RADIO
Welcome to Sunday baseball! We have a 9-game main slate on our hands on DraftKings with plenty to dive into. The game in Coors Field isn't on this slate, so things will be a little bit more balanced on the offensive end. As for pitching, there are a lot of options for just nine games.
To no surprise, Max Scherzer is the best pitcher on the slate and nobody is even close. You then have Blake Snell, who's only $8k at home in a solid match-up for whatever reason. There are plenty of offenses to choose from and our favorite is the Astros. Facing off with a volatile Maro Gonzalez, the 'Stros are simply too cheap. Let's find some other offenses to choose from as well.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 6/30/19. The lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for sites like FanDuel, and other sports too. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to hit me up on Twitter @VarneyDFS.
DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers
Max Scherzer - WAS (@ DET - Zimmerman) - $12,300
If we’re talking raw points projection, this is arguably the best spot of any starting pitcher this season. It’s right up there with the last start he had in Miami. The Tigers and Marlins are the two worst teams in baseball against righties and both strikeout 25%+ of the time. Comerica Park is pitchers ballpark and has ranked 23rd in terms of power in ‘19. Scherzer is the best pitcher in baseball and deserves to be plugged into your cash games across the board. He’s expensive, but still under $13k and on a slate where there are no musts for expensive bats. Scherzer should be 70-80% in cash games.
Blake Snell - (vs. TEX - Chavez) - $8,000
You can call me crazy, but I’d be playing Blake Snell if he was $10k today. He struggled in his last two starts, but they are two of the toughest teams in the league for lefties. He now gets to hit the K-happy Rangers in spacious Tropicana Field. We saw McKay beat them down yesterday and while he’s a big prospect, Snell is double the pitcher he is today. The Rangers rank 24th against lefties and strikeout 25% of the time. He's held a 2.77 xFIP at home and should never be $8k. Snell will go 100+ pitches if cruising and has as much upside as anybody on the slate (Yes, Scherzer included).
DraftKings DFS Infielders
C - James McCann - CWS (vs. MIN - Thorpe) - $4,600
James McCann has quietly been one of the best catchers in baseball. Finishing second behind just Gary Sanchez, McCann has heightened his bat to match his defense thus far in ‘19. McCann has always survived on his elite defensive skills, but a .361 wOBA is giving him a ton of worth on offense. He’s always been better against lefties and Lewis Thorpe is nobody to worry about. The 23 year old is making his major league debut and Vegas expects the White Sox to score some runs (4.33). James McCann is affordable and shouldn’t be overly popular.
1B - Anthony Rizzo - CHC (@ CIN - Desclafani) - $5,100
DeSclafani is notoriously bad against lefties and we know this Cubs team has some lethal ones. It all starts with Rizzo, who’s held a .387 wOBA vs righties this season and has been swinging a hot stick. DeSclafani and his .355 wOBA allowed will try to pitch around these lefties, but this lineup is just too potent. He will have to pitch to Rizzo and one mistake in this ballpark is all he needs. If you’re looking for the top first baseman on the skate, I’ll take Rizzo against a bad lefty in a good ballpark any day of the week and twice on Sunday.
2B - Jose Altuve - HOU (vs. SEA - Gonzales) - $3,900
The level of disrespect for Jose Altuve is immense here. As one of the overall best hitters in baseball, I don’t see a reason for ever pricing Altuve under $5k. Let alone $3.9k. He’s facing off against a lefty and a porous one at that. We’ll touch on Marco Gonzales as we move along, but he’s weak vs righties and has HR issues. Altuve is a cheap piece of an offense that should put up a ton of runs and won’t be too popular.
3B - Alex Bregman - HOU (vs. SEA - Gonzales) - $4,900
Alex Bregman may not follow suit of Altuve being under $4k, but it’s because he’s the best bat on the team. Against lefties, he’s sported a .378 wOBA and has hit the ball hard 51% of the time. Marco Gonzales is a soft-throwing left-hander that relies on soft contact and pitches to contact. The Astros typically take advantage when they don’t strikeout and this would be the perfect opportunity.
SS - Luis Arraez - MIN (@ CWS - Giolito) - $3,500
Lucas Giolito is one of the most talented arms on this slate. With that being said, he’s pitched over his head this season and the Twins may put up a few runs. Luis Arraez has been moved into the top of the order after hitting .400 with four extra bases since being called up. Giolito has possessed an xFIP two full points higher than his ERA, so something has to give and soon. Arraez is just $3,500 on DK and makes for a great play in all formats. The Twins have scored the third most runs in baseball since June and will look to keep it going against a pitcher that can be knocked off his groove rather easily.
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
OF - George Springer - HOU (vs. SEA - Gonzales) - $5,700
If I’m paying up for an outfielder on this slate, it’s George Springer. He’s hitting .310 and has already hit his 18th home run after coming off of the IL. They’re facing off with Marco Gonzales, who’s a young southpaw that struggles with control. He’s not been bad with a 4.34 xFIP, but he’s given up 1.6 HR/9 to righties and movies into a much tougher ballpark in Minute Maid. George Springer is expensive, but by all means worth it in one of the nights most promising lineups.
OF - Austin Meadows - TB (vs. TEX - Chavez) - $4,700
We haven’t looked at these Rays against Jesse Chavez yet, but they’re very much in play with the second highest implied team total on the slate. They have. A tough lineup to face and it all starts with Meadows against righties. He’s sported a .407 wOBA vs them and has shown power even in Tropicana Field. Meadows and crew will be under 10% owned and deserve to be played in cash games and tourneys. Chavez is a far below average arm that’s given up a. Combined .366 wOBA and has allowed almost two home runs per nine innings. The Rays are going to put the ball in play all night and good things typically happen.
