RADIO
Welcome to Sunday baseball! We'll kick things off early with a 9-game slate that includes plenty of pitching and hitting. Without a game in Coors Field, things are a bit more balanced and we can pay up for some different offenses. At pitcher, it's Justin Verlander in a tier of his own. You just have to decide whether or not the expensive bats are worth paying up for or if you can find value elsewhere.
DraftKings, per usual, has some huge tournaments on the board. The Sunday Eephus gives you a shot at a $100k grand prize with an $68 entry fee. There are some bigger and smaller contests as well, so no matter how rich your blood, DK has tournaments set out for you. Let's dive right in and find the top plays at each position!
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 8/4/19. The lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. Be sure to also check out all the Vegas Odds for today's slate. 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 @VarneyDFS.
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DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers
Justin Verlander - HOU vs. SEA - $12,000
There are a few options worth paying up for at pitcher. Out of the four expensive options, Verlander is the safest and has the most upside. The Mariners aren't very good on the road (27th) and they strikeout 25% of the time. You then get to Verlander at home, who's easily one of the best pitchers in baseball. On the season, he's posted a 3.36 xFIP and 11.97 K/9 in Minute Maid Ballpark. This offense has a couple guys with power, but they also K a ton and a run or two isn't a huge deal if Verlander works into double-digit strikeouts. The Astros are -280 favorites and a win in nearly a lock here. In cash games and tournaments, you can lock Verlander in as your SP1.
Yonny Chirinos - TBR @ MIA - $8,600
All four of the expensive pitchers are in play. Verlander is the top options, but all three other guys are in decent match-ups and have leashes over 100 pitches. Chirinos may not be able to compete with any of them, but he has the best match-up on the slate and is priced down. The Marlins still rank dead last against righties with a .282 wOBA and strikeout 24% of the time. Chirinos has had some troubles against elite offenses, but has more than taken advantage when supposed to (@ BAL, OAK). This is his best match-up of the season and I don't think he gets over 20% owned across the board.
DraftKings DFS Infielders
C - James McCann - CWS @ PHI (Smyly) - $3,900
This is one of the easier plays of the night. James McCann beats up on lefties and he's been doing it for years. He has definitely peaked this season with a .363 wOBA and 12 home runs, though, and he now gets to face off with Drew Smyly in Citizens Bank Park. Smyly hasn't just been bad. He's held a 5.69 xFIP while allowing a .411 wOBA against and 19 home runs in just 64 innings of work. He's basically a batting practice pitcher at this point and the White Sox are one of my favorite stacks of the night because of him. McCann is too cheap on DraftKings and will be slotted into 100% of my lineups.
1B - Anthony Rizzo - CHC vs. MIL (Houser) - $4,500
First base is always an open field with plenty of options and upside. We'll go with Rizzo vs a porous righty, but Joey Votto and Freddie Freeman are two other guys that are in impeccable match-ups and won't be all that popular. Rizzo and the Cubs are in a heated division race and every game matters at this point. They're facing off with Adrian Houser today, who's allowed a .392 wOBA to opposing lefties. He's walking nearly six of them per nine innings and it's forced him to groove pitches in hitter's counts. Rizzo has been swinging the bat well (54% hard contact over last seven) and Miller Park is very friendly for left-handed power. Rizzo is the top play at first at a solid price tag in the mid $4k's.
2B - Derek Dietrich - CIN @ ATL (Teheran) - $3,700
Joey Votto is one of my favorite first baseman, so that should already tell you the Reds are one of my favorite under the radar stacks of the day. Julio Teheran is generally a good pitcher, but he’s always struggled against lefties. This season has been no different, allowing a 5.56 and 5.02 BB/9. He’s been one of the luckiest pitchers in the league and his peripherals point to him declining in the second half. Dietrich and his .375 wOBA with 19 home runs vs righties is affordable and at one of the weaker positions on the slate. Dietrich is a solid option in both cash games and tournaments, as well as part of a low-owned Reds stack.
3B - Vladimir Guerrero Jr. - TOR @ BAL (Eshelman) - $4,900
Vlad has been priced up by DraftKings, but rightfully so. He’s been one of the five best hitters in baseball over the last week, accounting for 14 hits and four home runs over just seven games. He’s been just as good vs righties (.371 wOBA) as lefties and is just now looking like the hitter he’s going to be. He now sees Tom Eshelman followed by the Orioles bullpen. Eshelman has found a way to give up seven home runs in just 22 innings while sporting a 5.38 xFIP. The third worst bullpen in the league will follow, giving up more HR/9 than anyone. Camden Yards is a huge upgrade from Rogers Centre and I think Vlad comes through with his fifth home run in the last week.
SS - Tim Anderson - CWS @ PHI (Smyly) - $4,600
Anderson returned from injury recently and had his first two-hit game since coming back just two nights ago. I’ve already touched on Drew Smyly, but it’s hard to emphasize just how bad he’s been. Out of all qualified pitchers, his 2.66 HR/9 ranks dead last. He’s walking over five batters per nine innings, so putting guys on-base with walks and then giving up home runs. Anderson has always been better vs lefties and he won’t be very popular just coming back from injury. I’m all aboard the White Sox train tonight.
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
George Springer - HOU vs. SEA (Wisler) - $5,400
We’ve yet to touch on this Astros lineup, but they’re in play every night with Carlos Correa back. They’re the most dangerous lineup in baseball with the Yankees and Dodgers hindered by injuries, and I think they can still make an argument with everyone fully healthy. George Springer is a big reason why, starting the lineup off with a bang. He’s sported a .391 wOBA since last year vs righties and his 40+ home runs is far in the lead from that spot. The ‘Stros face off with Matt Wisler tonight, who’s struggled against both sides of the plate and has only thrown 35 innings. Vegas has the Astros slotted for over six runs again, so Springer should be in a great spot to get six at- bats once again. Springer may be expensive, but the offense is on fire and he can hit two home runs on any give night.
Bryce Harper - PHI vs. CWS (Lopez) - $4,400
Harper has continued his disappointment into the second half, but he’s still not a bad hitter and we need to play him when priced down in a solid match-up. Reynaldo Lopez is a fastball throwing righty that lacks command and falls behind in the order. Exactly what you look for when rostering Harper. He has hit 80% of his home runs in favorable hitter counts this season and it’s not an accident. He jumps on grooved pitches. His price is down to $4,400 and you’ll regret passing when he eventually has that breakout game. He homered vs a lefty last night and could very well be ready to turn it on for this playoff push.
