The App is Back! Don’t forget to download the NBC Sports EDGE app to receive real-time player news, mobile alerts and track your favorite players. Plus, now you can check out articles and player cards. Get it here!
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.
The Marlins-Mets game is already postponed. The Phillies-Nationals are at risk of following suit. I’ll avoid them for recommendation purposes.
[[ad:athena]]
PITCHER
Top Play: Gerrit Cole – Yankees (at Angels)
Cole is only the fourth-most expensive pitcher despite a top projection. Both he and Max Scherzer figure to throw a tad over six innings with around eight strikeouts. The Angels are middle of the pack when it comes to whiffing. They have a mix of high- and low-contact hitters so it all balances out. Cole frequently returns value on this (and higher) price points.
Pivot: Joe Ryan – Twins (vs Cubs)
Acquired as part of the Nelson Cruz trade, Ryan will make his big league debut today. In the minors, he posted big strikeout totals backed by a healthy swinging strike rate. He typically only works four or five innings and seems to be moderately homer prone. The Cubs have several mashers who like the ball down in the zone while Ryan works almost exclusively at the letters. This looks like it has potential to turn into four innings and seven strikeouts at a deeply discounted price.
Also Consider: Max Scherzer, Carlos Rodon, Chris Sale, Aaron Nola, Kevin Gausman, James Kaprielian, Steven Matz, Mike Minor
Editor’s Note: Dominate daily with our premium DFS Tools that are packed with our lineup optimizer, a salary tracker, projections and much more. And don’t forget to use promo code SAVE10 to get 10% off. Click here to learn more!
CATCHER
Top Play: Will Smith – Dodgers (vs Max Fried)
Fried is usually a pitcher to avoid targeting. He has a nice blend of ground balls, infrequent walks, and around a strikeout per inning. The Dodgers obviously offer a tough assignment with Smith rating as one of their most dangerous bats against left-handed ground ball pitchers. He loves the ball down in the zone where Fried does his business, making this a classic strength-vs-strength matchup. Smith has just shy of a one-in-four chance to homer as a result. He’s been locked in since the All-Star Break, batting .296/.410/.652 with 12 home runs in 139 plate appearances.
Pivot: Kyle Higashioka – Yankees (at Packy Naughton)
Naughton survived his first start by the skin of his teeth. The soft-tossing southpaw didn’t pitch particularly well despite allowing only two unearned runs. The Yankees offense could give him trouble. Ironically, Higashioka might be a better play for power outcomes than some of their big boppers. He thrives on pitches low in the zone and presents a regular multi-homer threat out of the bargain bin. As with Sanchez yesterday, it’s a shame this game is on the road.
Also Consider: J.T. Realmuto, Will Smith, Sean Murphy, Alejandro Kirk, Buster Posey
FIRST BASE
Top Play: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – Blue Jays (vs Matt Harvey)
While the Jays stack let us down last night, that only means they’ll be a little less chalky tonight. They’ve thrashed Harvey three times this season and will likely do so for a fourth time this evening. Vladito continues to mash and matches decently against Harvey’s batted ball tendencies. Multi-hit and power outcomes are within reach.
Pivot: Luke Voit – Yankees (at Naughton)
Since returning from his latest injury, Voit is batting .281/.352/.563 with five home runs in 71 plate appearances. The right-handed masher has enough lift in his swing to overcome Naughton’s ground ball tendencies. It’s not a perfect mirroring of launch angles – Voit still has elevated risk for ground balls. However, the pairing is more favorable than not for Voit. He’s comically underpriced.
Also Consider: Shohei Ohtani, Matt Olson, Jose Abreu, Trey Mancini, Ryan Mountcastle, Alfonso Rivas, Brad Miller, Andrew Vaughn
SECOND BASE
Top Play: Mookie Betts – Dodgers (vs Fried)
Betts remains a potential boxscore monster who tonight is priced alongside contact-only players like Jean Segura and Whit Merrifield. Like Smith, Betts’ swing contains natural lift which should help him to turn around Fried’s sinker for high value contact. Dodgers Stadium is especially friendly to low-angle fly balls which benefit from extra carry due to park effects and dry local weather.
Pivot: Tony Kemp – Athletics (at Wily Peralta)
Peralta’s fairy tale ended mid-July. He’s remained a passable sacrificial starter since then – better than a Matt Harvey but not somebody we’d want to consider using. Kemp and teammate Josh Harrison both match well against the Tigers right-hander. They both produce plenty of fly ball contact, although neither hits the ball with much authority. Still, they have elevated home run odds along with potential for multiple line drives. Whichever of the pair serves as the leadoff hitter will be the more interesting DFS choice.
Also Consider: Trea Turner, Marcus Semien, Jorge Polanco, Jean Segura, Whit Merrifield, Josh Harrison
THIRD BASE
Top Play: Josh Donaldson – Twins (vs Justin Steele)
Although much of his minor league career was spent as a starter, Steele more aptly fits as a reliever. He’s a fastball, sinker, slider guy with a show-me curve. He keeps the ball on the ground while inducing over a strikeout per inning. While I usually swoon over such profiles, Steele’s iffy command could sink him. He’s unlikely to finish more than four innings. Donaldson’s swing has decent lift - not enough to make this a nitro matchup. However, his plate discipline will serve him well. He should get at least two plate appearances against a soft Cubs bullpen.
Pivot: Luis Arraez – Twins (vs Steele)
This initial matchup isn’t nearly as favorable. Arraez is liable to pound the ball into the ground. He’s also not that much cheaper than Donaldson. Of course, these are the reasons why Arraez is an apt pivot. He should go relatively untouched in GPPs. As always with this recommendation, we’re chasing multi-hit potential rather than power.
Also Consider: Jose Ramirez, Rafael Devers, Kris Bryant, Matt Chapman, Yoan Moncada, Justin Turner, Carter Kieboom, Jace Peterson
SHORTSTOP
Top Play: Bo Bichette – Blue Jays (vs Harvey)
Expect Bichette to be a chalk monster. Most of the quality shortstops are banged up or have obviously poor matchups. Bichette is the only stud at the position with a juicy opportunity. He gets a boost from batting cleanup.
Pivot: Josh Harrison – Athletics (at Peralta)
As we discussed a moment ago, both Harrison and Kemp match well against Peralta. Whereas Kemp usually bats leadoff or eighth, Harrison mostly bounces between leadoff and fifth. He’s usable in either role. A home run isn’t completely out of the cards (about 10 percent chance), but we’re mostly looking for well-struck balls in play and run production.
Also Consider: Willy Adames, Amed Rosario, Luis Urias, Jorge Mateo
OUTFIELD
Top Plays: George Springer – Blue Jays (vs Harvey)
Luis Robert – White Sox (vs Max Kranick)
Byron Buxton – Twins (vs Steele)
Springer and teammate Teoscar Hernandez are once again in an excellent position to supply power and run production in droves. Both have around a one-in-four chance to homer. Buxton remains woefully underpriced relative to his ability. His fly ball tendencies are such that he matches well against Steele. Again, he’ll see plenty of the Cubs relief corps too.
The White Sox almost slipped through today’s column without receiving a writeup. They’re also a top stack opposite Kranick. The Pirates right-handed fly ball pitcher has struggled through five outings. He’s unlikely to finish five innings. While only moderately homer prone in the minors, he projects as somebody who could suffer a severe case of homeritis in the Majors. Eloy Jimenez and Robert are especially attractive options. Robert’s aggressiveness has a Javy Baez tinge to it. He produces a lofty line drive rate which in turn fuels his elevated .417 BABIP.
Pivots: Akil Baddoo – Tigers (vs Kaprielian)
Corey Dickerson – Blue Jays (vs Harvey)
Dickerson might not play as a pivot depending on his lineup role. I’m expecting him to bat sixth or lower. Toronto’s top five bats are so attractive that most stacks might not look beyond them. It’s possible I’m miscalculating. Dickerson projects as a decent value for his price. He’s not a huge power or multi-hit threat. However, if the Jays click tonight, Dickerson will likely be a part of the action. Baddoo has some interesting long-term traits. He’s managed to keep his head above water in his MLB debut, mostly via a fluky-looking .335 BABIP. A matchup against Kaprielian is neutral – he too is punching above his weight class.
Also Consider: Bryce Harper, Aaron Judge, Joey Gallo, Giancarlo Stanton, Starling Marte, Mark Canha, Tony Kemp, Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani, Eloy Jimenez, Andrew Vaughn, Teoscar Hernandez, Randal Grichuk, Corey Dickerson, Lourdes Gurriel, Akil Baddoo, Trey Mancini, Anthony Santander, Austin Hays
