Scoring might be hard to come by for Thursday’s five-game evening slate in DFS with so many top pitchers set to take the mound. There are still a couple of stacks to take advantage of, but they figure to have high ownership percentages based on the limited options.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/29/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout
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 8/14/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout
Tuesday brings a packed schedule across the majors with 14 games making 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
Anibal Sanchez vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – SunTrust Park
FanDuel = $8,600
DraftKings = $8,600
Sanchez left his last outing early after getting hit on the calf, but he’s not expected to miss any time. He finished with an ERA of 4.99 or higher in each of the last three seasons with the Tigers, but he’s been a different pitcher since joining the Braves. While it will be hard for him to maintain his current 2.83 ERA, his FIP is still strong at 3.73. One of the main reasons for his success has been cutting back on allowing home runs. He allowed at least 1.7 HR/9 in each of his previous three seasons but has only allowed 1.0 HR/9 this year. The Marlins have scored the second-fewest runs (444) in baseball, so start Sanchez with confidence.
Jameson Taillon vs. Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $8,200
DraftKings = $9,000
Taillon finished with a 4.44 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP last year, but that was a bit deceiving based on his 3.48 FIP and opponents’ posting a .352 BABIP against him. His BABIP against has normalized to .300 this year, helping reduce his ERA to 3.63 and his WHIP to 1.22. He had a few big blowups early in the season, but Taillon has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 13 straight starts. Although he’ll have to deal with the DH Tuesday, the Twins lineup suffered a big blow when Brian Dozier was traded to the Dodgers. Look for Taillon to continue his recent run of success.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Paul Goldschmidt vs. Yovani Gallardo, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,200
After swiping at least 18 bases in three straight seasons, Goldschmidt’s stolen base Monday marked only his fifth of the year. He still finished the game with two hits and is now on a seven-game hitting streak. Although he doesn’t have a platoon advantage against Gallardo, Goldschmidt hasn’t struggled versus righties with a .380 wOBA against them this year.
Yadier Molina vs. Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,100
Molina is currently on a five-game hitting streak and is batting .315 with four home runs and 10 doubles since July 1. He’s been one of the best offensive catchers in baseball, batting .288 with 15 homers overall. Gonzalez has allowed plenty of baserunners with a 1.48 WHIP, giving Molina an excellent opportunity to extend his hitting streak.
Others to consider: Yonder Alonso (first base) and Jose Martinez (first base)
SECOND BASE
Daniel Murphy vs. John Gant, St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,200
After playing at least 140 games in five of the last six years, Murphy has been limited to just 50 games this year due to injury. It took him a while to shake off the rust from a lengthy stint on the DL, but Murphy is 23-for-59 (.390) with three home runs and four doubles across his last 16 games. He’s struggled with a .279 wOBA against left-handed pitchers, but he’s had far more success against righties with a .360 wOBA.
Jason Kipnis vs. Sal Romano, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,100
In a great matchup against Homer Bailey on Monday, Kipnis finished the game 2-for-5 with a double, two RBI and a run scored. It actually marked his third-straight multi-hit performance. He gets another plus matchup Tuesday against Romano, who has a 1.39 WHIP and doesn’t strike out many batters with a 6.4 K/9.
Others to consider: Jeff McNeil and Jonathan Villar
THIRD BASE
Justin Turner vs. Andrew Suarez, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,300
Turner went deep Monday, marking just his seventh home run this season. While his power numbers are down, he’s still batting .284 with a .378 OBP. He’s always someone to target versus lefties, as well, considering his 180 wRC+ against them. Suarez doesn’t exactly come into this contest on top of his game, allowing 22 runs in 26.2 innings across his last five starts.
Jedd Gyorko vs. Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $4,000
Gyorko is starting to heat up for the Cardinals, batting .325 so far in August. His power numbers haven’t been great, but he did slug his ninth homer of the season Monday. He’s been almost as good against lefties as Turner has, posting a 173 wRC+ this year.
Others to consider: Jose Ramirez and Miguel Andujar
SHORTSTOP
Paul DeJong vs. Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,200
DeJong only has one multi-hit performance during his current seven-game hitting streak, but he’s hit four home runs during that stretch. He hit 25 home runs and posted a .532 slugging percentage last year in only 108 games, so he carries significant power potential down the stretch. Gonzalez doesn’t give up a ton of home runs, but 11 of the 13 that have been hit off of him this year have been by righties.
Tim Beckham vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,900
Vargas has been a trainwreck for the Mets. He’s only made 12 starts, but he’s posted an 8.75 ERA and a 1.84 WHIP. He’s also allowed a staggering 12 home runs across 47.1 innings. The Orioles lineup is extremely thin after the trades of Manny Machado and Jonathan Schoop, but there are still some players that could provide value against Vargas. Beckham could be one of them as he is batting .283 with three home runs over his last 13 games.
Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Didi Gregorius
OUTFIELD
Kole Calhoun vs. Brett Kennedy, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,100
Calhoun has brought one of the craziest swings of production we have seen this season. Entering July, he was batting .162 with three home runs. Since then, he is hitting .311 with 13 homers. Kennedy put up some good numbers in Triple-A this year, but his first career start was a disaster as he gave up six runs over four innings. With the way Calhoun is swinging the bat, he’s an excellent option at this reasonable price on both sites.
Mark Trumbo vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,600
Trumbo has been battling knee soreness, but he’s hopeful to return to the lineup Tuesday. He’s stepped up since the trades of Machado and Schoop, batting .368 with five home runs in August. His .468 slugging percentage overall is a big improvement over his .397 mark in 2017. As long as he’s in the lineup, he’s someone to target against Vargas.
Harrison Bader vs. Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $4,500
The Cardinals trading away Tommy Pham was a sign they were gaining more confidence in Bader and Tyler O’Neill. Once Dexter Fowler and O’Neill both landed on the DL, they had to lean heavily on Bader. He’s hasn’t let them down, batting .325 with two home runs so far in August. He’s not that cheap on DraftKings, but he’s a great option at his price on FanDuel considering his .407 wOBA against lefties.
Others to consider: Michael Brantley and Cedric Mullins
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
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
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
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
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
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
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