June 3, 2017

JB's DraftKings analysis and advice. The top MLB DFS lineup picks on for 6/3/17, as well as a couple of sleepers for daily fantasy baseball rosters.

Welcome to the weekend, RotoBallers. Today we have our usual Saturday with a  day game-heavy 15 game slate. Draftkings has it split into a nine game early slate, and a five game main slate. However, the only way you can utilize the NYY-TOR game is by playing All-Day contests. For these reasons, I will be focusing mainly on the early slate, but also will provide main slate options at each position as well. The only weather concerns we have currently for today is in Arlington for the HOU-TEX showdown. It could be a serious bummer for potential McCuller users if the game is delayed, so be checking that forecast leading up to go time.

In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 6/3/17. The DFS lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays on DraftKings.

You can read our FanDuel and Yahoo DFS lineup picks as well. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to hit me up on Twitter @RowdyRotoJB. 

DFS Lineup Stacks to Target on DraftKings

Early: Washington Nationals versus Daniel Mengden

In Mengden's first big league start of 2017 he surrendered five runs on seven hits, three of the bomb-type, in only 3 1/3 innings at Cleveland. Today he squares off with the Nationals who own an .813 team OPS against RHP. Unfortunately, DraftKings definitely sniffed this match-up out, and has the Nats hitters priced fairly steep. Ryan Zimmerman, Daniel Murphy, Anthony Rendon, and Trea Turner are the top plays but you will more than likely need to replace one of the above with Jayson Werth who is reasonably priced at $3,300. For what it's Werth, he owns the same OPS against RHP as Trea Turner for the season.

Main: New York Mets versus Tyler Glasnow

Glasnow has not had a successful 2017 campaign thus far. The 6'8" righty owns a miserable 6.95 ERA and 1.89 WHIP through 10 starts. He has allowed a 1.028 OPS to LHB, and a 1.069 OPS on the road, leading him to a tough match-up with the Mets in New York today. I love this stack because all the big left handed hitters on the Mets. Michael Conforto and Jay Bruce have been mainstays in DFS lineups all year, and the scorching-hot Lucas Duda now deserves your consideration nightly. Neil Walker and Asdrubal Cabrera both also have wRC+ over 100 against RHP.

Also consider: Cincinnati Reds versus R.A. Dickey- Early; Houston Astros versus Andrew Cashner- Main

DFS Starting Pitchers to Consider on DraftKings

Early: Carlos Carrasco, CLE at KAN ($11,700)

Carrasco had a stellar start to the season posting a 2.04 ERA in April. He has slowed his roll just a tad, owning a 3.90 ERA through three May starts, but still overall is boasting a 2.89 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, with a perfect 9.0 K/9. Today he is draws a bout with the Royals who have been one of the worst offenses in the league versus RHP. On the road this season, Carrasco is holding opponents to just a .499 OPS. The active Royals roster owns a combined career .225 BA against Carrasco, with only four HR in 155 PA- one of which belongs to Drew Butera....we'll count that as an outlier. He costs less than Jon Lester, while having a much better match-up considering Jason Hammel is on the bump for the bad guys.

Main: Lance McCullers, HOU at TEX ($10,800)

The American League Pitcher of the Month from May walks into a tasty match-up today against the team with the seventh most strikeouts against RHP. McCullers faced this Rangers offense at the beginning of May, and recorded 10 strikeouts in just 6 1/3 innings, on his way to a 25.5 FP performance. He carries a bit of risk today thanks to a 40% chance of thunderstorms practically all day in Arlington, but if the forecast lightens up even a little bit before game time, the upside is hard to pass up here.

Also consider: Mike Leake, STL at CHC ($8,400)- Early; David Price, BOS at BAL ($8,500)- Main

DFS Infielders to Consider on DraftKings

Catcher (C)

Alex Avila, DET vs CWS ($3,500)

It doesn't get much better behind the plate in DFS than the 2017 version of Alex Avila against RHP. Against righties for the season, he is slashing .337/.455/.674 with a .337 ISO and 201 wRC+. Just filthy. At home, it gets even better: .447/.552/.702 with a .255 ISO and a 238 wRC+. Too much filthiness! Miguel Gonzalez did almost take a no-hitter into the 8th inning last time out against this lineup, but that's not going to happen this go around in Detroit. Plus, Gonzalez has struggled against LHB and on the road in 2017, allowing an .842 OPS and .846 OPS respectively.

Also consider: Francisco Cervelli, PIT at NYM ($3,000) - Main

First Base (1B)

Yonder Alonso, OAK vs WAS ($3,900)

Man, did that disabled list stint do wonders for Alonso's price tag! For the same price as your backstop today, you can own a first baseman who owns a .661 SLG against RHP and .804 SLG (.500 ISO!) at home this season. On the mound opposing the A's today is Joe Ross, who is allowing a .930 OPS to left-handed batters.

Also consider: Lucas Duda, NYM vs PIT ($4,300) - Main

Second Base (2B)

Chad Pinder, OAK vs WAS ($3,200)

Speaking of value, we might as well stick with the Athletics as we look at the top pick at the keystone position for today. Pinder crushed the ball in May, totaling six dingers. Against RHP for the season, he owns a 1.270 OPS, to go along with his .486 ISO at the Coliseum. Poor Joe Ross is going to have his hands full today, especially with the wind blowing straight out to center field. Pinder is my Rowdy Hitter of the Day.

Also consider: Brian Dozier, MIN at LAA ($4,400) - Main

Shortstop (SS)

Corey Seager, LAD at MIL ($4,300)

Corey Seager has but seven HR up to this point in the season, but five of those jacks have come on the road, where he owns a .522 SLG- which is more than 100 points higher than at home. Today he faces Matt Garza who has given up 10 ER in his last two starts (11.0 IP).

Also consider: Asdrubal Cabrera, NYM vs PIT ($3,600) - Main

Third Base (3B)

Eugenio Suarez, CIN vs ATL ($3,800)

I went with Suarez last night, and he was just about the only Reds hitter to score any points on a night where Mike Foltynewicz brought his best stuff. But I am going right back to my man tonight as the Braves go from flame-thrower to ol' knuckleball throwing R.A. Dickey. Dickey's knuckler has been picked up slightly better by right handed hitters so far this season, as he is allowing a .903 OPS to that side of the plate. Suarez is having one hell of a season along with his teammate to his left, Zack Cozart, and he is especially tearing the cover off the ball at home. At home he owns a .360 ISO and has hit 8 of his 10 HR. It should be 9 of 11 after tonight.

Also consider: Josh Harrison, PIT at NYM ($3,000) - Main

DFS Outfielders to Consider on DraftKings

Bradley Zimmer, CLE at KAN ($3,300)

Zimmer has basically done exactly what we all expected him to do since his call-up: strike out a bunch, but smash RHP.  Today he draws a nice match-up against Jason Hammel who has given up six HR along with a 5.83 ERA since the start of May. This is a similar situation to the Tigers offense today, as Hammel shut the Indians down almost a month ago. I am not expecting a repeat performance, and neither should you.

J.D. Martinez, DET vs CWS ($5,100)

Do not get off this train until it completely stops. Martinez has been absolutely raking since coming off the disabled list. Through his first 20 games of the season, he has already hit nine HR, 21 RBI, and scored 15 R. That's good for a 15.1 FPPG on FanDuel. Last night he was just a single shy of hitting for the cycle. Like I said before, I am not worried about what Miguel Gonzalez did last time against the Tigers. It won't happen twice.

Jayson Werth, WAS at OAK ($3,300)

Here's that cheap exposure to the Nationals offense that is in such a good position today. After going deep last night in the series opener, Werth now has eight HR on the season, seven of which have come off RHP. His splits are fairly even across the board, but he has generated much harder contact against righties on the road: 30.0% v RHP-23.5% v LHP, 32.8% Away-24.5% Home. You are going to want a piece of this pie.

Also consider: Max Kepler, MIN at LAA ($3,600); Michael Conforto, NYM vs PIT ($4,700); Gregory Polanco, PIT at NYM ($3,900) - Main

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