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Friday is typically the best day for MLB DFS. After a Thursday that saw only seven games played and they were broken up into two small slates, we get a nice and big Friday night slate to kick off the weekend. Let's get to the picks.
This article contains my picks for the 13-game main slate on Thursday, June 2, 2023, for both DraftKings and FanDuel, which locks at 7:10 PM ET.
The lineup picks will range from some elite high-priced players to mid-priced options and value plays. I'll give you a few of my top pitching options and then some infielders, outfielders, and teams to stack. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports here. It's also essential to monitor injury news and today's MLB starting lineups.
DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Framber Valdez, HOU vs. LAA ($10,100 DK, $11,200 FD)
The last time Framber Valdez faced the Angels this season, he held them to just one run in eight innings while striking out 12 on May 9 and that start was on the road. He gets the Angels at home here, where Valdez has a 2.45 ERA this season. Overall, Valdez has a 2.69 xFIP, 26% strikeout percentage, 5% walk percentage, and 60% ground ball percentage this year. The Angels have some power hitters in their lineup like Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, and Hunter Renfroe, but most of their lineup is right-handed hitters and Valdez has been elite in preventing power from right-handed hitters this season with a .103 ISO allowed to right-handed hitters this season. On a difficult pitching slate, Valdez is the clear-cut top option Friday.
Justin Verlander, NYM vs. TOR ($8,600 DK, $9,900 FD)
Verlander hasn't been great this year. In five starts since returning from the injured list, he has a 5.17 xFIP, 18% strikeout percentage, 5% walk percentage, and 36% ground ball percentage. He got tagged for six earned runs in his last start against the Rockies at Coors Field. However, he's gone at least seven innings and allowed just one earned run in two of his last four starts. That ability to pitch deep into the game when he's right is something we have to be interested in on a pitching slate like this. The matchup is also good for Verlander here. Despite high preseason expectations, the Blue Jays' offense has underwhelmed. They were shut down earlier this week by Julio Teheran of the Brewers. Verlander's price has come down enough to where he has to be in consideration tonight.
Others to consider: Michael Wacha, SDP vs. CHC ($7,400 DK, $9,300 FD)
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Jose Ramirez - 3B, CLE vs. MIN ($5,400 DK, $3,400 FD)
Ramirez has a matchup against the Twins' Bailey Ober here. Ober has a 2.68 ERA but also has a 4.83 xFIP this year. Ober has allowed a 50% flyball percentage. Ramirez has a .187 ISO against right-handed pitching this season as well as a 24% line drive percentage. He should be able to capitalize on this matchup before the Twins go to the bullpen.
Trea Turner - SS, PHI vs. WAS ($5,300 DK, $2,900 FD)
Turner will face Josiah Gray for Washington tonight. Turner has had a down season, but that can't continue for much longer he's too good of a player. Gray has a 5.32 xFIP, 19% strikeout percentage, and an 11% walk percentage. I like Turner to take advantage of this matchup in a good hitters' park in Washington. His price is too low on FanDuel especially.
Josh Bell - 1B, CLE vs. MIN ($2,500 DK, $2,600 FD)
I already mentioned this matchup against Bailey Ober for Ramirez. What I like about this for Bell is that he's a streaky hitter and he seems to be in the beginning of one of his hot streaks.
Josh Naylor and Josh Bell just went back to back 🔥 pic.twitter.com/RsiilTu50W
— betJACK (@betJACK) May 31, 2023
Bell hit a home run earlier this week and has at least seven DraftKings points in each of his last four games. His price is too low, especially on DraftKings.
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Fernando Tatis Jr. - OF, SDP vs. CHC ($6,000 DK, $4,200 FD)
Tatis Jr. is expensive, but I think he's worth it tonight. Jameson Taillon has been one of the worst starting pitchers in all of baseball this season. Taillon has an 8.04 ERA and just a 31% ground ball percentage this year. That's not going to get it done against a powerful Padres lineup returning home from a road trip that they closed out with a win in Miami Thursday afternoon. Tatis Jr. is the high-priced bat I think you want on both sites tonight.
Luis Robert Jr. - OF, CHW vs. DET ($5,300 DK, $3,400 FD)
Robert Jr. is slightly cheaper than Tatis Jr. tonight but is similarly in a good spot. The White Sox are at home here and will face Reese Olson in his major league debut. Olson is 23 years old and a former 13th-round pick of the Brewers back in 2018. Last year, he had a 4.14 ERA in Double-A and this year he had a 6.38 ERA in Triple-A. Robert Jr. has a .246 ISO against right-handed pitching this season and should be able to take advantage of this matchup against the rookie.
Akil Baddoo - OF, DET vs. CHW ($2,500 DK, $2,500 FD)
Baddoo is too cheap on both sites tonight, especially considering the matchup for him against Chicago's Mike Clevinger. Clevinger has a 6.02 xFIP, 19% strikeout percentage, 10% walk percentage, and 31% ground ball percentage. Baddoo has the legs to steal a base and is getting the ball in the air this year with a 41% fly ball percentage.
Akil Baddoo GRAND SLAM! pic.twitter.com/PLzshW8Mct
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) May 28, 2023
Clevinger also allows a ridiculous .259 ISO to left-handed hitters this season. With Riley Greene out for the Tigers, expect Baddoo to hit second in the batting order tonight.
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Garrett Whitlock
Whitlock hasn't been anything special this year. He has a 4.61 xFIP, but what's really alarming is his power prevention or lack thereof. Whitlock has allowed a .231 ISO to right-handed batters and a .300 ISO to left-handed batters this season. That isn't going to get the job done against a Tampa Bay team with power hitters up and down the lineup. This is an expensive stack, but it should be worth it when all is said and done.
Philadelphia Phillies vs. Josiah Gray
The Phillies are in Washington tonight to face Gray which is a ballpark upgrade for their hitters. Gray has a 5.32 xFIP and has allowed a 42% fly ball percentage to left-handed hitters this season. The Phillies have a lot of left-handed hitters in their lineup with Bryson Stott, Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Brandon Marsh, and Cody Clemens. Harper, Schwarber, Marsh, and Clemens all have at least a .180 ISO against right-handed pitching this year. With Marsh and Clemens both priced below $3,000 on DraftKings this is a more affordable stack.
Also consider: Detroit Tigers vs. Mike Clevinger
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