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We have plenty of games to choose from on Thursday, and we even have a semi-serviceable early slate with three games between noon and 3 p.m. eastern time.
The best DFS pitchers of the day all come in the early slate, so the late slate will require some reliance on a non-ace at the pitcher spot. Let's see what we can come up with.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball MLB lineup picks for DraftKings on 6/2/16. The DFS lineup picks will range from high-priced to low-priced options and identify options who will out-perform their expectations, including sleepers and value plays on DraftKings.
DFS Lineup Stacks to Target on DraftKings
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Kyle Hendricks (Early)
Hendricks has been very good this year, and the Dodgers offense has been disappointing. So, why am I going here? Well, everyone will be stacking the Giants and maybe the Cubs in the early slate. If you want to succeed in an early tournament, you'll have to be different. Despite their struggles, the Dodgers still have some RHP mashers. My favorites for Thursday include the rebounding Adrian Gonzalez and the red hot Corey Seager. Other options to round it out could be Justin Turner, Joc Pederson or even the dreadful Yasiel Puig. Take a chance!
Colorado Rockies vs. Alfredo Simon
This is your obvious stack of the night. There are plenty of pitching matchups to take advantage of in the late slate, but none better than Simon in the death trap that is Coors Field. The power hitters get the biggest boost, and they consist of guys like Nolan Arenado, Carlos Gonzalez, and even the catcher, Tony Wolters. D.J. LeMahieu is a great OBP option as well, and Gerardo Parra is finally showing some life in the middle of the order. Keep in mind, I could make the same argument for the opposing Reds offense as well.
Also Consider: Cincinnati Reds vs Eddie Butler
DFS Starting Pitchers to Consider on DraftKings
Madison Bumgarner, SF at ATL - $12,900
Here's the best pitcher of the day. An ace with the top matchup on the board. Bumgarner is part of the early slate, but he's a cash game lock who's tough to fade in tournaments.
Dallas Keuchel, HOU vs. ARZ - $7,100
Here's my tourney option for the early slate. Keuchel has been impossible to trust thus far, but I'm not giving up on him yet. That Cy Young pitcher is still in there somewhere, so if you want a cheap pitcher with huge upside, he's your guy.
Matt Boyd, DET vs. NYY - $6,400
The main slate is where pitching gets stick. Oddly, my favorite play is Boyd. He had a very solid MLB debut, and he draws an awful Yankees offense for his second start. The Tigers should get him plenty of run support against Michael Pineda, and Boyd brings command with a bit of strikeout upside to the table. J.A. Happ used his southpaw style to shut down the Yankees in each of his past two starts, and Boyd will look to do the same. He's safe for six innings and three or fewer runs with upside.
DFS Infielders to Consider on DraftKings
Catcher (C)
Tony Wolters, COL vs. CIN - $3,900
Here's the night's expensive catcher. Wolters has shown some great offensive upside lately, and the Coors effect is in full swing now that we're in June. Spend up here if you have the funds.
Francisco Cervelli, PIT at MIA - $3,200
Cervelli will save some cash and serve as a better cash game play thanks to his OBP style of hitting. Wei-Yin Chen has been sub par so far this year, and the Pirates should be able to take advantage of that with Cervelli right in the middle of the damage.
First Base (1B)
Joey Votto, CIN at COL - $5,000
Votto is starting to show some life, as his hard hit rates are translating to gap shots and home runs. Coors Field is certainly helping. He's my favorite first baseman of the night against Eddie Butler.
Adrian Gonzalez, LOS at CHC - $3,800
This price is great for the veteran hitter we have come to know over the years. However, Gonzalez has been far from consistent this season. Still, he's starting to come back around, and I'm willing to roster him with or without a Dodgers stack at this price against Hendricks.
Second Base (2B)
Brian Dozier, MIN vs. TB - $3,700
Outside of a Coors Field player, Dozier's value was the only one that caught my eye. He has big power upside and has begun to turn around his slow start to his season. His spot atop the Twins lineup helps as well.
Shortstop (SS)
Corey Seager, LOS at CHC - $4,000
The youngster is red hot right now, and he's part of my strange hunch that the Dodgers will fair well against Hendricks. He's got contact skills and power upside. You can't go wrong.
Jordy Mercer, PIT at MIA - $3,200
Despite his struggles, I'm sticking with Mercer against a lefty. He's shown his ability against them his entire career, and the bump in lineup position shows the management's belief in that fact as well.
Third Base (3B)
Nolan Arenado, COL vs. CIN - $5,400
Eugenio Suarez, CIN at COL - $4,300
Pay up for one of the Coors Field third basemen on Thursday. They both have huge power upside, and this game should feature enough runs for everyone to get some production.
DFS Outfielders to Consider on DraftKings
Giancarlo Stanton, MIA vs. PIT - $4,200
I love this tournament play. Stanton is still waiting for a massive power surge, and Juan Nicasio could be the trigger for that. His price is low based on recent production and injury, and his ownership should be down too.
Melvin Upton Jr., SD vs. SEA - $3,500
This is an awesome price for a power + steal player who gets a mediocre lefty at best in Wade Miley. Upton is having a bit of a revival year, and I expect one of his jaw dropping games to come on Thursday.
Any Coors Field Outfielder
Take your pick, but make sure you get some Coors exposure in the outfield. Jay Bruce and Carlos Gonzalez are best, but Adam Duvall, Gerardo Parra, Charlie Blackmon, and Billy Hamilton are fine choices too. Like I said, runs galore in this game.
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