DraftKings and FanDuel MLB Picks for Thursday 6/15/23(Main Slate)

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Pitchers

Sonny Gray FD 10100 DK 9300
Opponent - DET (Matthew Boyd) Park - DET
FD - 38.51 DK - 20.59

Starting pitching doesn't get any easier on Thursday as the top two pitchers in Ohtani and Eovaldi face each other's top offences and Javier is coming off a dud and faces a Nats team that doesn't strike out. That has Sonny Gray sitting atop our projections on the main slate and it makes sense as he checks a bunch of boxes. First of all, he has been consistent in not allowing more than three earned runs in any start and holding opponents to two or fewer in 10 of 13 starts for a very impressive 2.25 ERA. The strikeouts have been down recently but I am not concerned in a plus matchup against the Tigers who are dead last in wOBA both on the season and against right-handed pitching. Fire up Gray in all formats.

Also Consider: Johan Oviedo(PIT) as a value option as the wind is blowing in at Wrigley and he faces a Cubs team that has struggled to a .278 wOBA, 72 wRC+, and 26% K rate over the last 14 days

Catcher/First Base

José Abreu FD 2600 DK 3100
Opponent - WSH (MacKenzie Gore) Park - WSH
FD - 10.31 DK - 7.82

The Astros are in dire need of some offence with the recent injury to Yordan Alvarez so this has been a perfect time for Abreu to finally start heating up. After a rough start to the season, the Jose Abreu we have known for consistency and power over the last nine years appears to be back. He comes in with hits in 10 of his last 12 games and more impressive, he has multi-hit efforts in five of his last six with three of his four total home runs. He and the Stros are also in a plus spot against Mackenzie Gore who struggled recently giving up 3+ earned runs in four of his last five starts for a 5.14 ERA and 20.6% HR/FB rate. Abreu comes at a low price on both sites and is in play in all formats.

Also Consider: Matt Olson(ATL) as a GPP addition to a Braves stack

Second Base

Mauricio Dubón FD 2900 DK 3800
Opponent - WSH (MacKenzie Gore) Park - WSH
FD - 9.98 DK - 7.71

I mentioned the plus matchup against Gore above and if we are going that route, it is hard to ignore the value with Mauricio Dubon who continues to hit leadoff for the Astros. While the walks are few and far between, he has been terrific lately with hits in 10 of his last 12 games for a .315 average while driving in six and scoring another seven runs. Best of all, he has been much better against left-handed pitchers with a .440 wOBA and 187 wRC+. With all this in mind, Dubon is one of my favourite value plays on this main slate.

Also Consider: Andres Gimenez(CLE) as a low-owned value option. He has been decent recently(108 wRC+ L7) and has been very productive against lefties with a .392 wOBA/153 wRC+

Shortstop

Xander Bogaerts FD 3000 DK 4700
Opponent - CLE (Logan Allen) Park - CLE
FD - 1.2 DK - 0.91

It has been a very streaky start to the season for Bogaerts but the good news is that he is currently on the high end of the roller coaster. While the power and production haven't shown up yet, he enters the night with hits in nine of his last 10 games(.324 avg/.366 OBP) and not only hits in the heart of a very powerful lineup but comes at a buy-low price on both sites. The matchup may not look amazing as Logan Allen holds a 3.31 ERA/3.89  xFIP but has allowed 7+ hits in six of his last seven and home runs in three of his last four.

Third Base

Austin Riley FD 3000 DK 5300
Opponent - COL (Kyle Freeland) Park - COL
FD - 14.07 DK - 10.6

What makes this slate most interesting is the fact the Braves are easily in the best spot in terms of offence but we are going to have to watch the sky as rain is in the forecast. Early on it appears to be a late start and play so I am sticking with the Braves' bats. Riley has struggled a bit in the short term(2 for his last 26) and seen his average(.265) drop considerably but is still a very productive fantasy player as he enters with 11 home runs, 34 RBI and 39 runs scored on the season. Some good news out of all this is the fact he has been much better against lefties which makes his DraftKings price much more attractive and as fr FanDuel, he is still massively underpriced and is in play in all formats.

Also Consider: Jake Burger(CHW) who has provided plenty of power with three home runs over the last week and 11 on the season and faces Michael Grve who has given up eight earned runs in his last two starts

Outfield

Ronald Acuña Jr. FD 4600 DK 6600
Opponent - COL (Kyle Freeland) Park - COL
FD - 15.93 DK - 12.12
Marcell Ozuna FD 3000 DK 3600
Opponent - COL (Kyle Freeland) Park - COL
FD - 11.06 DK - 8.38

If loading up on the Braves, they provide multiple options in the outfield and at different price ranges to help out different kinds of builds. To fit Ronal Acuna, you will most definitely have to make sacrifices elsewhere and likely won't get a full stack with his price but you can bet he is worth it. He comes in with hits in 12 of his last 13 games pushing his overall slash line to a ridiculous .333/.405/.580 and he has already tallied 15 home runs and 44 RBI. If it's value you are after, consider Marcell Ozuna who, after a slow start to the season, has come on strong with a .323/.387/.637 slash line since the start of May. Stay tuned to the skies in Atlanta but if this plays, the Braves are a team we are going to want three or more players from in all formats.

Also Consider: A White Sox OF stack of Andrew Benintendi, Eloy Jimenez, and Luis Robert who are hitting 2-3-4 in the lineup and get a plus matchup against Michael Grove

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