DFS MLB Lineups for June 22, 2017 at Draftkings.com & Fanduel.com
For this daily fantasy baseball season, each day there’s a good slate of DFS MLB games, we’ll be writing up a group of pitchers and hitters that we’re considering for our cash and GPP lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel. We’ll also provide a list of stacks to consider, MLB start times, starting pitchers, and game run totals to give you a good idea of where the fantasy goodness might come from on a given night. As with any DFS sport, the advice below is relevant for fantasy purposes. A player or team might be better or worse from a fantasy perspective than they are in real life due to matchup, price, park factor, etc. This is important when constructing a roster. And if you’re looking for a new way to play DFS, be sure and give BOOM Fantasy a try!
We’re talking the late DFS MLB slate today. Six games with Luis Severino coming in as the chalkiest of all chalk plays. Whenever a pitcher is going to be 40-50% owned on a short slate, there’s always merit to fading. He could very well go 7 innings of shutout ball with 8 strikeouts. However, from a game theory perspective, you’d gain such an advantage on the field if he were to get blown up (or even disappoint), that it’s worth the fade. Keep your ears open as there’s at least a decent chance that Hyun-jin Ryu becomes extremely popular as well. My guess is the Severino/Ryu pairing will be, by far, the most popular pairing on DraftKings tonight. As for bats, can we possibly look at the Braves? Giants pitcher Matt Cain is completely washed up and he doesn’t have the park in San Fran to protect how horrible he’s become. It’s never fun to click on the Braves, but I’ll be there and hopefully at the top of the leaderboards as well. – Matt
A quick reminder while playing DFS MLB, don’t forget baseball is a game of variance. You can make a really solid lineup and still fall short of the cash line. Even Clayton Kershaw can get lit up, and Mike Trout can still go 0 for 4. Baseball is funny like that. Trust the process and know that if you’re playing quality lineups, you’ll be a winner in the long term.
Another thing to remember outside of making sure your player is in the lineup, is to always check the weather. Always. Make this something that is part of your basic routine. Baseball games can get postponed! Your players receive no points from postponed games!
6/22/17 MAIN SLATE TOURNAMENT RUNDOWN
DraftKings Fastball: $33 buy-in, $200k guaranteed
DraftKings Rally Cap: $8 buy-in, $125k guaranteed
DraftKings Four Seamer: $4 buy-in, $100k guaranteed (20 Entry Max)
FanDuel Monster: $366 buy-in, $100k guaranteed
FanDuel Squeeze: $3 buy-in, $100k guaranteed
FanDuel Rally: $15 buy-in, $150k guaranteed
Best DFS MLB Pitchers for June 22, 2017
Luis Severino vs LAA ($12.3k DraftKings, $9.8k FanDuel)
The 23-year-old right-hander has done a complete 180 in comparison to last year; he is 5-2 with a 2.99 ERA, 3.23 FIP .602 OPS against and 90 strikeouts in 81.1 innings in 2017. Severino, who has no problem pitching at Yankee stadium, will face the an Angels team who is, offensively, the worst American League team on the road. Through 37 games, they were hitting just .231 with a .678 OPS away from Los Angeles. It certainly does not help the Angels either that they are without their top hitter: perennial MVP candidate Mike Trout. Backed by one of the game’s most potent offenses, it seems likely Severino will also pick up the win bonus here.
Jaime Garcia vs. SF ($7.5k DraftKings, $8.0k FanDuel)
If there is one thing the San Francisco Giants have not done well this year, it’s hit. Through 73 games, their .673 OPS off left-handers was an MLB worst, so that does not do them too much good headed into a game against one of the steadier left-handers in the game. After two rough outings to start the year, Garcia owns a 3.27 ERA in his last 11 starts and he has averaged about 6.2 innings pitched in those outings. With the ever-struggling Matt Cain on the mound opposing him, a win seems feasible for once.
Daniel Norris vs. SEA ($7.6k DraftKings, $7.5k FanDuel)
Without much to choose from, Norris becomes one of the better plays for the money. The possibility of earning a win bonus is another reason why starting Norris has value tonight. On the road this year, he is 2-1 with a 3.86 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 37.1 innings in seven starts this season. And today, he will be at pitcher-friendly Safeco Field up against a Mariners team that isn’t particularly strong against left-handed pitching (.715 OPS against lefties through 73 games) Since Norris is up against rookie Andrew Moore, there is a good chance he gets a win bonus.
Other pitchers to consider: Jake Arrieta, Steven Matz
Best DFS MLB Hitters for June 22, 2017
Matt Holliday vs. LAA ($4.4k DraftKings, $3.7k FanDuel)
Albeit Greg Bird and Chris Carter were the Yankees options at first base to start the year, a 37-year-old with hardly any prior experience at the spot has been the Yankees go-to man as of late. The right-handed slugger had a .922 OPS in 30 home games on the year headed into last night–and then he homered. Certainly, Jesse Chavez (5-7, 4.85 ERA) will not disrupt the strong year Holliday is piecing together.
Jonathan Schoop vs. CLE ($4.5k DraftKings, $3.7k FanDuel)
Schoop is having a career month. Through 19 games, the right-handed slugger had blasted seven home runs, which helped bring his OPS to .880 on the season. As long as he keeps blasting home runs, there is reason to pick him. He is set to face Indians second year starter Mike Clevinger, who has let up 13 home runs in 90 career big league innings. This could be another day for Schoop to shine.
Albert Almora Jr. @ MIA ($3.2k DraftKings, $2.3k FanDuel)
How is Almora this cheap? He entered last night’s game hitting .353 with a .965 OPS in 17 games this month and today, he really has a chance to shine. That’s because the lefty masher (1.049 OPS in 53 plate appearances against lefties this season) will be facing a mediocre left-handed pitcher in Jeff Locke. Last year, right-handed batters hit .305 with an .876 OPS off Locke.
Other hitters to consider: JD Martinez, Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, Starlin Castro, Francisco Lindor, Ian Happ, Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Wilmer Flores, Jean Segura
6/22/17 DFS MLB STACKS
Tigers vs. Andrew Moore
The Tigers lineup doesn’t really stand out against right-handed pitching (.752 OPS through 70 games), but we get a recently promoted 23-year-old making his first start in the majors. Moore has some great numbers across AA and AAA this year, but facing a lineup with Kinsler, Miggy, JD Martinez, Avila, Upton and Castellanos is a whole different animal.
Yankees vs. Jesse Chavez
No team in the world hits right-handed pitching better than the Yankees. They entered last night with an MLB-best .356 on-base percentage, .840 OPS and 89 home runs against righties. And by all accounts, the Yankees are facing a subpar righty in Chavez (5-7, 4.85 ERA), who struggles on the road (6.07 ERA, .928 OPS against in seven road starts). Being at home is another major edge for the Yankees; through 32 home games, they had already blasted 65 home runs. Just about the Yankees entire lineup has an OPS above .800 against right-handers.
Cubs vs Jeff Locke
There’s not a better hitting team in baseball against left-handed pitching than the Chicago Cubs (.818 OPS in 71 games). With not many games on the slate, it is an ideal day to take advantage of this split. Why? Because Jeff Locke has a 5.65 ERA in 23 starts since the beginning of the 2016 season, a year where right-handed batters hit .305 with an .876 OPS against him. He has only made four starts so far this year due to injury, but his team has not won any of those starts. Kris Bryant, Albert Almora Jr., and Anthony Rizzo own OPS’ over 1.000 against lefties this year while Javier Baez’ is over .900, so there are some choices here.
Other Stacks to consider:
Braves vs. Matt Cain
Indians vs. Wade Miley
***Pitcher, batter, and stack plays above by Tom Joyce
