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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 7/28/21. Euan Leith's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
Happy Wednesday, RotoBallers! With a few getaway games planned for the earlier part of the day, there are 11 matchups to pick and choose from for our Wednesday night DFS lineups. However, the Blue Jays-Red Sox game on the slate is the second game of a double-header, so it'll be limited to seven innings.
As for pitching, three arms will cost you at least $10,000 tonight, while another two crosses over the $9,000 mark. One of them is Tylor Megill. The Mets rookie is causing a stir among MLB circles and has some decent results to make a case for a permanent spot in the rotation when New York gets fully healthy. Outside of that, it isn't easy to go with any of the lower-priced arms. While there are good matchups, I'm not going to trust Jordan Lyles to get results, even against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 7/28/2021. 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
Tyler Mahle - P, CIN at CHC ($10,200)
Mahle's absurd price tag on tonight's slate makes me like him more. Of course, DFS players will look at the salary and then peak the recent results and say, "No thanks, guy." However, he's still struck out 131 batters in 105 2/3 innings this year, and I can't overstate how whiff-prone this Cubs lineup can get. Since June 1, Chicago is striking out 26.3 percent of the time with a 90 weighted Runs Created plus metric against right-handers. So I'm buying the strikeout potential and the price giving Mahle a lower roster percentage than the other aces in this range.
Tylor Megill - P, NYM vs. ATL ($9,200)
Through 30 major-league innings, it's hard to complain about Tylor Megill's performance. The rookie owns a 2.10 ERA and 1.10 WHIP while striking out 33 batters in 30 innings. Meanwhile, Atlanta comes to town with a right-handed problem. They've been striking out a lot in 2021, but over the last two months, the strikeout rate is up to 25.9 percent, and they've only scraped together a .236 batting average. The risk with Megill is a short outing, but he's gone at least six innings in back-to-back starts. With another six-inning outing and facing a K-heavy Braves lineup, he should come in as an under-rostered arm giving us close to 20 fantasy points.
Other options: Walker Buehler at SF ($10,500), Zack Wheeler vs. WAS ($10,300), Lucas Giolito at KC ($9,800)
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DraftKings DFS Infielders
Daulton Varsho - C/OF, ARI at Jordan Lyles ($4,100)
Varsho has broken out of his 2021 cacoon and is lighting up the leaderboards in July. This month, the catcher/outfielder for Arizona has a fantastic 237 wRC+. That's good for third-best among qualified hitters. Bringing it down to a DFS level, he's averaging 12.9 fantasy points per game since the All-Star break. Since July 11, Varsho has tallied 10 runs, two doubles, four home runs, 10 RBI, and two stolen bases.
Joey Votto - 1B, CIN at Zach Davies ($4,300)
This is a home-run heavy article of picks today. First off, we've got Joey Votto at first base in the middle of some sort of hot streak during a career renaissance season. Since July 17, the lefty bat has a .389/.489/.944 slash line with six home runs and 13 RBI. Votta has a home run or an extra-base hit in seven of his last eight games and now gets Zach Davies in a slightly wind-out Wrigley to continue his recent power surge.
Chris Taylor - 2B/SS, LAD at Anthony DeSclafani ($5,600)
Speaking of a power surge, let's welcome Chris Taylor to the club. He's got five home runs in his last seven games, but it's just putting more cherries on top of his excellent 2021 campaign. Whenever the Dodgers need him to step up, he's ready to contribute as they battle the Giants and Padres for NL West supremacy. In 97 games, he has a .876 OPS and is averaging 8.8 FPPG. While the 8.8 isn't worth the $5,600, he's averaging 16.7 FPPG over his last seven games, and that will more than play on the 11-game slate.
Josh Harrison - 3B, WAS at Zach Wheeler ($3,600)
I will admit that some of my picks haven't been as hot as the early season going, so I'm trying to pivot and see what works. Right now, I'm trying to capitalize on in-form hitters at lower price points. Josh Harrison fits the bill perfectly. Since the All-Star Break, the former Pirate is slashing .385/.442/.615 with six runs, eight extra-base hits, and four RBI. He's batting fifth right now, but with Trea Turner's COVID-19 situation, Harrison should find himself moving up the order and gain a chance at an extra plate appearance or two in the immediate future.
Kyle Farmer - SS, CIN at Zach Davies ($3,600)
I am a fan of the Reds against the Cubs tonight. Tyler Mahle against their offense, Joey Votto on a home-run streak, and now Kyle Farmer with the fifth-highest wRC+ in July. That's right, the 30-year old shortstop is on a heater right now, and I'm combining him and Votto for a mini-Reds stack. Farmer is pummeling the baseball with a .730 slugging over his last 10 games. It's far different from his season-long numbers, but, as I said, I'm trying some new stuff and seeing what sticks. I'm into the Reds dominating Zach Davies tonight, and Kyle Farmer is a helpful roster piece.
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
Cedric Mullins - OF, BAL vs. Jordan Holloway ($4,600)
It's a flaw that I'll get locked into a player and then completely forget about them. Strange move by me, but it happens. So now I'm back to Cedric Mullins, who was fantastic during the first half. Now, he gets to face a righty at home while making a ton of contact. The outfielder has four multi-hit efforts in his previous five games and has banged four extra-base hits during that time. He's been consistently great all year, as his .926 OPS indicates, and I'm always a fan of Mullins when he's playing in Baltimore.
Andrew McCutchen - OF, PHI vs. Patrick Corbin ($3,800)
Against righties, McCutchen has a 86 wRC+ at home and a 94 wRC+ on the road. However, against lefties, he has a 162 wRC+ on the road and a 187 wRC+ at home. Therefore, tonight, against a lefty, we are getting the best version of Andrew McCutchen. Yes, it's a dangerous game splitting it up like that, but we don't play DFS to win the minimum. Instead, we want to go big and be right up there in the standings. So, for me, that means taking risks, and Cutch is a risk I'm willing to take. He's got a 1.104 OPS and four home runs in his last 10 games, and the added advanced stats is all I need to convince myself to get him in my lineups tonight.
Jorge Soler - OF, KC vs. Lucas Giolito ($2,700)
I know this is a bad idea. You know this is a bad idea. I'll dust myself off and live to fight another day in DFS if Soler bottoms out tonight. However, if he has another big game at this meager salary, it'll be a tough pill to swallow. He's got six home runs in his last seven games and four in his last three. I can't stay away even though I know it's a trap, but I'll take my lumps and roster Soler at this price.
DraftKings DFS Stacks
- Philadelphia Phillies vs. Washington Nationals (Patrick Corbin, LHP)
- Chicago White Sox at Kansas City Royals (Kris Bubic, LHP)
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