Hitting could reign supreme considering the group of pitchers set to take the mound across baseball Monday. With that being said, there are still a few pitchers in favorable spots to provide value.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/1/2019
There’s not much to speak of in the majors Monday with only five games making up the main evening slate in DFS. Viable starting pitching options will be hard to come by, so look for hitters to reign supreme.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/27/2019
Baseball brings plenty of day games to the table Monday, leaving only four games for the main evening slate in DFS. Despite the limited schedule, there are actually a lot of good options available.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/1/2019
Wednesday’s evening slate in DFS will be dominated by elite starting pitching options. While there are some expensive studs who could shine, there are also some lesser-names that could provide value.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/15/2019
Monday brings a nine-game evening slate across DFS that will feature some of the better starters in the league. There are also plenty of stacking situations to target with some teams trotting out a member of the back of their rotation.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/29/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
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With several day games across the majors Wednesday, nine evening games make up the main 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
C.C. Sabathia vs. Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $8,200
DraftKings = $8,900
After a brief stint on the DL, Sabathia didn’t miss a beat in his first start since being activated, allowing two runs and recording eight strikeouts across six innings against the Orioles. Sabathia has posted at least seven strikeouts in four of his last five outings, increasing his K/9 to 8.2 for the season. He’s been stellar pitching at Yankee Stadium with a 2.44 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP across 12 starts. He held the White Sox to one run while registering 12 strikeouts over 5.2 innings in their first meeting this season and while that strikeout total will be hard to match, he can still provide value for your entry.
Alex Cobb vs. Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $7,200
DraftKings = $6,400
Cobb’s overall numbers don’t look great based on his 5.00 ERA and 1.41 WHIP. However, much of the damage done against him came during the first half of the season. He’s trying to end the year on a high note, posting a 1.80 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP in August. Maybe the most impressive part about his recent success is that four of those five starts game against the Yankees, Red Sox and Indians. He doesn’t have much strikeout upside with a 6.1 K/9, but he’s still someone to consider in tournament play at this cheap price.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Matt Carpenter vs. Trevor Williams, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,100
Carpenter cooled off a bit after his torrid start to August, but he’s starting to heat up again with six hits over his last two games. He’s provided a ton of power this season with 34 home runs and 38 doubles and is on pace to finish with an OBP of at least .380 for the third straight season. He could be in for another big performance Wednesday considering he has a .400 wOBA against right-handed pitchers and that he is 7-for-16 with three homers in his career against Williams.
Wilson Ramos vs. Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $4,900
Injuries have limited Ramos to just eight games since being traded to the Phillies, but he’s 14-for-30 with a home run and six doubles with his new team. He hasn’t started more than two consecutive days since joining the Phillies, but since he only appeared as a pinch hitter Tuesday, he should start this contest. It would also be wise for the Phillies to get him back into their lineup based on his 161 wRC+ against lefties.
Others to consider: Edwin Encarnacion (first base) and Brandon Belt (first base)
SECOND BASE
Jonathan Villar vs. Ryan Borucki, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,300
Villar has had plenty of success in the first two games of this series, going 5-for-7 with four runs scored and two steals. He has swiped seven bases since joining the Orioles, raising his total to 21 for the season. He now has four steals in his last five games against the Blue Jays and runners have already stolen 11 bases off of their catcher Danny Jansen in just 10 games. Borucki has allowed plenty of baserunners with his 1.53 WHIP, so Villar might run wild again in this contest.
Jason Kipnis vs. Kohl Stewart, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,100
The Indians are likely going to be a popular stack for the evening. They only have a .736 OPS on the road, but they have a .805 OPS at home. They also get a favorable matchup against Stewart, who has allowed nine runs over 11.2 innings in his first three starts for the Twins. Kipnis is batting .204 with a .555 OPS on the road, but he has a .250 batting average and a .807 OPS at home.
Others to consider: Travis Shaw and Brian Dozier
THIRD BASE
Justin Turner vs. Mike Minor, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $5,300
Turner logged two more hits Tuesday, marking his fourth straight multi-hit game. He’s turned his season around in August, batting .404 with five home runs and 11 doubles since the month began. Add in his 193 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers, overall, this season and Turner might be well worth his lofty price against Minor.
Mike Moustakas vs. Matt Harvey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,400
Harvey had a disastrous start to the season with the Mets, but he’s posted a respectable 4.14 ERA since joining the Reds. He does still have problems with home runs, though, giving up 14 in 95.2 innings since joining the team. Moustakas has hit 19 of his 24 homers off of righties this season, so he could be a threat to leave the yard again Wednesday.
Others to consider: Jose Ramirez and Miguel Andujar
SHORTSTOP
Manny Machado vs. Mike Minor, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $5,200
Believe it or not, Machado has never recorded 100 RBI in a season during his career. He drove in four runs in the first game of this series Tuesday, bringing his total to 86 for the season. He has a great chance at cracking the 100-RBI plateau, especially as part of a much more potent lineup with the Dodgers. He’s batting .302 with a .970 OPS over his last 12 games and has a high ceiling in this contest at hitter-friendly Globe Life Park in Arlington.
Tim Beckham vs. Ryan Borucki, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,300
DraftKings = $3,300
Beckham was a different hitter after joining the Orioles during the 2017 season, batting .306 with a .523 slugging percentage over 50 games. He hasn’t been able to follow that up with a strong campaign, though, batting .220 with a .355 slugging percentage. The good news is he plays every day now with Manny Machado and Jonathan Schoop no longer in the folder and his .409 slugging percentage in August is his highest of any month this season. With Borucki’s inability to limit baserunners, Beckham might be worth the risk in tournament play at this dirt cheap price.
Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Trea Turner
OUTFIELD
Christian Yelich vs. Matt Harvey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $5,800
Yelich has been everything the Brewers could have hoped for since acquiring him from the Marlins. He’s already set a new career-high with 25 home runs, seven of which have come across his last nine games. His walk rate is down, but his .310 batting average would also be the highest mark of his career. Harvey doesn’t exactly have overpowering stuff anymore, potentially setting up Yelich for a valuable performance.
Melky Cabrera vs. Kohl Stewart, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,400
Cabrera has hit his way into an everyday role with the Indians, batting .314 with six home runs and five doubles across his last 34 games. He’s also been able to provide plenty of counting stats with 16 RBI and 16 runs scored during that stretch. With the potential for this to be another high-scoring game for the Indians against Stewart, Cabrera is a viable option to consider for your entry.
Trey Mancini vs. Ryan Borucki, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,000
Mancini has caught fire, going 8-for-15 with two home runs, four doubles and a triple over his last four games. After batting .293 last year, his .241 average this season has been a significant disappointment. However, he’s still managed to hit for power with 19 homers and 20 doubles. At this cheap price, he could be well worth the risk in tournament play.
Others to consider: Greg Allen and Tyler O’Neill
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/13/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
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STARTING PITCHERS
Rick Porcello vs. Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $9,600
DraftKings = $9,800
Porcello already has 11 wins for the Red Sox, matching his total from all of 2017. Having a stellar lineup behind him certainly helps, but he’s also made significant improvements. He had a 1.40 WHIP and a 1.7 HR/9 last year, but this season he has a 1.17 WHIP and a 0.9 HR/9. His 3.58 ERA is supported by a 3.48 FIP and a career-high 22.7% strikeout rate. He also pitches deep into games, logging at least six innings in all but four starts. The Blue Jays have a .749 OPS at home this year, but only a .703 OPS on the road. Porcello has already faced them twice this season, allowing six runs (five earned) and recording 14 strikeouts across 13.2 innings. On a night that is lacking many top-tier pitchers, Porcello is one of the best options available.
Brad Keller vs. Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $6,100
DraftKings = $6,400
The Royals pitching staff has been a mess this season as their 5.35 team ERA is worst in the majors. Keller has been one of their few bright spots, though, recording a 2.52 ERA, 3.38 FIP and a 1.25 WHIP in 28 appearances, seven of which were starts. He doesn’t have much strikeout upside with a 5.2 K/9, but he’s only allowed one home run in 60.2 innings. He allowed 0.5 HR/9 during his career in the minors, so look for this to be a trend that continues. The White Sox have scored the sixth-fewest runs (365) in baseball and lost one of their hottest hitters to injury in Avisail Garcia, leaving Keller as a cheap option to consider in tournament play.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Brandon Belt vs. Edwin Jackson, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,400
Jackson continues to find a way to work himself into a major league rotation. He’s made three starts since joining the Athletics, giving up just six runs (five earned) in 18.1 innings. It’s hard to have much confidence in him, though, since he has finished with an ERA of 5.21 or higher in three of the last four years. Belt has a .410 wOBA against right-handed pitching this season, so don’t be surprised if he gives Jackson trouble.
Carlos Santana vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,000
Chen has been awful with a 6.14 ERA. His FIP is a little better at 5.09, but it’s still the highest of his career. He hasn’t been able to keep runners off base with a 1.55 WHIP and he has already allowed 11 homers in 66 innings. Strikeouts have been hard to come by for him as well with a 6.7 K/9. Santana hasn’t exactly thrived in his first season with the Phillies, either, but he’s priced low enough to be a viable option for your entry.
Others to consider: Wilson Ramos (catcher) and Yonder Alonso (first base)
SECOND BASE
Ozzie Albies vs. Zack Godley, Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,200
Albies is red hot again as he is 38-for-91 (.418) with four home runs, 13 RBI and 20 runs scored in his last 20 games. He’s slowed down from the torrid home run pace he was on earlier this season, but it’s very encouraging to see him adjust and come out of the slump he was mired in from the middle of May through the middle of June. Godley allows a ton of batters to reach base with a 1.56 WHIP, so look for Albies to continue his hot streak Friday.
Rougned Odor vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,500
Odor has finally shown signs of life again, going 14-for-44 (.318) with three home runs in his last 12 games. His overall average has improved to .242 as a result, but he only has six home runs. He has a lot of catching up to do if he is going to hit at least 30 homers for the third straight season. Cobb has a 1.62 WHIP and a 1.7 HR/9 in his first season with the Orioles, making Odor an excellent option at a reduced price, especially on FanDuel.
Others to consider: Dee Gordon and Jonathan Schoop
THIRD BASE
Jose Ramirez vs. Domingo German, New York Yankees
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $5,800
Ramirez homered against Thursday and has four home runs in his last three games. The fact that it came off of Luis Severino was especially impressive since Severino has only allowed 0.7 HR/9. He’ll face a much easier opponent in German on Friday, who has had problems keeping hitters inside the park with a 1.7 HR/9.
Mike Moustakas vs. James Shields, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,600
The Royals have already started to trade off some veterans and it makes sense that they look to move Moustakas as well. His batting average has regressed from .272 last season to .256 this year, but he’s still provided plenty of power with 19 home runs. Even though the Royals don’t score much, he still has 58 RBI. Lefties give him trouble, but he has a .358 wOBA against right-handed pitchers.
Others to consider: Nolan Arenado and Travis Shaw
SHORTSTOP
Trevor Story vs. Christian Bergman, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,300
Bergman made one start for the Mariners back in May but has mostly pitched in the minors this season. The fact that he had a 4.78 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP at Triple-A doesn’t really bode well for his chances pitching at Coors Field on Friday. Story mashes at home and is one of several Rockies’ hitters to target for your entry.
Elvis Andrus vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,100
Andrus only has 153 plate appearances this season due to injury, but he’s been a disappointment with just two home runs and one stolen base. After attempting 35 steals last year, he only has two attempts this season. His strikeout rate is down and his .281 BABIP is well below his .313 career mark, so he does have room for improvement in the second half. Considering Cobb’s struggles, this might be just what he needs to get back on track.
Others to consider: Xander Bogaerts and Scott Kingery
OUTFIELD
Charlie Blackmon vs. Christian Bergman, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $5,500
Blackmon has historically hit about the same amount of home runs on the road as he has at home, but he has a career .343 batting average at Coors Field compared to .263 on the road. He also has a career .371 wOBA against righties, making him an outfielder worth paying up for versus Bergman.
Carlos Gonzalez vs. Christian Bergman, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,700
As we continue to target lefties against Bergman, Gonzalez presents another excellent option at a favorable price. He’s not nearly the hitter that he was in his prime, but he’s quietly batting .275 with 10 home runs in 73 games. He also has a .357 wOBA against right-handers.
Steven Duggar vs. Edwin Jackson, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $2,300
DraftKings = $3,700
Duggar only had four home runs in Triple-A this year before being called up, but he did slug 27 doubles to go along with a .354 OBP. He’s not likely to play much against left-handed pitching, but he should be in the lineup against the right-handed Jackson. He could be worth the gamble in tournament play based on the salary relief he can provide for your budget.
Others to consider: Mookie Betts and Christian Yelich
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/18/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
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There are only 10 games in the majors Monday, but there are still a lot of great options to choose from in DFS. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
STARTING PITCHERS
Trevor Bauer vs. Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $11,200
DraftKings = $12,400
On many other teams, Bauer would be considered a staff ace. He doesn’t get that distinction in Cleveland with Corey Kluber ahead of him, but his 2.69 ERA and 2.32 FIP this year are impressive. His 1.12 WHIP has been a big reason for his success. His .303 BABIP allowed is right in line with his career mark, which makes his hot start even more encouraging for his long-term value. He also has at least 10 strikeouts in five of his last six starts, leading to an 11.6 K/9 overall. He faced these same White Sox in his last start, allowing three runs and recording 12 strikeouts in 7.2 innings. Look for him to have another great game Monday.
Andrew Suarez vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $6,600
DraftKings = $6,800
Suarez’s 4.92 ERA leaves a lot to be desired, but his 3.85 FIP indicates he isn’t pitching that poorly. He has a respectable 1.26 WHIP and an 8.5 K/9, but he’s been done in by a 1.4 HR/9. Most of his struggles have come on the road this season with a 6.18 ERA and a 1.66 WHIP, compared to a 3.55 ERA and a 0.83 WHIP at AT&T Park. Not only does he have the home start working in his favor, but he is also facing a Marlins team that has scored the second-fewest runs (253) and has hit the fewest home runs (56) in baseball. Suarez is a cheap option with upside in tournament play.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Evan Gattis vs. Ryne Stanek, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,300
Gattis is on a crazy run right now, hitting 17-for-44 (.386) with six home runs and 21 RBI in his last 11 games. The Astros lineup has been hot as a whole, which helped lead to that lofty RBI total. This will be another bullpen day for the Rays since Stanek has not pitched more than two innings in a game this season. Keeping riding Gattis’ hot bat until he shows signs of slowing down.
Yuli Gurriel vs. Ryne Stanek, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,800
Gurriel was batting only .224 entering May, but he batted .310 that month and has been even better with a .362 average in June. He only has two home runs this season overall, but he does have 13 RBI in his last 14 games with the Astros scoring in bunches. He doesn’t have the upside that Gattis does, but he’s still someone to consider at this reasonable price.
Others to consider: Paul Goldschmidt (first base) Cody Bellinger (first base)
SECOND BASE
Josh Harrison vs. Jhoulys Chacin, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,900
Harrison doesn’t put up flashy numbers, but he’s been a valuable part of the Pirates lineup this season. He’s batting .294 and although he doesn’t hit for a lot of power, he also doesn’t strike out much with a 13.7% strikeout rate. He is batting 15-for-41 (.366) in his last 10 games and has similar numbers against both lefties and righties, so don’t shy away from him because he doesn’t have the platoon advantage against Chacin.
Daniel Descalso vs. Jaime Barria, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,900
The Diamondbacks lineup struggled at the start of the season but has really turned things around of late. Descalso has been one of their constants this year, batting .281 with eight home runs. He is swinging at fewer pitches outside of the strike zone and has a 44.4% hard-hit rate, two factors that have been driving forces to his success. He also has a .407 wOBA against right-handed pitchers, making him someone to target against Barria
Others to consider: Jose Altuve and Asdrubal Cabrera
THIRD BASE
Mike Moustakas vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $3,900
Colon was pitching surprisingly well to start the season, but opponents had a crazy low BABIP against him and he wasn’t recording many strikeouts, so it was only a matter of time before his numbers started to decline. He’s been destroyed in his last five starts, allowing 25 runs in 23.2 innings. He also allowed 10 home runs during that stretch, setting up a nice matchup for the power-hitting Moustakas.
Adrian Beltre vs. Ian Kennedy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $3,700
Beltre has been bothered by hamstring problems this year, leaving him to play only 42 games. He’s performed well when he has been on the field, batting .326 with a .388 OBP. His power numbers aren’t great, but he has at least two hits in four of his last five starts. Kennedy allows a lot of baserunners and has had equal problems against both lefties and righties, so look for Beltre to continue to swing a hot bat in this game.
Others to consider: Max Muncy and Justin Turner
SHORTSTOP
Carlos Correa vs. Ryne Stanek, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,800
It’s amazing to think what numbers Correa could have put up last season if he didn’t get hurt. Despite playing only 109 games, he still had 24 home runs and 84 RBI. He also hit a career-high .315, but that was partly aided by his .352 BABIP. His .273 average this year is more in line with his first two seasons in the majors as a result of his BABIP dropping to .318. Like several of the Astros hitters, Correa is playing well right now, hitting 12-for-36 (.333) with three homers in his last nine games.
Jurickson Profar vs. Ian Kennedy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $3,900
Profar is finally getting a chance to play every day with Elvis Andrus (elbow) on the DL. His numbers aren’t great, but with the Rangers buried in the standings, it might be a wise idea for them to continue to find at-bats for him even when Andrus returns. Profar is 7-for-23 (.304) with two home runs during his current five-game hitting streak and is a viable option if you don’t want to pay up for Correa.
Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Chris Taylor
OUTFIELD
David Peralta vs. Jaime Barria, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,800
Peralta couldn’t find his way at the plate in May, batting .211 with two home runs. He’s making up for that lack of production in June, batting .350 with seven home runs in 60 at-bats. With a career .370 wOBA against right-handed pitchers, he’s someone you want to target for your entry, especially considering his price on FanDuel.
Joey Gallo vs. Ian Kennedy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,900
Gallo is a risky play because he’s an all-or-nothing hitter. He’s hitting .198 with a 37.1% strikeout rate, but he also has 18 home runs. Kennedy is on pace to allow at least 1.5 HR/9 for the fourth straight season, so this might be the night to take the gamble and roll with Gallo.
Joc Pederson vs. Tyler Chatwood, Chicago Cubs
Stadium – Wrigley Field
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,400
Pederson has had problems striking out in his career, but he’s made significant improvement with just a 14.2% strikeout rate this season. It’s no coincidence that his .276 average is by far the highest of his career. His improved plate discipline hasn’t come at the expense of his power numbers, though, as he still has eight homers and 14 doubles. He also has a .406 wOBA against righties and gets a struggling one in Chatwood on Monday.
Others to consider: Matt Kemp and Lonnie Chisenhall
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/12/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
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STARTING PITCHERS
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
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
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
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
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
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 6/1/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
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STARTING PITCHERS
Chris Sale vs. Houston Astros
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $11,000
DraftKings = $11,000
Sale is coming off of his worst start of the season after allowing six runs in 4.1 innings against the Braves. The Braves have the highest OPS against left-handed pitching (.827) in baseball, so it wasn’t a favorable matchup, to begin with. Even with that blowup, Sale still has a 2.76 ERA, 2.94 FIP, and a 0.96 WHIP this year. He has continued to be one of the best strikeout pitchers with a 12.5 K/9 while also posting a career-high 15.9% swinging-strike rate. The Astros lineup is no cake walk either, but Sale is still a great option with his strikeout upside.
Nick Pivetta vs. San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $8,200
DraftKings = $10,000
Pivetta has been dominant in his last four outings, allowing three runs to go along with 32 strikeouts in 24 innings. He only issued four walks and gave up just one home run during that stretch as well. After pitching poorly in 26 starts last year, Pivetta has made significant improvement overall this season, resulting in a 3.26 ERA and a 2.75 FIP. He has been working ahead in the count, throwing a first-pitch strike to 65.7% of the batters that he has faced. Add that to his 10.4 K/9 and a much improved 2.2 BB/9 and Pivetta has an excellent 1.09 WHIP. This will be his second start of the season against the Giants after he held them scoreless while recording seven strikeouts in five innings during their first matchup. The Giants have struck out the third-most times (528) in baseball, leaving Pivetta with the potential for another valuable performance.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Jesus Aguilar vs. Hector Santiago, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,300
Aguilar has been mostly limited to facing left-handed pitching in his career but was forced into an everyday role this year with both Eric Thames (thumb) and Ryan Bruan on the DL at the same time. He played so well that he is still starting even though Braun has returned. Not only did eight of his nine home runs come in May, but he is also hitting .307 overall this season. His average will likely fall once his .355 BABIP normalizes, but he is a great source of power. With a career .360 wOBA against lefties, Aguilar might be able to do a lot of damage against the struggling Santiago.
Greg Bird vs. Andrew Cashner, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,900
Bird has been limited to four games due to injury this season, logging at least one hit in each of his last three contests. He has a ton of talent, but injuries have really hampered his career after bursting onto the scene with 11 homers in 46 games in 2015. Including this season, Cashner has allowed a wOBA of at least .378 to left-handed hitters in three of the last four years. Bird won’t destroy your budget either, making him a viable option to consider.
Others to consider: Anthony Rizzo (first base) and Wilson Ramos (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Javier Baez vs. Zack Wheeler, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,800
Wheeler has managed to stay healthy so far this season but has a 5.40 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. He only has four starts this year where he has allowed two or fewer earned runs, three of which came against bad lineups in the Marlins and Padres. Baez doesn’t struggle against right-handed pitching as he has a .378 wOBA against them this season, making him one of several Cubs who could have a big night.
Joey Wendle vs. Mike Leake, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,400
Wendle has played his way into a starting role with the Rays, batting .295 with a .344 OBP. Even though he doesn’t have much power, he does have at least one hit in 11 of his last 12 games. Leake is not an overpowering pitcher, but he’s been even worse this season with just a 5.3 K/9. If you don’t want to pay up for Baez, Wendle is a cheap option who could provide value.
Others to consider: Gleyber Torres and Scooter Gennett
THIRD BASE
Mike Moustakas vs. Frankie Montas, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,400
Moustakas has followed up his career season last year by hitting .280 with 12 home runs in 55 games. He only had 85 RBI in 2017 despite hitting 38 home runs, but he’s already chipped in 39 RBI this season. With a .390 wOBA against righties this year, he could put up big numbers against Montas, who has a 5.77 ERA and 1.65 WHIP for his career.
Pedro Alvarez vs. Sonny Gray, New York Yankees
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,400
With a rainout Thursday, Gray will be pushed back a day to start Friday. He’s been terrible in his 10 starts, recording a 5.98 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP. The Yankees have tried making Austin Romine has personal catcher since they have had some success together in the past, but Gray has still allowed five runs each in two of his last three starts. Alvarez is only batting .190 this year, but he has a lot of power and a career .341 wOBA against right-handers.
Others to consider: Justin Turner and Yairo Munoz
SHORTSTOP
Manny Machado vs. Sonny Gray, New York Yankees
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = 5,200
Machado has loved hitting at home, posting a .362 average there this season compared to a .296 mark on the road. 10 of his 16 home runs have also come at home despite having 23 more plate appearances on the road. With the way Gray has been pitching, Machado could be in for a huge night.
Andrelton Simmons vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,400
Simmons is on a nine-game hitting streak where he has hit 14-for-36 (.389). He is batting a robust .337 on the season overall, but he could experience some regression since his .339 BABIP is 57 points higher than his career mark. That may not start Friday, though, considering he is 12-for-26 (.462) in his career against Colon.
Others to consider: Chris Taylor and Jean Segura
OUTFIELD
Mike Trout vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $6,000
It’s not hard to argue for playing Trout regardless of who is taking the mound. He has a tremendous combination of power and speed and has also hit .302 with a crazy .444 OBP. He has absolutely destroyed Colon in his career, hitting 10-for-18 (.556) with three home runs. Don’t be afraid to pay up to get him into your entry.
Nicholas Castellanos vs. Jaime Garcia, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,300
Castellanos only has five home runs this season, but he already has 18 doubles and three triples. He is also batting a career-high .332, but that has largely been aided by his .410 BABIP. He is crushing lefties with a 197 wRC+ against them this season and gets to face the struggling Garcia, who has a 5.52 ERA and 1.51 WHIP.
Ben Zobrist vs. Zack Wheeler, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,900
Zobrist only hit .232 last year and entered this season in a fight for playing time with the Cubs having so much depth. He’s doing his best to show his poor performance last year was just a fluke, batting .291 with a .379 OBP so far. He has hit righties particularly well with a .382 wOBA and should be a part of any Cubs stack at this cheap price.
Others to consider: Brandon Nimmo and Khris Davis