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We have a larger main Saturday afternoon slate than we have been getting most of this year. There are nine games spanning both coasts and everything in between starting from 4:00 to 4:35 Eastern. This is a fun type of slate with a few ace-type pitchers on it for good measure.
It also looks like the weather is going to cooperate today, which is a nice change from the last couple of weeks. We've had to dodge everything from rain to tornadoes over the last fortnight. Yes, there was a tornado warning at Wrigley Field. Talk about surreal.
As always, this article will provide my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel. Saturday's main slate locks at 4:05 EST on 6/18/2022. The lineup picks will range from some elite high-priced players to mid-priced options, and value plays. I'll give you a few of my top pitching options and then some infielders, outfielders, and teams to stack! You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports here. It's also essential to monitor injury news and today's MLB starting lineups. Now that we got all of that out of the way, it's onto the picks!
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DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Aaron Nola at WAS ($10,100 DK, $10,200 FD)
While Nola hasn't been great in his 13 starts at Nationals Park, he has been good enough. This is especially true when you consider that this current incarnation of the Washington lineup is only hitting .187 against Nola in their careers and are striking out at a 26.7% rate. Nola is likely going to give up a couple of runs here, but the strikeouts should keep us well in the black.
Anyone who pays attention to the metrics realizes that Nola had some extraordinarily bad luck last year. Nola's expected ERA sits at a healthy 2.78 even though his actual mark is at 3.42. Nola has done his part to help the luck factor by posting an exceptional 3.2% walk rate, two percent better than last year, which was by far the best mark of his career. The limited walks and Nola's ability to limit hard contact (only 34.3% hard hit percentage) make him a really good option since his K-rate is still up at 28.7%.
Jeffrey Springs at BAL ($8,000 DK, $8,700 FD)
There are a lot of really good SP2 options on DraftKings today, but to me, Springs feels the most underpriced. He has a sparkling 1.45 ERA on the season and hasn't allowed a run over his last two starts against two solid teams in the Twins and Cardinals. This guy looks like the real deal. Springs hasn't pitched more than six innings yet, so the upside isn't as high, but you can't argue with results. Springs has only allowed four runs in his last six starts and has struck out at least five batters in each of those games.
Camden Yards is now a pitcher's park. Their park factor went from top-10 in homers to 27th with the left field fences being moved back. This has arguably hurt the Orioles more considering their righty-heavy lineup. Springs isn't a guy that gives up homers anyway. He has only allowed five in 44.2 innings this year. He feels like a steal at this price, especially on DraftKings.
Also consider: Justin Verlander, Patrick Sandoval, Alex Wood
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Jose Abreu - 1B, CWS at Justin Verlander ($4,800 DK, $3,200 FD)
There are a lot of good options at first base today, but how many of them can say they have six career homers against Justin Verlander? Abreu can, along with a .364 average in 44 at-bats and four more extra-base hits. For those of you that aren't much on BvP stats, I get it. Abreu is finally heating up, hitting .375 with a pair of homers and seven RBI in the last ten games. I'm picking and choosing spots against a good pitcher like Verlander. This will likely be the only one I use. All six of the White Sox active roster's homers against Verlander have come off the bat of Abreu.
Ezequiel Duran - 3B, TEX at Rony Garcia ($3,100 DK, $2,800 FD)
Duran has a modest seven-game hit streak going, including a triple and three RBI already in this series. I wrote in my Thursday article that Duran's speed was going to be great for this park. I stand by that. Duran is hitting .277 with a pair of homers, two steals, and eight RBI in the 13 games since he got the call. He shouldn't slow down against Detroit. I love this play on FanDuel since we can still use Duran at 2B.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. - 2B, MIA at Taijuan Walker ($5,300 DK, $4,100 FD)
Walker has really learned how to pitch this year, but Chisholm has learned how to hit pitches. Particularly the four-seam fastball, a pitch that he has a .649 SLG against this year. That's Walker's best and most frequent pitch. Chisholm has caught fire recently, hitting six of his 13 homers in June with 14 RBI in that time. The bad news? Walker hasn't allowed a homer in three home starts this year, but he has still allowed seven runs in three June starts. If you have the money, Jazz is a solid one-off. Otherwise use stack pieces at the keystone.
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Randy Arozarena - OF, TB at Kyle Bradish ($5,500 DK, $3,900 FD)
Soto has good numbers in a small sample size against Nola, but I want to go after Bradish. He has some nasty reverse splits going on. Righties are hitting a whopping .388 with nine homers against Bradish in just 98 at bats! I just got done ragging on Camden Yards being a pitcher's park, but that hasn't helped Bradish. He still has a 5.90 ERA in six home starts with eight homers allowed. Arozarena has the best power on the team. If you want to go with a low-key stack, sprinkle in a couple more Tampa righties. This bullpen isn't much better than Bradish.
Mike Trout - OF, LAA at Chris Flexen ($5,700 DK, $4,400 FD)
I wasn't going to put two expensive outfielders on here, but I think this calls for it. I don't like a ton in the middle tier and I would have used Taylor Ward for my Angels selection if it were for his slump and Flexen's ugly reverse splits. Righties are hitting 53 points higher against Flexen this year with seven of the ten homers he has allowed. Trout has hit five homers in the last seven games. This is looking like another smash spot for Trout.
Michael A. Taylor - OF, KC at Cole Irvin ($2,900 DK, $2,500 FD)
Yes, there have been enough Michael Taylor's throughout MLB history (and currently active) that we have to distinguish the Royals' version by using his middle initial. There are a couple of issues here that we need to address first. We'll start with Irvin's sparkling 1.61 ERA at the spacious Coliseum. On top of that, the Royals' offense is just...not very good. This is a family program. I have to keep it (somewhat) clean.
However, I'm chasing the cheap points with Taylor. The veteran is known for his blistering hot streaks and Antarctic cold streaks. He's on one of those heaters right now. Taylor is hitting .371 in June with two of his four homers on the season and his only steal. I don't expect a big game from Taylor, but he has slashed the strikeouts and his 12% walk rate is nearly double his career average. He also hits sinkers better than any other offering, which is Irvin's calling card. There is potential for a hit or two here. Cheap points are cheap points.
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
Here are my top stacks for tonight (in the order in which I like them):
Cincinnati Reds - This could be the day George Costanza – er.....Jason Alexander – gets got. His expected ERA is more than double his pristine 2.16 mark through three starts. Alexander has been extraordinarily lucky considering opponents are hitting .328 off of him and he has walked 10.8% of the batters he has faced. That is not sustainable in any park. Those weaknesses are really going to get exploited at Great American Small Park. I'll go out on a really short limb and say that Alexander gives up his first homer of the season in this one, and possibly more than one.
Texas Rangers - Rony Garcia hasn't made it past the fifth inning in any of his starts and you can cue the dumpster fire gifs for the Detroit bullpen. Garcia's 5.06 ERA is better than what the bullpen can offer. This is a huge ballpark and Texas has the speed and power to make the most of it.
Tampa Bay Rays - I would totally stack the Angels if anyone but Trout could hit their way out of a wet paper bag. I'm perfectly content stacking a patient team like the rays against a guy like Bradish that not only has nasty reverse splits, but has a 9% walk rate and 5.3% home run rate. I don't see a ton of power for the Rays in this park, but they should generate plenty of runs against Bradish. I think he will be good at some point, but probably not this season.
I hope I gave you a head start on your research today and I wish you the best of luck! If you ever have questions about DFS or fantasy baseball, my DMs are always open and I appreciate you taking the time to read my picks today.
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