FanDuel MLB Lineup Picks, Advice & Sleepers for 7/23

Congratulations.  You’ve been delegated with the enviably task of navigating through the following garbled mess to attempt to make daily fantasy selections based on my [somewhat] extensive knowledge of baseball matchups.  Selections are based on budget totals and scoring systems used on FanDuel.  Below are some of my DFS sleeper lineup picks and player recommendations for today's daily league games on FanDuel. I’ll be arranging my processes and thoughts into a different format than what most of you are used to, but I- and all of us at Rotoballer- am always open for suggestions and/or comments from the proletariat readers.  Or if you feel the need to make fun of my every selection, I’d be fine with that as well.

As always, remember to check your players to make sure they are in their MLB starting lineups before lineups lock, and make sure you are doing your own research too for optimal performance! The most successful daily leaguers are grinders who are constantly tweaking their lineups as the day goes on and fantasy news gets released. Good luck today, RotoBallers!

Editor's Note: For those of you hardcore fantasy baseball gamers, FanDuel has an exclusive offer for RotoBaller members. Register through this link and you will be given a free 100% bonus on your first deposit up to $5,000 AND a free month of our exclusive In-House DFS Lineup Picks! You'll also be invited to free contests with cash prizes and can enter FREE MLB Contests where you can win big money. Pretty sweet deal!  

Weather the Storm

Games all along the East Coast are in danger of at least a rain delay.  Make sure to check the weather of New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Atlanta before finalizing your lineup.  Denver may see some rain but more than likely it’ll be a hot one with the wind going to dead center field.  Left handed power hitters may receive some wind help in Minnesota and Oakland.  The wind is not your friend in Chicago and St. Louis.

DFS Pitchers to Avoid for 7/23

Trevor Bauer is very hittable on the road against lefties.  See weather in Minnesota above.  Anthony Swarzak is just plain hittable.

The game in Colorado has all the makings of a good ole fashioned baseball shootout.  The kind of shootout where a ton of runs are scored.  Stephen Strasburg is nowhere near as good on the road as he is at home while the Nationals, a team that devastates lefties, are on their way to scoring about one billion runs the rest of the season and LHP Jorge de la Rosa is unfortunately in the way.

If the Richter scale was used to measure home ERA/wOBA splits and not earthquakes, then Trevor Cahill would score 7.27/.368 on the Richter.

The hefty Met that is Bartolo Colon isn’t good on the road.

Neither is Dan Haren, who has come back down to earth over the last month plus.  To add insult to injury, the Pirates have been a run creating force since the beginning of June.

The Main Course – DFS Lineup Picks for 7/23

I don’t want to tell you how to run your lineup, but it’s probably a good idea to check the lineup card before the first pitch to make sure your guy is starting.

Starting Pitcher DFS Lineup Picks

Yu Darvish, TEX ($11,400):  He’s clearly the best pitcher going today and he’s facing an offensively reeling Yankees team.  The big concern is if the Rangers will have enough offense to give him the win.

Madison Bumgarner, SF ($9,000):  I personally like Bumgarner as my top pitcher to play.  He’s sensational on the road and is pitching against a Phillies team that is terrible against LHPs.

Ian Kennedy, SD ($7,500):  Kennedy is another solid road warrior and he’ll be pitching in Wrigley against the second worst hitting team against RHPs.  His run support will be coming from the worst hitting team against RHPs and LHPs, but at least they’ll be facing rookie Tsuyoshi Wada.

Catcher DFS Lineup Picks

Dioner Navarro, TOR ($2,700):  Navarro has been swinging a hot bat lately and remains rather cheap considering his recent production.

Yasmani Grandal, SD ($2,500):  There are better options available at catcher but I like rolling the dice with low value and high reward.  During the month of July, Grandal owns a .289 BA and a .397 wOBA and he’ll be facing a rookie.

First Base DFS Lineup Picks

Miguel Cabrera, DET ($4,600): Miggy isn’t cheap and I’m immediately going against my “low value/high reward” theory, but he hasn’t had a 10-point game in nearly two weeks.  He’s overdue.

James Loney, TB ($2,900):  The Rays are pretty hot right now.  Loney is even hotter.  He has a four-game multi-hit streak going and although he won’t be able to sustain that long term, his price is more than affordable.

Nick Swisher, CLE ($2,300):  See Minnesota weather above.  Also, Swisher is due.  Trust in the line drive rate.

Second Base DFS Lineup Picks

Neil Walker, PIT ($3,500):  It appears that Walker is taking his frustration of not getting the All Star nod out on opposing pitchers. He’s scored 32.75 Fan Duel points since the ASB and an exploitable Dan Haren is up next.

Danny Espinosa, WAS ($2,400):  There’s a strong possibility Espinosa gets the start tomorrow due to an injury (see Ryan Zimmerman below).  If he does, then you’ll want to scoop him up.  He’s a better hitter from the right side of the plate and he’s a threat to steal especially if Michael McKenry starts at catcher for the Rockies.

DJ LeMahieu, COL ($2,300):  If Espinosa doesn’t start, then feel comfortable in LeMahieu.  He’s hit Washington pitching pretty well and Strasburg tends to give up taters on the road.

Third Base DFS Lineup Picks

Ryan Zimmerman, WAS ($3,700):  Zimmerman may get the day off due to a potential injury from last night.  If he does start, then start him knowing that he dominates Colorado pitching.

Josh Donaldson, OAK ($3,500):  Though Donaldson cooled somewhat near the end of the first half, he’s recorded a hit in four straight games and he has considerable success against Brad Peacock.

Pablo Sandoval, SF ($3,300):  The Panda has AJ Burnett’s number.

Shortstop DFS Lineup Picks

Ian Desmond, WAS ($3,700):  He’s 7-for-8 with 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 4 R and 1 HBP in two games in Colorado and he’s facing another LHP with the possibility of McKenry behind the plate.  Duh.

Hanley Ramirez, LAD ($4,300):  The baseball gods always scorn me whenever I choose Ramirez for whatever reason.  Maybe I didn’t sacrifice enough to appease them.  Ramirez should light Francisco Liriano up.  He should.

Outfielder DFS Lineup Picks

Andrew McCutchen, PIT ($4,900):  It’s almost foolish to start McCutchen due to his price, but the advanced numbers don’t lie.  The reigning NL-MVP actually hits better against RHPs and half of his hits against Haren have gone for long balls.  He may go long twice.

Michael Brantley, CLE ($4,000):  Brantley has tattooed Anthony Swarzak in his career.  You can expect that to continue.  See Minnesota weather above.

Oswaldo Arcia, MIN ($2,600):  He’s a power hitter who can crush Bauer's best pitch.  See Minnesota weather above.

Denard Span, WAS ($3,000):  This is an unconventional pick where I’m banking on Span to get on base and 1) steal bases against a (probable) sub-par pitcher/catcher duo and 2) score runs.  Make sure McKenry is in the Colorado lineup if you start Span.

Yoenis Cespedes, OAK ($3,000):  Cespedes has swung the bat well since the ASB and faces an average Peacock.  Still no word on whether Brad Peacock has the ability to summon the power of the peacock.

Matt Joyce, TB ($3,100):  Joyce has been finding ways to get on base and score runs for a hot Rays team.  He also has a perfect 4.000 SLG against Lance Lynn.  Okay you got me.  That’s a giant sample size of one career at-bat.  Gotta like those odds though.