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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on June 24th, 2018. Elliott Baas' MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
There is a twelve game featured slate on DraftKings today, with a few high priced pitchers and high expected run totals among the slate of games. Predictably, MIA @ COL boasts the biggest total with an 11.5 O/U. DET @ CLE is next with a 9.5 O/U, and four other games have a 9 O/U.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 6/24/18. 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 for other sports too. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to hit me up on Twitter @ElliottBaasBB.
DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers
Rich Hill, LAD (@ NYM): $8,600
Hill returned from his latest blister in style this week, holding the Chicago Cubs to no runs on three hits with six strikeouts last Tuesday. He gets a considerably easier matchup today as he takes on the New York Mets, who are the worst team in baseball against left-handed pitching by a considerable margin. They have the worst wOBA (.279), wRC+ (77), and second-worst strikeout rate (25.5%) versus southpaws as a team. Hill is always a danger to leave a game early with injury, but in a slate where we want to pay up for Coors Field bats he’s a worthy dice roll.
Jhoulys Chacin, MIL (vs. STL): $8,200
Chacin has been solid all season, but has really turned it up in June with a 1.85 ERA, 2.89 FIP, and 3.0 K/BB ratio in four starts. He gets a favorable matchup against the Cardinals, who have a .309 wOBA and 23% strikeout rate against right-handed pitching. The matchup is even better for Chacin since the Cardinals’ lineup is so righty-heavy. Chacin is allowing just a .249 wOBA and .310 SLG to right-handed batters this season. Matt Carpenter is their only regular left-handed batter. The Cardinals could potentially start Kolten Wong, Greg Garcia, or Dexter Fowler, but none of those hitters pose a formidable threat. Chacin will likely be an under-owned pitcher today as many will bypass him based on name value and the perceived strength of the Cardinals’ lineup.
Three-Player Rockies Stack vs. MIA - $16,200 total salary
3B – Nolan Arenado, COL - $5,900
SS – Trevor Story, COL - $5,500
OF – Ian Desmond, COL - $4,800
This Rockies trio has been DFS gold all week, especially against left-handed pitching. Going into play Saturday Arenado is hitting .414 with four home runs over the past seven days, Desmond is hitting .357 with a 1.033 OPS over the last seven days, and Story hasn’t been as good, but still has four extra base hits over the last seven days. It gets even better for these three. At home against lefties Arenado has a 1.538 OPS and .533 ISO, Desmond has a 1.092 OPS and .313 ISO, and Story has a 1.559 OPS and .610 ISO. These three may seem too chalky, but they have come through more often than not at Coors this week.
Four-Player Twins Stack vs. TEX - $13,600 Total Salary
C – Mitch Garver, MIN - $3,300
1B – Logan Morrison, MIN - $3,400
2B – Brian Dozier, MIN - $3,900
OF – Max Kepler, MIN $3,300
The Twins’ hitters are surprisingly cheap on this Sunday slate, and part of that could be from their notable struggles. Three of these players are hitting under .200 in June and they have combined for four home runs. Luckily they take on the human slump-buster Bartolo Colon, who is having a disastrous June himself with a 9.87 ERA, 7.43 FIP, and six home runs allowed in four starts. This is a GPP stack that pairs nicely with Coors Field since the hitters are so cheap. Another viable strategy would be to drop one of the high-priced Rockies and fit in Eddie Rosario ($5,200) or Eduardo Escobar ($4,700). Those two have been the Twins’ most consistent hitters and would offer a little more stability as pivots from the Colorado bats.
The Final Piece
OF – Kike Hernandez, LAD $3,300 @ NYM
Hernandez is a classic lefty-masher. For his career he has an .865 OPS, .244 ISO, and .367 wOBA against left-handed pitching. That makes him a great value as a solo play against Mets’ starter Jason Vargas. Vargas has an 8.60 ERA, 6.55 FIP, and 2.63 HR/9 in nine starts this season. Eight of the 11 home runs he has surrendered have been to right-handed hitters. Hopefully Hernandez bats second on Sunday, as he’s hit second in four of his last seven starts.
