MLB Daily Fantasy Helper: Wednesday 7/1/15
If you've never played daily fantasy baseball before, it's time to start. Unlike traditional leagues, you're able to select the players you want on that specific day only, giving you a different squad to root for each and every day.
And while there are many platforms to play daily fantasy baseball on, one of our favorites is from our partners over at DraftKings.com, a place where over $300,000,000 will be won this baseball season. Never played over there before? It's time for that to change. Sign up now and use our optimal lineups here at numberFire.com to crush the competition. You won't regret it.
As for today's lineups -- those can be found here. The information below is to help you understand why particular players are being picked, because we don't want you going into the things completely blind. We want to help you. Keep in mind, however, that things often change up until the games start, so make sure you're refreshing the optimal lineups as close to the start of games as possible.
Top Pitchers
High-Cost Pitcher
Carlos Carrasco – Despite earning a less-than-stellar 4.16 ERA through his first 15 starts, Carrasco has actually pitched much better than his ERA indicates. The Indians' starter has posted a 2.93 FIP and 2.85 xFIP while striking out an impressive 9.85 batters per nine innings. Tonight, Carrasco draws an exceptional matchup against a Rays squad that ranks 24th in the league in wOBA (.297) versus right-handed pitching and strikes out at the sixth highest rate in the Majors against righties (21.2%). Carrasco is in a great spot tonight on a night when there are not many elite pitchers to choose from.
Alternative Options: Jon Lester, John Lackey
Cost-Effective Pitcher
Chris Heston – The Giants' young starter has been outstanding over the past month, posting a 2.84 FIP while holding opposing batters to just a .282 wOBA in the month of June, including an 11-strikout no-hitter against the Mets back on June 9th. Heston gets a spectacular matchup against the Giancarlo Stanton-less Marlins tonight who already ranked in the bottom five in baseball in both wOBA (.290) and wRC+ (80) against right-handed pitching before their star slugger got hurt. Miami also strikes out at the eighth highest rate in the league against righties (20.8%), which bodes very well for Heston who has struck out just 7.76 batters per nine innings so far this season. If you're looking to save at the pitcher spot tonight, Heston is your guy.
Alternative Options: Bartolo Colon
High-Cost Hitters
Paul Goldschmidt – Goldschmidt is one of the best hitters on the planet and is in play pretty much any time he takes the field, but he is especially appealing tonight against Dodgers' lefty Brett Anderson. Anderson has not been terrible against righties this season -- he has earned a 3.74 FIP and has held opposing righties to just a .305 wOBA this season -- but Goldschmidt has absolutely destroyed left-handed pitching this season. The Diamondbacks' star has posted a ridiculous .486 wOBA, 1.158 OPS and .306 ISO against southpaws this season and should have plenty of opportunities to drive in runs tonight in a game that features one of the highest totals on the board tonight at 8.5. Although his outrageously high price tag may scare many people off, Goldschmidt is one of the most consistent hitters in baseball and makes a spectacular play in all formats if you can find the space for him.
Adam Lind – With Phillies starter Aaron Harang and his 4.00 FIP and 4.48 xFIP taking the hill tonight, pretty much all Brewers bats are in play tonight. Our algorithm actually projects Ryan Braun as the top point getter on tonight's slate, but I want to focus on the Milwaukee first baseman instead. Lind has mashed right-handed pitching to the tune of a .385 wOBA, .220 ISO and .900 OPS so far this season and has a great opportunity to drive in some runs at hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park. Lind is significantly cheaper than Braun on both FanDuel and DraftKings and has just as much upside as his power-hitting teammate against an awful pitcher.
Alternative Options: Bryce Harper, Manny Machado
Cost-Effective Hitters
Gerardo Parra – Speaking of Brewers lefties, Parra has also had his way with right-handed pitching so far this season. The Brewers' outfielder has earned a .332 wOBA and .156 ISO against righties and should have little trouble taking advantage of Harang and his 5.03 FIP and 5.56 xFIP versus lefties. Parra should provide excellent speed at the top of the order and is always a threat to steal against righties. He makes a very strong play at a very reasonable price of just $3,500 on DraftKings and $2,600 on FanDuel.
Jhonny Peralta – Although tonight's matchup between Chicago and St. Louis features one of the lowest totals on the board at just 6.5 tonight, I actually think Peralta is in a great spot tonight against White Sox starter Jose Qunitana. Quintana has struggled to get righties out all season long, giving up a .356 wOBA to righties through his first 15 starts of the year. Meanwhile, Peralta has crushed lefties this season, amassing a .343 wOBA and .284 ISO against southpaws through the first few months of the Cardinals' season. Peralta is a great hitter with a strong matchup who can be had for a very reasonable price tag on both FanDuel and DraftKings. Do not hesitate to plug him into your lineups in all formats tonight.
Alternative Options: Scott Van Slyke, Danny Espinosa
