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Welcome to a new week, RotoBallers! On this Monday, we'll take a look at some pitchers in good spots and hitters who came out of the All-Star Break swinging a hot stick. As a fill-in writer for this series, I'll keep my analysis short and sweet. Remember to use this preliminary info to drive your own research and decision-making when it comes to building your MLB DFS lineups for a solid Monday night slate.
This article will provide my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 7/17/2023 and the slate locking at 7:05 PM ET. The lineup picks will range from some elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. 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. Now that we got all that out of the way, it's onto the picks!
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DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Jesus Luzardo, MIA vs. STL ($10,200 DK, $10,300 FD)
Despite having 20 pitchers to choose from on this slate, I had a surprisingly tough time finding a Quality Start pitcher with strikeout upside and win equity. Enter Jesus Luzardo heading to St. Louis. Prior the the All-Star Break, the southpaw went at least six innings with at least eight strikeouts in four straight starts, allowing zero earned runs in three of those outings. Pounding the zone, limiting walks and homers, and missing bats has had the 25-year-old hovering around a 2.50 xFIP with a 12.27 K/9. Those are elite numbers.
The Cardinals can throw a ton of right-handed bats a Luzardo, but that didn't matter on the 4th of July, just as it hasn't led to incredible results against left-handed pitchers all season. St. Louis ranks 15th in the league in wOBA against southpaws, and their strikeout rate is surprisingly high (23.8%) considering the amount of righties in their lineup. The Marlins bullpen is rested and ready after a rough series in Baltimore, so I expect at least six innings, at least eight strikeouts, and a win from Jesus Luzardo on Monday night.
Nick Pivetta, BOS vs. OAK ($7,300 DK, $7,000 FD)
This one is a bit of a wildcard, but the play is simple: That matchup doesn't get much better, the price is low, and the strikeout upside is enormous. Nick Pivetta hasn't started a game since the middle of May, but the Red Sox have been ramping him up in a long relief role of late, and Alex Cora has talked up his recent improvements to pitch for longer stretches. Now it appears Pivetta will get the reigns to go as long as six innings if he is effective in a great matchup at the Oakland Athletics.
The 30-year-old has 21 strikeouts over his last three outings (12.1 innings total), and his most recent five-inning showing was at Fenway Park against these A's, where he allowed two earned runs and struck out eight hitters. This massive park boost heading out to Oakland paired with renewed confidence from his manager and this incredible improvement in strikeout rate makes Pivetta a great play at this value price tag.
If we can get five innings and seven strikeouts from him, that's a great result, and there's upside for more with win equity and pitch count effectiveness. Pivetta makes for an excellent tournament/GPP option for Monday's slate.
Also consider: MacKenzie Gore, Griffin Canning, Sonny Gray
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Mookie Betts – 2B/OF, LAD vs. Grayson Rodriguez ($6,400 DK, $4,400 FD)
His Home Run Derby appearance may have been predictably dull, but Mookie Betts has come out of the gates RED HOT for the second half of the season. The second baseman went 7-for-15 with six singles, his 27th homer of the year, and two walks. Now he gets to go to a very hitter-friendly park in Baltimore to face a pitcher with big velocity and previous homer issues. The massive price tag is worth it on both formats, especially in the middle infield positions.
Henry Davis – C, PIT vs. Xzavion Curry ($2,600 DK, $2,800 FD)
The DFS sites haven't committed to Henry Davis as a force in the middle of the Pirates lineup yet, but it hasn't taken the Buccos' former first overall pick very long to find consistency at the plate. Davis collected six hits, a double, a homer, and two walks over the weekend, and he didn't strike out a single time in 13 at-bats. This is a great starting point at catcher to save money for other positions.
Triston Casas – 1B, BOS vs. Paul Blackburn ($2,600 DK, $2,800 FD)
Here's a simple value play at the first base position if you've spent up elsewhere. Triston Casas has struggled to find consistency from the bottom of the Red Sox lineup all season, but he's heating up the last few games. The 23-year-old homered in three straight starts this weekend, striking out just twice. He plays in a big park in Oakland on Monday, but the price seems too low for his current form.
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Luke Raley – OF/1B, TB vs. Dane Dunning ($4,400 DK, $3,300 FD)
Luke Raley continues to rake from the middle of the Rays' order, as he collected five hits, three RBI, and a stolen base in Kansas City over the weekend. Dane Dunning has begun to look vulnerable of late, and I expect Raley and the Rays to take advantage in Texas' hitter-friendly park. This outfielder should be in the middle of the run-scoring action all night.
Mickey Moniak – OF, LAA vs. Luis Severino ($3,800 DK, $3,200 FD)
The Angels have found a new middle-of-the-order presence in the absence of Mike Trout with 25-year-old Mickey Moniak. The youngster didn't flash his power over the weekend, but we've seen that come in flashes before. Instead, the center fielder collected seven singles in 15 at-bats in his three-game series against the Astros. Moniak is a safe cash game option for Monday with upside lurking somewhere deep if his power stroke suddenly returns.
Kerry Carpenter – OF, DET vs. Jordan Lyles ($3,200 DK, $2,900 FD)
Carpenter has clearly found something coming out of the break. He was 5-for-11 over the weekend with three homers. He gets a great matchup against RHP Jordan Lyles, who owns a 49.7% fly ball rate, a very low strikeout rate, and has allowed a homer in each of his last two outings. Carpenter is under-priced for his recent form in this spot.
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
Detroit Tigers vs. Jordan Lyles
Favorite Plays: Kerry Carpenter, Riley Greene, Zach McKinstry, Akil Baddoo
San Francisco Giants vs. Brandon Williamson
Favorite Plays: Wilmer Flores, J.D. Davis, Austin Slater, Luis Matos
Also Consider: Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox
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