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MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/2/18

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout

Only nine games make up the main evening slate in DFS on Thursday, but there are excellent pitching options available with Max Scherzer, Zack Greinke, Clayton Kershaw and Madison Bumgarner all scheduled to take the mound. 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 8/2/18

Max Scherzer vs. Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $11,800
DraftKings = $13,000

Scherzer mowed down the Marlins in his last start, giving up one unearned run and recording 11 strikeouts over eight innings. He allowed just four baserunners, helping lower his WHIP to 0.90. This would mark the fourth consecutive season that Scherzer has finished with a WHIP of 0.97 or lower. He continues to be an elite source for strikeouts, as well, with a 12.1 K/9. This will mark his second start of the year against the Reds after he had 10 strikeouts in six scoreless innings during their first matchup. He’s expensive, but he also has the highest ceiling of anyone taking the mound Thursday.

Nick Pivetta vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $8,300
DraftKings = $8,500

Pivetta has hit a rough patch, posting a 7.71 ERA and a 1.67 ERA across his last six outings, five of which were starts. However, his FIP wasn’t nearly as bad at 4.83 and he was very unlucky with opponents posting a .410 BABIP. He also had a 12.7 K/9 during that stretch, helping boost his overall K/9 to 11.2 this season. He pitched well in his only other start against the Marlins, recording nine strikeouts over 5.2 scoreless innings. The Marlins have scored the fifth-fewest runs (419) in baseball, making Pivetta a great cost-effective to consider.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/2/18

Justin Smoak vs. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,100

Although he’s still only 32 years old, Hernandez has thrown more than 2,600 innings in his career. It appears all those innings have taken a toll on him as his average fastball velocity is a career-low 90.2 mph this year. Hernandez hasn’t been able to adjust to his dip in velocity so far, resulting in a 5.58 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. Smoak has a .379 wOBA against right-handed pitchers and could provide plenty of value at his reasonable price on both sites.

Kurt Suzuki vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,800

The Braves will likely be one of the most popular stacks of the day with Vargas on the mound for the Mets. He’s had a disastrous first season in New York, posting an 8.36 ERA and a 1.79 WHIP. Suzuki doesn’t have great numbers overall, but he does have a .352 wOBA against lefties.

Others to consider: Steve Pearce (first base) and Wilson Contreras (catcher)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/2/18

Ozzie Albies vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $5,000

Albies only had three home runs in July, but he posted a .304 batting average, which was his highest of any month this season. He doesn’t walk much, but he doesn’t strikeout out a ton, either, with a 16.9% strikeout rate. He’s another Brave to target versus Vargas based on his .357 wOBA against lefties.

Daniel Murphy vs. Tyler Mahle, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,500

Another popular stack will likely be the Nationals against Mahle. Not only does Mahle allow plenty of baserunners with a 1.52 WHIP, but he’s also given up 21 home runs in 107.1 innings. Left-handed hitters have a robust .414 wOBA against him, potentially setting up Murphy for a big night.

Others to consider: Javier Baez and Rougned Odor

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/2/18

Anthony Rendon vs. Tyler Mahle, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,700

Rendon doesn’t get the platoon advantage in this game, but he has a .352 wOBA against righties. He’s hot right now, batting .317 with four home runs, 16 RBI and 14 runs scored across his last 15 games. His walk rate is down significantly this year, but his .523 slugging percentage would be the second-highest mark of his career.

Johan Camargo vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,100

The Braves did not add a third baseman at the trade deadline, which should allow Camargo to have a significant role down the stretch. He had only four home runs in 241 at-bats last year, but he has 12 long balls in 268 at-bats this season. He has a .388 wOBA against lefties, so he should be included in any Braves stack, especially when you consider his price.

Others to consider: Maikel Franco and Adrian Beltre

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/2/18

Trea Turner vs. Tyler Mahle, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $5,200

Turner’s .270 batting average has been a disappointment, but he is 12-for-30 (.400) over his last six games. He’s done damage when on the basepaths during that stretch, swiping six bags and scoring 10 runs. With Mahle’s struggles to keep runners off base, Turner carries tremendous upside.

Tim Beckham vs. Yovani Gallardo, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,800

The Orioles lineup has been stripped down significantly after the trades of Manny Machado and Jonathan Schoop. They are likely going to have trouble scoring runs, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find value in some of their hitters. In his last 13 games. Beckham is 14-for-51 (.275) with two home runs and three doubles. Gallardo is not an overwhelming pitcher with a 1.56 WHIP and a 5.6 K/9, leaving Beckham as a viable option in tournament play.

Others to consider: Elvis Andrus and Asdrubal Cabrera

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/2/18

Ronald Acuna Jr. vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,600

Acuna’s .264 batting average since being activated from the DL at the end of June isn’t overly impressive, but he has six home runs and seven doubles during those 24 games. He’s gone deep in back-to-back games and has a good chance to make it three straight Thursday since Vargas has allowed 2.6 HR/9.

Shin-Soo Choo vs. Andrew Cashner, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $4,900

Choo already has 20 home runs this year, which is only three away from setting a new career best. He’s always done a great job getting on base and this season has been no different with a .389 OBP. Cashner has an unsightly 1.50 WHIP and has allowed a .356 wOBA against left-handed hitters. Choo isn’t cheap on DraftKings, but his price on FanDuel could be a bargain.

Nick Williams vs. Pablo Lopez, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $4,100

Lopez posted a 2.93 ERA during his career in the minors, but he didn’t show dominant stuff with a 7.0 K/9. He has a 7.2 K/9 through his first five starts in the majors and has been hit hard with a 5.34 ERA, He’s also given up five home runs over 28.2 innings. Williams had his best month of the season in July by batting .311 with five home runs, making him a viable option in tournament play.

Others to consider: Juan Soto and Joey Gallo

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/12/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/12/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/12/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/12/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/12/18

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

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/12/18

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 6/21/18

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

June special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout

With several teams off and a few day games on the schedule Thursday, there are only seven games to pick from for 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 6/21/18

Max Scherzer vs. Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $12,200
DraftKings = $14,500

Scherzer is the clear top option on the slate Thursday. He has continued to be one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball with a 2.06 ERA, 1.94 FIP, and a 0.84 WHIP. He has only allowed eight home runs in 100.2 innings and has a career-high 13.6 K/9. This will mark his second start of the season against the Orioles after he recorded 12 strikeouts over eight scoreless innings in their first matchup. He’ll eat up a significant portion of your budget, but his upside is off the charts.

Tyson Ross vs. San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $7,400
DraftKings = $7,800

Ross couldn’t have looked much worse for the Rangers last year, posting a 7.71 ERA and a 1.84 WHIP. His return the Padres has rejuvenated his career, though, as he has a 3.51 ERA, 3.60 FIP and a 1.20 WHIP in 14 starts. He’s done a tremendous job cutting down on his walks, following up his 6.8 BB/9 last year with a 3.2 mark this season. Hitters are also chasing more pitches outside of the strike zone, helping boost his K/9 to 9.0. He has already faced the Giants twice this season, allowing two runs (one earned) and recording 14 strikeouts in 12 innings.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/21/18

Anthony Rizzo vs. Matt Harvey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,700

Rizzo is still trying to dig out of a horrid start that saw him enter May hitting .149. He batted .303 in May and is hitting .274 in June, helping boost his average to .247 overall. He has a .346 wOBA against right-handed pitching and will face the struggling Harvey, who has a 5.09 ERA and a 5.13 FIP since being traded to the Reds.

Matt Olson vs. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,900

With Giolito on the mound, stacking Athletics’ hitters could be a sound strategy. Giolito has a bloated 1.64 WHIP and actually has more walks (45) than strikeouts (40). The result has been a 7.19 ERA and 6.29 FIP across 14 starts. He’s also allowed a .401 wOBA to left-handed hitters, making Olson a great option if you can’t afford to fit Rizzo into your entry.

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

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/21/18

Jed Lowrie vs. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,200

As we continue our Athletics stack, Lowrie weighs in as one of the top options at second base. He’s cooled off considerably from his hot start to the season, but he is 9-for-23 (.391) with two home runs during his current five-game hitting streak. The switch-hitting Lowrie is also better from the left side of the plate, posting a .371 wOBA against right-handed pitchers.

Jedd Gyorko vs. Brent Suter, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,200

With the lefty Suter on the mound, Gyorko jumps out as a cheap option with upside in tournament play. He has a paltry 65 wRC+ against righties this year but has mashed lefties with a 201 wRC+. He has three home runs in 39 plate appearances against lefties compared to only two home runs in 123 plate appearances against right-handers.

Others to consider: Scooter Gennett and Daniel Descalso

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/21/18

Anthony Rendon vs. Kevin Gausman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $3,900

With the likes of Bryce Harper, Daniel Murphy, Juan Soto and Adam Eaton, the Nationals lineup is loaded with very good left-handed hitters. Rendon is an important right-handed bat in their lineup who destroys left-handed pitching. He doesn’t exactly struggle against righties, either, posting a .349 wOBA against them this year. With at least two hits in five of his last six games, Rendon is still an excellent option Thursday even though he doesn’t have the platoon advantage against Gausman.

Matt Davidson vs. Chris Bassitt, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,900

When you take a chance on Davidson, you’re hoping he connects for a home run since he is only batting .226 for his career. He does have 13 homers this year, including two in his last four games. Bassitt has only made two starts for the Athletics this season, the last of which he allowed six runs (two earned) in only four innings against the Angels. He had a 6.10 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP at Triple-A before being called up and is really only in the rotation right now due to all of Oakland’s injuries.

Others to consider: Kris Bryant and Jake Lamb

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/21/18

Trea Turner vs. Kevin Gausman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,700

Although Turner’s 20 steals would be great for most players, it’s a bit disappointing for him considering he had 46 steals in only 98 games last year. He’s been caught stealing just twice, but his .266 average isn’t helping with his opportunities. He does have at least one hit in seven of his last eight games and actually has better numbers against righties (.335 wOBA) than lefties (.314 wOBA), bringing him into the discussion for this limited slate.

Marcus Semien vs. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,100

Semien has busted out his power stroke of late, recording two home runs and three doubles in his last five games. Giolito has had problems with home runs throughout his career in the majors, resulting in a 1.7 HR/9. Semien has very similar splits against lefties and righties, making him another viable option for an Athletics stack.

Others to consider: Andrelton Simmons and Addison Russell

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/21/18

Tommy Pham vs. Brent Suter, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,700

Pham has been on a rollercoaster ride this season. He was on fire at the start of the year, batting .341 through April. However, he couldn’t buy a hit in May as he hit only .195. He’s found a happy medium by batting .260 in June, recording at least one hit in all but three games he has played in the month. With a .361 wOBA against lefties, Pham has the potential for a big performance against Suter.

Kyle Schwarber vs. Matt Harvey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,300

We’ve already detailed that Harvey has struggled in general this season, but he has had even bigger problems against lefties, allowing a .393 wOBA. Harvey also gives up a lot of home runs with a 1.9 HR/9. Schwarber doesn’t hit for a high average and strikes out a lot, but he has a ton of power and enters Thursday having hit a home run in back-to-back games.

Jason Heyward vs. Matt Harvey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,900

Heyward hasn’t been able to live up to his big contract, although the Cubs did finally break their long World Series drought in his first season with the team in 2016. Heyward is currently having his best season in Chicago, batting .269 with a .749 OPS. He got off to a slow start, but he hit .283 in May and is batting .286 so far in June. You want to avoid him against left-handed pitching, but he’s some to consider against Harvey since he has a .349 wOBA against righties this year.

Others to consider: Juan Soto and Marcell Ozuna

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/5/18

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

Outside of a doubleheader between the Twins and White Sox, we’ve got a full slate of night baseball in the majors 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 6/5/18

Max Scherzer vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $12,000
DraftKings = $13,300

Scherzer mowed down the Orioles in his last start, allowing just three base runners and recording 12 strikeouts in eight shutout innings. In his 12 starts this season, Scherzer has allowed one or no runs six times. His 1.92 ERA is supported by a strong 1.94 FIP and 0.85 WHIP. Keeping runners off base continues to be a strength for Scherzer as this would mark his fourth straight season with a WHIP of 0.97 or lower. The Rays have scored the sixth-fewest runs (238) in baseball and won’t have the benefit of the designated hitter either, so don’t hesitate to pay up for Scherzer.

Sean Newcomb vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $8,900
DraftKings = $9,200

The Braves rotation has been much improved this year with Newcomb becoming one of the best pitchers on the staff. Other than a 4.3 BB/9, there is a lot to like about his numbers. In his 11 starts, he has a 2.73 ERA, 3.13 FIP, and a 1.21 WHIP. He’s only allowed three home runs in 62.2 innings and is getting plenty of strikeouts with a 9.2 K/9. His numbers are even better on the road, recording a 2.06 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and a 10.8 K/9 across seven outings. The Padres have struck out the second-most times (581) in baseball, leaving Newcomb with the potential for a valuable performance.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/5/18

Mitch Moreland vs. Artie Lewicki, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,600

Moreland is now locked in at first base for the Red Sox with Hanley Ramirez no longer with the team. Moreland is off to great start, hitting for both average and power. Not only is he batting .305, but his .631 slugging percentage would be by far the highest of his career. With a lofty .442 wOBA against right-handed pitching this year, Moreland is an excellent option against the underwhelming Lewicki, who will be making his first start of the season.

Greg Bird vs. Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,100

After going hitless in his first game of the season, Bird has at least one hit in each of his last six games. He adds another power bat to an already loaded Yankees lineup as he already has two home runs and two doubles. Estrada gives up a ton of homers, following up his 1.5 HR/9 in 2017 with a 1.8 HR/9 this season. A Yankees stack could provide a lot of production Tuesday, Bird included.

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

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/5/18

Whit Merrifield vs. Andrew Heaney, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,300

Merrifield is a bright building block for the Royals, hitting .288 with 19 home runs and 34 stolen bases in his first full season in the majors last year. He only has four homers this season, but he’s batting .291 with 14 steals. He’s also shown an improved eye at the plate, already recording 26 walks in 258 plate appearances after drawing just 29 walks in 630 plate appearances last year. With a career .389 wOBA against lefties, he’s a prime target facing Heaney.

Jonathan Schoop vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,500

Schoop was a force in the Orioles’ lineup last year, batting .293 with 32 home runs. He hasn’t been able to follow that up with a good start this season as he is batting just .238 with five homers. His hard-hit rate is way down at 22.3%, which is almost 14 percentage points lower than last year. Even with all of his struggles, he still has a .320 wOBA against lefties. Vargas has been getting hammered this season, so this might be the time to take a chance on Schoop in tournament play.

Others to consider: Gleyber Torres and Jed Lowrie

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/5/18

Eugenio Suarez vs. Kyle Freeland, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $5,100

After providing reliable production the last two seasons, the Reds locked up Suarez to a long-term deal this spring. He has rewarded their faith in him, batting .297 with 11 home runs and 44 RBI. Although the .297 average is the highest of his career, his .308 BABIP is actually slightly lower than his career mark. His 244 wRC+ against lefties this year is especially impressive, which could make him a tough out for Freeland.

Matt Chapman vs. Matt Moore, Texas Rangers
Stadium = Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $4,100

Moore is one of my favorite pitchers to stack against. He is having a terrible year with a 7.85 ERA and a 2.00 WHIP. He has allowed fewer than three runs in only one of his starts and doesn’t carry much strikeout upside. Righties have a .390 wOBA against him as well, so Chapman is someone to consider even though he has cooled off after a red-hot start.

Others to consider: Jose Ramirez and Miguel Andujar

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/5/18

Manny Machado vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,200

Machado is thriving in a contract year and could end up being one of the highest paid players in baseball this winter. He requested to be moved back to shortstop likely to increase his value, so he’s well aware of the impact an excellent season could have on his next deal. He has a 1.030 OPS this season after never posting an OPS above .876 in his career. You could go on for days about his excellent numbers, but another key stat is that he has a .405 wOBA against left-handed pitchers.

Brock Holt vs. Artie Lewicki, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,300

Holt is in line for more playing time with Dustin Pedroia (knee) back on the DL. Holt has dealt with his fair share of injuries during his career as well, but he’s healthy right now and batting a career-high .319. He’s been boosted by a .364 BABIP, but his strikeout rate is also down significantly. He has a .350 wOBA against righties this year, leaving him as a cost-effective option with upside.

Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Xander Bogaerts

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/5/18

Aaron Judge vs. Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $5,100
DraftKings = $5,400

Judge had a day to forget in a doubleheader against the Tigers on Monday, striking out a combined eight times. There’s no question that Judge is going to strike out a lot, but he still has a .271 average for his career. Considering Estrada gives up a lot of home runs and doesn’t have overpowering stuff, it’s no surprise that Judge is 8-for-20 (.400) with two home runs and two doubles against him.

Khris Davis vs. Matt Moore, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,900

Davis’ .230 average leaves a lot to be desired, but he hasn’t disappointed in the power department with 13 home runs already despite spending 10 days on the DL. His .248 BABIP is also 30 points below his career mark, so he has some room for improvement with his average.  Davis has pretty close splits against lefties and righties for his career and is an excellent option against Moore.

Brandon Nimmo vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,400

Cobb was hammered in his first three starts with the Orioles and while he has shown improvement, he has allowed 16 runs (15 earned) in his last 22.2 innings. He has allowed at least one home run in seven of his nine starts as well. Nimmo has played his way into the Mets leadoff role, batting .271 with a .421 OBP. He has seven home runs and six stolen bases and should continue to play every day even when Yoenis Cespedes (hip) does eventually return. Righties have found it very difficult to get Nimmo out as he has a .475 wOBA against them.

Others to consider: Nelson Cruz and Adam Jones

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/30/18

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

There are a few early games in baseball 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 5/30/18

Max Scherzer vs. Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $11,800
DraftKings = $13,900

Scherzer’s last start against the weak Marlins lineup seemed like a slam dunk, but he allowed four runs and only recorded four strikeouts in six innings. He came away with the win, but that’s certainly a disappointing start by his standards. He had logged at least 11 strikeouts in each of his previous three starts and has a 13.6 K/9 this season that would be the highest mark of his career. The Orioles have struck out the sixth-most times (499) in baseball, so look for Scherzer get back to his dominant ways Wednesday.

Ross Stripling vs. Philadelphia Phillies
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $7,300

The Dodgers starting rotation has been hampered by injuries yet again this season, forcing Stripling to start after beginning the year in the bullpen. Only two of his 49 appearances last year were starts as well. The move to the rotation has been a success so far, recording a 2.42 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 11.4 K/9 across five outings. Two of those games did come against the lowly Padres, but those are still impressive numbers. The Phillies offense has struggled with a .677 OPS on the road this season compared to a .757 OPS at home. Stripling won’t bust your budget either, making him a viable option in tournament play.

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/30/18

Anthony Rizzo vs. Joe Musgrove, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,500

Rizzo is finally coming out of his slump and is currently on an 11-game hitting streak. He’s had three multi-hit games over that stretch, going 15-for-42 (.357) and homering in both of his last two games. He still has a .342 wOBA against right-handed pitchers this year despite his early struggles, so look for him to continue his recent hot streak against Musgrove.

Ryon Healy vs. Matt Moore, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,300

The Rangers will activate Moore from the DL on Wednesday, bringing back one of the better pitchers to stack against this season. Through his first 10 games (nine starts), Moore has been atrocious with a 7.99 ERA and a 2.02 WHIP. Righties have hit him particularly well with a .394 wOBA. Healy also has a .373 wOBA against lefties for his career, making him an excellent cheap option to consider.

Others to consider: Salvador Perez (catcher) and Max Muncy (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/30/18

Ozzie Albies vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $5,200

Vargas has really fallen off after a making the All-Star team with the Royals last year, posting a 10.62 ERA and a 2.16 WHIP through five starts. He has only pitched 20.1 innings but has already allowed six home runs. He does have a 9.3 K/9, but don’t expect that to hold considering he has a 6.1 K/9 for his career. With a .430 wOBA against left-handers, Albies could be in line for a big performance Wednesday.

Jed Lowrie vs. Nathan Eovaldi, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,100

Lowrie got off to a scorching hot start this season but is only hitting .258 with three home runs in May. He had a .388 BABIP leading up to the month but has only posted a .296 BABIP since. He’s still someone to target against Eovaldi, though, who will be making his first start of the season after having elbow surgery. He has always allowed a lot of base runners with a career 1.38 WHIP and has never been a big strikeout pitcher either. Lowrie’s price has been dropping, especially on FanDuel, so this might be a good time to take advantage and get him into your lineup.

Others to consider: Asdrubal Cabrera and Starlin Castro

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/30/18

Nolan Arenado vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $5,400

Arenado is normally someone to target when the Rockies are playing at home as he has a .968 OPS at Coors Field for his career compared to a .795 OPS on the road. Add that to the fact that he is facing the lefty Holland and he becomes an even juicier option. Not only does Arenado have a 220 wRC+ against lefties this year, but Holland’s wOBA against righties is 134 points higher than it is against lefties.

Brian Anderson vs. Clayton Richard, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,200

The Marlins have scored the fewest runs (187) in baseball, but Anderson has been one of their few bright spots offensively. He has only hit two home runs, but he does have 13 doubles to go along with a .279 average and a .360 OBP. Anderson has a .365 wOBA against lefties this year while Richard has allowed a .350 wOBA to righties, so he could be someone to consider if you don’t want to pay up for Arenado.

Others to consider: Anthony Rendon and Jacob Turner

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/30/18

Trevor Story vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $4,800

Stacking righties on the Rockies against Holland could be a great move Wednesday. Story has actually never had a wOBA below .409 against lefties in any season of his career. He also rakes at Coors Field with a career .962 OPS compared to a .694 OPS on the road.

Jean Segura vs. Matt Moore, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,600

Segura was inadvertently kicked in the head while playing the field Saturday but returned to the lineup Tuesday to go 3-for-5 with a double. He now has at least two hits in six of his last nine games and his batting .324 overall this season. With a .364 wOBA against lefties this year, he’s another Mariner to target against the struggling Moore.

Others to consider: Trea Turner and Dansby Swanson

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/30/18

Bryce Harper vs. David Hess, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $5,300
DraftKings = $5,700

Harper is hitting .238 this season, but that’s mainly because of an incredibly low .213 BABIP. To put that into perspective, even when he hit a disappointing .243 in 2016, his BABIP was .264. He is still hitting for a ton of power with 17 home runs and has as many walks as he does strikeouts. He has a .406 wOBA against righties this year despite his struggles, making him an excellent option against the inexperienced Hess.

Juan Soto vs. David Hess, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $3,800

Soto has only appeared in nine games for the Nationals this season but already has four multi-hit performances. He has shown a good eye at the plate by drawing as many walks as he has strikeouts. He had 58 walks compared to 66 strikeouts in his career in the minors as well, so this could be a trend that he can sustain. He’s one of the bright young players in all of baseball and could provide plenty of value at this reasonable price.

Nelson Cruz vs. Matt Moore, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,400

A career .275 hitter, Cruz is only batting .227 this year. He’s been unlucky with a .234 BABIP that is significantly lower than his .306 career mark. His strikeout percentage is actually down this season and he still has a 35.8% hard-hit rate, making him an excellent buy-low candidate if you play season-long fantasy. With a career .389 wOBA against lefties, he also makes for a great option against Moore on Wednesday.

Others to consider: Eddie Rosario and Brandon Nimmo

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/25/18

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

With only one day game Friday, there is a bevy of options to choose from for 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 5/25/18

Max Scherzer vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $12,000
DraftKings = $14,000

Scherzer has won the Cy Young Award in both of the last two seasons and three times overall in his career. With the way he’s been pitching so far, he’s making a strong case to win it once again. He does an excellent job keeping runners off base with a 0.85 WHIP, which would be his fourth-straight season with a WHIP of 0.97 or lower. He also has a staggering 17.2% swinging-strike rate that has led to a career-high 14.3 K/9. What might be just as impressive is that he has only issued 16 walks in 65.2 innings. He’s a great option regardless of who he is facing, but especially against a Marlins team that has scored the fewest runs (167) in baseball.

Sean Manaea vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $8,300
DraftKings = $8,600

Manaea began the season by allowing two runs or fewer in each of his first six starts, highlighted by a no-hitter against the Red Sox. His last four starts haven’t gone nearly as well, allowing 16 runs (15 earned) in 22.2 innings. One of the main reasons for his recent struggles has been a regression in his BABIP allowed, which was .148 in those first six starts and was .301 in the last four outings. However, this might be the matchup he needs to get back on track since the Diamondbacks have scored the second-fewest runs (180) and they sorely miss A.J. Pollock (thumb).

CATCHER/FIRST BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/25/18

Matt Adams vs. Jose Urena, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,000

The Nationals have been decimated by injuries this season, opening up significant playing time for Adams. He’s come through in a major way, batting .273 with 11 home runs and 28 RBI. He even has those numbers despite his .264 BABIP being 50 percentage points lower than his career mark. He has followed up his .367 wOBA against lefties last year with a .441 wOBA this year, so Urena could have difficulty getting him out Friday.

Salvador Perez vs. Mike Minor, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,000

Minor’s transition back to being a starting pitcher has not gone well, allowing a 5.59 ERA and 1.32 WHIP across nine starts. His FIP has been a little better at 4.41, but he’s already allowed eight home runs in just 48.1 innings. He still gives left-handed hitters a lot of problems, but his .384 wOBA allowed to righties brings Perez into the discussion Friday.

Others to consider: Eric Hosmer (first base) and Edwin Encarnacion (first base)

SECOND BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/25/18

Ozzie Albies vs. Eduardo Rodriguez, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $5,300

After hitting nine home runs in his first 27 games, Albies has slowed down a bit with five homers in his last 21 contests. He only hit 16 total home runs during his career in the minors, so it’s no surprise that he’s started to regress in that department. One interesting note is that 12 of his 14 home runs this year have come on the road. He is crushing lefties as well, posting a 232 wRC+ against them this season.

Whit Merrifield vs. Mike Minor, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,300

Stacking righties against Minor could be a path to success Friday. Merrifield broke out of his recent slump with two hits Thursday and is batting .286 this season. Not only has he shown a nice combination of speed and power this year, but he also has a 226 wRC+ against lefties.

Others to consider: Cesar Hernandez and Josh Harrison

THIRD BASE

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/25/18

Jose Ramirez vs. Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $5,300

Ramirez is officially over his early-season slump, batting .338 with seven homers and five steals in May. He only had a .241 BABIP heading into the month, so you knew he was bound to improve as the season progressed. Keuchel is certainly a good pitcher, but his wOBA against righties is 50 percentage points higher than it is against lefties in his career. This might not be an obvious matchup to take advantage of, but Ramirez has upside.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa vs, Eric Skoglund, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,500

Skoglund is getting his first chance to be a permanent member of the Royals starting rotation and it’s not going well as he has a 6.15 ERA and 1.32 WHIP across eight starts. He doesn’t carry strikeout upside with a 6.9 K/9 and has allowed a .357 wOBA against right-handed hitters, making Kiner-Falefa a cheap option who could provide value.

Others to consider: Nolan Arenado and Miguel Andujar

SHORTSTOP

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/25/18

Jurickson Profar vs. Eric Skoglund, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $3,700

With Skoglund and all of his struggles, the Rangers are another team to consider stacking. Profar is finally getting consistent playing time with all of the Rangers injury woes and although he is batting just .237, he is hitting 7-for-22 with a home run, three doubles and 11 RBI in his last six games. He received the day off Thursday and missed out on a prime matchup against Danny Duffy, but facing Skoglund is just as favorable.

Dansby Swanson vs. Eduardo Rodriguez, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,200

Swanson couldn’t capitalize on his first opportunity to be an everyday player in the majors last year, batting only .232 with six home runs. He’s still not hitting for much power this year, but his .273 batting average is much improved. His .374 BABIP is high, so his average could decline as the season progresses. However, that might not start against Rodriguez since Swanson has traditionally had much more success against lefties.

Others to consider: Manny Machado and Trevor Story

OUTFIELD

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/25/18

Austin Meadows vs. John Gant, St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $3,800

Meadows has wasted no time making his mark in six games with the Pirates, batting .440 with three home runs and two doubles. He already has four multi-hit games and is creating a hard decision for the Pirates to make when Starling Marte (oblique) returns. Until then, continue to ride his hot streak.

Juan Soto vs. Jose Urena, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $3,400

Another one of the hot young prospects in baseball, Soto is 3-for-10 with a home run since being called up by the Nationals. Down some key outfielders, Soto should at least stay in the majors for the foreseeable future. Urena’s wOBA against lefties is 64 percentage points higher than it is against righties, making Soto another Nationals hitter to target.

Brandon Nimmo vs. Junior Guerra, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,600

With Yoenis Cespedes (hip) and Juan Lagares (toe) on the DL, regular playing time has opened up for Nimmo. He hasn’t let the opportunity go to waste, batting .294 with a .450 OBP. His .394 BABIP screams regression, but he did hit .280 with a .388 OBP in his career in the minors. He also has a .476 wOBA against righties this year, so he might be worth taking a chance on against Guerra.

Others to consider: Bryce Harper and Charlie Blackmon

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 6

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 6

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

We are heading into the month of May and while you normally don’t want to read too much into early stats, the sample size is starting to get large enough where some information can be gained on players values moving forward. 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. He 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 6

Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals: vs. PIT, vs. PHI

Scherzer is certainly one of the most dominant strikeout pitchers in baseball, posting a K/9 of at least 10.1 in six straight seasons. His strikeout rate has actually increased in three-straight seasons as well. He doesn’t give up much solid contact either with opponents posting just a 28.4% hard-hit rate against Scherzer for his career. He’s been dominant again this season, recording a 1.62 ERA, 1.77 FIP, 0.82 WHIP and 13.2 K/9 through six starts. The Pirates have been a good offensive team this year, but fare much better against left-handed pitching, hitting .284 against them compared to .255 against righties. The Phillies have the second-most strikeouts in baseball, so this could be a monster week from Scherzer.

Aaron Sanchez, Toronto Blue Jays: at MIN, at TB

Sanchez looked like one of the young emerging pitchers in baseball in 2016, finishing 15-2 with a 3.00 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. Blister problems derailed his 2017 campaign though, throwing only 36 innings. The blister problems seem to be behind him this year, already throwing 31.2 innings through five starts. He has a respectable 3.69 ERA, but his 1.33 WHIP and 4.3 BB/9 are a cause for concern. He’s not a strikeout pitcher either with a career 6.9 K/9. When he’s pitching well, he’s getting a lot of ground balls and keeping the ball in the ballpark, recording a 56.1% ground-ball rate and 0.8 HR/9 for his career. The Twins have scored the third-fewest runs in baseball and the Rays aren’t exactly an offensive juggernaut either, leaving Sanchez with the potential for a valuable week.

Eduardo Rodriguez, Boston Red Sox: vs. KC, at TEX

His 4.19 ERA and 1.28 WHIP in 2017 don’t jump off the page, but Rodriguez did have a 9.8 K/9. He threw a first-pitch strike to 61.2% of the batters that he faced, which was the highest mark of his career. He’s off to a similar start this season with a 3.63 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and 9.3 K/9 through four outings. Both the Royals and Rangers are in the bottom 10 in baseball in terms of runs scored with the Royals actually scoring the second-fewest runs in the league. Add that to Rodiguez’s strikeout upside and he could be in line for a valuable two-start week.

Sean Newcomb, Atlanta Braves: at NYM, vs. SF

The Braves are loaded with young talent, including Newcomb, who they are relying on to be an important part of their starting rotation. He’s had control issues in his brief Major League career, posting a 5.0 BB/9 through 127.2 innings. The good news is he doesn’t allow a lot of solid contact with a 27.4% hard-hit rate for his career. Add in his 9.7 K/9 last year and he can provide value despite his high walk rate. His first matchup this week against the Mets is excellent since they have the fifth-lowest batting average against left-handed pitchers (.219) this season. His second start brings the Giants, who have scored the sixth-fewest runs (100) in baseball. Newcomb is still available in 75% of Yahoo! leagues, so consider picking him up if you need a starting pitcher this week.

Starters to Avoid

MLB Fantasy Baseball Schedule Analysis for Week 6

Sonny Gray, New York Yankees: at HOU, vs. CLE

Gray posted a 3.72 ERA after being traded to the Yankees last year, but his 4.87 FIP indicates that he did not pitch nearly that well. He’s been terrible out of the gates this season with a 7.71 ERA and 2.14 WHIP. Opponents do have an abnormally high .375 BABIP against Gray, but he’s not doing himself any favors with a 6.9 BB/9. The Indians aren’t a great offensive team, but his matchup against the potent Astros lineup is scary. He won’t continue to pitch this poorly over the course of the season, but this might not be the week that he rights the ship.

Jakob Junis, Kansas City Royals: at BOS, vs. DET

Junis’ numbers look impressive with a 3.34 ERA and 0.87 WHIP through five starts. However, he hasn’t pitched nearly that well. He has a 5.78 FIP and has been extremely lucky with opponents registering a meager .155 BABIP. He has also allowed eight home runs in just 32.1 innings. That’s a recipe for disaster in a start against the Red Sox this week. He has pitched extremely well in two previous starts against the Tigers this season, but he may have already dug too big of a hole for your fantasy team to get out of by then.

Matt Koch, Arizona Diamondbacks: vs. LAD, vs. HOU

Koch hasn’t exactly put up overwhelming numbers during his career in the minors, recording a 4.54 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 5.7 K/9 in 505 innings. He’s only allowed three earned runs across 12 innings in his first two starts this season, but opponents have just a .194 BABIP. He’s allowed a 35.1% hard-hit rate as well, so don’t get too excited about two good starts. He’ll face two of the top 10 offenses this week in terms of runs scored, so keep him out of your lineup.

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 3/30/18

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 3/30/18

Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout

The thrill of Opening Day has come and gone, but there is still plenty of excitement for Friday’s slate of MLB games 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 3/30/18

Max Scherzer vs. Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $11,100
DraftKings = $12,700

The first game of this series was scheduled for Thursday but was pushed back a day due to rain. This leaves a unique opportunity to use one of the elite pitchers in all of baseball on the second day of the season. Scherzer was terrific on his way to winning the Cy Young Award in 2017, finishing with a 2.51 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, and 12 K/9. He’s one of the most dominant strikeout pitchers in all of baseball, recording a K/9 of at least 10.1 in six straight seasons. The Reds have one of the best hitters in baseball in Joey Votto, but their overall lineup is not overly impressive. Look for Scherzer to start off the season on the right foot with another excellent outing Friday.

Blake Snell vs. Red Sox
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $6,700
DraftKings = $6,800

Snell has had control problems in his brief major league career, but he showed signs of improvement over the second half of the season, walking just 25 batters in 77.1 innings. His numbers improved, as a result, recording a 3.49 ERA and 1.13 WHIP during that stretch. Snell has also been a much better pitcher at home, posting a 3.20 ERA and 9.7 K/9 at Tropicana Field in his career. The Red Sox lineup is no cake walk, but Snell has strikeout upside and might be worth taking a chance on at this cheap price in tournament play.

OFFENSIVE STACKS

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 3/30/18

Chicago Cubs vs. Caleb Smith (Miami Marlins)
Stadium – Marlins Park

The sad state of affairs for the Marlins starting rotation leads Smith to start their second game of the season. He’s pitched only 18.2 innings in the majors during his career, posting a 7.71 ERA and 1.66 WHIP. At 26 years old, Smith is not a hot rising prospect either. He’s not a big strikeout pitcher, recording an 8.5 K/9 during his minor league career. The Cubs already mashed the Marlins for eight runs on Opening Day, so don’t be surprised if they have another offensive explosion Friday.

Players to consider stacking: Kris Bryant, Wilson Contreras, Addison Russell

Houston Astros vs. Doug Fister (Texas Rangers)
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington

Fister has had a fine career, but he’s not much more than a journeyman starter at this point. He appeared in 18 games for the Red Sox last year, finishing with a 4.88 ERA and 1.38 WHIP. He had an 8.3 K/9, but don’t expect that to hold up this year as his career K/9 is only 6.2. The Astros have one of the most potent lineups in the league, which could spell disaster for Fister on Friday. Make sure to take advantage for your entry.

Players to consider stacking: Carlos Correa, George Springer, Brian McCann

SPLIT KINGS

This season we’ll dive even deeper into the matchups to provide you with some hitters that have favorable splits each day. All areas that will be considered are splits against certain teams, starting pitchers, home and road games, and success against either right-handed or left-handed pitchers. Outside of the favorable offensive stacks already discussed, these hitters could also help you create a winning lineup.

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 3/30/18

Freddie Freeman, 1B, Atlanta Braves
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $4,500

Freeman wasted no time getting off to a hot start this season, going 1-for-2 with a home run, two RBI, three runs and three walks Thursday. Friday brings a matchup against right-handed starter Nick Pivetta, who had a 6.02 ERA and 1.51 WHIP last season. Freeman also mashes right-handed pitching, batting .303 with a .531 slugging percentage against them in his career.

Khris Davis, OF, Oakland Athletics
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,100

Davis also started off the 2018 season in style, going 2-for-5 with a home run and four RBI Thursday. He’s an elite power bat, hitting at least 42 homers in back-to-back seasons. He’s had success against Friday’s starter Tyler Skaggs, posting four hits, one home run, three RBI and one walk in eight career plate appearances against him. Skaggs also gave up 13 home runs in just 85 innings last year, which could be troublesome against Davis.

Zack Cozart, 3B, Los Angeles Angels
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,000

Cozart made a good first impression with his new team Thursday, going 3-for-6 with a home run and a double. He is coming off the best season of his career in 2017 when he hit .297, but that was partly inflated by his abnormally high .312 BABIP. He crushed left-handed pitching last season, batting .337 with a .633 slugging percentage. He gets to face Athletics’ lefty Sean Manaea on Friday.

Corey Dickerson, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $4,000

Dickerson had an excellent season in 2017, batting .282 with 27 home runs and 62 RBI as he made his first All-Star team. The Rays moved on from several key pieces of their offense in the offseason, ultimately landing Dickerson with the Pirates. He gets to face Jordan Zimmermann on Friday, who posted an unsightly 6.08 ERA and 1.55 WHIP last season. He’s not a strikeout pitcher either with a career 5.8 K/9. Dickerson hits right-handed pitchers particularly well, with 24 of his 27 home runs coming against them last year.

2018 MLB Fantasy Baseball Season Preview: Starting Pitchers

2018 MLB Fantasy Baseball Season Preview: Starting Pitchers

With the offensive outburst that was experienced throughout the league in 2017, quality starting pitchers seem harder to come by this year in fantasy baseball. However, that doesn’t mean you still can’t assemble a quality staff for your squad. Let’s not only take a look at the cream of the crop but also at some starting pitchers who are overvalued and undervalued heading into 2018.

The Top Five

2018 MLB Fantasy Baseball Season Preview: Starting Pitchers

Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers

Kershaw is the elite of the elite when it comes to starting pitchers. Outside of his rookie season in 2008, Kershaw has never finished the season with an ERA above 2.91. His career ERA of 2.36 is off the charts and is in no ways a fluke considering his career FIP is 2.60. He does an excellent job keeping men off base, posting a WHIP of 0.95 or lower in each of the last five seasons. That’s a big reason why he posted a 2.31 ERA last year despite posting a career-high 1.2 HR/9. To top off his stellar numbers, he has a K/9 of at least 10.4 in four straight seasons. Injuries have limited him to 175 innings or fewer in back-to-back seasons, but his numbers are so outstanding when he is on the mound that he is the clear choice for the top starting pitcher in fantasy baseball.

Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals

Scherzer was a very good starting pitcher as a member of the Detroit Tigers, but he’s taken his game to the next level since joining the Nationals. In three seasons in Washington, Scherzer has never had an ERA above 2.96 or a WHIP above 0.97. His batting average against has decreased each year with the Nationals with opponents hitting a mere .178 against him in 2017. He’s also a strikeout machine, posting a K/9 of at least 10.1 in each of the last six seasons, topping out at a career-high 12.0 last year. Throw in the fact that he has logged at least 214.1 innings in five straight seasons and not only is he the second-best starting pitcher in fantasy baseball, but he is well worth a first-round pick.

Chris Sale, Boston Red Sox

Sale had arguably the best season of his career in 2017, finishing 17-8 with a 2.90 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and an insane 308 strikeouts in 214.1 innings. He is one of the most dominating strikeout pitchers in the game, posting a K/9 of at least 10.8 in three of the last four seasons. If not for a few rough starts in August and September and a stellar finish by Corey Kluber, Sale could have won his first Cy Young Award last year. Like Scherzer, Sale has been very reliable, throwing at least 208.2 innings in four of the last five seasons. The only reason he comes in third on this list behind Scherzer is that he had an ERA of 3.05 or higher in four of five seasons entering 2017. It’s a matter of splitting hairs though, so it could also cost you a first-round pick to get Sale on your team this year depending on the size of your league.

Corey Kluber, Cleveland Indians

Kluber closed out 2017 strong, going 11-1 with a 1.79 ERA and 0.77 WHIP in the second half of the season. Overall, he set or tied career highs last year in wins (18), ERA (2.25), WHIP (0.87) and K/9 (11.7) on his way to winning the American League Cy Young Award. His FIP was also 2.50, marking the third time in the last four seasons that he recorded a FIP of 2.97 or lower. With a career K/9 of 9.9, Kluber was able to make big strides in that category last year by posting a swinging strike percentage of 24.2%, significantly higher than his career mark of 20.3%. He may be in for a slight regression in the strikeout department this year, but he is still going to finish with great numbers overall. If you want him on your team, you’ll likely have to spend at least a second-round pick to get him.

Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals

Strasburg provided fantasy owners with a ton of value last year despite only logging 175.1 innings, finishing 15-4 with a 2.52 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 204 strikeouts. His FIP was just 2.72, marking the fourth straight season he had a FIP of 2.94 or lower. Like the other starters on this list, he is a dominant strikeout pitcher, recording a K/9 of at least 10.1 in each of the last four seasons. There is no doubt that when Strasburg is healthy, he is one of the top pitchers in the league. However, health has been a concern with Strasburg logging at least 200 innings only once in his career. He had actually thrown less than 150 innings in back-to-back seasons entering 2017. That’s the reason he comes in fifth on this list, but he is still worthy of being a fantasy staff ace.

Overvalued Players

2018 MLB Fantasy Baseball Season Preview: Starting Pitchers

Gerrit Cole, Houston Astros

Cole’s best season was in 2015 as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates when he finished 19-8 with a 2.60 ERA and 202 strikeouts in 208 innings. However, his numbers have declined in the two years since, finishing last year 12-12 with a 4.26 ERA and 196 strikeouts in 203 innings. His main problem in 2017 was a massive increase in home runs allowed. He only allowed 29 home runs from 2014 through 2016 but gave up 31 in 2017 alone. When you add in the fact that he also issued a career-high 55 walks, you get the big jump in ERA. There is a reason for optimism this year though as his ground ball to flyball ratio was 0.85 last year, which is almost right on pace with his career mark. His home run to flyball percentage jumped all the way up to 11.3%, almost double his previous career high. With some regression to the norm this season, Cole could get his ERA back down under 4.00. The problem is his ADP in the National Fantasy Baseball Championship (NFBC) is 81.79, ahead of players including Masahiro Tanaka (99.84) and Jose Berrios (106.66). Cole appears to be trending upward, but his ADP is too high right now to provide enough value for your squad.

Marcus Stroman, Toronto Blue Jays

Stroman is a fine starting pitcher, winning 13 games and posting a 3.09 ERA for the Blue Jays last season. He doesn’t provide much in the way of strikeouts though with a career K/9 of 7.3. Considering he has posted a 1.29 WHIP or higher in back-to-back seasons, that can be a bit of a scary proposition. If you are going to select a starting pitcher who doesn’t strike out a lot of hitters, he needs to help you in both ERA and WHIP, not just ERA. Stroman’s current ADP is 134.78, which is too high considering his limitations.

Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals

Gonzalez had a surprisingly good season in 2017, finishing 15-9 with a 2.96 ERA and 1.18 WHIP. It marked the first time he had an ERA under three and a WHIP under 1.20 since 2012. His 8.4 K/9 was on par with his career numbers, but he was somewhat lucky with opposing hitter having a .261 BABIP against him. For his career, that mark is .296. He also had a FIP of 3.93 last year, so some regression in 2018 seems likely. With a current ADP of 153.70, it might be wise to avoid him during your draft.

Undervalued Players

2018 MLB Fantasy Baseball Season Preview: Starting Pitchers

Lance McCullers, Houston Astros

After recording an ERA of 3.22 in both of his first two seasons in the majors, McCullers finished with an ERA of 4.25 in 2017. However, his WHIP (1.30), HR/9 (0.6) and FIP (3.10) indicate he was a bit unlucky last year in terms of his ERA. He posted an excellent 10.0 K/9, which was actually down from 11.8 in 2016. Considering his ERA should improve this season, he records a lot of strikeouts and he should get a lot of opportunities for wins on a great team, McCullers ADP of 145.15 is a bargain. He’ll have a better K/9 than Cole and could finish with a similar ERA and WHIP, so I’d much rather take him several rounds later.

Jacob Faria, Tampa Bay Rays

Faria faired well in his first taste of the big leagues last year, posting a 3.43 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 8.7 K/9. In his 24 career starts at Triple-A, Faria posted similar numbers with a 3.42 ERA and 1.14 WHIP, but his K/9 was significantly higher at 10.5. He had a 10.7 K/9 in 27 career starts at Double-A as well, so he could see an uptick in that department this season. Faria is just 24 years old heading into 2018 and is already an important part of the Rays rotation. His current ADP is just 233.29, which is far too low considering his upside. Don’t be surprised if his numbers are better than Stroman’s at the end of the season.

Tyler Chatwood, Chicago Cubs

Chatwood did not have a good season for the Colorado Rockies last year, finishing 8-15 with a 4.69 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 7.3 K/9. He was destroyed when he pitched in Coors Field, posting a 6.01 ERA and 1.68 WHIP in 70.1 innings. He was a much better pitcher on the road though with a 3.49 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in 77.1 innings. The move to the Cubs should do wonders for his value since his career ERA at Coors was an unsightly 5.17. With an ADP 269.64, he’s someone to consider targeting late in your drafts to add depth to your rotation, just don’t count on him for a lot of strikeouts.

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Lineup Stacks – Tuesday, September 19, 2017

*Austyn Varney*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Lineup Stacks – Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Put your favorite MLB daily fantasy baseball lineup stacks from the article below in our MLB Lineup Optimizer and hit calculate. You can let it fill in the rest of the spots for you or choose your personal favorites from the MLB Player Lab.

 

*STARTING PITCHERS*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Lineup Stacks - Max Scherzer - Lineuplab.com

Max Scherzer @ Atlanta Braves
Park – SunTrust Park
Opp implied total – 3.22

Did you expect anyone else? We do have a full slate on our hands tonight, but there aren’t a ton of pitching options to choose from. Scherzer is the clear top option and I suspect his ownership will certainly reflect that. You can still play him in cash games, though, as the performance he puts up could force you to the bottom if you fade. He has a great match-up with the weak Braves, who are easily one of the worst offenses in baseball. The still have the dangerous Freddie Freeman in the middle of the order, but Scherzer should be able to pitch around him rather easily. Scherzer has been as good as ever, sporting a .187 wOBA against righties and a .283 against lefties. He’s one of the undisputed best pitchers in the league and is just getting into playoff mode. I suspect him to go well over 100 pitches if things are going well and for the win to be in the bag with Luiz Gohara on the other side. Scherzer is the safest option by a longshot and he belongs in every cash game you make.

Zach Godley @ San Diego Padres
Park – Petco Park
Vegas O/U – 3.39

In tournaments and on 2 pitcher sites, you’ll need exposure outside of Max Scherzer. I’m just as uncomfortable with as you are, but it’s necessary. We, fortunately, have a few options who have some real upside and don’t rely on K’s or a terribled offense. Zach Godley has been a very consistennt pitcher for the D-Backs and one of the reasons they still have a chance to make the playoffs. Godley has held both righties and lefties to a sub .283 wOBA and has struck out close to 10 batters per 9 innings. He faces the Padres tonight, who we all know are atrocious. They are a bit better against righties, but a .311 team wOBA is far from impressive. Petco Park is the toughest bark in the league to hit HR’s in and with Godley playing most of his games at Chase Field, this is a monstrous upgrade. He should be able to go at least 6 or 7 innings and strikeout close to 10. He’s still a bit riskier than Scherzer, but his price is also lower, giving you more upside with the bats.

*OFFENSIVE STACKS*

MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Lineup Stacks - Nelson Cruz - Lineup Lab

Seattle Mariners Vs Martin Perez (Rangers)
Park – Safeco Field
Implied Total – 5.27

Even with so many games on the slate, I can’t find any complete gas cans to pick on. We do have a lot of younger guys, and of course, they can bust at any point, but they have a lot of talent and it’s tough to predict. For example, I’m not willing to bet on Jose Berrios having a bad game. It can still happen, but I’d much rather look towards a guy like Martin Perez. The Mariners hold the highest implied total on the day and should have no problem putting up some numbers. Martin Perez isn’t the worst lefty around, but he’s given up a .365 wOBA and 19 homers to righties in just under 130 innings. The Mariners are extremely dangerous against righties and you can also target the lefties in hopes we see a bullpen game. Nelson Cruz is the easy choice, as one of the absolute best hitters in baseball against lefties. Mitch Haniger isn’t a big name, but he has posted a .382 wOBA against left-handers. Jean Segura, Danny Valencia, and Taylor Motter are all pretty good against lefties as well and don’t be afraid to get some exposure. Cano and Seager are still amazing hitters, so I’m not willing to leave them off a stack. All in all, the Mariners are going to put up some runs and you should probably find a way to get exposure.

Main Stack – Nelson Cruz, Mitch Haniger, Jean Segura, Robinson Cano
Sneaky Stack – Nelson Cruz, Robinson Cano, Kyle Seager, Danny Valencia

Washington Nationals @ Atlanta Braves
Park – SunTrust Park
Implied Total – 5.16

The Nationals faced this kid just a few days ago and he was actually decent. He went 6 innings and gave up just 1 run on 6 hits. I suspect the Nats will have a much better idea of what’s going on in this one after going into last game with virtually no film. They now have his pitches on file and I’m a big fan of the righties. Anthony Rendon is one of the best hitters against lefties and I will have close to 100% exposure to him at 3B. He’sheld nearly a .500 wOBA against them on the season. Ryan Zimmerman isn’t far behind, either, and I wouldn’t put a stack together without either of them. Trea Turner is better against righties, but he’s still at the top of the order and has an immense amount of upside with the speed. The back of the order has studs against lefties with Werth and Kendrick that are a bit cheaper and have just as much upside. Don’t be afraid to play Daniel Murphy, who could see 2 or 3 at-bats against righty out of the pen.

Main Stack – Anthony Rendon, Ryan Zimmerman, Trea Turner, Jayson Werth
Sneaky Stack – Anthony Rendon, Ryan Zimmerman, Daniel Murphy, Howie Kendrick