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We have a hefty 10-gamer over on FanDuel and there are multiple ways we can go with lineups tonight. Woodruff and Cole highlight a top tier of pitching that weirdly includes DeSclafani, Kikuchi, and Eovaldi, but there are intriguing mid-tier options to consider and a few non-chalky teams to stack tonight outside of Coors Field. Let's get to it.
I'll be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for the FanDuel main slate on 7/17/2021. You can see our DraftKings and FanDuel DFS lineup pick for the early slate here as well.
Be sure to also check out all the MLB player news, including late scratches, and the projected and confirmed daily MLB lineups for each DFS slate. You can also check out today's DraftKings MLB DFS lineup picks, and read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports too. Let's get to it!
FanDuel DFS Pitchers
Cash Game / GPP Anchor Play:
Gerrit Cole - NYY vs. BOS ($10,100)
Cole had uncharacteristically posted two straight subpar outings prior to his 12-strikeout complete-game shutout (73 FD points) against the Astros to close out the first half. When this guy is on, there aren't many pitchers in the league that can match his fantasy upside. His Hard Hit % and barrel rate are not where he'd like, but the rest of his advanced metrics are among the best in the league. The tough part here is the matchup against the Red Sox, who hold top-5 marks in most offensive categories against RHP and just crushed Cole for eight hits and five earned runs a few starts ago. The Red Sox are projecting for a low 3.8-run implied total, and I'm betting on Cole bouncing back for a big outing here at his home stadium.
Alternate Play(s)
Luis Castillo - CIN vs. MIL ($8,000)
Castillo has been trending up for a while now - he posted an impressive 1.71 ERA in June and he's at a 2.41 ERA so far in July. He actually just faced Milwaukee in his last start, going 5 and 1/3 innings while allowing just three hits and one earned run while striking out six (with six walks). The Brewers hold very unimpressive numbers against RHP (.221/.310/.380 with a 25.7% K%) and there just aren't any hitters that really scare you in that lineup outside of Yelich. Castillo is a sneaky play with lots of upside in this spot.
GPP Dart-Throw
Tylor Megill - NYM vs. PIT ($6,500)
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FanDuel DFS Infielders
Yuli Gurriel - 1B, HOU vs. CWS ($2,700)
This is just an incredible price for a hitter who will likely slot in the three-hole in a potent lineup tonight. Gurriel hasn't been hitting for power as he has just 10 homers and isn't getting the barrel to the ball much, but Giolito has been very shaky lately as he allowed the Tigers and Orioles to combine for eight earned runs in his two starts before the break.
Justin Turner - 3B, LAD vs. COL ($4,000)
Turner and the rest of the Dodgers got "the Coors Treatment" as they're all priced up. They needed to be because the Dodgers hold a crazy 7.5-run implied total going up against the volatile Kyle Freeland in the best game environment in baseball. Freeland ranks terribly in all of the advanced metrics, but his high .397 xwOBA and low 16.6% K% don't paint a pretty picture for his chances against this offense. Turner holds a .448 average and a .621 slugging percentage over 29 career at-bats against Freeland.
J.D. Davis - 3B, NYM vs. PIT ($2,500)
Davis has missed a lot of time this season but his numbers are looking strong in the small sample as he's slashing .381/.469/.595 with two homers over 42 at-bats. He's striking out at a high rate (32.7%), but that's going to be mitigated today since opposing pitcher Wil Crowe rarely strikes anyone out (19.8% K%). He also throws his fastball over 40% of the time and Davis is currently holding a .619 xSLG against fastballs this season. Take shots on Davis at this price and in this positive matchup.
FanDuel DFS Outfielders
Michael Conforto - OF, NYM vs. PIT ($2,700)
Conforto has been vastly underwhelming so far this season, but he's really cheap and he gets a great matchup against prospect Wil Crowe and the Pirates tonight. Crowe holds a 6.05 ERA and terrible marks in xwOBA, xERA, xBA, xSLG, Barrel %, and K%.
Mookie Betts - OF, LAD vs. COL ($4,300)
It'll undoubtedly be chalky, but you need to find ways to get to the big bats on the Dodgers tonight. Betts has turned it on lately as he holds a .327 average in July and has smashed three homers over his last six games heading into tonight. Freeland is a "plus matchup," as they like to say, and this is the top game environment on the slate by a mile.
Tyler Naquin - OF, CIN vs. MIL ($2,200)
Naquin should slot in right in the middle of a potent Reds' lineup for an extremely cheap price, which puts him right at the top of consideration for value plays. Woodruff is a top-tier pitcher who generally shouldn't be targeted, but he gave up nine hits and only totaled four punchouts in his last outing before the break, which came against the Reds. Naquin is worth shots here.
FanDuel DFS Stacks
- Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Kyle Freeland
- San Diego Padres vs. Patrick Corbin
- New York Mets vs. Wil Crowe
- Kansas City Royals vs. Jorge Lopez
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