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The first weekend of Major League Baseball is coming to a close and we have an 11-game Main slate on DraftKings to send us out with. There are no weather issues, plenty of pricey offense, and just as many suspect pitchers to help fill your lineups out with today.
I'll be going position by position to find the best plays for your Draft Kings GPP and cash game builds. With all of the shaky pitching going today, there's going to be plenty of opportunities to stack up lineups (and stack up cash).
In this article, I'll be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for the DraftKings main slate on 7/26/2020. 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, contact me on Twitter @nt_burtreynolds.
DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers
Trevor Bauer - CIN vs DET ($10,100)
He'll likely be chalky but it's hard not to roster Bauer in a juicy matchup versus a 2020 Tigers team that struggled against right-handed pitching in 2019. Only Cameron Maybin hit RHP well (.388 wOBA), with every batter in today's lineup posting at or below a .300 wOBA versus RHP. Bauer struggled in 2019, posting a 4.88 ERA, but was still a prolific strikeout artist, putting up a 27.8 K-rate after a 30.8% K% in 2018. Unfortunately with Bauer, you always run the risk of him chucking a ball over the centerfield fence, which still isn't worth any points in DFS, as of this writing. But if he can avoid juvenile tantrums, Bauer should be an excellent option.
Carlos Carrasco - CLE vs. KC ($8,600)
From a former Clevelander to a current one; it's cookie time. Everything in life must seem easier after conquering cancer and getting to face the Royals must seem like a virtual cakewalk by comparison. Carrasco is (thankfully) healthy and looks to bounce back from an understandably difficult 2019. There are few better ways to get yourself going than getting a Royals team that was locked up by Shane Bieber on Opening day for 14 strikeouts. The Royals will trot out some primetime whiffers versus Carrasco, with Adalberto Mondesi (31.6% K-rate vs. RHP), Ryan McBroom (30.8%), and Bubba Starling (31.9%)
Other options: Kenta Maeda (MIN at CHW) $9,000, Freddy Peralta (MIL at CHC) $8,200
DraftKings DFS Catchers
Christian Vazquez - BOS vs. BAL ($4,300)
There aren't a lot of great options at catcher today but Vazquez may be the best of them. The Orioles only gave up two runs yesterday which means they're likely due to give up 20 ER. They'll be sending out left-hander Wade LeBlanc, who had a 5.71 ERA in 121 IP in 2019, and Boston has the highest implied runs on the slate, at 6.7 runs. Given how Vazques hits lefties (.363 wOBA, .268 ISO) this should set up nicely.
Mitch Garver - MIN @ CHW ($4,900)
Garver is the most expensive option on the slate but that's what happens when you're facing Reynaldo Lopez. The right-handed Lopez had a 5.38 ERA in 2019 while Garver had a whopping .327 ISO against RHP.
Other options: Salvador Perez (KC @ CLE) $3,400
DraftKings DFS First Baseman
Joey Votto, 1B, CIN vs DET ($3,800)
Votto is one of the best plays (and values) on the slate, clocking in at less than $4K even though he's hit two home runs in his first two games and is facing Spencer Turnbull and the terrible Detroit bullpen on Sunday. Votto easily handled right-handers in 2019, with a .350 wOBA and 41.4% hard-hit rate, and will bat in the middle of a Reds lineup that's stacked with fellow left-handers.
Josh Bell, 1B, PIT @ STL ($4,900)
His nearly $5K price-tag may scare people away but the left-handed Bell is in a pretty good spot facing St. Louis right-hander Dakota Hudson on Sunday. The Pittsburg lineup features some solid left-handed bats at the top of the order and Hudson really struggled against LHB in 2019, allowing a .353 wOBA and only striking them out at a 16% K-rate. Bell is solid enough for cash games but should be low-owned due to his price, making him a terrific GPP play.
Other Options: Jay Bruce (PHI vs MIA) $3,600, Howie Kendrick (WSH vs NYY) $3,900
DraftKings DFS Second Baseman
Jose Altuve, 2B, HOU vs SEA ($5,000)
Altuve and the rest of the Houston offense get 2019 gas can, Yusei Kikuchi on Sunday, setting the diminutive second baseman up for a big day. Even without the aid of trash-can bangery, Altuve should continue to smash left-handed pitching. He had a .428 wOBA and .346 ISO against LHP in 2019 (with just an 11.2% K-rate) and is preceded and followed by two other players who destroy LHP, in George Springer and Alex Bregman.
Cesar Hernandez, 2B, CLE vs KC ($3,600)
Just like Joey Votto, one of the best plays is also one of the best values on the slate. Hernandez is only $3.6 K and is batting at the top of a Cleveland order that's set to go off against Jorge Lopez and the Kansas City Royals. That's pure value and one that's likely to be low-owned.
Other Options: Howie Kendrick (WSH vs NYY) $3,900, Eric Sogard (MIL @ CHC) $3,900
DraftKings DFS Third Baseman
Alex Bregman, 3B, HOU vs SEA ($5,100)
Bregman is set up for a monster, getting left-hander Yusei Kikuchi for Sunday's matchup. How well did Bregman hit lefties in 2019? He had a .478 wOBA and .393 ISO against them in 194 PA, with 16 HR. The Houston lineup is going to be really chalky but there are good reasons for it and ownership shouldn't scare you away from Bregman.
Mike Moustakas, 2B/3B, CIN vs DET ($4,000)
Another affordable bat facing a prime matchup, Moustakas gets a homer-prone righthander in Spencer Turnbull. Moustakas had a .262 ISO and .346 wOBA against righties in 2019 and will face off against Detroit in one of baseball's best hitting ballparks. Full go.
MOUSTASKAS IS OUT, SCRATCH THAT!
Other Options: Jose Ramirez (CLE vs KC) $5,000, Eugenio Suarez (CIN vs DET) $4,500
DraftKings DFS Shortstop
Kevin Newman, SS, PIT vs STL ($3,600)
I like Newman and his Pirate teammates for the sneaky value that they bring in facing a below-average Dakota Hudson. But Newman brings more than just value, with a .351 wOBA against RHP in 2019 and if he gets on base he'll be followed by three left-handers that smash righties. Newman should have minuscule ownership, making him a solid play today.
Other Options: Francisco Lindor (CLE vs KC) $4,500
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
J.D. Martinez, OF, BOS vs. BAL ($5,000)
What costs five grand, tastes like chalk, and absolutely must be played? J.D., baby! Have you heard what Martinez did against left-handed pitchers in 2019? How about a .544 wOBA and .482 ISO? Is that something you might be interested in? Martinez faces Wade LeBlanc and the vaunted Orioles bullpen today. I don't care about Alex Cobb locking up Boston yesterday and I don't care about Martinez's price. Give me a shot of JD.
Max Kepler, OF, MIN @ CHW ($4,100)
Germany's finest went 0-for-4 on Saturday after starting the season off with a two-HR performance on Friday. The left-handed Kepler is in a good spot to go off again, set to bat leadoff on Sunday against right-hander Reynaldo Lopez and his occasional gas can. Kepler had a .273 ISO against RHP in 2019 and at 5.6 runs, Minnesota has one of the highest implied totals on the slate.
Other Options: George Springer - OF, (HOU vs SEA) $5,800, Jesse Winker (CIN vs DET) $3,500, Eddie Rosario (MIN @ CHW), $4,300, Anthony Santander (BAL @ BOS) $4,100
DraftKings DFS Stacks
Boston Red Sox vs Baltimore Orioles (Wade LeBlanc, LHP)
Cincinnati Reds vs Detroit Tigers (Spencer Turnbull, RHP)
Cleveland Indians vs Kansas City Royals (Jorge Lopez, RHP)
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