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The top main-slate daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for FanDuel and DraftKings on July 28, 2023. Nick Shlain's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
Happy Friday, RotoBallers! I'm excited to be covering another fun DFS slate. The MLB season has been good to me in the early going, so I'm looking forward to sifting through another slate of games. Let's break down my favorite plays from today's main slate!
We have a typical Friday main slate on our hands once again with a lot of plays to break down. Let's get to it!
This article will provide my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks on 7/28/2023 and the main 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!
DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Kevin Gausman, TOR vs. LAA ($10,800 DK, $10,900 FD)
Even on a slate with a few other top pitchers like Gerrit Cole, Max Scherzer and Zack Wheeler, Kevin Gausman is pretty clearly the best pitcher on the slate. Gausman is having a great season for the third year in a row. He broke out with a 2.81 ERA for the San Francisco Giants in 2021 and with the Blue Jays the last two years he's had a 2.75 and 2.91 xFIP. He's had a double digit K/9 every season since 2019.
Gausman has a 32% strikeout percentage on the season this year and will face an Angels lineup that strikes out quite a bit. Los Angeles' projected lineup tonight has a combined 25% strikeout percentage against right-handed pitching this season. While the Angels scored a bunch of runs in their doubleheader in Detroit on Thursday, their travel plans were altered so they arrived in Toronto later. The Angels also didn't face any pitchers that are close to the quality of Gausman. He's got the best matchup of any of the top pitchers tonight.
Grayson Rodriguez, BAL vs. NYY ($6,300 DK, $7,700 FD)
Rodriguez has had two starts since being recalled by the Orioles. In his first start against the Dodgers, he allowed four earned runs and was unable to complete the sixth inning. His last start was similar against the Rays on the road as he allowed two earned runs but was pulled with two outs in the sixth inning.
While he wasn't able to record a quality start in either game, the Dodgers and the Rays are two tough matchups. He also looked better in his last start against the Rays as he struck out six batters and was just one out away from a quality start. Getting that quality start is important on FanDuel, but at the low prices we're seeing on Rodriguez tonight he's worthy of the gamble.
Also consider: Max Scherzer, Joe Musgrove, Zack Wheeler
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Jose Ramirez – 3B, CLE at Touki Toussaint ($5,800 DK, $4,100 FD)
Ramirez is coming off of a two-home-run game Wednesday but only has three home runs total in July. This could be the start of a hot streak. He gets a ballpark upgrade going to Chicago tonight. Toussaint has a 4.06 ERA this season, but he's due to get hit as his xFIP is 5.08. Ramirez has a .198 ISO and .388 wOBA against right-handed pitching this season.
Toussaint left his last start after facing just three hitters and in his start before that he allowed five earned runs and one home run.
Mookie Betts – 2B/OF, LAD vs. Brandon Williamson ($6,300 DK, $4,300 FD)
Betts is one of the best players in all of baseball and he's in a great spot tonight. Betts has a .416 ISO and .440 wOBA against left-handed pitching this season. Williamson has struggled to say the least for the Reds this year. The rookie has a 4.60 ERA and 5.10 xFIP on the season. Williamson has allowed a .230 ISO and .335 wOBA to right-handed hitters this year.
Betts has been phenomenal hitting at home this year. He has a .307 average and 15 of his 27 home runs have come at Dodgers stadium this year.
Gabriel Arias – SS/OF, CLE at Touki Toussaint ($2,000 DK, $2,200 FD)
Of course, we don't have the Guardians official lineup just yet, but with Amed Rosario being traded we can likely count on Arias to be in the lineup tonight. Arias is going for the minimum price tonight on DraftKings and he's cheap on FanDuel as well.
Arias has a .173 ISO and .344 wOBA against right-handed pitching this season. Toussaint has a 5.08 xFIP this season and Arias is simply too cheap for his expectation tonight as long as he's in the lineup.
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Brent Rooker – OF, OAK at Kyle Freeland ($3,800 DK, $3,200 FD)
Rooker will likely get a good amount of rostership tonight with the matchup against a left-handed pitcher at Coors Field. Rooker has a .256 ISO and .366 wOBA against left-handed pitching this season. Kyle Freeland has allowed a .211 ISO and .368 wOBA to right-handed hitters this season.
Freeland has actually pitched better at home this season with a 4.13 ERA at home compared to a 5.33 ERA on the road. Still, he might not be his usual self in this game as he'll be making his first start since going on the injured list with a shoulder injury.
J.D. Martinez – OF, LAD vs. Brandon Williamson ($5,200 DK, $4,000 FD)
J.D. Martinez has destroyed left-handed pitching over the course of his career and he has a great matchup against a left-handed pitcher tonight. Martinez has a .208 ISO and .329 wOBA against left-handed pitching this season. Williamson has allowed a .230 ISO and .335 wOBA to right-handed hitters this year.
Martinez should be able to take advantage of the rookie at home here. 12 of Martinez's 25 home runs this season have come at Dodgers Stadium.
Tyler O'Neill – OF, STL vs. Drew Smyly ($3,500 DK, $2,500 FD)
O'Neill has had a season to forget with his struggles at the plate as well as having to miss time with injuries. He's back now and while his numbers aren't good this season, he did have a .179 ISO and .349 wOBA against left-handed pitching last year. Drew Smyly is a great matchup for O'Neill as he's allowed a .208 ISO and .334 wOBA to right-handed hitters this season.
O'Neill is way underpriced tonight, especially on FanDuel. It's supposed to be hot in St. Louis tonight and the winds are blowing out as well.
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
Minnesota Twins vs. Brady Singer
Singer has really struggled this season with a 5.55 ERA. He's also allowed at least a .182 ISO to both right- and left-handed hitters this season. The Twins are a lineup that has struggled at times and strikes out a lot, but Minnesota also has a ton of power. Alex Kirilloff has been hot lately with a .288 average and four home runs in July. He's hitting .316 against right-handed pitching overall this season. Byron Buxton, Jorge Polanco, and Matt Wallner all have at least a .200 ISO against right-handed pitching this season.
The prices on Minnesota hitters are too cheap in this spot and I have them as the best value stack on the slate tonight.
Oakland Athletics vs. Kyle Freeland
Not only do the Athletics get to go to Coors Field to face Kyle Freeland in his first start since coming off the injured list, but after Freeland leaves the game the Rockies have the fourth-worst bullpen in all of baseball with a 4.77 ERA. The prices on Athletics hitters tonight are cheaper on FanDuel, but they're still affordable on DraftKings. Only Zach Gelof and Tony Kemp are priced above $4,000 on DraftKings.
Also Consider: Cleveland Guardians, Los Angeles Dodgers, Colorado Rockies
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