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The last MLB Friday slate of July features an interesting pitching pool, one that’s a bit short on reliable arms in my view. That makes plucking our anchor play and possible alternate selection a bit trickier than on other occasions, but I believe I’ve found two reliable candidates for those roles.
Any time there’s questions about pitching, there’s naturally plenty of optimism about the hitters on the ledger, and that’s certainly the case Friday. There are some particularly enticing matchups based on the numbers, although it will be particularly important to continue checking the news right up to lineup lock due to Friday marking the conclusion of what has already been a very busy trade deadline.
I'll be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for the FanDuel main slate on 7/30/2021. Be sure to also check out all the MLB player news, including late scratches, and the projected and confirmed daily MLB lineups for each DFS slate. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for sites like DraftKings, and other sports.
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FanDuel DFS Pitchers
Cash Game/GPP Anchor Play:
Lance Lynn – vs. CLE ($10,700)
Lynn is showing no signs of slowing down as August approaches, as he’ll check into Friday with four consecutive quality starts, a stretch during which he’s pitched to a 1.44 ERA and 0.7 HR/9 across 25 innings while scoring 34 to 52 FD points. The right-hander has flashed a ceiling as high as 70 FD points this season and authored a 46-FD-point tally against Cleveland back on April 15, an outing in which he racked up 10 strikeouts. Lynn has been at his absolute best at home (6-2, 1.50 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 10.1 K/9) and the Indians check in with just a .239 average, .283 OBP, -5.0 wRAA and .289 wOBA against righties on the road in July.
Potential Alternate Play
Chris Bassitt – at LAA ($9,400)
Bassitt has had a couple of uncharacteristic stumbles recently, but he’s still sporting an excellent 10-3 record that’s complemented by a 3.46 ERA and 1.06 WHIP. The first-time All-Star gets one of his favorite opponents in the Angels, which he’s already burned for a complete-game, two-hit shutout and owns a 1.08 ERA and 0.54 WHIP against over two starts this season. Bassitt has been a bit more hittable on the road, but he also averages a strikeout more per nine innings when traveling (9.6) than at home. While Los Angeles has been tough against righties at home in July, Bassitt has seven road starts with 37 or more FD points, making him a very viable consideration on a night with some uncertainty at pitcher.
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FanDuel DFS Infielders
Jake Cronenworth- 1B, vs. COL ($2,900)
Cronenworth gets a fairly tough matchup on paper against Jon Gray (assuming no trade) on Friday, but it’s one he’s done well against previously. The young Padres slugger just went deep again Thursday and checks in with 10 RBI over his 11 second-half games thus far, a stretch during which he’s also compiled an .875 OPS. Cronenworth has been excellent against right-handed pitching at home as well, posting a .303 average, .895 OPS, .384 wOBA and 143 wRC+ in that split. He’s also touched up Gray for a .500 average with a pair of triples and only one strikeout in 11 plate appearances, while the Rockies right-hander has been banged around in same-handed matchups on the road for a .324 average, .401 wOBA and 2.3 HR/9.
Jonathan Schoop – 2B, vs. BAL ($3,400)
Schoop gets a crack at his old squad and a vulnerable starter in Matt Harvey on Friday, putting the Tigers slugger firmly in play. Schoop owns a .313 average in July, and he boasts a .330 wOBA against righties at home. Meanwhile, Harvey has been hit hard by right-handed hitters on the road, allowing a .330 average and.364 wOBA in that split. Schoop also happens to be an excellent hitter against Harvey’s two most-often-thrown pitches, the four-seam fastball and the sinker; while Harvey allows .420 and .350 wOBAs on those offerings, Schoop is pounding them for .399 and .339 wOBAs, respectively.
Josh Donaldson– 3B, at STL ($3,400)
Donaldson is in a good spot Friday against veteran lefty Wade LeBlanc, whose crooked numbers against right-handed hitters at home include a .333 average, .397 wOBA and 1.9 HR/9. He’s also given up a .364 average and a pair of homers across 11 career encounters with Donaldson, while the veteran slugger has eviscerated southpaws on the road for a .325/.417/.600 slash line with a .426 wOBA and 174 wRC+. He’s also been putting very good wood on the ball in July, as evidenced by his .854 OPS and .369 wOBA across 82 plate appearances.
Jean Segura – SS, at PIT ($3,200) (UPDATE: With Segura out of the lineup, teammate Ronald Torreyes ($2,100) is a very cost-effective right-handed bat with shortstop eligibility to use against Crowe).
Segura represents a very cost-effective way to gain some right-handed exposure to Pirates starter Wil Crowe, who’s been blasted by righty bats at home for a .348/.411/.697 slash line, .464 wOBA and jaw-dropping 4.1 HR/9. Meanwhile, Segura comes in having hit safely in 10 of his last 11 games and has a .296 average and .332 wOBA versus right-handed hitters for the season. He’s also been very good on the road, striking out at a tiny 11.8 percent rate while posting a .299 average and 333 wOBA.
FanDuel DFS Outfielders
Teoscar Hernandez- vs. KC ($3,400)
Hernandez was at it again at a southpaw’s expense Thursday, partly compiling a 3-for-5, three-RBI tally at the Red Sox’s Eduardo Rodriguez’s expense. He gets an even more vulnerable lefty Friday to start the game, as Royals starter Daniel Lynch has pitched to a 7.88 ERA across his first 16 big-league innings and allowed a .356 average, .942 OPS and .400 wOBA to the 65 right-handed hitters he’s faced thus far. Meanwhile, Hernandez will look to help celebrate the Blue Jays’ return to Rogers Centre by enhancing his already massive numbers against lefties, which include a .347 average, 1.082 OPS and .448 wOBA, along with an impressive 25.0 percent line-drive rate.
Kris Bryant– at WAS ($3,800) (UPDATE: With Bryant and Lester both traded Friday afternoon, I suggest a pivot to Nelson Cruz ($3,900) facing Red Sox southpaw Martin Perez, against whom he's belted three career homers and who makes an excellent target for Cruz's .349/.402/.578 slash, .410 wOBA and .229 ISO versus southpaws.)
Assuming Bryant is still in a Cubs uniform come Friday night, he makes for a very viable consideration against former teammate Jon Lester, who’s allowed a .318 average and .395 wOBA to right-handed hitters, and who’s pitched to a .372 wOBA overall in July. For his part, Bryant is putting in his usual stellar work against lefties, touching up southpaws for a .342 average, .473 wOBA, .367 ISO and 1.137 OPS on the season. He’s also rebounded from a forgettable June by posting a .922 OPS and .399 wOBA across 74 July plate appearances. Whenever Lester exits, Bryant will also get his hacks in against a Nationals bullpen that’s pitched to an 8.72 ERA and MLB-high .403 wOBA over the last two weeks of play.
Brian Goodwin – vs. CLE ($2,300)
Goodwin makes for an intriguing, inexpensive and low-rostered large-field tournament play Friday against Indians starter J.C. Mejia, who’s given up a .316 average, .923 OPS and .429 wOBA to the 109 left-handed hitters he’s faced. Mejia has been even worse facing lefty hitters on the road, allowing a .345 average and .452 wOBA in that split. Then, while Goodwin has slowed down considerably after a very hot start, he’s still sporting an impressive .297 average, .867 OPS, .376 wOBA and 143 wRC+ against right-handed pitching at home, along with massive 42.3 percent and 46.2 percent line-drive- and hard-contact rates, respectively, in that split. Once Mejia exits, Goodwin’s matchup remains solid, as Cleveland relievers have pitched to a .261 BAA and .331 wOBA against lefty bats in July.
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