Daily fantasy baseball gives you the ability to have a new team everyday.  Pick a team early Sunday afternoon, say goodbye to that team Sunday night while you swap out all of your traditional rosters.  Play everyday or play twice a month.  It doesn’t matter – you have full control.

Most daily fantasy baseball sites do player salaries and a salary cap.  Most offer head to head matchups on up to thousands of player tournaments, and everywhere in between.  Some sites even offer traditional snake drafting.

It’s an alternative to gambling.  Anyone who has ever gambled on baseball knows, over time, it is a losing proposition.  DFB doesn’t have to be.  If you are a skilled fantasy baseball player, your chances are better than average.

If you’ve never tried it, give it a shot.  See these daily fantasy baseball site reviews to see where to play.

I made daily fantasy baseball picks quite a few times.  It’s time consuming to do it right.  Doing it right means a lot of research.  Originally, I thought I would be able to do it most days.  Then I realized daily fantasy baseball picks twice a week would be time consuming enough.  I do, after all, have a job.  I actually already have multiple jobs.

Lately, my work has been so busy that it’s damn near impossible.  With work, more work, and a baby on the way, I’m going to put daily fantasy baseball on the shelf for now.

I will certainly be back for playoff fantasy baseball for money.  Playoff baseball is awesome.  Combining it with sites like Fanduel, Daily Joust and DraftDay just makes it that much better.  I think the playoff version has a real future.  I think DFB sites will essentially eliminate other playoff fantasy baseball sites.

The baby isn’t due for a few more months.  Work was really the catalyst.  Beyond that, football season is upon us.  The overlap that September and October brings makes it by far the best sports time of the year, in my opinion.  I do have three year long fantasy football leagues that I’m a part of.  Moreover, I plan on making weekly fantasy football picks to play on weekly sites, often the same sites as baseball.

So, without further ado… Have a good rest of the baseball season, a great playoffs, and a good year in football.  Enjoy.  See you on the regular next April.

Pitching

• Clayton Kershaw – He dominated last year’s second half.  He might repeat for the Cy Young.  He’s 2-1 with a 2.63 era over his last three starts.  His splits indicate a 2.27 at home, where he is tonight against the Diamondbacks.  Pitching is the key to success tonight, with a short lineup.  You can win daily fantasy baseball heads up games with just a top starter.  You can also pick Matt Moore tonight.  You can even pick Greinke at home vs. the Bo Sox.  I’m going with Kershaw because of his home era and his good career record vs. the DBacks.

Hitting

• Yadier Molina – The law of averages almost makes me want to stay away from it.  Molina is 7-8 lifetime with a homerun against Nationals starter Edwin Jackson.  Think Molina see the ball pretty well off of him?

Lineup Stack

• Giants– This is as much about betting against someone as it is betting on someone.  I’ve got to go against Astros starter Lyles tonight.  He hasn’t been awful – 4.24 with 13 K’s in his last three starts – but he han’t been great.  Furthermore, I spent much of the budget on Kershaw, meaning I need a relatively cheap lineup.  The Giants fit this better than most.  Considered the Royals, but nobody stands out against Porcello.  I also considered the Nats against Cards lefty Garcia, but they are simply too expensive.  I am rounding out the roster with Morse, though.

Value

I’m reaching to guys like Brandon Crawford and Gregor Blanco.

Pick of the Day

• Kershaw

Results

After having some decent picks of late – here and here and here – last night’s picks were brutal.  I managed to salvage only one head to head win in about six games played.

Pitching

• Mat Latos – Why does he have one t in his name?  I have no idea.  I only know the dude is good.  Not only does he have good numbers on the year, but he has only given up one earned run in his last three starts.  Furthermore, his era is nearly a run lower at home, where he pitches today.  In addition, he likes pitching during the day better than at night – a 3.19 era vs. a 3.88.  He has 134 strikeouts in 148 2/3 innings.  Look for a quality start today.

Hitting

• Adrian Gonzalez – FHe is 10 for 29 with 2 homeruns off Kuroda. In addition, he is 7 for his last 22 with two homers and eight rbi’s.  He homered yesterday.
• Matt Joyce – 5 for 13 lifetime with a homer off of Greinke.  The new Angels pitcher has been struggling a little bit since the trade.  At some point, he will have a masterful outing.  It might be today.  If it isn’t, look to Joyce to have a big afternoon in the middle of the D-Rays order.  He had off yesterday, as he has been slumping.  Looking for him to breakout today.

Lineup Stack

For some strange reason, I’m not stacking lineups today.  This violates most daily fantasy baseball strategy that you read and that I usually employ.  I just can’t find a team I like to stack where I can purchase nearly the entire team.  If you insist, you can try to stack the Reds or the Dodgers.

Just before hitting publish, I found a lineup I like.  And I like it a lot.  I thought Justin Masterson was a dark horse starter for Sunday, so I did my research.  He’s awful on the road, has a terrible history against the A’s, and a terrible history in Oakland.  He’s better in day games, but it’s not enough to make up for these terrible splits.  I like the A’s lineup.

Value

• Mike Moustakes – 2-6 off of southpaw ChiSox starter Jose Qunitana.  He homered in last night’s contest, I believe in his final at-bat.
• It being Sunday, check the daily baseball lineups and pick any second catcher you like for a chance at some deep value.

Daily Fantasy Baseball Pick of the Day

• Mat Latos – I don’t care where the other t went, this is your guy for a summer Sunday.  The pick is so obvious I’m worried about it.

Pitching

• Jake Peavy – Ever since he got to the bigs, Peavy is a candidate to strikeout ten opposing hitters on any given night.  I think tonight is no exception.  Two major things work against Peavy.  First, he has faced the Royals twice this season, giving up 9 earned runs.  Second – and you might be shocked to learn it – the Royals strikeout less than any team in the majors.  (That’s gotta bode well for the young Royals lineup.)  That said, Peavy’s splits look outstanding.  He has a better ERA on the road than at home (2.90 vs. 3.21).  He also has a better ERA at night (2.64 vs. 4.05).  He was excellent in his last outing on Monday, despite the loss.  NOTE:  In a heads-up matchup, you can start Butler, Gordon, or Alcides Escobar alongside of him.  (Pick no more than 2 of the 3.)  This is a daily fantasy baseball strategy move that works well in heads-up format only.

Hitting

• Nick Markakis – Five for eleven career off Porcello is solid.  He continues to hit leadoff tonight for the O’s.  He is 6 of 19 against the Tigers on the season.
• Dayan Viciedo – He is 7 of 13 with a homer in his career off the struggling Bruce Chen.  More than that, he is hitting .400 over his last seven with a couple of doubles and a couple of home runs.  He hits sixth in a lineup that should claim a win tonight in Kansas City.

Lineup Stack

• O’s– Their numbers are outstanding off Porcello.  Here is a list of O’s hitters vs. the Detroit righthander: 4-6; 3-7; 5-11; 4-8; 3-8.  Solid.  Moreover, look for Mark Reynolds to get revenge for getting tossed last night.
• White Sox – Bruce Chen is back to being the Chen we know and love.  Not great.  (Interesting side note, his twitter handle is @chenmusic, which I think is awesome.)  Though, on the season, he pitches better at home, he still has a 5.56 ERA.  Worse than that, he is 1-1 with a 6.14 over his last three outings.
• Reds – the ever-hot Cincy ballclub faces Brooks Raley tonight.  Raley, a former 6th round pick, isn’t exactly a household name.  He has had no success thus far at the show.

Value

You can try cheap Oriole starters like Andino or McLouth.  You can also look for a daily fantasy baseball value pick in White Sox catcher Flowers.  Also check out Reds 2B Wilson Valdez, who starts and hits 2nd in the second game of the doubleheader.

Pick of the Day

• Dayan Viciedo

Pitching

• Justin Verlander – Verlander has been rock solid and is a leading contender for Cy Young honors.  More importantly, for tonight in particular, the Orioles don’t hit him particularly well.  Tonight’s starting lineup, collectively, has only one homer off Verlander – ever.  And the Detroit ace has been around awhile, as have a few of the O’s hitters.  He’s also 1-1 with a 1.80 ERA and 28 strikeouts in his last three starts.  One Fanduel strategy tip – pitchers cap out at 9900.  If they couldn’t, and the algorithm was allowed to play out naturally, Verlander would cost you 20% more.  He also has a 1.51 at home with about a K an inning.  He is also 7-0 lifetime vs the O’s.  Personally, I’m rooting for the Birds as I always do.  But with these numbers, I go with my head over my heart.
• Matt Cain  - IHe’s been slumping a little bit in the last month.  For that reason you can get him cheaper than usual.  He was solid his last time out.  His last appearance was 7 1/3, 2 run ball.  His also struck out 6.  He’s stronger at home, but in Petco I like him.  He is 10-0 with 2 or more runs of support this season.  The Giants face a struggling Ross Ohlendorf.

Hitting

• Howie Kendrick – Not only is the Angels second baseman starting to get hot – he is 7 for his last 21 with a .400 OBP this month – but he absolutely lights Jamie Shields up!  He is 12-21 with 5xbh off the Rays starter.  Kendrick obviously sees the ball well off him.  Little extra … I like another 2b this evening.  Ian Kinsler crushes lefties – .368 with half his homers.  Against Happ tonight.
• David Wright – Watch the weather on this one, but I like Wright to start really turning things around.  He had a hit last night.  He is 5-12 with a homer and three doubles off Washington southpaw Ross Detwiler.

Lineup Stack

• Marlins– Jeff Francis is not good.  The Colorado air still produces a little offensive advantage.  The heart of the lineup, especially Stanton and Lee is pretty solid.
• Mets – Again, watch the weather, but they hit Detwiler well.  Hairston, Wright, and Bay all look pretty good to me for tonight if the weather holds.

Value

• Scott Hairston - Assassinates lefties.  Over .300 with 9 homers in only 138 at-bats on the season.
• Gorkeys Hernandez - Besides having an awesome name, Hernandez is hitting second in a lineup that should do some damage against Francis tonight.  Costs near the minimum.

Pick of the Day

• Unfortunately, Verlander.  Prove me wrong O’s!

Pitching

• Luke Hochevar – Before his last outing, Hochevar was 4-2 with a 3.48 over his previous 10 starts.  He claims he knows what he was doing wrong his last time out, and I’m inclined to give the former #1 overall pick the benefit of the doubt this time through.  Opposing hitters hit .268 off him at home vs. .295 on the road.  The A’s have the worst average in the bigs, making them the lightest hitting team around.  I think the Royals and Hochevar get the win.  And, of course, the Hochevar pick get you funds to spend elsewhere as you pick your daily fantasy baseball lineup.

Hitting

• Miguel Montero – Five of his last twelve, including a homer on Tuesday.  Previous career homer off Lohse.  7-17 against STL this season.  Hitting cleanup.  What’s not to like?
• Eric Hosmer – If you are playing daily fantasy baseball on Fanduel, and you have to choose between cleanup hitter Billy Butler and the lowly number eight hitter Hosmer, go contrarian and take the value.  Lefty/righty favorable matchup pays tonight.
• BJ Upton – I love me some BJ Upton.  He’s 9-29 with four career homers off Dan Haren.  He’s also hot lately with 3 homers over the last 7 days.

Lineup Stack

• Royals– In addition to the Hochevar pick, I’m going to stack the Royals lineup tonight against Dan Straily.

Value

• Hochevar

Pick of the Day

• Montero 

Pitching

• Jared Weaver – This pick needs no real explanation.  He’s the best in the business.  And Seattle isn’t the greatest hitting squad.  Weaver’s season numbers speak for themselves.  If you are playing heads up, as opposed to in daily fantasy baseball tournaments, you can even hedge this a little by starting Weaver and starting a few hitters who have had a little success off Weaver.  Namely, Michael Saunders and Jesus Montero.
• Barry Zito  - I’ve only picked him once this season and it was a good pick.  Though he has been spotty, at best, last time out he had a decent start.  The Rockies lineup is suspect these days.  CarGo, who still anchors the middle of the lineup, has been slumping, only 2 of his last 15.  You will get excellent value in Zito.

Hitting

• Josh Hamilton – After a horrendous July, Hamilton is starting to tear it up, going 13 for 44 with 7 runs and 12 rbi’s in 10 August contests.  He faces Porcello, whom he hasn’t had a lot of success against in limited action.  Look for that to change today.
• Albert Pujols – After a slow start, Albert is Albert again.  He’s had a lot of success against Vargas – 6 for 12 with 4 extra base hits.

Lineup Stack

• Red Sox– Who is Corey Kluber?

Value

• Zito or Lester on the mound.
• Manny Machado - ARod come again has had a pretty hot start in the bigs.  After two homeruns on Friday night, Machado came in to score after an RBI double in his final at bat last night.  Very cheap on Fanduel, less so on DailyJoust.

Pick of the Day

• Josh Hamilton 

The weather may be the most important part of the evening.  The Astros and the Nats play in a dome, but weather threatens all three other games.  Most daily fantasy baseball sites follow laws demanding that there be at least two MLB games in order for the daily fantasy game to be legal.

Pitching

• Jordon Zimmerman – No weather risk here.   The best starter in a limited set, especially with the prices on Fanduel.

Hitting

• Ryan Zimmerman
• Adam Jones

Value

• Lew Ford
• Brett Wallace

Pick of the Day

• Not in Daily Fantasy Baseball, but in real life – Manny Machado.  Welcome to the majors.

Excuse the brevity this evening.  I’m on vacation and wasn’t planning on making daily fantasy baseball picks.  I couldn’t help myself with the new of Machado’s promotion.