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With the Cubs continuing to host early games on Friday, the PIT/CHC game is off the board for our DraftKings contest. However, we still have a loaded 14-game slate, with a plethora of pitchers and high-powered lineups to choose from.
Five games have an over/under of at least nine total runs, including the ARI/COL game which boasts a slate-high 11 total runs. Four teams are heavy favorites (-200 or greater): Nationals, Blue Jays, Red Sox, and Astros. Three of those teams have top tier pitchers who could help shape the top of the leaderboard on Friday night.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 6/8/18. The lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for sites like FanDuel, and other sports too. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to hit me up on Twitter @CharlieSideHstl.
DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers
Chris Sale, BOS (vs. CWS) - $11,100
It continues to boggle my mind when I see Sale isn’t the most expensive starting pitcher in a slate. For Friday, he’s the third-most expensive option, behind Justin Verlander and Trevor Bauer. Sure, he’s had some rough appearances in back-to-back starts, but we’re still talking about a pitcher who’s tallied at least eight strikeouts in five of the last six games. As for Sale’s opponent, the White Sox are 27th in runs scored (236 runs in 59 games), ninth in team strikeouts (545), and 27th in team wOBA against left-handed pitchers (.294).
Luke Weaver, STL (@ CIN) - $7,500
If we’re spending a hefty amount of our salary on the SP1, then we need to cut costs with the SP2. Weaver’s last four starts have been a mixed bag. We’ve seen an eight-K performance and a four earned run stinker. Fortunately, we have the stat line from Weaver’s previous start against the Reds on April 13th: 6 IP, 2 ER, and 7 K. I’ll take another outing of that nature from Weaver on Friday.
DraftKings DFS Infielders
C - Max Stassi, HOU (@ TEX) - $3,700
When a catcher doesn’t stand out from the crowd on DK, the best bet is to select the backstop from the team with the highest implied run total. It also helps that Stassi has a .230 ISO against right-handed pitchers since 2017.
1B - Sam Travis, BOS (vs. CWS) - $2,500
Filling in for Mookie Betts in the lineup, Travis has tallied an average of one RBI per game and has reached base safely in all three starts. Boston is projected to score 5.2 runs on Friday, which is fifth-most on the day (four-way tie for first at 5.3). For $2,500, he’s the best bang for your buck you’ll find in the Friday slate of games.
2B - Jonathan Schoop, BAL (@ TOR) - $3,300
While Schoop’s name doesn’t carry the same cache that other’s do when referencing lefty-mashers, it probably should. He’s batting .304 (14-for-46) against southpaws this season and Schoop is second on his team with a .240 ISO against left-handed pitchers. Schoop has played 31 games at the Rogers Centre (115 AB) and has tallied 35 hits (.304 AVG). Last year, in ten games in Toronto, Schoop batted .342 with four doubles and one home run.
3B - Daniel Descalso, ARI (@ COL) - $4,100
I always try to add offense from Coors Field whenever possible. Descalso is affordable enough for our budget and still provides the pop in the bat that we look for at DraftKings. He’s compiled two RBI in four of the past five games and Descalso also drew a walk in three consecutive games. He can get on base and drive in runs. Both are pros in his column when looking for a third baseman.
SS - Carlos Correa, HOU (@ TEX) - $4,600
Unfortunately, we have to monitor Correa’s condition on Friday before we lock him into our lineup. He underwent an MRI on Thursday and received good news. Now, he’s day-to-day (aren’t we all). If Correa makes the starting lineup for Friday, I’d strongly recommend adding him into your DK lineup. His Astros are projected to score 5.3 runs, which is tied for the most on the slate. Correa also has a .232 ISO against right-handed pitchers since 2017. On the downside, he is 2-for-21 (.095) with seven strikeouts against Cole Hamels.
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
Giancarlo Stanton, NYY (@ NYM) - $4,500
How much faith do you put in batter vs. pitcher matchups? I tend to take them with a grain of salt, but this one is intriguing. In Stanton’s career, he’s 9-for-22 (.409) with four home runs against deGrom. Plus, because Stanton is facing a top tier pitcher, his price tag is reduced. Normally, you see Stanton go for $5,100. We are getting $600 worth of savings and the BvP history is in our favor. That’s a bargain I can’t pass up.
Carlos Gonzalez, COL (vs. ARI) - $4,400
Speaking of BvP matchups, CarGo also has enticing numbers against his opponent. Gonzalez is 15-for-45 (.333) with seven extra-base hits (five home runs) against Zack Greinke. The Rockies outfielder is also batting .316 (6-for 19) with one double, one triple, and one home run in the past week. He’s notched an extra-base hit in three straight games and has recorded multiple hits in two of the past three contests.
Teoscar Hernandez, TOR (vs. BAL) - $4,000
Toronto is projected to score 5.3 runs on Friday making them tie for the highest implied run total on the slate. Hernandez leads the Blue Jays with a .235 ISO against right-handed pitchers. He’s tallied four hits in June and two of them went for extra-bases.
