Kuzul

While Saturday usually features plenty of contest options for daily fantasy baseball players, you might want to make sure to get in early on June 27.

With only four major league games starting after 7 p.m. ET and few quality options on the mound among those games, fantasy players will be better off playing either morning or all-day contests. With that in mind, here is a look at the best pitching options available throughout the day.

Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers ($12,300)

This is a high price, especially for someone who hasn’t looked like his dominant self lately. Clayton Kershaw has allowed three earned runs in each of his last two starts, and his 3.33 ERA is much higher than what we have come to expect from the MVP.

However, his strikeout numbers are what you need to focus on, with 131 total in 100 innings this year. Kershaw has at least seven punch-outs in eight straight starts, including a combined 41 over his last four. 

Add this to a quality matchup against the Miami Marlins, who struggle scoring runs in a park that is extremely difficult to hit home runs, and Kershaw should have a dominant showing to warrant the cost.

Masahiro Tanaka, New York Yankees ($10,600)

The last start was a bad one, as Masahiro Tanaka allowed seven runs (five earned) against the Detroit Tigers. This was a combination of regression to the mean after three impressive starts as well as simply not having his best stuff.

“I was missing spots and I was missing them by a far margin so I wasn’t really sharp today,” the pitcher explained through a translator, via Howie Rumberg of the Associated Press.

Tanaka should be back to his usual self Saturday against the Houston Astros, who strike out more than anyone else in the majors. The Japanese star should put up numbers that more resemble his previous three games, where he allowed just four earned runs in 21 innings to go with 21 strikeouts and no walks.

Julio Teheran, Atlanta Braves ($8,300)

This year has not been great for Julio Teheran, who came into his last start with a 5.07 ERA. However, he seemed to finally click against the New York Mets, pitching seven scoreless innings on just 78 pitches while allowing only one hit.

Although it will be difficult to trust this one start to become a trend, the Pittsburgh Pirates haven’t been great offensively over the past month, either. There is a big risk but also plenty of upside.

Jeremy Hellickson, Arizona Diamondbacks ($6,700)

Jeremy Hellickson is probably the best option in an otherwise bleak evening session. (Michael Wacha and Andrew Cashner have struggled lately, while Garrett Richards no longer strikes people out.) Hellickson has had his rough patches this season as well but has gone exactly six innings with two runs allowed in four of his last five starts.

As a fly-ball pitcher in the spacious Petco Park, Hellickson should provide more solid value in daily fantasy leagues.

Michael Lorenzen, Cincinnati Reds ($4,500)

The Mets are fading fast with the lineup struggling to get on the board each night. This represents a good chance for Michael Lorenzen to continue his recent hot streak.

In his last two starts, the 23-year-old rookie has gone 13 innings while allowing just three earned runs. The young starter is beginning to get comfortable at this level and can provide fantasy competitors with some serious value at this price.

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

Baseball is a game of peaks and valleys, which means it’s important in daily fantasy baseball to take advantage of those currently on a hot streak. While a quality game can always come out of nowhere, it’s usually better to trust those performing well at the moment.

Here is a look at a few of those players, along with the best and worst picks for June 23.

Pitchers to Draft

Zack Greinke, Los Angeles Dodgers ($10,500)

After more than a decade in the league, Zack Greinke is on pace for his best career season. He currently has a 1.81 ERA to go with a 0.94 WHIP while not showing any signs of slowing down.

In his last nine starts, the veteran has allowed one run or fewer eight times. Another game featured eight innings with two runs allowed. With the exception of one poor start in hitter-friendly Coors Field, Greinke has been unstoppable over the past two months.

With the Chicago Cubs leading the National League in strikeouts, this could lead to another huge game for Greinke.

Carlos Martinez, St. Louis Cardinals ($8,300)

There have been some rough starts, but Carlos Martinez has been outstanding lately. The 23-year-old starter has allowed just four earned runs in 40.1 innings across his last six games.

While Martinez has been a bit wild at times, he’s still done enough to contribute 26.2 fantasy points per game on DraftKings during this recent stretch. Pitching against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park, where it is extremely difficult to hit a home run, Martinez should put up more big numbers.

Chi Chi Gonzalez, Texas Rangers ($6,800)

When a baseball player gets off to a surprisingly good start to his career, you can either expect a fall to earth or simply ride the wave. With Chi Chi Gonzalez, you might as well keep him on your fantasy team until he slows down.

Through four starts, he has a 0.90 ERA that includes a complete-game shutout. His worst start statistically came when he allowed two runs in the ninth inning to break up his second attempt at a shutout.

He has pitched too well for you to stay away at this price.

Pitcher to Avoid

Chris Archer, Tampa Bay Rays ($9,800)

The Toronto Blue Jays have the best offense in baseball, and it isn’t even close at this point. This could be a problem for Chris Archer, who has allowed three earned runs in each of his last two starts after faring better in each of his previous six appearances.

Add in the fact his strikeouts are down in his last two games, and this might be a time to avoid the high-priced pitcher.

Hitters to Draft

Mookie Betts, OF, Boston Red Sox ($4,800)

The cost is going up for this talented young hitter, but Mookie Betts remains worth the price. He has reached double-digit fantasy points in seven of his last eight games, earning high honors in the process:

Baltimore Orioles starter Ubaldo Jimenez has had a bit of a bounce-back season, but he isn’t much of a threat to slow down the red-hot Betts.

Justin Turner, 3B, Los Angeles Dodgers ($3,900)

Last year’s fluke season where Justin Turner batted .340 is turning out to not be a fluke at all. He is once again well over .300 while even showing more power, especially in the past week.

As long as pitchers continue to challenge him, Turner remains a good value bet for your fantasy team.

Hitter to Avoid

Charlie Blackmon, OF, Colorado Rockies ($5,100)

There is obvious appeal to a player who has nine hits and eight RBI through the first five games of a homestand. The problem is he is still just a .275 hitter who only has two home runs this month.

Meanwhile, Chase Anderson has the talent to limit the outfielder while trying to improve his 1.45 June ERA.

Team to Stack

Arizona Diamondbacks

There’s nothing quite like a trip to Colorado to ignite an offense, and the Arizona Diamondbacks will get that opportunity with a road series against the Rockies. Even better, they get to face Kyle Kendrick with his 2-9 record and 5.95 ERA.

Interestingly, Kendrick is even worse in night games (0-7 with a 7.54 ERA in nine starts). This bodes well for Paul Goldschmidt, A.J. Pollock and the rest of the underrated Diamondbacks offense.

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

Some intriguing scheduling with interleague play has led to rare day games on a Tuesday. As a result, daily fantasy baseball players will get more contests to compete in but fewer game options than usual in each.

While you will have to adjust your schedule, or at least your strategy, there are still plenty of quality options throughout the day.

Pitchers to Draft

Jake Arrieta, Chicago Cubs ($9,000)

Monday’s postponement will push Jake Arrieta‘s start to Tuesday, although this shouldn’t affect his play. The Cubs starter is coming off consecutive quality starts where he combined for 16 strikeouts and just one walk.

Despite the recent success, this will be the first time in over a month Arrieta will cost less than $9,500 on DraftKings.

While the lefty-heavy Cleveland Indians lineup is a bit scary for most right-handers, Arrieta has limited southpaws to a .234 opposing batting average this season, so don’t be afraid to stick with the talented pitcher.

Charlie Morton, Pittsburgh Pirates ($7,900)

Four starts for Charlie Morton since returning from the disabled list, and he has four wins and a 2.05 ERA. In three of these games, the 31-year-old pitcher went at least seven innings, including his 7.1 shutout innings last time out.

You really can’t ask for much more production from the veteran.

Against a struggling Chicago White Sox offense, there is no reason for Morton to slow down now.

Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants ($7,800)

Although the past few starts have been less than stellar, Tim Lincecum has been much better at home this season. The former Cy Young Award winner has a 1.98 ERA in six home games compared to just a 4.88 ERA in the same amount of time on the road.

This has been a common theme for pitchers at AT&T Park this season, which has been the hardest stadium on hitters in 2015, according to ESPN.

Although he isn’t blowing anyone away like he used to, Lincecum should have a solid performance against the light-hitting Seattle Mariners.

Pitcher to Avoid

Matt Harvey, New York Mets ($10,800)

While he is obviously talented, Matt Harvey has gone through a bit of a rough patch. The last four starts have seen the struggling starter allow 20 runs in just 25 innings, including eight home runs.

This makes it difficult to bet on him to turn things around, especially against the Toronto Blue Jays and the No. 1 offense in baseball. 

Hitters to Draft

Justin Upton, OF, San Diego Padres ($4,400)

Playing in a spacious stadium like Petco Park usually causes problems for new hitters, but Justin Upton has been great at home in his first year with the Padres with a batting average about 100 points higher at home.

Oakland Athletics starter Scott Kazmir has had a good season, but Upton has fared well against lefties throughout his career, and he represents good value Tuesday against the left-hander.

Kole Calhoun, OF, Los Angeles Angels ($4,300)

Arizona Diamondbacks starter Jeremy Hellickson has had an up-and-down season but has really struggled against lefties, allowing a .330 batting average and .973 OPS. Despite high strikeout totals, Kole Calhoun has hit the ball well lately and should be able to take advantage of this favorable matchup.

Hitter to Avoid

Brett Gardner, OF, New York Yankees ($5,300)

When you are spending this much on a hitter, you should be expecting a huge game. Brett Gardner just doesn’t present as much opportunity for this as some of the other top names on the list.

The outfielder is down to just a .266 batting average after going 1-for-12 in his last three games and only has five home runs on the year. The stolen bases are nice, but there are many safer options available.

Teams to Stack

Atlanta Braves

Not only did Wade Miley allow three homers in his last start, but the day ended with him yelling at manager John Farrell in the dugout for pulling him after four innings. On the plus side, he did show remorse for the latter incident:

The problem is, it’s difficult to expect a better showing from a pitcher who has put together just a 5.07 ERA with at least five earned runs allowed in four different starts.

Atlanta has a deep lineup and should put up plenty of runs in the hitter-friendly Fenway Park.

Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles have struggled on the road but when at Camden Yards, they find a way to score. Manny Machado has been red-hot lately, while players like Adam Jones, Jimmy Paredes and Chris Davis are always capable of producing.

With the Philadelphia Phillies starter allowing at least four runs and eight hits in four of his last five starts, Baltimore’s offense should be solid once again.

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

Many of the pitchers competing Saturday have exceeded expectations throughout the season. The question when filling out your daily fantasy baseball team is which ones are going to keep up their great play.

Despite tough choices in many cases, here is a look at the top options at various prices throughout the day.

Chris Archer, Tampa Bay Rays ($11,800)

The price is extremely high, so you have to decide whether he is worth conceding production in other areas. However, Chris Archer has been incredible in his past three starts with just one earned run allowed in 23 innings. Most impressively, he has 38 strikeouts and no walks in that stretch.

Against the light-hitting Chicago White Sox, he should once again have a big day. The question will be whether he is worth over one-quarter of your budget.

Gerrit Cole, Pittsburgh Pirates ($10,700)

While Zack Greinke ($10,500) seems like a good bet thanks to his 1.92 ERA in a pitcher’s park, the San Diego Padres have actually had one of the better offenses in baseball this season. Conversely, Gerrit Cole gets to face the lineup that ranks dead last in the majors in runs scored in the Philadelphia Phillies.

Of course, Cole’s been a great option of late regardless of the opponent. Over the last four starts, the 24-year-old pitcher has allowed just two earned runs in 29.1 innings, totaling at least seven innings and seven strikeouts in each game.

There are few hotter pitchers in baseball, and you have to take advantage of this with your fantasy team.

Shelby Miller, Atlanta Braves ($8,500)

Jacob deGrom ($10,500) has been excellent recently, but a better and cheaper option will be the pitcher on the other side of the field Saturday. Shelby Miller had one bad showing two starts ago but got back on track and now has a ridiculous 1.84 ERA.

In 12 starts, Miller has only once allowed more than two earned runs, and lately, opponents are struggling to even get on base. With the New York Mets not producing at the plate, this is another good matchup for the Braves starter.

Kyle Hendricks, Chicago Cubs ($7,100)

After a good rookie season, Kyle Hendricks has been up and down in his sophomore year but still produced some pretty impressive showings, including a complete-game shutout a few weeks ago. The inconsistency should scare you, but the peak talent makes him an interesting option.

Considering the Cincinnati Reds’ road issues this season and Hendricks’ ability to get both righties and lefties out, the young starter has a chance for an impressive game.

Mike Montgomery, Seattle Mariners ($4,300)

This pick would certainly qualify as a risk, but Mike Montgomery has pitched well enough to be worth more than just $4,300 in his first two starts. In two starts, the rookie has a 2.08 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and just nine hits allowed in 13 innings.

The Houston Astros have a lot of talent but have also struck out more times than anyone else in the American League. Mike Montgomery could definitely outperform his price with a big day Saturday.

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

A long list of ace pitchers means there could be some huge scores in daily fantasy baseball Tuesday. Make sure you get the right players at each spot to help you get into the money in any contest. 

Pitchers to Draft

Corey Kluber, Cleveland Indians ($10,900)

There are a few elite pitchers to choose from Tuesday, but Corey Kluber is the one with the best matchup. While Max Scherzer and Masahiro Tanaka battle each other and Sonny Gray faces a tough Texas Rangers lineup, Kluber matches up against the light-hitting Seattle Mariners.

After averaging 36.6 fantasy points on DraftKings over the last five games, Kluber should be set for another huge game.

Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros ($9,100)

We keep waiting for Dallas Keuchel to come back to earth, but he keeps adding to his outstanding season. He ranks third in the American League with a 1.85 ERA, and he has 18 strikeouts with just one walk over the past two games.

There is no reason to expect this to stop against the Chicago White Sox, who rank second to last in the majors in OPS.

Eduardo Rodriguez, Boston Red Sox ($7,100)

Although Eduardo Rodriguez has only made two career starts, he looks like he can be a big addition to the Red Sox. So far, he has pitched 14.2 innings while allowing just one run and five hits. Eno Sarris of FanGraphs discussed his belief in the young starter:

The price will likely keep going up for the lefty, so you might as well get him while he is still reasonably cheap.

Pitcher to Avoid

Masahiro Tanaka, New York Yankees ($10,400)

Although Tanaka’s return from the disabled list was a good one (one run in seven innings with nine strikeouts), he only threw 78 pitches in the start. Considering he hasn’t topped 100 pitches in a game this year, he likely will be limited once again as he gets to full strength.

Against a tough lineup like the Washington Nationals, this might not be enough for a great performance.

Hitters to Draft

Anthony Rizzo, 1B, Chicago Cubs ($5,000)

Few players have been more consistent than Anthony Rizzo this season, and he has been even better recently, getting two hits just about every time out. Considering the inconsistency of Detroit Tigers starter Anibal Sanchez, Rizzo could be in for more big hits.

Kolten Wong, 2B, St. Louis Cardinals ($4,400)

The lefty-on-lefty matchup usually scares people, but Kolten Wong has been equally good this year against pitchers from both sides of the rubber. Meanwhile, Jorge De La Rosa has improved but still has just a 6.15 ERA for the season.

Most of the Cardinals have a chance of succeeding in the hitter-friendly Coors Field, but Wong has been consistent and still has the best value.

Delino DeShields, OF, Texas Rangers ($3,300)

Consistency hasn’t been his strong suit, but Delino DeShields has had some great games as a leadoff hitter for the deep Rangers lineup. With his ability to get steals and runs, the outfielder represents good value.

Hitter to Avoid

Matt Carpenter, 3B, St. Louis Cardinals ($5,000)

Even at Coors Field, Matt Carpenter has not been great against left-handed pitchers this season. Add this to a poor start in June, and this is not a good time to use the third baseman. 

Team to Stack

Arizona Diamondbacks

Los Angeles Dodgers starter Carlos Frias has struggled at home this year to the tune of a 6.17 ERA in five games (four starts). This represents a good opportunity for the Arizona Diamondbacks, who have one of the top scoring lineups in baseball.

Even though Paul Goldschmidt ($5,900) is quite pricey, you should want to get as many of these hitters in your lineup as possible.

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

Although it takes a while for top baseball prospects to become household names, every franchise is looking for a brighter future through the MLB draft.

Unlike the NBA or NFL draft, where players are expected to contribute right away, those taken in the baseball draft—whether they come from high school or college—often need seasoning in the minors. Still, there are plenty of players available with tons of upside on the mound, in the field or at the plate.

With 50 rounds, you can expect a lot of misses, but here is a look at the top prospects along with info to follow the full event.

All rounds available to watch online at MLB.com.

Top Players to Watch

Dansby Swanson, SS, Vanderbilt

The biggest surprise with Dansby Swanson at this point is that he isn’t already a professional hitter. The shortstop has dominated the college ranks this season, hitting .348 with 14 home runs during the regular season.

If Vanderbilt makes a run at the College World Series, you can be certain Swanson will have a lot to do with it. In the opening round of the NCAA tournament, he drove in the go-ahead run against Indiana and then made this defensive play:

Kendall Rogers of D1Baseball summed up his scouting report in this tweet:

Swanson is truly a jack-of-all-trades type of player who does a little bit of everything well. He has a good approach at the plate and is someone managers will simply want on their team.

Although there might be other prospects with more upside, Swanson is probably the safest pick in the class.

Brendan Rodgers, SS, Lake Mary High School

After a couple of decades in which shortstops were all of a sudden hitting for power, this skill is rarely seen from middle infielders anymore. Brendan Rodgers can be the exception with his great strength at the plate and the skill to drive the ball consistently.

With his strong arm, he also should be able to stick at shortstop, which is often a major question mark for players of his age.

Despite the talent, Rodgers is apparently quite at ease in every situation. One scout described the young player’s personality as a plus, according Nick Piecoro of AZCentral.com (via USA Today):

He’s one of the easiest guys I’ve ever scouted. Yeah, you have doubts he’ll hit or have power, like you do with any high school player, but when he goes out there and that’s all he does, it’s kind of like, “Don’t trick yourself.”

He’s a pretty cool customer when it comes to big situations. That stands out when you watch him play on the big stage. He takes everything in stride, doesn’t ever seem overwhelmed or overmatched.

Considering how many players are unable to handle the pressure that comes with being a top pick, Rodgers seems perfectly capable of succeeding at the next level. If he lives up to his ability, he can be a game-changer in the majors.

Dillon Tate, RHP, UC Santa Barbara

There is some debate over who is the best pitcher in the class, but Dillon Tate might have that honor locked up.

The UC Santa Barbara star went from being a dominant closer as a sophomore to an ace starter as a junior, finishing the year with a 2.26 ERA and 111 strikeouts in 103.1 innings.

Although he is still relatively raw, he already has two very good pitches with his fastball and slider. Even if he doesn’t develop anything else, Tate could succeed in the majors in the back of the bullpen.

Still, there is a good chance the pitcher continues to improve based on his mindset, as his Team USA coach Steve Rodriguez explained, per Piecoro:

He’s a young man who is constantly looking to get better. He was always talking about different grips, talking about different situations. “What do you throw here? What you throw there?” … That’s pretty impressive. For those type of athletic kids to have more questions than answers is pretty fun to coach.

Combining talent with a will to get better is a good bet to become a superstar in the future.

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

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Whether you plan to spend a lot of money on pitching or you want to look for the bargains, you can’t win in daily fantasy baseball unless you get a lot of value from your pitchers. This doesn’t mean you need to draft one of the top names such as Felix Hernandez or Clayton Kershaw, but you better get someone who can get points.

Here is a look at those who should provide the most value in both the early and late contests for June 6.

Early Contests

Madison Bumgarner, San Francisco Giants ($10,500)

The last two games have been relatively pedestrian, just barely getting a quality start in each. However, he is still one of the more talented pitchers in the game and can still come through with a huge fantasy performance at any time.

Against the Philadelphia Phillies, who have the worst scoring offense in the league and are led by mostly lefty hitters, Bumgarner is certainly worth the price.

Danny Salazar, Cleveland Indians ($8,800)

The last few outings have caused some concern for Danny Salazar, as he has only finished the sixth inning in one of his last four starts. Even with a few great performances in May, he could only manage a 4.04 ERA for the month.

Still, Salazar continues to get swings and misses, and he currently leads the majors with 11.69 strikeouts per nine innings. The Baltimore Orioles have struggled on the road this year and could be susceptible to a high-scoring fantasy game for the Indians star.

Jesse Chavez, Oakland Athletics ($6,600)

It might be easy to look past the journeyman pitcher who never truly got a chance to start until last season, but Jesse Chavez has been incredible this season. So far in 12 appearances (eight starts), he has a 2.11 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP.

After allowing just one unearned run over 16 innings in his last two starts, you might as well ride the hot streak while it lasts. 

Late Contests

David Price, Detroit Tigers ($10,200)

The Chicago White Sox love using their left-handed starters, but the offense hasn’t fared well against southpaws this year. The White Sox currently rank 29th in the league in batting average against lefties, just ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers.

With David Price being much better on the road this year (2.34 ERA compared to 4.22 at home), the left-handed starter could be in for a strong performance.

Jaime Garcia, St. Louis Cardinals ($7,700)

It will be difficult to earn a win in a matchup against Clayton Kershaw, but Jaime Garcia will come much cheaper and should give you plenty of points regardless.

The 28-year-old starter has only made three starts this season but has a 2.70 ERA and is coming off his best performance yet in which he allowed just three hits and one run in seven innings. He also hasn’t walked a batter in two games since giving five free passes in his first start.  

If he can slow down the big lefties such as Adrian Gonzalez and Joc Pederson, he could have another solid start.

Adam Warren, New York Yankees ($5,200)

With so many top pitchers available, going cheap might cause you to be left behind. However, if you want to save money for the hitters, you can get some decent value with Adam Warren.

The New York Yankees starter has produced four quality starts in a row while going seven full innings in two of them, giving him an average of 18.3 fantasy points per game on DraftKings in this stretch. Adding in his 2.05 home ERA in four starts, Warren should provide owners with a good outing against an inconsistent Los Angeles Angels lineup.

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

A deep list of top pitching options gives daily fantasy baseball competitors plenty of choices for Tuesday’s contests. If you don’t want to spend all of your budget on the true superstars on the mound, you can find worthwhile replacements on the next tier.

You can succeed with a variety of strategies in a full slate of action for June 2.

Pitchers to Draft

Chris Archer, Tampa Bay Rays ($8,900)

There are reasons to doubt the top pitching options available Tuesday, whether it is due to difficult matchups (Max Scherzer vs. Toronto Blue Jays), tough locations (Zack Greinke at Coors Field) or uncertainty following an injury (Johnny Cueto).

However, Chris Archer has provided some of the best individual performances of the year with one run or fewer allowed in seven of his 11 starts. He has at least eight strikeouts in four of his last five games, which should give fantasy players faith in another big day.

Shelby Miller, Atlanta Braves ($8,300)

A lack of strikeouts over the past couple of starts has limited Shelby Miller’s impact, and the Arizona Diamondbacks possess a dangerous lineup. That said, this is great value for a pitcher who is currently tied for the major league lead with a 1.48 ERA and is second with a 0.88 WHIP.

Miller hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in a single start and already has two complete-game shutouts. Don’t overthink it.

Chris Heston, San Francisco Giants ($5,300)

Despite his inconsistency this year, Chris Heston has been much more successful at AT&T Park, which, according to ESPN.com, ranks as the most pitcher-friendly stadium in the majors in 2015.

After pitching 7.1 scoreless innings in his most recent home start, Heston has shown he can provide a lot of fantasy value for a low cost.

Pitcher to Avoid

Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals ($12,000)

It’s hard to bet against one of the top pitchers in baseball, but for this price you better be certain a great game is coming. You simply cannot do that against the Blue Jays, which have the No. 1 scoring offense in the majors this season.

Scherzer still can come through with a strong effort, although it is not worth risking almost one-quarter of your budget.

Hitters to Draft

Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels ($4,800)

Although he’s usually an obvious name, Mike Trout has rare value with his price dropping from its usual level of well over $5,000. Even in a slump, he’s still one of the most feared hitters in baseball and is always a threat for a truly extraordinary performance.

While Archer remains a quality option on the mound, it’s hard to pass up this opportunity to get Trout for relatively cheap.

Josh Donaldson, 3B, Toronto Blue Jays ($4,300)

Even a matchup against Scherzer shouldn’t deter you from drafting the hottest hitter in baseball. Josh Donaldson has been unstoppable over the past week, hitting home runs against starters, closers, righties and lefties.

The value and upside are simply too great to ignore regardless of the opposing pitcher.

Addison Russell, 2B, Chicago Cubs ($3,900)

While he still lacks the consistency the Chicago Cubs are looking for, Addison Russell has shown flashes of greatness at the plate with a lot of extra-base power. A matchup against southpaw Brad Hand—who will make just his second start of the season for the Miami Marlins—could set the stage for more big-time hitting.

Hitter to Avoid

Todd Frazier, 3B, Cincinnati Reds ($5,100)

A red-hot hitter against a pitcher with a 1-4 record and 4.81 ERA seems like a slam dunk bet. However, Sean O’Sullivan’s struggles this year have stemmed from his inability to get lefties out (.372 batting average, 1.300 OPS) as opposed to righties (.225 batting average, .600 OPS).

The right-handed Todd Frazier isn’t necessarily going to take advantage of the seemingly weak matchup.

Team to Stack

Cleveland Indians

It’s hard to imagine Kansas City Royals starter Jeremy Guthrie being as bad as he was in his last start when he allowed 11 runs and got just three outs, but his 4.75 ERA going into that game proved he wasn’t pitching well anyway.

With Jason Kipnis and Michael Brantley leading a Cleveland Indians lineup heavy on lefties and switch-hitters, things could get even worse for the right-handed Guthrie.

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

Whether you want to play early or late contests on Saturday, there are plenty of top options available to help you succeed in daily fantasy baseball. Although it’s difficult to sort through all the players in 15 MLB games, here is a look at some of the best picks to help you on your way.

Pitchers to Draft

Yordano Ventura, Kansas City Royals ($7,500)

Watching Yordano Ventura has been frustrating this season as the talented young pitcher seems to be all over the place. Every time it seems like he’s ready to break out, he falls back into a rut and ends up allowing too many runs.

However, Ventura can help fantasy teams with his consistent ability to get swings and misses. In each of the last three starts he has gone at least seven innings while striking out at least six. With the Chicago Cubs striking out more than anyone else in baseball, the Royals starter can at least put up decent numbers with the potential for a truly great day.

Wade Miley, Boston Red Sox ($6,300)

After a couple of poor starts earlier in the season, Wade Miley has gotten back on track with three straight impressive performances. He has allowed just three runs in the past 21.2 innings and hasn’t given up a home run in this stretch.

Although the Texas Rangers have an intimidating lineup at times, Miley could provide some sleeper value if he keeps the ball in the park.

Kyle Gibson, Minnesota Twins ($5,700)

The morning contests might be better spent putting a lot of money on your hitters, which means you will have to save money on pitching. This makes Kyle Gibson a quality option thanks to his 1.32 ERA in May. In four out of five starts this month he has allowed just one run or fewer.

Against a right-hand heavy Toronto Blue Jays lineup and pitching at home, he could provide some more big numbers for a small cost.

Pitcher to Avoid

Tyson Ross, San Diego Padres ($9,400)

The Pittsburgh Pirates have been one of the hottest teams in baseball over the past week and are getting it done both offensively and defensively. This could be bad news for Tyson Ross, who got away with a quality start last time out despite giving up a season-high 10 hits.

With Ross surprisingly having worse stats at home (4.70 ERA compared to 3.28 on the road), you might be better off avoiding the high-priced pitcher for someone with better value.

Hitters to Draft

Jose Altuve, 2B, Houston Astros ($4,700)

A relatively unproductive May has seen Jose Altuve‘s cost drop a bit, but this means it’s a good time to get more value for the second baseman.

Chicago White Sox left-handed starter Jose Quintana has terrible splits against righties (.318 batting average versus .154 against lefties), and Altuve has consistently crushed left-handed pitchers over the past few years. This could all equal at least a few hits on Saturday.

Kyle Seager, 3B, Seattle Mariners ($4,100)

Nelson Cruz is finally getting some help in the Seattle Mariners offense in the form of Kyle Seager, who has shown plenty of power over the past week. A matchup against Shaun Marcum—who has allowed five home runs in three starts this season—could lead to a couple more home runs for the 27-year-old third baseman.

Billy Burns, OF, Oakland Athletics ($3,200)

With Coco Crisp on the disabled list, Billy Burns has taken over as centerfielder and leadoff hitter for the Athletics and doesn’t want to give it back. He has hit for average, hit for power and stolen bases, giving fantasy owners production in a variety of ways.

Although he is hard to trust with just six career at-bats coming into the season, you can keep picking him until he slows down.

Hitter to Avoid

Edwin Encarnacion, 1B, Toronto Blue Jays ($5,300)

While teammate Josh Donaldson can provide home runs as well as consistent hitting, Edwin Encarnacion is pretty much long ball or bust. This is not worth the high cost when you can get a safer pick, especially against a right-hander who has fared well this year like Kyle Gibson.

Team to Stack

Arizona Diamondbacks

Milwaukee Brewers starter Kyle Lohse has struggled for much of the season, allowing at least four earned runs in six of his 10 starts. This doesn’t bode well for his chances against one of the more underrated lineups in baseball in the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Paul Goldschmidt is always worth the high price while guys like A.J. Pollock, Ender Inciarte and Yasmany Tomas have high averages and good chances to get hits, runs and RBI.

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

Memorial Day weekend is over, which means we are back to night games all around and more condensed contests for daily fantasy baseball. This means the choices for your lineup are plentiful and you have to make sure to grab the right players at each spot.

Here is a look at the best and worst options for Tuesday’s contests.

Pitchers to Draft

Madison Bumgarner, San Francisco Giants ($9,600)

Even though he is set to pitch in the hitter-friendly Miller Park, this is still great value for Madison Bumgarner considering the World Series MVP has cost at least $10,000 in each of his past five starts.

The Milwaukee Brewers have the worst batting average in the National League and will have a hard time getting too many hits against an elite pitcher like Bumgarner.

Jordan Zimmermann, Washington Nationals ($8,600)

The Chicago Cubs have a lot of quality young hitters, but they strike out more as a team than anyone else in baseball. This could lead to a big day for Jordan Zimmermann, who has a 2.08 ERA in four May starts after a shaky April.

Adding in his ability to keep the ball in the park (just two home runs allowed all season), Zimmermann should be able to handle the Cubs hitters.

Wandy Rodriguez, Texas Rangers ($6,100)

If he had his way, Wandy Rodriguez might never pitch another home game. He has pitched twice this year at Globe Life Park in Arlington and has two losses after allowing nine runs in nine innings. Things have gone much better on the road, however, accumulating a 2-0 record with a 1.40 ERA in four starts.

Although he struggled against the Cleveland Indians earlier this month, he has a chance for a much better day versus the lefty-heavy lineup.

Pitcher to Avoid

Jacob deGrom, New York Mets ($10,000)

There will be plenty of people looking to grab Jacob deGrom after the reigning Rookie of the Year put together his best start of the season last time out, finishing eight shutout innings with 11 strikeouts and just one hit allowed.

The problem is his struggles against lefties this year. So far this season left-handed hitters are batting .296 against him with a .759 OPS, which is a big jump from his .173 and .459 against right-handed hitters.

Ben Revere, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and others could cause problems for deGrom from the left side of the plate Tuesday.

Hitters to Draft

Nolan Arenado, 3B, Colorado Rockies ($5,000)

Over the last two games, Nolan Arenado has been on fire with seven hits, two home runs, seven RBI and a triple. There is no reason this should change against Cincinnati Reds starter Michael Lorenzen, who has been in and out of the rotation all year.

Joey Votto, 1B, Cincinnati Reds ($4,400)

The price is down because Joey Votto hasn’t displayed much power lately and is facing a left-handed pitcher. However, he has actually fared better against southpaws this season (.319 batting average versus .275) and has a double in three straight games.

He should have plenty of success against Rockies starter Jorge De La Rosa and his 6.51 ERA.

Daniel Murphy, 2B, New York Mets ($3,900)

After an awful start to the season, Daniel Murphy is finally turning things around. His .198 batting average in April was replaced by a .329 batting average in May, including a 9-for-17 mark over his past four games.

If he can add some power to his base hits, he could be a valuable addition to your team.

Hitter to Avoid

Troy Tulowitzki, SS, Colorado Rockies ($5,300)

This is a good game for a lot of hitters, but the cost is simply too great for Troy Tulowitzki at this time. The shortstop has gone through a bit of a slump while dealing with a quad injury and hasn’t hit a home run since April.

There are better ways to spend your money in contests.

Team to Stack

Toronto Blue Jays

With some of the best power hitters in baseball, you always have a chance to get a lot of fantasy points with this team. The chances are even greater against the Chicago White Sox’s inconsistent and wild John Danks.

Considering how well players like Josh Donaldson and Russell Martin have crushed left-handed pitchers this year, we could see a lot of long balls 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