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MLB DFS: Stud and Steal of the Day June 29

By Allan Morancie

May 19, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter (13) celebrates after hitting a two run double off of Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jon Gray (not pictured) during the fourth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
May 19, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter (13) celebrates after hitting a two run double off of Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jon Gray (not pictured) during the fourth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /
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MLB DFS
Jun 7, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; General view as MLB baseballs on the field before the Pittsburgh Pirates host the New York Mets in a double header at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

MLB DFS: Another Big Slate of Games

Looking at tonight’s slate of eight baseball games, it can be daunting to decide who deserves a place in your lineup. Knowing which star player is worth the money can be the difference between a winning night and one that ends in failure. However, finding the hidden gems that perform well are equally as important because they can let you spend more on your starting pitchers. This article will touch on one expensive player who is primed to have a big night, and one cheap player whom you wouldn’t normally play but is a great play tonight.

Past Plays:

6/27:Mike Trout:3/4, 1 HR, 2B, 2R’s 1 RBI

6/28:Josh Donaldson:2/5,  3B,BB,3 RBI’s,1R

6/28:Giancarlo Stanton:3/5,  1 HR, 2 1B, 3 RBI’s, 1 R

Next: Stud of the Day

May 19, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals third baseman
May 19, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals third baseman /

The Stud of the Day: Matt Carpenter ($5,400 dk, $3,900 fd)

While today’s stud of the day isn’t as well know as say Mike Trout or Josh Donaldson, he is well on his way to being a star in Major League Baseball. This player of course is Matt Carpenter ($5,400 on DK, $3,900 FD) of the St.Louis Cardinals, who has a juicy match up at home vs. Edinson Volquez and the Royals. Carpenter is in the midst of a career year and has gone from an absolute steal on Fanduel and Draftkings, to one of the most expensive 2nd baseman on the board every single night.

His cost tonight is well worth paying up for as he faces of in St.Louis against Volquez in the right handers first start since serving a 5 game suspension for his role in a benches clearing brawl against the White Sox. Ironically enough Volquez was hit with the suspension for missing a punch that was meant for Jeff Samardzjia, ironic of course because he’s been missing with pitches all year. On the road he has been particularly terrible, sporting a 6.82 e.r.a in just under 34 innings pitched. Factor in his 8.88 e.r.a in June and the Cardinals should have a field day in Busch Stadium tonight.

As poorly as Volquez has been pitching in June, Carpenter has been doing the complete opposite. After a sluggish start to the year, he has turned on the jets in June and is hitting .368 for the month with 5 HR’s, 15 RBI’s, and 18 runs scored. He’s been killing right-handed pitching all year to the tune of .312 average and what puts the icing on the cake is 11 of his 14 home runs have come against righties. When a star player gets the right match up you pay whatever the cost is to get him in your lineup, Carpenter is that player tonight!

Next: The Steal of the Day

MLB DFS
May 11, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins designated hitter Joe Mauer (7) singles in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /

Steal of the Day: Joe Mauer ($3,600 dk, $3,200 fd)

Once considered the best hitting catcher in baseball, Joe Mauer ($3,600 DK, $3,200 FD) has significantly fallen off the past few seasons due to a number of factors including injury. Tonight however, he is our steal of the day which is part of the reason why so many people love daily fantasy sports. Would I recommend adding Mauer in a season long league? Absolutely not, but tonight he gets a great match up against James Shields and you should take advantage of it.

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While Mauer has hit Shields extremely well in a fairly large sample size, (.349 avg, 10 RBI’s in 45 PA), this pick has a lot to do with just how poorly Shields has pitched in 2016. He is sporting a 15.80 e.r.a in June and has given up a whopping 24 earned runs in only 13.2 innings. Lefties, (like Mauer,) are hitting .323 for the year against him as he has struggled to show any of the talent that lead the White Sox to hand him a 75 million dollar contract last off season.

In a previous article I wrote titled, “MLB DFS Tips: Beginners Tips and Tricks!” I talked about using batter vs. pitcher stats in moderation, this is the time to use them. You have a pitcher struggling to get lefties out coming up against a batter that has dominated him for his career. While this may be one of the few times you use Mauer all season, he shouldn’t disappoint. Get him in your lineups!

Next: FanDuel Picks and Pivots June 29

Best of luck tonight gamer’s! Make sure to review the lineups as they are announced before locking in your lineups!