MLB Daily Fantasy Helper: Tuesday 7/28/15
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.
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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
Jose Fernandez – Since returning from injury, Fernandez has gone at least six innings while striking out six batters in each of his four starts. He's also allowed no more than three earned runs. If we consider that his floor, then we're off to a great start. He'll be at home tonight against the Nationals, a team that's average in terms of wOBA against right-handed pitching, but one that's striking out at a 21.1% clip in the split, which is seventh worst in baseball. Fernandez is our top pitcher tonight and a nice cash game option.
Alternative Option: Noah Syndergaard
Cost-Effective Pitcher
Ubaldo Jimenez – The Braves don't really strikeout a lot against right-handed pitching, but their .302 wOBA is tied for the 22nd best in baseball, so there's room for Ubaldo to go deep into the game tonight. The other side to this is that Jimenez has a strong K rate, and is able to snag strikeouts even when his outings aren't great. Which, to be real with you, has been the case of late, as he's allowed 14 earned runs over his last two starts. But the Orioles are heavy favorites tonight, and the over/under is a respectable 7.5. Our numbers think Jimenez is a good second pitching or GPP option.
Alternative Option: N/A
High-Cost Hitters
Mark Teixeira – Let's hope Teixeira's frustrations from last night translates to a good DFS night tonight. He should have a good one, as the Yankees are facing lefty Martin Perez in Texas, a good park for hitters. Perez has limited experience this year, throwing just 11 innings, and he hasn't been fantastic while doing so. Meanwhile, Teixeira has historically hit lefties better than righties, to the tune of a .389 career wOBA (.400 in 2015). A lot of Yankees, too, are in play tonight.
Josh Donaldson – The Blue Jays against a left-handed pitcher equals DFS gold, and Donaldson is the man to target most. Against southpaws this year, the slugger has a .325 ISO and .441 wOBA. Add in the fact that tonight's opposing pitcher is Adam Morgan, who has a 5.22 FIP in 27.1 innings this year.
Alternative Option: Paul Goldschmidt
Cost-Effective Hitters
Matt Carpenter – Carpenter's price is significantly different than it was at the beginning of the year, but that's because he's not hitting like he was to start the year. His ISO in April and May was .279 and .204, respectively, and in June and July, it's been .051 and .096. But his price is fair, and he's been hitting right-handers a lot better than lefties this season. And tonight he gets an average right-hander in Mike Leake, who's allowed a .325 wOBA versus lefties this season (far worse than what he's done against left-handers).
Gregory Polanco – Polanco is a better play on FanDuel tonight, but as a leadoff hitter in an offense that has close to a five run over/under, he's an interesting player regardless of the site. There's no doubt that you won't be getting power from him, despite the matchup against Mike Pelfrey, but Polanco's riding a five-game hit streak and has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games. His speed is a nice bonus, too.
Alternative Option: Danny Valencia
