DraftKings and FanDuel MLB Picks for Wednesday, 6/1/22

How crazy is it that we're in June already? The COVID months felt like they were at a snail's pace, but we're back to time flying by. We're already 30 percent though this MLB season, and we're finally getting a good read on these lineups and rotations. The injuries have been a disaster over the last week, but that does open up some more value. One of the biggest surprises this year has been the resurgence of a Hall-of-Fame pitcher, so, let's start there!

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Pitchers

Justin Verlander FD - P 10900 DK - SP 10000
Opponent - OAK (Cole Irvin) Park - OAK
FD - 41.1 DK - 22.86

It's crazy that JV took nearly two years off and has come back better than he was before. This was already one of the best pitchers over the last 10 years, and he's recaptured that form with a 2.03 ERA and 0.83 WHIP. He's still got those numbers despite getting blown up in his last start, and that certainly won't be the case here. Verlander gets to face Oakland, who ranks dead-last in OBP and wOBA. That's no surprise since they play in one of the most spacious ballparks in baseball. In 14 starts at Oakland Coliseum, JV has a 2.64 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 9.0 K/9 rate. That has him entering this matchup as a -230 favorite in a game with a 7-run total.

Garrett Whitlock FD - P 7000 DK - SP 7000
Opponent - CIN (Hunter Greene) Park - BOS
FD - 33.7 DK - 17.95

It's wild that Whitlock is just $7K on both sites. The right-hander has struggled in his last two starts, but he had a 2.43 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and 11.2 K/9 rate before that. He was doing that damage as a limited starter, but the righty threw 84 pitches and six innings in his most recent start. That means he's pretty much ready for a full workload, and he'd be one of the best starters around if he can keep that going. The best part of this is the matchup, though, with Cincinnati ranked 23rd in OBP, 25th in OPS, and 27th in xwOBA. All of that has him entering this matchup as a -200 favorite. A quality start and a win would be massive from a $7K player, and he has a much higher upside than that with his strikeout potential.

I don't know much about Mitch White, but he's a -250 favorite against a putrid Pittsburgh offense and is just $6,000 on both sites.

Catcher/First Base

Pete Alonso FD - 1B 4000 DK - 1B 5300
Opponent - WSH (Evan Lee) Park - NYM
FD - 14.17 DK - 10.59

This Mets offense is humming right now, and they're going to be tough to avoid in this matchup. Big Pete is a primary reason they're rolling, with Alonso amassing a .378 AVG, .436 OBP, .756 SLG, and 1.192 OPS over his last 12 games. This dude has been mashing ever since he was called up, providing a .541 SLG and .890 OPS for his career. All of that is terrible news for a lefty like Evan Lee, with Alonso accumulating a .367 OBP, .561 SLG, and .928 OPS against left-handers this year. Lee is also far from scary, and we'll dive into his numbers later on in the article.

Rowdy Tellez FD - 1B 3500 DK - 1B 3800
Opponent - CHC (Kyle Hendricks) Park - CHC
FD - 9.11 DK - 6.89

It's crazy that Rowdy's price has dropped so much. The season-long numbers are still good, with Tellez tallying a .305 OBP, .500 SLG, and .805 OPS. He's been that player for three years, generating a .463 SLG and .776 OPS in that span. That's really all you can hope for from a sub-$4K player, especially since he gets the platoon advantage against a struggling pitcher. That happens to be Kyle Hendricks, owning a 5.20 ERA and 1.34 WHIP this season. Rowdy has registered a .554 SLG and .873 OPS against right-handers this season as well, usually batting in the heart of this order in those circumstances.

Second Base

José Altuve FD - 2B 3900 DK - 2B 5300
Opponent - OAK (Cole Irvin) Park - OAK
FD - 11.72 DK - 8.93

Altuve has been a regular in this article for a few years now, and he's simply one of the safest best on every slate. The little second baseman has been excellent recently, totaling a .340 AVG, .386 OBP, .691 SLG, and 1.078 OPS over his last 24 games. That's amazing for anyone, and this happens to be a superb matchup, with Irvin allowing at least four runs in all four of his matchups with the Stros last season. Altuve's splits are the icing on the cake, though, with Jose posting a .636 OPS and .921 OPS against left-handers so far this year.

Ozzie Albies FD - 2B 3300 DK - 2B 5100
Opponent - ARI (Madison Bumgarner) Park - ARI
FD - 12.28 DK - 9.41

Oz is having the worst season of his career, but it's starting to lower his salary just enough to use him. This is still one of the best second basemen in the game, generating a .273 AVG, .477 SLG, and .802 OPS coming into the year. He's done that with a decent power-speed combo, averaging about 25 homers and 15 steals per year. We anticipate him getting back to that player sooner rather than later, and a matchup with Madison Bumgarner might help him. The over-the-hill lefty has a 4.72 ERA since 2020, and we certainly don't mind that Albies has a career OPS that's 100 points higher against lefties. Not to mention, he's got a .571 AVG and 1.339 OPS against MadBum in limited appearances.

Shortstop

Trea Turner FD - SS 4200 DK - SS 6000
Opponent - PIT (José Quintana) Park - LAD
FD - 15.14 DK - 11.66

The Dodgers losing the first two games of this series is one of the most shocking things I've seen this year. That makes me believe they'll be at full force here, with Trea doing his typical damage in the three-hole of this lineup. The perennial All-Star is amid another astounding season, averaging 9.3 DraftKings points per game. Getting to bat in the heart of the best order in baseball will do that, with Turner totaling a .356 AVG, .418 OBP, .598 SLG, and 1.016 OPS over his last 22 games. He's also got six steals in that span, and we believe that sizzling form will continue with Trea getting the platoon advantage from the right side.

Francisco Lindor FD - SS 4400 DK - SS 5800
Opponent - WSH (Evan Lee) Park - NYM
FD - 13.4 DK - 10.17

We just talked about how New York's offense is rolling right now, and Lindor is the main reason why. The All-Star shortstop has a .323 AVG, .419 OBP, .565 SLG, .983 OPS, and 21 RBI over his last 16 games played. That's the stud we remember from his Cleveland days, and it should continue in this brilliant matchup. The Mets get a matchup with rookie Evan Lee, who's making his MLB debut here after compiling a 1.35 WHIP at the minors. He's also never pitched above Double-A and only threw 30 innings at that level. That makes it hard to understand why they're throwing him to the wolves but let's feast if the Nats want to make poor decisions.

Third Base

Rafael Devers FD - 3B 4100 DK - 3B 5900
Opponent - CIN (Hunter Greene) Park - BOS
FD - 14.83 DK - 11.2

Hunter Greene throwing in Fenway sounds like a home run derby. The Reds rookie has allowed 15 homers across 44 innings this year, en route to a 5.89 ERA and 1.51 WHIP. Those are some of the worst averages in baseball, making the Red Sox one of the best stacks of the day. If we love Boston, we have to love their best hitter. That happens to be Devers, with the All-Star collecting a .340 AVG, .602 SLG, and .972 OPS this season. That's the guy we've seen for most of his career, and we love the fact that he gets to face a righty. Rafael has a .615 SLG and .979 OPS against them since 2020.

Alex Bregman FD - 3B 3400 DK - 3B 4900
Opponent - OAK (Cole Irvin) Park - OAK
FD - 11.29 DK - 8.47

We discussed earlier how the Stros have slaughtered Irvin throughout his career, and we anticipate them doing that again here. Bregman should be one of the mercenaries of that damage, batting in the heart of this dominant Houston lineup. He's definitely had a down year by his standard, but the splits are still sensational. In fact, Bregman has bludgeoned lefties to the tune of a .308 AVG, .397 OBP, .556 SLG, and .953 OPS for his career. We expect him to return to that guy soon, and it could start here in this superb spot, with Alex accruing a .399 OBP and .921 OPS in 328 at-bats against Oakland.

Outfield

Mookie Betts FD - OF 4500 DK - OF 6100
Opponent - PIT (José Quintana) Park - LAD
FD - 15.39 DK - 11.59

Mookie has been one of the best hitters in baseball for most of his career, and he's currently amid one of the best stretches of his tenure. The former MVP has a .336 AVG, .418 OBP, .720 SLG, and 1.138 OPS over his last 36 games played. That's no surprise since he's the leadoff hitter for the best lineup in baseball, providing 15 homers, 30 RBI, and 42 runs in that ridiculous span. That's rough news for Jose Quintana, with the southpaw slinging a 4.66 ERA and 1.42 WHIP since 2019. That won't go over well against the Dodgers since he's been blown up by righty bats in that span, particularly with Mookie batting from the right side.

Marcell Ozuna FD - OF 3400 DK - OF 4300
Opponent - ARI (Madison Bumgarner) Park - ARI
FD - 11.88 DK - 9

Ozuna has struggled at times this season, but his price is getting way too cheap. It's the advanced numbers that have us encouraged, with Marcell maintaining a .361 xwOBA, .556 xSLG, and 48 percent hard-hit rate. That's the stud we've seen throughout most of his career, and it's a good indicator that positive regression is right around the corner. A matchup with MadBum might get him going, with Ozuna posting better splits with the platoon advantage in his favor. He's got a .500 SLG and .825 OPS against southpaws since 2020, and he'll get back to those averages soon.

Mark Canha FD - OF 3000 DK - OF 3000
Opponent - WSH (Evan Lee) Park - NYM
FD - 11.87 DK - 8.9

Canha was littered throughout my lineups on Tuesday, and we're going right back to the well. He actually hit leadoff in that game and is now 6-for-9 with five runs scored over the last two games. Hitting atop one of the best lineups will do that, and it's clear that NY will put Canha in their leadoff spot whenever they face a lefty. His on-base tendencies are the main reason why, collecting a .377 OBP and .812 OPS over the last four years. We've already discussed how Lee will likely get blown up, and we have to love the leadoff hitter against him, especially with the way he's swinging the bat.