MLB DFS Lineup Picks & Sleepers - DraftKings Advice for 7/17/15

July 17, 2015

Zitong's analysis and advice for the top MLB DFS lineup picks on DraftKings for 7/17/15, as well as a couple of sleepers to keep in mind while building your daily fantasy baseball rosters.

As always, my goal with this article is to help you identify viable options to insert into your DraftKings lineups, based on pricing and matchups data. Here's a compilation of players I like when choosing a lineup for Friday, July, 17th.

Editor's Note: If you play on DraftKings, you should check out our Partner FanDuel - they're hosting a one-day Fantasy Baseball league tonight. It's just $5 to enter and pays out $200,000 in cash prizes, including 10K to 1st place!

Sign up Now and we'll give you free access to RotoBaller's Premium DFS Lineup Picks and Tools (a $29.99 value). You'll also receive a 100% bonus on your first FanDuel deposit.

Offenses to Target for DraftKings Stacking

Las Angeles Angels Middle of the Lineup vs Wade Miley

The Angels had been hitting their stride heading into the All Star Break and look to have a great matchup against Wade Miley to start the second half. The Angels hold a top ten offense against left-handed pitching, with a wRC+ of 104. Miley on the other hand has really struggled with keeping runners off base. He has an inflated walk rate and has also given up seven hits in each of his last three starts. Albert Pujols should be a great pick at first base, while Erick Aybar provides incredible value at the shortstop position.

San Diego Padres OF vs Jorge De La Rosa

The San Diego Padres do not have a great offense as a team. However, the Padres have certainly seen plenty of Jorge De La Rosa, since they are in the same division. As a result, there are several key players in the Padres lineup to target against De La Rosa. Both Matt Kemp and Justin Upton have done extremely well against him in their lifetime matchups and will be discussed further in the last section. De La Rosa also holds a 4.34 ERA with a 1.42 WHIP on the year. Be sure to have a look at these batters as nice value picks on Friday.

DFS Starting Pitchers to Consider for DraftKings

Jose Fernandez (SP, MIA) - $10200

Jose Fernandez’s matchup warrants his high investment price on DraftKings. Fernandez has looked great since returning from the disabled list. He has put up two solid performances, while striking out 15 batters in 13 innings. He has also issued no walks during those performances, which came against competent offenses. Fernandez has an excellent matchup against the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday. The Phillies hold the worst offense in baseball against right-handed pitching with a wRC+ of 78.

Edinson Volquez (SP, KC) - $6700

Edinson Volquez provides some nice value as your secondary starting pitcher. He holds a 3.31 ERA with a 1.24 WHIP. Volquez is never flashy but is completely capable of providing a solid performance against the weak-hitting Chicago White Sox. The White Sox hold a bottom five offense against right-handed pitching with a wRC+ of 82. This should be a good matchup for Volquez who has been able to keep baserunners in check this year. He has also been able to throw an occasional gem with high strikeout numbers.

DFS Infielders to Consider for DraftKings

Buster Posey (C, SF) - $4100

The catcher position remains barren and unpredictable, and Posey continues to be provided to us at a reasonable investment price. Posey was 8 for 13 heading into the All Star Break and holds a .314 average with 14 home runs and 58 RBI on the year. He remains the centerpiece of the Giants offense and should also look to contribute more runs scored with the return of Hunter Pence to the lineup behind him. Posey should continue his good hitting against opposing pitcher Robbie Ray.

Victor Martinez (1B, DET) - $4500

Victor Martinez was really looking like he was rounding back into form heading into the All Star Break. He has two home runs in his last three games and hit .326 in the month of June. He heated up further and hit .346 in July. Martinez also has great lifetime numbers against opposing pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez. Martinez is 8 for 24 with three home runs against Jimenez. Definitely look to Martinez as a great value pick at the first base position.

Jedd Gyorko (2B, SD) - $2800

Jedd Gyorko is a must play on Friday if you have shelled out for ace-quality pitching. You really can’t ask for a lower price on a fantasy relevant player, and Gyorko will provide some power potential with great value. Gyorko’s main asset for Friday is his success off of opposing pitcher Jorge De La Rosa. In 23 at bats against De La Rosa, Gyorko is 12 for 18 with 5 walks. Gyorko may have struggled earlier this season but is hitting .300 in the month of July. He should definitely be worth a look on any roster for Friday on DraftKings.

Nolan Arenado (3B, COL) - $4600

Nolan Arenado has been a monster this year and will look to start off the second half of the season with a good performance. On the year, Arenado holds a .293 average with 24 home runs and 70 RBI. Arenado was 10 for 20 in his last five games heading into the All Star Break. Arenado has also dominated opposing pitcher James Shields in a small sample size. Arenado is 7 for 11 with three home runs against Shields.

Carlos Correa (SS, HOU) - $4100

Carlos Correa has come back down to earth since his torrid introduction to the major leagues. However, he still has plenty of potential from game to game and should very easily be worthy of his investment price. Correa remains a prime target in this shallow shortstop pool on DraftKings. Correa is hitting .340 on the year against lefties. This is bad news for opposing pitcher Martin Perez, who is going to have to shake off some rust in his first start of the year coming back from the disabled list.

DFS Outfielders to Consider for DraftKings

Ryan Braun (OF, MIL) - $5000

Braun should be well worth the price tag on DraftKings for Friday. Braun currently holds a .275 average with 16 home runs and 56 RBI. His speed isn’t where it used to be, but he still provides plenty of value in terms of steals and runs scored as well. Braun should have a nice day at the plate against opposing pitcher Charlie Morton. Braun is a career 8 for 20 with a home run against Morton. Morton has also struggled with control his past few outings and looks to be shaky at best for Friday’s matchup.

Matt Kemp (OF, SD) - $4000

Matt Kemp provides a lot of value as your secondary outfielder for Friday. Kemp was 9 for 21 with two home runs in the five games heading into the All Star Break. He has shown more power as the season went on and now holds a .250 average with eight home runs and 47 RBI. Kemp has great numbers against opposing pitcher De La Rosa, as mentioned earlier. Kemp is a career 18 for 44 with three home runs against De La Rosa.

Justin Upton (OF, SD) - $3900

Matt Kemp’s outfield teammate Justin Upton also looks to be an incredible bargain pick in the outfield. Upton has done extremely well against opposing pitcher De La Rosa in his career. Upton is 9 for 24 against De La Rosa. Despite Upton’s struggles heading into the All Star Break, his value on DraftKings is simply too high with this cheap marked price. Definitely have a look at Upton as your tertiary outfielder for Friday.

DFS Q&A with Max Petrie @ 6 PM on 7/17

Leave your question here and then come back at 6 PM when Max answers everything. For our regular MLB & Fantasy Baseball Chat, click here.

[iflychat_embed id="c-57" hide_user_list="yes" hide_popup_chat="no" height="400px"]