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Among the four games on Friday’s MLB postseason schedule, DraftKings daily fantasy players have several quality pitching options to choose from.

Clayton Kershaw was often an easy selection to make during the regular season, but is it worth spending $15,000 on him in the playoffs, where he has a 5.12 ERA over 51 career innings?

Along with big bats like Josh Donaldson and Edwin Encarnacion, the following lineup features several cheaper options likely to outperform their salaries:

Best Values 

SP Jacob deGrom, New York Mets ($11,400) at Los Angeles Dodgers

Jacob deGrom was fantastic in his final warm-up outing prior to the postseason.  The above video highlights deGrom‘s scoreless four-inning stint against the Washington Nationals on October 4, in which he struck out seven and did not allow a hit.

The 27-year-old finished the regular season with 205 strikeouts in 191 innings.  His 2.54 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and .215 batting average against all ranked among the top five in the National League.

On July 26, in his only start of the year against the Dodgers, deGrom surrendered just two hits with eight strikeouts in 7.2 shutout innings.

Why not save $3,600 and go with deGrom as your ace instead of Kershaw?

SP Jon Lester, Chicago Cubs ($10,500) at St. Louis Cardinals

Jon Lester is a proven playoff veteran who helped guide the Boston Red Sox to a pair of World Series titles in 2007 and 2013.  Over 84 postseason innings spanning his 10-year career, Lester owns a 2.57 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP.

The Cubs lefty closed out September with a great stretch of baseball, holding opposing hitters to a .169 batting average and a .206 on-base percentage in his last five starts:

Lester has posted a .259 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP in five appearances versus the Cardinals so far in 2015.  Expect another strong performance from him in Game 1 of the National League Division Series.

OF Matt Holliday, St. Louis Cardinals ($3,100) vs. Chicago Cubs

Like Lester, Matt Holliday has an enormous amount of playoff experience—263 at-bats spanning six different years.  The MLB Network pointed out one of the many accomplishments on his extensive resume:

At this stage of his career, the 35-year-old is clearly past his prime.  Holliday only took the field for 73 games this season, hitting just four home runs.  However, he’s homered in every postseason he’s been a part of and has an excellent track record against Lester.

Holliday is 5-for-9 with a double and three RBI when facing Chicago’s Game 1 starter.

OF Colby Rasmus, Houston Astros ($3,100) at Kansas City Royals

Colby Rasmus is the hottest hitter in baseball at the moment.  The 29-year-old outfielder has five home runs in his past five games, including one in each of the Astros’ two playoff contests.  ESPN Stats & Info noted the significance of Rasmus‘ achievement:

In addition to the long balls, Rasmus is 7-for-16 in October with four walks, eight runs and eight RBI.

It’s a small sample size, but his career postseason numbers are also impressive.  In five games, Rasmus is 6-for-15 with three doubles, two home runs, four RBI, four walks and a stolen base.

2B/OF Chris Coghlan, Chicago Cubs ($3,000) at St. Louis Cardinals

Chris Coghlan was not in the lineup for the Cubs’ victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates in Wednesday’s National League Wild Card Game.  But if he gets the start in Game 1 of the division series, there’s a good chance he’ll make it count.

Coghlan has excellent numbers against Cardinals starter John Lackey, including eight hits in 17 at-bats:

The 30-year-old closed out the regular season on a high note, going 4-for-7 with two runs, a double and a triple in Chicago’s final two games.

With eligibility at second base or outfield and a price tag of only $3,000, Coghlan could be a useful piece when filling out the end of your roster.

All prices courtesy of DraftKings. Statistics via MLB.com unless otherwise noted. Mark Vandeusen is an MLB featured columnist for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @LucidSportsFan.

DraftKings is hosting one-day MLB contests! Claim your free entry by clicking on the link and making a first-time deposit!

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It’s the last day of the regular season, and all 30 MLB clubs are in action.  Most of Sunday afternoon’s contests are predominately meaningless and won’t affect the final standings.  This has the potential to wreak havoc on DraftKings daily fantasy lineups.

However, some teams are still competing for spots in the postseason, and many players will also be looking to achieve personal statistical goals.

With that in mind, here are five bargain buys and sleeper picks for Oct. 4. 

SP Cole Hamels, Texas Rangers ($9,800) vs. Los Angeles Angels

The Rangers lead the American League West by just a single game over the Houston Astros.  As USA Today‘s Bob Nightengale noted, Texas will hope for a strong start from Cole Hamels to clinch the division:

Hamels is 6-0 in his last nine outings, with the Rangers winning on every occasion.  He averaged 20.2 fantasy points per game in that time.  Hamels has also thrown six innings or more in all 11 of his appearances since joining the ballclub.

Considering both Clayton Kershaw ($15,000) and Jacob deGrom ($11,400) will likely make short starts in order to stay fresh for the playoffs, Hamels could be the best big-name pitching option available—and he comes at a much cheaper price.

SP Rick Porcello, Boston Red Sox ($7,300) at Cleveland Indians

The above video features highlights of Rick Porcello‘s previous trip to the mound, a victory over the New York Yankees in which he recorded eight strikeouts in eight innings.  Porcello has struck out eight hitters in three of his past four starts.  In the month of September, the righty amassed 45 strikeouts in 43.1 total innings.

Over his last seven games, Porcello has posted a 3.22 ERA and averaged more than seven innings pitched and 22.5 fantasy points per contest.

Porcello‘s season ERA currently stands at 5.02.  But the 26-year-old would love to get that number below 5.00 with a quality performance in Boston’s final game of the year.

3B Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies ($4,400) at San Francisco Giants

Nolan Arenado owns a seven-game hitting streak and is 10-for-26 with three home runs and 13 RBI in that time.

With 42 homers this season, Arenado is tied with Bryce Harper for the National League lead.  Might the Rockies slugger launch one more to take the title all to himself?  As Giants beat writer Andrew Baggarly pointed out, the majority of Arenado‘s long balls have come away from Coors Field, a rarity for a Colorado player:

Arenado is just 3-for-16 in his career against San Francisco pitcher Matt Cain, but one of those hits was a home run.

Six other third basemen cost more than Arenado does, making him a steal at $4,400.

OF Shin-Soo Choo, Texas Rangers, ($4,200) vs. Los Angeles Angels

Shin-Soo Choo is red hot at the moment.  The Rangers outfielder has 13 hits, four homers and 10 RBI in his past nine contests.

At the end of August, Choo was batting .245.  However, he hit .404 in September to raise his average to .276.

Choo is hitting .319 at home this year, compared to only .237 on the road.

Needing a win to stay alive in the playoff race, the Angels will pitch Garrett Richards on just three days of rest—something that should bode well for Rangers hitters.

SS J.J. Hardy, Baltimore Orioles ($2,500) vs. New York Yankees

There are more than 40 shortstops with higher salaries than J.J. Hardy’s, making him a very deep sleeper pick.  Hardy has also been on the bench for two of Baltimore’s last three games, so be sure to confirm he’s in the Orioles starting lineup before adding him to your own roster.

Hardy is a great value play because of his spectacular track record when facing the Yankees’ Michael Pineda.  In 13 career at-bats, Hardy has homered off Pineda three times:

During two previous head-to-head meetings in 2015, Hardy went a combined 2-for-5 with a walk and a home run against Pineda.

All prices courtesy of DraftKings. Statistics via MLB.com unless otherwise noted. Mark Vandeusen is an MLB featured columnist for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @LucidSportsFan.

DraftKings is hosting one-day MLB contests! Claim your free entry by clicking on the link and making a first-time deposit!

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Thursday features four MLB games in the afternoon and eight at night.  Clayton Kershaw is an easy No. 1 choice among the eight starting pitchers available in early contests, but his $14,700 salary will likely have DraftKings daily fantasy players searching for a cheap second arm.

In the evening, a Chicago ace can be had for an unusually low price, while a Boston rookie takes the field swinging a red-hot bat.

Here is a selection of sleeper picks and bargain buys for September 24.

Afternoon

SP Chris Bassitt, Oakland A’s ($5,900) vs. Texas Rangers

A sore shoulder kept Chris Bassitt out of action for nearly a month, causing his cost to dip significantly in his return to the mound.

For his last outing before the injury, Bassitt‘s price tag peaked at a season-high $8,400.  Leading up to that, the 26-year-old tossed at least six innings while giving up three or fewer runs in seven consecutive starts, culminating in the strong performance highlighted in the above video.

Bassitt has also surrendered two runs or fewer in seven of his 10 appearances this year.  His 2.82 ERA and 1.12 WHIP are spectacular numbers for a sub-$6,000 pitcher, as is his .223 batting average against.

OF Ender Inciarte, Arizona Diamondbacks ($3,000) at Los Angeles Dodgers

Considering Ender Inciarte‘s average of 7.2 fantasy points per game, he’s a steal at only $3,000.  Because he’s facing Kershaw, Inciarte is available for significantly less than he normally would be.  However, the young outfielder has fared extremely well in his short history against the Dodgers superstar:

In their only previous head-to-head meeting this season, Inciarte went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

Inciarte has also hit safely in five straight games, including 10 hits in 21 at-bats.

Evening

SP Chris Sale, Chicago White Sox ($11,600) at New York Yankees

Chis Sale isn’t a sleeper by any means, but compared to what he normally costs, he’s definitely a bargain.  After surrendering 14 earned runs in 23.1 innings spanning four outings, Sale’s $11,600 salary is the lowest it’s been in his past 10 starts.

Despite his recent struggles, Sale is still piling up strikeouts—he has 30 of them in that 23.1-inning stretch.  Sale’s total of 259 punchouts is second in the majors to Kershaw‘s 272 and is nearing the White Sox single-season record of 269.

Comcast SportsNet’s Chuck Garfien pointed out the historical significance of the mark Sale may soon break:

He’s not the most expensive option on the board, but Sale’s 24.9 points-per-game average is easily the highest among Thursday evening’s pitchers.

1B/3B Travis Shaw, Boston Red Sox ($3,800) vs. Tampa Bay Rays

Travis Shaw currently owns a six-game hitting streak, during which he’s 11-for-21.  The 25-year-old has also reached base in 15 consecutive contests, batting .345 with a .443 on-base percentage in that time:

Shaw has five RBI in his last four games, with double-digit fantasy points in three of them.  In addition, the rookie is hitting .365 at home this season while averaging nearly 10 fantasy points per day when he plays at Fenway Park.

Shaw comes cheaper than eight other available third basemen and should provide great bang for your buck.

C Yan Gomes, Cleveland Indians ($3,300) at Minnesota Twins

Yan Gomes has six hits and four runs scored in his past four games.  As the Indians’ official Twitter account noted, Gomes has also doubled in each contest:

In total, Gomes has five two-base hits in 15 at-bats since September 19.

The Cleveland catcher also boasts an outstanding resume versus Twins starter Kyle Gibson.  Gomes is 5-for-9 with a walk in 10 plate appearances against Gibson, including a double, two homers, four RBI and three runs scored.

All prices courtesy of DraftKings. Statistics via MLB.com unless otherwise noted. Mark Vandeusen is an MLB featured columnist for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @LucidSportsFan.

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With only nine games on the MLB schedule Thursday, many of the league’s biggest stars are not in action.

This adds to the challenge for DraftKings daily fantasy players, who must rely heavily on scoring points from unlikely sources.  The lack of big names is particularly evident on the mound, where Corey Kluber is the only pitcher priced above $11,000.  

Here are five inexpensive sleeper picks for September 17.

Afternoon

SP Sean Nolin, Oakland A’s ($6,800) at Chicago White Sox

In early contests, consisting of just two games, the pitching prospects are not enticing.  Rather than spend $8,900 or more on Charlie Morton, Kyle Hendricks or Jose Quintana, why not save over $2,000 and go with Sean Nolin instead?

The 25-year-old has made two starts for Oakland this year after being called up from Triple-A.  Nolin allowed three runs over six innings in a mediocre first appearance, but his second outing was quite good.  The above video features highlights of Nolin’s victory over the Texas Rangers on September 12, in which he yielded one run in 5.2 innings while striking out five.

Also working in Nolin’s favor, the White Sox’s .648 OPS when facing left-handed pitchers is the worst in the American League. 

SS Starlin Castro, Chicago Cubs ($3,000) at Pittsburgh Pirates

Starlin Castro went hitless on Wednesday, but as ESPNChicago.com’s Jesse Rogers noted, the Cubs shortstop did drive in a run on a rare suicide squeeze:

Before the 0-for-4 showing, Castro had 11 hits in the seven previous games he started this month.  In addition to his hot September, Castro has an excellent track record against Morton.  Over 27 at-bats versus the Pirates righty, Castro has a .444 batting average and an .815 slugging percentage.

In more than 3,700 plate appearances spanning the course of his five-year career, Castro has a total of just 59 home runs.  However, he slugged three of them off of Morton in 12 at-bats last season. 

Evening

SP Jarred Cosart, Miami Marlins ($4,900) at Washington Nationals

Jarred Cosart recently returned from an extended stint on the disabled list, which is reflected in his sub-$5,000 salary.  Through two turns back in Miami’s rotation, his stats are highly encouraging:

Cosart faced Washington in his last start, striking out five batters in five scoreless innings of the Marlins’ 2-1 win.

The 25-year-old averaged 14 fantasy points per game in his two outings this month.  It’s nothing special for a pitcher, but it is a great number for a player at his price.

2B/3B Anthony Rendon, Washington Nationals ($3,900) vs. Miami Marlins

The Nationals infielder may not qualify as a sleeper, but with what he’s done lately, Anthony Rendon is a bargain at $3,900.  After being moved to the leadoff spot in the batting order, Rendon has scored six runs in Washington’s last four contests.

Rendon currently owns an eight-game hitting streak, including multiple hits in four of five.  He’s also reached base safely in 11 straight games and 23 of 24 since August 22.  In that time, Rendon has raised his season batting average from .250 to .289, going 36-for-99 in the process.

He’s only 2-for-11 in his career against Cosart, but one of Rendon’s hits was a home run. 

C Matt Wieters, Baltimore Orioles ($2,500) at Tampa Bay Rays

Matt Wieters is a part-time player, but he’s a good bet to be in the Orioles lineup after getting Wednesday off—not to mention because of his outstanding success when facing Rays starter Matt Moore.  Wieters has eight hits in 14 at-bats versus the Tampa Bay lefty:

The veteran backstop is averaging 5.3 fantasy points per game for the season, but he’s totaled 42 over his past six starts.

Wieters costs less than 21 catchers available in evening contests, a rather startling number considering there are only 14 teams playing.  At a position where quality scoring options are hard to come by, Wieters should provide solid production at a bargain-basement price.

All prices courtesy of DraftKings. Statistics via MLB.com unless otherwise noted. Mark Vandeusen is an MLB featured columnist for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @LucidSportsFan.

DraftKings is hosting one-day MLB contests! Claim your free entry by clicking on the link and making a first-time deposit!

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Thursday’s slate of MLB action features two games in the afternoon and six at night.  Both early and late DraftKings contests contain small fields of available players to choose from.

Sleepers are more difficult to find than usual, especially when it comes to pitchers.  For example, plunking down $11,100 for Felix Hernandez is a much better value than hoping for the best with Jorge De La Rosa at $8,700.

However, there are still a few bargains to be found.  Here are five low-cost options likely to outperform their price tags on September 10.

Afternoon

2B/3B Jedd Gyorko, San Diego Padres ($2,800) vs. Colorado Rockies

In early contests with only four teams’ rosters available, Jedd Gyorko is a must-start.  The Padres infielder has four home runs and nine RBI in his last seven games.  He’s also hit safely in 11 of his past 12 contests. 

As Friar Figures pointed out, Gyorko has put up some big numbers against Colorado this year:

Even more importantly, Gyorko also owns a spectacular track record against De La Rosa—13 hits in 19 at-bats, with six of them going for extra bases.  Gyorko boasts a .684 batting average, a .760 on-base percentage and a 1.105 slugging percentage when facing the Colorado lefty.    

Evening

SP Jaime Garcia, St. Louis Cardinals ($9,900) at Cincinnati Reds

The above video contains highlights of Jaime Garcia’s most recent start, in which he struck out nine Pittsburgh Pirates over seven scoreless innings.

Garcia only has 100 innings pitched in 2015, so his stats don’t qualify among the league leaders.  But if they did, his 1.89 ERA and 0.95 WHIP would rank second-best and fourth-best in baseball, respectively.

The lefty hasn’t allowed more than four earned runs in a game all season, and he’s yielded more than two earned runs on only four occasions.  Since June 1, Garcia has held his opponents to one run or fewer in nine of 13 outings.  The last home run he gave up was back on July 28, eight starts ago.

With an average of 20.1 fantasy points per game and a salary of $9,900, Garcia gives you over two points per $1,000, a better ratio than each of the more expensive arms available.

SP Alfredo Simon, Detroit Tigers ($5,700) at Cleveland Indians

Alfredo Simon is the third-cheapest pitcher on the board, but there’s good reason to believe he can put forth a quality performance.

Simon was outstanding in two of his last four trips to the mound.  He threw a one-hit shutout on August 20 and tossed seven scoreless innings of two-hit ball on September 5.  However, in the two outings in between, he was torched for a combined 14 earned runs in only 9.1 innings.

MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian noted that Simon’s opponent Thursday is a cause for optimism:

The veteran right-hander is also 4-0 in four starts versus the Indians this year.

OF Rajai Davis, Detroit Tigers ($3,000) at Cleveland Indians

Rajai Davis is a part-time player, something that helps keep his cost down.  But if he’s in the Tigers lineup, Davis is a great buy.

The 34-year-old has just seven homers all season but three in his last two games.  In that time, he’s 4-for-9 with five RBI.  Davis also tripled, scored a run and logged an RBI two days earlier, giving him a three-game total of 61 fantasy points.

In addition, Davis has great numbers in his career when facing Indians starter Danny Salazar.  He’s reached base eight times in 17 plate appearances against Salazar with two stolen bases and three runs scored.

SS Andrelton Simmons, Atlanta Braves ($2,800) vs. New York Mets

Andrelton Simmons is 5-for-12 with a double and two RBI in his last three games.  What makes him a bargain, though, are his torrid stats when opposing Bartolo Colon, most notably a .529 career batting average:

So far in 2015, Simmons is 5-for-7 against Colon with two doubles, a triple and four RBI.

Playing at home has also been good for Simmons’ fantasy value this season—he’s averaging 6.4 points per game at Turner Field and only 4.9 per game on the road.  

All prices courtesy of DraftKings. Statistics via MLB.com unless otherwise noted. Mark Vandeusen is an MLB Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @LucidSportsFan.

DraftKings is hosting one-day MLB contests! Claim your free entry by clicking on the link and making a first-time deposit!

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The key to success in daily fantasy baseball is fielding a lineup with the right mix of high-priced talent and low-budget players who may outperform their expectations.  Tuesday night’s MLB schedule has all 30 teams in action, allowing for a wide variety of options to choose from in DraftKings contests.

Below are the top three names at each position, as well as five bargain picks to help fill out your roster.

Value Picks

SP Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers ($9,700) at Kansas City Royals

Justin Verlander is cheaper than five other starting pitchers, but lately he’s looked a lot like the player who won both a Cy Young and an MVP in 2011.  The above video features highlights of Verlander’s most recent start, in which he took a no-hitter into the ninth inning before finishing with a one-hit shutout.

Verlander has allowed one earned run or fewer in six of his past seven games.  Spanning his last four appearances, he’s surrendered just one earned run in 29 innings, while striking out 31 batters and lowering his season ERA from 5.05 to 3.45.

The Tigers righty is also averaging 28.3 fantasy points per game over his past six outings.

SS Didi Gregorius, New York Yankees ($3,300) at Boston Red Sox

Didi Gregorius has hit safely in five straight games, while driving in at least one run in each contest.  He’s a ridiculous 13-for-21 during the stretch, with two homers, four runs and 11 RBI.  Not only that, but after starting the evening 4-for-4 in a loss in Boston Monday, Gregorius narrowly missed a go-ahead grand slam while flying out on the game’s final at-bat. 

WNYT’s Mike Gwizdala pointed out how close it was:

There are 15 shortstops with higher salaries than Gregorius’ on Tuesday, but he’ll take the field hotter than any of them.

C Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals ($3,200) vs. Detroit Tigers

Salvador Perez owns a four-game hitting streak, with a run scored in three of his last four contests.  However, that modicum of recent success pales in comparison to what he’s done in his career against Verlander.  Perez has 18 hits in 38 at-bats when facing the Detroit veteran.

In their only previous matchup this season, Perez went 3-for-3 with a home run and three RBI on August 4.

With a price tag of just $3,200, Perez comes cheaper than 16 other catchers.

2B Scooter Gennett, Milwaukee Brewers ($3,000) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates

The 25-year-old second baseman has seven hits and six runs in his last five games.  On Saturday, Scooter Gennett went 4-for-5 with three RBI.  As Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel noted, the four hits equaled Gennett‘s career best:

It’s likely a wise move to stay away from most Brewers hitters versus Pittsburgh’s Gerrit Cole, but Gennett has actually fared quite well against him, notching seven hits in 14 career at-bats.

The left-handed-hitting Gennett was out of the lineup Sunday when the Brewers took on a lefty starter, but he should be back Tuesday for the right-handed Cole.

SS/OF Eduardo Escobar, Minnesota Twins ($2,900) vs. Chicago White Sox

Eduardo Escobar is a career .267 hitter when facing Chris Sale—while that’s not a reason to play him, it doesn’t mean Escobar needs to be avoided, either.

The Twins utility man has scored a run in nine straight contests, slugging .853 in that time with nine extra-base hits.

Among a relatively weak field of shortstops, Escobar represents a much better value than several of the pricier choices available.  He can also fill your last outfield spot if you’re running low on cash.

All prices courtesy of DraftKings. Statistics via MLB.com unless otherwise noted. Mark Vandeusen is an MLB Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @LucidSportsFan.

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Even though Tuesday night’s MLB schedule features a full slate of 15 games, there’s a distinct lack of big-name pitchers taking the mound.  DraftKings daily fantasy players may want to employ a pair of second-tier arms instead of a traditional ace.

At the plate, two Seattle sluggers have very favorable matchups, while a Cubs rookie comes in swinging a red-hot bat.

Here are five ideal lineup choices for August 25.

SP Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals ($10,000) vs. San Diego Padres

For much of 2015, Stephen Strasburg has not lived up to his lofty expectations.  However, in three appearances since returning from a recent stint on the disabled list, Strasburg has once again looked like his old self.

Over his last three starts, Strasburg has surrendered a total of three earned runs while striking out 25 batters in 20 innings.  He’s averaging 29.6 fantasy points per game in that time.  The above video contains highlights of Strasburg‘s most recent outing, in which he allowed only three baserunners and no earned runs in seven strong innings at hitter-friendly Coors Field. 

On Tuesday, Strasburg has the added bonus of facing a Padres team that ranks last in baseball with a .300 on-base percentage.

SP Jaime Garcia, St. Louis Cardinals ($9,500) at Arizona Diamondbacks

Jaime Garcia doesn’t qualify among the league leaders because he’s only made 12 starts this year.  But as Birds on the Bat recently pointed out before Garcia last took the mound, his stats rival some of the best in the game:

In all 12 of his outings, Garcia has lasted at least five innings and yielded no more than three earned runs.  He’s also gone six or more innings 11 times and has given up one run or fewer on seven occasions.

On the road this season, Garcia boasts a 1.32 ERA and is holding opposing hitters to a .196 batting average.  The Cardinals lefty is putting up All-Star numbers at a very affordable salary.

OF Nelson Cruz, Seattle Mariners ($5,200) vs. Oakland A’s

It never hurts to have the major league home run leader in your lineup, but Nelson Cruz is a particularly good play because of what he’s done in the past against A’s pitcher Jesse Chavez.  In 11 career at-bats, Cruz has five hits and two home runs off Chavez:

Cruz had an eight-game hitting streak snapped on Monday, although he still managed to score a run for the ninth time in nine contests.  So far in August, Cruz is batting .338 with 10 home runs and 15 RBI.

The 35-year-old is also hitting .344 in night games this season, as opposed to just .273 during the day.

3B Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs ($4,300) at San Francisco Giants

On Monday, Kris Bryant launched the second walk-off home run of his young career, something Ace of MLB Stats noted puts him among very exclusive company as a Cubs rookie:

It was the third homer in two games for Bryant, who now has four long balls and nine RBI over his last six contests, during which he’s 10-for-23.  After hitting just .168 in July, Bryant is batting .338 with a .437 on-base percentage in August.  He’s also reached base in 19 of 21 games this month.

Bryant faced Giants starter Matt Cain for the first time on August 8, going 1-for-2 with a home run and three RBI. 

2B Robinson Cano, Seattle Mariners ($3,700) vs. Oakland A’s

Like his teammate Cruz, Robinson Cano has an excellent track record versus Chavez—seven hits and a walk in 16 at-bats, good for a .438 average.

In addition, Cano is rebounding quite well after a slow start to the 2015 season.  Through June, he was hitting .238 with four homers, 24 RBI and a .277 OBP.  When the calendar turned to July, Cano became a completely different player:

The veteran is also 8-for-19 during a current five-game hitting streak.  There are nine second basemen with higher price tags than Cano, which makes him a steal at just $3,700.

All prices courtesy of DraftKings. Statistics via MLB.com unless otherwise noted. Mark Vandeusen is an MLB Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @LucidSportsFan.

DraftKings is hosting one-day MLB contests! Claim your free entry by clicking on the link and making a first-time deposit!

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All 30 MLB teams are in action Tuesday night, which gives DraftKings daily fantasy players a great many options to choose from.

Clayton Kershaw leads a solid field of starting pitchers, but at $15,000, his salary is difficult to swallow.  Two other top-shelf arms possess much more reasonable price tags.  A must-start catcher from New York and a future Hall of Famer from Boston help round out a list of five ideal lineup selections for August 18.

SP Jacob deGrom, New York Mets ($11,600) at Baltimore Orioles

Jacob deGrom‘s spectacular 2015 season is flying somewhat under the radar.  The 27-year-old owns a 2.03 ERA, a 0.89 WHIP and a .197 batting average against, each of which is the second-best in baseball.  Even though his numbers are superior to Kershaw‘s in all three categories, deGrom can be had for $3,400 less than the Los Angeles Dodgers ace.

ESPN New York’s Adam Rubin pointed out how impressive deGrom has been since he started the season 3-4 with a 3.46 ERA through early May:

The Mets righty has also held his opponents scoreless in eight of 22 total starts this year.  Over his last six outings, deGrom is averaging a whopping 29.2 fantasy points per game.

SP Hisashi Iwakuma, Seattle Mariners ($9,300) at Texas Rangers

The above video features highlights of Hisashi Iwakuma‘s previous start, a no-hitter against the Baltimore Orioles.  Spanning his last three appearances, Iwakuma has allowed just four runs while striking out 21 batters in 24.2 innings, an average of more than eight innings per game.  He’s also scored a total of 99.2 fantasy points in that time.

Iwakuma has lasted at least five innings in every start he’s made this year.  He’s surrendered three runs or fewer in six of his past seven outings, including no more than two runs in five of them.

The 34-year-old also beat the Rangers earlier this month.  On August 7, he struck out six and did not walk a batter while yielding six hits and three runs in seven innings.

C Brian McCann, New York Yankees ($4,700) vs. Minnesota Twins

Brian McCann is an absolute no-brainer in daily fantasy contests Tuesday.  McCann comes in on a five-game hitting streak, with home runs in three of the five.  In that stretch, he’s 7-for-20 with three homers, four runs scored and nine RBI.

Not only is McCann red-hot, he’s also been wearing out Twins pitcher Mike Pelfrey for quite some time.  Dating back to 2007, McCann has an astonishing 19 hits in 40 career at-bats versus Pelfrey:

McCann is easily the highest-priced catcher available, but that shouldn’t prevent him from being a lock for your DraftKings lineup.

1B David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox ($4,700) vs. Cleveland Indians

Like McCann, David Ortiz is in a zone at the moment.  The Red Sox designated hitter owns a nine-game hitting streak, during which he’s lifted his average from .241 to .263.  His stats over the last 10 days are borderline superhuman:

After batting just .228 through the first three months of the season, Ortiz hit .298 in July, followed by a spectacular .396 so far in August.

Ortiz’s most recent home run was the 491st of his career.  With 44 games remaining and Boston all but eliminated from playoff contention, the 39-year-old slugger’s primary objective could be to reach 500 before the 2015 campaign comes to a close. 

OF Jay Bruce, Cincinnati Reds ($3,900) vs. Kansas City Royals

On August 10, Jay Bruce launched his 200th dinger, which placed him in very elite company in Reds history, according to MLB Stat of the Day:

Aside from the milestone, Bruce is in a major slump lately, going just 5-for-47 in his last 12 games.  However, his matchup Tuesday may be exactly what he needs to get back on track.  In 17 plate appearances against Edinson Volquez, Bruce is 7-for-14 with three walks, a double, a home run and seven runs scored.

Considering his .588 OBP when facing Volquez, at only $3,900, it’s worth taking a gamble on the Cincinnati outfielder.

All prices courtesy of DraftKings. Statistics via MLB.com unless otherwise noted. Mark Vandeusen is an MLB Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @LucidSportsFan.

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Thursday’s MLB schedule consists of only nine games, four during the day and five at night.  Whether DraftKings daily fantasy players choose to enter contests in the afternoon, evening or both, options are limited.  Scoring points from unexpected sources is what will separate the winners from the losers.

With that in mind, here are five names that qualify as bargain buys for August 13, ranging from an aging veteran to a relatively unknown rookie. 

Afternoon

SP Mark Buehrle, Toronto Blue Jays ($7,600) vs. Oakland A’s

Mark Buehrle has been the model of consistency in 2015.  The 36-year-old hasn’t allowed more than three earned runs in a game since May 29, a span of 12 starts.  Buehrle has also lasted at least six innings in 15 of his last 16 outings, with the only slip-up being a 5.2-inning performance.  In that time, his season ERA has dropped from 6.00 to 3.34.

Buehrle’s numbers at Rogers Centre this year are also much better than his stats on the road:

The soft-throwing lefty doesn’t get many strikeouts, but he rarely walks anyone either.  Buehrle has surrendered just two bases on balls over his past seven starts.

1B Prince Fielder, Texas Rangers ($4,500) at Minnesota Twins

A perennial All-Star, Prince Fielder hardly qualifies as a sleeper.  But considering his history when facing Twins starter Ervin Santana, Fielder is a bargain at $4,500.

The Texas slugger has three home runs and six RBI in 16 at-bats against Santana:

Fielder also owns a modest four-game hitting streak, during which he’s 7-for-17 with a homer and four RBI.

Evening

SP Keyvius Sampson, Cincinnati Reds ($4,500) at Los Angeles Dodgers

Keyvius Sampson is the definition of “sleeper”—at $4,500, he’s the cheapest pitcher available on Thursday night.  Sampson is making just his third major league start, but considering his average of 17.1 fantasy points through his first two, he’s a steal.

Above are highlights of Sampson’s previous outing in Arizona in which he picked up the win after yielding one run on four hits in six innings.  The rookie has a total of 12 strikeouts in 12 innings while holding opposing hitters to a .159 batting average.

Five of the 10 starting pitchers on the board cost more than double what Sampson does.  Taking a calculated gamble on the 24-year-old will allow for much bigger bats throughout your lineup.

SS Francisco Lindor, Cleveland Indians ($3,600) vs. New York Yankees

Francisco Lindor got off to a rocky start to his big league career.  However, the 21-year-old phenom is steadily building momentum as the season progresses.  Lindor batted only .211 in June, but he then hit .295 in July.  After 10 games this month, his August average stands at .325.

The youngtser’s offensive production over his last 20 games has been outstanding:

Lindor has a base hit in each of his last seven contests.  He’s 12-for-28 with eight runs scored during the streak.  Even though his salary ranks at the top of the list for shortstops, Lindor will be well worth the money if his hot hitting continues. 

2B Neil Walker, Pittsburgh Pirates ($3,200) at St. Louis Cardinals

Neil Walker is 0-for-8 with a pair of strikeouts in his last two games, but look for that to change once he steps into the batter’s box versus Lance Lynn.  When the St. Louis righty last faced the Pirates on July 10, Walker went 3-for-3 with a homer in the first four innings.

Walker’s fourth-inning blast led to Lynn’s briefest appearance in over 13 months, according to KTGR radio host Brandon Kiley: 

For his career, Walker is 13-for-37 against Lynn, with seven extra-base hits, three homers, 10 RBI and a .432 on-base percentage.

Walker is also a better hitter away from PNC Park this season.  He’s batting .254 and scoring 6.5 fantasy points per game at home, but those averages jump to .289 and 7.8, respectively, on the road.

All prices courtesy of DraftKings. Statistics via MLB.com unless otherwise noted. Mark Vandeusen is an MLB Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @LucidSportsFan.

DraftKings is hosting one-day MLB contests! Claim your free entry by clicking on the link and making a first-time deposit!

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There are 15 games on the MLB schedule Tuesday night, allowing DraftKings daily fantasy players a full array of possibilities when it comes to setting a lineup.

Is Zack Greinke worth $12,000 after getting roughed up in his previous start? How about Matt Harvey, or an under-the-radar rookie instead?

While star power always helps, the key to outscoring the competition lies in finding value from lesser-used names. A red-hot outfielder and a pair of veterans hitting their stride round out these five ideal lineup choices for August 11.

SP Matt Harvey, New York Mets ($10,900) vs. Colorado Rockies

Above are highlights of Harvey’s most recent outing, in which he allowed only two hits and no walks while striking out six in seven shutout innings. It was the latest in a string of excellent appearances for Harvey, who hasn’t given up more than three earned runs in any of his last nine starts.

In that time, Harvey has posted a 1.64 ERA over 60.1 innings since June 10. He’s also held opposing hitters to a .195 batting average during the stretch. In addition, the 26-year-old righty has gone 20.2 innings without walking a batter.

Harvey faces a Rockies team that owns just a .288 on-base percentage away from Coors Field, the second-lowest road OBP in baseball.

SP Taylor Jungmann, Milwaukee Brewers ($8,700) at Chicago Cubs

Taylor Jungmann will make only his 12th major league start, but at this point, there’s a large enough sample size to start taking his outstanding numbers seriously.

Through 71.2 big league innings, Jungmann has a 2.26 ERA, a 1.07 WHIP and 61 strikeouts. In 10 of his 11 outings, Jungmann has yielded two earned runs or fewer, with the lone exception being a four-run showing at hitter-friendly Coors Field.

As Brewers’ play-by-play man Joe Block noted, Jungmann is putting together one of the most impressive debut seasons ever for a Milwaukee pitcher:

Jungmann‘s average of 20.4 fantasy points per game is the fourth-highest of any established starter taking the mound on Tuesday, but his $8,700 salary is less than seven other pitchers. DraftKings players should take advantage of the low price that is still a reflection of Jungmann‘s inexperience.

OF Nelson Cruz, Seattle Mariners ($5,200) vs. Baltimore Orioles

No hitter in MLB can match what Nelson Cruz has done for the past three weeks. The 35-year-old outfielder is in the midst of a 20-game hitting streak, which is tied for the second-longest in the majors this year. During the streak, Cruz has launched an astounding 12 home runs while raising his batting average from .300 to .324.

Cruz is just 1-for-9 in his career against Baltimore starter Chris Tillman, but that one hit was a home run.

Before Monday’s three-point effort, Cruz had totaled at least 12 fantasy points in nine straight games, averaging 18.3 per day.

2B Robinson Cano, Seattle Mariners ($4,000) vs. Baltimore Orioles

Unlike Cruz, Robinson Cano has a long history of success when opposing Tillman. Dating back to 2009, Cano has reached base 15 times in 32 plate appearances versus the Orioles righty:

Following a slow start to 2015, Cano is coming on strong of late. He hit just .238 through the first three months of the season but then batted .337 in July and is hitting at a .303 clip so far in August. Cano has 12 homers on the season, but he’s hit 10 since June 22.

In his last 20 games, Cano has six homers and 20 RBI.

1B Victor Martinez, Detroit Tigers ($3,400) at Kansas City Royals

Five days ago, Victor Martinez clubbed two home runs in three at-bats off the Royals’ Yordano Ventura. ESPN Stats & Info pointed out how rare an occasion that was for Martinez:

For his career, Martinez is 4-for-8 against Ventura with two homers, three runs, five RBI and a walk—all of which occurred in 2014 and 2015.

Over his last seven games, the 36-year-old has three home runs and 10 RBI. There are more than 20 first basemen with higher price tags than Martinez’s on Tuesday, but don’t be surprised if he finishes among the leading scorers at the position.

All prices courtesy of DraftKings. Statistics via MLB.com unless otherwise noted. Mark Vandeusen is an MLB Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @LucidSportsFan.

DraftKings is hosting one-day MLB contests! Claim your free entry by clicking on the link and making a first-time deposit!

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com