With games running all afternoon and ending with a primetime battle between two of the most storied franchises in all of baseball it's sure to be a great day of MLB action. As always, DraftKings has several different contests to participate in.
The name of the game today is value, finding the right mix in order to afford some of the better pitching options is a must.
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In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball MLB lineup picks for DraftKings on 7/17/16. 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
Washington Nationals vs. Chad Kuhl (RHP)
Rookie right-hander Chad Kuhl has struggled a bit this season, despite a record of 1-0. He's got an ERA of 6.08 and allowed four runs in just 2.1 innings against the Cubs his last time out. Lefties have hit .344 against him this season, opening the door for some Nationals to be part of a stack today. The two that stand out right away are Daniel Murphy and Bryce Harper. Left-handed Ben Revere should also be used.
Cleveland Indians vs. Kyle Gibson (RHP)
The Indians have been one of the biggest surprises in all of baseball this season. While the pitching staff deservedly gets most of the credit, the offense has done its fair share of producing. Today, the Indians face a struggling Kyle Gibson. The right-hander gave up four runs in his last start and has an ERA of 5.02 for the season. Lefties have hit .309 with four home runs off of Gibson this season, so that bodes well for Francisco Lindor, Jason Kipnis, and Lonnie Chisenhall. Yan Gomes and Carlos Santana both have two home runs in their careers against Gibson.
DFS Starting Pitchers to Consider on DraftKings
Josh Tomlin, CLE at MIN - $7,900
Tomlin closed the first half of the season with a loss to Tigers in which he allowed five earned runs in just 4.2 innings. However, he was strong in the game previous to that and has an overall record of 9-2 with an ERA of 3.51. A good matchup with the Twins awaits him today. Outside of Byung Ho Park (3-for-5, three home runs), Tomlin has been good against current Minnesota hitters in his career.
Michael Fulmer, KC vs DET - $10,900
Fulmer will look to continue his fantastic July today. In two starts, he's 2-0 with an ERA of just 0.69. Overall this seaosn he's 9-1 with a 2.11 ERA. He faced Kansas City on June 17 and suffered a loss. However, he allowed just one run to the Royals -- a solo shot by Salvador Perez. Fulmer has been fantastic for his fantasy owners this season and has been especially good in home starts, compiling a record of 2-0 with a 1.04 ERA.
DFS Infielders to Consider on DraftKings
Catcher (C)
Yan Gomes, CLE at MIN - $2,000
Wether you are planning on using a Cleveland stack or not, Gomes is a sleeper option for your lineup today. He's 6-for-14 with a .429 average and two homers lifetime against opposing starter Kyle Gibson. However, Gomes has really been struggling this season, hitting below the Mendoza Line, so there's a risk in deploying him. But, he's sure to have an ultra-low ownership number to go with his low price. That, given his history against Gibson makes him a cheap option to target. Also, anything close to his average of 4.8 fantasy points a game will do nicely.
First Base (1B)
David Freese, PIT at WAS - $3,000
For starters, Freese can fill a spot at either first base or third base, so he's already valuable for daily lineups. The matchup today with Max Scherzer will likely keep most fantasy players away from Freese, but he's still capable of producing great value at his price. He's 1-for-3 lifetime against Scherzer and enters the game hitting .324 in July and .292 for the season. This is another risky sleeper option, but potential for a productive day is there.
Second Base (2B)
Robinson Cano, SEA vs. HOU - $5,200
Cano has a good history against today's starter Collin McHugh. In 28 at-bats he has a .321 average with two home runs and seven RBI. Cano is hitting .309 for the season and has heated up lately, hitting .341 in July. He's averaging over nine fantasy points a game and is one of the best fantasy second basemen available.
Shortstop (SS)
Carlos Correa, HOU at SEA - $3,700
Correa's numbers have dropped a bit this year, but he's in a good spot today. He's 2-for-5 lifetime against opposing starter Mike Montgomery and enters today with a three-game hit streak. With two double-digit fantasy performances in the last five games and an average of nearly nine fantasy points a game, Correa is a solid selection for your lineup.
Third Base (3B)
Jurickson Profar, TEX at CHC - $3,300
Profar is another versatile player with a low price. Able to slot in at either first or third, Profar makes a lot of sense as a target today. To start, the switch-hitter will be hitting from the left side against righty John Lackey. That's good news for fantasy owners, as he's batting .371 with four homers against right-handers. Also, he's been very good at getting on base this year, hitting .326 with an OBP of .365.
DFS Outfielders to Consider on DraftKings
Bryce Harper, WAS vs. PIT - $5,400
As mentioned earlier, Washington hitters will have a chance to tee off on rookie Chad Kuhl today. Left-handed Bryce Harper should be considered a top option in the outfield. He's one of the leaders among all outfielders this offseason in fantasy points per game. As evident Friday night, even when he doesn't get a hit, Harper can provide fantasy value by stealing bases. One of the top talents in the game is a great selection today for your daily fantasy lineup.
Giancarlo Stanton MIA at STL- $4,600
After a miserable first half of the season, Stanton showed his massive power in the Home Run Derby. CHe has started to heat up as of late, putting up at least 16 fantasy points in two of his last three games. He went hitless Saturday, but recently had an eight-game hit streak going. Although Stanton has never faced Michael Wacha in his career he does have 13 home runs against right-handers.
Carlos Beltran, NYY vs. BOS - $4,000
Beltran laid a goose egg yesterday, but he did have a four-game hit streak and an average of seven fantasy points in the last five games. You'll have to wait until the last game of the day to get points from him, but that's not really a bad thing in daily fantasy baseball. He doesn't have the best history against David Price .(259), but does have a .326 average this season against lefties.
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