This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Baseball series.
It's the first Sunday of August, and also the first Sunday after the trade deadline. We're closing in on the stretch run of the MLB season, but we've still got a couple more months of action before the playoffs. That also means plenty of chances left for all us daily fantasy players out there. It's your typical Sunday, in that every team is playing and almost every game is in the afternoon. Here are my recommendations for your lineup.
Massachusetts residents can now engage in online sports betting as of early March, providing them with the ability to place bets on their mobile devices. One of the benefits of signing up for a new account is the availability of welcome bonuses, which can help jump-start your online wagering experience.
With online sports betting live in Massachusetts in early March, sports bettors in the Bay State are able to wager on their own mobile devices. The best part about signing up for new accounts means you can take advantage of welcome bonuses to help aid your start in online wagering.
New players can claim a variety of Massachusetts sports betting promos right away across a half-dozen sportsbooks that can result in a few thousand dollars worth of welcome offers.
One example is at BetMGM Massachusetts, which offers a generous welcome bonus for new players when they redeem the BetMGM Massachusetts bonus code. This offer gave sports bettors $200 in bonus bets before launch, and now gives bettors a first bet offer worth up to $1,000 since sports betting has gone live in the state.
Bettors in Massachusetts can also use the Caesars Sportsbook Massachusetts promo code and claim a first bet on Caesars, worth up to $1,500. This is the best offer for sports bettors in the Bay State, as Caesars Massachusetts looks to start it's business in New England with a bang.
If you're a new player, you can immediately take advantage of a variety of Massachusetts sports betting promos offered by six different sportsbooks, which can result in thousands of dollars in welcome offers.
For example, BetMGM Massachusetts provides new players with a generous welcome bonus when they redeem the BetMGM Massachusetts bonus code. This offer previously gave sports bettors $200 in bonus bets before the launch of online sports betting in Massachusetts, and now provides them with a first bet offer worth up to $1,000 since its launch.
Bettors in Massachusetts can also take advantage of the Caesars Sportsbook Massachusetts promo code and receive a first bet on Caesars worth up to $1,500. This is currently the best offer available for sports bettors in the Bay State, as Caesars Massachusetts seeks to establish itself in New England with a bang.
PITCHING
Noah Syndergaard ($44) didn't get traded at the deadline, perhaps because the Mets were happy with his recent performance. He has compiled a 2.94 ERA over his last eight starts, including allowing zero runs and striking out 11 strikeouts during his most recent outing. The Pirates have been middling offensively, as they are hovering just outside the bottom-10 in runs scored. Thor has also looked better on the road, for what it's worth.
Tanner Roark ($29) was dealt, as he got moved from the Reds to the Athletics. While Roark comes in with a 4.18 FIP, that's while pitching his home games in Cincinnati. Pitching in Oakland is a lot easier, by and large. And this is a matchup with the Cardinals, who rank 22nd in runs scored.
Kenta Maeda ($42) possesses some pretty extreme home/road splits this year. His ERA sits at 5.66 on the road, but that number drops to 2.53 at home. That seems about par for the course, as Maeda owns a 3.07 ERA at Dodgers Stadium since 2017, as opposed to a 5.04 ERA in away games. Since I'm recommending him, that must mean he's at home. He's also facing the Padres, who rank in the bottom-10 when it comes to runs scored.
Lastly, I'm recommending Pedro Payano ($29) due to his matchup. The rookie has pitched in only 11.1 innings, but has impressed with a 3.18 ERA. This is all about the fact he's facing the Tigers, though. Detroit has fallen behind even the Marlins, thanks in part to its .290 OBP as a team. Plus, the Tigers just traded Nicholas Castellanos, one of their better bats.
KEY VALUES/CHALK
Max Kepler ($22) came into the year as a player who still had potential, but hadn't quite lived up to it. He's now been one of the best power hitters in baseball by cranking 30 homers in 101 games, and his OPS is dwarfing his career numbers. The German is still only 26, so maybe he's just hit his prime. There's no reason not to believe in him, especially against Brad Keller and his 4.44 FIP on the year.
If not for starting the season injured and being a little sluggish after that, Francisco Lindor ($22) might have posted the best season of his career. And given that he hit 38 homers and stole 25 bases last year, that's saying something. Lindor's batting average this season is .307, which is a career high. Jaime Barria has only pitched about 40 innings on the season, so it's a small sample size, but he's looked awful on the road. I'm talking a 10.62 ERA in away games.
Nomar Mazara ($18) has hit exactly 20 homers in each of his first three major-league seasons. This year, he could best that as he already has registered 15 dingers. The outfielder can't hit lefties, but that won't be an issue with Jordan Zimmermann on the mound for the Tigers. Oh, also Zimmermann has a 7.23 ERA. That doesn't bode well in Texas' hitter-friendly ballpark.
Bo Bichette ($18) has only played a handful of games in the bigs, but Dante's son has been impressive in his limited time. However, he's considered one of the best prospects in baseball with a good mix of power and speed for a 21-year-old. I think it's worth rolling the dice on his talent, given that he's facing Tom Eshelman on the mound. Eshelman has also made his debut this year, but it has not gone so well thanks to a 6.78 FIP.
STACKS
Phillies vs. Reynaldo Lopez (White Sox)
Bryce Harper (OF - $19), Rhys Hoskins (1B - $18), Cesar Hernandez (2B - $13)
Lopez has slumped to a career FIP of 4.65, and this season has certainly hurt that number. He's recorded a 5.09 FIP in 2019, in part by allowing 1.74 homers per nine innings. On top of that, the White Sox hurler is getting crushed by lefties to the tune of a .296 BAA. And it just so happens the Phillies retain one highly-paid, prominent lefty in their lineup.
That would, of course, be Harper. There's no way to contort his first season with the Phillies into meeting expectations, although he hasn't been a disaster. After all, he has recorded a .371 OBP and has hit 19 homers over 109 games. Maybe Harper hasn't been the hitter of years past, but he can still take advantage of a matchup like this.
Hoskins is a righty, but that's not a big deal. He's got plenty of power, with 34 home runs last season and 24 this year. The 26-year-old also boasts a .393 OBP and has excelled with a .961 home OPS.
Hernandez was recently moved back up to the leadoff spot for the Phillies, perhaps thanks in part to his .284 batting average. He built up a career .278 average, so that's not out of the realm of normal. Hernandez has really struggled against left-handed pitchers, but that shouldn't be an issue with Lopez on the mound. He has also experienced issues hitting on the road, which won't be a problem here either.
Rockies vs. Tyler Beede (Giants)
Nolan Arenado (3B - $19), Charlie Blackmon (OF - $20), Daniel Murphy (1B - $19)
Beede pitches his home games in San Francisco, so it's not surprising he owns a 5.73 ERA in away outings. He's also given up 1.67 homers per nine innings, despite those aforementioned home games in a pitcher-friendly ballpark. And today, Beede is pitching in Coors Field. You can see where this is going.
Over the last four seasons, Arenado hasn't managed fewer than 37 homers or 110 RBI. He's an elite hitter, as his career slash line of .292/.348/.525 shows. Arenado is one of the best players in baseball, and is always worth taking a shot on when at home regardless of price.
Arenado is such a talented hitter he doesn't need the powers of Coors Field, though it certainly helps, but Blackmon is a little more Coors-dependent. Blackmon has recorded a mere .679 OPS on the road, but at home that figure jumps to 1.283. That's pretty stark, but those numbers at Coors remain most important. This isn't a one year thing, as he's registered a 1.139 OPS at home since 2017. Blackmon is great at home, so it's all good especially with Beede on the mound for the Giants.
Murphy is a lefty and though he's actually hit southpaws better this year, he's normally better versus righties like Beede. He compiled an .895 OPS against right-handed pitchers since 2017, even though this is his first year with the Rockies. Murphy has dealt with injuries this year, but he's managed a .329 batting average in his last 25 games. The veteran owns a .299 career average, so it seems like he's rounding into form now that he's healthy.
