streaming him this week. The Orioles aren’t exactly imposing, but the Yankees have the second-highest OPS against lefties (.799) and can still do a ton of damage even without the luxury of having the DH playing at Citi Field.

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/1/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
May special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout

After a quiet night that included a rainout Thursday, baseball is loaded with 15 night games Friday. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

STARTING PITCHERS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/1/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/1/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/1/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/1/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/1/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/1/18

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 Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 10

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
May special! Use Code PAMLB30 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

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 10

Tyler Skaggs, Los Angeles Angels: at DET, vs. TEX

Despite the Angels using a six-man rotation, they have no off days this week, which will lead to Skaggs getting a rare two-start week. Skaggs is pitching well with a 3.11 ERA, 3.65 FIP, and 1.24 WHIP this year. He’s not a glaring regression candidate either with a .306 BABIP allowed that is almost right in line with his career mark. One of his big improvements has been his 10.6% swinging-strike rate that has resulted in a 9.7 K/9. Both the Tigers and Rangers are middle-of-the-pack in terms of runs scored and Skaggs actually held the Rangers to one run while recording seven strikeouts over five innings earlier this season.

Tyson Ross, San Diego Padres: vs. MIA, vs. CIN

Ross finally looks like the pitcher he was before having thoracic outlet surgery in 2016. Last year was a disaster with the Rangers, but rejoining the Padres seems to have been a wise move on his part. He has already thrown more innings than he did last year and has excelled, recording a 3.13 ERA and 3.35 FIP. He threw a first-pitch strike to only 46.2% of the batters he faced in 2017 but has shown much more control this year, throwing a first-pitch strike 59.1% of the time. His strikeouts are back up as well with a 9.5 K/9. His first start of the week is a great matchup against a Marlins team that has scored the fewest runs in baseball. The Reds will be a tougher task, but they don’t exactly have an overpowering offense either.

Caleb Smith, Miami Marlins: at SD, at ARI

After getting a brief taste of the majors with the Yankees last year, Smith was traded to the rebuilding Marlins in the offseason. The Marlins were lacking starting pitching depth, resulting in Smith being a member of their rotation right out of the gate. He’s made a case to stay there for the foreseeable future, recording a 3.83 ERA, 3.04 FIP and 1.22 WHIP across 10 starts. He’s been a stellar source for strikeouts with an 11.9 K/9. If he is going to continue to have success, he’s likely going to need to cut down his 4.6 BB/9 significantly as the season wears on. This could be a great week for him, though, facing the Padres and Diamondbacks, two teams in the bottom-six in baseball in runs scored. Smith is currently available in 68% of Yahoo! leagues and is one of the stronger streaming options for Week 10.

Adam Plutko, Cleveland Indians: vs. CWS, at MIN

Josh Tomlin was a disaster to begin the season, which has resulted in Plutko getting a chance to start. He was pitching well at Triple-A with a 2.25 ERA and 0.82 WHIP. He’s not a big strikeout pitcher with a career 7.5 K/9 in the minors, but he has done a good job keeping runners off base with a 1.17 WHIP. He’s made two starts in the majors this year and threw six shutout innings with four strikeouts in his last outing against the Cubs. The White Sox and the Twins are both in the bottom-five in baseball in runs scored, so Plutko is someone to consider this week if you are desperate for pitching. He is still available in 94% of Yahoo! leagues.

Starters to Avoid

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 10

Dylan Bundy, Baltimore Orioles: vs. WAS, vs. NYY

Bundy has been about as unpredictable as it gets this season. He has allowed three runs or fewer in seven of his 11 starts but has also given up at least seven runs three times. Homers have been a problem for him throughout his career and he has already allowed 14 in 62.2 innings this season. The Yankees have hit the most home runs in baseball and the Nationals have hit the fifth-most, so this could be the week to sit Bundy.

Aaron Sanchez, Toronto Blue Jays: at BOS, at DET

Sanchez has been able to stay healthy, but his 4.07 ERA and 4.93 FIP are nothing to write home about. He’s allowing way too many baserunners with a 1.52 WHIP, largely because of his 5.5 BB/9. He’s never been a big strikeout pitcher either with a career 6.9 K/9. This will already be his third start of the season against the Red Sox, allowing five runs (four earned) across 11 innings in the first two. He did give up a home run in each start, though, and issued five walks, so he was anything but dominant. The Tigers start isn’t a horrible matchup, but having to face the Red Sox again makes him a risky option for your lineup.

Brandon McCarthy, Atlanta Braves: vs. NYM, vs. WAS

McCarthy is another pitcher who has flirted with danger this season with a 1.58 WHIP. He has been a bit unlucky with opponents posting a .350 BABIP against him, but he’s not fooling many hitters with just a 7.0% swinging-strike rate. He doesn’t pitch deep into games either, throwing at least six innings in only two of his 10 starts. The Mets and Nationals both have trouble hitting left-handed pitching, but they are also both in the top-10 in baseball in OPS against right-handers. Without much strikeout upside, McCarthy just isn’t worth the risk.