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The top early-slate daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on June 14, 2023. Mike's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
Getaway day is heavy in the evening, but we still have a nice little three-game matinee to keep us occupied during the last half of the work day. Well, for those of you that are day dwellers and not part vampire like me.
This article contains my picks for the three-game early slate on June 14, 2023, for both DraftKings and FanDuel, which locks at 1:10 PM ET. The postponement of the Atlanta/Detroit game from last night messes with the schedule a bit. Since this will be the first game of the doubleheader, we should still get the game on the DFS slates. The only problem is that we don't know who is starting which game right now.
The lineup picks will range from some elite high-priced players to mid-priced options and value plays. I'll give you a few of my top pitching options and then some infielders, outfielders, and teams to stack. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports here. It's also essential to monitor injury news and today's MLB starting lineups.
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DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Spencer Strider, ATL at DET ($11,800 DK, $11,400 FD)
Strider is expensive and will be starting one of the two games today. We hope it's this one; otherwise, we won't be able to use him today. This is the prime time to use him. Strider was chased early by the Mets last week and hasn't been all that sharp lately.
Neither has Detroit. The toothless Tigers are hitting just a buck-ninety-eight in the month of June and averaging 2.5 runs per game. This team strikes out a ton anyway, and that is something Strider still got right last week. He fanned eight in four innings, but also gave up eight runs. The latter part of that equation won't happen against the Tigers.
If the Braves pivot and send AJ Smith-Shawver to the hill in the early game, I'll smash that $6,500 price all day long against the Tigers. The rookie might be the highest-scoring pitcher on the slate and is the second-cheapest among starting pitchers.
Jordan Montgomery, STL vs. SF ($8,000 DK, $8,200 FD)
I'm a bit nervous about this one since the Giants can stack the lineup with right-handed hitters. The Giants are hitting a solid .258 against lefties this season, but the seven Giants that have faced Montgomery so far in his career -- five of whom hit from the right side and two lefties that should still be in the lineup -- haven't fared well.
None of the nine hits have gone for extra bases, and Montgomery is still getting some swings and misses. When he allows contact, it is generally soft and the Giants aren't elevating the ball. We should see soft contact off of Montgomery. That can still be a problem at times, but with the uncertainty at pitcher today, Montgomery is a good value play.
Others to consider: Bailey Ober ($9,700 DK, $9,700 FD) vs. MIL
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Edouard Julien - 2B, MIN vs. MIL ($2,900 DK, $2,900 FD)
Jorge Polanco is on the IL yet again, which means another call-up for Julien. He has wasted no time getting acclimated this time around. In his three games back in the bigs, Julien has led off and collected five hits in 11 tries with three walks, three doubles, and three runs scored. I will take a bargain like this on a small slate where it looks like we are going to need the money for pitchers, especially if Strider starts the early game.
Nolan Arenado - 3B, STL vs. SF ($5,200 DK, $3,200 FD)
As a whole, the Cardinals are struggling on offense. Arenado missed that memo. He has five multi-hit games in his last six and is riding an eight-game hitting streak. In that span, Arenado is hitting .478 with three homers and seven RBI. The bad news? None of his teammates have driven him in despite Arenado being on base more than half of the time. That's no reason not to use him. He's putting up a lot of crooked DFS scores.
Carlos Correa - SS, MIN vs. MIL ($4,100 DK, $2,900 FD)
Correa may finally be breaking out of his season-long slump. He has a modest five-game hitting streak going but has hit three homers and driven in eight in that span along with five runs scored. Any signs of life at the plate for Correa are encouraging right now. Colin Rea isn't a bad pitcher, but he also allows a lot of contact and doesn't go deep into games. There's a lot to like for many Minnesota players today based on their current prices.
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Ronald Acuna Jr. - OF, ATL at DET ($6,500 DK, $4,600 FD)
I'm expecting the Braves to play all of the starters in the early game, then rest many of them in the nightcap just to get them more rest before the team heads home to Atlanta for a four-game series against the Rockies. No matter who is on the mound, you want Acuna. Righties can't get him out. Lefties can't either. He's hitting .353 in June with two homers and six steals. Just pay up and reap the benefits against one of the worst pitching staffs in the league.
Austin Slater - OF, SF at STL ($3,400 DK, $2,600 FD)
Slater is hitting .471 over the last week but only has three RBI to show for it. Still, the guy is hitting .400 in 18 games this season and bats leadoff against lefties. I'm all about cheap leadoff hitters if I have to pay up for pitchers...even if I am using him against one of those pitchers. It's a three-game slate, folks. You can't really avoid using a player against your pitcher, and doing so might even help you get different on a slate where there promises to be many duplicate lineups.
Jordan Walker - OF, STL vs. SF ($2,800 DK, $2,900 FD)
I like the discount on Walker on DK, especially considering that the rookie has a seven-game hitting streak going. Much like Arenado, he is a hot player on a team that can't get anything together on offense. Walker should force the Cardinals' hand and get moved up in the order, perhaps as soon as today. I want to see what he can do hitting right behind Arenado.
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
Atlanta Braves vs. Michael Lorenzen
Lorenzen has been very good for the Tigers so far this year. Still, he got knocked around a little by the Diamondbacks last week and has now allowed five earned runs or more in two of the last four starts. That's not a good thing when you face a team like Atlanta.
Acuna is on a season-long hot streak, so he's the guy you start with. Austin Riley, Michael Harris II, Orlando Arcia, and Eddie Rosario are all hitting well this month. That's an easy five-man stack, but harder to do if Strider starts this game. I would like to find a way to get Matt Olson in on this stack. Currently, he is priced out of my range on DK.
Also consider: Minnesota Twins vs. Colin Rea
The strikeouts are up recently for Rea, but Minnesota bats just fit today. Alex Kirilloff, Julien, Royce Lewis, and Michael Taylor all feel underpriced with their recent performances. Anchor it with Correa, and you have a nice pivot off a Braves stack without sacrificing pitching.
Sneaky stack: St. Louis Cardinals vs. Anthony DeSclafani
Yes, the Cards are struggling, but so is DeSclafani. He has walked seven batters over the last two games alone and only struck out four. Living that dangerously is going to catch up to him at some point. It might be here.
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