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Mike Schwarzenbach highlights the top FanDuel MLB DFS lineup picks for 7/28/21, and a couple of sleepers to consider while building daily rosters.
It's trade deadline season which means a whole new list of headaches for DFS players. This time of year it's critical to stay on top of the news as players get scratched from lineups, traded pre-game, or they THINK they got traded pre-game, only to continue warming up, then get traded later in the night. Welcome to the life of Tyler Anderson who started warming up, stopped due to a pending trade to Philadelphia, started warming up again in an undershirt, then was shipped to Seattle. This saga happened between 5:30 and 7:00 ET on Tuesday, right as DFS lineups were locking.
Long story short, stay on top of lineups and news pre-game and be ready to pivot. Let's take a look at a fun 11 game Wednesday slate that features some strong pitching at the top, plenty of spots to attack with bats, and, as always, weather concerns that don't go away just because we also need to worry about trades too.
I'll be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for the FanDuel main slate on 7/28/2021. Be sure to also check out all the MLB player news, including late scratches, and the projected and confirmed daily MLB lineups for each DFS slate. You can also check out today's DraftKings MLB DFS lineup picks, and read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports too. Let's get to it!
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FanDuel DFS Pitchers
Cash Game/GPP Anchor Play:
Walker Buehler - LAD at SFG ($11,500)
Walker Buehler might be the most boring pitcher in the league, and I mean that as a compliment. Buehler has pitched at least six innings in 19 of 20 starts this season and has earned the quality start bonus 17 times. He's earned 40 FD points or more in 12 starts this season as he's been as automatic of a cash game option as there is in baseball. He's done all this with a solid 2.31 ERA, a 0.91 WHIP, and he averages over a strikeout-per-inning while being backed by a strong Dodger lineup.
The Giants aren't a great matchup on paper, but they do sport a 25.7 percent strikeout rate as a team versus RHP which ranks fourth-worst in the league. Buehler has faced these Giants four times and has a 1.00 ERA across 27 innings. He's lasted at least six innings in every start versus San Fransisco and hasn't allowed more than one run in any start. His price is steep, but that may keep the field off Buehler as Zack Wheeler and Lucas Giolito offer similar production at cheaper prices. Me? I'm paying up for Buehler as no other pitcher matches his combination of safety and upside which is what we want in cash games.
GPP Potential Alternate Play
Tyler Mahle - CIN at CHC ($7,300)
Oh boy, it's Tyler Mahle Day. Back in Spring Training, I was among the chorus of RotoBaller writers hyping up the 26-year-old righty. He hasn't taken the step forward many of us had hoped for, but he hasn't been bad either as he's got a respectable 7-3 record, 3.92 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and has 131 strikeouts in 105 2/3 innings. Mahle is sporting a strong 29.2 percent strikeout rate and his ERA indicators imply his ERA should be slightly lower as his 3.71 xFIP, 3.73 xERA, and 3.74 SIERA imply he's been pitching well this year even if a full-fledged breakout isn't happening.
His tiny home ballpark hasn't helped matters, but this start is on the road. Wrigley Field isn't exactly a pitcher's paradise, but it's not Great American Small Park which is partially responsible for Mahle's elevated 16.5 HR/FB rate. The best part of this matchup in Wrigley is the team that makes their home in the century-old ballpark. The Cubs currently have a league-worst 26.5 percent strikeout rate versus right-handed pitching and their .219 batting average vs RHP is tied with Seattle for the worst mark in the league. He's burned us a few times this season, but tonight feels like a smash-spot for Mahle; he's certainly due for one.
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FanDuel DFS Infielders
Rhys Hoskins - 1B PHI vs WSH ($3,800)
Patrick Corbin had about a year and a half as a useful pitcher for fantasy but those days are gone and now we're going to attack the left-hander and his ghastly 5.32 ERA. Corbin gets smashed by RHB to the tune of a .506 slugging percentage and a massive .369 wOBA. This is good news for Hoskins who is heating up with a five-game hit-streak which includeds a three-run homer in this series versus Washington. Hoskins has a 15.3 percent barrel rate and a .522 xSLG this season as he's mashing the baseball.
Jean Segura - 2B/SS/3B PHI vs WSH ($3,200)
The Phillies are one of the top stacks for us this evening and that includes Segura who has been productive since moving up to the leadoff role in June. Batting first, Segura has a .327 wOBA and has been a run-scoring machine ahead of Bryce Harper and J.T. Realmuto. He's got the platoon advantage versus Corbin so that should equate to at least three ABs versus the struggling lefty.
Willy Adames - SS MIL at PIT ($2,900)
Adames has been a revelation for the Brew Crew as he's slashing an impressive .291/.384/.529 since being traded to Milwaukee in late May. The Brewers offense is rolling in their series versus a Pirates team that is in the process of trading away any useful pitchers they have. Milwaukee is in a great spot again tonight and Adames is one of the keys that make the Brewers engine run.
Justin Turner - 3B LAD at SFG ($3,600)
Turner is sporting a career-high 91 MPH average exit velocity this season and his .384 xWOBA is in the top seven percent of the league. Third base is shallow this evening so we'll look to spend some money on the hot corner. Turner is always a good option to pay up for as he's having another strong season.
FanDuel DFS Outfielders
AJ Pollock - OF LAD at SFG ($2,600)
Pollock is quietly having a huge July as he's got seven homers and 11 RBI through 21 games this month. He's batting .342 this month, is very affordable, and bats in a strong lineup. He's as close to an automatic play as you'll see from a batter in spacious San Francisco.
Andrew McCutchen - OF PHI vs WSH ($3,300)
The last piece of our Phillies stack, the righty-swinging McCutchen will get his shot off the lefty Corbin. We detailed Corbin's struggles with RHB earlier. Cutch is swinging a hot bat and is relatively cheap for a hitter who should bat in the middle of the order for a team with an implied run total approaching five.
Greg Allen - OF NYY at TBR ($2,500)
If we're digging for value, Greg Allen provides it batting near the bottom of a Yankee lineup facing Michael Wacha. Allen has 12 or more FD points in six of his last eight games as he's been one of the few bright spots for New York. Tropicana Field is known as a good pitcher's park, but in Allen's case, the yard plays to his advantage with a quick infield to help grounders get through and a spacious outfield to help the speedster grab that extra base.
Good luck with your entries!
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