Kuzul

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

Begin Slideshow

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. 

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

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!

Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for daily fantasy advice and nonstop sports.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

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.

DraftKings is hosting one-day MLB contests! Claim your free entry by clicking on the link and making a first-time deposit!

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

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.

Begin Slideshow

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. 

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

Begin Slideshow

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.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

It is a packed Tuesday-night MLB slate, and it is even more crowded when you consider the myriad options on the daily fantasy baseball board among starting pitchers. There doesn’t look like there is much to choose between them, but we take our stab at outlining the best DraftKings pitcher picks for May 12.

Top Picks

Chris Archer, Tampa Bay Rays ($8,300)

His scoreless streak evolved into a two-start slump, but Archer has the most DraftKings points per game to date, among the arms on the board, because of his strikeout totals. The pitch counts get high quickly with the whiffs, but those are the fastest way to score fantasy points, too. We will say a quality start and seven strikeouts is a good baseline. Not bad for the price.

A.J. Burnett, Pittsburgh Pirates ($8,200)

The veteran has gotten off to a great start this season with his 1.66 ERA, but we are going to stick with the strategy of lining up our arms against the bottom-feeding Philadelphia Phillies. They are last in runs scored, last in home runs, last in on-base percentage, slugging percentage and therefore OPS. Burnett is the safest play on the board.

Ranking the Premium Guys

1. Chris Sale, Chicago White Sox ($9,400)—The matchup against the Milwaukee Brewers is enticing, but he just hasn’t been pitching well enough to justify the price.
2. Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals ($9,200)—He has been underperforming this season, even if the strikeouts are still there. We would like this shoulder/back issue flush itself out before you trust your top dollars on him. 
3. Jake Arrieta, Chicago Cubs ($8,600)—The 2014 breakout had gotten off to a great start, but like the two above him here, he has been mediocre at best the past two outings. We like the matchup against a fairly threat-less New York Mets offense, but we would put our top dollars more on the bigger arms above.

Best of the Bargains

Noah Syndergaard, New York Mets ($7,200)

The big, power right-hander makes his major league debut against the Cubs and comes to us at a fairly significant price for a sight-unseen rookie. We will say, though, the juice is worth the squeeze, particularly in his strikeout potential. His stuff profiles to be at least a strikeout-per-inning pitcher, and the unfamiliarity against a young Cubs lineup could get him a pretty snappy debut.

Collin McHugh, Houston Astros ($7,400)

We are not sold on McHugh‘s pure stuff, but we are going to miss out on opportunities in daily fantasy if we keep saying that. McHugh is following up on his 2014 breakthrough with a strong start to the season and is facing that weak San Francisco Giants offense that is 29th in runs scored. We understand Houston is a hitter’s park, but this is a strangely discounted price otherwise.

Shot in the Dark

Kyle Gibson, Minnesota Twins ($5,700)

We don’t have complete confidence that Gibson’s 17-inning scoreless streak is going to make it out of his start against the Detroit Tigers alive, but you have to pay attention to what he has put together of late. Gibson’s price remains low amid this hot streak because he is not a strikeout pitcher, but he has posted three consecutive quality starts. He should get another one here at a near-basement price.

DraftKings is hosting one-day MLB contests! Claim your free entry by clicking on the link and making a first-time deposit!

Follow @EricMackFantasy

Eric Mack, one of the giants among fantasy writers, is the Fantasy Football Lead Writer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter, where you can ask him endless questions about your team, rip him for his content and even challenge him to a head-to-head fantasy game.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com