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Austyn Varney highlights the top FanDuel MLB DFS lineup picks for 6/18/19, and a couple of sleepers to consider while building daily rosters.
Welcome to Tuesday baseball on FanDuel! We have a fun 15-game full slate on our hands with plenty to sift through. From a few pricey pitching options in solid matchups to a couple of salary savers that are tough to ignore, we'll have to pick just one. Let's dive in head first and analyze this slate from top to bottom. We don't have a game in Coors Field, but we definitely have some offenses in good spots. Ivan Nova is in Wrigley Field and the Cubs are expected to put up nearly six runs. We have four other teams expected to put up five-plus runs as well, so the offensive options are plentiful.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for FanDuel on 6/18/2019. The picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays.
We also provide DFS lineup picks for DraftKings and other sports. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact me on Twitter @VarneyDFS
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FanDuel DFS Pitchers
Clayton Kershaw LOS vs. SFG ($10,700)
There are a few expensive pitching options tonight on FanDuel, including Justin Verlander and Jacob deGrom in average match-ups. We'll dive into Clayton Kershaw, though, who will be hosting the Measly Giants in Dodger Stadium. They rank 28th in baseball with a .277 wOBA and strikeout 26% of the time against left-handers. On this slate, they hold the league's lowest implied total at just 2.73. The Dodgers are a huge -210 favorite and a win is always important on FanDuel. Kershaw has been elite this season, holding both sides of the plate below a .293 wOBA and striking out nine per nine innings. He's affordable on FanDuel and shouldn't be too highly owned.
Jack Flaherty STL vs. MIA ($8,000)
Jack Flaherty is going to gain a lot of ownership in the public eye due to the success of Miles Mikolas yesterday, but they have nothing to do with each other. Flaherty would be firmly in play here either way and due for a huge game. As a guy who strikes out nearly 30% of right-handed batters, a Marlins team with seven or eight lefties is pretty juicy. They rank dead last against right-handed pitching, sporting a team wOBA sub .270 with a strikeout rate nearing 27%. Busch Stadium is a pitchers ballpark through and through and we saw the Marlins struggle with a few warning track flouts just last night. Flaherty is too cheap at $8k to ignore in any format.
FanDuel DFS Infielders
C/1B - Anthony Rizzo CHC vs. CWS ($4,200)
The Cubs are the top offense of the night according to Vegas, coming in close to six implied runs. Ivan Nova is the least talented pitcher on this slate, posting a 4.61 xFIP and .400 wOBA against left-handers. He's somehow striking out just five batters per nine innings and walking nearly three. The Cubs lefties should tee off at home and We know Rizzo is the heart and soul of this team. He's pretty affordable on FanDuel and a Cubs stack will be in the order for many.
2B - Robinson Cano NYM @ ATL ($2,700)
Cano is simply too cheap here at a position that lacks upside. He's just returned from injury and this isn't the Cano we know from years past, but he's still solid against righties and you can't ignore him under $3k. Julio Teheran has always struggled against left-handers and has posted a 1.74 HR/9 since 2018. Atlanta is a huge ballpark upgrade from Citi Field, ranking eighth in baseball for left-handed power. The Mets are going to put up a few runs here and Cano is going to have plenty of opportunities to drive in some runs. He's way too cheap and this is a spot where I'm willing to eat the chalk in cash games.
SS - Marcus Semien OAK vs. BAL ($3,500)
Semien has been swinging a hot bat as of late and he's now reached double-digit home runs. FanDuel still has him priced at $3,500 and I highly doubt he even gets to 20% owned. There are always a ton of shortstops to choose from and Semien never seems to be the popular choice. Ynoa has been terrible thus far, allowing eight home runs in just 37 innings of work. Ynoa has allowed a .417 wOBA to right-handers and this A's team is one of the most dangerous in baseball. Semien is a solid option in all formats and a must if you're stacking the A's.
3B - Jose Ramirez CLE @ TEX ($3,100)
Ramirez is still a bit too cheap on FanDuel at $3,100. He hasn't been very good this season, but he hasn't been bad either. He's still a .300+ wOBA hitter and has been bamboozled by a .199 BABIP. Things will turn around for Ramirez soon and you'll want to be ahead of the curve. The Indians are projected to put up 5.47 runs, which is the third-highest on the slate. Adrian Sampson is absolutely terrible against both sides of the plate, sporting a .347 combined wOBA. Ramirez is only $3.1k and should get involved in one of the highest scoring offenses of the night.
FanDuel DFS Outfielders
Cody Bellinger LAD vs. SFG ($4,700)
You don't have to pay all the way up in the outfield, but Cody Bellinger is your best bet if you want to spend some funds. He's sported a .400+ wOBA against righties and it looks like Bellinger is going to be one of the three best hitters in baseball for a long time to come. Shaun Anderson isn't a gas can, but he's also not very good and the Dodgers are projected for 5.17 runs. He's been worse against lefties and is getting a park downgrade going into L.A. If you're paying down at pitcher, you'll have plenty of money to spend elsewhere and Bellinger is a great place to go.
Kyle Schwarber CHC vs. CWS ($3,200)
Schwarber is another example of a guy on FD that's just a bit too cheap and is going to end up very popular. It's a well know fat how bad Ivan Nova is against lefties and Schwarber has been one of the hottest bats in baseball over the last month. He's now up to a .341 wOBA and has 15 home runs on the season. He should be in the leadoff hole and at just $3.2k, is tough to ignore in any format. He's a guy with two-HR upside on any given night and that's tough to fade when you know he's on the top offense of the night and going to be popular around the industry. Be different elsewhere in cash games.
