RADIO
Greetings RotoBallers! First off, I'd like to thank Kyle Ringstad for covering my Tuesday article last week. So perhaps a welcome back to me, although today's 14-game main slate is not a very welcoming one. I like it a lot, but it strikes me as one of the more challenging ones of the year.
We have at least half a dozen great pitching options at the top but an equal number of really poor options at the bottom. Therefore, we have both expensive pitchers and a handful of really great bats I'd love to start, but fitting them all in is impossible. Trust me, I tried.
If you decide to take a chance on some of the super cheap pitchers and spend up on the big bats, have at it. It's your entry. But I will not be going south of the 8K range. So who do I like tonight? Read below to find, as I provide you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for the FanDuel main slate on 7/6/2021.
FanDuel DFS Pitchers
Cash Game/GPP Anchor Play:
Jacob deGrom, NYM vs MIL ($11,800)
Degrom's last two starts have been shakey for DeGrom. The fact that five total runs in his last two outings combined is considered shakey is all you need to know about how good Degrom has been. And yes, he gave up three runs his last outing, but he also struck out 14!
That brought his total to a ridiculous 142 K in 90 IP. Throw in his eight wins, 0.90 ERA and 0.54 WHIP, DeGrom has been simply too good to fade in your cash lineups. Throw in the Brewers being tied for the second-most strikeouts and this price might actually be a bargain.
GPP Potential Alternate Play
Luis Castillo, CIN at KCR ($8,500)
Here is where things get interesting.
I'm hoping that owners take one look at Castillo's 5.08 ERA and 1.47 WHIP and run the other way. Those numbers are a result of a difficult May including getting bombed for eight runs at Coors on May 13th.
We start with Kansas City being a nice little matchup too. They are striking out almost 22% of the time over the last month against right-handers. And over the last few weeks, Castillo has pitched really well.
Over his last four starts, he has only given up 5 ER total. We have to go back to May 23rd to find a game where he has given up more than three earned runs. And it's not just the lack of runs. In his last five starts, he has either half a dozen strikeouts or more. Castillo is still a tad unlikely, suffering from a BABIP of .323 this season. As that regresses to .300, I would grab Castillo for cheap while you can.
If you want more detail on Castillo, check out my compadre Dennis Sosic's recent article:
Time to Buy into Luis Castillo Again... Right? https://t.co/7H9QutGTPO by @CALL_ME_SOS
— RotoBaller (@RotoBaller) July 3, 2021
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FanDuel DFS Infielders
Trey Mancini- 1B/OF BAL vs TOR ($3100)
I really want to stack the Blue Jays, but they are just too expensive given some of my other high-priced players I will detail later. But the other side of that game is pretty enticing too. If you don't like Mancini, I'd pivot to Anthony Rizzo who is in a similar price range. But I think Aaron Nola is a little better than Steven Matz, so I'm grabbing Mancini. I also expect Mancini to be lower owned, but I'll glad take him and his 15 HRs against Matz and his 4.60 ERA.
Eli White - 2B TEX vs DET ($2200)
Here is one of our first big salary savers. White has been hitting in the leadoff slot lately, but check again close to game time. He is hitting the Mendoza line right now, but has already shown some flashes of speed and power. In his first 154 plate appearances, he has three swipes and four dingers, which is more in-line with his minor league numbers. Going against Urenea's 6.22 ERA and 1.67 WHIP, White makes for an excellent punt play.
Ryan McMahon- 2B COL @ ARI ($3600)
If White doesn't sit right with you, I'd spend up and grab McMahon. McMahon has a six-game hit streak going and is averaging double digit FD fantasy points. His 16 HRs already on the year is nothing to sneeze at and Merril Kelly is a pitcher I am happy to go against.
Kyle Seager - 3B SEA vs NYY ($3000)
This one is pretty straight forward. Right-hander James Tallion hasn't been too as evidenced by his 5.43 ERA. Seager meanwhile has an average that leaves a bit to be desired, but has two homeruns just in the last week. So a 30-HR pace for a guy priced at only $3K? Yeah, I'll take that.
FanDuel DFS Outfielders
Joey Gallo - OF, TEX vs DET ($4200)
Gallo has been on fire lately....
Goodness, Joey Gallo has gotten himself on a major hot streak ? 5 straight games with a homer!
(via @BallySportsSW) pic.twitter.com/FDNcVuPsKF
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 1, 2021
Gallo has a .370 average over the last week or so, hitting safely in six of his last eight games. Of course, the power has been off the charts. Over that same stretch of games, he has a mind-boggling .889 ISO. The good news is his batting eye hasn't gone down either. He is walking nearly 19% of the time, bolstering his OPS to a ridiculous 1.744.
Bringing that kind of heat against the gas can that Urena has been is a recipe for an absolutely explosive night. In his last four starts Urena is allowing southpaws to hit .318 with a .565 SLG and 1.9 HR/9. Gallo is a grade A start tonight, but he's not even my favorite hitter of the night.
Nick Castellanos - OF, CIN at KCR ($4600)
Casty is a couple hundred more and I think he can have an even better night than Gallo. He went long last night and now has 17 HR on the season. But it's not his ceiling that is better than Gallo's but his floor. Casty is hitting .338 and is threatening to win the triple crown in the National League. Against Kris Bubic and his 4.99 ERA, this is just not a fair fight. If both Gallo and Castellanos have a great night, Gallo's will probably be stronger. But I would be absolutely stunned if Castellanos puts up a donut tonight.
Jake Fraley - OF, SEA vs NYY ($2700)
And in order to afford Casty and Gallo, Fraley is another cheaper play that we need. I'll repeat that Tallion is not a bad pitcher to stack against. Fraley meanwhile is averaging nearly a dozen fantasy points per game and during his current six-game hit put up a 46+ point night. Fraley brings a solid floor and a huge ceiling at a bargain price. It won't last long, so grab it while you can.
Good luck with your entries!
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