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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 6/23/21. Euan Leith's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
Happy Wednesday, RotoBallers! After six afternoon games, we are left with seven for the evening slate on DraftKings. It all kicks off at 7:05 pm ET, with the Astros and Orioles concluding their three-game series. Houston is looking for its tenth win in a row and will send Jose Urquidy to the mound in Camden Yards. Then, the night will end with the series finale between the Dodgers and Padres. Los Angeles will throw out Trevor Bauer to avoid the sweep against their division rival and Joe Musgrove.
I already mentioned three of my favorite pitching targets in Urquidy, Bauer, and Musgrove, but there are other options to ponder for Wednesday night. Danny Duffy returns from the IL but will be on a pitch count. However, since May, the Yankees offense is struggling, and he could be a contrarian source of strikeouts against the pinstripes. Robbie Ray will also be in a fantastic matchup versus the Marlins, and I can see a world where James Kaprielian cracks a few of my lineups against a slumping Rangers lineup.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 6/23/2021. The lineup will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. You can also check out today's FanDuel MLB DFS lineup picks and read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports too. It’s also important to monitor injury news and today's MLB starting lineups. If you have any questions or comments, find me on Twitter and ask away.
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DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers
Robbie Ray - P, TOR at MIA ($9,200)
A strikeout pitcher meeting one of the most strikeout prone teams in the league feels like a match made in heaven. Fortunately, it's not a dream, and we will see Robbie Ray pitching against the Miami Marlins. Over his last nine starts, Ray is sporting a 3.81 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and a 26 percent home run to flyball rate (HR/FB%). However, if you've been rostering Robbie Ray in DFS, you know we can look past the meh-like surface numbers because of the phenomenal amount of strikeouts.
In those same nine starts, the southpaw has 77 strikeouts in 52 innings with a massive 30.6 percent strikeout minus walk rate (K-BB%). His 32 percent Called+Swinging strike rate is also elite, and it's all accumulating in 22.4 fantasy points per game. Facing a Marlins team striking out 30.3 percent of the time to lefties since May 1 will allow Ray to rack up another bunch of Ks. In fact, I wouldn't be shocked if he reaches double digits for the third time in his last four starts.
Jose Urquidy - P, HOU at BAL ($8,100)
It's always a little nerve-wracking to select a pitcher throwing in Camden Yards, but Urquidy has the strikeout upside and stamina to produce a DFS gem tonight. Since returning from the IL on May 31, Urquidy has thrown three quality starts in his four outings. His only blemish is a shellacking at the hands of the Toronto Blue Jays. Urquidy struck out 22 batters in 20 innings in those other three outings while averaging 25.5 FPPG against the Red Sox, Twins, and White Sox.
As a word of caution, Urquidy has allowed five home runs in his last three starts, and it could come back to bite him in this home run-friendly park if the Orioles can make some hard contact. Still, Urquidy has gone at least six innings in six of his previous seven healthy starts and shouldn't have a tough time against a Baltimore lineup with a 24.8 percent strikeout rate and 89 weighted Runs Created Plus (wRC+) versus righties since the beginning of May.
Other options: Trevor Bauer at SD ($10,500), Trevor Rogers vs. TOR ($9,800), James Kaprielian at TEX ($8,400),
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DraftKings DFS Infielders
Salvador Perez - C, KC at Michael King ($5,100)
I cannot picture many catchers in my lineups with a $5,100 price tag, but Salvy Perez certainly makes the list. The Royal's backstop is the anchor for their offense, and he is right in the middle of a power binge. Since May 1 (46 games), the five-time Gold Glove winner is batting .305/.333/.571 with 23 runs, 13 home runs, and 34 RBI. Among 147 qualified hitters, Perez's 13 home runs are the ninth-most, and his 34 RBI is the 13th most. He's not impressive "for a catcher"; he's holding his own with the best hitters in the game.
Danny Santana - 1B/OF, BOS at Rich Hill ($2,700)
If Christian Arroyo (shin) sits again, Santana is the first candidate off the bench to take his spot in the lineup. Santana getting a start is becoming rare, but Boston is also happy to put him in as the leadoff man! He's hit from the top in his last two games and is currently riding a three-game hit streak. He's $2,700 and seems like a no-brainer value play in front of this dangerous Red Sox lineup. If you want to spend big at other spots, Santana (or even Arroyo at $3,600 if he plays) is a perfect discount play.
Tony Kemp - 2B/OF, OAK at Mike Foltynewicz ($3,300)
Kemp will more than likely hit from the leadoff spot for the Athletics against the Rangers and Mike Foltynewicz. The outfielder is riding an 11-game on-base streak and has climbed his way up the Oakland lineup card. Over this 11-game stretch, Kemp is slashing .294/.455/.500 with 12 runs, three extra-base hits, six RBI, a stolen base, and 10 walks to three strikeouts. His season-long .853 OPS suggests his recent form is not a total outlier, so we should happily take him at his $3,300 price tag. Seeing Foltynewicz on the mound won't scare anyone in an A's uniform on Wednesday. The right-hander sports a 5.60 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP this season. Oakland should have no problems chasing him and driving Kemp across home plate a couple of times.
Gio Urshela - 3B, NYY vs. Danny Duffy ($4,500)
Urshela has scuffled at times in the 2021 campaign, but he's putting the bat on the ball in June, and positive results are coming around. In 18 games this month, the Yankee's third baseman owns a .880 OPS and a .374 wOBA with 11 runs, four doubles, a triple, four home runs, and 7 RBI. While the Yankees are struggling, Urshela is one of the bright spots in their lineups. If he continues to hit as he has recently, the rest of his teammates will come around soon enough and cause his RBI total to climb and climb.
Wander Franco - SS, TB vs. Garrett Richards ($2,000)
I'm sorry! It was extremely obvious to pick the chalky, top prospect priced at $2,000, and I couldn't resist. Wander Franco is here to stay and will be in everyone's lineups until the pricing is adjusted. He made his Major League debut last night against Boston and promptly went 2-for-4 with a double, a three-run bomb, and a walk. If you went to bed early, here's the first of many Wander whacks.
Wander Franco has officially arrived. #MakeItMajor pic.twitter.com/6cxzPs68SU
— MLB (@MLB) June 23, 2021
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
Whit Merrifield - 2B/OF, KC vs. Michael King ($5,200)
If you like adding players who have multi-hit games frequently, then Whit Merrifield is the player for you. He's on an eight-game hit streak, and five of those games are of the multi-hit variety. On the year, the 2019 All-Star has a .273 batting average with 44 runs, 25 extra-base hits (six homers), 41 RBI, and 20 steals. The average is climbing because of his hot June (.338 BA), and his 10.1 FPPG average in his last 10 contests will play on any slate, especially a smaller one.
Yordan Alvarez - OF, HOU at Thomas Eshelman ($5,000)
Michael Brantley - OF, HOU at Thomas Eshelman ($4,100)
Two left-handed Astros hitters, one stone. I think that's how the saying goes. Anyways, you won't find me betting against this Houston lineup right now. They are going for their tenth win on the trot, and they lead the league in runs scored (412), OPS (.801), wOBA (.345), and wRC+ (124). Alvarez hasn't been making as much loud contact as we're used to seeing from the big man, but he was on an eight-game hitting streak before a 0-for-2 last night. He still had two walks to his name as he continues his impressive June with a .915 OPS in 19 games.
As for Brantley, I'm not sure there's a pitch this guy can't turn into a hit. Since returning from the IL on June 8 (12 games), the 34-year old is slashing .511/.574/.766 with 11 runs, sevens doubles, a triple, a home run, and 14 RBI. For our DFS purposes, those numbers translate to 13.5 FPPG. An incredible hitter in a fantastic lineup at $4,100 is a must-have in my lineups.
DraftKings DFS Stacks
- Houston Astros at Baltimore Orioles (Thomas Eshelman, RHP)
- Oakland Athletics at Texas Rangers (Mike Foltynewicz, RHP)
- Game stack: Boston Red Sox (Garrett Richards, RHP) at Tampa Bay Rays (Rich Hill, LHP)
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