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.
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