This article will outline the best daily fantasy MLB plays of the day at every position. We’ll take a comprehensive look across the DFS industry 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.
Editor’s Note: Stay ahead of the competition from wire to wire with rankings, customizable projections, trade evaluator, exclusive columns and more in our Season Pass. And start using optimized lineups with our DFS Toolkit!
[[ad:athena]]
We will be looking at the seven-game main slate starting at 7:05 ET.
PITCHER
Sonny Gray - Cincinnati (at Miami)
Gray has been performing like a top-tier pitcher lately, stringing together impressive showings to lower his ERA to 2.92 this season. As a result, the Cincinnati righty has topped 46 or more fantasy points in each of his last four starts, and he finds himself in one of the best matchups of the year against a Marlins team that ranks last in most crucial offensive categories. Gray has been striking out hitters like a madman, recording 34 K’s across 24 innings over his past four starts. We should see the best of both worlds in hitter-friendly Marlins Park, as Gray should piece together a quality start with some impressive strikeout upside.
Also Consider: Homer Bailey, Dustin May
CATCHER / FIRST BASE
Eric Thames - Milwaukee (vs. St. Louis)
We all know Thames is a streaky hitter, so you better snag him while he’s swinging a confident bat. That’s the case at the moment, as the Milwaukee first baseman has homered in each of his past two starts. His DFS salary remains moderate despite that recent uptick, and the matchup corresponds nicely against St. Louis RHP Adam Wainwright (.377 wOBA vs. LHB) in hitter-friendly Miller Park.
Also Consider: Paul Goldschmidt, DJ LeMahieu
SECOND BASE
Cesar Hernandez - Philadelphia (vs. Pittsburgh)
We are faced with the usual dilemma at second base, as the position doesn’t carry many confident, well-priced options to consider for DFS cash games. Ketel Marte is recognized as the best candidate for this slate, but his salary makes it difficult to blend him into a confident lineup. That’s why I’m looking towards the economical price tag of Hernandez, who steps into a reasonably good matchup against Pittsburgh RHP Joe Musgrove (.344 wOBA vs. LHB). Hernandez is a switch-hitter who has gotten on base 11 times over the past five games, and the hitter-friendly park factor in Philadelphia doesn’t hurt either.
Also Consider: Ketel Marte, Austin Nola
THIRD BASE
Mike Moustakas - Milwaukee (vs. St. Louis)
Moustakas has been flexing his power lately, smacking four homers, two doubles, and 13 RBIs over his past seven games. The Milwaukee lefty has an excellent chance to add to those impressive season totals (31 HR, 76 RBI) while facing the aforementioned vulnerability (.377 wOBA vs. LHB) of St. Louis RHP Wainwright. The Brewers represent one of the highest run projections of the night, and Moustakas is the leading candidate to make that happen.
Also consider: Eduardo Escobar, Gio Urshela
SHORTSTOP
Kevin Newman - Pittsburgh (at Philadelphia)
Don’t look now, but Newman has been sizzling hot with five hits, six runs, two RBIs, and two steals over his past two games. He’ll see a substantial park boost in Philadelphia while holding the platoon advantage over mediocre left-handed pitcher Jason Vargas. Newman checks in with a mid-range salary that fits perfectly into all lineup formats.
Also Consider: Paul DeJong, Nick Ahmed
OUTFIELD
Bryan Reynolds - Pittsburgh (at Philadelphia)
Reynolds will look to cash in on the same matchup outlined with his teammate, Newman. The switch-hitting rookie noticed a lull over the past week or two, but he bounced back nicely this weekend with five hits, two doubles, three runs, four RBIs, and one stolen base in three games against Cincinnati. Getting that park boost in Philadelphia should put some wind in his sails.
Dexter Fowler - St. Louis (at Milwaukee)
Fowler’s bat is finally starting to wake up, helping him tally four runs and 10 RBIs over his last six starts. We could see plenty of runs from both sides in hitter-friendly Miller Park tonight, as the Cardinals will get their second look at Gio Gonzalez in less than a week. As a result, Fowler, Goldschmidt, DeJong, and Tommy Edman are all on my list as potential DFS options.
Also consider: Christain Yelich, Aaron Judge, Starling Marte, Jorge Soler, Mark Canha, Kevin Pillar, Cameron Maybin
