This article outlines the best daily fantasy MLB plays of the day at every position. We take a comprehensive look to uncover these core recommendations, factoring respective salaries into the analysis.
Please note, these player picks were organized early in the day. For MLB contests, always check lineups and weather closer to game time. Rain, wind, or unexpected managerial decisions could open up additional sources of value. Be sure to keep an eye on the MLB Headlines and Injuries desk.
We’ll focus our attention on the nine-game main slate starting at 7:05 ET.
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PITCHER
Top Play: Corbin Burnes - Milwaukee (vs. Miami)
Burnes will cost you a pretty penny, so you’ll probably have to arrange the rest of your lineup accordingly to make him work. We all know that Burnes has elite strikeout upside, as he has recorded nine or more punchouts in all four starts this season. His opponent today, Miami, ranks 21st in wRC+ with the ninth-highest strikeout rate.
Pivot: Trevor Rogers - Miami (at Milwaukee)
Most DFS players will focus on Burnes from this game, but don’t forget about the pitcher on the other side. Trevor Rogers is in the midst of a breakout season with a 1.64 ERA and 31 strikeouts across 22 innings so far. He could continue that pace against a Milwaukee offense that ranks 26th in wRC+ with the third-highest strikeout rate.
Also Consider: Anthony DeSclafani
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CATCHER
Top Play: Yadier Molina - St. Louis (vs. Philadelphia)
Molina has been tearing the cover off the ball with a .339 average alongside five homers and 14 RBI to start the season. He’s dealing with a foot injury at the moment, so we’ll need to double-check that he’s in the lineup. Philadelphia RHP Zack Wheeler has been somewhat mediocre this season after allowing 22 hits and 10 earned runs across 16.2 innings over his last three starts.
Pivot: Kurt Suzuki - LA Angels (at Texas)
Suzuki is a cheap value filler if you need some savings at catcher. Max Stassi is on the injured list, so Suzuki has been filling in for the Angels. The veteran catcher doesn’t have a ton of pop at this point in his career, but he’s a legitimate multi-hit candidate within this lethal LAA offense.
Also Consider: Buster Posey
FIRST BASE
Top Play: Yuli Gurriel - Houston (vs. Seattle)
The Astros have the highest run-scoring projection of the night, so you’ll see plenty of Houston players in this article. I’m thinking it’s a sound strategy to build your cash game lineups with a Houston stack. Gurriel is a nice pillar within that, racking up six hits, three homers, and six RBI in his last five games.
Pivot: Mike Ford - NY Yankees (at Baltimore)
It would be better if this game was played in Yankee Stadium, but Oriole Park is fairly generous to left-handed power as well. The matchup looks fantastic, as Baltimore RHP Matt Harvey has gotten rocked by left-handed power over the last few seasons. Ford is one of the few NYY hitters from that side of the plate to take full advantage.
Also Consider: Anthony Rizzo, Jared Walsh
SECOND BASE
Top Play: Ty France - Seattle (at Houston)
Okay, so France isn’t necessarily a “top play”, but we like him through all formats tonight. He has an agreeable mid-range salary while swinging a confident bat with six hits and four runs over his past four games. There’s a chance he’ll keep hitting against Houston RHP Jose Urquidy, who has allowed 10 earned runs and 18 hits through 16.2 innings over his last three starts. Don’t sleep on France and the Mariners’ offense tonight.
Pivot: Ryan McMahon - Colorado (at San Francisco)
Most people will avoid the Rockies away from their hitter-friendly park. However, Ryan McMahon needs to be on your tournament list while facing San Francisco RHP Anthony DeSclafani and his sensitivity to left-handed bats. Sure, Oracle Park is tough on left-handed power guys like McMahon, but the matchup itself aligns nicely.
Also Consider: Chris Taylor
THIRD BASE
Top Play: Alex Bregman - Houston (vs. Seattle)
I mentioned how several Houston hitters will be featured in this article, so this should come as no surprise. Bregman is the most legitimate batter for the Astros, and he’ll look to feast on this righty/lefty matchup against Justus Sheffield - who has been somewhat mediocre this season while struggling with command at times.
Pivot: Maikel Franco - Baltimore (vs. NY Yankees)
The Orioles aren’t a good team, but they will occasionally score runs in the hitter-friendly AL East ballparks. That could be the case for Maikel Franco and company while facing Yankee RHP Deivi Garcia - who held an inflated 4.98 ERA last season. Franco is one of those boom or bust hitters, but he’s cheap with plenty of “pop” in his bat.
Also Consider: Evan Longoria, Justin Turner
SHORTSTOP
Top Play: Carlos Correa - Houston (vs. Seattle)
One last Houston hitter to build out our stack. It’s not that I’m down on Seattle LHP Sheffield, but this is a very difficult matchup for him against the Houston right-handed gauntlet. That includes a red-hot Carlos Correa, who has patched together five hits, five runs, one homer, and four RBI over his last four games.
Pivot: Mauricio Dubon - San Francisco (vs. Colorado)
Dubon isn’t anything special, but he’s dirt-cheap with an interesting right/lefty matchup against Colorado southpaw Austin Gomber. While Gomber has looked good this season, he’s still nothing more than an average pitcher at this stage in his career. Dubon should have a respectable spot in the San Francisco lineup tonight, and he could see numerous RBI opportunities with the Giants hitting left-handed pitchers decently.
Also Consider: Corey Seager, David Fletcher
OUTFIELD
Top Play: Justin Upton - LA Angels (at Texas)
Upton has a nine-game hitting streak, but the last four of those have been pretty empty for fantasy purposes. Now he’ll step into a nice matchup against Texas RHP Jordan Lyles in a hitter-friendly ballpark. Upton carries a non-imposing salary with plenty of upside, and I’m looking towards him through all formats tonight.
Top Play: Mark Canha - Oakland (at Tampa Bay)
The entire Oakland lineup is on fire right now, and that could continue against Tampa Bay veteran LHP Rich Hill, who holds an 8.82 ERA through four starts this season. Canha, Laureano, Chapman, and Lowrie are on my shortlist through all formats today.
Pivot: Dylan Carlson - St. Louis (vs. Philadelphia)
As mentioned earlier, Philadelphia RHP Wheeler hasn’t been sharp to begin the season, so maybe this is a better matchup than it seems on paper. Carlson is still reasonably priced despite swinging a hot bat to begin the season. Granted, it’s early - but Carlson actually ranks top 20 in wOBA through the first month of the 2021 campaign. He could keep the momentum tonight.
Also Consider: Ramon Laureano, Charlie Blackmon, Austin Slater, Tyler O’Neill
8.7.3
