When doing research on your favorite player, you may come across some statistic types you might have never heard of before. These metrics can help you win your fantasy baseball league if you know more about them and how they work.
Here are four types of MLB advanced metrics that can help you in your respective fantasy baseball leagues.
Relax. Take a stroll outside. MLB games have paused for All-Star festivities, giving daily fantasy players a four-day reprieve.
Use some of that free time to refresh and reset for the second half, where savvy gamers have larger sample sizes to use to their advantage. Don’t, however, take the entire time off from researching. The break presents the perfect opportunity to reflect on the opening half and preview the final two-plus months.
Daily players are accustomed to studying specific splits and matchups, but let’s take a step back and examine some top sluggers from a macro perspective. It’s easy to get swept up in a hot or cold streak during the daily grind, but few players will mirror their early results. Baseball simply doesn’t operate at such a linear level.
Rest-of-season projections won’t guide Friday’s slate, but a larger understanding will guide overall decisions throughout the second half.
Bryce Harper, OF, Washington Nationals
Bryce Harper is eventually going to cool down. Unless he doesn’t.
The 22-year-old took a cavernous leap to superstardom during the first half, hitting .341/.466/.707 with 26 homers and an MLB-best 216 weighted runs created plus (wRC+). A 100 wRC+ is considered average, making Harper more valuable than two above-average batters combined.
He’s currently enjoying the best offensive season of the decade. Nobody has notched a slugging percentage above .700 since Barry Bonds netted an .812 clip in 2004. If he keeps going deep with such regularity, as noted by ESPN Stats & Info, he’ll set a record that’s even more impressive in the modern, power-condensed era.
Harper went bananas and belted 13 long balls in May, but April represents his worst month with a .985 OPS. He has also brandished tremendous plate discipline with a 18.4 walk percentage and diminished 20.6 strikeout percentage.
The best case for a second-half decline is that no human being can possibly maintain his stellar rate during the post-steroid era. The average especially smells fishy for someone who has never hit above .275, which will certainly change even if he goes a more reasonable .290-.300 going forward.
Even with regression, he’ll remain one of baseball’s top superstars who will always cost a premium regardless of the opponent. Due to his exorbitant price tag, which won’t change if he’s merely awesome instead of otherworldly, save him for when fed a terrible pitcher.
Projections: .295/.390/.540, 15 HR, 45 RBI, 40 R, 4 SB
Best Used: Against poor pitcher in cash contests when punting second starter or other position
Albert Pujols, 1B, Los Angeles Angels
Albert Pujols’ on-base percentage has dropped in six straight seasons, and the trend remains in jeopardy. Most of his other numbers followed the decline before avenging a poor 2013 with a solid 2014.
This year, he looks like vintage Pujols in the power department, clobbering 23 of his 26 homers since May 1. Along with hitting .303/.395/.737 with 13 homers during a scorching June, he drew 13 walks while striking out eight times.
Yet he still possesses a career-low .256 batting average. Along with a heavier emphasis on defensive shifting, the former MVP can blame a .217 batting average on balls in play (BABIP), MLB’s third-lowest rate.
On one hand, gradually fading veterans usually don’t gain such a spirited second burst at age 35. Pujols hasn’t hit 40 homers since 2010, so June’s travel back in time likely won’t happen again.
On the other hand, the legend entered spring training healthy for the first time in years. Daily gamers would prefer the power over more hits, but expect his numbers to even out. Sorting a .921 OPS against righties, he’ll remain a high-level choice on most nights.
Projections: .270/.335/.500, 13 HR, 44 RBI, 39 R, 1 SB
Best Used: Against weak righties vulnerable to long balls
Kris Bryant, 3B, Chicago Cubs
It took some time, but Kris Bryant proved worth the wait.
The Chicago Cubs let the hype build until mid-April, when they promoted the blue-chip prospect with an added year of service time under their belt. Although he hit well from the start, the third baseman didn’t register his first MLB homer until May 9.
Skip ahead two months, and he’s hitting .269/.376/.472 with 12 long balls, eight steals and a 136 wRC+. Rarely does anything so hotly anticipated deliver, but Bryant has warranted all the hoopla.
Regularly batting third behind Anthony Rizzo, Bryant will remain saddled atop DraftKings’ price listings. He has also proven capable against all challengers, collecting a .380 on-base percentage against righties and a .554 slugging percentage versus southpaws.
Just beware the potential for a major slump or two. He’ll struggle to keep hitting .269 while ending 29.7 percent of his plate appearances in strikeouts. His .369 batting average on balls in play (BABIP) will fall, but the power, speed and plate discipline won’t go anywhere.
Projections: .255/.355/.490, 13 HR, 42 RBI, 40 R, 6 SB
Best Used: Against subpar starter with wind blowing out of Wrigley Field
Robinson Cano, 2B, Seattle Mariners
What the heck happened to Robinson Cano?
The career .306/.354/.492 hitter has gone MIA, batting .251/.290/.370 with six homers and an 85 wRC+. Barring an unbelievable half, his average will finish below .300 for the first time since 2008.
His nightmarish season is tough to explain. The star second baseman is carrying a career-high 17.3 strikeout percentage and his worst walk rate (4.6 percent) since 2009. Superstars rarely go from front-line option to below-average contributor without some advanced notice or a significant injury.
While the 32-year-old has never went on the disabled list, he admitted to suffering from a stomach ailment over the past year, per USA Today‘s Jorge L. Ortiz.
“It still affects me,” Cano said. “Sometimes you drink water and it makes you feel like vomiting. I can’t eat the same way I did. It’s hard to deal with, especially being the first time this has happened to me. Sometimes I eat only once a day before playing, because I feel full. And you just don’t have the same energy.”
If there’s any sign of optimism, he’s hitting .327 with two homers during a dozen July games. He also boasts a career .318/.366/.528 slash line after the All-Star break, so don’t give up on the star second baseman just yet. Eye his matchups after the break, as he should remain affordable given his mighty struggles.
Projections: .285/.340/.440, 8 HR, 33 RBI, 33 R, 4 SB
Best Used: Against righties while price remains reasonable as he shows life.
Ian Desmond, SS, Washington Nationals
Although a better seasonal rotisserie player than daily option, shortstop Ian Desmond compiled three straight 20/20 seasons. Entering the break with seven homers and five steals, that streak is about to snap.
If only that was his biggest problem. The 29-year-old is batting an abysmal .211/.255/.334 with a 4.9 walk percentage and 28.4 strikeout percentage. Only there for his offense, he’s on the hook for 20 errors and a minus-0.9 WAR.
This will mark the third consecutive year his average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage drop. His 15.6 line-drive percentage and 13.9 infield-fly rate don’t support a rebound anytime soon.
How much longer will Washington put up with his below-replacement play before turning to Trea Turner, a top shortstop prospect acquired to eventually replace Desmond? If that day doesn’t come until next season, can daily players turn to the slumping starter with any confidence?
Only when priced significantly low. Don’t treat Desmond like an above-average shortstop unless he proves otherwise.
Projections: .250/.300/.395, 7 HR, 27 RBI, 33 R, 7 SB
Beat Used: As a punt play
Note: All advanced stats courtesy of FanGraphs.
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A full slate of action Saturday gives daily fantasy baseball competitors plenty of options when it comes to selecting pitchers. As a result, you don’t necessarily need to draft the top names on the board.
Here is a look at the best value picks available from around the league.
Jon Lester, Chicago Cubs ($9,500)
Chris Sale has been statistically one of the top pitchers in baseball this season, but his counterpart Saturday might end up having the better game. Jon Lester comes into his matchup against the Chicago White Sox with no earned runs allowed in his last two starts while totaling 15 strikeouts and three walks in 14 innings.
The White Sox offense has also struggled mightily this year, especially against left-handed starters, as noted by Jeff Sullivan of FanGraphs:
Look for Lester to continue his recent hot streak against a team that hasn’t been able to hit any southpaws this year.
A.J. Burnett, Pittsburgh Pirates ($9,400)
Considering he has a 1.99 ERA, it’s clear A.J. Burnett has been great no matter where he is pitching. However, he is even better at home where he has a 1.28 ERA in eight starts.
Only once has he allowed more than one earned run in a game at PNC Park, and that was when he gave up two runs in seven innings in early May. Unlike Dallas Keuchel, who also has great home splits but will pitch on the road this week, take advantage of Burnett’s success by plugging him in your lineup.
John Lackey, St. Louis Cardinals ($8,400)
Burnett could have a strong performance, but it still will be a challenge to get a win with John Lackey starting for the St. Louis Cardinals. The 36-year-old veteran allowed 10 runs in Colorado last month, but since then has gone at least seven innings with two or fewer runs allowed in five straight starts.
Even without high strikeout totals, Lackey can give fantasy owners enough points to justify the selection.
Mat Latos, Miami Marlins ($7,300)
The Cincinnati Reds have been wildly inconsistent at the plate lately, which will make things interesting when they face the inconsistent Mat Latos on Saturday. The veteran pitcher struggled mightily to start the year, but he is back on track, as he has lowered his ERA each month:
After allowling just one hit in seven innings in his last start, Latos is becoming a more trustworthy option for fantasy owners.
Ryan Vogelsong, San Francisco Giants ($6,600)
After being ejected in the fifth inning of his last start, Ryan Vogelsong should be relatively well-rested coming into this one. James Wagner of the Washington Post described the incident:
Including the shortened outing, however, Vogelsong has only allowed five earned runs in his last 22.2 innings. Opponents are struggling to make quality contact, and he is keeping runs off the board.
While the Philadelphia Phillies have played better as of late, they could struggle in a ballpark that rates as the worst hitter’s park in the league this season, via ESPN.com.
Note: All prices courtesy of DraftKings. Unless otherwise noted, all stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.
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On MLB‘s penultimate day before the All-Star break, DraftKings will want to conserve money with their position players.
With Chris Sale taking center stage during Chicago’s cross-city battle and Dallas Keuchel facing the Tampa Bay Rays, players have two elite aces worth choosing. That will make it tougher to stack stud sluggers, especially those with inflated Coors Field prices.
Employing one or two savvy platoon steals, however, should free up enough cash to form a winning lineup around expensive pitching.
Stack: San Francisco Giants vs. Philadelphia (RHP David Buchanan)
The Philadelphia Phillies are promoting David Buchanan to start on Saturday, which is great news for the San Francisco Giants. Before getting demoted from baseball’s worst team with a colossal pitching mess behind Cole Hamels, the 26-year-old righty allowed 32 hits, 15 walks and 24 runs through 24.2 innings.
In other words, Stack City resides in San Francisco. Buster Posey is a premium pay, but potentially out of many gamers’ price range. Joe Panik and Matt Duffy are solid mid-level targets, but Brandon Belt leads the charge while hitting .305/.372/.540 against righties.
As a reward for returning before the break, Hunter Pence gets a golden opportunity to torch his old club. He dusted off the cobwebs on Friday by crushing a grand slam.
3B Chris Johnson, Atlanta Braves ($3,100) at Colorado
A career .317/.353/.446 hitter against lefties, Chris Johnson should get the start against Jorge De La Rosa at Coors. The Colorado Rockies southpaw has posted a 6.81 ERA at home this year and a career .793 OPS against righties.
For a team playing at Coors, the Atlanta Braves are fairly priced. Cameron Maybin and Jonny Gomes would have received a closer look if not for the influx of intriguing outfielders mentioned below.
SS Carlos Correa, Houston Astros ($3,600) at Tampa Bay
It sure didn’t take long for everyone to grow bored of Carlos Correa. The rookie sensation has collected one hit over his last five games, giving him a measly .508 slugging percentage since his early-June promotion.
He’ll face Jake Odorizzi, a tough opponent coming off a month’s hiatus. In the time the Tampa Bay ace has spent sidelined, the 20-year-old shortstop has accumulated seven homers and five steals. But yeah, go ahead and abandon ship because of a five-game slump.
OF Lorenzo Cain, Kansas City Royals ($4,600) vs. Toronto
Lorenzo Cain is on fire, going 13-for-29 with two homers and steals apiece to start July. Because of that, anyone who wants to use the All-Star will unfortunately have company.
This recommendation, however, has less to do with his hot streak than his .971 OPS and .417 weighted on-base average (wOBA) against lefties this season. Mark Buehrle has a 1.41 ERA over his last eight starts, so hopefully that draws the competition off the trail.
OF Nelson Cruz ($4,600) and 1B/OF Mark Trumbo ($3,500), Seattle Mariners vs. L.A. Angels
Although quite a contrasting duo of Seattle Mariners sluggers, Nelson Cruz and Mark Trumbo both clobber lefties. Cruz sports an unfathomable 1.295 OPS against them this season, going deep seven times in 72 plate appearances.
He has stayed silent since joining Seattle, but Trumbo holds a .500 slugging percentage against southpaws and went yard on Friday night. Don’t pay too much attention to C.J. Wilson’s reverse splits this season, as righties have registered a .741 OPS off him since 2013.
OF Chris Young, New York Yankees at Boston
Hitting .243/.298/.446 during irregular playing time this season, Chris Young hides at the bottom of DraftKings‘ outfield registry. Still, he’s hitting .351/.412/.649 with five homers versus lefties this season. No MLB venue features a shallower right field than Fenway Park, the only place with a shorter porch than Yankee Stadium.
Note: All advanced statistics, updated as of late Friday night, are courtesy of FanGraphs.
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The challenge for Tuesday’s daily fantasy baseball contests is to choose which of the elite options are truly the best for your lineup. With some of the highest prices of the season for both pitchers and hitters, it’s important to make sure you get the right players to help you win.
Players to Draft
Corey Kluber, SP, Cleveland Indians ($11,200)
While Max Scherzer has been on an incredible stretch, it’s still hard to justify spending $14,200 on just one player. Even an outstanding game might not be enough to make up for the rest of your lineup.
However, you can save quite a bit of money on Corey Kluber, who has the potential for a big day against the Houston Astros. Although this is a tough matchup on paper, the opposing lineup strikes out more than anyone else in baseball.
With Kluber always a threat to reach double-digit strikeouts and beyond, he could put up a lot of fantasy points on Tuesday.
Taijuan Walker, SP, Seattle Mariners ($8,200)
The Seattle Mariners are being rewarded for their patience with young pitcher Taijuan Walker. After a rough start to the season, he has been outstanding lately with a 1.68 ERA and 51 strikeouts in his last seven games (via Scott Pianowski of Yahoo Sports).
These strikeout totals and the ability to keep runners from scoring have turned Walker into an elite fantasy starter. Against a Detroit Tigers lineup without Miguel Cabrera, he could easily surpass expectations for this cost.
Albert Pujols, 1B, Los Angeles Angels ($5,600)
We are seeing a renaissance for Albert Pujols this season, as the future Hall of Famer is starting to once again showcase the power he was known for with the St. Louis Cardinals. This should continue in a hitter’s haven like Coors Field.
After a quality series against the Texas Rangers, look for some more deep shots against the Colorado Rockies.
Aramis Ramirez, 3B, Milwaukee Brewers ($4,000)
The Milwaukee Brewers have been the hottest team in baseball over the past week, and a lot of that has to do with the play of Aramis Ramirez. The third baseman is coming through with a multihit game just about every time out and is driving in plenty of runs in the process.
Joc Pederson, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers ($3,700)
Although Joc Pederson is coming off a bad series against the New York Mets, things could be easier against the Philadelphia Phillies and starting pitcher Chad Billingsley. The former Dodger has a 7.71 ERA in four starts and might not get many more chances.
With Pederson’s power at the plate, the young hitter is a quality bet for a home run or two.
Players to Avoid
Francisco Liriano, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates ($10,300)
Among all the top names available Tuesday, Francisco Liriano has been the least consistent from a fantasy perspective. His strikeouts have fallen off lately, with only one of his last six starts featuring more than six strikeouts.
With Liriano also struggling a bit at home (4.10 ERA), there are simply better options for this price.
Prince Fielder, 1B, Texas Rangers ($4,900)
Even in the midst of an outstanding season, Prince Fielder remains much worse against left-handed pitchers, with a batting average about 100 points lower than it is against righties.
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Robbie Ray has fared well in his young career and should be able to cause more problems for Fielder.
Todd Frazier, 3B, Cincinnati Reds ($4,100)
The newly minted All-Star starter has had a great year, but no one can be trusted against Scherzer. The Washington Nationals pitcher has allowed just 11 total hits in the last four games, all of them complete games except for one where he went eight innings.
It’s tough to bet on Todd Frazier to do much better against a starter who has allowed right-handers to hit just .161 this season.
Team to Stack
Toronto Blue Jays
Not only have the Toronto Blue Jays had by far the best offense in baseball this season, but the right-handed-heavy lineup has absolutely crushed southpaws. The team is hitting over .300 (per FanGraphs) against left-handed pitchers with Josh Donaldson and Jose Bautista especially excelling.
Considering Chicago White Sox pitcher Jose Quintana has terrible splits to begin with (.184 batting average vs. lefties, .310 vs. righties), the Blue Jays could be ready for a high-scoring game.
Note: All prices courtesy of DraftKings. Unless otherwise noted, all stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.
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Washington Nationals All-Star Max Scherzer headlines the list of starting pitchers taking the hill across MLB Tuesday night. Is his exorbitant salary a worthwhile investment for DraftKings daily fantasy players? With 15 games on the docket, there of plenty of other possibilities to choose from as well.
Here are five of the top pitching options in a variety of price ranges for July 7.
Max Scherzer ($14,200) vs. Cincinnati Reds
Scherzer‘s $14,200 price tag is $3,000 more than any other pitcher available, but he’s earned it. His 0.78 WHIP and .181 batting average against are easily the best in baseball, while his 1.82 ERA is second only to Zack Greinke’s 1.48.
The Washington Nationals ace has uncharacteristically allowed a pair of earned runs in each of his last two outings, yet still posted at least 29 fantasy points both times. For the season, Scherzer is averaging a spectacular 30.8 fantasy points per game. Over his last four starts, that number jumps to an absurd 43.8. In that stretch he’s thrown complete games in three of four appearances, while pitching 34.1 out of a possible 35 innings. Scherzer also has 42 strikeouts and just one walk in that time.
On Tuesday, he’ll face a Reds team batting .249 on the season, 11th in the National League. Combined with the fact that Scherzer actually costs $300 less than he did his last time out, it’s worth dropping the enormous chunk of change it’ll take to get him in your lineup.
Sonny Gray ($9,600) at New York Yankees
With an average of 22.3 fantasy points per game, Sonny Gray is outscoring Francisco Liriano and Johnny Cueto, despite costing $700 and $500 less, respectively. Gray’s 2.09 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and .205 batting average against all rank among the top 10 in MLB.
On Monday, Gray expressed his gratitude for being chosen to play in his first All-Star Game, something that should give him a little extra incentive when he steps onto the mound Tuesday:
In his only previous start against the Yankees this season, Gray earned a victory while surrendering just four hits and two earned runs in eight innings. Gray’s opponent, Nathan Eovaldi, is 0-1 with a 5.60 ERA in three career starts versus the Oakland A’s.
Taijuan Walker ($8,200) vs. Detroit Tigers
Taijuan Walker’s 4.34 ERA and 1.28 WHIP in 2015 suggest he’s not a pitcher who should cost upward of $8,000. However, Walker is red-hot at the moment after busting out of an early-season slump.
He’s gone 5-0 in his last five starts and scored over 20 fantasy points in seven straight outings. Ironically, Walker hasn’t walked a batter in four starts while striking out 30 in 26.1 innings.
The 22-year-old has tossed six or more innings in his last seven games while lowering his season ERA from 7.33 to 4.34.
Yovani Gallardo ($7,200) vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
Yovani Gallardo last allowed a run on June 10, more than four starts ago. As noted by Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Gallardo is in the midst of one of the most impressive scoreless streaks in franchise history:
Since the month of May, Gallardo has given up a total of two earned runs. Dating back to his last loss on May 19, the veteran is 4-0 with an ERA of 0.70 spanning eight outings.
In addition to the great run he’s currently on, Gallardo also boasts stellar numbers for his career against the Diamondbacks—a 7-1 record and a 2.12 ERA in 11 starts.
Manny Banuelos ($5,900) at Milwaukee Brewers
If you’re looking for a pitcher with the potential to provide quality stats at a bargain price, Manny Banuelos is your guy. Banuelos has just a single major league start under his belt, but the results were exceptional. The rookie allowed only two hits in 5.2 shutout innings while striking out seven batters.
Shortly after his early departure from the game, the Atlanta Braves announced it was for medical reasons:
Banuelos should be properly hydrated and ready to go for his second big league appearance Tuesday.
It’s not much to go on, but the Braves are 4-1 against the Brewers this year. Banuelos is obviously a shot in the dark, which is really all that can be expected from a pitcher priced below $6,000.
All prices courtesy of DraftKings. Statistics via MLB.com unless otherwise noted. Mark Vandeusen is an MLB Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @LucidSportsFan.
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Fantasy baseball is often a game of mix-and-match when figuring out the right players to pick in daily fantasy leagues. One aspect of the game is often overlooked by a majority of fantasy baseball players and can help immensely in figuring out players to select.
While looking at too many forms of advanced statistics may do more harm than good, there is no doubt that some metrics are essential in helping a fantasy team win.
Here are a few key MLB advanced metrics to use in daily fantasy baseball leagues.
MLB will celebrate Independence Day with a full slate dispersed throughout the day. With start times ranging from 11:05 a.m. to 10:10 p.m. ET, daily fantasy gamers will have ample opportunities to work around the holiday.
A specific slate will dictate a DraftKings strategy for choosing offense, but at least one ace is going at any given time. There are also, however, values available, most notably Clay Buchholz, Michael Pineda and Kendall Graveman as a deep bargain.
The hot-dog-eating contest will have to wait. Here’s a handy guide of top position players to employ on Saturday.
1B Adam Lind ($4,600) and OF Ryan Braun ($5,100), Milwaukee Brewers at Cincinnati
For a pair of star building blocks, highlight the Milwaukee Brewers’ Adam Lind and Ryan Braun. They’ll tee off against rookie Josh Smith—who has allowed eight runs and 10 walks through eight innings—at the hitter-friendly Great American Ballpark.
Lind boasts a .900 OPS against righties, and his strong splits vault him into the top pricing tier against Smith. Braun has hit 13 of his 15 homers against righties and is looking more and more like the MVP of old.
Either one or both warrants the hefty price tag against an overwhelmed 27-year-old newcomer.
2B/3B Jace Peterson, Atlanta Braves ($3,300) vs. Philadelphia
Opposing lefties are hitting .313/.396/.644 with a .432 weighted on-base average (wOBA) against Kevin Correia. Jace Peterson isn’t an overly appealing daily play, but he wields a .348 on-base percentage versus righties and maximizes his plate appearances in the Atlanta Braves’ leadoff spot.
SS Xander Bogaerts, Boston Red Sox ($3,600) vs. Houston
Although everyone is still waiting for the power, Xander Bogaerts is a streaking shortstop with baseball’s fifth-best wOBA at the position.
He has also recently moved up to No. 3 in the Boston Red Sox’s batting order, greatly increasing his run-production chances. The 22-year-old has relished the enhanced responsibility, hitting .333 with nine runs and six RBI through 10 games.
Yet his $3,600 price remains low, partially due to him staying stuck at three homers. Chasing fence-clearing pop is the hallmark of DFS strategy, but players can make an exception for an affordable shortstop hitting .333 since June 1.
OF Adam Eaton, Chicago White Sox ($3,900) vs. Baltimore
Chris Tillman is an intriguing opponent to target, even against the disappointing Chicago White Sox. The typically OK starter is getting destroyed for a 5.67 ERA with career lows in strikeouts (6.35) and walks (4.08) per nine innings. Righties have registered a .400 wOBA against him this season.
Adam Eaton, locked into the White Sox’s leadoff spot, carries a .342 on-base percentage against righties this year. After a horrendous April, the outfielder is since batting .268/.338/.423 with five homers and four steals.
Chicago isn’t deep enough to confidently recommend a full stack, but Jose Abreu, Adam LaRoche and Melky Cabrera also merit consideration.
OF Ryan Raburn, Cleveland Indians ($2,600) at Pittsburgh
The Cleveland Indians are facing lefty Jeff Locke, so play Ryan Raburn. The platoon specialist is hitting .313/.402/.563 against southpaws, and as always, he will cost next to nothing.
Note: All advanced stats are courtesy of FanGraphs.
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The Fourth of July is the time of year to celebrate fireworks and hot dog eating contests. There might be some patriotic parts in there somewhere, but there are few things more American than baseball.
Of course, as long as you’re watching baseball, you might as well make some money in daily fantasy with the help of these pitchers.
Zack Greinke, Los Angeles Dodgers ($11,100)
While fans can expect an exciting pitchers’ duel between Matt Harvey and Zack Greinke, only one of them gets to face a New York Mets lineup that recently scored just one run in a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs.
Greinke not only has an easy matchup, he is also coming in with three straight scoreless efforts totaling 20.2 innings. With an incredible 1.58 ERA to this point in the season, the veteran pitcher seemingly cannot be stopped.
Carlos Martinez, St. Louis Cardinals ($9,000)
Carlos Martinez continues to impress in his first full year as a starter. Not only does he have a 9-3 record with a 2.80 ERA for the season, but he has been even better lately, finishing June with a 2.18 mark.
He has also been excelling as a fantasy player, averaging 26 points over his last eight starts. The San Diego Padres haven’t exactly been world-beaters at the plate, which makes this a good opportunity for a big game from Martinez.
Michael Pineda, New York Yankees ($8,300)
Consistency has been a real issue for Michael Pineda, but when he is on, he can be a huge help to your fantasy team. In four of his last six starts, he has allowed two or fewer earned runs while striking out at least eight.
What helps his cause is the ability to limit his own damage. He currently leads the American League with a 7.92 strikeout-to-walk ratio and can take advantage of this against the light-hitting Tampa Bay Rays.
Collin McHugh, Houston Astros ($7,600)
The Boston Red Sox have been hitting better lately, but this still isn’t a good team, and Collin McHugh has a good chance to leave Fenway Park with a win. Meanwhile, whatever had been ailing McHugh is apparently fixed, per ESPN.com’s Mark Simon:
A pitcher who can go deep into games is a real asset in daily fantasy baseball, and McHugh can provide players with a big game for reasonable cost.
Wandy Rodriguez, Texas Rangers ($5,400)
For those looking to save some money with a pitcher, Wandy Rodriguez represents an intriguing pick. The veteran has had an up-and-down season, though his 3.91 ERA would drop to a more respectable 3.10 if you took away his one terrible start against the Oakland Athletics (eight runs allowed in four innings).
The Los Angeles Angels have been inconsistent at the plate this year and, except for Mike Trout, not much better against left-handed starters. You could end up with some serious value if Rodriguez puts together a quality game.
Note: All prices courtesy of DraftKings. Unless otherwise noted, all stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.
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Tuesday’s MLB action features a bunch of great pitchers as well as a few bad ones, which is the recipe for a lot of fantasy points both on the mound and at the plate. Those looking to win money in daily fantasy baseball leagues will need to put together great teams to keep up with the crowd.
Here is a look at the best and worst options available for June 30.
Pitchers
Chris Sale, Chicago White Sox ($12,800)
There are a few top-of-the-line pitching options available, with both Sonny Gray and Cole Hamels being solid choices and cheaper than Chris Sale. However, the White Sox starter has been on a run that has put him in rare company:
Even in a bad start last time out (five earned runs allowed in 6.2 innings), Sale’s 10 strikeouts made sure he came through with a solid fantasy day. These strikeout totals ensure he ends up with at least a reasonable output and possibly a huge one.
Ivan Nova, New York Yankees ($7,300)
Although he has only made one start this season and it came against the struggling Philadelphia Phillies, Ivan Nova looked good while putting up zeroes through 6.2 innings. If he can resemble his form from before Tommy John surgery when he had a 3.10 ERA in 2013, he could be a quality pitcher for fantasy teams.
Against an inconsistent Los Angeles Angels offense, this could be a chance to get plenty of points for relatively cheap.
Taylor Jungmann, Milwaukee Brewers ($6,200)
When in doubt, bet against the Phillies. While the offense has improved recently, this is still the worst team in baseball at 27-51, and it has few threats in the lineup.
Meanwhile, Taylor Jungmann has actually pitched fairly well in his four starts, amassing a 2.74 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 23 innings. He isn’t likely to carry your team, but you can get great value for the price.
Avoid
Shelby Miller, Atlanta Braves ($7,900)
Getting a pitcher with a 1.94 ERA for this price seems like a bargain, but there is a reason Shelby Miller isn’t listed with the other aces. He doesn’t get a lot of strikeouts (averaging just 3.7 per game in his last six starts), and he has a difficult matchup against the red-hot Washington Nationals.
He would have to put together a spectacular performance just to get a reasonable fantasy score, which isn’t likely to happen this time out.
Hitters
Josh Donaldson, 3B, Toronto Blue Jays ($4,800)
Boston Red Sox starter Eduardo Rodriguez allowed six runs last start and nine runs three starts ago. Still, even a consistent lefty would have problems getting out Josh Donaldson in this game.
So far this season, Donaldson has a .360 batting average at home along with 13 of his 18 home runs. He also has crushed lefties to the tune of a .396 batting average. These splits mean bad news for Rodriguez and good news for fantasy owners.
Billy Burns, OF, Oakland Athletics ($4,300)
Since entering the starting lineup for Coco Crisp, Billy Burns has been everything the Athletics could ask for in a leadoff hitter. He gets a hit just about every game, and once he is on first base, he is also a threat to steal and eventually score.
Although he isn’t likely to provide many home runs, he can give you consistent production for a reasonable price.
Curtis Granderson, OF, New York Mets ($4,100)
As bad as the New York Mets have been offensively, Curtis Granderson has done his part as of late. During his current eight-game hitting streak, the outfielder has gone 14-for-31 with five home runs, good enough for a .452 batting average.
Even at the top of the order, he is getting RBI to go with runs and a lot of fantasy points for everyone who has him on his or her team.
Avoid
Jose Bautista, Toronto Blue Jays ($5,200)
You can argue that he’s due, or you can simply say Jose Bautista is ice cold. The slugger is hitless over his last six games, going 0-for-20 during this stretch. The fact he is still earning walks is encouraging, and he obviously has the talent to break out with a few home runs out of nowhere.
On the other hand, there is too much money at stake for a bet on a hitter on such a poor streak.
Team to Stack
Houston Astros
Kansas City Royals pitcher Danny Duffy couldn’t make it out of the fifth in his first start since returning from the disabled list. This has been a common theme for the young starter, who has managed to pitch just 14.1 innings total in his last four games.
The Houston Astros—who lead the majors in home runs this season—could force Duffy into yet another short start with some big hits early.
Note: All prices courtesy of DraftKings. Unless otherwise noted, all stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.
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