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With few afternoon games available, daily fantasy baseball competitors might as well wait for the night session to create a lineup Saturday. The good news is there will still be plenty of options on the board even with a smaller slate of games.

Considering how inconsistent the top options like Corey Kluber and Jon Lester have been this year, you might be better off saving money with some balance across the board. Here is a look at some of the best bargain picks for August 29.

J.A. Happ, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates ($7,700)

He has only made four starts for Pittsburgh since coming over from the Seattle Mariners, but J.A. Happ has a 2.08 ERA with 22 strikeouts and just six walks in this stretch. This includes back-to-back games of six shutout innings leading up to Saturday’s start.

The visiting Colorado Rockies have always struggled to hit away from home, and this year hasn’t been any different. If the left-handed Happ can neutralize lefties Carlos Gonzalez and Charlie Blackmon, he could have a very good game.

Martin Perez, SP, Texas Rangers ($4,600)

A miserable start against the New York Yankees (eight runs allowed in one inning) destroyed Martin Perez’s ERA, but he has been much better as of late. The 24-year-old starter hasn’t allowed more than three runs in any of his last four starts and has averaged about 15 fantasy points in this stretch.

Against a sliding Baltimore Orioles team, Perez could provide some adequate value for dirt cheap.

Francisco Lindor, SS, Cleveland Indians ($3,900)

Although overshadowed by some other rookies around the league, Francisco Lindor has been extremely exciting to watch this season. It has been even better over the past week with the shortstop displaying power, speed and an excellent approach at the plate.

After his three-stolen-base game last Wednesday, it’s clear the upside is fantastic for this player.

Anthony Rendon, 2B/3B, Washington Nationals ($3,600)

It took a few weeks for Anthony Rendon to get back up to speed after missing much of the season with a quad injury. However, the talented batter is finally coming around and hitting the ball hard. 

With Rendon‘s price slowly climbing as he gets back into form, you want to jump on the opportunity to get him for cheap before the price gets out of control.

Domonic Brown, OF, Philadelphia Phillies ($2,900)

This is clearly a long-shot bet, but if you are looking for a high-upside player for very cheap, you could do worse than Domonic Brown. The Phillies are giving the one-time prospect another chance to show what he can do, and he has come through with a few home runs this month. 

San Diego Padres starter Colin Rea has just a 5.52 ERA in three career games, so the entire Philadelphia lineup has a chance to do damage. However, a cheap outfielder with power (he did hit 27 home runs in 2013) could represent a good bet in tournament play.

Note: All prices and fantasy score info courtesy of DraftKings. Unless otherwise noted, all stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.

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It almost feels like Opening Day with so many aces on the mound. There will be no shortage of elite pitching options in Friday’s daily fantasy baseball contests, so the challenge will be picking the right ones and balancing your lineup to help you come out on top.

Here is a look at the best and worst options across the board for August 28.

Players to Draft

Michael Wacha, SP, St. Louis Cardinals ($10,300)

As good as Clayton Kershaw has been, it might not be worth spending the $14,400 when there are a total of eight players valued at $10,000 or more. Instead, you could save some money and go with the safest pick of the top names: Michael Wacha.

The Cardinals starter comes into the day at 15-4 with a 2.80 ERA after allowing just four runs in his previous five starts combined. This includes a bit of a disappointing performance his last time out, not because he allowed one run in six innings, but because he snapped a streak of 14 straight starts with at least five strikeouts.

Pitching in AT&T Park, which has been the best stadium for pitchers this season, according to ESPN.com, Wacha is as close to a sure thing as you can find for this price.

Raisel Iglesias, SP, Cincinnati Reds ($7,800)

He is coming off the best start of his career, and it wasn’t a fluke. Raisel Iglesias struck out 13 batters over seven innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks, allowing just one earned run and three hits.

This continues an excellent August for Iglesias that includes a 1.93 ERA and .145 opponent batting average in five starts. While he has struggled on the road at times this year, the fact he has two quality starts away from home this month should ease concerns.

With an average of 24.4 fantasy points per game in this stretch, he is well worth this relatively inexpensive price tag.

Nelson Cruz, OF, Seattle Mariners ($5,600)

If you are going to spend money on a hitter, it might as well be Nelson Cruz. Obviously, the outfielder has been one of the best sluggers in baseball this season and is always worth a spot on your team, but he has been especially good lately with three home runs in his last seven games.

Considering he has destroyed lefties this year to the tune of a .371 batting average and 1.170 OPS, veteran southpaw John Danks could be in trouble. 

Mike Moustakas, 3B, Kansas City Royals ($4,100)

After going through a bit of a slump, Mike Moustakas has been tearing the cover off the ball lately. During his current eight-game hitting streak, the third baseman is batting .452 (14-for-31) with four home runs, four doubles and 12 RBI.

Right-handed pitcher Erasmo Ramirez has pitched well lately but should be no threat to slow down Moustakas.

Wilmer Flores, 2B/SS, New York Mets ($3,600)

After almost being traded at the deadline, Wilmer Flores has made his second chance count for the New York Mets. Since crying on the field July 29, the middle infielder has batted .329 with four home runs and 14 RBI in 22 games.

You will have to make sure he is in the starting lineup, but this shouldn’t be a problem against left-handed starter Henry Owens.

Players to Avoid

Max Scherzer, SP, Washington Nationals ($12,500)

While Max Scherzer was worth almost any price earlier in the year, this has not been the case as of late. The Nationals ace is just 0-2 with a 6.86 ERA in August, allowing at least three runs in all four starts.

Obviously, Scherzer has the talent to put together a dominant performance against the inconsistent Miami Marlins offense. However, it is just not worth the risk with so many quality options available.

Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Arizona Diamondbacks ($5,400)

Like many top hitters across the board Friday, Paul Goldschmidt simply has a difficult matchup. In this case, it is Oakland Athletics starter Sonny Gray, who has allowed only five home runs to right-handed hitters this season in 292 at-bats.

He is almost always a great bet to score points, but Goldschmidt is unlikely to have his best performance in this game.

Team to Stack

Toronto Blue Jays

With the No. 1 offense in baseball, the Toronto Blue Jays are always a good choice to stack. When the predominately right-handed lineup is facing a lefty starter, it is an even better option. When that starter is Matt Boyd, a rookie with a career ERA of 7.04 in seven appearances, you shouldn’t even need to think twice.

The 24-year-old started the year in Toronto, but his former team might not be too nice to him on Friday.

Note: All prices and fantasy score info courtesy of DraftKings. Unless otherwise noted, all stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.

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In order to win in daily fantasy baseball, it’s often important to look past the highest-priced players on the board.

While players like Jake Arrieta ($12,500) and Josh Donaldson ($6,400) are clearly strong options, they might be too expensive to be worthwhile. However, if you supplement your top picks with cheaper players at various positions, you could be in good position to win.

Value Picks

Charlie Morton, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates ($7,100)

The consistency isn’t always there, but Charlie Morton has pitched well as of late. Add in his recent knack for strikeouts, and he has become a quality fantasy pitcher, topping 24 fantasy points on DraftKings in three of his last four games.

Pitching in a spacious ballpark against a Miami Marlins team that has struggled offensively all year long, Morton can be ready for another strong outing. 

Khris Davis, OF, Milwaukee Brewers ($3,800)

Although he still doesn’t hit for average, Khris Davis has been one of the better power hitters in the league since the All-Star break. He has 10 home runs in the second half of the year, including four in his last four games.

With three multi-home run games this month already, the outfielder is always a threat for a big day.

Francisco Lindor, SS, Cleveland Indians ($3,700)

Even the Cleveland Indians are probably surprised by Francisco Lindor‘s offensive ability this season. The rookie has come on strong in the second half of the year and has a .361 batting average in August. He has even showed some pop lately with two home runs in his last three games.

At a position with a lot of struggling hitters, Lindor is one of the best options on the board. 

Ryan Howard, 1B, Philadelphia Phillies ($3,500)

A lack of playing time has killed his value, but Ryan Howard still generally starts against right-handed pitchers, which will be the case on Tuesday. The New York Mets will use rookie Noah Syndergaard, who has been excellent at home (1.82 ERA) and miserable on the road (5.05 ERA). He has also allowed six home runs in his last four starts.

After Howard’s home run on Monday and three doubles in his previous start on Friday, he remains a high-upside option.

Steve Clevenger, C, Baltimore Orioles ($2,500)

All he has done since entering the Baltimore Orioles lineup is hit. Steve Clevenger has appeared in only 13 games this season, but he has amassed a .391 batting average in this stretch and is in the midst of an eight-game hitting streak.

As long as he is in the lineup, you can keep getting great value for this catcher/designated hitter.

Note: All prices and fantasy score info courtesy of DraftKings. Unless otherwise noted, all stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.

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Choosing between multiple great options at each position is never easy, but you can end up with a quality daily fantasy baseball team if you know where to look.

Here is a breakdown of the best options to fill your lineup August 22.

Sonny Gray, SP, Oakland Athletics ($11,600)

Both the American and National League ERA leaders are in action Saturday, but Oakland Athletics ace Sonny Gray is a better option thanks to the matchup. While Los Angeles Dodgers starter Zack Greinke has to face the dangerous Houston Astros lineup, Gray opposes a Tampa Bay Rays team that entered the day ranked 29th in baseball in runs scored (453).

A fourth-inning error disrupted the Athletics starter in his last appearance, but he has allowed only three earned runs in his last four starts. Even without high strikeout totals, Gray remains a safe bet to have a strong game.

Marco Estrada, SP, Toronto Blue Jays ($7,400)

There have been some bad starts here and there, but Marco Estrada has been impressive since joining the Toronto Blue Jays rotation. Since the All-Star break, he has a 2.45 ERA, including a mark of 1.42 in August.

In 10 of his last 11 starts, Estrada has allowed two runs or fewer. This is the type of effort you want from a fantasy pitcher.

Dee Gordon, 2B, Miami Marlins ($4,800)

Not only does Dee Gordon lead the majors with a .338 batting average, but he has also been even better over the past week. The second baseman has six multihit games in a row, going 13-for-25 with five stolen bases and seven runs in this stretch.

He seems unlikely to slow down, so you might as well have him put up points for your team.

Josh Donaldson, 3B, Toronto Blue Jays ($4,600)

He might be worse on the road—and opposing starter Andrew Heaney doesn’t allow many home runs—but this price is too cheap for a player considered to be an AL MVP top contender, according to Fox Sports:

Josh Donaldson is in the midst of an incredible season, and he is only getting better, currently holding a season-high 1.127 OPS in August. There is no reason players like Jose Reyes or Travis d’Arnaud should be more expensive on DraftKings, but don’t overthink this gift.

Darin Ruf, 1B, Philadelphia Phillies ($2,100)

Those looking for an extremely cheap option Saturday could get production from Darin Ruf, who is now getting playing time against lefties for the Philadelphia Phillies. The reason for this is his .391 batting average against southpaws, which ranks second among all hitters with at least 50 plate appearances.

Rookie left-hander Justin Nicolino will get the start for the Miami Marlins, so Ruf remains a quality high-upside pick for a low price.

Team to Stack: Kansas City Royals

The Boston Red Sox are willing to give their young players a chance to show what they can do, including pitcher Matt Barnes. The problem is that the 25-year-old right-hander had a 5.64 ERA in 21 appearances as a reliever and allowed six runs in his only career start last week.

Barnes could be a quality pitcher down the line, but the Kansas City Royals have a deep lineup that will give him nightmares.

Note: All prices and fantasy score info courtesy of DraftKings. Unless otherwise noted, all stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.

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There is a ton of big-time pitching available in Friday’s daily fantasy baseball contests, which leaves you with plenty of options. However, don’t think you need to draft the highest-priced players to have the best team.

Here is a look at some of the best and worst picks for August 21.

Players to Draft

Felix Hernandez, SP, Seattle Mariners ($9,900)

Yes, Felix Hernandez is coming off arguably the worst start of his career, allowing 10 earned runs to the Boston Red Sox in 2.1 innings. However, he allowed just two runs in seven innings the game before, which is more of what we expect from the former Cy Young winner.

Most importantly, Hernandez will return to his home stadium Friday, where he has been much better this year. He will also go from facing one of the top offenses in baseball to one of the worst in the Chicago White Sox.

While players such as Chris Sale ($13,200) and David Price ($12,300) have been great lately with high strikeout totals, King Felix represents the best value on the board.

Jimmy Nelson, SP, Milwaukee Brewers ($8,200)

For those looking for a cheaper pitching option, it doesn’t get much better than Jimmy Nelson. The 26-year-old starter has had a great second half of the year, totaling a 1.99 ERA with a 3-0 record in six starts since the All-Star break.

Meanwhile, Nelson has shown off his consistency by totaling at least 17 fantasy points in each of his last seven starts. There is no reason to doubt his ability to keep it going Friday.

Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Arizona Diamondbacks ($5,600)

Paul Goldschmidt is great against any pitcher. However, he has been even better against lefties, with a career OPS well over 1.000. This is bad news for Cincinnati Reds starter David Holmberg, who allowed seven runs and three home runs in his last start.

If you are going to spend big on a hitter, Goldschmidt is the one you want.

Ryan Braun, OF, Milwaukee Brewers ($4,300)

It’s been an up-and-down year for Ryan Braun, but he has been solid as of late with a .333 batting average and a .971 OPS in August. Not only does he have three home runs, but he also has three stolen bases in this stretch, showing he is capable of adding fantasy points in a number of ways.

A matchup against Gio Gonzalez gives him a good chance at another big day.

Travis Shaw, 1B/3B, Boston Red Sox ($3,800)

While he might not be a household name yet, few players in the league have been hotter over the past week. In the last seven games, Travis Shaw has a .500 batting average (15-for-30), four home runs and eight RBI.

You might as well put him on your team while he is still this cheap.

Players to Avoid

Johnny Cueto, SP, Kansas City Royals ($10,000)

The problem is not Johnny Cueto but the matchup. The Boston Red Sox are in last place, but they have one of the hottest offenses in baseball, averaging 9.4 runs in the last seven games. Playing in the third-biggest hitter’s park in the majors, according to ESPN.com, it makes sense to pass on the ace pitcher this week. 

Lucas Duda, 1B, New York Mets ($5,000)

Ordinarily, any trip to Coors Field is good for hitters, but Lucas Duda has been ice-cold lately. He is batting .218 in his last 10 games with no home runs, which came around a few days off due to a sore back. 

Considering he is batting just .199 on the road this year with three home runs (compared to .295 and 18 home runs at home), Duda is not worth putting in your lineup.

Team to Stack

Colorado Rockies

Consistency has been a major problem for New York Mets starter Bartolo Colon, who has allowed five or more earned runs in five games this year. He also has a 5.03 road ERA, which likely won’t get any better at Coors Field, which is a tough hitter’s park.

Add this to the fact that Colon has allowed lefties to hit .302 against him this year, and this could be a huge game for Carlos Gonzalez, Charlie Blackmon, Ben Paulsen and others.

Note: All prices and fantasy score info courtesy of DraftKings. Unless otherwise noted, all stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com. 

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Based on the prices for Tuesday’s daily fantasy baseball contests, you almost can’t help but find value in other places. If you want to draft Clayton Kershaw ($15,000) or Bryce Harper ($6,400), you better also find some bargain picks to fill your lineup.

Here is a look at some of the top options at each position, as well as value picks to balance everything out.

Value Picks

Raisel Iglesias, SP, Cincinnati Reds ($6,800)

Thanks to some great strikeout totals (9.3 per nine innings), Raisel Iglesias has turned himself into a quality fantasy pitcher. He has scored at least 21 points on DraftKings in each of his last three starts and is getting more comfortable within the Cincinnati Reds rotation.

Additionally, the Cuban pitcher has fared much better at home, where he has a 3.82 ERA compared to 5.81 on the road. A matchup with the Kansas City Royals isn’t easy, but Iglesias can be a cheap source of points.

Francisco Cervelli, C, Pittsburgh Pirates ($3,600)

While Francisco Cervelli has been little more than a defensive-minded backup for most of his career, he is finally starting to become an offensive weapon with the Pirates. He is consistently getting on base and has even showed extra-base power over the past week.

After Arizona Diamondbacks starter Chase Anderson allowed five runs and nine hits in his last start, it is clear Cervelli has a chance to continue his quality season.

Daniel Murphy, 2B, New York Mets ($3,600)

The consistency hasn’t been there this season, but Daniel Murphy is currently on a hot streak. The versatile infielder is batting .316 in August with five doubles and two home runs. He has six multihit games in his last 12 starts with only one hitless outing in this stretch.

Traveling to a hitter’s park like Camden Yards should only help Murphy keep up his recent run of quality hitting.

Ben Paulsen, 1B, Colorado Rockies ($3,500)

Ben Paulsen doesn’t do well on the road or against lefties, but those two factors don’t matter much for Tuesday’s contests. His statistics at Coors Field (.320 batting average, .946 OPS) are all you need to worry about.

Although Jordan Zimmermann can be a tough matchup, Paulsen is a good low-risk bet to succeed at home.

Kike Hernandez, SS, Los Angeles Dodgers ($2,800)

When you have a player who is red-hot, has a great matchup and is extremely affordable, you almost have to put him on your team.

In 10 games in August, Kike Hernandez is batting .364 with three home runs. Most importantly, he is batting .414 with a 1.271 OPS against left-handed pitchers like Tuesday’s starter Felix Doubront. This all adds up to a good chance of a big game.

Note: All prices courtesy of DraftKings. Unless otherwise noted, all stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com. 

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Wednesday is getaway day for a number of MLB teams, which means most daily fantasy baseball contests are divided into day and night games. On the plus side, there are a number of quality options regardless of when you sign up.

Here is a breakdown of the best overall picks in each set of games.

Afternoon Contests

Chris Heston, SP, San Francisco Giants ($9,000)

A lack of elite options raises the price for a number of mediocre pitchers, so it will be tough to get your money’s worth on the mound. Still, Chris Heston is arguably the best option overall thanks to his performance at home this season.

At AT&T Park—which ESPN.com rates as the best pitcher’s stadium in baseball this season—Heston has a 2.57 ERA compared to a 4.45 ERA on the road. The Houston Astros have a good offense but still strike out more than anyone else in the American League. This could allow Heston to come through with a quality fantasy performance.

Chris Davis, 1B, Baltimore Orioles ($4,300)

With the help of an awesome mustache, Chris Davis has been red-hot in August:

He is now over 30 home runs on the season for the third time in four years and doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. Seattle Mariners starter Hisashi Iwakuma has looked better as of late but still only has a 4.41 ERA thanks in part to 12 home runs allowed in 10 starts. Davis has a good chance of continuing his recent streak.

Robinson Cano, 2B, Seattle Mariners ($3,800)

Orioles starter Kevin Gausman has struggled immensely on the road lately, allowing 17 earned runs in 15.1 innings over his last three games. If he can’t turn it around, this could be an opportunity for just about everyone on the Seattle Mariners to put up some big numbers on Wednesday.

This includes Robinson Cano, who has been much better after the All-Star break. With better batting numbers and increased power, he is finally starting to resemble the player we are used to seeing.

Night Contests

Jacob deGrom, SP, New York Mets ($11,400)

There is no shortage of elite pitching options, but Gerrit Cole and Michael Wacha could struggle against tough lineups in a head-to-head battle. As for Clayton Kershaw, the cost at $14,200 might be simply too expensive to justify.

Danny Salazar is a good bet thanks to his high strikeout totals, but Jacob deGrom remains the best option on the board. He has been dominant at home (1.60 ERA, 24.5 fantasy points per game) and has at least seven strikeouts in each of his last five starts.

There is no such thing as a sure thing in baseball, but deGrom might be the safest option for the cost.

Carlos Gonzalez, OF, Colorado Rockies ($4,000)

When you have more home runs since the All-Star break than entire teams, you are obviously red-hot. That is the case with Carlos Gonzalez, who has clearly been the best power hitter in baseball in the league’s second half.

It’s at the point that his teammates are trying to get some of the heat to rub off on them:

Usually, it’s smart to avoid a Rockies hitter on the road, especially against an elite pitcher like deGrom. However, Gonzalez has simply been too good to avoid at this price.

Ian Desmond, SS, Washington Nationals ($3,100)

As good as Clayton Kershaw has been this season, the Pittsburgh Pirates showed he isn’t unhittable while totaling nine hits and four runs against the MVP. This gives hope for Ian Desmond, who is making up for his terrible first half of the season with a strong second half.

Desmond provides potential for home runs and steals as well as runs and RBI in a deep lineup. Add in more success against lefties, and the shortstop could be a great bargain pick in this one.

Note: All prices and fantasy score info courtesy of DraftKings. Unless otherwise noted, all stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com. 

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With a deep list of high-priced talent both as pitchers and hitters, you don’t necessarily have to grab the top daily fantasy baseball players on August 11. As long as you grab some of the best options at each position and complement them with a few bargain picks, you could be in position to make some big money.

Here is a look at predictions for the top scorers for Tuesday’s contests as well as a breakdown of some bargain options.

Value Picks

Luis Severino, SP, New York Yankees ($5,500)

Although he has only made one career start that lasted five innings, Luis Severino showcased a lot of potential in his lone appearance. The 21-year-old pitcher allowed just two hits and walked zero while striking out seven batters in his limited showcase.

Jack Curry of YES had great things to say about the young starter:

The Cleveland Indians have been red hot as of late, but Severino has loads of talent and could end up being a bargain at this price.

Brian Dozier, 2B, Minnesota Twins ($4,300)

A slump has dropped the price on Brian Dozier to the point he is now a bargain at second base. The good news is he can still hit a home run at any point, with his shot on Friday bringing him up to 24 on the season.

Meanwhile, Dozier is 5-for-7 in his career against Yovani Gallardo with a home run and four RBI, according to ESPN. Even with a small sample size, this is a good sign for Tuesday’s matchup.

David Peralta, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks ($4,200)

The Philadelphia Phillies have played much better as of late, but the same cannot be said about pitcher David Buchanan. Tuesday’s starter allowed seven runs in his latest outing to lift his ERA to 7.23 on the year in nine starts.

There are a number of quality options in the Arizona Diamondbacks lineup, but David Peralta has hit the ball as well as anyone over the past week and could be in store for a big game.

Khris Davis, OF, Milwaukee Brewers ($3,600)

Consistency remains an issue for Khris Davis, but the outfielder does have the ability to put together a huge fantasy game. In the past week, he already has one game of 39 points and one of 32 points, according to DraftKings.

While Davis hasn’t been able to take advantage of his power all year, he is clearly seeing the ball well and faces a pitcher in Dan Haren who has allowed eight home runs in his last four starts. This is a chance for his recent success to continue.

Francisco Cervelli, C, Pittsburgh Pirates ($3,300)

In his first real chance to be a full-time catcher in the majors, Francisco Cervelli is quietly having a very impressive season. After going 8-for-16 in five games during the recent home stand, the Pirates backstop is now hitting .307 on the year.

The St. Louis Cardinals have been tough to hit this season no matter who you are, but look for Cervelli to make some big plays in this important series.

Note: All prices courtesy of DraftKings. Unless otherwise noted, all stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com. 

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A full slate of games throughout Saturday provides daily fantasy baseball competitors with plenty of high-profile choices no matter what contests they enter. However, you often need some bargain picks to really help separate you from the pack.

If you want to draft guys like Noah Syndergaard or Paul Goldschmidt, you better be set to counter it with one of these value plays.

Afternoon Contests

Mat Latos, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers ($7,500)

There aren’t many great options available at this time, but Mat Latos represents solid upside in his second game with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 27-year-old veteran allowed just one run in six innings in his debut after being traded from the Miami Marlins, marking five quality starts in a row.

He has the ability to keep this up against a Pittsburgh Pirates lineup dealing with injuries.

Mark Trumbo, OF, Seattle Mariners ($3,500)

While more has been expected of Mark Trumbo, the powerful right-handed hitter has been heating up lately, via Greg Johns of MLB.com:

The recent surge should continue against left-handed starter Martin Perez of the Texas Rangers. The young pitcher has a 6.64 ERA this season and has allowed a .350 batting average to righties, which makes Trumbo (as well as Nelson Cruz) a good pick on Saturday.

Ruben Tejada, SS, New York Mets ($2,600)

His glove has earned him more playing time at shortstop, but Ruben Tejada has also come through at the plate in recent games. Interestingly, he has also been much better on the road this year (.323 batting average compared to .198 at Citi Field).

After totaling five hits in his past two starts (both on the road), he is a good value bet to continue this trend in Tampa Bay.

Night Contests

Jeremy Guthrie, SP, Kansas City Royals ($4,900)

You are probably skeptical about using a starting pitcher who has a 5.65 ERA, especially after he allowed seven earned runs in his last start. However, Jeremy Guthrie has been a completely different pitcher at home, totaling a respectable 3.96 ERA at Kauffman Stadium compared to 7.66 on the road.

Considering the Royals always give him a good chance of earning a win, Guthrie could be a reasonable pitching option for extremely cheap.

Chris Davis, 1B, Baltimore Orioles ($4,200)

After some time out of the spotlight, Chris Davis is once again showing the skills that helped him lead the majors in home runs just two years ago.

The Baltimore Orioles first baseman has been on a tear lately, hitting a home run seemingly every other game while driving in plenty of runners in the process. If he can keep this up, you will certainly get your money’s worth at this price.

Jose Reyes, SS, Colorado Rockies ($3,700)

It’s usually smart to avoid picking Rockies hitters on the road, but Jose Reyes hasn’t gotten too acclimated to his new environment for this to matter. However, he does know how to beat Stephen Strasburg with five hits in 14 at-bats (.357) against him, via ESPN.

With Strasburg a question mark while returning from the disabled list and Reyes capable of producing points with his bat and his speed, this is a smart value bet.

Note: All prices courtesy of DraftKings. Unless otherwise noted, all stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com. 

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You can’t be afraid to spend big on certain players in daily fantasy baseball as long as you pair the superstars with bargain picks. This is easy to do in Tuesday’s contests with quality options all over the board.

Here is a look at picks for the top scorers at each position as well as bargain options to balance your budget.

Bargain Picks

Jonathon Niese, SP, New York Mets ($6,100)

Although Jonathon Niese is a forgotten man in the New York Mets rotation, he has been a consistent producer since the start of June. Nine of his last 10 games have been quality starts, with the lone exception being the day his wife gave birth to his second son. He might have been a bit distracted at that moment.

Even with that poor showing two games ago, Niese still put together a 2.87 ERA in July and has a favorable matchup against the Miami Marlins, who are now last in the majors with 376 runs scored. This is a good chance for the Mets starter to put up a lot of zeros. 

Adam Eaton, OF, Chicago White Sox ($4,200)

Despite a rough night Monday against the Tampa Bay Rays, Adam Eaton should get back to raking on Tuesday. The outfielder has at least two hits in seven of his last nine games, scoring a plethora of runs throughout the week.

Even against a difficult matchup in Chris Archer, Eaton has hit the ball extremely well lately and has a chance to get plenty of hits, runs and stolen bases in the upcoming game.

Jimmy Rollins, SS, Los Angeles Dodgers ($3,500)

This hasn’t been a great year overall for Jimmy Rollins, but he is getting hot at the right time. The shortstop is batting .355 (11-for-31) over his last nine games with three home runs, and he gets to use this hot streak against his former team, the Philadelphia Phillies.

To make the situation even better, he will get a chance to face struggling starter Jerome Williams, who has just a 6.36 ERA this season.

Rollins should hear some cheers when he first steps to the plate in Philadelphia, although this might not last long as he posts a big game against the hometown club.

Ryan Zimmerman, 1B, Washington Nationals ($3,300)

He isn’t a consistent producer, but Ryan Zimmerman is always a threat to go deep. In six games since returning from the disabled list, he has two home runs and two doubles to prove the power is still there.

The 30-year-old is also a much better hitter against lefties throughout his career, amassing a .306 batting average against southpaws compared to just .274 against righties. Arizona Diamondbacks starter Patrick Corbin has fared well in five starts this season, but the left-handed pitcher is still capable of allowing a home run to Zimmerman.

Stephen Drew, 2B, New York Yankees ($2,900)

New York Yankees fans might be confused to see any praise for Stephen Drew, who has been a hole in the lineup for much of the year. However, the threat of reduced playing time has lit a fire under the veteran, and he is finally coming alive:

For this cost, it might be worth taking a chance on the middle infielder to see if he can replicate his performance.

Note: All prices courtesy of DraftKings. Unless otherwise noted, all stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com. 

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