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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on June 20th, 2019. Ben Rolfe's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
Thursday brings us an unbalanced split slate, with two games in the afternoon window and 10 in the evening slate. Those 10 games make up the featured slate on DraftKings and are therefore where will focus here. The initial impression of the slate is that it is mixed for pitching, and there is a limited amount of hitting value available, meaning that you should look to save you cash on pitching to try and stack your lineup with strong hitting options.
In terms of the lines, the Dodgers and Twins are the biggest favorites. The Dodgers is a little bit questionable, as Madison Bumgarner takes the mound for the Giants, which means you can never write them off. Totals wise the highest one is in the Toronto and Los Angeles game, but there is not a huge amount of value in that game to take advantage of. Much of the value lies in the smaller totals elsewhere on the slate.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 6/20/19. 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 @benrolfe15.
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DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers
Nick Pivetta, PHI (@ WSH) - $8,200
Since returning from the minor leagues Pivetta has been reasonably impressive. In those four starts, he has allowed eight earned runs to score in 26 2/3 innings while striking out 27. His only real hiccups have come in his first start back, and an outing in Atlanta, where runs are being scored for fun right now. This Washington team can do some damage, but they are by no means pitching killers, ranking 15th in slugging and runs scored. There is enough upside in this price to make Pivetta an interesting play today.
Zac Gallen, MIA (@ STL) - $7,300
I was going to go Wainwright in this one but I am not a fan of picking a pitcher coming off an injury. Therefore, instead, I am going to go for the young Gallen, who will be making his major league debut. Gallen has been an absolute monster in Triple-A this season, with a 1.77 ERA and 11.04 K/9 in 91 1/3 innings. It is always a risk looking at a rookie pitcher in their first startm especially one pitching against his old team. However, we have seen a number of young pitchers having success in their first couple of starts ion the majors this season. Hopefully, Gallen can be one of those, pitching in the stadium he had at one point dreamed would be his home stadium.
DraftKings DFS Infielders
C - Pedro Severino, BAL (@ SEA) - $3,800
Severino provides the only really low-cost catching option today. If you have the cash to splash then Mitch Garver is also a great play here. However, the Mariners are using an opener, followed by left-handed pitcher Wade LeBlanc. Severino has put up great numbers against lefties this year, with five home runs, a .339 batting average, .321 ISO and a .432 wOBA. At this price, it is an easy decision.
1B - Renato Nunez, BAL (@ SEA) - $3,900
Back-to-back Orioles is not how I ever envisaged starting the hitting part of this article, but here we are. Once again it is all about the matchup with left-handed pitcher Wade LeBlanc. Nunez has eight home runs, a .290 ISO and a .361 wOBA in just 100 PA against lefties. That is a home run every 12.5 PA so far this season and is too hard to pass up against a pitcher who has had some struggles.
2B - Jeff McNeil, NYM (@ CHC) - $4,500
McNeil has been very impressive this season, especially against right-handed pitchers. So far against righties in 2019, he has four home runs, 17 extra base hits, a .331 batting average, and a .376 wOBA. The conditions are likely to be tough for hitting in Chicago but McNeil has the ability to return value despite them.
3B - Scott Kingery, PHI (@ WAS) - $4,800
Kingery is having an absolutely super season, with nine total home runs and a batting average way over .300. His numbers arguably stand out more against lefties, but the numbers against righties are also pretty solid. In 100 PA he has a .326 batting average, six home runs, and 17 extra base hits, giving him a .326 ISO and a .424 wOBA.
SS - Paul DeJong, STL (vs. MIA) - $4,700
DeJong is putting together nice numbers for the Cardinals this year, with 11 home runs and a .271 batting average against right-handed pitching. The weather is supposed to favor hitting a little more than it has previously in this series, so hopefully, DeJong can add to his four home runs in St. Louis this season. Additionally, the Marlins have a rookie on the mound for this start, who used to be in the St. Louis farm system. If any team is going to have the book on the young pitcher it should be the Cardinals.
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
Kole Calhoun, LAA (@ TOR) - $4,500
It is all about the power with Calhoun this season, as he has 16 home runs in total in 2019. Against left-handed pitchers, he has seven in just 95 PA, giving him a .253 ISO and a .323 wOBA. The only reason that wOBA is not higher is an ugly batting average against lefties of .205, which is why this pick is all about the power potential.
Lourdes Gurriel, TOR (vs. LAA) - $4,500
Gurriel has been having a strong 2019, especially against left-handed hitters. With lefties on the mound, he has four home runs in 46 PA, with a .318 ISO and a .348 wOBA. He has also been strong at home with five home runs, a .333 ISO and a .372 wOBA.
Jorge Soler, KC (vs. MIN) - $4,200
This is a tough one with Soler, as he has been crushing against right-handed pitchers, but is facing Jake Odorizzi, who has been super this year. Soler has 16 home runs, with a .251 batting average. .313 ISO and a .362 wOBA against righties in 2019. With the weather potentially favoring hitting in Kansas City today, this price is worth the gamble.
