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Happy Thursday, RotoBallers! This is John Brubaker dropping some of my favorite plays for today's slate. Thursdays are typically weird slates, but we have a decent ten-game slate on DraftKings and a nine-game slate on FanDuel. While we've been short on pitching on Thursday slates, we have no such issue tonight. There are a plethora of aces at our disposal, the more difficult find will be the value arm(s).
While FanDuel's slate is just a nine-game slate, DraftKings will be adding the second leg of the Pirates-Reds doubleheader. I like the matchup for both offenses in that game, so I may drop a player or two from that game below. Nevertheless, it will be imperative to keep an eye on lineups throughout the day to make sure your favorite bats are in the lineup.
This article will provide my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel at 7:05 pm on 7/7/2022. The lineup picks will range from some elite players to mid-priced options, and value plays. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports here. It's also essential to monitor injury news and today's MLB starting lineups. Now that we got all of that out of the way, it's onto the picks!
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DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Dylan Cease, CWS vs DET ($9,800 DK, $10,400 FD)
As I mentioned, we have a ton of aces on the slate today: Gerrit Cole, Logan Webb, and Joe Musgrove, to name a few. I'll be looking at Dylan Cease, though, against a struggling Tigers lineup. Cease projects to a 3.23 xFIP today, along with a 33.84% strikeout rate, the highest on the slate. Cease has won four straight starts, allowing just two earned runs across 23 innings in that span. He's also pitched extremely well against the Tigers in his career, coming into this one 9-0 with a 2.08 ERA in ten starts against them dating back to 2019.
Spencer Strider, CIN at CHC ($8,500 DK, $8,600 FD)
I'll look in the mid-tier rather than the value bin for my second pitcher of the night, Spencer Strider. Strider, a reliever turned starter, has been brilliant in four of his last five starts, outside of his start on July 21 against the Giants. He's allowed just one run in 12 innings across his last two starts, racking up a whopping 18 strikeouts in that span. I project Strider to be on that same wavelength tonight, projecting to a 2.78 xFIP and 31.29% strikeout rate tonight.
Also consider: Gerrit Cole, Josh Winckowski
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Austin Riley - 3B, ATL vs. Matthew Liberatore ($5,200 DK, $4,000 FD)
As far as hitters go, I'll lead off with Austin Riley. He'll be facing rookie Matthew Liberatore for the first time. Riley has smashed lefties with ease this season, with a .778 wOBA + ISO and 52.53% hard contact rate. I'm projecting more of the same from him tonight, as I have him projected for a .639 wOBA + ISO against Liberatore's pitch types and a whopping 60.65% hard contact rate.
DraftKings Projection: 12.56
FanDuel Projection: 15.91
Brendan Rodgers - 2B, COL vs. Dallas Keuchel ($4,300 DK, $3,600 FD)
Brendan Rodgers will be my next go-to on tonight's slate, as most of my exposure at second base will be between him and Odor. Rodgers has a .667 wOBA + ISO and a 37.09% hard contact rate against southpaws on the season and should be right on par this evening. I have him projected for a .614 wOBA + ISO against Keuchel's pitch types as well as a 38.54% hard contact rate. Rodgers has faced Keuchel three times, going 1-2 with a home run and a walk.
DraftKings Projection: 9.78
FanDuel Projection: 12.5
Rougned Odor - 2B, BAL vs. Chase Silseth ($3,200 DK, $2,300 FD)
As mentioned previously, Rodgers and Odor will split the majority of my exposure at second base tonight. Odor will be facing off against Angels' start Chase Silseth for the first time. While Odor has just a .453 wOBA + ISO and 30.08% hard contact rate against righties, which is roughly league average, he projects up today. He sees Silseth's pitch types well, with a projected .754 wOBA + ISO as well as a 32.72% hard contact rate.
DraftKings Projection: 9.19
FanDuel Projection: 11.44
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Ronald Acuna - OF, ATL vs. Matthew Liberatore ($5,900 DK, $4,400 FD)
Acuna is probably my favorite player on tonight's slate, and grades out accordingly. I'll be looking to attack Liberatore tonight, and Acuna is the best place to start. Acuna has a .687 wOBA + ISO and a 33.3% hard contact rate against lefties on the year, which is honestly lower than I would've thought. However, he projects far above his season averages with a whopping 1.262 wOBA + ISO against Liberatore's pitch types as well as a 41.43% hard contact rate.
DraftKings Projection: 14.95
FanDuel Projection: 18.77
Tommy Pham - OF, CIN vs. Bryse Wilson ($4,400 DK, $2,900 FD)
I'll look for Tommy Pham in the mid-tier tonight against struggling 24-year-old starter Bryse Wilson. While Pham has an impressive 41.56% hard contact rate against right-handed pitching, he has just a .463 wOBA + ISO against them on the season. The hard contact rate should rise tonight, as I project Pham to a 46.68% hard contact rate and a .682 wOBA + ISO against Wilson's pitch types.
DraftKings Projection: 10.28
FanDuel Projection: 13.03
Jordan Luplow - OF, ARI vs. Austin Gomber ($2,500 DK, $2,300 FD)
While Ronald Acuna is my favorite player on the slate, Jordan Luplow is by far my favorite value play on the slate. "Luplow against lefties" has been a go-to for me for years now, and he's continuing that trend this year. He has a .777 wOBA + ISO and 40.14% hard contact rate against southpaws on the year. He projects to a .744 wOBA + ISO against Gomber's pitch types and a 41.98% hard contact rate tonight, making him a steal at this price paired with the fact he'll likely lead off for Arizona.
DraftKings Projection: 10.65
FanDuel Projection: 13.52
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
Atlanta Braves vs. Matthew Liberatore
The Braves have dominated against lefties this season, ranking top five in OPS (.796), wOBA (.345), and wRC+ (119). They'll be facing Matthew Liberatore, who's struggling this season. He brings in a 5.66 ERA, 5.28 xFIP, and 43.5% hard contact allowed. While the Braves will be expensive on tonight's slate, as they are on any slate, a struggling southpaw against a team that loves facing them is difficult to pass up.
Favorite Plays: Ronald Acuna, Austin Riley, Dansby Swanson, Adam Duvall, Travis d'Arnaud
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Austin Gomber
I'll be looking at Arizona for my second favorite stack tonight, although my exposure will be concentrated between a few players. The Diamondbacks as a team struggle against left-handed pitching, ranking bottom-five in OPS (.663), wOBA (.293), and wRC+ (84). Austin Gomber brings in a 6.53 ERA, 4.28 xFIP, and 31.4% hard contact allowed. Gomber typically pitches better at Coors Field, quite the opposite of what most can say, so I have no problem giving decent exposure to the DBacks hitters below.
Favorite Plays: Ketel Marte, Christian Walker, Jordan Luplow
Also Consider: Baltimore Orioles, Colorado Rockies
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