FanDuel MLB Lineup Picks, Advice & Sleepers for 7/21

Below are some of my DFS lineup picks and player recommendations for today's daily league games on FanDuel. Some of these players could be sleepers for your FanDuel DFS lineups based on their pricing, matchups and recent performances. Good luck today RotoBallers.

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!

 

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Daily Fantasy Leagues - FanDuel Lineup Picks (7/21)

 

STARTING PITCHERS

Julio Teheran, ATL ($8,900): Teheran is hardly a bargain as the third costliest pitcher today, but I’d prefer him to the higher-priced alternative. The Royals simply don’t strike out enough for me to pay $10,300 for Chris Sale and I’m always wary of a guy like Cliff Lee ($9,500) who is fresh off the DL.

Teheran faces a Marlins team that strikes out about 24% of the time against righties and an offense that has been scuffling lately. The Braves are a heavy (-200) favorite at home, so he also stands a good chance of picking up a win. Teheran is my top choice of the higher-price guys today.

Hyun-Jin Ryu, LAD ($8,100): Ryu was brilliant in his last start before the break and now faces a Pirates squad that struggles against lefties. The Dodger lefty strikes out eight batters per nine, while the Pirates whiff at a 22.4% rate against southpaws. PNC is a pitcher-friendly environment. If Ryu can avoid getting beat by McCutchen, the rest of the Pittsburgh lineup doesn’t scare me here.

Tom Koehler, MIA ($6,100): Okay, I needed to give you a cheap option. I normally don’t recommend starters who are going against each other, but at a $6100 price tag, Koehler is capable of giving you a double-digit points night with plenty of budget to load up on hitters. The Braves’ dirty little secret is that they struggle mightily against righties, posting a .296 wOBA against them this season with a 22% strikeout rate. Koehler’s downside is that he tends to walk a lot of guys, so you can’t expect more than six innings from him. But the Braves aren’t a particularly patient team, ranking middle of the pack in walk rate, so this may be a good time to save money and start Koehler and load up on pricier hitters, particularly in GPP tournaments.

 

CATCHER

Yan Gomes, CLE ($3,300): Gomes has quietly been the hottest hitter in baseball, continuing a streak he started before the All-Star break, and the price on Fanduel has not caught up yet. He’s a guy who prefers lefty pitching and gets to face ineffective rookie Kris Johnson tonight. Normally I’d like to stack a bunch of Indians in this situation, but too many of them are left-handed. But I’ll take the hot-hitting righty catcher as my top play of the day.

Also Consider: Brayan Pena (if he starts), Buster Posey, Miguel Montero

 

FIRST BASE

Dan Johnson, TB ($2,200): Listen, Paul Goldschmidt is the top first base play today, hands down, but my job is to give you some value picks. Goldy is going for $5,400, but Dan Johnson comes in at the minimum. It is questionable whether he’ll be in the lineup tonight, but it is good to know that he is a bona fide Red Sox killer. The guy finds a way to get on base and has the pop to surprise you with a homer. Toronto is a homer haven and Johnson has a good matchup against John Lackey. If I have the budget, I’d go with one of the studs here, but if you want a guy at punt prices who could find the seats, Dan is your man.

Also Consider: Gaby Sanchez, Chris Davis

 

SECOND BASE

Neil Walker ($3,300): Walker is 7-for-12 since coming back from the All-Star break. I love going with the hot bat in this spot, even though I like Ryu on the mound today. The switch-hitting Walker performs above-average against lefties and has seemed to find his power stroke mid-season. His price today is more than reasonable for a guy who could bang out a few hits and drive in some runs.

Also Consider:  Jason Kipnis, Rougned Odor

 

THIRD BASE

Nick Castellanos ($2,600): The Tigers are facing Vidal Nuno, a susceptible lefty in a park that loves righty power. Enter Nick Castallanos.

Castellanos is pretty useless versus righties in daily fantasy leagues, but should always be a cheap option when facing a weak lefty.

The Tigers’ third baseman has a .820 OPS against southpaws and plenty of protection in the Detroit lineup. Many a winning lineup tonight will have a Detroit Tigers stack. They love lefty pitching and are in a run-scoring environment. At $2,600, Castellanos is a cheap source of production.

Also Consider: Ryan Zimmerman, Lonnie Chisenhall

 

SHORTSTOP

J.J. Hardy ($2,800): Hardy is one of the streakiest bats in the MLB and he’s running good right now after notching a hit in all three games versus Oakland over the weekend. The Angels’ Matt Shoemaker has been better than expected, but remains vulnerable to the long ball. I think Hardy is at the point in the season where his power will come around and he’ll hit three or four homers over a week’s span. His price is still very affordable and he is surrounded in the lineup by other sluggers. I’m going to be starting him in many of my lineups tonight.

Also Consider: Eduardo Escobar, Derek Jeter

 

OUTFIELD

Bryce Harper ($3,300): Grab Harper now, you are not likely to find him at these prices for long. I love him (and many other Nationals) playing in Coors Field tonight.

I know that Franklin Morales is tougher on lefty hitters, but this is Coors field and Harper is heating up with a modest four-game hitting streak.

I would recommend a Nationals stack tonight with Harper and Werth and maybe Rendon. The mountain air is not kind to pitchers and the Nats are hitting well.

Adam Eaton ($2,700): Another hot hitter, Eaton has hit in seven straight games, yet his price has not adjusted. He will never be a threat to hit a long ball, but if Eaton continues to get on base, he is a stolen base threat at the top of the lineup. Jeremy Guthrie doesn’t strike anybody out, so you figure Eaton will be making contact. I expect to see him on the basepaths tonight.

Austin Jackson ($2,500): See my comments on Nick Castellanos. It boggles my mind that Jackson is available at this price. The Tigers will be scoring some runs tonight and I expect that Jackson will be a high-percentage play against Vidal Nuno. Jackson hits .329 with a .404 OBP against lefties and has had a multi-hit game in seven of his last nine starts. I’d almost say he is a “must start” tonight at this price. Most of your opponents will have him in the lineup. You should too.

Also Consider: Jayson Werth, Melky Cabrera, Corey Dickerson, Jacoby Ellsbury