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Welcome to our new series covering RIVAL Fantasy picks for MLB! We will focus on two fantasy contest types offered on RIVAL - Challenges and FantasyBook (Over/Under).
Challenges are H2H matchups between two MLB players. You choose which one you think will score the most fantasy points, then place a bet to back it. If another user decides on the other player at any time before the contest, the bet is on! If your player scores more fantasy points, you win 1.8x your bet.
RIVAL Fantasy offers some of the industry's best and easiest-to-win MLB DFS games. There are no large-field tournaments filled with sharks where you have to get lucky to place. At RIVAL Fantasy, you're not playing against other people; you're just playing against the projections. Check here for the updated rules and scoring.
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RIVAL Challenge Picks
Kenta Maeda OVER James Paxton
Maeda has allowed two earned runs or less in eight of his last nine starts, and his 28.8% strikeout rate is good enough to put up a big score against the Tigers today. The veteran put up 28.25 FPTS against them on 6/22 and 17.1 FPTS against them on 8/9, and they remain one of the most feeble offenses in the MLB. Detroit is projecting for just 3.7 runs today, one of the lowest totals on the board. Paxton, meanwhile, experienced a rocky month of July (4.95 ERA) and has allowed 15 hits, four earned runs, and three homers over two starts in August. Washington doesn't roll out a dangerous lineup, but they're pesky to pitch against as they strike out at the third-lowest rate (18.8%) vs. LHP this season.
Jon Gray OVER Reese Olson
While Gray doesn't possess the elite strikeout upside we like to see from ace pitchers, he has still had a fantastic season and projects as the play in this H2H matchup against Olson. Gray holds a 3.65 ERA (4.23 xERA) and a low 21% K%, but the Angels aren't any good (outside Trout and Ohtani), and they strike out at the sixth-highest rate (24.6%) vs. RHP this season. Olson, meanwhile, has had some ups and downs in his rookie season. He holds a 4.45 ERA (4.78 xERA), and his advanced metrics are solid, but he has gotten blown up in three of his last four outings. He has dominated the Twins twice already, and I don't believe they'll let him embarrass them for a third time today.
Aaron Civale OVER Reese Olson
Civale hasn't found his footing on his new squad in Tampa Bay yet. He has allowed 16 hits and five earned runs while striking out just six over his two starts as a Ray, but I believe he'll come around and post a big game against the Giants this afternoon. Civale holds a poor 18.2% strikeout rate, but the Giants strike out at the fifth-highest rate (24.6%) vs. RHP, so he'll have an above-average chance to rack up a handful of punchouts today. He holds a sparkling 2.34 ERA over 13 starts, so the main thing we're looking for here is that he holds down their offense and secures the win bonus to outscore the rookie Olson.
Kenta Maeda OVER Reid Detmers
Aaron Nola OVER Reese Olson
Justin Verlander OVER Tylor Megill
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