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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on July 22nd, 2018. Elliott Baas' MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
We've got a nine game featured slate today, with a few doubleheaders knocking some games off of it. CLE @ TEX has the biggest total with an 11 O/U, while MIN @ KC and PIT @ CIN coming in next at 9.5 each.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 7/22/18. 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 @ElliottBaasBB.
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DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers
Chris Archer, TB (vs. MIA): $8,100
Archer may be having a down year, but he’s still a good play against the punchless Miami Marlins on Sunday. As a team the Marlins have a .302 wOBA and 22.7% strikeout rate against right-handed pitching this season. They also have an anemic .128 ISO versus righties, which will help neutralize Archer’s biggest problem, the long ball. Archer still has a 3.80 FIP and 24% strikeout rate this season and should get a chance to improve his numbers in this matchup.
Jake Odorizzi, MIN (@ KC): $6,000
Odorizzi may have ended the first half on a sour note, allowing five earned runs to the Rays in 4.1 innings, but he is in a great spot today against the Royals. The Royals are about as bad as the Marlins versus right-handed pitching. They have a .292 wOBA and 20% strikeout rate collectively this season. They also are rather light-hitting, with a .130 ISO as a team against righties. That coupled with the pitcher-friendly Kauffman Stadium should keep the flyball happy Odorizzi’s home run issues in check. Odorizzi’s 23.7% strikeout rate gives him good upside against a bad team as an SP2.
DraftKings DFS Infielders
C – Yan Gomes, CLE (@ TEX): $3,500
The best hitting environment will be in Arlington today, and Cleveland is the team worth prioritizing against Yovani Gallardo. Gallardo has been pulverized this season, owning an 8.60 ERA and 1.48 HR/9. Even if Gallardo’s 5.27 FIP suggests he has been unlucky, he is still one of the worst pitchers in baseball. Gomes has had a power resurgence this season, posting a .189 ISO and 10 home runs in 273 PA this season. He gives a solid power-hitting catcher in a great matchup.
1B – Steve Pearce, BOS (@ DET): $4,100
Pearce is a licensed assassin of left-handed pitchers, and gets a good matchup against Blaine Hardy. Hardy may have a 3.31 ERA, but a 4.54 xFIP and 4.37 SIERA paint a less favorable picture of Hardy’s true skill. Hardy has skirted by on a 9% HR/FB ratio, but he allowed 1.89 HR/9 in 2017 and strikes out just 18% of the batters he faces. As a team the Red Sox would be a fine stack against Hardy, but the Indians are in an even better matchup and are the preferred option. Still, Pearce is a good solo play.
2B – Yangervis Solarte, TOR (vs. BAL): $3,400
The Blue Jays are in a good spot Sunday as DFS favorite Andrew Cashner makes his return from the disabled list for a matchup in Toronto. Cashner has posted a 4.56 ERA and 4.92 FIP in 18 starts this season, and he has also allowed a career high 1.43 HR/9. Solarte has good enough power with a .179 ISO to take advantage of Cashner. He usually bats high in Toronto’s order, making him a good value.
3B – Jose Ramirez, CLE (@ TEX): $6,100
If there is one bat to pay up for today it’s Ramirez. Ramirez is having an MVP caliber season, having already posted 30 home runs and 20 steals along with a .429 wOBA. His matchup against Gallardo will be quite the juxtaposition of talent. Ramirez may be expensive, but he is the number one hitter of the day.
SS – Francisco Lindor, CLE (@ TEX): $5,600
Lindor perhaps gets overshadowed by Ramirez, but he has also been amazing this season. Lindor has 25 home runs, 15 steals, and a .392 wOBA this season. He too is rather expensive, but if we go cheap on pitching a heavy-hitting Cleveland stack is doable. Lindor would be a key piece to a Cleveland stack.
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
OF – Michael Brantley, CLE (@ TEX): $5,100
Brantley is just another Indian to get in the lineup against Gallardo. Brantley normally hits second for Cleveland and has a .182 ISO and .357 wOBA this season. Brantley has a 39.5% hard contact rate this season, and his 8.5% strikeout rate make him a standout in this era of baseball. That means a lot of hard hit balls-in-play in the Texas heat.
OF – Curtis Granderson, TOR (vs. BAL): $3,900
OF – Teoscar Hernandez, TOR (vs. BAL): $4,100
This pair of Blue Jays outfielders should fare well against Andrew Cashner at a good value. Hernandez is in the midst of a breakout campaign, with 15 home runs and a .250 ISO in 333 PA thus far. His power should play well against Cashner, who has an 89 MPH average exit velocity against and .492 xSLG this season.
Granderson may no longer be in his prime, but he still has a .205 ISO and 13.2% walk rate against right-handed pitchers, two good skills to have against a wild pitcher with chronic gopheritis. Granderson normally leads off for the Jays and should be atop the order today.
