DFS MLB Lineups for July 4, 2017 at Draftkings.com & Fanduel.com
Happy 4th of July! 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 new ways to play DFS, be sure and give BOOM Fantasy and DRAFT a try!
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!
7/4/17 MAIN SLATE TOURNAMENT RUNDOWN
DraftKings Full Count: $55 buy-in, $175k guaranteed
DraftKings Rally Cap: $8 buy-in, $150k guaranteed
DraftKings Moonshot: $3, $50k guaranteed (20 Entry Max)
FanDuel Monster: $333 buy-in, $100k guaranteed
FanDuel Bald Eagle: $74 buy-in, $100k guaranteed
FanDuel Squeeze: $6 buy-in, $150k guaranteed
Best DFS MLB Pitchers for July 4, 2017
Michael Fulmer vs. SF ($9.8k DraftKings, $9.7k FanDuel)
Fulmer appears to have rediscovered his mojo with 2 elite starts in a row, striking out 15 while allowing just 3 ER on 9 hits over 15.2 IP. He was that kind of ace as a rookie and has the stuff to dominate weak lineups such as the Padres and Royals, so he’s definitely worth a look against another deficient offensive unit in the Giants, who have scored the third-fewest runs (331) this year with the lowest wOBA (.293) in the Majors. Fulmer should be able to handle that unit at home and post a Quality Start at the very least.
Jameson Taillon @ PHI ($8.5k DraftKings, $8.6k FanDuel)
One of the most talented young pitchers in baseball, Taillon is finding a groove again with 2 dominant starts in a row, shutting down the Cardinals and Rays while tossing over 100 pitches in consecutive outings. He could be the next ace in the Pirates rotation and regardless, he’s fully capable of shutting down a Phillies offense that ranks last in the Majors with a collective .295 wOBA and seventh with a 23.8% K-Rate over the last 30 days.
John Lackey vs. MIA ($5.7k DraftKings, $7.8k FanDuel)
He’s been completely boom-or-bust this year and that makes Lackey worth a look at such a modest price tag on DK (not worth playing on FD). The veteran RHP is home against a Rays team with the third-highest K-Rate (25.2%) in the Majors and will have the benefit of facing an A.L. pitcher with little hitting experience as well. Lackey’s certainly had his struggles this year, but posted a 2.62 ERA with a .201 BAA and 0.99 WHIP at home last year and has the skill set to limit Miami’s power-hitting righties with a decent curveball.
Other pitchers to consider: Jimmy Nelson, Lance Lynn, J.A. Happ
Best DFS MLB Hitters for July 4, 2017
Ryan Braun @ BAL ($4.5k DraftKings, $4.1k FanDuel)
The Brewers biggest bat has made quite an impact since coming off the DL with 2 HRs and 3 doubles over 5 appearances and he draws a great matchup today against vulnerable RHP Ubaldo Jimenez. The Orioles veteran is coming off a great start in Toronto, but has been lit up over a greater sample with a 6.48 ERA and 1.48 WHIP on the season and he’s giving up a 36.5% Hard Contact Rate when facing RHB this year, while Braun is 8-for-20 with 4 XBH in his career against Jimenez.
Jean Segura vs. KC ($4.3k DraftKings, $3.3k FanDuel)
How can you ignore an elite leadoff hitter like Segura against a pitcher that’s routinely struggled since coming into the Majors? Royals RHP Jake Junis has posted a 5.66 ERA with a 6.60 FIP through 8 appearances this season and he’s been homer-prone (2.31 HR/9 ratio) to boot. Segura is certainly a candidate to lead a Mariners stack with a .343 batting average and 136 wRC+ when facing RHP this season and a solid run of success leading into this plus matchup.
Yunel Escobar @ MIN ($3.4k DraftKings, $3.0k FanDuel)
The Angels are struggling offensively as a unit, but not because of what Escobar is doing. He’s hitting .414 with 6 walks and just 5 K’s over his last 10 appearances and remains a staple for your cash game lineups at a reasonable price tag on both main DFS sites. This 4th of July the Angles face a RHP in Kyle Gibson, who has been a doormat for whichever offense he faces with 13 ER and 6 HRs allowed over his last 4 appearances and you can trust Escobar to get involved in any productivity the Angels manage.
Other hitters to consider: Aaron Judge, Nick Castellanos, Lorenzo Cain, Travis Shaw, Cameron Maybin, Stephen Piscotty, Mike Moustakas, Melky Cabrera, Ben Gamel, Rajai Davis
7/4/17 DFS MLB STACKS
Royals vs Felix Hernandez
King Felix is still a name that generates a healthy level of respect, which makes this stack somewhat contrarian on an afternoon slate. Yet the Royals offense has come alive lately after a putrid pair of opening months, as KC ranks 7th in collective wOBA (.341) with the second-highest batting average (.284) in the Majors over the last 30 days. Hernandez has given up a HR in all but one start this year with a career-worst 2.09 HR/9 ratio and 5.16 FIP, so power-hitting Royals such as Mike Moustakas, Salvador Perez and Eric Hosmer are great options, along with Lorenzo Cain and a relative value in dangerous leadoff man Whit Merrifield.
Tigers vs Matt Cain
Sure enough, Cain continued to suck not only on the road, but also at massive AT&T Park, where he yielded 3 ER over 6 IP to the struggling Rockies and was lucky not to give up more production. Now he’ll travel to Comerica Park, where J.D. Martinez and his teammates will look to tag the veteran for a long ball or two. Despite his 0-for-8 track record against Cain, Martinez comprises the heart of this stack while Miguel Cabrera should be another light-owned option as he looks to break out of a lengthy slump. Look toward Nick Castellanos for some value and Alex Avila is an intriguing GPP play with the platoon advantage against Cain.
Other Stacks to consider:
Angels vs. Kyle Gibson
Mariners vs. Jake Junis
Athletics vs. James Shields
Brewers vs. Ubaldo Jimenez
