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This is a free article from our MLB premium DFS strategy series. See the rest of our premium DFS strategy articles here.
Daily Fantasy for baseball may be one of the most intricate of the four main sports, specifically because of all the ways a lineup can accumulate points. Football is up there as well, but there are a few more intricacies to fantasy baseball that really separate the boys from the men in DFS play.
While being knowledgeable about baseball certainly helps, it won't matter how much you know unless you stay mindful about the scoring system when drafting a lineup and weighing your options. This article will walk you through the basic MLB scoring system for DraftKings and get you acclimated with some basic do's and don'ts.
Below is a list of each scoring category for both hitters and pitchers.
Hitters scoring:
- Single = +3 PTs
- Double = +5 PTs
- Triple = +8 PTs
- Home Run = +10 PTs
- Run Batted In = +2 PTs
- Run = +2 PTs
- Base on Balls = +2 PTs
- Hit By Pitch = +2 PTs
- Stolen Base = +5 PTs
Pitchers Scoring:
- Inning Pitched = +2.25 PTs
- Strike Out = +2 PTs
- Win = +4 PTs
- Earned Run Allowed = -2 PTs
- Hit Against = -0.6 PTs
- Base on Balls Against = -0.6 PTs
- Hit Batsman = -0.6 PTs
- Complete Game = +2.5 PTs
- Complete Game Shut Out = +2.5 PTs
- No Hitter = +5 PTs
A DraftKings roster consists of 10 positional slots: P, P, C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, OF, OF, OF. Owners are allowed a fixed salary cap of $50,000. Your roster must consist of players from at least two different games scheduled for that day, while rosters can't have more than five hitters from one MLB team.
If a game is cancelled or postponed after a contest begins, no points will be awarded to the players set to take the field in that specific cancelled or postponed game. In the case of a suspended or shortened game, any statistics recorded on that given day prior to the suspension or finish will count for lineups. Stats recorded at a later date for the completion of a suspended game will not count. Doubleheaders will be separated by the time of the contests.
Daily Fantasy baseball is a completely different animal than football, basketball, and hockey. Here's a look at some basic pointers to take into consideration when selecting a lineup.
- Target pitchers facing weak or struggling lineups.
- Stack several players on the same team facing an inferior pitcher.
- Can't hurt to look at the weather for the games you're drafting players from. This way your lineup isn't shot in the case of a rainout. Quick, easy, thank you technology.
- Pay extra attention to high projected las vegas totals. Could lead to a boost in fantasy points.
- Avoid selecting two pitchers facing each other. There can't be two winning starting pitchers in one game.
- Target home run hitters playing in hitter friendly ballparks, like Yankees Stadium or Coors Field.
- Focus on players with speed and high wOBA vs handedness of SP.
- Less talented strikeout pitchers are sometimes better to roster than a dominant ground ball pitcher. Trading -.60 per each hit allowed for +2.0 per every strikeout is worth it.
Being successful in Daily Fantasy is about consistency and following trends. It's not like filling out a March Madness bracket, searching for the multiple upsets that have happened. Sure, even Brett Gardner can go yard against Felix Hernandez. Guys have off days; even Clayton Kershaw doesn't win every night. Sleepers are important, and of course, not everyone cashes every night.
But if a guy is prone to hit home runs, if a pitcher strikes out batters often, pay attention to them. It doesn't have to be as complex, as scattered and congested as an MLB game scorecard. Make yourself stand out by doing the obvious. Follow the scoring system and stick with what's been working.
This covers some basic strategies when playing daily fantasy baseball on DraftKings. Stay tuned to RotoBaller as the team will be hitting on more advanced strategies (Park Factor, Advanced Metrics, Contrarian GPP Approach, and much more) as the season progresses. Good luck this season!
Don't forget to also check out our MLB DFS Strategy: FanDuel Rules and Basic Do's and Don'ts to get all of the information you need to win in both DFS formats.
