Monday brings 10 games in the majors, eight of which will make up the main evening slate in DFS. Whether you want to roll with an ace pitcher or load up on bats, there are plenty of options for either strategy.
Read MoreMLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/24/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout
Friday brings a full slate of action across the majors, but the evening is generally lacking elite starting pitching options for DFS. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
STARTING PITCHERS
Mike Foltynewicz vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $10,500
DraftKings = $11,100
Foltynewicz has had a breakout campaign for the Braves, posting a 2.72 ERA, 3.38 FIP, and a 1.15 WHIP. He’s only allowed 14 home runs across 139 innings and has a 10.4 K/9, making him a consistent source for production. He’s been even better of late, allowing six runs (four earned) and recording 28 strikeouts over 26.2 innings in his last four starts. One of those came against these same Marlins when he allowed one run and recorded seven strikeouts over eight innings. With the Marlins inability to score runs, Foltynewicz has tremendous upside Friday.
Rich Hill vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $8,800
DraftKings = $9,800
Hill battled ineffectiveness and injury earlier this season, but he’s turned things around with a 2.92 ERA, 3.58 FIP, and a 1.14 WHIP since July 1. He chipped in 9.5 K/9 during that stretch while also logging at least six innings in six of his eight starts. This lines up as a great matchup for Hill as not only have the Padres scored the fifth-fewest runs (496) in baseball, but they have also struck out the second-most times (1,221).
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Ryan Zimmerman vs. Jason Vargas, New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $5,100
Zimmerman was one of the more surprising success stories in baseball last year, batting .303 with 36 home runs and 108 RBI. One of the keys to his success was his ability to stay healthy, playing in at least 140 games for the first time since 2013. He hasn’t had the same luck this season, logging only 56 games so far. He is coming on strong down the stretch, though, batting .360 with six home runs and 17 RBI across his last 15 games.
Yuli Gurriel vs. Andrew Heaney, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,000
Heaney’s season has taken a turn for the worse with a 6.46 ERA and 1.39 WHIP over four starts in August. He’s already thrown 140 innings this season after throwing less than 50 combined innings in the minors and majors last year, so he might be wearing down. Gurriel will look to take advantage of Heaney’s struggles considering his .364 wOBA against left-handed pitchers.
Others to consider: Carlos Santana (first base) and Victor Martinez (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Brian Dozier vs. Clayton Richard, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,300
Speaking of pitchers who have struggled recently, Richard has a 6.94 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP since July 1. He’s been much better at home this season with a 3.94 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP, but he has a bloated 6.28 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP on the road. The Dodgers will likely be a popular stack Friday with Dozier providing a quality option at a reasonable price on both sites.
Neil Walker vs. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,600
The Yankees hitters are dropping like flies, making the addition of Walker in the offseason an extremely important move. He can play multiple positions and currently is expected to fill in at second base while Gleyber Torres shifts over to shortstop. His overall numbers this season aren’t great, but Walker is batting .307 with four home runs and 15 RBI over his last 24 games. He’s had more success against righties, as well, making him someone to consider in tournament play.
Others to consider: Jed Lowrie and Ian Kinsler
THIRD BASE
Justin Turner vs. Clayton Richard, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,800
Turner is firing on all cylinders right now, batting .391 with a .481 OBP in August. He had five home runs and eight doubles for the season entering the month but he has hit four homers and seven doubles since. He also mashes left-handed pitching, posting a 186 wRC+ against them this season.
Todd Frazier vs. Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $4,500
Frazier is one of the many players on the Mets who has battled injuries, limiting him to only 82 games. His .233 average seems poor, but it’s actually his highest mark since 2015. He’s also been a much better hitter of late, batting .323 with four home runs and five doubles in his last 17 games. Gonzalez has allowed at least five runs in four of his last six starts and has a 1.55 WHIP overall, potentially setting up Fraizer to continue his recent run of success.
Others to consider: Anthony Rendon and Alex Bregman
SHORTSTOP
Manny Machado vs. Clayton Richard, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $4,800
Machado hasn’t played well by his standards since joining the Dodgers, batting .275 with a .816 OPS. By comparison, he hit .315 with a .963 OPS with the Orioles. He may have just needed an adjustment period as he is batting .324 with three home runs over his last eight games. He has a .382 wOBA against lefties this year, making him another Dodger to target against Richard.
Willy Adames vs. Hector Velazquez, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,900
Velazquez has mostly pitched in relief for the Red Sox, but he’ll make another start Friday with Chris Sale still on the DL. His 2.74 ERA this season looks good, but his 4.33 FIP and 1.39 WHIP indicate he is not pitching nearly that well. Adames has settled in nicely to regular playing time, batting .348 with a .989 OPS in August.
Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Marcus Semien
OUTFIELD
Khris Davis vs. Jake Odorizzi, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,300
Davis went deep again Thursday, marking his fifth home run over his last five games and 39th on the season overall. When he’s on one of these types of streaks, it makes a lot of sense to keep rolling with him in your lineup. It also helps his cause that Odorizzi has a 5.29 ERA over his last seven outings.
Greg Allen vs. Brad Keller, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,800
Allen hasn’t hit for much power in the minors, but he did bat .298 with a .395 OBP at Triple-A this year. He’s become an important part of the Indians outfield lately, batting .341 with eight runs scored and five stolen bases across his last 13 games. He’s proven to be a much better hitter against righties, giving him a chance to provide value at this cheap price in tournament play.
Jim Adduci vs. Reynaldo Lopez, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Comerica Park
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,500
At 33 years old, Adduci is certainly not one of the young up and coming players in the Tigers system. He’s still played well when given the opportunity this season, especially of late as he is batting .352 in August. Lopez has allowed at least four runs in five of his last seven starts and has given up plenty of baserunners this season overall with a 1.39 WHIP. At his dirt cheap price on both sites, Adduci might be a risk worth taking Friday. Of note, he is only eligible at outfield on FanDuel as he is listed at first base on DraftKings.
Others to consider: Ronald Acuna Jr. and Stephen Piscotty
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/17/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout
Thursday didn’t bring a lot of great starting pitching options, but that won’t be the case Friday with Max Scherzer, Carlos Carrasco, and Charlie Morton 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
Carlos Carrasco vs. Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $11,000
DraftKings = $11,200
Carrasco dominated the White Sox in his last start, recording nine strikeouts across even shutout innings. He’s having a great season with a 3.50 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP, but he’s been even better lately with a 1.59 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP over his last seven outings. He also has a stellar 11.8 K/9 during that stretch. The Orioles have scored the fifth-fewest runs (478) in baseball and have a much shallower lineup after their roster was stripped down at the trade deadline, leaving Carrasco with a favorable chance to provide another excellent performance.
James Shields vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $7,100
DraftKings = $6,300
Shields’ 4.41 ERA and 4.75 FIP aren’t great, but he’s having his best season since joining the White Sox. Although he only has a 7.0 K/9, his 1.29 WHIP is his lowest mark since 2014. He’s struggled with a 5.75 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP on the road this year, but he’s been much better at home with a 3.56 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. The Royals have averaged 3.4 runs across their last 10 games and have scored the fewest runs (447) in the league, making Shields a cheap option with upside in tournament play.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Yonder Alonso vs. David Hess, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,500
The Indians stand out as an excellent stacking play against Hess, who has a bloated 6.25 ERA that is backed by an equally poor 6.42 FIP. He has a 1.51 WHIP and has allowed 2.1 HR/9, which certainly isn’t a recipe for success. With left-handed hitters posting a .371 wOBA against him, Alonso carries significant upside.
Ronald Guzman vs. Odrisamer Despaigne, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $4,400
Recently acquired in a trade with the Marlins, Despaigne will make his first start with the Angels on Friday. He has pitched mostly out of the bullpen this year, recording a 5.31 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. He only has a 5.4 K/9 for his career, which doesn’t leave him with much room for error. Guzman hasn’t hit for a high average, but he’s a power threat to consider in tournament play, especially at his cheap price on FanDuel.
Others to consider: Jose Abreu (first base) and Robinson Chirinos (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Rougned Odor vs. Odrisamer Despaigne, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,900
After slugging at least 30 home runs in both of the last two seasons, it appears Odor will fall short of that threshold this year as he only has 14 homers entering Friday. However, his 8.7% walk rate is almost four percentage points higher than his career mark and his .270 batting average has been a major improvement. Add in his .358 wOBA against right-handed pitchers this season and he checks in as another Ranger to consider for your entry.
Scooter Gennett vs. Casey Kelly, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,200
After finishing with 27 home runs and 97 RBI last year, Gennett is proving it was no fluke as he has 18 long balls and 70 RBI this season. He’s also batting .305, which would be his highest mark in any season where he has played at least 100 games. Kelly did not pitch well at Triple-A this season, posting a 4.78 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP over 23 starts.
Others to consider: Jason Kipnis and Daniel Murphy
THIRD BASE
Jurickson Profar vs. Odrisamer Despaigne, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,800
Profar started off this series with a bang Thursday, finishing 2-for-3 with his 14th home run of the season. He now has at least one hit in nine-straight games at home, slugging three homers and three doubles during that stretch. Even though he has better numbers against lefties, don’t shy away from playing him against the underwhelming Despaigne.
Yandy Diaz vs. David Hess, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $2,300
DraftKings = $3,900
With Edwin Encarnacion on the DL, Diaz will likely see a lot of playing time at DH. He only has 200 career plate appearances in the majors, but he’s posted a .294 average and a .370 OBP. His success isn’t that surprising since he has hit .311 with a .413 OBP in his career in the minors. At this dirt cheap price, he’s a very intriguing tournament play.
Others to consider: Jose Ramirez and Miguel Andujar
SHORTSTOP
Francisco Lindor vs. David Hess, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $5,800
Lindor has hit a brief cold stretch, going 3-for-22 over his last five games. However, he was 13-for-33 during his eight-game hitting streak before his mini-slump started. This might be just the matchup he needs to get back on track. Not only has Hess been horrible, but Lindor is batting .321 at home this year compared to .262 on the road.
Andrelton Simmons vs. Drew Hutchinson, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,100
Mike Minor was supposed to start this game for the Rangers, but he’s been scratched due to a stiff back. Hutchinson will start in his place, marking his third appearance since joining the Rangers. His first two didn’t exactly go well as he allowed nine runs in 8.1 innings. He’s not much more than a journeyman starter at this point in his career, so Simmons is someone to consider if you want to save money at shortstop.
Others to consider: Willy Adames and Elvis Andrus
OUTFIELD
Bryce Harper vs. Dan Straily, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $5,400
Harper has been a different hitter since the All-Star break, batting .352 with seven home runs and eight doubles across 25 games. He’s been aided by a .453 BABIP, but he was due for some improvement after his abnormally low .226 BABIP before the break. Straily allows plenty of baserunners with his 1.40 WHIP and has given up 1.6 HR/9, setting Harper up with another favorable matchup.
Kole Calhoun vs. Drew Hutchinson, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,200
Calhoun took advantage of a great matchup against Ariel Jurado on Thursday, finishing the night 3-for-4 with a home run. He’s firmly put his slow start in the rearview mirror and now has 17 home runs total, giving him a chance to hit at least 20 for only the second time in his career. He has a .522 wOBA against right-handed pitchers since July 1 and could provide significant value based on his price on both sites.
Nomar Mazara vs. Odrisamer Despaigne, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $4,100
After missing a month with a thumb injury, Mazara hit a home run in his return from the DL on Thursday. He finished with 20 homers and 101 RBI last year and has followed that up with 16 homers and 60 RBI this season despite his stint on the DL. He shouldn’t be priced this low, especially against Despaigne.
Others to consider: Shohei Ohtani and Joey Gallo
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 8/3/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
August special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout
After a wild night of offense Thursday, there are several aces taking the mound Friday. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
STARTING PITCHERS
Patrick Corbin vs. San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $9,800
DraftKings = $10,400
There has been no slowing down Corbin, who has a 3.26 ERA that is supported by an even better 2.65 FIP. He’s missing plenty of bats with a 14.8% swinging-strike rate, which has helped him record a 1.06 WHIP and an 11.0 K/9. His 42.6% hard-hit rate is substantially higher than his career mark, but opponents haven’t been unlucky with a .292 BABIP against him. He’s already faced the Giants four times this year, giving up five runs and recording 29 strikeouts over 26.2 innings. The Giants are in the bottom third of the league in runs scored, so look for Corbin to provide another valuable performance.
Vince Velasquez vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $8,100
DraftKings = $8,000
Velasquez had a bloated 1.50 WHIP last year, but he’s made significant progress this season with a 1.24 WHIP. His .289 BABIP allowed isn’t low, either, which is encouraging news for his value moving forward. His 4.02 ERA doesn’t stand out, but some of that is due to an awful start against the Brewers towards the beginning of June when he allowed 10 runs over 3.2 innings. Since that outing, he has a 2.48 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP across 40 innings. The Marlins have scored the fourth-fewest runs (421) in the league, making Velasquez an excellent cost-effective option to consider.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Edwin Encarnacion vs. Jaime Barria, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,800
Barria hasn’t pitched as well as his 3.74 ERA and 1.20 WHIP would seem to indicate. His FIP stands at 5.12 and opposing hitters only have a .256 BABIP against him, so luck has been on his side. He’s not fooling many batters with a 6.5 K/9 and he’s already allowed 14 home runs in just 77 innings. Encarnacion doesn’t have the platoon advantage in this game, but Barria has allowed a .397 wOBA against right-handed hitters.
Jake Bauers vs. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,400
The White Sox continue to run Giolito out there, but he hasn’t had much success with a 6.26 ERA and a 6.10 FIP. He has an unsightly 1.54 WHIP and has allowed 65 walks compared to just 71 strikeouts. With Giolito’s .384 wOBA against left-handed hitters, Bauers could be in for a big night.
Others to consider: Jose Abreu (first base) and Robinson Chirinos (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Rougned Odor vs. David Hess, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $5,100
Stacking against the Orioles is going to be popular more often than not down the stretch. Their starting rotation isn’t great and their bullpen is severely short on talent after they dealt away a couple of key relievers. Odor has been one of the Rangers hottest hitters, going 31-for-89 (.378) with seven home runs over his last 25 games. He’s increased his walk rate significantly this year and can cause trouble on the basepaths as well.
Joey Wendle vs. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,900
Wendle enters Friday 8-for-21 (.381) with three walks and four runs scored during his current six-game hitting streak. He doesn’t hit many home runs, but he’s increased his batting average by 25 points since July 1. With the problems Giolito has limiting baserunners, Wendle is a cheap option to consider in tournament play.
Others to consider: Daniel Murphy and Niko Goodrum
THIRD BASE
Eugenio Suarez vs. Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $5,000
Suarez drove in two runs Thursday, setting a new career high with 83 RBI. He’s batting .300 with 25 home runs as he tries to establish himself as one of the better young third basemen in baseball. He absolutely destroys left-handed pitching with a 213 wRC+ against them, so don’t hesitate to pay up for him against Gonzalez and his 1.45 WHIP.
Jurickson Profar vs. David Hess, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,600
Profar has been one of the more highly regarded prospects in the Rangers organization, but injuries and limited opportunities for him in the majors had put a damper on his career. With the Rangers having one of the worst records in baseball, Profar is finally getting extended playing time this year. His numbers aren’t great, but he’s hitting a respectable .252 with 11 home runs and eight steals. He loves hitting at home with a .273 average and eight home runs at Globe Life Park in Arlington compared to a .231 average and three homers on the road.
Others to consider: Matt Chapman and Adrian Beltre
SHORTSTOP
Trea Turner vs. Anthony DeSclafani, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $5,200
Turner is scorching-hot right now, hitting 14-for-34 (.412) with two home runs, 12 runs scored, seven RBI and eight steals across his last seven games. He’s not stealing bases at nearly the rate that he was last year, but his recent hot streak bumped his total up to 30 for the season. DeSclafani has a 5.47 ERA and an even worse 6.07 FIP, setting up Turner nicely for another hefty stat line.
Marcus Semien vs. Blaine Hardy, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,200
Hardy has pitched very well out of the bullpen, recording a 1.69 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and a 9.3 K/9 across 10 appearances. He hasn’t had nearly that much success as a starter, though, with a 4.01 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and a 5.9 K/9 over 10 outings. Semien has three straight multi-hit games and is 14-for-43 (.326) across his last 10 contests.
Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Elvis Andrus
OUTFIELD
Bryce Harper vs. Anthony DeSclafani, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Nationals Park
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,300
Participating in the Home Run Derby sure hasn’t hurt Harper, who is 14-for-39 (.359) with three home runs and four doubles since taking home the crown. He’s batting a disappointing .230 overall, but he still has a .377 OBP and has slugged 26 homers. The Nationals will also likely be a popular stack against DeSclafani with Harper having the highest upside of the bunch.
Shin-Soo Choo vs. David Hess, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,900
The Rangers scored 17 runs Thursday in the first game of what figures to be a high scoring series against the Orioles. Choo didn’t exactly shine, but he still provided value by finishing the game 2-for-6 with a double and two runs scored. He’s someone to target again Friday with his .398 wOBA against right-handed pitchers. He doesn’t help your budget much on DraftKings, but his price on FanDuel could lead to tremendous value.
Mark Canha vs. Blaine Hardy, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $4,200
If there is a lefty on the mound against the A’s, that means it’s Canha time. He’s having a good season overall by batting .265 with 14 home runs, but he’s been exceptional with a .419 wOBA against lefties. With Hardy’s underwhelming arsenal, make sure Canha is in your lineup.
Others to consider: Nelson Cruz and Joey Gallo
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 8/2/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
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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
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/26/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
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STARTING PITCHERS
Dereck Rodriguez vs. Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $8,300
DraftKings = $7,900
Stephen Strasburg looked to be the lone ace on the schedule Thursday, but he then found himself on the DL once again. It’s slim pickings as a result, making Rodriguez possibly one of the best options. He’s posted a 1.15 WHIP so far this season, helping lead him to a 2.72 ERA and a 3.33 FIP. He’s also allowed just three home runs in 53 innings. Don’t count on him for a lot of strikeouts based on his 7.1 K/9, but he has some upside against a Brewers team that is averaging just 3.5 runs across their last 11 games.
Wade Miley vs. San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $6,600
It might be wise to load up on hitters Thursday and just take a shot on a really cheap pitcher if you are playing in a tournament. Miley has been terrible the last couple of seasons and has been limited to four starts this season due to injury. His 1.56 ERA is likely to rise considering his 3.97 ERA and 1.33 WHIP. He also has as many walks as he has strikeouts. The good news is that he’ll face a Giants team that is in the bottom third of baseball in runs scored and has just a .693 OPS against left-handed pitching. If you can stomach the risk, there is potential for value at this price.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Matt Olson vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,400
The Athletics have had an excellent offensive series against the Rangers, but Olson is only 3-for-14 in the first three games. The Rangers started lefties in each of those contests, so he’ll finally get to face a righty in Colon. Olson only has a .306 wOBA against left-handers, but he has a .354 wOBA against righties.
Greg Bird vs. Jakob Junis, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,200
The Yankees think highly of Bird, but he’s disappointed again this season. Not only did he spend a significant amount of time on the DL, but he’s batting only .231. He’s starting to show signs of life, though, as he is 16-for-52 (.308) with three home runs across his last 14 games. Junis has cooled off significantly after a hot start and now has a 5.03 ERA that is backed up by an even worse 5.37 FIP, so look for Bird to continue his recent run of success.
Others to consider: Jake Bauers (first base) and Elias Diaz (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Rougned Odor vs. Trevor Cahill, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $3,900
Odor came through with another hit Wednesday to extend his hitting streak to seven games. He’s not just swinging a hot bat either as he also has four steals during that stretch. His home run total is way down year, but with nine steals and a .260 batting average, Odor has helped to offset his power deficiencies. Cahill has a sparkling 2.95 ERA this season, but his .252 opponents’ BABIP is also over 30 points lower than his career mark, so he’s been a bit lucky.
Jed Lowrie vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,400
Colon continues to find himself pitching in the majors, but he’s not having a good season with a 4.85 ERA and a 5.12 FIP. He doesn’t walk many batters, but he doesn’t strike out many either with a 5.5% swinging-strike rate and a 5.2 K/9. Lowrie has excelled against righties this year with a .381 wOBA, leaving him with a great matchup to target.
Others to consider: Gleyber Torres and Daniel Murphy
THIRD BASE
Eugenio Suarez vs. Ranger Suarez, Philadelphia Phillies
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $5,100
Suarez made his first All-Star team this season and is well on his way to setting career highs across the board, batting .305 with 22 home runs and 76 RBI. Left-hander Ranger Suarez will be making his big league debut, but he wasn’t exactly overwhelming hitters in the minors with a combined 6.6 K/9 between Double-A and Triple-A this year. He’ll face a tough task in slowing down Eugenio, who has a 209 wRC+ against righties.
Miguel Andujar vs. Jakob Junis, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,100
Andujar still needs to improve defensively, but he’s made an immediate impact with his bat by hitting .292 with 12 home runs in his first full season in the majors. He has 30 doubles as well, leading to a lofty .500 slugging percentage. He doesn’t have the upside that Suarez does, but he’s hot right now with at least two hits in five straight contests.
Others to consider: Mike Moustakas and Adrian Beltre
SHORTSTOP
Marcus Semien vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,300
Semien hasn’t hit a home run in well over a month, but he is 25-for-87 (.287) in his last 22 games. He showed an improved eye at the plate during that stretch, walking 10 times compared to 14 strikeouts. He’s 5-for-16 with three doubles, four RBI and five runs scored in the first three games of this series and could have another productive stat line against the struggling Colon.
Didi Gregorius vs. Jakob Junis, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $5,000
Gregorius doesn’t provide much production on the road, hitting just .240 with five home runs. He loves hitting in Yankee Stadium, though, with a .286 average and 12 homers. He’s also been much better against right-handed pitchers with a .347 wOBA. His price isn’t great on DraftKings, but he could provide plenty of value based on his price on FanDuel.
Others to consider: Elvis Andrus and Adalberto Mondesi
OUTFIELD
Khris Davis vs. Bartolo Colon, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $5,400
Davis is going to be sad to see this series end. He’s hit game-winning homers both of the last two nights and is 6-for-17 with four home runs and 10 RBI overall. He now has an insane six long balls over his last four games, which is bad news for Colon since he has allowed 1.8 HR/9.
Juan Soto vs. Dan Straily, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,400
Soto is starting to strike out more, logging a 25.6% strikeout rate across his last 10 games. His batting average was only .264 during that stretch, but he still hit two home runs and two doubles. Straily has allowed a .349 wOBA against left-handed hitters and isn’t a strikeout pitcher with a career 7.7 K/9, leaving Soto as a viable mid-tier priced option.
Adam Eaton vs. Dan Straily, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,600
Eaton has never been much of a power hitter, but he has just three home runs in 147 at-bats this year. However, he has logged at least two hits in 9 of the 17 games he has played in July and is batting .320 for the season overall. He’s drawing plenty of walks, as well, leading to a what would be a career-high .401 OBP. He’s been awful against lefties, but he has a .396 wOBA against righties.
Others to consider: Aaron Judge and Joey Gallo
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/24/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
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STARTING PITCHERS
James Paxton vs. San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Safeco Field
FanDuel = $9,300
DraftKings = $10,200
Paxton left in the first inning of his last start due to lower-back stiffness. His bullpen session went well Saturday and he is expected to be activated from the DL to start Tuesday. He wasn’t even sidelined two weeks, so he’s unlikely to be on any sort of a pitch count. Although his ERA isn’t as good as last year, he’s pitched well with a 3.70 ERA that is supported by a 3.16 FIP. His 1.09 WHIP and 11.7 K/9 would also be the best marks of his career. The Giants are in the bottom third of baseball in runs scored and only have a .690 OPS against left-handed pitching, so look for Paxton to have a successful return.
Carlos Rodon vs. Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $7,900
DraftKings = $7,300
Rodon has a 3.56 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP through seven starts, which is impressive considering four of those starts came against the Red Sox, the Astros, and the Indians. He’s been somewhat lucky, though, as he has a 5.04 FIP and opponents have just a .225 BABIP against him. He has upside with a 9.0 K/9 for his career, so he can be a viable option in tournament play in the right matchup. That might be the case Tuesday considering the Angels have the fourth-lowest OPS against lefties (.661) in baseball.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Anthony Rizzo vs. Clay Buchholz, Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Wrigley Field
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,500
Rizzo had a lackluster first half, but he’s 16-for-31 (.516) with eight walks in his last nine games. He hasn’t homered during that stretch, but he did record five doubles and a triple. With a career .373 wOBA against right-handed pitchers, look for Rizzo to keep his hot streak going against Buchholz, who has been lucky so far with opponents posting just a .236 BABIP against him.
Yadier Molina vs. Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,300
Bailey has been on the DL since the end of May, but he is expected to take the mound Tuesday. He was terrible before suffering a knee injury, posting a 6.68 ERA and a 6.29 FIP across 12 starts. His bloated 1.69 WHIP was a big reason why he struggled and he doesn’t miss many bats with a 5.5 K/9. He hasn’t finished with an ERA below 5.56 or a WHIP below 1.69 since 2014, leaving the Cardinals as one of the premier stacks Tuesday. Molina has owned Bailey in his career, hitting 18-for-44 (.409) with three home runs.
Others to consider: Matt Adams (first base) and Jose Martinez (first base)
SECOND BASE
Rougned Odor vs. Frankie Montas, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,400
Odor got off to a horrible start this year, but he is 27-for-79 (.342) with five home runs across his last 22 games. His batting average is up to .259 overall as a result and he also has a .331 OBP, which would be the highest mark of his career. Montas allows a lot of baserunners with a 1.39 WHIP and he doesn’t record many strikeouts, either, with a 7.8% swinging-strike rate and a 5.6 K/9.
Daniel Murphy vs. Junior Guerra, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,100
Murphy came through with a home run Monday, only his second long ball of the season. However, he is now 13-for-30 (.433) in his last 10 games. Guerra’s wOBA against lefties is almost 40 points higher than it is against righties this season, leaving Murphy as a viable cheaper option on both sites.
Others to consider: Brian Dozier and Jed Lowrie
THIRD BASE
Matt Carpenter vs. Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $5,400
Carpenter should be the centerpiece of any stack against Bailey. He had two more hits Monday and is currently on an eight-game hitting streak that has seen him hit eight home runs. Not only does he have a .402 wOBA against righties this season, but he is 19-for-39 (.497) in his career against Bailey.
Matt Chapman vs. Mike Minor, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $3,900
Chapman burst onto the scene with 14 homers in 84 games last year, but he batted only .234 in the process. He has 11 home runs through 85 games this season, but his batting average is also much improved at .261. A big reason for his improvement is that he has dropped his strikeout rate by five percentage points. Minor has held lefties to a .292 wOBA, but righties have had much more success against him with a .346 wOBA.
Others to consider: Miguel Andujar and Adrian Beltre
SHORTSTOP
Elvis Andrus vs. Frankie Montas, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,000
Not only did Andrus extend his hitting streak to five games Monday, but he also hit his third home run of the season. He’s still got a big hole to climb out of in terms of his batting average and home run total, but his .330 OBP isn’t far off from his .337 mark last year. With Montas’ inability to keep runners off base, Andrus could be in line for another productive game.
Paul DeJong vs. Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,000
Get as many Cardinals hitters into your lineup as you can. DeJong is batting just .218 since he returned from the DL, but he’s also been the victim of a .250 BABIP. He has hit for a lot of power and shown even splits against righties and lefties during his brief career in the majors, so this matchup against Baily could be just what he needs to get back on track.
Others to consider: Jean Segura and Marcus Semien
OUTFIELD
Giancarlo Stanton vs. Yonny Chirinos, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,700
Stanton went 4-for-4 with a walk Monday to raise his batting average to .285 for the season, which is actually higher than his .281 mark last year. A lot was made of his struggles to start his career with the Yankees, but Stanton has put those fears to rest and is batting .378 in July. His strikeout rate is still high at 30.5%, but he can go on power streaks like few others can around baseball.
Khris Davis vs. Mike Minor, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $5,100
Look out, here comes Davis. After a lengthy power drought, he has three homers in his last two games. He finished 3-for-6 Monday and looks primed for a big series in hitter-friendly Globe Life Park in Arlington against a horrid Rangers pitching staff. Minor has allowed 16 home runs this season, 14 of which have come against right-handed batters.
Mark Canha vs. Mike Minor, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $3,800
Canha didn’t play Sunday due to hamstring cramps, but he returned Monday and finished 2-for-5 with a double. He’s already played more games for the Athletics this season than he did the last two years combined and is usually a cheap option to target versus lefties since he has a 170 wRC+ against them.
Others to consider: Shin-Soo Choo and Marcell Ozuna
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/23/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
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Monday brings a busy schedule with 13 games across the majors, but keep an eye on the weather as it could cause issues for a few games once again. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
STARTING PITCHERS
Jacob deGrom vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $11,500
DraftKings = $12,200
deGrom was supposed to face a tough matchup against the Yankees on Sunday, but a rainout pushed him back to a much easier game against the Padres. He’s been one of the few bright spots on the Mets, posting a 1.68 ERA, 2.33 FIP, and a 0.97 WHIP. He continues to be an elite source for strikeouts with a 10.9 K/9 and has allowed only seven home runs over 123.1 innings. The Padres have scored the fourth-fewest runs (380) in baseball, so don’t hesitate to pay the premium required to get deGrom into your entry as long as the weather holds up.
Sean Newcomb vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $7,100
DraftKings = $8,200
Newcomb has been battered around in his last three starts, allowing 13 runs across 12 innings. He gave up four homers during that stretch after allowing just three home runs in his first 12 starts. He’s had problems with walks, but his WHIP is still down significantly overall this season at 1.28 compared to 1.57 in 2017. This will be his third start of the season against the Marlins after he held them to one run over 12 innings in the first two. Considering the Marlins’ offensive deficiencies, Newcomb has some upside at this cheap price in tournament play.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Yonder Alonso vs. Trevor Williams, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,700
Williams has done a nice job for the Pirates with a 4.36 ERA and a 4.45 FIP, but he doesn’t have a large major for error with only a 6.5 K/9. The Indians are a much better hitting team at home than on the road and Williams will have to deal with the DH with this game being in Cleveland. Alonso is one of several Indians’ to consider based on his .353 wOBA against right-handed pitchers.
Robinson Chirinos vs. Brett Anderson, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $4,100
Chirinos has had a disappointing season as he is batting only .209 with a .319 OBP. The big reason for his struggles is an ugly 37.4% strikeout rate. He’s still hitting for power, though, with 12 home runs and he has a .363 wOBA against lefties for his career. Anderson is not an overpowering pitcher with a 6.6 K/9 for his career, leaving Chirinos as a cheap option with upside.
Others to consider: Freddie Freeman (first base) and Greg Bird (first base)
SECOND BASE
Whit Merrifield vs. Francisco Liriano, Detroit Tigers
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,700
After slugging 19 home runs last year, Merrifield has only five homers this season. He’s managed to still provide some power with 30 doubles, which is only two away from his mark in 2017. He’s hit for a high average as well at .302 and has almost doubled his walk rate. This matchup against Liriano is one to target since Merrifield has a 182 wRC+ against lefties.
Daniel Murphy vs. Jhoulys Chacin, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Miller Park
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,300
Murphy is still hitting for very little power, but he is 12-for-26 (.462) with four walks and just one strikeout across his last nine games. He has paltry 14.6% hard-hit rate this season, which is a big reason why he only has a .337 slugging percentage. His upside is limited right now, but his recent hot streak and his career .353 wOBA against righties makes him someone to consider, especially at his cheap price on FanDuel.
Others to consider: Scooter Gennett and Ian Kinsler
THIRD BASE
Matt Carpenter vs. Luis Castillo, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $5,500
Carpenter had gone deep in six straight games before failing to hit a home run Sunday. He has put up some staggering numbers in July, batting .355 with 1o home runs and a 1.432 OPS. He has a .399 wOBA against righties overall, so keep riding his hot bat against Castillo and his 1.38 WHIP.
Adrian Beltre vs. Brett Anderson, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $3,900
Beltre has been one of the more consistent hitters in baseball in recent years, but injuries have taken a toll on him this season. Not only is his slugging percentage down significantly at .408, but he has an uncharacteristic 21.1% strikeout rate. He still has a .352 wOBA against lefties despite his struggles and with this favorable matchup against Anderson, don’t be surprised if he puts up a vintage performance.
Others to consider: Jose Ramirez and Matt Chapman
SHORTSTOP
Elvis Andrus vs. Brett Anderson, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,300
Andrus has dealt with his own injury problems this season, limiting him to 39 games. It’s taken him some time to get back on track, but he’s showing signs of life by going 9-for-27 (.333) with three doubles and four steals across his last seven games. His 20 home runs last year appear to be an abnormality, but that doesn’t mean Andrus still can’t have a productive evening against Anderson.
Marcus Semien vs. Cole Hamels, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,300
Hamels has been excellent on the road this year, but he has a 5.83 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP at home. It’s possible the Rangers move him before the trade deadline, so that’s a stat to keep in mind if you play season-long fantasy. He’ll run into the buzzsaw that is the Athletics on Monday, who have won 17 of their last 22 games. Semien’s overall numbers don’t jump off the charts, but he is batting .267 with a .362 OBP in July.
Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Xander Bogaerts
OUTFIELD
Andrew Benintendi vs. Kevin Gausman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $5,600
Gausman has trouble keeping hitters in the park with a 1.5 HR/9, which would be the fourth straight season he has finished with an HR/9 of at least 1.4. Add in his 1.37 WHIP and uninspiring 7.8 K/9 and Gausman could be in for a long night against the Red Sox. Benintendi is scorching hot right now, hitting 19-for-37 (.514) with 12 runs and six RBI in his last 10 games. He also has a .410 wOBA against righties for the year.
Khris Davis vs. Cole Hamels, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,600
Davis has been in a homer drought, but he launched two Sunday to bring his total to 23 for the season. Although the power numbers haven’t been there, he is batting .328 with a .364 OBP in July. He’s got a ways to go if he is going to hit at least 40 home runs for the third consecutive season, but he can hit them in bunches when he gets hot. With Hamels’ struggles at home, Davis carries significant upside.
Jesse Winker vs. Daniel Poncedeleon, St. Louis Cardinals
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $4,700
Winker has shown an excellent eye at the plate, drawing 49 walks compared to 46 strikeouts. He only has a 5.7% swinging-strike rate to go along with a 44.2% hard-hit rate, which has helped him bat .300 in his first full season in the majors. His excelled with a .382 wOBA against righties and will be facing one in Poncedeleon who will be making his first appearance in the majors. Winker’s price is high on DraftKings, but he could provide excellent value on FanDuel.
Others to consider: Bryce Harper and A.J. Pollock
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 7/12/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
July special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout
Only seven games make up the main evening slate in DFS on Thursday, but the night is loaded with pitching as Max Scherzer, Corey Kluber, Luis Severino, Blake Snell and James Paxton are all scheduled to start. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
STARTING PITCHERS
Max Scherzer vs. New York Mets
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $12,000
DraftKings = $13,300
Scherzer had a subpar performance by his standards in his last start against the Marlins, allowing four runs in seven innings. He gave up three home runs and only recorded three strikeouts. He has allowed 0.9 HR/9 and has a 12.5 K/9 for the season overall, so don’t read too much into one bad outing. After winning the Cy Young award in both of the last two seasons, he’s going for three straight with his 2.33 ERA, 2.60 FIP, and 0.89 WHIP. The Mets have scored the third-fewest runs (347) in baseball, setting Scherzer up for a potentially dominant outing.
Steven Matz vs. Washington Nationals
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $7,800
DraftKings = $5,900
With so many aces taking the mound Thursday, there is no shortage of top options. However, if you want to go the cheap route, Matz is someone to consider. He has allowed three earned runs or fewer in eight of his last nine starts, lowering his ERA to 3.31 overall. He had problems keeping runners off base last year with a 1.53 WHIP, but he has made significant progress this season with a 1.23 WHIP. His strikeouts are back up as well with an 8.1 K/9. The Nationals lineup had a couple of good games recently against the Marlins, but have scored four runs or fewer in nine of their last 12 games. The Mets probably won’t be able to get him a win facing off against Scherzer, but that doesn’t mean Matz can’t provide value.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Jesus Aguilar vs. Jameson Taillon, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $4,800
Aguilar racked up three more hits Wednesday and is now 25-for-72 (.347) with 10 home runs in his last 20 games. He’s put to rest any fears people had about him against right-handed pitching, posting a .409 wOBA against them this season. He’s expensive, but he carries significant upside again Thursday.
Steve Pearce vs. J.A. Happ, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,500
Pearce is off to a hot start with his new team as he is 11-for-24 (.458) with a home run and four doubles. He’s normally someone you want to target against lefties considering his career .363 wOBA against them. He is 10-for-28 (.357) with five home runs in his career against Happ as well.
Others to consider: Yasmani Grandal (catcher) and Josh Bell (first base)
SECOND BASE
Max Muncy vs. Tyson Ross, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $4,900
Muncy logged two more hits Wednesday, bumping his average up to .276 this season. He’s done a great job of getting on base in general with a .416 OBP, not to mention his 21 homers in only 262 plate appearances. He presents a very tough matchup for Ross, who has allowed a .381 wOBA to lefties this year. Of note, Muncy is only eligible at second base on FanDuel as he is listed at first base and third base on DraftKings.
Joey Wendle vs. Kyle Gibson, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,500
Wendle doesn’t play against left-handed pitchers, but he’ll likely be in the lineup Thursday against Gibson. He doesn’t provide much power, but he’s currently on a seven-game hitting streak and is batting .278 overall this season. Gibson has pretty even splits against lefties and righties, but Wendle is someone to consider if you don’t want to pay up for Muncy.
Others to consider: Eduardo Nunez and Josh Harrison
THIRD BASE
Matt Duffy vs. Kyle Gibson, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,100
Third base is a little thin, especially with top options like Jose Ramirez and Eduardo Escobar dealing with tough matchups. It might be a position to target spending less on as a result. Duffy isn’t exactly dirt cheap, but he won’t bust your budget either. He’s 5-for-12 in his last three games to raise his overall average to .310 this year. He also only has a 16.5% strikeout rate. Home runs have been few and far between, but Duffy has proven to be one of the most consistent hitters for the Rays.
David Freese vs. Wade Miley, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $3,200
Miley made just two starts for the Brewers this season before landing on the DL with an oblique injury. He’s been out for over two months but is expected to start Thursday. He allows a ton of base runners with a 1.40 WHIP for his career and was hit hard as a member of the Orioles last season, resulting in a 5.61 ERA. Freese has a career .357 wOBA against lefties and might be worth the risk in tournament play at this price.
Others to consider: Travis Shaw and Yangervis Solarte
SHORTSTOP
Xander Bogaerts vs. J.A. Happ, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $5,200
Bogaerts’ power stroke is back this season as he has 14 home runs and 25 doubles in only 75 games. The Red Sox offense has been one of the most potent in all of baseball, which has helped Bogaerts amass 57 RBI and 43 runs scored. Happ has allowed 20 runs across 22.2 innings in his last four starts, leaving Bogaerts and the Red Sox with the potential for another big offensive performance.
Jean Segura vs. Tyler Skaggs, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,100
Segura made the All-Star team this year for the second time in his career. The honor was well deserved as he is batting a career-high .329 with seven home runs and 14 steals. He’s also scored 63 runs and is on pace to top 100 runs scored for only the second time in his career. He doesn’t have the power upside that Bogaerts does, but Segura has a .389 wOBA against lefties.
Others to consider: Chris Taylor and Jordy Mercer
OUTFIELD
Christian Yelich vs. Jameson Taillon, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,800
Yelich is coming off a series against his former team in the Marlins where he finished 6-for-16 with two doubles, five RBI, three runs scored and a steal. That’s the type of well-rounded production we have become accustomed to getting from him. With 11 home runs and 12 steals overall, this could be the season he finally reaches the 20-20 club. He’s had his problems against left-handed pitchers but has been much better with a .368 wOBA against righties.
Starling Marte vs. Wade Miley, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,800
Speaking of players with a great combination of speed and power, Marte already has 11 home runs and 23 steals this year. He’s currently on a seven-game hitting streak, going 12-for-26 (.462) with two home runs and five steals during that stretch. Marte should be one of the top hitters included in any Pirates stack against Miley.
Andrew Toles vs. Tyson Ross, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $2,000
DraftKings = $3,700
With Yasiel Puig (oblique) on the DL, Toles is going to get a chance to play against right-handed pitchers. He has a career .352 wOBA against them in parts of three seasons in the majors. He has a .311 career batting average in the minor leagues and could be worth taking a chance on in tournament play, especially at the minimum price on FanDuel.
Others to consider: J.D. Martinez and Randal Grichuk