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
Jacob deGrom -- The Mets have been one of the best teams in baseball over the past month of the season, and while Yoenis Cespedes and the New York bats have played a huge role in that it's been the consistency of the Mets' pitching staff that truly makes them a contender and deGrom has been a major part of their success all season long. The Mets' ace has put together an outstanding sophomore campaign this season, boasting a 2.88 FIP, 3.02 xFIP and 3.09 SIERA while striking out 9.41 batters per nine innings. He has held batters from both sides of the plate to under a .285 wOBA -- righties are hitting for just a .212 wOBA against him -- and draws a spectacular matchup against a Marlins squad who ranks dead last in both wOBA (.291) and wRC+ (80) against right-handed pitching on the season. deGrom is an elite pitching option in all formats tonight.
Alternative Options: Felix Hernandez, Carlos Martinez
Cost-Effective Pitcher
Chris Heston -- While his numbers aren't quite as gaudy as deGrom's, Heston has had an impressive sophomore season of his own. Although he strikes out just 6.76 batters per nine innings, the youngGiants' starter has earned a 3.90 xFIP and 4.01 SIERA on the season. All that said, what I really like about Heston tonight is his matchup with the struggling Reds. Since the All-Star break, Cincinnati ranks just 24th in both wOBA (.312) and wRC+ (93) and they are +140 underdogs on the road in San Francisco in what is one of the most pitcher-friendly parks in the big leagues. Despite his great matchup tonight, I'll likely be paying up for the elite pitching options like deGrom and King Felix, however, Heston makes a very interesting tournament option if you're looking to save some cash to pay up for a few big bats.
Alternative Options: Tyson Ross
Top Hitters
High-Cost Hitters
Manny Machado -- Machado is often one of my favorite batters to target because he often goes overlooked against right-handed pitching despite the fact that he is a reverse-splits batter. The Orioles' star has amassed .379 wOBA, .213 ISO and .879 against righties this season and draws a spectacular matchup against Red Sox right-hander Joe Kelly who, much like Machado, is actually a reverse-splits pitcher posting a 4.96 FIP while allowing a .358 wOBA when facing righties on the year. The Orioles third baseman is sneakily dollar for dollar one of the best plays on the board tonight.
Josh Donaldson -- I usually only write about Donaldson when he is facing a left-handed pitcher because of how thoroughly he dominates southpaws but, with a matchup against Braves' starter Julio Teheran, tonight is one of the rare occasions I think he is worth his massive price tag even against a righty. Teheran has not been great this season. He has a 4.56 FIP, 4.22 xFIP and 4.26 SIERA through 29 starts and has allowed the 14th most home runs per nine innings (1.29) among all starters this season. Even though his numbers are much better against lefties than righties, Donaldson has been outstanding against right-handed pitching as well this season. The American League MVP candidate has amassed a .389 wOBA, .260 ISO and .919 OPS against righties and should have little trouble taking advantage of a plus matchup against Teheran in what is expected to be one of the highest scoring games on tonight's slate. Donaldson is our number one overall projected batter on the board tonight.
Alternative Options: Bryce Harper, Jose Bautista
Cost-Effective Hitters
John Jaso -- Considering his price tag, Jaso is in play every time he takes the field against a right-handed pitching. The Rays' catcher has earned a .348 wOBA, .170 ISO and .809 OPS against righties and draws a matchup against Yankees' starter Adam Warren and his 4.28 xFIP against left-handed bats this season. At just $2,200 on FanDuel and $2,900 on DraftKings, Jaso makes an excellent value play in all formats tonight.
Danny Valencia -- Much like the aforementioned Machado, Valencia is a reverse splits batter facing a right-handed pitcher tonight. The Athletics' slugger has amassed a .351 wOBA, .266 ISO and .828 OPS when facing righties and gets a plus matchup against the struggling Jeff Samardzija tonight. The White Sox starter has been awful during the second half of this season, posting an abysmal 5.56 FIP and 4.88 xFIP with batters knocking him around for a .365 wOBA since the All-Star break. Valencia has great homer upside and can be had for a very reasonable price across the industry tonight. Do not hesitate to plug him into your lineup in all formats.
Alternative Options: Wil Myers, Matt Wieters