How to Use Relief Pitching to Win Fantasy Leagues

Fantasy MLB: Our Top 4 Undervalued Players

Khris Davis is one of the game's premier power hitters looking to regain his swing in 2020

USA Today Sports

With baseball set to begin activities later this month, the 2020 season will be unique as the shortened season will certainly have an affect on players from a fantasy perspective.

With fewer games to dig themselves out of slumps, the players that will flourish this year will be ones in good situations provide plenty of opportunity for production. Also, players that have the tendency to show levels of consistency will be important to fantasy baseball managers this season. The following are some players coming off of poor 2019 campaigns and that are being undervalued because of it from a fantasy perspective.

Khris Davis—Oak OF/DH

Khris DavisKhris DavisESPN

Davis' first three seasons with the A's were fantastic displays of power and about as consistent as you could want from any fantasy player. From 2016-2018, Davis managed to slightly improve upon his fantasy production maintaining an average of 44.3 home runs, 112 runs batted in, and an OPS (on base plus slugging percentage) of .857. 2019 was a down year in every offensive category (except base on balls) since joining Oakland, highlighted by his paltry .681 OPS which was .170 points lower than his career average before last season. Davis has never been a player that hits for a high average so the .221 he put up last year wasn't as concerning as the drop in OPS which is an indicator that a player is hitting for power and producing runs.

The good news for fantasy owners is that Khris Davis is one of the most likely bounce back candidates in the fantasy baseball landscape heading into the shortened 2020 season and he will be coming at a deep discount. Considering Davis' appeal is largely centered around his home run ability, and that 2019 was the first season in his career that that number didn't increase, it's very likely that we will see his counting stats improve as he rediscovers his power swing this season.



Justin Upton—LAA OF


Justin UptonJustin UptonESPN

Upton enters this season coming off an injury riddled 2019 campaign where a toe sprain kept him out to start the year and patellar tendinitis ended it early. Once he was back Upton struggled to return to form as he was tasked with being the sole protection for Mike Trout in the lineup as Shohei Ohtani and Tommy La Stella dealt with their own injuries throughout the year. Upton has never been exceptional but he has always been consistent. With a career .266 batting average and 30 home run potential, Upton will benefit from a healthy Ohtani and La Stella in the lineup. One of the biggest offseason transactions was the Angels' addition of third baseman Anthony Rendon from the Washington Nationals who finished 3rd in NL MVP voting last year. With Trout, Rendon, and Ohtani expected to bat ahead of Upton in the lineup, there is a lot of potential for RBI production especially if he can hit for power. You would have to think that the lower body injuries last year affected Upton's swing, so if he can enter 2020 healthy keep him on your draft radar as he could be a steal as your third outfielder.



Matt Carpenter—STL 3B/DH*



Matt CarpenterMatt CarpenterESPN


Matt Carpenter is a bit of a fantasy enigma in the sense that he has consistently been a positive contributor for fantasy owners while never excelling in any one category outside of the outlier of 36 home runs in 2018. But he manages to continue to make an impact in multiple categories by being a patient hitter that can draw walks and knock a few out of the park. Carpenter even set a career high in stolen bases last season at age 33, swiping 6 bases in 7 attempts.

There are certainly question marks entering 2020 as we saw his batting average drop 43 points below his career average and 21 less home runs in 2019. Add to that Carpenter is 34 and it almost sounds like I'm trying to talk you out of drafting him. But a wrinkle to the shortened season is that the MLB is instituting a universal DH rule this season to allow National League teams to utilize a DH for the first time in league history. Carpenter projects to be the primary DH for the Cardinals and by limiting him to only offensive duties, it may be enough to keep him healthy and focused on bringing his average back up which would help his overall fantasy production. If you can stash Carpenter as a bench player, he could get hot in a short season and help get you to your fantasy postseason.



Starlin Castro—WSH 2B


Starlin CastroStarlin CastroESPN


It feels like Castro shouldn't be on a list like this as he had one of his best fantasy seasons of his career in 2019. But playing for Miami provides little exposure on a national stage and his solid .270/22/86 slash line flew under the radar while being quite impressive fantasy production in that Marlins' lineup. Fast forward to 2020 and he is going to be batting in the heart of the reigning World Series Champion Washington Nationals' lineup. Projected to be hitting third and protected by Juan Soto hitting clean up, Castro can easily improve his counting stats across the board. Castro's ADP is surprisingly 247 according to Fantasydata.com which is way too late for a second baseman with the upside Castro enters 2020 with. Feel free to draft Starlin Castro above his current ADP, I would feel comfortable with him as my everyday starting second baseman. A lot of the guys in front of him in ADP are younger players that haven't shown they can consistently perform at the MLB level (Keston Hiura, Cavan Biggio) and in a short season those guys could struggle more than a veteran like Castro.
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Find Out How FanDuel Keeps The Fun Going As We Head Into The Summer

With Football and March Madness in our rear-view window, you must think that there is nothing good to bet on these days. However, there’s so much going on right now that even we are having a hard time keeping up!

So, we sent our sports editors to chase down all of the best sports to bet on to help you out.

First things first, you’ll want to make an account with FanDuel Sportsbook — a legitimate and easy way to put your money where your mouth is and bet on just about every sport, including:

  • NFL
  • NBA
  • MLB
  • NHL
  • UFC
  • and the PGA Tour

With FanDuel, enter your name, credit card, and social security number — that’s to ensure you're not a coach or player. Then you’re good to start placing bets with the most user-friendly sports betting app out there. You’ll find an easy-to-navigate interface and in-depth tutorials on every type of bet you can make. Plus, they are always offering amazing promotions. Right now, they are offering new users their No Sweat $1,000 promotion. This means you will get up to $1,000 back in Bonus Bets if you lose your first bet!

Here’s what’s heatin’ up:

Basketball: NBA Player Combos

A popular strategy is betting on whether a player will score a certain amount of points, grab a certain amount of rebounds, or dish out a certain amount of assists. For instance, say you bet that LeBron James will hit a PRA (total Points, Rebounds, and Assists in the game) over 44.5. Therefore, if his PRA is 45, you win your bet, but if it is 44, you lose.

Pro Tip: Combine multiple bets on one game with bets on another game for a chance at an even bigger payday using FanDuels Same Game Parlay Features!

Hockey: Total Shots On Goal

A “shot on goal” in hockey refers to a statistic that counts any shot that hits the net or the goalie. So, bet on the number of shots an NHL player will attempt “on goal” in the game. When a player takes a shot and is completely off — missing the net — or the goalkeeper — entirely — this won’t count toward a shot on goal. Did you know there are no regulation-draw markets in pro hockey? A hockey game is held in 3 periods. But when teams are tied at the end of the 3rd period, the winner is decided in overtime or in a shoot-out — which often leads to a nail-biting finish.

Soccer: Total Shots

Bet on the number of shots a soccer player will attempt “on goal” over the course of the game. Just like in hockey, if a player takes a bum shot it’s not counted toward a “shot on goal” or your bet. But there have been some surprising goals that can make you a few bucks.

Golf: Over/Under Birdies

A bet we see a lot lately is “whether a player will achieve “over X / under X” birdies. A birdie is a term for a score of one under par. This is when a player’s golf ball hits the green — close to the hole — in fewer shots than it usually takes to complete the hole. Here’s a hot tip: So, bet on exceptional golfers who you think can complete all 18 holes in under 72 shots, especially at Augusta National!


Baseball: NRFI

Believe it or not, the MLB is home to one of the most popular betting props - the NRFI, the MVP bet for our time. It stands for "No Run First Inning".

With the NRFI, you don't have to waste four hours anxiously waiting to see who the winner is. Instead, you only need six quick outs at the beginning of the game, with 89 percent of the game still remaining.

Simply put, it’s revolutionized how people view baseball. For such a brief time-investment, NRFI transforms the most sleepy sport in the world into the most intense and electric betting out there. It’ll keep you on the edge of your seat and give you a hit of instant gratification when you win!

Just because March Madness is behind us doesn’t mean your sports betting fun is on pause until ‘24.

Make FanDuel Sportsbook your place of the year, no matter the sport or the game.

fanduel sportsbook

Find Out How FanDuel Keeps The Fun Going Even After March Madness

So March Madness is over, and either you won big or died trying. Whatever the case may be, now that the hoopla of the tournament is behind us, you may be thinking that there’s nothing exciting to bet on before the ramp-up to the NBA Playoffs. However, there’s so much more going on post-March Madness than you might realize.

So, we sent our sports editors to chase down all of the best sports to bet on now that the winning team has been crowned.

First things first, you’ll want to make an account with FanDuel Sportsbook — a legitimate and easy way to put your money where your mouth is and bet on just about every sport, including:

  • NFL
  • NBA
  • MLB
  • NHL
  • UFC
  • and the PGA Tour

With FanDuel, enter your name, credit card, and social security number — that’s to ensure you're not a coach or player. Then you’re good to start placing bets with the most user-friendly sports betting app out there. You’ll find an easy-to-navigate interface and in-depth tutorials on every type of bet you can make. Plus, they are always offering amazing promotions. Right now, when new users bet $5, they get $150 in Bonus Bets, win or lose!

It’s post-March Madness- Here’s what’s heatin’ up:

Basketball: NBA Player Combos

A popular strategy is betting on whether a player will score a certain amount of points, grab a certain amount of rebounds, or dish out a certain amount of assists. For instance, say you bet that LeBron James will hit a PRA (total Points, Rebounds, and Assists in the game) over 44.5. Therefore, if his PRA is 45, you win your bet, but if it is 44, you lose.

Pro Tip: Combine multiple bets on one game with bets on another game for a chance at an even bigger payday using FanDuels Same Game Parlay Features!

Hockey: Total Shots On Goal

A “shot on goal” in hockey refers to a statistic that counts any shot that hits the net or the goalie. So, bet on the number of shots an NHL player will attempt “on goal” in the game. When a player takes a shot and is completely off — missing the net — or the goalkeeper — entirely — this won’t count toward a shot on goal. Did you know there are no regulation-draw markets in pro hockey? A hockey game is held in 3 periods. But when teams are tied at the end of the 3rd period, the winner is decided in overtime or in a shoot-out — which often leads to a nail-biting finish.

Soccer: Total Shots

Bet on the number of shots a soccer player will attempt “on goal” over the course of the game. Just like in hockey, if a player takes a bum shot it’s not counted toward a “shot on goal” or your bet. But there have been some surprising goals that can make you a few bucks.

Golf: Over/Under Birdies

A bet we see a lot lately is “whether a player will achieve “over X / under X” birdies. A birdie is a term for a score of one under par. This is when a player’s golf ball hits the green — close to the hole — in fewer shots than it usually takes to complete the hole. Here’s a hot tip: So, bet on exceptional golfers who you think can complete all 18 holes in under 72 shots, especially at Augusta National!


Baseball: NRFI

Believe it or not, the MLB is home to one of the most popular betting props - the NRFI, the MVP bet for our time. It stands for "No Run First Inning".

With the NRFI, you don't have to waste four hours anxiously waiting to see who the winner is. Instead, you only need six quick outs at the beginning of the game, with 89 percent of the game still remaining.

Simply put, it’s revolutionized how people view baseball. For such a brief time-investment, NRFI transforms the most sleepy sport in the world into the most intense and electric betting out there. It’ll keep you on the edge of your seat and give you a hit of instant gratification when you win!

Just because March Madness is behind us doesn’t mean your sports betting fun is on pause until ‘24.

Make FanDuel Sportsbook your place of the year, no matter the sport or the game.

fanduel sportsbook

Find Out How FanDuel Keeps The Fun Going Even After March Madness

So March Madness is over, and either you won big or died trying. Whatever the case may be, now that the hoopla of the tournament is behind us, you may be thinking that there’s nothing exciting to bet on before the ramp-up to the NBA Playoffs. However, there’s so much more going on post-March Madness than you might realize.

So, we sent our sports editors to chase down all of the best sports to bet on now that the winning team has been crowned.

First things first, you’ll want to make an account with FanDuel Sportsbook — a legitimate and easy way to put your money where your mouth is and bet on just about every sport, including:

  • NFL
  • NBA
  • MLB
  • NHL
  • UFC
  • and the PGA Tour

With FanDuel, enter your name, credit card, and social security number — that’s to ensure you're not a coach or player. Then you’re good to start placing bets with the most user-friendly sports betting app out there. You’ll find an easy-to-navigate interface and in-depth tutorials on every type of bet you can make. Plus, they are always offering amazing promotions. Right now, when new users bet $5, they get $150 in Bonus Bets, win or lose!

It’s post-March Madness- Here’s what’s heatin’ up:

Basketball: NBA Player Combos

A popular strategy is betting on whether a player will score a certain amount of points, grab a certain amount of rebounds, or dish out a certain amount of assists. For instance, say you bet that LeBron James will hit a PRA (total Points, Rebounds, and Assists in the game) over 44.5. Therefore, if his PRA is 45, you win your bet, but if it is 44, you lose.

Pro Tip: Combine multiple bets on one game with bets on another game for a chance at an even bigger payday using FanDuels Same Game Parlay Features!

Hockey: Total Shots On Goal

A “shot on goal” in hockey refers to a statistic that counts any shot that hits the net or the goalie. So, bet on the number of shots an NHL player will attempt “on goal” in the game. When a player takes a shot and is completely off — missing the net — or the goalkeeper — entirely — this won’t count toward a shot on goal. Did you know there are no regulation-draw markets in pro hockey? A hockey game is held in 3 periods. But when teams are tied at the end of the 3rd period, the winner is decided in overtime or in a shoot-out — which often leads to a nail-biting finish.

Soccer: Total Shots

Bet on the number of shots a soccer player will attempt “on goal” over the course of the game. Just like in hockey, if a player takes a bum shot it’s not counted toward a “shot on goal” or your bet. But there have been some surprising goals that can make you a few bucks.

Golf: Over/Under Birdies

A bet we see a lot lately is “whether a player will achieve “over X / under X” birdies. A birdie is a term for a score of one under par. This is when a player’s golf ball hits the green — close to the hole — in fewer shots than it usually takes to complete the hole. Here’s a hot tip: So, bet on exceptional golfers who you think can complete all 18 holes in under 72 shots, especially at Augusta National!


Baseball: NRFI

Believe it or not, the MLB is home to one of the most popular betting props - the NRFI, the MVP bet for our time. It stands for "No Run First Inning".

With the NRFI, you don't have to waste four hours anxiously waiting to see who the winner is. Instead, you only need six quick outs at the beginning of the game, with 89 percent of the game still remaining.

Simply put, it’s revolutionized how people view baseball. For such a brief time-investment, NRFI transforms the most sleepy sport in the world into the most intense and electric betting out there. It’ll keep you on the edge of your seat and give you a hit of instant gratification when you win!

Just because March Madness is behind us doesn’t mean your sports betting fun is on pause until ‘24.

Make FanDuel Sportsbook your place of the year, no matter the sport or the game.

fanduel sportsbook

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