Kuzul

UPDATE: Yasmani Grandal and Andre Ethier will not be playing in the early LA vs COL game.  I will replace them in my lineup with Mike McKenry ($2800) and Alex Guerrero ($3300).  We can’t let the thin air go to waste!

After our 51.75-point explosion on June 1, we will continue to ride the Mets’ pitching and the Dodgers’ hitting.  Keep in mind that we will be relying heavily on the game at Coors Field (LA vs COL), which is slated for 3:10 p.m. EDT.  The second game between these two teams (8:40 p.m. EDT) will not count for FanDuel points.

As always, confirm that your chosen players are in their respective team’s lineup, and stay away from games that may be rained out. An excellent website for lineups and weather is Rotowire.com.

P Noah Syndergaard, $8300

Thor has averaged 13.77 FanDuel points in his last three starts.  Syndergaard will also be pitching to the Padres, who are now second in the majors with 433 strikeouts.  Petco Park also helps.

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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. 

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Looking for a little extra spending cash for the coming weekend? Friday’s slate of games presents that opportunity for DraftKings daily fantasy owners with a wealth of big bats and consistent players to choose from.

Before the Friday games get underway, here’s a look at the best MLB position player picks for May 29.

First Baseman: Lucas Duda, New York Mets ($4,600)

Lucas Duda is absolutely crushing fools over his last six starts. But the Mets first baseman has mashed at home in four games during that stretch. In those four games, Duda has seven hits, five homers, eight RBI and nine runs.

“I’m getting a little more comfortable. Just trying to elevate a pitch and put a good swing on it,” Duda said, via Michael Baron of MLB.com. “I was looking for a fastball up and I was able to get it and put a pretty good swing on it.”

He’s seems pretty comfortable with some of the tape-measure shots he’s hit lately.

Don’t expect him to slow down against Dan Haren. While Haren has cruised at home in hitter-friendly Marlins Park, he’s struggled on the road with six homers allowed in four starts. He also has a 5.18 ERA on the road and will face a volatile New York lineup on Friday.

Second Baseman: Brian Dozier, Minnesota Twins ($4,600)

The Minnesota Twins have been a truly surprising team this season, and Brian Dozier has been a huge part of that success. Dozier isn’t hitting a high average, but he still has a .364 OBP at home with an average of 9.2 fantasy points at Target Field.

His sample against Mark Buehrle is limited, but he has two hits with a double in three at-bats. As the leadoff man for the Twins, Dozier is getting several opportunities to thrive and will continue to do so for fantasy owners on Friday.

Third Baseman: Matt Carpenter, St. Louis Cardinals ($4,500)

I know what you’re thinking: “With Mike Bolsinger on the mound, why play a Cardinals batter?” Sure, Bolsinger has gotten off to a solid start, but he hasn’t faced a lineup like the one St. Louis presents. He’s also only faced one team on the road to this point.

Matt Carpenter has picked apart pitchers in myriad ways this year. Whether it’s through his power—26 extra-base hits and eight homers—or his methodical approach—21 walks and .389 OPS—Carpenter is a player every owner needs in his or her lineup. Even against Bolsinger, this lineup will get the job done.

Shortstop: Jhonny Peralta, St. Louis Cardinals ($4,100)

Keeping with the theme of Cardinals sluggers who should finally crack Mike Bolsinger, Jhonny Peralta is another position player to target. The veteran shortstop is enjoying a solid season and has shown plenty of pop in his bat recently.

During his six-game hitting streak, Peralta has one home run, four RBI, a walk and four runs. That all equates to an average of 9.3 fantasy points per game over that stretch. His strikeouts are lower and walks higher at home, making Peralta a consistent middle infielder to lock into a lineup.

Outfielder: Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals ($5,200)

“I don’t always hit pop-ups. But when I do, they’re home runs.” These are the (fake) words of the most interesting batter in the world, Bryce Harper.

Yes, I’m aware he’s the second-highest salary player for Friday. Yes, I’m aware he’s playing on the road. But even at a high price, Harper is a can’t-miss player with the surge he’s been on in recent weeks.

There are several unreal stats for Harper recently, but here are some of the best from Aaron Gleeman of NBC Sports and Mark Zuckerman of CSN:

Simply put, Harper has been an animal over his last 19 games. With 13 homers over that stretch, no one is even close to the same realm as Harper in May. Going up against right-handed Anthony DeSclafani, Harper should continue his stretch of phenomenal play for owners as a No. 1 outfielder.

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All the stars align perfectly for MLB aces to dominate Tuesday’s top-heavy daily fantasy slate.

Three premier lefties face teams that struggle mightily against southpaws. They’re not the only hurlers benefiting from a fortuitous matchup. Two strikeout artists with stellar peripherals face opponents who aren’t as tough as they appear. A trustworthy arm gets a strikeout-prone offense, and a youngster who flourishes at home pitches in front of his fans.

This is the wrong day to get cute at starting pitcher. There are no clearance bargains, but nearly every top name is a strong DraftKings play. 

1. Madison Bumgarner, San Francisco Giants ($9,600) at MIL

Compared to Clayton Kershaw and David Price, Madison Bumgarner represents the frugal pick at $9,600. All three are studs with a great matchup, so gamers might as well ascertain the most value with the cheapest choice.

Against left-handed pitchers, the Milwaukee Brewers have registered a .253 on-base percentage and 25.1 strikeout percentage, both MLB lows. Their 5.6 walk rate ranks second worst behind the Kansas City Royals.

Bumgarner has shown no signs of fatigue after last year’s busy October, generating a 2.84 ERA, 52 strikeouts and 10 walks through 57 innings. His opponent, Milwaukee’s Matt Garza, has not fared as well with a 5.71 ERA, and the San Francisco Giants quietly boast a top-five weighted runs created plus (wRC+) against righties. 

2. Clay Buchholz, Boston Red Sox ($7,700) at MIN

Sure, Clay Buchholz carries a 4.58 ERA, and the Minnesota Twins have scored 42 runs over their last eight games. Both seem like solid reasons to shy away from the Boston Red Sox’s righty.

Hopefully, the competition agrees. Behind Buchholz‘s misleading ERA lies 9.85 strikeouts and 2.55 walks per nine innings, giving him a 3.15 fielding independent pitching (FIP). His poor luck is starting to fade; he holds a 2.49 ERA and 0.92 WHIP during his last three starts.

The Twins are hot, but they remain one of baseball’s least productive offenses against right-handed pitchers. Against lefties, they lead MLB in runs scored. 

Sure, they just shelled righty Joe Kelly for seven runs on Monday, but nobody said anything about playing Joe Kelly. Since a disastrous start at Yankee Stadium on April 12, Buchholz has performed like a legitimate ace, and it will begin to show on the surface.

3. David Price, Detroit Tigers ($10,600) at OAK

Lefty David Price mitigates Stephen Vogt and Josh Reddick, the Oakland Athletics’ two most dangerous bats who inflict all of their damage against righties. As a result, Oakland has registered a dreadful .283 slugging percentage against southpaws, and gamers don’t have to worry about the patient offense reaching base against an ace with a 1.47 BB/9 rate since 2013.

The 29-year-old created some early concern with lacking strikeout totals, but he has quelled everyone’s fears by amassing 21 punchouts through his past two outings. Price would top the list if Oakland whiffed more, but he’s still intriguing inside a spacious park against a club struggling to generate power.

4. Jacob deGrom, New York Mets ($10,000) vs. PHI

Since joining the New York Mets last May, Jacob deGrom has decimated the opposition at Citi Field:

The 2014 National League Rookie of the Year gets a home start against the Philadelphia Phillies, who rank last in wRC+ against righties. Following last week’s one-hit, 11-strikeout gem against the St. Louis Cardinals, he certainly doesn’t come cheap at $10,000, but the price hike is justified given the circumstances.

5. Jordan Zimmermann, Washington Nationals ($8,600) at CHC

Harnessing more pop than any other targeted offense, the Chicago Cubs aren’t the easiest offense for Jordan Zimmermann to combat, but they strike out in droves. Offsetting Zimmermann‘s one weakness keeps him relevant with far more exciting options.

Since surrendering seven earned runs during his second start of the season, the 29-year-old has posted a 2.58 ERA. He has also lasted at least six innings in all seven outings, and he’s affordable enough to pair with a high-profile ace in cash contests.

6. Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers ($12,200) vs. ATL

This is nothing against Clayton Kershaw. He’s still wielding an 11.26 K/9 and 2.91 FIP despite a disappointing 4.32 ERA. There’s no reason to panic. Unfortunately, DraftKings agrees, keeping his price tag at a sizable $12,200.

The Atlanta Braves have proved peskier than expected, but that performance doesn’t extend to left-handers. They lose any semblance of discipline against southpaws, striking out more and walking less:

But as silly as this sounds, considering Kershaw costs significantly more than other top aces, is a 2.91 FIP good enough? Elite for a mere mortal’s standards, it still represents his worst rate since 2010. Given the bounty of options available for consumption, paying top dollar for him isn’t necessary on Tuesday.

Tournament Plays

Danny Salazar, Cleveland Indians ($9,100) vs. TEX

With so many top arms sharing the dais, Danny Salazar isn’t worth the headache in cash contests. Despite his mouth-watering 12.37 K/9 and 1.85 BB/9, he implodes far too often, allowing five earned runs during his last tango with the Texas Rangers.

His massive upside, however, makes him a high-reward tournament play in a rematch against Texas, whose hot bats may cause others to shy away from the Cy Young talent.

Matt Shoemaker, Los Angeles Angels ($7,300) vs. SD

Despite his 8.53 K/9 and 1.83 BB/9 rates, Matt Shoemaker is saddled with baseball’s second-highest FIP (5.81) among qualified starters behind Kyle Kendrick. His struggles are baffling, as he’s great one day but abysmal the next.

For those willing to stomach the risk, Shoemaker has the arsenal to break open Tuesday tournaments. Buchholz, however, is a much safer bet around the same price range.

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Advanced statistics, updated as of Monday, courtesy of FanGraphs.

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

A full day of action with some big names on the board can lead to tough choices for your daily fantasy baseball team. Whether you plan on entering contests during the day, night or both, here is a look at some of the best and worst options for Saturday.

Pitchers to Draft

Corey Kluber, Cleveland Indians ($11,300)

Of all the top names available (Kluber, Matt Harvey, Cole Hamels, Chris Sale), Hamels is likely the only one who isn’t a great option due to a tough matchup with the red-hot Washington Nationals. If you have to pick one of these aces, though, Kluber is likely the best option thanks to his recent strikeout run.

Over the last two starts, Kluber has an insane 30 strikeouts and one walk, which equals a lot of fantasy points. He is also trusted to a higher pitch count than Harvey, which could mean more innings pitched.

Shelby Miller, Atlanta Braves ($9,300)

He is one of the hottest pitchers in baseball right now and not showing any signs of slowing. Over the past three starts, Shelby Miller has allowed just one total run and eight hits in 25 innings.

With the Milwaukee Brewers striking out at a high rate all year, Miller’s success should continue Saturday.

Mike Wright, Baltimore Orioles ($6,100)

It’s obvious Mike Wright won’t end his career with a 0.00 ERA and it’s possible his 7.1 shutout innings in his major league debut will be as good as it gets. Still, the Orioles coaching staff was impressed with what they saw last week from the rookie.

“I think he just handled himself so well,” pitching coach Dave Wallace explained, via Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun. “His anxiety level wasn’t what one would think for first start in the big leagues. He was pretty much under control emotionally and knew the pitches he had to make.”

Combining Wright’s confidence and control (six strikeouts and no walks last start) with an opponent in the Miami Marlins that has been awful lately, the 25-year-old pitcher has a chance to replicate his success.

Pitcher to Avoid

Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals ($9,500)

At some point, Stephen Strasburg will come out of his funk and pitch an absolute gem. This might even come Saturday against the Philadelphia Phillies.

However, there is no reason to waste this much money on such a big risk, especially considering his 5.98 ERA and the fact he has made it through six innings just twice in eight starts in 2015. Waiting for better days seems like a smarter decision.

Hitters to Draft

Nelson Cruz, OF, Seattle Mariners ($5,400)

While Nelson Cruz has been great against just about everyone this season, he has been truly outstanding against lefties, hitting over .500 with six home runs. This is not good news for Mark Buehrle, a southpaw with a 5.46 ERA this year and has struggled against everyone. 

Even though Cruz has struggled in the past against Buehrle, he should be able to take advantage of a favorable matchup in a hitter’s park.

Justin Upton, OF, San Diego Padres ($4,500)

It took a while but Justin Upton is now getting comfortable with his surroundings, matching his power and speed with a great approach at the plate as well. He is consistent enough to provide your team with at least a few points while always being capable of a huge game.

This reasonable price against an inexperienced pitcher makes it a good play.

Chase Utley, 2B, Philadelphia Phillies ($3,400)

For most of the season, Chase Utley has seemed like the worst hitter in baseball. If he hadn’t proved himself in the past, the second baseman would be sitting on a couch watching on TV by now.

However, Utley has started to turn things around with a few multi-hit games over the past week. This could end up being a good sleeper who allows you to spend big on other positions.

Hitter to Avoid

Jose Abreu, 1B, Chicago White Sox ($5,100)

A year ago, Jose Abreu was one of the most feared hitters in the game. The Cuban simply hasn’t replicated this success in 2015 with very few extra-base hits in the first two months of the year.

Although he has gotten consistent at the plate with his singles, he is not worth the lofty price until he starts showing more power.

Team to Stack

San Francisco Giants

Not counting his May 3 start against the Los Angeles Angels were he left with a hand injury in the second inning, Colorado Rockies starter Jordan Lyles has allowed at least four earned runs in three straight starts. All told the Rockies have lost six of the last seven games the right-hander has started.

This presents a good chance for the Giants to continue their recent hot streak. Although this lineup doesn’t consist of many power hitters, playing at Coors Field should provide an opportunity for a few long balls Saturday.

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

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The more successful daily fantasy baseball teams are not always the ones filled with obvious names. When looking to fill out a lineup for Tuesday’s contests, you shouldn’t be afraid to find some cheaper talent to allow you to spend big in other places.

Pitchers to Draft

Sonny Gray, Oakland Athletics ($10,100)

The Houston Astros have a lot of exciting young players, but they also swing and miss a lot. This is good for Sonny Gray, who has been pitching like a legitimate Cy Young candidate this season.

Although Minute Maid Park is a tougher location for pitchers than he is used to in Oakland, Gray should be just fine with his 1.61 ERA and 0.93 WHIP. Add in the fact he has at least nine strikeouts in each of his last three games, and he is worth the price.

Miguel Gonzalez, Baltimore Orioles ($6,200)

While Miguel Gonzalez has put up a few duds this year, he has been great at home, totaling a 2-0 record with a 2.18 ERA in three starts. This technically doesn’t include his 7.2 shutout innings as the “home” team playing a game in Tampa Bay in early May.

Against a Seattle Mariners team that has struggled to get on base all year, Gonzalez could be a nice sleeper pick.

Pitchers to Avoid

Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals ($9,000)

All of the nice things said about Miguel Gonzalez can be repeated about Gio Gonzalez. He has been inconsistent but had a few good games at home. If you’re lucky, you can catch him during a great performance where you can carry your team into the money.

Unfortunately, the Nationals starter has allowed four earned runs or more in three of his seven starts, including his last time out. For a hefty portion of your budget, you might be better off going with a safer option, especially in a 50-50 type of contest.

Yordano Ventura, Kansas City Royals ($6,600)

A turnaround is eventually coming for Yordano Ventura. He is a talented young pitcher with nasty stuff and will at some point improve upon his 5.36 ERA. At the current price, fantasy owners are going to get a great value.

As enticing as it is, though, it’s impossible to recommend picking a player who hasn’t had a quality start in any of his last three appearances. Wait for better days with Ventura.

Hitters to Draft

Ryan Howard, 1B, Philadelphia Phillies ($4,400)

Despite the recent hot streak, the Philadelphia Phillies don’t have enough lineup depth to recommend stacking your team with their players. Although, this would be a great opportunity playing at a hitter’s park like Coors Field against an uninspiring starter like Chad Bettis.

Still, players like Freddy Galvis ($4,200) and Ryan Howard could be quality plays, especially considering the first baseman’s recent quality run of hitting with a few extra-base hits mixed in.

Delino DeShields, 2B/OF, Texas Rangers ($3,900)

Sometimes, you just have to run with a hot streak and hope it keeps going. Delino DeShields wasn’t expected to do much as a Rule 5 pickup this offseason, but he has been incredible over the past few weeks. As Jared Sandler of 105.3 The Fan noted, a patient approach has turned things around:

This has led to an incredible May with DeShields batting .333 with a .458 on-base percentage to go with eight stolen bases. This will help your fantasy team as long as he keeps it up.

Hitters to Avoid

Michael Brantley, OF, Cleveland Indians ($5,300)

Despite the fact the left-handed hitter has been crushing fellow lefties this year, it’s only a matter of time until Michael Brantley falls back to his career totals of solid, but not great, production against southpaws. After facing Chris Sale Monday, things don’t get any easier against Chicago White Sox starter Jose Quintana and his .094 opponent batting average against lefties.

Troy Tulowitzki, SS, Colorado Rockies ($4,700)

While he is always more productive at home, Troy Tulowitzki‘s recent quad injury has seemingly kept him from being the elite shortstop he has been in past years. Even if he does play, it doesn’t make sense to spend this much money for a struggling hitter against a surprisingly effective Aaron Harang.

Team to Stack

Oakland Athletics

When you take a team full of quality hitters and put it in a much smaller ballpark, it can lead to some big performances throughout the lineup. Houston Astros starter Roberto Hernandez shouldn’t prevent a strong showing from top names like Stephen Vogt, Josh Reddick, Marcus Semien and others.

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!

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Following Monday’s top-heavy slate, Tuesday contains several strong mid-level starters to consider for daily MLB lineups.

Gamers can choose from pitchers of all varieties. There are borderline aces (Sonny Gray, Johnny Cueto, James Shields), high-strikeout gambles (Gio Gonzalez, Francisco Liriano, Trevor Bauer) and steady mid-card hurlers (Michael Wacha, Anibal Sanchez, Jason Hammel). Picking two starting pitchers on DraftKings feels like a punishment some days. This is not one of them.

Instead, Tuesday’s pitching catalog offers a buffet of choices. Even if there’s no prime-cut steak on display, there are several appetizing alternatives. (Note: Don’t eat the pitchers, or any person for that matter.)

1. Sonny Gray, Oakland Athletics @ HOU ($10,100)

Pony up for a scorching-hot Sonny Gray, Tuesday’s priciest pitcher. Alongside a pretty 1.61 ERA, the righty has recorded 41 strikeouts through his last five starts, going at least six innings in every outing this year.

Gray has created his own good fortune, generating MLB’s second-best hard-hit average (17.1 percent) behind Garrett Richards. He has kept the ball in the park all year, allowing one homer. While the Houston Astros will test that trend, they also strike out in bunches.

Although stuck in last place, the Oakland Athletics get a vulnerable righty in Roberto Hernandez, giving Gray a high victory probability to support a gaudy punchout tally.

2. Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals vs. NYY ($9,000):

Show some forgiveness and overlook Gio Gonzalez’ 4.25 ERA and 1.54 WHIP. Only teammate Stephen Strasburg wields a higher batting average on balls in play (BABIP) than the lefty’s .387 mark, far below his career .291 clip. With a 58.2 ground-ball percentage and 18.4 hard-hit average, the baseball gods are playing a cruel joke that will soon subside.

Throw in a 2.75 FIP and 8.92 K/9 for good measure, and this is the same old Gonzalez, holder of a 2.80 home ERA since joining the Washington Nationals in 2012.

Not only must the New York Yankees’ lefty-loaded lineup face a hard-throwing southpaw, they must do so without targeting Yankee Stadium’s short porch in right field. Playing by National League rules, they also must bench one of their aging sluggers, probably Mark Teixeira, with Alex Rodriguez manning first base.

3. Jason Hammel, Chicago Cubs @ SD ($8,700)

Granted, a matchup at Petco Park isn’t what it used to be. Offseason acquisitions transformed the San Diego Padres’ offense from dreadful to average. Justin Upton and Matt Kemp make them better, but the club still sports a .703 OPS and 21.0 strikeout percentage against right-handed pitchers. 

For $1,000 cheaper than opponent James Shields—who is recording tons of strikeouts but getting hit hard during an odd year—Jason Hammel is the better value play. Along with a 3.11 ERA and 0.99 WHIP, the righty sports a 3.37 FIP and 41:6 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

He allowed four runs in their earlier meeting at Wrigley Field, with a Wil Myers three-run homer doing most of the damage. Even if he returns from a wrist injury on Tuesday, the outfielder is no guarantee to be back to 100 percent.

4. Jose Quintana, Chicago White Sox vs. CLE ($8,200)

Since getting shelled for nine runs by the ferocious Detroit Tigers, Jose Quintana has allowed six runs through his past four starts, racking up 28 strikeouts through 26 innings. His 4.35 ERA still suffers the aftermath of that horrid outing, but his 3.15 FIP and 8.56 K/9 ratio have recovered.

The Cleveland Indians are not the Tigers. Before his start to forget, Quintana twirled six scoreless frames against Cleveland. In an small sample size, lefties are 3-for-32 against him, which bodes well for the southpaw mitigating Jason Kipnis, Michael Brantley and Brandon Moss.

5. Michael Wacha, St. Louis Cardinals @ NYM ($8,300)

If his 2.06 ERA wasn’t sullied by a 5.36 K/9 rate and 3.68 FIP, Michael Wacha would warrant a higher spot against the New York Mets. Finally feeling the absences of David Wright and Travis d’Arnaud, they possess baseball’s third-worst OPS against righties. 

There’s hope for the 23-year-old, as he netted a season-high seven strikeouts against Cleveland on Thursday. The St. Louis Cardinals have led him to five victories, but an offense with diminished power against lefties will face Jon Niese—another starter with a misleadingly low ERA.

Gray and Gonzalez are better pitchers, and Hammel and Quintana don’t have the eye-popping numbers to net high usage rates. Despite terrific early success and a great matchup for Wacha, regression looms around the corner. 

6. Trevor Bauer, Cleveland Indians @ CHW ($6,800)

A cheap, high-upside tournament play, Trevor Bauer has compiled 44 strikeouts through 41.2 innings. He has also issued 19 walks and gotten torched twice before striking out 10 Cardinals last week.

Most of the lower-tiered starters are washed-up veterans or unappealing youngsters. Bauer is wild and inconsistent, but he can win contests on a good day. Anyone looking to save money with their second starter should consider taking a flier on him.

Note: Advanced stats courtesy of FanGraphs.

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A new week, another batch of waiver-wire additions just the way you like ’em: hot and fresh out of the oven.

Some players mentioned last week—including Noah Syndergaard, Avisail Garcia, Marlon Byrd, Torii Hunter, Jimmy Nelson and Shin-Soo Choo—are already owned in many leagues, but they remain quality pickups if they’re available.

In the interest of keeping the names new, though, let’s avoid any repeats. Here are the top 10 waiver-wire pickups for Week 7.

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