MLB DFS DraftKings.com & FanDuel.com Lineups & Picks for June 16, 2018
Welcome back to another Saturday of MLB DFS. We’re back for another full slate of MLB DFS games scheduled for Saturday, 6/16/18. The main slate on DraftKings includes four games starting at 8:15 p.m. EST, while FanDuel’s main slate also includes four starting at the same time.
For today, we’re listing our top MLB DFS picks at pitcher, hitter, and stacks to target in Cash and GPP lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel. The info below can also be used for crafting your daily fantasy baseball strategy at FantasyDraft.
Please note the advice below is relevant for daily fantasy purposes. A player or team might be better or worse from a fantasy perspective than in real life due to matchup, price, and lots of other factors. This is important to consider when constructing a roster. Remember that more than in other sports, variance is a huge part of baseball. Even Mike Trout can go 0-for-4 on a given night, and Max Scherzer can get lit up by an unsuspecting team.
Weather can also play a huge role in MLB DFS on a nightly basis, and lineups are constantly shifting. So always, always check the starting lineups and weather reports when playing for an MLB slate.
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Best MLB DFS Pitchers for June 16, 2018
Patrick Corbin vs. NYM ($12.2k DraftKings, $9.5k FanDuel)
Patrick Corbin should be somewhat chalky on this slate, but that position is hardly without merit. He’s certainly in the argument as the safest play, taking on a Mets team that has lost 11 of their last 12 games and is striking out at as high a rate as any other team on this slate. Corbin is 4-2 at home this season, while he’s 2-0 on the road. But even though he’s appeared to be better away from Chase Field, he’s allowing a lower BA at home and he’s striking out more batters per nine innings.
The Mets faced Corbin this year at Citi Field, and knocked him around for four runs over six innings, though they struck out eight times. But given the Mets recent woes, I’m siding with Corbin on this one. He has the highest strikeout floor and ceiling on the slate, and he gets a slumping squad that is much worse against lefties than rights (.571 OPS vs. LHP, .707 OPS vs. RHP). Corbin is safe and worth a look in cash games. He also has the upside you want in tournaments, especially at FanDuel where his salary isn’t incredibly high.
Carlos Martinez vs. CHC ($8.9K DraftKings, $7.9k FanDuel)
Martinez has not looked good since returning from injury, and that is going to scare most away. The rest? They’ll be scared away by the matchup. The Cubs are 9-4 over their last 13, while Martinez has not looked great in his last two, specifically earlier this week against the Cincinnati Reds in which he went 3.2 innings and allowed five runs. However, Martinez has been borderline incredible at home, with a 1.88 ERA at Busch Stadium on the season (compared to a 3.74 ERA on the road).
While the Cubs have looked good as of late, in the last three games prior to the St. Louis series, they averaged more than 10 strikeouts per game, tied for second in the league for highest strikeout rate over that period. They’re also striking out at the seventh highest rate in the league on the road, while Martinez has struck out 10 in his last 7.2 innings. I think he’ll be way under-owned on this slate, and, as such, he’s a great way to get leverage, particularly at FanDuel. I also like him at DraftKings, but he’s been too shaky for me to roll with him in cash. Stick to GPPs.
Other pitchers to consider: Steven Matz (GPP), Steven Wright
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Best MLB DFS Hitters for June 16, 2018
Brandon Crawford @ LAD ($4.2k DraftKings, $3.9k FanDuel)
Hitting .318 with 8 home runs so far this season, Crawford is looking as good as ever. Today, he’ll face fellow lefty Alex Wood at LA. Fortunately for Crawford, he’s hit lefties to the tune of a .900 OPS this season, including four home runs. Those four home runs have come across 86 at-bats against LHPs, versus four home runs in 152 at-bats against RHPs. Crawford also has some history against Wood. Across 15 at-bats, Crawford has racked up six hits against the left-hander, including a double and two home runs. That history supports his current-season lefty-splits.
Unfortunately, he’s quite expensive, but that should price some people out, keeping his ownership relatively low. He’s a terrific play across the industry today, and I’ll be deploying in cash and GPPs, alike.
Kike Hernandez vs. SF ($3.3k DraftKings, $2.7k FanDuel)
I’m not sure what’s wrong with Madison Bumgarner since returning, but I don’t believe he’ll be righting the ship in this one. That’s good news for Hernandez, who has absolutely battered the lefty over a not-so-limited sample size. In 30 at-bats against Bumgarner, Hernandez has managed 14 hits, including five doubles and three home runs. That’s nothing to ignore, and it fits in Hernandez’ narrative: he crushes LHPs. Over the past three seasons, Hernandez has earned a .909 OPS against lefties, compared to a .538 OPS against RHPs.
With Bumgarner unable to strike guys out right now (he has six over his last 11.1 innings), and with losses in each of his last two starts, MadBum isn’t where he needs to be, and Hernandez gets the advantage from my perspective. He’s worth a look for salary relief in GPPs and cash games, especially on DraftKings where I am tempted to pay up for the most expensive pitchers.
Paul Goldschmidt vs. NYM ($5.6k DraftKings, $4.6k FanDuel)
Welcome back, Paul Goldschmidt. After a tumultuous start to the season, the D-Backs first baseman has really figured it out. Over his last 10 games, Goldschmidt has managed at least one hit in each and every one of them. He’s also hit four home runs in that span, along with five doubles and a triple. And it just so happens that he is 2-for-5 in his career against Steven Matz, with both those hits leaving the yard. Goldschmidt’s price has rebounded with his hitting, which puts him in the elite pricing tier on DraftKings.
I still like him there in tournaments if you can get to him. On FanDuel, Goldschmidt is affordable enough when you take into account his upside. He also happens to be crushing lefties this season, despite all his struggles, earning a 1.255 OPS against LHPs. Find a way to get him in your lineups if you can.
Brock Holt @ SEA ($3.3k DraftKings, $2.7k FanDuel)
While I expect the aforementioned Hernandez to draw a fair amount of ownership, I do believe Holt could slide well under the radar. Today, he faces a lefty in Wade LeBlanc, and Holt, himself, is left-handed. That should be a red flag for anyone just quickly setting a lineup, but dig a little deeper and you’ll see that LeBlanc is actually allowing a 15.5% higher OPS to left-handed bats.
Meanwhile, Holt has just 11 at-bats against LHPs this season, but he’s made them count with five hits. And last season, Holt’s OPS vs. lefties was 33% higher than his OPS against righties. It would seem that everything really is stacked against LeBlanc in this matchup. That doesn’t eliminate the risk in rostering Holt, but it sure does make it more logical. He’s in play in GPPs only across DraftKings and FanDuel.
Other hitters to consider: Nelson Cruz, Mitch Haniger, Nick Ahmed, Max Muncy, Marcell Ozuna, Rafael Devers, Yasiel Puig, Mitch Moreland, J.D. Martinez, Wilson Contreras
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MLB DFS Stacks to Consider for June 16, 2018
Giants vs. Alex Wood (Dodgers)
Cardinals vs. Kyle Hendricks (Cubs)
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Steven Matz (Mets)
Red Sox vs. Wade LeBlanc (Mariners)
