July 8, 2017

Troy Klauder's top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for 7/8/17. Expert MLB DFS advice, sleepers & player recommendations for FanDuel and DraftKings.

This Sunday has a full slate of games, so it's time to build some lineups. With several different contests being offered across FanDuel and DraftKings, you'll have lots of different lineup options. For our purposes, the following picks have been made for contests running all day.

In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DFS on 7/8/17. The lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to hit me up on Twitter @TroyKlauder.

DFS Starting Pitchers to Consider

Brandon McCarthy vs. KC (DK - $6,900, FD - $7,500)

Dodgers starter Brandon McCarthy will make his return from the disabled list on Saturday with just about the best matchup you can ask for, a home start against the Royals. The Royals have just a .306 wOBA against right-handed pitching this season, which ranks them 25th in the league. Aside from his injuries, McCarthy is having a superb season, putting up a 3.25 ERA in 13 starts. His ERA is supported by his 3.21 FIP, so he's not just doing it with smoke and mirrors. With the Dodgers lineup on his side, McCarthy has a good shot at getting the win. For such a low price, he's an outstanding play on Saturday.

Aaron Nola vs. SD (DK - $9,900, FD - $8,900)

While he's far more expensive, Phillies starter Aaron Nola is completely worth his price tag on Saturday as he takes on the Padres. The Padres lineup is absolute garbage, as they are 29th in baseball in wOBA versus righties with their .299 mark. They also strike out more than any other team against right-handed pitching, at 25.8%, so Nola has some huge K potential against them. Nola has been absolutely dominant in the last 30 days, posting a 3.06 ERA in 32 1/3 innings with 37 strikeouts. Nola is rolling through opposing lineups, and the Padres will be no different for him. If you want an elite pitcher, he's your guy.

DFS Infielders to Consider

Catcher (C)

Buster Posey vs. MIA (DK - $4,300, FD - $3,100)

The catching slate on Saturday is bleak, as it is on most days, so it's a smart idea to pay up and take Posey. On FanDuel he's actually quite cheap, so you don't even have to worry about allocating too much payroll for him there. Posey is having his best offensive season in years, with a 143 wRC+, which comes from his .326/.408/.502 line. He has just as many walks as he does strikeouts. Posey is an elite hitter in general, not even taking in to account his position. He's facing triple-A callup Chris O'Grady, a 27-year-old career minor leaguer, so Posey should tee off like Tiger Woods.

First Base (1B)

Tommy Joseph vs. SD (DK - $3,400, FD - $3,400)

If you're looking to go cheap at first base on Saturday, look no further than Phillies first baseman Tommy Joseph. When he's at home, Joseph is always a threat to go deep, just as he did on Friday with a solo shot. His opposition, Jhoulys Chacin, is a prime target, as he has a 4.52 ERA with a 1.22 HR/9. There are plenty of guys you can spend big on at first, but Joseph is a great contrarian play who can get you some points for cheap.

Second Base (2B)

Joe Panik vs. MIA (DK - $3,800, FD - $3,100)

Alongside his teammate Buster Posey, Giants second baseman Joe Panik is a savvy play. Panik has been killing it in the last month, batting .352 with a .917 OPS out of the Giants two-hole. He gets a fantastic matchup against the aforementioned Chris O'Grady, so Panik is in line for lots of runs and fantasy production for a very cheap price.

Shortstop (SS)

Zack Cozart @ ARI (DK - $4,100, FD - $3,300)

Reds shortstop Zack Cozart is having an incredible season, putting up a 144 wRC+ with a career-high 11.6% walk-rate. He returned from a quad injury just over a week ago, and has a great opportunity to get things going in Arizona. The Diamondbacks ballpark is an insanely hitter-friendly environment, so Cozart can do some damage, and he's especially cheap on FanDuel.

Third Base (3B)

Yunel Escobar @ TEX (DK - $3,600, FD - $2,900)

As the Angels cleanup hitter, Yunel Escobar is in a tremendous position in Texas against Tyson Ross. Ross has an awful 6.41 ERA and pitches in a hitter's paradise. Escobar, meanwhile, is batting .400 in the last 15 days with a .964 OPS. He should have lots of runs to drive in and is at a very low price.

DFS Outfielders to Consider

Nomar Mazara vs. ATL (DK - $4,300, FD - $3,000)

Rangers outfielder Nomar Mazara has scuffled as of late, but now is the time to buy low against Jesse Chavez. Mazara hits righties much better than he does lefties, and Chavez is the perfect righty to go against. Chavez has a 4.97 ERA and will likely get crushed in Texas. As the Rangers three-hitter, Mazara is in a spot where he can rack up both runs and RBIs. After homering on Friday night, he will go for some more on Saturday.

Mallex Smith vs. BOS (DK - $4,100, FD - $3,000)

Rays speedy outfielder Mallex Smith is an excellent mid-tier option on DraftKings and an even better value play on FanDuel. Smith has a .403 OBP this year, and he can steal bases with the best of them when he's on. Smith faces Rick Porcello, who has been a complete disaster, as he has a 5.01 ERA this season. Smith can get on base multiple times against Porcello, then steal some bags and score some runs.

Brian Goodwin vs. ATL (DK - $3,800, FD - $3,000)

As the Nationals leadoff hitter, Brian Goodwin is an incredibly valuable fantasy play for his price. The Nationals are one of the top lineups in baseball, so Goodwin gets lots of at-bats and chances for runs out of the leadoff spot. Goodwin himself has been a great hitter this year, putting up a 121 wRC+ in his 44 games played, including a .942 OPS over the last month. He should have a good day against Julio Teheran, who has a 5.14 ERA on the season.

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