MLB Daily Fantasy Helper: Wednesday 8/26/15
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.
And if you'd like, you can use our optimal lineups here at numberFire.com to crush the competition.
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
Chris Archer – Archer has put together the best campaign of his young career so far this season. The Rays' ace has posted career bests in FIP (2.58), xFIP (2.68), SIERA (2.72), strikeout percentage (30.6%) and strikeouts per nine innings (10.92). In fact, Archer has been so good this season that he actually ranks inside of the top five among all starters in every single one of the categories I just listed. Tonight, he draws a spectacular matchup against a Twins' squad who ranks just 25th in the majors in both wOBA (.301) and wRC+ (90) against right-handed pitching while striking out at the eighth highest rate in the league at 21.1%. Archer is our top overall projected pitcher on the board tonight.
Alternative Options: Chris Sale, Felix Hernandez
Cost-Effective Pitcher
Gio Gonzalez – The Padres have been awful against left-handed pitching this season. They rank just 27th in the league in wOBA (.291) and 26th in wRC+ (86) against southpaws on the season and strikeout at a massive 23.7% rate, which is good for second worst in the league against lefties. The man who the Padres are facing off against tonight, Gonzalez, has quietly put together a very impressive season, posting a 3.15 FIP, 3.60 xFIP and 3.77 SIERA while striking out 8.04 batters per nine innings. With Washington currently locked in as -150 favorites in what is expected to be one of the lowest scoring games on the slate tonight with an over/under of just 7, Gonzalez should be in store for a big outing tonight against the struggling Padres. The Nationals' starter is definitely in play at $9,300 on FanDuel, but is an absolute steal at just $7,500 on DraftKings.
Alternative Options: Shelby Miller
Top Hitters
High-Cost Hitters
Mike Trout – Trout has put together another masterful season this year, already blasting 33 homers with 73 RBI with a massive .410 wOBA and .286 ISO on the year. The Angels' star has earned a wOBA of at least .409, an ISO of at least .279 and an OPS of .976 or better against both right-handed and left-handed pitching and gets a matchup against Tigers' starter Justin Verlander who has been a shell of his former self this season. Verlander's 4.28 xFIP is his worst since 2008 with his 4.10 SIERA being his second worst since 2008 outside of last season's 4.17. Tonight's matchup between the Tigers and Angels is expected to be one of the highest scoring games on the slate with an over/under of 9 and Trout should be right in the middle of the offensive explosion. He makes a very strong play at just $4,600 on both FanDuel and DraftKings.
Curtis Granderson – The Mets have been scorching hot over the past month and Granderson has been a big reason why, posting a .378 wOBA, .282 ISO and .891 OPS in the month of August. And he's in a great spot once again tonight against Phillies' rookie starter Jerad Eickhoff. Although Eickhoff was impressive in his first outing of the season, he comes into his second start in the majors having earned a 4.40 FIP in Triple-A this season and gets a much tougher matchup tonight against New York than he had when he faced Miami in his first start in the big leagues. Meanwhile, Granderson has owned right-handed pitching this season, amassing a .390 wOBA, .237 ISO and .909 OPS against righties on the year. The Mets' slugger makes an excellent play in all formats tonight.
Alternative Options: Yoenis Cespedes, Josh Donaldson
Cost-Effective Hitters
Kike Hernandez – With the Dodgers fighting through the injury bug over the past two months, Hernandez has become an every day player for Los Angeles as of late. While he has not faired well when facing right-handed pitching, he has absolutely destroyed southpaws, posting a ridiculous .486 wOBA, .338 ISO and 1.169 OPS against lefties on the year. Tonight, Hernandez draws a dream matchup against Reds' starter David Holmberg who has been abysmal when facing right-handed bats this year. Holmberg has earned a horrific 8.02 FIP and 5.61 xFIP against right-handed hitters while they have knocked him around for a .449 wOBA so far this season. Assuming Hernandez is hitting towards the top of the order as he usually does against left-handed pitching, he is dollar for dollar one of my favorite plays on the board tonight at just $2,200 on FanDuel and $2,600 on DraftKings.
Jhonny Peralta – Speaking of players who have had their way with left-handed pitching, Peralta has put up a .349 wOBA, .246 ISO and .817 OPS against southpaws this season. Peralta has the pleasure of hitting in the middle of one of the best lineups in baseball and gets a spectacular matchup tonight against Diamondbacks' lefty Patrick Corbin who has given up a .346 wOBA to right-handed bats this season. While the Cardinals' shortstop is certainly in play at $3,800 on DraftKings, his price tag has fallen all the way to $2,400 on FanDuel, making him one of the best values on the board. Do not hesitate to plug the Cardinals' slugger into your lineup in all formats tonight.
Alternative Options: John Jaso, Justin Turner
