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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on July 21st, 2019. Austyn Varney's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
Welcome to Sunday baseball on DraftKings! We have a fun 10-game slate on our hands and DK has given us plenty of contests to look forward to. For just $10, you can win a $30K grand prize with a $150K prize pool. On the higher end, there are huge $750 and $88 tournaments as well. It may not be a full slate of games, but it feels like we have just as many options.
With the weather heating up across the country, runs are going to continue piling in and pitching will get more and more valuable. We have some viable arms on the slate, but I'd say the offenses are a bit more exciting. Vegas hasn't released all of the lines yet, and we're already looking at three teams with implied run totals over six. Let's jump in and take a look at some of our favorites at each position!
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 7/21/19. 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 @VarneyDFS.
DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers
Blake Snell - TB vs. CWS ($11,000)
Snell has pitched his last two against the Yankees, so I’d say it’s fair to look past them. There’s no other lineup like them in the league and Stanton was in there as well. Through all the noise, Snell has maintained a 3.32 xFIP while striking out 11.94 batters per nine innings. He’ll now host the Chicago White Sox, who strikeout the 9th most vs lefties at 24.7%. They’ve been league average against lefties, but also hold an insane .350 team BABIP, so they’ve also been incredibly lucky. Tropicana Field is tough to hit in and the White Sox are projected just under three runs. Snell is an easy SP1 cash game and tournament option.
Jack Flaherty - STL @ CIN ($8,500)
There isn’t much to love after Snell for cash games. Lance Lynn has been very good, but the Astros are scary and he hasn’t been great against them in the past. If you want to go super cheap, Dario Agrazal has gone six innings in three straight and is certainly an option. With that said, Jack Flaherty has been superb over the last few weeks and sees a Reds offense that struggles vs righties (24th in baseball). Flaherty has gone seven innings in each of his last two starts and has struck out 14 over the period. The Reds K 25% of the time and hold the leagues 26th ranked ISO. Without much pop at pitcher, Flaherty should get the job done and he’s affordable.
DraftKings DFS Infielders
C - Gary Sanchez - NYY vs. COL (Marquez) $4,600
If you're looking for the top catcher on the slate, it's Gary Sanchez. The Yankees are facing off with German Marquez, who's actually a very good pitcher. On the season, he's sported a 3.23 xFIP and strikes out 8.86 batters per nine innings. With that being said, Vegas has the Yankees projected for 6.23 runs, which is the second highest on the slate. This Yankees lineup is just different and there aren't many pitchers that will slow them down. Sanchez is better against righties (19 homers) than lefties and has posted a .345 wOBA on the season. He's a huge HR threat and is the top play if you can afford him.
1B - Carlos Santana - CLE vs. KC (Sparkman) $4,800
There are always a lot of options at first base and today is no different. The weather is hot all across the country and runs will be pouring in. Carlos Santana is as good of a play as anyone on the slate and I don't think he ends up more than 5 or 10% owned. Glenn Sparkman had the game of his career last time out, but it's not legitimate by any means. He's currently sporting a 5.28 xFIP and has allowed a .351 wOBA to lefties. He's striking out just five batters per nine while allowing 2.40 HR/9. Assuming the baseball gods don't interfere, the Indians should be in for a huge day and the Indians go as Santana goes.
2B - Lourdes Gurriel Jr. - TOR @ DET (Alexander) $4,800
Tyler Alexander will make his debut today at home in Detroit against the Toronto Blue Jays. While he has been pretty solid in the minor leagues, Vegas thinks the Blue Jays put up five + runs and they won't be too popular with so many options on the board. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. has been one of the most impressive breakout players this season and there haven't been any signs of him slowing down. Against lefties, Gurriel has boasted a .431 wOBA and has hit 10 home runs in just 85 at-bats. Absolutely insane. Gurriel is always a top play vs a lefty and he shouldn't be all that popular.
3B - Rafael Devers - BOS @ BAL (Wojciechowski) $5,500
I know Rafael Devers is extremely expensive, but we're able to pay up for a few bats and there's a good case to be made for Devers. Not only is he the league's hottest hitter, but the peripherals are some of the craziest things I've ever seen. Over the last fifteen games, Devers has hit the ball hard 77% of the time and has sported a crazy .531 wOBA over that period. The Red Sox put up 16 runs last night and Devers finished with 30 DraftKings points. Asher Wojciechowski is another pitiful righty and the Red Sox are once again implied to score over six runs. Baltimore is hot and Camden Yards is a bam box. The Red Sox are a top stack in all formats, but they're very expensive.
SS - Javier Baez - CHC vs. SD (Morejon) $4,600
The wind has been blowing out 10+ MPH in both games against the Padres in Wrigley, and it remains to be seen whether or not the trend will continue today. If the wind is blowing out, Baez makes for a great play against another lefty. He plastered Luchessi yesterday and ended up with 30 DK points on an HR and double. Morejon hasn't been all that impressive throughout the minors and he doesn't profile as an high-end starter. Quantrill hasn't been good either. Baez has sported a .389 wOBA against lefties on the season and that rises over .400 in Wrigley Field. Baez should be more expensive and makes for a top play if the wind is once again blowing out.
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
Starling Marte - PIT vs. PHI (Smyly) $5,000
We haven't touched on the Pirates just yet, but that speaks more to their lackluster lineup. With that being said, they get to face off with Drew Smyly, so they're worth targeting across the board. Smyly has arguably been the worst pitcher in all of baseball, sporting a 6.5 xFIP while allowing 19 home runs in 50 innings. It's almost so bad that it's unbelievable. You want exposure to these Pirates righties and Marte has been swinging a solid bat lately. He's not going to be very popular and has as much upside as any outfielder.
Max Kepler - MIN vs. OAK (Mengden) $4,600
The Twins are another team that are in play, but don't get to the same level as a Yankees or Red Sox on this slate. Daniel Mengden has actually been pretty terrible this season, holding a 5.366 xFIP and allowing a .374 wOBA to left-handed bats. The Twins lefties are all in play here and Kepler is my favorite. On the season, he's held a .363 wOBA and has hit 18 home runs against righties. He's pretty affordable on DK and I doubt he garners much attention in Minnesota. Kepler has two home run upside and won't cost you an arm and leg.
