DraftKings and FanDuel MLB Picks for Thursday 6/2/22(Main Slate)

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Pitchers

Tony Gonsolin FD - P 9800 DK - SP 9100
Opponent - NYM (Taijuan Walker) Park - LAD
FD - 30.32 DK - 15.62

The pitching options are pretty sub-par tonight and at the top it comes down to three good, not great options who get average-at-best matchups. I slightly lean Gonsolin here due to his extreme consistency lately as he has tallied 20+ DK/33+ FD points in five straight and six of his last seven games. It can always be risky with the Dodgers pitching staff but more good news as Gonsolin has got up to 90 or more pitches in three straight. I can make a case for and against all three of the top pitchers tonight but Gonsolin is my favourite and top guy in all formats.

Keegan Thompson FD - P 7700 DK - RP 6100
Opponent - STL (Matthew Liberatore) Park - CHC
FD - 29.88 DK - 14.86

The optimal build on this slate is likely going to be stacking as many bats as possible and that means travelling to the bottom of the salary for a cheap SP2 on DraftKings. It feels like the chalk play will be Chris Flexen against the Orioles but I am pivoting to Keegan Thompson who has been stretched out into a starter's role and has been terrific. He comes into tonight having held opponents to just four earned runs over his last four appearances(three starts) while striking out 14 and walking just three. The matchup doesn't look great at first glance but the Cards are just league average(.309 wOBA/102 wRC+) against righties so at this price, I will take a shot in all formats.

Catcher/First Base

C.J. Cron FD 4200 DK 5500
Opponent - ATL (Ian Anderson) Park - ATL
FD - 12.53 DK - 9.41

Let's kick things off with a trip to Coors and while I prefer the road Braves tonight, I am still wanting some pieces of the Rockies and it starts with C.J. Cron. Despite striking out more and walking less than he did in his first year in Colorado, he is off to a better start hitting over .300 with 13 home runs(4 at this time last year) and is sporting an elite .397 wOBA and 143 wRC+. It's a steep price, but he gets a plus matchup against Ian Anderson who has given up four earned runs in each of his last two starts and struggles most against righties giving up a .370 wOBA. If you are stacking this game, fire up Cron as our top Rockies play tonight.

Luke Voit FD 2700 DK 2800
Opponent - MIL (Adrian Houser) Park - MIL
FD - 9.71 DK - 7.29

The Padres offence, as a whole, has been ice-cold but one player trending the other direction is Luke Voit. Things got off to a slow start with his new team as he hit just .169 over his first 19 games but has picked it up considerably lately hitting .300 with a .384 wOBA and 150 wRC+ over his last 12. The matchup is also decent as Houser allows a lot of baserunners(1.38 WHIP) and has given up three or more earned runs in four of his nine starts. If you are looking for value to pay up everywhere else, Voit is one of my top overall punt plays tonight if back hitting cleanup.

Second Base

Brendan Rodgers FD 3400 DK 3900
Opponent - ATL (Ian Anderson) Park - ATL
FD - 9.67 DK - 7.42

The Coors game will be a focal point tonight and Rodgers jump off the page in every way imaginable. He was finally moved up to the cleanup spot on Wednesday and promptly extended his hitting streak to 19 games with a massive three home run game in the second of a double-header. It's hasn't been a crazy run as he is hitting just .273 during the streak with a 102 wRC+ but the price sits below $4K on DraftKings, he has moved up the lineup, and faces a pitcher who has been worse against righties. All things considered, Rodgers is my top play at second on both sites.

Christopher Morel FD 3300 DK 3700
Opponent - STL (Matthew Liberatore) Park - STL
FD - 10.54 DK - 8.05

It has been a long road to the majors for Morel who signed as an international free agent way back in 2015. After an impressive start to the year in AA(.306/.380/565 slash line), he was called up in mid-May and has recorded a hit in 13 of his first 15 games. He has a little bit of power(2 HR) but projects to be an excellent leadoff hitter with his aggressive base running and he already has six stolen bases. He has also been much better against lefties and at these prices, is in play in all formats.

Shortstop

Dansby Swanson FD - SS 3900 DK - SS 4500
Opponent - COL (Austin Gomber) Park - COL
FD - 15.09 DK - 11.47

At this point, it has to be a troll job by someone at DraftKings. I say this as the Braves, who are red-hot(.339 wOBA/116 wRC+/.185 ISO last 14 days) and heading into a plus matchup in Coors, remain massively underpriced and easily our top team to build around on Thursday evening. Let's start with Swanson who is scorching hot with hits in five straight and 14 of his last 15 games which has also prompted a move to the two-hole in the lineup. Swanson is my top shortstop in all formats.

J.P. Crawford FD 3000 DK 4100
Opponent - BAL (Jordan Lyles) Park - BAL
FD - 9.2 DK - 7.09

We have been all over the Mariners PTS/$ value lately and will be back on it tonight in another plus matchup against the O's. Tonight, they face Jordan Lyles who has given up 25 hits and 12 earned runs over his last four starts and gives up a .382 wOBA to lefties on the season. Enter J.P. Crawford who is having a career-best start to the season hitting .298 and with a ton of patience at the plate(11% BB rate) has an elite .388 on-base percentage. He comes very affordable on both sites and is in play in all formats.

Third Base

Austin Riley FD - 3B 4200 DK - 3B 4700
Opponent - COL (Austin Gomber) Park - COL
FD - 14.64 DK - 11.09

We are going right back to Coors for our top third basemen. I discussed the egregious DraftKings pricing for the Braves above but that is far from what stands out with Riley. After a lacklustre start in terms of average, he has caught fire and is now riding a 10-game hitting streak which includes six multi-hit games and he also has home runs in three of his last four. Add the top matchup on the board against a lefty in Coors and you have yourself a core play in all formats, regardless of price.

Ty France FD 3500 DK 4400
Opponent - BAL (Jordan Lyles) Park - BAL
FD - 14.53 DK - 11.08

This play is for FanDuel only in terms of 3B eligibility but France is a great play all around and another value option at first base on DraftKings. The breakout season continues as he comes in with hits in 13 straight games including multi-hit efforts in four of his last five and has been very productive against righties with a .417 wOBA/185 wRC+. France is a top PTS/$ value in all formats.

Outfield

Marcell Ozuna FD - OF 3900 DK - OF 4400
Opponent - COL (Austin Gomber) Park - COL
FD - 14.8 DK - 11.21
Charlie Blackmon FD 3700 DK 4600
Opponent - ATL (Ian Anderson) Park - ATL
FD - 11.27 DK - 8.64
Yonathan Daza FD 2900 DK 3500
Opponent - ATL (Ian Anderson) Park - ATL
FD - 10.31 DK - 8.1

We have to take one more trip back to Coors to finish things off as both teams provide a ton of value in the outfield. Let's start with Ozuna on the Braves who gets a matchup against struggling lefty Austin Gomber who has given up 18 earned runs over his last four starts. Ozuna is another player who got off to a slow start but has gotten hot recently and comes into tonight with hits in 16 of his last 18 games with a .382 wOBA/143 wRC+. He isn't a must on FanDuel at nearly $4K but will be a part of my outfield core on DraftKings.

For the Rockies, I am looking at the top of the lineup as Blackmon and Daza are expected to hit 1-2 today. Blackmon provides the most power and upside of the two with seven home runs on the season and also comes in with hits in nine of his last 10 games. Daza has been the more consistent PTS/$ option this season hitting a cool .356 and while he has little to no power upside, he does enter with a terrific .370 wOBA. Daza also provides a lot more wiggle room in terms of salary and allows us to load up on multiple top bats in cash games tonight.

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