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With a full schedule and many top names in action Saturday, picking a daily fantasy baseball team could end up being quite a challenge. No matter who you select, there will likely need to be a lot of compromising in value across the board.

Here is a look at the best and worst players to pick for May 16.

Pitchers to Draft

Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners ($11,600)

This seems like an obvious pick, but there are a number of high-priced talents on the board Saturday, and you want to make sure to get the right one. Felix Hernandez simply has one of the best rates of return thanks to his consistency and ability to load up the fantasy points every game.

Hernandez has gone at least seven innings in five of his seven starts, earning a win in six of them. Add in 50 strikeouts in 48.2 innings, and he is a safe bet every time out.

Mike Leake, Cincinnati Reds ($7,400)

If you are going after a big name with one pitching spot, you more than likely will have to find a cheaper option with your second pitcher. This is where Mike Leake comes in after an impressive stretch.

While he isn’t going to rack up a ton of strikeouts, he makes up for it by keeping opponents off the scoreboard. He has allowed just one earned run in the past 22 innings and should continue this streak against a San Francisco Giants squad that has struggled on the road this season.

Pitchers to Avoid

David Price, Detroit Tigers ($10,000)

No one will call David Price a bad pitcher, but this might be a week to avoid him in fantasy when there are other top options. He is coming off a slight hamstring injury that caused some troubling numbers in his last start, via C.J. Nitkowski of Fox Sports 1:

Pitching on the road against the red-hot St. Louis Cardinals means there is too much risk for a high cost.

Andrew Cashner, San Diego Padres ($8,400)

We can look past the 1-6 record because Andrew Cashner has actually pitched well this season. With a 3.07 ERA and a home start, this seems like a decent value pick for Saturday. The problem comes from a tough matchup against the Washington Nationals, who are finally starting to hit their stride.

With Max Scherzer starting for the Nationals, chances for a win will be low, and a great performance is not likely.

Hitters to Draft

Todd Frazier, 1B, Cincinnati Reds ($5,000)

Not only has Todd Frazier been one of the top power hitters in baseball this season, he has had a good approach at the plate to get on base and score runs as well. Every so often, he’ll even sneak in a stolen base.

With a reasonable price for his production, fantasy owners should jump at the chance to get the talented player.

Mike Moustakas, 3B, Kansas City Royals ($3,400)

You would normally try to avoid lefty-lefty matchups like Mike Moustakas faces with CC Sabathia of the New York Yankees. However, southpaws haven’t bothered the third baseman this season, as he is hitting well over .300 against both righties and lefties.

With Sabathia struggling his way to a 5.20 ERA, don’t be afraid of this matchup.

Hitters to Avoid

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

While he has been one of the most consistent hitters in baseball this season, he will have a tough matchup against Gerrit Cole, who is proving to be among the top young pitchers in the league. Not only is he 5-1 with a 2.32 ERA, but the right-hander has been tough on opposing lefties this year and hasn’t allowed a single extra-base hit in 66 at-bats.

Don’t expect much more success from the Cubs star.

Hanley Ramirez, OF, Boston Red Sox ($3,700)

The past few games have seen Hanley Ramirez bounce back from his cold streak to once again become a feared hitter in the middle of the Red Sox lineup. That said, picking someone against Felix Hernandez always remains a bad decision.

Team to Stack

Toronto Blue Jays

Between Jose Bautista, Josh Donaldson, Edwin Encarnacion and others, the Blue Jays hit a lot of home runs. They will play the weekend in Minute Maid Park, which is among the league leaders in allowing home runs. Saturday’s starter for the Houston Astros is Scott Feldman, who has allowed six home runs this year, all of which came at home. 

Nothing is guaranteed in baseball, but we seem primed for a lot of long balls in this game.

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

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Looking to build the bank for a great weekend? DraftKings daily fantasy baseball provides a great opportunity to do just that. With a massive schedule, we’ve taken the liberty of picking out the best MLB position players for owners.

In anticipation of the Friday slate, here’s a look at the top players to target at several positions across the MLB.

First Baseman: Jose Abreu, Chicago White Sox ($4,700)

He’s not off to quite the same torrid start that he had as a rookie, but Jose Abreu is still putting together another strong fantasy season. In fact, over his last three games, Abreu has averaged 9.7 fantasy points—all without hitting one of his six home runs.

Abreu is also facing off with Jesse Hahn, making this a perfect matchup for the White Sox slugger. Hahn has been shelled over his last three starts with a 7.63 ERA, so Abreu should have no issue producing for Chicago.

Second Baseman: Ian Kinsler, Detroit Tigers ($4,200)

Another position player, another matchup that works to his liking. Ian Kinsler has been as consistent as any second baseman this season. While he hasn’t quite seen the power surge fantasy owners hoped for, Kinsler is still one of the most clutch players in the game, per Tigers PR:

Now he gets a chance to tee off against an unproven pitcher in Carlos Martinez. The young hurler has allowed six homers in six starts this season and has allowed seven runs over his last two outings. Don’t leave Kinsler out of your lineup. It’s really as simple as that.

Third Baseman: Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays ($4,300)

Evan Longoria has cooled off slightly since ripping off three homers in three games, but he’s remained one of the most consistent bats for fantasy owners. After getting off to a slow start, Longo is now up to 9.3 fantasy points per game over his last 10 performances.

Going up against former Yankees pitcher Phil Hughes, Longoria is comfortable at the plate against the Twins’ ace. With a .367 on-base percentage in 27 at-bats against Hughes, owners can rely on Longoria to continue his solid numbers against Minnesota.

Shortstop: Andrelton Simmons, Atlanta Braves ($4,100)

Simba can hit, too. Commonly known as an outstanding defensive shortstop, Andrelton Simmons is producing at the plate as well. That growth is evident by Simmons’ .767 OPS and 7.7 fantasy points per game early in the year.

His numbers have also picked up this month, via the Braves’ official Twitter account:

Batting in a spacious park in Miami, Simmons will have more chances to get on base and show off his speed. Still available at a reasonable price, nab Simmons against the Marlins and expect him to shine.

Outfielder: Joc Pederson, Los Angeles Dodgers ($4,500)

There’s just something about the Los Angeles Dodgers and young stars. Yasiel Puig broke out for the Blue Crew two years ago, and now Joc Pederson is mirroring his success. It might not show up with a steady bat, but Pederson makes up for it with the long ball.

His four homers over the last nine games proves the power that fans expected is present at the MLB level. With 10 four-baggers already and 21 RBI, Pederson should tatter Eddie Butler on Friday night. Mike Trout and Bryce Harper are at a much higher price point, making Pederson a great bang for the buck.

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If you had to take one pitcher for your DraftKings lineup on Friday, it would have to be the New York Yankees’ Michael Pineda. He comes into his start against the Kansas City Royals with a 5-0 record, 2.72 ERA and 1.51 WHIP this season.

Pineda has also struck out 54 batters in just 46.1 innings pitched. He’s allowed more than three runs in just one start, and he’s coming off a 16-strikeout effort against the Baltimore Orioles in his last start.

The Royals are the top offensive team in the majors, but Pineda has developed into the type of pitcher you can trust against any lineup. While his DK salary isn’t exactly a bargain at $8,800, it is still significantly lower than the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw‘s $11,900 salary.

With Kershaw struggling to live up to his high expectations all season, Pineda seems like the smarter selection. Kershaw is averaging 19.1 fantasy points per game compared to 25.1 for Pineda.

Let’s take a look at two mid-range choices and two bargain picks among hurlers on the mound on Friday. 

Mid-Range Options

Bartolo Colon ($7,700) vs. Milwaukee Brewers

The 41-year-old Bartolo Colon has been solid everywhere this season, but he’s been really good at home. He’s 3-0 at Citi Field with a 2.18 ERA and 19 K’s in 20.2 innings pitched. The ageless wonder has gone at least six innings in every one of his starts. It’s hard to believe we’d be counting on a player this old, but Colon has been a model of consistency all year.

If you don’t want to spend to get Pineda, Colon should be the choice to anchor the pitching in your DK lineup.

Jered Weaver ($6,900) at Baltimore Orioles

The Los Angeles Angels’ Jered Weaver has had a tough year overall, but he showed some definite signs of breaking out in his last start. Weaver tossed a complete-game six-hitter against the Houston Astros, as the Angels won 2-0. Weaver only struck out six, but the outing still earned him a season-high 37.7 fantasy points.

Weaver is too good to struggle all season, and his last start is evidence he’s finding his stride. 

This is a slightly scary pick because Weaver is a fly-ball pitcher playing in hitter-friendly Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Weaver has also had some rough outings at the park in his career. In five starts, he has an astronomical ERA of 7.09 in Baltimore.

That said, this is baseball, and recent performances will often trump historical numbers. Weaver may not throw another shutout, but he should at least keep his team in the game for seven innings.

Bargain Picks

Carlos Rodon ($5,600) at Oakland Athletics

The Chicago White Sox will run their prized prospect out to the mound again on Friday night on the road against the Oakland Athletics. Left-hander Carlos Rodon was sharp in his first major league start on May 9. He went six innings, allowing just four hits, two earned runs and striking out eight.

Rodon is just scratching the surface of what he can do on the mound. By making Rodon a member of the team’s starting rotation, it appears the White Sox are saying, “The future is now.”

The A’s haven’t had a great deal of luck against left-handed pitchers. As a team, Oakland is hitting just .206 in 252 at-bats against southpaws. Rodon should add to Oakland’s misery with another strong start.

Chris Young ($5,300) vs. New York Yankees

Pineda has a tough assignment. Not only does he have to contend with the Royals’ hitting, he also has to stare down veteran Chris Young who’ll be on the mound for Kansas City.

While Young has had just two starts this season, he has been awesome almost every time he’s taken the mound in 2015. His ERA is a minuscule 0.78, and his WHIP stands at a minute 0.52. Though not notoriously a strikeout pitcher, Young has 19 K’s in 23.1 innings pitched.

Barring a complete collapse, Young should offer some bang for your virtual buck.

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A lack of true aces on the board could make Tuesday a big day for the hitters in daily fantasy baseball. If you find the right value for pitchers and combine it with some big-time performers at the plate, you could be in for a nice showing on May 12.

Pitchers to Draft

Jake Arrieta, Chicago Cubs ($8,600)

Betting on a struggling pitcher represents a decent amount of risk, but it also is a chance to get great value for a small portion of your budget.

While Jake Arrieta has seen his ERA inflate from 2.03 to 3.41 in his past two starts, it seems like this has mostly been just bad luck. His fielding-independent pitching mark of 2.53 is directly in line with his ERA from last year (exactly 2.53), while his 13 strikeouts and two walks over the past two games remains encouraging.

With Arrieta‘s price being as low as it has been all year, this seems like a good chance to strike.

C.J. Wilson, Los Angeles Angels ($7,500)

With the exception of one poor start against the Kansas City Royals, C.J. Wilson has had a strong year to this point. He has allowed two runs or fewer in every other appearance for a total of six earned runs in 34.1 innings.

Against a Colorado Rockies lineup that has fallen apart lately, Wilson should be in line for another positive performance.

Pitchers to Avoid

Chris Sale, Chicago White Sox ($9,400)

The five-game suspension for his role in a brawl with the Royals won’t affect him too much, but his struggles in recent games are cause for concern. Chris Sale has allowed 13 earned runs in 8.1 innings over the last two starts while looking nothing like the ace pitcher he has been in the past.

On the plus side, there doesn’t appear to be any injury problems, as Scott Merkin of MLB.com learned:

Still, you might be better off waiting around for more success before spending this much money.

Mike Fiers, Milwaukee Brewers ($8,500)

Even though Mike Fiers is set to match up against the aforementioned Sale, you don’t want to bet on either pitcher to get a win or even a quality start in this one.

Only once this year has Fiers made it out of the sixth inning, which is the only start he earned more than 13 fantasy points on DraftKings. This represents way too much of a risk to bet on at this point.

Hitters to Draft

Bryce Harper, OF, Washington Nationals ($5,300)

The cost is high, but so is the potential for Bryce Harper during this incredible stretch. He is unsurprisingly coming off an NL Player of the Week award thanks to these impressive statistics:

There is little chance Rubby De La Rosa does anything to slow down the hottest hitter in baseball.

Adam Jones, OF, Baltimore Orioles ($4,300)

Although he has slowed down a bit from his incredible start, Adam Jones remains one of the top hitters in baseball and is always a threat to post a lot of RBI in a quality lineup. The chances are even greater against an opposing pitcher he has crushed in the past.

In 37 at-bats against Mark Buehrle, Jones has 16 hits (.432 batting average) with two home runs and only three strikeouts. This dominance against the southpaw should continue Tuesday night.

Hitters to Avoid

Andrew McCutchen, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates ($5,300)

While Andrew McCutchen is obviously coming alive at the plate with a number of extra-base hits as of late, he still has a long way to go to reach his MVP level.

Even against questionable Phillies starter Sean O’Sullivan, he isn’t worth the lofty price tag.

Eric Hosmer, 1B, Kansas City Royals ($5,100)

Picking one of the more consistent hitters in the sport against a young pitcher seems like a safe bet, especially when you consider how well Eric Hosmer has fared against right-handers this year.

The problem is opposing pitcher Nick Martinez hasn’t quite been a pushover this season, amassing a 1.47 ERA in six starts. Considering he has actually fared better against lefties (.184 batting average against) than righties (.284 BAA), fantasy owners should find other options.

Team to Stack

Los Angeles Angels

Kyle Kendrick kicked off the year on a high note by shutting out the Brewers over seven innings on Opening Day. Unfortunately, the rest of the year hasn’t been as kind, as the former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher has built up an 8.73 ERA.

Over his last five appearances, he has an 11.08 ERA and isn’t getting much better.

Although the Los Angeles Angels have a lot of right-handers in the lineup, they should be just fine against the struggling starter.

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

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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 Rusney Castillo, Trevor Plouffe, Alex Colome and Blake Swihart—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 6.

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Over a month into the 2015 season, sample sizes have become large enough for fantasy baseball owners to consider promising early starts.

For some young breakout stars, it’s already far too late. Everybody purchased stock on Joc Pederson, Devon Travis and Chris Archer long ago. Brand names such as Alex Rodriguez and Bartolo Colon warranted immediate attention, as both are well-known veterans playing in the Big Apple.

Nobody needs to be told about McDonald’s, but the new mom-and-pop burger shop in town often proves more delicious. Before word of mouth causes a line to form around the corner, patrons can enjoy the quaint restaurant and say they went there before everyone else did.

These players don’t have a marketing team boosting their fantasy ownership rates. They didn’t generate buzz in the minors or ever post gaudy numbers. Many go ignored playing in small markets and/or for mediocre clubs. Yet they can all contribute more than some brand-name counterparts.

With an exception of two pitching studs not getting their proper due, the list contains players available in more than half of Yahoo Sports‘ fantasy leagues. Not all are must-adds for standard mixed-league gamers, but at least keep them in mind. 

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With a handful of aces on the board who aren’t performing to their ability, daily fantasy baseball players might be better off spending their money elsewhere Saturday.

Big names like Madison Bumgarner, Clayton Kershaw and Johnny Cueto have all put together huge games and are always capable of more, but they have each been inconsistent this season. If you add some sleepers in your lineup instead of spending money on these stars, you could be better off with a deeper lineup.

Regardless of your strategy, here is a look at some quality options for your May 9 team.

Pitchers to Start

Dallas Keuchel, Houston Astros ($8,600)

The start of the year has been as good as Dallas Keuchel possibly could have imagined. The 27-year-old pitcher currently has a 0.80 ERA in six games and hasn’t allowed more than one run in the past four starts.

Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports thinks he has been the best pitcher in the league to this point:

It’s obviously difficult to sustain this level of success, but he is showing no signs of slowing down, and fantasy owners should stay on the bandwagon as long as he’s performing well.

Jake Odorizzi, Tampa Bay Rays ($7,500)

All six of Jake Odorizzi‘s starts to this point have been against the American League East, and he has survived to the tune of a 2.21 ERA. Although the Texas Rangers have come alive lately, this lineup should still be easier to face than any the pitcher has seen to this point.

With his ability to keep opponents off the basepaths (0.89 WHIP), Odorizzi should be able to keep putting up zeroes. 

Pitcher to Avoid

Julio Teheran, Atlanta Braves ($9,000)

The Washington Nationals struggled in the early part of the season, but the lineup is coming alive as it continues to get healthy. This is bad news for any pitcher facing them, including Saturday’s starter Julio Teheran.

In six appearances, the Braves star only has three quality starts while struggling with his control. Until he gets more consistent, it might be best to avoid Teheran for the current price.

Hitters to Start

Yasmani Grandal, C, Los Angeles Dodgers ($4,200)

One game will make Yasmani Grandal‘s stats look much better as he finished Thursday with four hits, two home runs and eight RBI. However, it’s important to note the catcher has been performing well for a while with a consistent approach at the plate.

Competing in the hitter-friendly Coors Field will only give him a better chance of putting up some big numbers.

Dee Gordon, 2B, Miami Marlins ($4,200)

It’s important to see if he is starting as Dee Gordon who was held out of Friday’s game with a leg injury, but if he is in the Marlins lineup you need to have him in yours.

Gordon has been incredible this season with a .437 batting average and has been even better as of late, via Ace of Stats:

Although he doesn’t provide much power, his consistency and ability to steal bases makes him a great option at second base.

Hitter to Avoid

Edwin Encarnacion, 1B, Toronto Blue Jays ($5,200)

Boston Red Sox pitcher Joe Kelly has struggled this season, which makes selecting Toronto Blue Jays hitters especially appealing Saturday. However, Edwin Encarnacion has the cost of one of the top hitters in the game without playing like it this season.

Even though he is back over the Mendoza Line, he hasn’t shown much power all year and would represent a big risk to break out in his next game.

Team to Stack

Boston Red Sox

Drew Hutchison has not fared well over his past few starts. After allowing six earned runs in each of the last two games, the Toronto Blue Jays pitcher has a 7.47 ERA with a 1.60 WHIP. He has now allowed at least four earned runs in four of his six appearances.

In a park that has historically been a good one to hit home runs, the Boston Red Sox should be able to put up some big numbers against the struggling Hutchinson. 

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.

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What good is a fantasy owner who lacks a sense of timing?

Fantasy baseball—just like the real thing—is a game of skill, luck and timing. That last trait in particular comes in handy in regard to getting value in the trading game.

Knowing which player(s) to trade away and which to deal for—and knowing just the right time to do so—can make all the difference.

After all, it doesn’t get much better than making a move to unload a hot flavor-of-the-week type who’s about to cool off in exchange for a slumping stud who’s ready to take off.

Now, speaking of timing, let’s get to some players to sell high and buy low.

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After a long week of work, play or whatever you’ve been up to, Fantasy Friday should do the trick. With a full schedule for DraftKings owners to sort through, finding the best MLB position players can not only be difficult, but downright tedious on a Friday morning or afternoon.

Luckily, we’ve picked apart the rosters to pull out the best players to get the most out of your lineup. Here’s a look at just a handful of position player picks for May 8 with a breakdown of what makes them worthy of their salary.

Catcher: Evan Gattis, Houston Astros ($4,000)

A true hit-or-seriously-miss player, Evan Gattis has been lifting off this season with the Houston Astros. In his first season with the ‘Stros, the third-year player has already tallied six home runs and 18 RBI.

Sure, he’s hitting below .200, but when he makes contact it’s a fantasy owner’s dream. Going against a struggling Jered Weaver (0-4 and 6.29 ERA in six starts), Gattis should thrive on Friday night.

First Baseman: Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves ($4,300)

Who doesn’t love a hug? Freddie Freeman has been giving them out like candy again this season thanks to his powerful bat. Each time he registers a four-bagger—he already has five this year—Freeman embraces his teammates.

Even when he’s not smashing it over the wall, Freeman is still coming away with extra-base hits, as Kevin McAlpin of 680 The Fan noted:

Throughout his career against Gio Gonzalez, Freeman has gone .292/.321/.625 with two homers, two doubles and nine RBI. Don’t expect him to slow down any against the Washington Nationals on Friday.

Third Baseman: Matt Carpenter, St. Louis Cardinals ($4,300)

Wednesday wasn’t Matt Carpenter’s best performance, but the Cardinals hot corner has been equally as hot at the plate. After getting a well-deserved day off, Carpenter is ready to continue his hot streak to start the season.

Averaging 10.7 fantasy points per game in 2015, Carpenter has been one of the most reliable third basemen at DraftKings. With two home runs on the road already this season, look for Carpenter to put up double-digit points again on Friday night.

Shortstop: Ian Desmond, Washington Nationals ($4,200)

It took a little longer than expected, but Ian Desmond is finally showing his potential this year. After going hitless over seven straight games, Desmond now has multiple hits in three of his last five starts with four extra-base hits over that stretch.

Coming off one of his worst months in April with a .217 average and only one homer, Desmond has increased to a .318 average and added another homer already in May. Facing left-handed pitcher Eric Stults, who has been awful this season, expect big things from Desmond.

Outfielder: Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles ($4,700)

Does there need to be any explanation for why you should choose Adam Jones? Yes? OK, well, here goes nothing.

The Baltimore Orioles outfielder has been explosive at the plate all season with five homers and 21 RBI already to this point. He’s done that with a bat that can reach nearly any point of the plate, as Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com notes:

He went hitless on Thursday night against the New York Yankees, but Jones has three hits in six career at-bats against Yankees right-hander Adam Warren. At $900 less than Mike Trout, Jones is a value for a No. 1 outfielder and one that would make a perfect fit in any lineup.

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