Tuesday’s MLB action features a bunch of great pitchers as well as a few bad ones, which is the recipe for a lot of fantasy points both on the mound and at the plate. Those looking to win money in daily fantasy baseball leagues will need to put together great teams to keep up with the crowd.
Here is a look at the best and worst options available for June 30.
Pitchers
Chris Sale, Chicago White Sox ($12,800)
There are a few top-of-the-line pitching options available, with both Sonny Gray and Cole Hamels being solid choices and cheaper than Chris Sale. However, the White Sox starter has been on a run that has put him in rare company:
Even in a bad start last time out (five earned runs allowed in 6.2 innings), Sale’s 10 strikeouts made sure he came through with a solid fantasy day. These strikeout totals ensure he ends up with at least a reasonable output and possibly a huge one.
Ivan Nova, New York Yankees ($7,300)
Although he has only made one start this season and it came against the struggling Philadelphia Phillies, Ivan Nova looked good while putting up zeroes through 6.2 innings. If he can resemble his form from before Tommy John surgery when he had a 3.10 ERA in 2013, he could be a quality pitcher for fantasy teams.
Against an inconsistent Los Angeles Angels offense, this could be a chance to get plenty of points for relatively cheap.
Taylor Jungmann, Milwaukee Brewers ($6,200)
When in doubt, bet against the Phillies. While the offense has improved recently, this is still the worst team in baseball at 27-51, and it has few threats in the lineup.
Meanwhile, Taylor Jungmann has actually pitched fairly well in his four starts, amassing a 2.74 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 23 innings. He isn’t likely to carry your team, but you can get great value for the price.
Avoid
Shelby Miller, Atlanta Braves ($7,900)
Getting a pitcher with a 1.94 ERA for this price seems like a bargain, but there is a reason Shelby Miller isn’t listed with the other aces. He doesn’t get a lot of strikeouts (averaging just 3.7 per game in his last six starts), and he has a difficult matchup against the red-hot Washington Nationals.
He would have to put together a spectacular performance just to get a reasonable fantasy score, which isn’t likely to happen this time out.
Hitters
Josh Donaldson, 3B, Toronto Blue Jays ($4,800)
Boston Red Sox starter Eduardo Rodriguez allowed six runs last start and nine runs three starts ago. Still, even a consistent lefty would have problems getting out Josh Donaldson in this game.
So far this season, Donaldson has a .360 batting average at home along with 13 of his 18 home runs. He also has crushed lefties to the tune of a .396 batting average. These splits mean bad news for Rodriguez and good news for fantasy owners.
Billy Burns, OF, Oakland Athletics ($4,300)
Since entering the starting lineup for Coco Crisp, Billy Burns has been everything the Athletics could ask for in a leadoff hitter. He gets a hit just about every game, and once he is on first base, he is also a threat to steal and eventually score.
Although he isn’t likely to provide many home runs, he can give you consistent production for a reasonable price.
Curtis Granderson, OF, New York Mets ($4,100)
As bad as the New York Mets have been offensively, Curtis Granderson has done his part as of late. During his current eight-game hitting streak, the outfielder has gone 14-for-31 with five home runs, good enough for a .452 batting average.
Even at the top of the order, he is getting RBI to go with runs and a lot of fantasy points for everyone who has him on his or her team.
Avoid
Jose Bautista, Toronto Blue Jays ($5,200)
You can argue that he’s due, or you can simply say Jose Bautista is ice cold. The slugger is hitless over his last six games, going 0-for-20 during this stretch. The fact he is still earning walks is encouraging, and he obviously has the talent to break out with a few home runs out of nowhere.
On the other hand, there is too much money at stake for a bet on a hitter on such a poor streak.
Team to Stack
Houston Astros
Kansas City Royals pitcher Danny Duffy couldn’t make it out of the fifth in his first start since returning from the disabled list. This has been a common theme for the young starter, who has managed to pitch just 14.1 innings total in his last four games.
The Houston Astros—who lead the majors in home runs this season—could force Duffy into yet another short start with some big hits early.
Note: All prices courtesy of DraftKings. Unless otherwise noted, all stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.
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