There will be no shortage of action Monday with 12 games making up the main evening slate in DFS. Let’s try to start the week off on a high note by discussing some players who could help you emerge with some extra cash in your pocket.
Read MoreMLB 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 7/2/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
July special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout
Monday brings a light slate in the majors with only 10 games, nine of which make up the main evening slate in DFS. There may be fewer options to choose from than normal, but there are still some great matchups you can take advantage of. 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
Corey Kluber vs. Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $11,200
DraftKings = $12,500
Kluber’s last start was a disaster as he allowed six runs in only 1.2 innings to the Cardinals. It marked the second time in his last three games that Kluber has allowed at least four earned runs after having allowed three runs or fewer in each of his first 14 outings. Even with his recent brief rough patch, Kluber still has outstanding numbers with a 2.54 ERA, 3.29 FIP, and a 0.86 WHIP. The Royals have scored the fewest runs (288) in baseball, so look for Kluber to get back on track in a major way.
Nathan Eovaldi vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $8,700
Eovaldi has been inconsistent since returning from Tommy John surgery, but his 4.08 ERA, 4.87 FIP and 0.82 WHIP in six starts is certainly respectable since he hadn’t pitched since 2016. The Rays rotation has been hit hard by injuries, leaving Eovaldi as one of the few healthy traditional starters they have left. He doesn’t have significant strikeout potential with a 6.6 K/9 for his career, but this is a great matchup against a Marlins team that has scored the third-fewest runs (311) in baseball.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Wilson Ramos vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,900
Chen pitched well in his last start, but he’ll likely be a popular pitcher to stack against Monday with his 6.17 ERA and 1.62 WHIP this season. He doesn’t strike out many hitters with a 6.6 K/9 and has allowed 1.6 HR/9, which is especially damaging considering his WHIP. Ramos is having one of the best seasons of his career and has a .380 wOBA against left-handed pitchers this year, making him a key part of any Rays stack you might consider.
Yonder Alonso vs. Jakob Junis, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,800
Junis has allowed at least five runs in three of his last four starts, giving up at least three home runs in all three of those contests as well. He has a 2.1 HR/9 this year and allowed 1.4 HR/9 in 2017, so this isn’t just an isolated bad stretch. Alonso has hit nine of his 12 homers off of righties and has a .355 wOBA against them this season, leaving him as a viable option at a reasonable price on both sites.
Others to consider: Edwin Encarnacion (first base) and Greg Bird (first base)
SECOND BASE
Scooter Gennett vs. James Shields, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $5,000
Shields’ time with the White Sox had largely been a disaster, but he’s shown significant improvement this year with a 4.29 ERA, 4.44 FIP, and a 1.24 WHIP. That being said, he’s still not a dominating pitcher by any stretch of the imagination and will have no easy task against Gennett on Monday. Gennett has a lofty .332 average to go along with 13 homers and a .371 wOBA against right-handers.
Gleyber Torres vs. Anibal Sanchez, Atlanta Braves
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,200
There aren’t a lot of great cheap options at second base Monday, so if you don’t want to add Gennett to your entry, Torres is another option to consider. He went deep again Sunday night and incredibly has 15 home runs already after never hitting more than 11 in a season in the minors. Sanchez has a sparkling 2.68 ERA this year, but he’s been a bit lucky considering his 4.05 FIP and .238 BABIP allowed.
Others to consider: Jason Kipnis and Yoan Moncada
THIRD BASE
Max Muncy vs. Nick Kingham, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,600
Muncy has played at various positions for the Dodgers as they try to keep his hot bat in the lineup. He was declared the everyday second baseman over the weekend, locking him into a significant role that he has earned by hitting .273 with 17 home runs and a .416 OBP. With his .419 wOBA against righties, don’t hesitate to play him against Kingham.
Matt Duffy vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $4,000
Duffy doesn’t get much hype, mainly because he has just four home runs this year. He’s played very well for the Rays, though, batting a career-high .321. He was particularly hot in June by hitting .340 with a .394 OBP. Currently on a 10-game hitting streak, he is a great cheaper option if you want to save money at third base, especially on FanDuel.
Others to consider: Jose Ramirez and Miguel Andujar
SHORTSTOP
Francisco Lindor vs. Jakob Junis, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $5,400
With Junis’ recent struggles, he’s another great stacking target. Lindor has been not only one of the best hitters on his team, but he’s been one of the best hitters in all of baseball with a .296 average to go along with 21 home runs and 10 steals. He has scored exactly 99 runs in both of the last two seasons but is on pace to blow past that mark with 70 runs already this year. Although he has better numbers against lefties, his .376 wOBA against righties still makes him a great option Monday.
Willy Adames vs. Wei-Yin Chen, Miami Marlins
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,700
With Chen on the mound, it might be a good idea to target a couple of cheap hitters on the Rays who can help you fill out the rest of your lineup with high-priced studs. Adames is cheap on both sites and while he hasn’t taken off yet in his first taste of action in the majors, Chen has allowed a .398 wOBA to righties.
Others to consider: Trevor Story and Didi Gregorius
OUTFIELD
Aaron Judge vs. Anibal Sanchez, Atlanta Braves
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $5,300
Simply put, Judge loves hitting at Yankee Stadium. He hit .312 with 33 home runs there in last year and is batting .357 with 15 home runs there so far this season. Don’t worry that he doesn’t have the platoon advantage against Sanchez as Judge’s wOBA against righties (.422) is actually much higher than it is against lefties (.367) for his career.
Nick Markakis vs. Jonathan Loaisiga, New York Yankees
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,500
Injuries have forced the Yankees to insert Loaisiga into their starting rotation even though he had never pitched above Double-A. He had an 11.5 K/9 there before being called up and has carried that success over with an 11.6 K/9 through three starts. Two of his three starts came against the Rays and Phillies, so this will be a tougher test against the Braves. Markakis has a .361 wOBA against righties this year, leaving him as a viable option to consider for your lineup.
Lonnie Chisenhall vs. Jakob Junis, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $3,400
Whenever a righty is on the mound, Chisenhall is a cheap option to target for your outfield. He’s only played 29 games this season due to injury, but he’s hit well with a .321 average and a .394 OBP. He still only has one home run, but he has a .368 wOBA against righties.
Others to consider: Joc Pederson and Jesse Winker
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/28/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
June special! Use Code MCMLB50 at checkout
Only four of the 10 games in baseball have evening start times Thursday, so let’s examine some players with favorable matchups throughout the day 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
Aaron Nola vs. Washington Nationals
Stadium – Citizens Bank Park
FanDuel = $9,700
DraftKings = $12,100
Nola had a very good campaign for the Phillies in 2017, but his numbers are off the charts this year. His 2.58 ERA is supported by a 2.83 FIP and a 1.02 WHIP despite the fact that his strikeout rate is actually down from 26.6% last year to 25.1% this season. His swinging-strike rate is actually up, though, at 11.2% and he’s done a great job keeping hitters in the ballpark with a 0.5 HR/9. He’s also been stellar pitching at home with a 1.86 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP. The Nationals lineup is finally getting healthy, but they have still only averaged 2.1 runs across their last seven games. One of those contests was against Nola, who held the Nationals to two runs while recording five strikeouts in six innings.
Chris Stratton vs. Colorado Rockies
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $6,900
Stratton’s numbers are very average this season with a 4.14 ERA, 4.00 FIP, and a 1.36 WHIP. Normally if you want to take a chance on a cheap pitcher in tournament play, you want to target someone with strikeout upside. That’s not Stratton’s strong suit as he only has a 6.9 K/9. However, he has pitched well in June with a 2.48 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP in five starts. The Rockies are juggernauts at Coors Field with a .804 OPS, but they only have a .676 OPS on the road. Stratton might still be worth the risk at this price despite his lack of strikeouts.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Jesus Aguilar vs. Anthony DeSclafani, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $5,200
Aguilar was presented with an opportunity to play every day when Eric Thames went down with an injury earlier this season and has played so well that he is still starting regularly even though Thames has returned. He has a ton of power with 18 home runs, four of which have come in his last four starts. His nine home runs in June are impressive, but equally as impressive is that he is hitting .300 in the month despite only having a .286 BABIP. He has shed his stigma of not being able to hit righties with a .399 wOBA against them this year, making him a great option again Wednesday.
Evan Gattis vs. Ryne Stanek, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $3,200
DraftKings = $4,200
Stanek will start for the Rays, but this will be one of their bullpen games as Stanek hasn’t pitched more than two innings in a game this season. Lefty Ryan Yarbrough is expected to follow Stanek and should eat up several innings. He hasn’t exactly been lights out with a 3.96 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP and could have plenty of trouble with Gattis, who is batting .279 with eight home runs and a staggering 30 RBI in June, five of which have come in his last two games.
Others to consider: Mitch Moreland (first base) and Chris Herrmann (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Scooter Gennett vs. Junior Guerra, Milwaukee Brewers
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,600
Gennett is 13-for-40 (.325) with three doubles, a home run and 10 runs scored during his current 10-game hitting streak. He has shown no signs of struggling after a breakout season in 2017, batting .336 with 13 home runs and 53 RBI this year. With a .377 wOBA against righties, Gennett is one of the best options available at his position Wednesday.
Dee Gordon vs. Jimmy Yacabonis, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $4,400
As if the Orioles starting rotation wasn’t bad enough, they’ll turn to Yacabonis to start against the Mariners. His 16 career appearances in the majors over the last two seasons have all come out of the bullpen and resulted in a 5.48 ERA and a 1.74 WHIP. His 3.14 ERA and 1.10 WHIP as a starter in Triple-A look nice, but it’s concerning that he only posted a 6.8 K/9. Gordon doesn’t strike out much and can do a lot of damage when he gets on base, giving him upside against the inexperienced Yacabonis.
Others to consider: Ian Kinsler and Brock Holt
THIRD BASE
Alex Bregman vs. Ryne Stanek, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Tropicana Field
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $5,300
Bregman must be sad to see the Astros series against the Blue Jays come to an end as he was 9-for-14 with three home runs in five doubles in the three contests. He’s shown a much better eye at the plate this season and actually has more walks (47) than strikeouts (46). With a .400 wOBA against left-handed pitchers, he could put up some big numbers again once Yarbrough enters this game.
Kyle Seager vs. Jimmy Yacabonis, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,100
Seager has taken advantage of the Orioles’ mediocre pitching in this series, hitting 5-for-16 with two home runs in three games. His average still sits at an ugly .230, but he’s up to 15 home runs and 20 doubles. He’s not overly expensive on either site and could be a valuable part of any Mariners stack.
Others to consider: Jed Lowrie and Justin Turner
SHORTSTOP
Jean Segura vs. Jimmy Yacabonis, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,900
A Mariners stack against Yacabonis will probably be one of the most popular plays of the day. Add Segura into the mix, who appears to be fine after missing some time with a forearm infection as he is 5-for-9 with four runs scored in the last two games. Segura only has six home runs this year, but he’s hitting .338 and could score plenty of runs if the Mariners do explode offensively.
Kike Hernandez vs. Jose Quintana, Chicago Cubs
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,000
DraftKings = $3,600
Hernandez has made a compelling case to start more regularly, hitting 17-for-51 (.333) with six home runs, 10 RBI and 13 runs scored in his last 15 games. Chris Taylor’s hamstring injury has opened up playing time for Hernandez, but he is expected to rejoin the lineup Thursday. Hernandez is much better against lefties with a .349 wOBA, so he still might find his way into the lineup.
Others to consider: Xander Bogaerts and Andrelton Simmons
OUTFIELD
Andrew Benintendi vs. Jaime Barria, Los Angeles Angels
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $5,000
Benintendi’s success is sometimes lost in the crazy seasons that Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez are having, but he’s been excellent as well by hitting .290 with 13 home runs and 13 steals. With so many potent bats around him in the Red Sox lineup, he’s racked up the counting stats with 51 RBI and 56 runs scored. Barria’s 4.77 FIP indicates he is not pitching as well as his 3.40 ERA might make you think. Benintendi only has a .297 wOBA against lefties but is much better against righties with a .404 wOBA.
Eddie Rosario vs. Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $5,500
One of the key pieces of the trade that sent Adam Eaton to the Nationals, Giolito has been awful this year with a 7.01 ERA and a 1.61 WHIP. Not only does he have a 5.4 BB/9, but he’s allowed 12 home runs in 78.1 innings. He has allowed a .403 wOBA to left-handed hitters and will have to face one of the hottest ones in baseball in Rosario. He’s expensive on DraftKings, but his price on FanDuel provides the potential for excellent value.
Denard Span vs. Jimmy Yacabonis, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $4,100
Span has been a great addition for the Mariners, batting .296 with three home runs in 89 plate appearances since joining the team. He usually doesn’t provide much in the power department, but he is batting .282 for his career. He has a .347 wOBA against right-handed pitchers since the start of the 2015 season and is yet another Mariner worth considering for your entry.
Others to consider: Christian Yelich and Justin Upton
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 6/15/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
June special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout
Friday night brings a packed slate in baseball with 15 games. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
STARTING PITCHERS
Corey Kluber vs. Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Progressive Field
FanDuel = $12,000
DraftKings = $13,600
Kluber’s consistency gives him an extremely high floor in DFS. He hasn’t allowed more than three runs in any start this season and he has pitched at least seven innings in 10 of his 14 outings. As good as his 0.87 WHIP was in 2017, he’s been even better so far this year with a 0.83 WHIP. He’s shown great control with a 0.9 BB/9, which certainly helps his pitch count and allows him to log so many innings each game. He thrives pitching in Progressive Field as well, recording a 1.26 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 10.3 K/9 there this season. He’s costly, but he should be worth it.
Seth Lugo vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $7,100
Lugo has pitched primarily out of the bullpen this season, but he should start until Noah Syndergaard (finger) returns from the DL. He pitched very well against a potent Yankees lineup in his last outing, striking out eight batters and allowing only two hits in eight scoreless innings. He has a career-high 9.3 K/9 this season with some of that possibility attributed to his average fastball velocity of 93.8 mph, which is up significantly from 91.8 mph last year. Some of that might be because he is giving max effort in short relief appearances, so it will be interesting to see if he can maintain that increased velocity as a starter. The Diamondbacks lineup has been much better lately, but they still have the third-lowest OPS against righties (.664) in baseball.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Matt Adams vs. Aaron Sanchez, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,900
The Nationals have been using Adams and Mark Reynolds to fill in at first base for Ryan Zimmerman (back), with Adams normally playing against righties. With the DH in Toronto, both could play Friday anyways. Adams had an excellent .367 wOBA against righties last year but has been even better this season with a .415 wOBA against them. Left-handed hitters have had a lot of success against Sanchez as well with a .406 wOBA this year.
Greg Bird vs. Nathan Eovaldi, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $4,100
Bird is finally healthy, but he’s only batting .200 in his first 14 games. His .229 BABIP certainly isn’t helping his cause, but he is hitting for power with three home runs and four doubles. Eovaldi is not a big strikeout pitcher and he has allowed a .342 wOBA against lefties for his career, so this could be the matchup that Bird needs to start turning things around.
Others to consider: Anthony Rizzo (first base) and Wilson Ramos (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Scooter Gennett vs. Chad Kuhl, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,700
Gennett is off to a scorching start with a .347 average, but his .397 BABIP indicates a bit of luck has been involved. That might be bad news if you own him in season-long leagues, but we can continue to ride his hot streak in DFS. Kuhl allows a lot of base runners with a 1.36 WHIP and also gives up a lot of homers with a 1.5 HR/9. He has held right-handed hitters to a .313 wOBA, but lefties have had a lot of success against him with a .363 wOBA.
Jedd Gyorko vs. Jon Lester, Chicago Cubs
Stadium – Busch Stadium
FanDuel = $2,800
DraftKings = $3,400
Gyorko is one of my favorite cheap players to target when he is facing a lefty since he has a 239 wRC+ against them this season. He has also owned Lester during his career, batting 9-for-22 (.409) with three home runs. Gennett may have a higher upside, but the savings you can get with Gyorko might make him just as valuable.
Others to consider: Gleyber Torres and Josh Harrison
THIRD BASE
Justin Turner vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,000
Normally an excellent hitter for average, Turner is batting just .253 this season. He may still be shaking off some rust after missing the start of the year with a wrist injury, but it’s a good sign that he has a 37.5% hard-hit rate. He still has a 173 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers despite his struggles, making him a great option against the underwhelming Holland.
Colin Moran vs. Matt Harvey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $3,200
The Pirates try to limit Moran’s exposure to lefties, but that won’t be an issue against Harvey. Harvey is also horrid against left-handed hitters, allowing a .406 wOBA against them. Moran doesn’t have a lot of power upside, but all five of his home runs this year have come off of righties.
Others to consider: Nolan Arenado and Miguel Andujar
SHORTSTOP
Didi Gregorius vs. Nathan Eovaldi, Tampa Bay Rays
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,600
Gregorius couldn’t have been much worse in May, batting .151 with just one homer. He’s turned things around since the calendar flipped to June, batting .270 with two home runs. He loves hitting at Yankee Stadium as 11 of his 13 homers have come there this season. He has the opportunity for plenty of counting stats in the middle of the loaded Yankees lineup, making him a great option now that he is swinging a hot bat again.
Chris Taylor vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,100
Holland isn’t much more than a journeyman starter at this point in his career, but he still has an excellent .195 wOBA against left-handed hitters this season. Righties have a .351 wOBA against him, though, bringing Taylor into the discussion for Friday. Taylor also hit lefties well with a .363 wOBA, leaving him as someone to consider if you don’t want to pay up for Gregorius.
Others to consider: Trevor Story and Trea Turner
OUTFIELD
Juan Soto vs. Aaron Sanchez, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,400
Soto is only 19 years old and has played just 20 games in the majors, but the numbers he is putting up are staggering. He is batting .344 with a 1.088 OPS and actually has more walks (12) than strikeouts (11). Considering his young age, that walk to strikeout rate is even more impressive. With Sanchez’s struggles against left-handed hitters already detailed, Soto is someone to target for your outfield.
Matt Kemp vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – Dodger Stadium
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,200
Kemp’s second stint with the Dodgers couldn’t be going much better as he is batting .335 with 10 homers. He has cooled off some since hitting .361 in May, but he’s not exactly struggling with a .300 average in June. He’s another Dodger righty who hits lefties well considering he has a 183 wRC+ against them this season.
Brandon Nimmo vs. Zack Godley, Arizona Diamondbacks
Stadium – Chase Field
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,000
The Mets lineup has been terrible, but Nimmo has been one of their few bright spots. He’s shown a nice combination of power and speed with nine home runs and six steals. His .265 average isn’t off the charts, but he gets on base a lot with a .403 OBP. He has a .452 wOBA against right-handers pitchers and since Godley has a bloated 1.54 WHIP, Nimmo could find himself on base plenty in this game.
Others to consider: Yasiel Puig and Austin Meadows
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 5/23/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
May special! Use Code PAMLB30 at checkout
There are games spread out throughout the day Wednesday, but let’s focus on the main night 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
Jacob deGrom vs. Miami Marlins
Stadium – Citi Field
FanDuel = $10,400
DraftKings = $13,200
deGrom dealt with a hyperextended elbow recently, but showed no ill effects in his last start, allowing one run to go along with 13 strikeouts in seven innings against the Diamondbacks. He’s been fantastic when healthy this season, posting a 1.75 ERA, 1.81 FIP, and a 1.01 WHIP. He’s always carried significant strikeout upside and has a lofty 12.1 K/9 this season. Although deGrom gave up four runs over six innings in his first start against the Marlins this year, they have scored the fewest runs (165) and hit the fewest home runs (37) in baseball. Look for deGrom to have a much better performance in their rematch.
Alex Cobb vs. Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $6,100
DraftKings = $5,400
Cobb could not have been much worse in his first three starts this season, allowing 17 earned runs in 11.2 innings. He signed with the Orioles late and didn’t get a full spring training, which may have led to some of his struggles. He’s been much better since then, allowing nine earned runs over 24 innings in his last four starts. That’s even more impressive when you consider that three of those starts came against the Angels, Athletics and Red Sox. He’ll face a much easier opponent in the White Sox on Wednesday, who have scored the second-fewest runs (171) in baseball. At this dirt cheap price, he’s someone to consider in tournament play.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Anthony Rizzo vs. Adam Plutko, Cleveland Indians
Stadium – Wrigley Field
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,500
Plutko will be making his second start of the season Wednesday and he did pitch well in his first outing, allowing three runs in 7.1 innings against the Blue Jays. He did give up three solo home runs in that contest and had a 1.6 HR/9 at Triple-A last year, which is a bit concerning. He’s not much of a strikeout pitcher either with a career 7.5 K/9 in the minors. Rizzo is off to a bad start this season, but he does have a career .372 wOBA against right-handed pitchers, so this could be just the matchup he needs to have a big game.
Josh Bell vs. Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $4,000
Whenever Bailey takes the mound, you should be looking to stack hitters against him. He’s off to a terrible start with a 6.11 ERA, 6.04 FIP, and a 1.60 WHIP. His lowly 7% swinging-strike rate has helped result in a 5.4 K/9 and he has already allowed 12 home runs in 53 innings. Bell has yet to break out in the home run department with just three longballs this season, but he could provide excellent value Wednesday.
Others to consider: Mike Zunino (catcher) and Chris Davis (first base)
SECOND BASE
Gleyber Torres vs. Doug Fister, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,500
In what has been a dream start to his major league career, Torres is batting .330 with seven home runs in 26 games. He’s been hitting ninth, but just about every spot in the loaded Yankees lineup provides plenty of opportunities for counting stats. He’s never hit more than 11 home runs in a season in the minors, so don’t expect him to keep hitting homers at this pace. He does have a career .285 average and .362 OBP in the minors and was rated as one of the top prospects in all of baseball. Fister’s 4.72 FIP indicates he hasn’t pitched as well as his 3.43 ERA would lead you to believe and he only has a 6.6 K/9, leaving Torres with another favorable opportunity to produce.
Scooter Gennett vs. Chad Kuhl, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,400
Gennett had a breakout campaign last year, batting .295 with 27 home runs and 97 RBI. He’s doing his best to prove that was no fluke, batting .324 with eight home runs and 33 RBI so far this season. He had a .388 wOBA against right-handers last year and has followed it up with a .395 wOBA against them so far this year, leaving him with significant upside against Kuhl.
Others to consider: Javier Baez and Jonathan Schoop
THIRD BASE
Colin Moran vs. Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,700
The Pirates really try to keep Moran away from lefties, resulting in him logging only 10 plate appearances against them this season. Wednesday won’t present that problem though against Bailey and Moran is hitting righties well with a .370 wOBA. He went deep in Tuesday’s game against Matt Harvey and should be a part of any Pirates stack you plan to deploy versus Bailey.
Pedro Alvarez vs. Dylan Covey, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,700
The Orioles against Covey presents another excellent stacking opportunity. He was horrible in 18 games (12 starts) for the White Sox last season, recording a 7.71 ERA, 7.20 FIP and 1.67 WHIP. He had almost as many walks (34) as he had strikeouts (41) and allowed a staggering 20 home runs in 70 innings. Despite his struggles in the batting average department, Alvarez still has eight home runs this season and has much better career numbers against righties, so he might be worth the risk in tournament play.
Others to consider: Matt Chapman and Kyle Seager
SHORTSTOP
Manny Machado vs. Dylan Covey, Chicago White Sox
Stadium – Guaranteed Rate Field
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $5,500
Machado has been one of the best hitters in baseball this season, batting .335 with 15 home runs and 43 RBI. He’s been one of the few bright spots in what has otherwise been a struggling Orioles lineup that is in the bottom-third of baseball in runs scored. His walk rate is up and his strikeout rate is down, which is good news for him to be able to sustain this type of production moving forward. With Covey’s poor performance already detailed, the time might be right to pay up for Machado.
Jean Segura vs. Daniel Gossett, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,500
The Mariners lineup was expected to be their strength heading into this season, but they are seriously depleted right now without Robinson Cano (suspension) and Dee Gordon (toe). To make matters worse, Nelson Cruz has also missed the last two games with an elbow injury and may not be able to play Wednesday either. Segura is one of the best hitters they have left as he is batting .315 with 11 stolen bases this season. Gossett has a 6.48 ERA and 1.63 WHIP in 20 career starts, so Segura is someone to target if you don’t want to pay up for Machado.
Others to consider: Chris Taylor and Marcus Semien
OUTFIELD
Mike Trout vs. Aaron Sanchez, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Rogers Centre
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $5,300
Trout’s .289 batting average this season is nothing special by his standards, which could be due to his .304 BABIP being almost 50 percentage points lower than his career mark. He is still hitting for a ton of power and has more walks (42) than strikeouts (41). Aaron Sanchez has allowed way too many baserunners this year with a 1.53 WHIP and doesn’t have overpowering stuff with a 7.2 K/9, so expect him to have a lot of trouble trying to get Trout out.
Austin Meadows vs. Homer Bailey, Cincinnati Reds
Stadium – Great American Ball Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $4,100
Meadows is living up to his lofty prospect status through four games, hitting 6-for-15 with two home runs. The scary part is that the Pirates outfield is so deep, he might be sent back down once Starling Marte (oblique) comes off the DL. With Bailey allowing a .400 wOBA against left-handed hitters this season, Meadows is someone to target for your entry.
Mark Canha vs. Marco Gonzales, Seattle Mariners
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,500
Gonzales’ 4.66 ERA isn’t great, but his 3.37 FIP would suggest he’s not off to that bad of a start. If he’s going to lower his ERA though, he’ll need to improve his 1.47 WHIP significantly. Righties have given him problems throughout his career, resulting in a .380 wOBA against them. Canha has thrived on lefties this year with a 195 wRC+, making him a viable cost-effective option with upside.
Others to consider: Kyle Schwarber and Adam Jones
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/27/18
Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/27/18
Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout
There is only one day game Friday, leaving you with a lot of options to sift through for the night 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
Jacob deGrom vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $10,600
DraftKings = $12,400
deGrom was one of the few Mets starters to stay healthy last year, logging a career-high 201.1 innings. He made significant strides in the strikeout department, finishing with a 10.7 K/9 that was a full strikeout higher than his previous career best. He’s continued his increased pace this season with an 11.3 K/9 through five starts. Not only does he have excellent control with a career 2.3 BB/9, but he doesn’t allow many baserunners in general with a career 1.12 WHIP. The Padres have struck out more times (273) than any other team in baseball this season and have the sixth-lowest batting average against right-handed pitchers (.223), leaving deGrom as someone to target for your entry Friday.
Miles Mikolas vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $6,700
DraftKings = $7,600
Mikolas returned to the majors for the first time since 2014 after pitching the last three years in Japan. The transition back has gone smoothly so far, posting a 3.46 ERA and 3.89 FIP across four starts. He’s done a great job limiting base runners with a 1.00 WHIP and has shown impeccable control with a 0.7 BB/9. His strikeout upside isn’t great, but he has the potential to sustain a low ERA if he can continue to limit walks. If you are looking to go really cheap in tournament play, he has the potential to at least throw a quality start.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Joey Votto vs. Phil Hughes, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,100
Votto certainly didn’t play well out of the gate, but it appears he has righted the ship. Not only is he on a five-game hitting streak, but he has also hit a home run in three straight. His .270 BABIP is well below his career mark of .352, so expect his batting average to continue to improve. He dominated right-handed pitchers last year with a .433 wOBA, leaving him with significant upside against Hughes on Friday.
C.J. Cron vs. Drew Pomeranz, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $3,300
DraftKings = $3,800
Cron is on fire right now, batting 16-for-47 (.340) with five home runs and 14 RBI in his last 11 games. He’s hitting the ball with authority this year, posting a 42.9% hard-hit rate compared to his 32.6% career mark. Pomeranz has held left-handed hitters to a .273 wOBA in his career, but righties have posted a .315 wOBA. It might not be a bad idea to ride Cron’s hot bat for at least one more game.
Others to consider: Gary Sanchez (catcher) and Jose Martinez (first base)
SECOND BASE
Scooter Gennett vs. Phil Hughes, Minnesota Twins
Stadium – Target Field
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $3,400
Gennett almost doubled his previous career high with 27 home runs last year but has only gone deep twice in 2018. He’s still hitting for average though at .283, which still keeps him in the discussion for DFS despite his lack of power. He had a .388 wOBA against righties last year and faces a struggling one in Hughes on Friday. Hughes has been limited by injuries the last two years but hasn’t pitched well when healthy, posting a WHIP of at least 1.51 in both of those seasons.
Starlin Castro vs. Tyler Anderson, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Marlins Park
FanDuel = $3,100
DraftKings = $3,200
Speaking of players who haven’t hit for power this year, Castro has only hit four doubles and is still looking for his first home run. His 39.5% hard-hit rate this year is actually much higher than his career mark, but his 56.6% ground-ball rate is also a career high. Anderson has a 1.52 WHIP through five starts this season and a 1.33 WHIP for his career, so he generally has a hard time keeping runners off base. At this cheap price, Castro has upside while also providing salary relief for your entry.
Others to consider: Cesar Hernandez and Gleyber Torres
THIRD BASE
Jeimer Candelario vs. Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles
Stadium – Oriole Park at Camden Yards
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,200
Candelario continues to impress in his first full season as a starter, hitting .290 with a .908 OPS. He’s been batting second in the Tigers lineup, which is a great spot with Miguel Cabrera providing him with protection. Tillman has been awful this year with a 9.87 ERA and 2.37 WHIP, so don’t hesitate to add Candelario to your lineup.
Matt Davidson vs. Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
Stadium – Kauffman Stadium
FanDuel = $3,400
DraftKings = $3,500
Davidson is only batting .225 this year, but he’s been lethal when he makes contact with a 55% hard-hit rate. It’s led to seven home runs and three doubles despite his 31 strikeouts in 85 plate appearances. Duffy dominated left-handed hitters last year, holding them to a .199 wOBA. Righties hit him much better though with a .329 wOBA. I wouldn’t be surprised if Davidson goes deep in this game.
Others to consider: Todd Frazier and Daniel Roberston
SHORTSTOP
Paul DeJong vs. Steven Brault, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,300
DeJong burst onto the scene for the Cardinals last year, batting .285 with 25 home runs in 108 games. He’s showed no signs of a sophomore slump, hitting .281 with seven home runs so far. He recorded a .392 wOBA against left-handers last year and will take on one in Brault on Friday, who doesn’t have overpowering stuff either with a career 6.5 K/9.
Adeiny Hechavarria vs. Drew Pomeranz, Boston Red Sox
Stadium – Fenway Park
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,100
Hechavarria didn’t get a hit Thursday against the Orioles but had at least two hits in four of six games entering that matchup. Known for his defensive abilities, Hechavarria is batting .273 overall this season. He’s hit better against lefties throughout his career, so he might be with the risk at this price against Pomeranz on Friday.
Others to consider: Francisco Lindor and Eduardo Nunez
OUTFIELD
Tommy Pham vs. Steven Brault, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,700
Pham is doing his best to prove that his breakout season in 2017 was no fluke, batting .368 with a .484 OBP so far this year. After finishing last season with 23 home runs and 25 steals, he’s also continued to show his power and speed combo with three homers and five steals through 22 games. With a 153 wRC+ against lefties last year, Pham is another Cardinals right-handed hitter to key in on Friday.
Yoenis Cespedes vs. Clayton Richard, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Petco Park
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $4,100
Cespedes is only batting .211 this year, but his .300 BABIP is right in line with his career numbers. The problem is he has struck out a whopping 41 times in 103 plate appearances. To put that into perspective, he struck out 61 times in 321 plate appearances last year. He’ll need to show significant improvement in that area to makes gains with his batting average, but he still has a ton of power. Richard allowed 23 of his 24 home runs to right-handed hitters last year, leaving Cespedes as an option to consider for your entry.
Matt Kemp vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,800
This matchup screams split advantage. Holland was awful against righties last year, allowing a .408 wOBA. On the flip side, Kemp has a .391 wOBA against lefties for his career. If you are looking for a cost-effective outfielder Friday, look no further.
Others to consider: Mookie Betts and Leonys Martin
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/6/18
Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
MLB Daily Fantasy Baseball Recommendations for 4/6/18
Earlybird special! Use Code PAMLB10 at checkout
This will be an usually quiet Friday in the majors with only nine games on the schedule, which particularly hurts in terms of options at starting pitcher 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
Lance McCullers Jr. vs. San Diego Padres
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $8,600
DraftKings = $12,300
McCullers’ overall numbers don’t look great on the surface, finishing with a 4.25 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 2017. However, his FIP was 3.10 and he was a bit unlucky with opposing batters posting a .333 BABIP. He had a 10 K/9 and a 0.6 HR/9, making him a candidate for significant improvement in 2018. McCullers had a brief scare when he was hit by a comebacker in his first start of the season against the Rangers, but stayed in the game, finishing with 10 strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. The Padres lineup isn’t great, to begin with, but it’s even thinner right now with Wil Myers (elbow) on the DL. McCullers could be in line for another strong performance Friday as a result.
Luis Castillo vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $7,100
DraftKings = $8,700
Castillo had a great start to his career during his brief time in the majors last year, posting a 3.12 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 9.9 K/9 in 89 1/3 innings. He showed excellent control for a young power pitcher, allowing just 1.8 BB/9. He induced a lot of grounders as well with a 58.8% ground-ball rate. Castillo had to face the Nationals in his first start of the season, who have one of the best lineups in the league. He allowed six earned runs in five innings, but he did still record six strikeouts. Friday brings an easier opponent in the Pirates, leaving Castillo as a tournament play option at this price.
CATCHER/FIRST BASE
Freddie Freeman vs. German Marquez, Colorado Rockies
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $5,700
Freeman has started off about as well as anyone so far this season, batting .421 with two home runs and nine RBI. He has a crazy .621 OBP and has only struck out three times. He’ll face the righty Marquez on Friday, which should benefit him greatly since he had a ridiculous .422 wOBA against righties in 2017.
Kendrys Morales vs. Matt Moore, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,400
DraftKings = $2,900
Morales is only 2-for-14 to start the season and has yet to record an extra-base hit. Friday might be the day his fortunes change though against Moore and the Rangers. A switch-hitter, Morales is much better from the right side of the plate, posting a 165 wRC+ in 2017 compared to a 77 wRC+ from the left side. Moore struggled with a 1.53 WHIP last year and doesn’t have overpowering stuff, making Morales an option to consider at this cheap price.
Others to consider: Justin Smoak (first base) and Brian McCann (catcher)
SECOND BASE
Scooter Gennett vs. Trevor Williams, Pittsburgh Pirates
Stadium – PNC Park
FanDuel = $2,900
DraftKings = $3,500
Gennett had the best season of his career in 2017, hitting .295 with 27 home runs and 97 RBI. His previous career-highs were 14 home runs and 56 RBI, so the leap that he made was significant, to say the least. He’s not off to a hot start with his counting stats this year, but he is batting .429 in the early goings. Right-handed pitching provided little troubles for Gennett as he posting a .388 wOBA against them last year compared to just .296 against lefties. Based on those extreme splits, he might be worth taking a chance on in tournament play Friday.
Kike Hernandez vs. Derek Holland, San Francisco Giants
Stadium – AT&T Park
FanDuel = $2,600
DraftKings = $3,500
The injury to Justin Turner (wrist) has opened up some playing time for Hernandez, but he is only hitting .188 so far this season. He has dominated left-handed pitching though, posting a .390 wOBA against them in 2017. He’ll face the lefty Holland for the second time of the season on Friday after going 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI in their first matchup. Of note, Hernandez is only listed at second base on FanDuel as he is listed as an outfielder on DraftKings.
Others to consider: Joe Panik and Jed Lowrie
THIRD BASE
Josh Donaldson vs. Matt Moore, Texas Rangers
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $4,800
Donaldson has battled through a dead arm to start the season, but it has really only limited him in the field. He has two home runs and a double so far to go along with a .400 OBP. He owned lefties last year, finishing with a 171 wRC+. In limited plate appearances against Moore in his career, Donaldson is also 3-for-8 with a home run, one double and one walk. Expect him to give Moore troubles again Friday.
Luis Valbuena vs. Daniel Gossett, Oakland Athletics
Stadium – Angel Stadium
FanDuel = $2,500
DraftKings = $3,000
Valbuena is off to a terrible start this season, hitting .167 with just two extra-base hits. The good news is that he is getting plenty of playing time with Ian Kinsler (groin) on the DL, which moved Zack Cozart from third to second base. Gossett struggled with a 6.11 ERA and 1.61 WHIP last year while also recording just 7.1 K/9. Valbuena is a much better hitter against righties, posting a .324 wOBA against them in 2017 compared to just .194 against lefties.
Others to consider: Nolan Arenado and Ryan Flaherty
SHORTSTOP
Carlos Correa vs. Luis Perdomo, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $5,000
Correa suffered a minor toe injury and sat out Wednesday, but he should return Friday after receiving two days of rest. He was hot before the injury, batting .474 with two home runs and eight RBI. Although he hits lefties extremely well, righties don’t really give him problems either, finishing with a .380 wOBA against them in 2017. The right-hander Perdomo had a WHIP of at least 1.51 in both of the last two seasons and his K/9 did not exceed 6.5 in either year, which doesn’t exactly make him an imposing force for Correa to face.
Manny Machado vs. C.C. Sabathia, New York Yankees
Stadium – Yankee Stadium
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,200
Machado has yet to drive in a run and is hitting only .222 this season, so he doesn’t exactly come into Friday swinging the bat well. He’s had good numbers against Sabathia in his career though, batting .316 with three home runs and six doubles in 57 career at-bats. Sabathia is still a serviceable starting pitcher, but he’s not nearly as overpowering as he was earlier in his career. This might be just the matchup that Machado needs to get going.
Others to consider: Addison Russell Andrelton Simmons
OUTFIELD
Charlie Blackmon vs. Brandon McCarthy, Atlanta Braves
Stadium – Coors Field
FanDuel = $5,300
DraftKings = $5,800
Blackmon has yet to play a single game in the friendly confines of Coors Field, yet he is still batting .345 with four home runs. He finally returns home Friday, a place where he batted .391 and hit 24 of his 37 home runs last season. He also destroyed righties last year with a 145 wRC+, so don’t hesitate to pay up to get him into your lineup against McCarthy on Friday.
Josh Reddick vs. Luis Perdomo, San Diego Padres
Stadium – Minute Maid Park
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $4,000
Reddick was hitless in his first two games of 2018 but has gone 6-for-10 with two home runs in three games since. The Astros lineup is loaded with excellent right-handed hitters and Reddick provides an important compliment from the left-hand side, posting a wOBA of at least .356 against righties in each of the last four seasons. He has an excellent chance to extend his recent hot streak Friday.
Nomar Mazara vs. Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
Stadium – Globe Life Park in Arlington
FanDuel = $2,700
DraftKings = $3,400
Mazara is swinging a hot bat right now, recording at least two hits in four of his last six games. He batted a disappointing .253 in 2017, but a lot of that was because he hit only .228 against lefties. Most of his power came against right-handers as well, hitting 19 of his 20 home runs against them. At this cheap price, he’s worth taking a chance on in tournament play against a righty in Estrada who doesn’t have overpowering stuff.
Others to consider: Mike Trout and Preston Tucker