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!
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We will be looking at the six-game main slate starting at 7:05 ET.
PITCHER
Clayton Kershaw - LA Dodgers (vs. San Diego)
This recommendation shouldn’t need much analysis. Kershaw may be on the other side of his prime years, but you wouldn’t get that impression after watching his most recent outings. The All-Star lefty has allowed just four earned runs with 35 strikeouts across 25 innings over his past four starts. He has an excellent opportunity to keep that momentum while hosting a San Diego offense that ranks below average in wRC+ (93) with the second-highest strikeout rate (25.9%).
Also Consider: Gerrit Cole, Max Fried
CATCHER / FIRST BASE
Freddie Freeman - Atlanta (vs. Cincinnati)
Freeman is pricey, and combining him with Kershaw could take a large chunk of your allotted salary. However, we’ll focus on some bargain hitters at other positions to make up for it. Cincinnati RHP Anthony DeSclafani has been sharp lately, but Freeman poses as a huge threat to his continued success. After all, the Reds’ pitcher carries a vulnerable .393 wOBA split to left-handed bats, and Freeman should see plenty of RBI opportunities within this potent Atlanta offense.
Also Consider: Anthony Rizzo, Trey Mancini, Travis d’Arnaud
SECOND BASE
Michael Chavis - Boston (vs. Tampa Bay)
Chavis has slowed down after a remarkable start to the season, but he’s warming back up with multiple hits in three of his past five games. He’ll step into a strong righty/lefty matchup tonight against Tampa southpaw Brendan McKay. It’s no surprise that Boston checks in with the highest run-scoring projection of the night, as the Red Sox will look to tee-off in hitter-friendly Fenway Park. Chavis is a strong candidate to make some noise within that.
Also Consider: Ozzie Albies, Cavan Biggio
THIRD BASE
Matt Duffy - Tampa Bay (at Boston)
The Red Sox aren’t the only team that will enjoy the hitter-friendly dimensions of Fenway Park. The Rays have a nice opportunity to score some runs against newly-acquired Boston RHP Andrew Cashner and his .369 wOBA split to right-handed bats. Duffy has registered five hits over his last three games, and he still holds a reasonably cheap salary to help your lineup stay under the cap.
Also Consider: Eugenio Suarez, Alex Bregman
SHORTSTOP
Jose Iglesias - Cincinnati (at Atlanta)
Iglesias is another bargain hitter in a strong matchup while swinging a hot bat. The Cincinnati infielder has stepped up with two homers and six RBIs over his past four games. Iglesias isn’t known for his power upside, but he’s an efficient contact hitter with some “pop” in his back pocket. Meanwhile, Atlanta LHP Max Fried has been slipping recently, allowing four or more earned runs with seven or more hits in two of his past three starts.
Also Consider: Xander Bogaerts, Paul DeJong
OUTFIELD
Anthony Santander - Baltimore (vs. Toronto)
Santander has been a fixture in our GPP Pivots columns, and he graduated to the MLB DFS Plays article today. He has been brilliant recently, doing it all with 22 hits, four homers, 12 runs, and 15 RBIs over his past 13 games. He’s a switch-hitter who has every intention on taking advantage of Toronto RHP Trent Thornton’s .358 wOBA split to left-handed bats. Thornton is making his first start since coming off the 10-day injured list, and he was getting absolutely shelled prior to that absence. The Orioles could make some noise in Baltimore’s hitter-friendly setup tonight.
Ender Inciarte - Atlanta (vs. Cincinnati)
Inciarte is another bargain filler to help round out your lineup. Actually, that may be underselling him. Inciarte remains cheap despite heating up with nine hits, three doubles, two homers, six runs, eight RBIs, and two steals over his past four starts. Making matters even better, the matchup is promising against Cincinnati RHP DeSclafani’s aforementioned .393 wOBA split to left-handed bats. Go ahead and consider Inciarte through all formats this evening.
Also Consider: J.D. Martinez, Mookie Betts, Nick Senzel, Avisail Garcia, Phillip Ervin, Jace Peterson
