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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 7/16/21. Euan Leith's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
Happy Friday, RotoBallers! The second half of the 2021 campaign kicks off tonight after a few days off for the All-Star break. Shohei Ohtani and Pete Alonso gave us a few highlights in the home run derby on Monday before the American League defeated the National League 5-2 for the eighth game in a row on Tuesday night. As things stand, the Red Sox, White Sox, and Astros lead their divisions in the AL (all with 54 or 55 wins), while the Mets, Brewers, and Giants do the same in the NL. The trade deadline is right around the corner, and this wild season is about to kick into high gear.
Kevin Gausman and Brandon Woodruff jump off the page as the two leading arms for tonight's slate, but there are plenty of other areas to grab some pitching. I especially like Kyle Hendricks against Arizona, and I'm drawn towards Michael Wacha against a depleted Atlanta unit. The Braves looked semi-shell shocked on Sunday after the news of Ronald Acuna's knee injury. Of course, they will bounce back, but will it be immediately? Tough to say. I know I'll get a little crazy and put Wacha in a couple of my lineups.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 7/16/2021. 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
Kevin Gausman - P, SF at STL ($10,300)
What a turnaround Gausman is having in San Francisco. After several seasons of waiting, he is finally showing the baseball world precisely what he can do, and it is pretty phenomenal. In 18 starts this season, the right-handed hurler sports a 1.73 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, and 30.5 percent strikeout rate, while 14 of his 18 starts have been of the quality variety. Gausman closed the first have on an absolute tear as he scored at least 24 fantasy points in eight of his final 10 starts and at least 27 points in seven of those eight. While the Cardinals don't strike out a ton (20.14 percent since June 1), Gausman can pitch deep enough into games to get us the innings and the strikeouts we need from an SP1.
Kyle Hendricks - P, CHC at ARI ($7,500)
Kyle Hendricks 3.77 ERA looks rather average on the surface, but it's been anything but smooth sailing for the 31-year old. On May 1, the righty was rocking a 7.54 ERA but is pitching well since the first month of the season and looks to continue his post-April form as we begin the second half. His 11 wins lead MLB, and tonight, he'll face a Diamondbacks lineup striking out 25 percent of the time while putting up a measly 67 wRC+ versus right-handed pitching. Hendricks has gone at least six innings in 11 consecutive outings and has only allowed more than three runs once. The strikeout upside is not there with an arm like Hendricks, but he can pitch deep into a game, and the Diamondback's propensity to swing away may allow the righty to rack up one or two more Ks than usual.
Other options: Brandon Woodruff at CIN ($9,500), Andrew Heaney vs. SEA ($7,400), Michael Wacha at ATL ($6,700)
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DraftKings DFS Infielders
Omar Narvaez - C, MIL at Tyler Mahle ($4,500)
Narvaez's first half was spectacular. He was the 23rd catcher coming off the boards in NFBC leagues in season-long drafts, and now his 6.5 fantasy points per game have him as a top 10 catcher in DraftKings scoring. He and the Brewers will see Tyler Mahle in Great American Ballpark as they look to continue their march towards the NL Central title.
Over his first 71 games, Narvaez has a /.300/.396/.469 slash line with eight home runs, 26 RBI, and 34 runs. He's also posting some of the best numbers of his career with a 17.2 percent strikeout rate, .169 ISO, and a .376 weight On-Base Average. Narvaez is locked in as a middle-of-the-order bat for Milwaukee and is an excellent choice at the catcher's spot against Cincinnati.
C.J. Cron - 1B, COL vs. Julio Urias ($4,400)
Let's grab some discounted exposure to Coors Field In the shape of C.J. Cron. Granted, the first baseman hasn't blown the doors off like most would've hoped when he signed with the Rockies, but his season-long line with 35 runs, 12 homers, 35 RBI, and a .833 OPS has been helpful in some spots. He closed the first half with a bang against the Padres, where he went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a home run. Let's see if that carries over against Urias and the Dodgers tonight.
Adam Frazier - 2B, PIT vs. Marcus Stroman ($4,200)
Adam Frazier's numbers may be numbered in Pittsburgh as he has become an attractive trade target for several teams, including the one he is facing off against tonight. We will leave the rumors to the side for now, but the second baseman is well worth the hype. He started for the National League in the All-Star game after putting together an impressive first-half. In 89 games, Frazier slashed .330/.397/.463 with 53 runs, 26 doubles, four triples, four home runs, 29 RBI, and five stolen bases.
Jose Ramirez - 3B, CLE at Chris Bassitt ($4,900)
I'm always conflicted when I write up Ramirez. There's no doubting he's one of the best individual players in baseball. He hits bombs; he can swipe a bag or two and is the catalyst of the Cleveland offense. But that's also the main problem: the Cleveland offense. The Indians are not as bad as advertised in the offseason, but it's a shame they don't have a hmmm, I don't know Francisco Lindor type to pair with their stud third baseman.
Regardless, Ramirez is below $5,000 tonight, and it immediately caught my eye. In the 10 games before the All-Star break, the switch-hitter owned a .820 OPS with 10 runs, three doubles, two home runs, seven RBI, and two steals for 10.1 FPPG. Of course, Chris Bassitt is a good pitcher, and the Coliseum will limit Ramirez's power, but I believe in the talent, and his slight dip in price makes him a viable option at third.
Tim Anderson - SS, CWS vs. Lance McCullers Jr. ($5,500)
This game has the potential to be an offensive slugfest. While it would be a shame because McCullers and Cease are good pitchers, both lineups demolish right-handed pitching. Anderson is a big reason for the White Sox continued ascent towards the top of the American League standings. Over his last 10 games, the All-Star shortstop slashes .400/.438/.511 with 12 runs, five doubles, and five RBI. He's atop a lineup with Jose Abreu and Yoan Moncada behind him, and it's a desirable spot for any leadoff man.
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
Adolis Garcia - OF, TEX at Robbie Ray ($4,100)
The infield got a lot of heavy hitters today, so we will have to find some values in the outfield. One of my go-to's, when I'm home-run hunting, is Adolis Garcia. In 2021, he's got 22 home runs and 62 RBI to lead the Rangers while sporting a .840 OPS. Robbie Ray has a bad habit of allowing the long ball this year (1.85 HR/9), and it should only be exacerbated in the Buffalo ballpark. I wouldn't stack the Rangers by any means, but Garcia certainly can change your contest outlooks with the swing of a bat.
Dylan Carlson - OF, STL vs. Kevin Gausman ($3,900)
While I recommended Gausman earlier, it's tough to pass on a leadoff hitter below $4,000. So if you want to gain some leverage on the rest of the field, Carlson is an outstanding candidate. I acknowledge he was in a bit of a slump heading into the All-Star break, but we know the talent is there, and he showed it his final three games of the first half. The outfielder was 5-for-13 with two runs, a double, and a walk. St. Louis' offense has been up and down this season, but they have the talent to turn it around quickly. With Carlson on top of the lineup, he stands to benefit greatly when that offense starts firing again.
Austin Hays - OF, BAL at Danny Duffy ($3,200)
I may be a sucker for guys near the top of the lineup, but I can't pass on those extra plate appearances and extra fantasy-point opportunities. Hays has solidified his two-hole slot in the Orioles offense and provides excellent fantasy value for our DFS lineups. Over his last 16 games, the right-handed outfielder is hitting .322, with four doubles, three home runs, 13 RBI, and a .892 OPS. His 141 wRC+ tells us he's been well above league average for over two weeks, and it's time to buy in at this dirt-cheap price point.
DraftKings DFS Stacks
- Toronto Blue Jays vs. Texas Rangers (Jordan Lyles, RHP)
- New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox (Martin Perez, LHP)
- Game stack: Houston Astros (Lance McCullers Jr., RHP) at Chicago White Sox (Dylan Cease, RHP)
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