Kuzul

There are a lot of teams that consider themselves playoff contenders going into the second half of the MLB season, which could lead to a lot of aggressive moves before the trade deadline.  

For the sellers hoping to unload talent during a lost season, this could be a great opportunity to bring back some top prospects after a bidding war.

While there will only be so many players to go around on the trade market, these teams are likely to be extremely aggressive in the coming weeks as they try to better themselves for the final months of the season.

Houston Astros

Even with All-Star Game starter Dallas Keuchel, the Houston Astros rotation needs help. Injuries and other factors have left a lot of question marks about who will even fill the roles, let alone provide quality innings.

Manager A.J. Hinch recently explained the necessity to add starting pitchers, per Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle:

You always feel like an extra pitcher or two would be ideal, and some of that is out of just strengthening a strength, and some of it is not really knowing what’s in store moving forward on a couple different spots on our team. We’ve leaned on our bullpen a lot, we’ve got a couple young starters, we’ve got (Scott) Feldman coming back from injury, we’ve alternated a lot of different guys out of the fourth and fifth spot. So I think it’s important for us to always maintain having a strong starting pitcher when you get into these last 70 games. Everyone’s always connected us to a lot of starting pitchers, but obviously, July can be tricky.

The good news is his prayers could be answered in the form of one of the best pitchers on the market.

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports explained: “The Astros have keen trade interest in Reds starter Johnny Cueto, and it appears he may even be their top target, if as expected Cueto hits trade market soon, people familiar with their thinking say.”

Cueto—who finished second in the Cy Young Award voting last season—has been the victim of poor run support this year with the struggling Cincinnati Reds. Still, his 2.73 ERA and 0.902 WHIP prove he is still among the league’s best.

Putting him on a team that can score runs like the Astros could lead to a lot of wins for the rest of the regular season and possibly postseason.

Of course, completing a deal for Cueto won’t be easy. As Bob Nightengale of USA Today noted, Houston is just one of a few teams trying hard to acquire the 29-year-old pitcher:

The Astros will have to be willing to part with some of their prized prospects, but it might be worth it to get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2005.

Minnesota Twins

The Minnesota Twins were one of the biggest surprises in the first half of the season, coming out of the All-Star break with a 49-40 record. However, they will not be able to remain in the hunt for a playoff spot unless they find a way to upgrade a big weakness in the bullpen.

Glen Perkins has been outstanding with 28 saves and a 1.21 ERA, but even with these stats, the club only ranks 18th in the majors with a 3.71 bullpen ERA. Meanwhile, Blaine Boyer and Aaron Thompson have been overworked all season long.

As a result, the team is looking for external help to potentially ease some of the stress from the back of the bullpen.

“The Twins’ primary concern is their bullpen, and they’re doing their due diligence in exploring possible upgrades, sources say. Among their potential targets: The Padres’ [Joaquin] Benoit,” wrote Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.

Even though he’s 37 years old, Benoit has valuable closer experience and is seemingly only getting better as his career progresses. Over the past year-and-a-half with the San Diego Padres, he has 10 wins and a 1.86 ERA.

On the other end of the spectrum, a struggling player such as Steve Cishek could represent a high-upside option who shouldn’t cost too much. As Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe noted, the Twins are one of the teams interested in the former closer:

The Falmouth native had been sent to Double A to work out a mechanical issue, which he did, according to manager Dan Jennings, even though he didn’t have a good outing against Boston last week. Yet Cishek, who has been a successful closer, is drawing interest. The Twins, Tigers, Blue Jays, Red Sox, and others have been watching Cishek of late.

The current 5.14 ERA is concerning, but he might be worth the risk after totaling 73 saves in the past two seasons.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Josh Harrison was a big part of the lineup both physically and emotionally, so losing him for about seven weeks could be devastating for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

According to Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune, the organization has taken a look at some potential additions to the lineup to make up for Harrison’s absence:

As Biertempfel noted, finding a new leadoff hitter should be a top priority for the Pirates, and Ben Revere is as solid of an option as you can find. He is currently hitting .297 with a .337 on-base percentage and 21 stolen bases.

He has a knack for getting himself on base and into scoring range for the teammates behind him to bring him home.

Meanwhile, Jeff Francoeur could represent a quality platoon option opposite Gregory Polanco, who has just a .152 batting average and zero extra-base hits against left-handed pitchers this season. It also likely won’t take much to acquire a struggling player like Francoeur from the Philadelphia Phillies.

Neither of these players would be able to directly replace a versatile producer like Harrison, but each could represent a quality upgrade to the current squad for a reasonable price on the trade market.

Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for the latest breaking news and analysis.

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Friday kicks off the second half of the MLB season, which gives both players and daily fantasy baseball owners a chance to either build off their early success or turn things around after a slow start.

The contests on July 17 feature plenty of high-priced talent like Clayton Kershaw ($13,600) and Jose Fernandez ($10,200) on the mound as well as hitters Paul Goldschmidt ($5,500) and Bryce Harper ($5,400). However, the best way to succeed might be to use some of these bargains and create balance with your team.

Julio Teheran, SP, Atlanta Braves ($8,100)

It seems like Julio Teheran is way too good to have a 4.56 ERA at the All-Star break, but the crazy thing is that most of the damage has come on the road this year:

The Braves ace has looked like a Cy Young candidate when at Turner Field and has pitched at least seven innings in each of his last five home starts. Against a Chicago Cubs team that strikes out more than anyone else in the National League, Teheran can easily outproduce his cost.

Mike Montgomery, SP, Seattle Mariners ($6,400)

The former highly touted Kansas City Royals pitcher is finally putting together the major league career many expected of him a few years ago. In eight starts with the Mariners, he has posted a 2.29 ERA thanks mainly to back-to-back complete-game shutouts in June.

While he came back to earth a bit in his last start (five earned runs in five innings), Montgomery still has plenty of talent and is tough to hit. Opponents have only batted .209 against him this year for a reason. He should be able to get back on track Friday against the New York Yankees. 

Evan Longoria, 3B, Tampa Bay Rays ($4,100)

Although his power numbers are down this year, Evan Longoria‘s .276 batting average and .350 on-base percentage would be his highest in three seasons. More importantly, he has a great matchup against a pitcher who hasn’t performed anywhere near as well as his 8-2 record would indicate.

Toronto Blue Jays starter Drew Hutchison comes out of the All-Star break with a 5.33 ERA while failing to get out of the sixth inning in any of his last six starts. The right-hander has especially struggled against fellow righties this year, allowing those batters to hit .335 against him.

Longoria has a chance to lead the Rays to a big day at the plate.

Gerardo Parra, OF, Milwaukee Brewers ($3,900)

The All-Star break couldn’t have come at a worse time for Gerardo Parra, who has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball. Since the start of July, the Milwaukee Brewers outfielder has hit .425 to go with four home runs and 11 runs.

He has started nine games this month and has multiple hits in seven of them.

Assuming the few days off didn’t cool him off too much, Parra represents great value at this price.

C.J. Cron, 1B, Los Angeles Angels ($3,200)

Throughout the first few months of the year, C.J. Cron only managed a .204 batting average with one home run. After being sent down to the minors and recalled on June 29, the 25-year-old hitter has been a completely different player.

In 10 games since the call-up, Cron has batted .459 with four home runs and 12 RBI. As long as he can keep his new spot in the lineup, this remains a bargain for fantasy players.

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

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Simply looking at the rosters for the MLB All-Star Game should get fans excited for the Midsummer Classic.

Between young superstars and veterans who can still play at a high level, there is tons of variety on both the American League and National League squads. The first few innings should be especially enjoyable with a deep pair of starting lineups that didn’t feature much drop-off even after injury replacements.

Meanwhile, very few people could have predicted the starting pitchers for this showcase when the season started, but both are deserving of the honor.   

Although most players will find a way to get into the game eventually, here is a look at the starting lineups for each squad, as announced by the managers.

The big story here is the announcements of the two starting pitchers. Both Bruce Bochy and Ned Yost had difficult decisions with plenty of reasonable options, but Zack Greinke and Dallas Keuchel ended up winning out.

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports is one person who agrees with the choices:

Max Scherzer wasn’t eligible for selection in the National League after pitching on Sunday, although you could argue he still hasn’t been as good as Greinke, even with a no-hitter on his resume. Gerrit Cole also had a legitimate case thanks to his major league-leading 13 wins with a 2.30 ERA.

However, Bochy explained the difference in his decision:

Greinke leads the majors with a 1.39 ERA and hasn’t allowed a run in the last 35.2 innings, a run that spans five games. Although he doesn’t rack up the strikeouts like Scherzer or others, he has been almost unhittable this season, allowing just a single hit in eight innings his last start.

Coming out of the other dugout will be Keuchel, who currently ranks second in the AL with a 2.33 ERA. This came as a bit of a surprise for someone who came into the year as a relative unknown despite a 2.93 ERA last season.

As the Houston Astros star pointed out, the new-age stats have helped him become a star:

Considering he trails only Clayton Kershaw among pitchers with a 4.7 WAR this season, per Baseball-Reference.com, he might be on to something with this assessment. It helps that Sonny Gray—like Scherzer—wasn’t eligible after pitching Sunday, but Keuchel deserves plenty of credit for his incredible run to this point.

As far as the lineup is concerned, fans should be ready for a lot of power from each side.

Between Mike Trout, Josh Donaldson, Albert Pujols and Nelson Cruz, the AL lineup begins with four players who have all hit at least 21 home runs this season. Fans in the outfield better be ready for the possibility of a lot of souvenirs.

In the NL, we have a few more well-rounded hitters in Bryce Harper, Paul Goldschmidt and Buster Posey, players who can hit for a high average as well knock it out of the park.

There are some downsides, as fans were robbed of a chance to see top players such as Miguel Cabrera, Giancarlo Stanton and others, but we will be just fine with Pujols, Adam Jones, Andrew McCutchen and Joc Pederson as replacements.

While he’s not a household name, DJ LeMahieu will also get a chance to shine as a late replacement for the injured Dee Gordon.

With the All-Star Game counting toward home-field advantage in the World Series, these players should provide a quality effort for as long as they are in the game. No matter who wins, though, fans should be ready for quite a show.

Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for the latest breaking news and analysis.

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A full slate of action Saturday gives daily fantasy baseball competitors plenty of options when it comes to selecting pitchers. As a result, you don’t necessarily need to draft the top names on the board.

Here is a look at the best value picks available from around the league.

Jon Lester, Chicago Cubs ($9,500)

Chris Sale has been statistically one of the top pitchers in baseball this season, but his counterpart Saturday might end up having the better game. Jon Lester comes into his matchup against the Chicago White Sox with no earned runs allowed in his last two starts while totaling 15 strikeouts and three walks in 14 innings.

The White Sox offense has also struggled mightily this year, especially against left-handed starters, as noted by Jeff Sullivan of FanGraphs:

Look for Lester to continue his recent hot streak against a team that hasn’t been able to hit any southpaws this year.

A.J. Burnett, Pittsburgh Pirates ($9,400)

Considering he has a 1.99 ERA, it’s clear A.J. Burnett has been great no matter where he is pitching. However, he is even better at home where he has a 1.28 ERA in eight starts.

Only once has he allowed more than one earned run in a game at PNC Park, and that was when he gave up two runs in seven innings in early May. Unlike Dallas Keuchel, who also has great home splits but will pitch on the road this week, take advantage of Burnett’s success by plugging him in your lineup.

John Lackey, St. Louis Cardinals ($8,400)

Burnett could have a strong performance, but it still will be a challenge to get a win with John Lackey starting for the St. Louis Cardinals. The 36-year-old veteran allowed 10 runs in Colorado last month, but since then has gone at least seven innings with two or fewer runs allowed in five straight starts.

Even without high strikeout totals, Lackey can give fantasy owners enough points to justify the selection.

Mat Latos, Miami Marlins ($7,300)

The Cincinnati Reds have been wildly inconsistent at the plate lately, which will make things interesting when they face the inconsistent Mat Latos on Saturday. The veteran pitcher struggled mightily to start the year, but he is back on track, as he has lowered his ERA each month:

After allowling just one hit in seven innings in his last start, Latos is becoming a more trustworthy option for fantasy owners.

Ryan Vogelsong, San Francisco Giants ($6,600)

After being ejected in the fifth inning of his last start, Ryan Vogelsong should be relatively well-rested coming into this one. James Wagner of the Washington Post described the incident:

Including the shortened outing, however, Vogelsong has only allowed five earned runs in his last 22.2 innings. Opponents are struggling to make quality contact, and he is keeping runs off the board.

While the Philadelphia Phillies have played better as of late, they could struggle in a ballpark that rates as the worst hitter’s park in the league this season, via ESPN.com.

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

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Before the current MLB All-Stars take the field Tuesday in Cincinnati, the next generation of stars will be on display Sunday at the 2015 MLB Futures Game.

This exhibition—unlike the other All-Star Game, this one doesn’t “count” for anything—pits the top minor league prospects from the United States against those originating from everywhere else in the world. This ends up creating a chance for scouts and fans alike to see the young players who are truly the future of the sport.

Considering you only have to look back to last year’s version to see contributing players like Maikel Franco, Noah Syndergaard and 2015 MLB All-Star Kris Bryant, you know there will be some stars to watch this time around.

Out of the entire roster, though, these are the players you really want to watch for in the upcoming game.

Lucas Giolito, RHP, Washington Nationals

Based on talent alone, Lucas Giolito was a steal for the Washington Nationals with the 16th pick in 2012. Everyone knew he had the pure stuff to succeed at the highest levels, but he slipped from a potential top-three pick due to an injury that caused him to immediately get Tommy John surgery.

Fortunately, he is back on track and starting to dominate the minor leagues. He recently pitched seven no-hit innings in relief of rehabbing starter Aaron Barrett and doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon.

The pitcher recently discussed his improvements since the start of the season, per Alex Kraft of MiLB.com:

I had a little bit of a rough start, especially since I kind of had an augmented Spring Training throwing program. I showed up to the team late, but I feel like I’ve definitely been able to internalize some things and make some good adjustments on some of the things I was doing incorrectly earlier this year — both from the mental side and the physical side. I’m feeling very good right now.

Giolito can blow hitters away with his upper-90s fastball, although he also has both a curve and a developing changeup. If he can put it all together, there is no question he has the potential to be an elite starter in the majors.

Orlando Arcia, SS, Milwaukee Brewers

Considering he is just 20 years old, Orlando Arcia has been quite impressive playing the full year at Double-A. 

While he doesn’t walk much, he gets hits with power that is only improving as he grows. Right now, the quality hits are doubles instead of home runs, but eventually, these balls will leave the park and Arcia will become a truly feared hitter around baseball.

Additionally, Arcia has showcased plenty of speed in the minors, totaling 51 stolen bases over the past two seasons at various levels.

There is clearly a lot for the shortstop to work on, from consistency to having a more patient approach at the plate to improving his stolen-base rate, but the fact that he is performing so well against much older competition is very encouraging. Baseball America already named him “the best player in the Southern League as a 20-year-old.”

If the Brewers give him time to develop, Arcia could become a star.

Kyle Schwarber, C, Chicago Cubs

It seems like the Chicago Cubs have an endless supply of top prospects. Just when you thought all of their minor league talent was already playing at Wrigley Field, Kyle Schwarber reminds people there are still big names on the way.

Although he needs to improve his defensive work behind the plate, Schwarber is one of the best hitters currently in the minors.

In 58 games in Double-A, he hit .320 with a .438 on-base percentage and 13 home runs. When the Cubs needed him at the big league level, the catcher more than held his own, going 8-for-22 (.364 batting average) with a home run and six RBI.

While he is now back in the minors destroying Triple-A pitchers, it is only a matter of time until Chicago brings up the 22-year-old star for good.

J.P. Crawford, SS, Philadelphia Phillies

Hitting is obviously an important part of having a successful baseball career as a position player, but playing great defense at a premium position will ensure you stick around for a long time.

This is the case with J.P. Crawford, who is one of the best defenders at any spot in the minors and could match quite a few major league shortstops with his glove. Mike Drago of the Reading Eagle recently quoted manager Dusty Wathan discussing the shortstop’s play:

He is smooth on routine plays and makes the tougher ones look easier than they really are.

Although he hasn’t blown anyone away with the bat since his promotion to Double-A, he hit .392 in 21 games in High-A ball to start the year, so the talent is clearly there to succeed at the plate as well. Considering he is just 20 years old, Crawford has a lot of upside with seemingly very little risk.

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The challenge for Tuesday’s daily fantasy baseball contests is to choose which of the elite options are truly the best for your lineup. With some of the highest prices of the season for both pitchers and hitters, it’s important to make sure you get the right players to help you win.

Players to Draft

Corey Kluber, SP, Cleveland Indians ($11,200)

While Max Scherzer has been on an incredible stretch, it’s still hard to justify spending $14,200 on just one player. Even an outstanding game might not be enough to make up for the rest of your lineup.

However, you can save quite a bit of money on Corey Kluber, who has the potential for a big day against the Houston Astros. Although this is a tough matchup on paper, the opposing lineup strikes out more than anyone else in baseball.

With Kluber always a threat to reach double-digit strikeouts and beyond, he could put up a lot of fantasy points on Tuesday.

Taijuan Walker, SP, Seattle Mariners ($8,200)

The Seattle Mariners are being rewarded for their patience with young pitcher Taijuan Walker. After a rough start to the season, he has been outstanding lately with a 1.68 ERA and 51 strikeouts in his last seven games (via Scott Pianowski of Yahoo Sports).

These strikeout totals and the ability to keep runners from scoring have turned Walker into an elite fantasy starter. Against a Detroit Tigers lineup without Miguel Cabrera, he could easily surpass expectations for this cost.

Albert Pujols, 1B, Los Angeles Angels ($5,600)

We are seeing a renaissance for Albert Pujols this season, as the future Hall of Famer is starting to once again showcase the power he was known for with the St. Louis Cardinals. This should continue in a hitter’s haven like Coors Field.

After a quality series against the Texas Rangers, look for some more deep shots against the Colorado Rockies.

Aramis Ramirez, 3B, Milwaukee Brewers ($4,000)

The Milwaukee Brewers have been the hottest team in baseball over the past week, and a lot of that has to do with the play of Aramis Ramirez. The third baseman is coming through with a multihit game just about every time out and is driving in plenty of runs in the process.

Joc Pederson, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers ($3,700)

Although Joc Pederson is coming off a bad series against the New York Mets, things could be easier against the Philadelphia Phillies and starting pitcher Chad Billingsley. The former Dodger has a 7.71 ERA in four starts and might not get many more chances.

With Pederson’s power at the plate, the young hitter is a quality bet for a home run or two.

Players to Avoid

Francisco Liriano, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates ($10,300)

Among all the top names available Tuesday, Francisco Liriano has been the least consistent from a fantasy perspective. His strikeouts have fallen off lately, with only one of his last six starts featuring more than six strikeouts.

With Liriano also struggling a bit at home (4.10 ERA), there are simply better options for this price.

Prince Fielder, 1B, Texas Rangers ($4,900)

Even in the midst of an outstanding season, Prince Fielder remains much worse against left-handed pitchers, with a batting average about 100 points lower than it is against righties. 

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Robbie Ray has fared well in his young career and should be able to cause more problems for Fielder.

Todd Frazier, 3B, Cincinnati Reds ($4,100)

The newly minted All-Star starter has had a great year, but no one can be trusted against Scherzer. The Washington Nationals pitcher has allowed just 11 total hits in the last four games, all of them complete games except for one where he went eight innings.

It’s tough to bet on Todd Frazier to do much better against a starter who has allowed right-handers to hit just .161 this season.

Team to Stack

Toronto Blue Jays

Not only have the Toronto Blue Jays had by far the best offense in baseball this season, but the right-handed-heavy lineup has absolutely crushed southpaws. The team is hitting over .300 (per FanGraphs) against left-handed pitchers with Josh Donaldson and Jose Bautista especially excelling.

Considering Chicago White Sox pitcher Jose Quintana has terrible splits to begin with (.184 batting average vs. lefties, .310 vs. righties), the Blue Jays could be ready for a high-scoring game.

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

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The Fourth of July is the time of year to celebrate fireworks and hot dog eating contests. There might be some patriotic parts in there somewhere, but there are few things more American than baseball.

Of course, as long as you’re watching baseball, you might as well make some money in daily fantasy with the help of these pitchers.

Zack Greinke, Los Angeles Dodgers ($11,100)

While fans can expect an exciting pitchers’ duel between Matt Harvey and Zack Greinke, only one of them gets to face a New York Mets lineup that recently scored just one run in a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs.

Greinke not only has an easy matchup, he is also coming in with three straight scoreless efforts totaling 20.2 innings. With an incredible 1.58 ERA to this point in the season, the veteran pitcher seemingly cannot be stopped.

Carlos Martinez, St. Louis Cardinals ($9,000)

Carlos Martinez continues to impress in his first full year as a starter. Not only does he have a 9-3 record with a 2.80 ERA for the season, but he has been even better lately, finishing June with a 2.18 mark.

He has also been excelling as a fantasy player, averaging 26 points over his last eight starts. The San Diego Padres haven’t exactly been world-beaters at the plate, which makes this a good opportunity for a big game from Martinez. 

Michael Pineda, New York Yankees ($8,300)

Consistency has been a real issue for Michael Pineda, but when he is on, he can be a huge help to your fantasy team. In four of his last six starts, he has allowed two or fewer earned runs while striking out at least eight.

What helps his cause is the ability to limit his own damage. He currently leads the American League with a 7.92 strikeout-to-walk ratio and can take advantage of this against the light-hitting Tampa Bay Rays.

Collin McHugh, Houston Astros ($7,600)

The Boston Red Sox have been hitting better lately, but this still isn’t a good team, and Collin McHugh has a good chance to leave Fenway Park with a win. Meanwhile, whatever had been ailing McHugh is apparently fixed, per ESPN.com’s Mark Simon:

A pitcher who can go deep into games is a real asset in daily fantasy baseball, and McHugh can provide players with a big game for reasonable cost.

Wandy Rodriguez, Texas Rangers ($5,400)

For those looking to save some money with a pitcher, Wandy Rodriguez represents an intriguing pick. The veteran has had an up-and-down season, though his 3.91 ERA would drop to a more respectable 3.10 if you took away his one terrible start against the Oakland Athletics (eight runs allowed in four innings).

The Los Angeles Angels have been inconsistent at the plate this year and, except for Mike Trout, not much better against left-handed starters. You could end up with some serious value if Rodriguez puts together a quality game.

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

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As we approach the season’s halfway point, MLB teams are now aware of what they need in order to contend for a title. Those who want to add pitching will have quite a few options on the open market.

While big names such as Cole Hamels and Johnny Cueto could possibly be on the move as part of blockbuster trades, each player would likely cost a suitor at least a few top prospects. Those who don’t want to mortgage the future would be better off looking at some cheaper options currently on the trading block.

These pitchers likely won’t be the difference in a championship run, but they could be useful additions for reasonable prices, making them much more likely to be dealt in the coming weeks.

Mat Latos, Miami Marlins

Like they have a few times in recent years, the Miami Marlins came into the year with a lot of promise before failing miserably once the games started. With Giancarlo Stanton now out with a broken wrist, the organization could be in a position to once again start up the fire sale.

Jon Morosi of Fox Sports noted a few pitchers have already garnered interest from teams around the league:

Of all the options, though, Mat Latos might be the most intriguing one for squads looking for a starting pitcher. While his 5.49 ERA in 12 starts certainly looks bad, this might be more bad luck than anything else. His FIP of 3.61, per Baseball-Reference.com, is more in line with his career ERA of 3.47.

Considering Latos has posted an ERA between 3.10 and 3.50 in each of the past four seasons, it’s reasonable to expect the veteran to fare much better in the second half of the year.

Meanwhile, Ryan Boyer of NBC Sports noted the velocity has been even better than usual:

Clearly, the 27-year-old pitcher represents a great high-upside bet for a team looking to upgrade its rotation.

Jeff Samardzija, Chicago White Sox

A year ago at this time, Jeff Samardzija was one of the hottest names on the trade block as an All-Star for the Chicago Cubs. He put up good but not great numbers with the Oakland Athletics (5-6 with a 3.14 ERA) after being traded, but this year hasn’t been quite the same for the 30-year-old starter.

After joining the Chicago White Sox this offseason, Samardzija has managed just a 4.56 ERA while giving up 10.2 hits per nine innings. His strikeouts are down, and he is really struggling to get players out.

This has led to some confusion about his value on the trade market, although teams are still interested, according to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe:

Teams are tempted but don’t know what to make of him because of his 4.53 ERA and struggles this season. His affordability as a rental and the fact that he’s not a No. 1-caliber starter in the eyes of most scouts but a good second or third guy in a rotation make him worth looking at. But the White Sox likely wouldn’t receive a great return. That’s why the same teams looking at Clay Buchholz are looking at Samardzija — the Royals, Tigers, Twins, Blue Jays, Yankees, Cardinals, Orioles, Angels, and Dodgers.

With the White Sox sitting at just 32-42 on the season, good for last place in the AL Central, trading anyone of value makes sense. Even if the return isn’t as much as they might have hoped going in, it’s better than nothing if he leaves as a free agent this offseason.

If he can regain his old form, however, his next team could end up with a bargain.

Jonathon Niese, New York Mets

The New York Mets aren’t exactly sellers heading into the All-Star break, but they do need to get rid of their excess in starting pitching. With Steven Matz making a successful debut Sunday, the team once again has too many players to fit into its rotation.

More than likely the odd man out will be Jonathon Niese, who at 28 years old doesn’t fit in with the youth movement with Matz (24), Matt Harvey (26), Noah Syndergaard (22) and Jacob deGrom (27). Bartolo Colon qualifies as an exception as a fan favorite who is due to be a free agent after the season.

The good news is there are teams interested in acquiring the left-handed starter, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports:

While Niese might not provide the excitement of his younger counterparts in Citi Field, he still has a respectable 4.12 ERA on the season and 3.46 mark in June. He also has four quality starts in a row going into Tuesday’s matchup against the Chicago Cubs.

If he can impress in his next start, Chicago might be willing to consider a deal to give the Mets some much-needed offense. New York general manager Sandy Alderson recently explained he is “prepared to overpay” for a hitter, “but there has to be something to overpay for,” per Adam Rubin of ESPN.com.

Niese likely won’t be enough to bring back a top prospect, but he could be a key piece in a bigger deal that helps both teams.

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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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Without many great options at pitcher, Monday’s daily fantasy baseball contests could be a chance to really load up on the top hitters around the league. The key will be to find the right players at each spot to give you a chance to win money.

Not only are there only nine games to choose from, none of the pitchers are valued more than $9,000 on DraftKings. This could create some interesting lineups throughout the different contests available.

Pitchers

Nathan Karns, Tampa Bay Rays ($7,100)

C.J. Wilson has been wildly inconsistent lately, while Clay Buchholz and Lance McCullers have difficult matchups this week. As a result, there are few expensive options worth taking a chance on at this point.

However, Nathan Karns represents a relatively safe option thanks to his recent play. Over the last three starts, the Rays starter has allowed just two earned runs in 17.1 innings. With the Cleveland Indians struggling to score (just three total runs while being swept by the Baltimore Orioles this weekend), Karns could have another strong showing.

Jimmy Nelson, Milwaukee Brewers ($6,600)

The consistency isn’t there, but Jimmy Nelson has provided some gems so far this year. Three different times the right-hander has allowed just one run in eight innings, including his most recent start against the New York Mets.

Going up against one of the worst offenses in baseball in the Philadelphia Phillies provides another chance for a big effort from Nelson.

There is certainly risk involved in drafting a pitcher who has allowed at least six earned runs in two different starts this month, but Nelson represents a high-upside choice in tournament play.

Joe Blanton, Kansas City Royals ($4,800)

It was hard to expect much from Joe Blanton this season, who last had a 6.04 ERA in 2013. However, he has been lights-out for the Royals this year with a 1.73 ERA in nine appearances (two starts). Since moving into the rotation, he has allowed just two runs in 11 innings while totaling 11 strikeouts and no walks.

While you can expect him to come back to Earth at some point, Blanton can still have more success against a Houston Astros lineup that lead the majors in strikeouts. At the very least, there could be some good value here.

Hitters

Todd Frazier, 3B, Cincinnati Reds ($5,600)

While the cost is high, so is the potential output for the red-hot third baseman. In his last 21 games, Todd Frazier has an impressive nine home runs and 21 RBI. During this stretch, he has four three-hit games and only two games where we went without a hit.

Even better, Frazier gets to return home this series, where he is hitting .354 on the year with 15 of his 25 home runs. This is a good investment regardless of the price.

Prince Fielder, 1B, Texas Rangers ($4,800)

This matchup could be good for a bunch of Texas Rangers hitters, as they face Bud Norris, a pitcher who has struggled to a 6.70 ERA this season. It would have been worse if the five runs allowed in his last start weren’t all unearned.

Playing in a home run haven like Camden Yards should lead to a high-scoring battle.

Of course, Prince Fielder is still the one you really want after five straight multi-hit games going into Monday.

Jimmy Rollins, SS, Los Angeles Dodgers ($3,600)

Although his first year with the Dodgers hasn’t been great, Jimmy Rollins is finally coming alive lately. In his last eight games, he is 10-for-31 (.323 batting average) with two extra-base hits.

With Allen Webster still struggling to get outs at this level, managing just a 6.28 career ERA in 22 appearances, Rollins could provide some value for cheap.

Team to Stack

Baltimore Orioles

Wandy Rodriguez is coming off his worst start of the season, where he allowed eight earned runs and 11 hits in four innings. Even if he isn’t quite as bad Monday, the Orioles should still do damage. Not only do players like Adam Jones and Manny Machado excel against lefties, but the entire team is much better at home (25-13 compared to 16-21 on the road).

We could see a lot of home runs from the Orioles in this one.

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

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

Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for daily fantasy advice and nonstop sports.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com