Daily Fantasy Baseball Picks for FanDuel and DraftKings - 7/24/16

 

Welcome to Sunday baseball! We have a 15 game all day slate on our hands with some interesting pitching options as well as some offenses in great spots to put up some runs. Make sure to check out our other articles as they will touch on more pitching options, tournament stacks and any weather concerns that may arise. Let's get into the top options at each position.

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PITCHER

Corey Kluber FD 10300 DK 10900
Opponent - BAL (Worley) Park - @BAL
FD - 35.92 DK - 23.73

While there are plenty of guys to look at in tournaments, the pitcher position does not bring too much to the table in terms of cash games. In my cash games, however, I am fine with taking a little bit of risk and will therefore going with Corey Kluber. His strikeout numbers are great with a 9.07 K/9 with supporting peripherals like a 3.31 xFIP and a 27% hard contact rate allowed. The Orioles on the other hand, strikeout a ton against righties as evidenced by their 22.4% K rate in 2016. While there is absolutely some risk here, the built in strikeouts offer some safety and a whole bunch of upside. Kluber is my top option in all formats, on both DraftKings and FanDuel.

Jameson Taillon FD 6800 DK 8100
Opponent - PHI (Velasquez) Park - @PIT
FD - 30.91 DK - 20.27

If you are looking to pay down a bit for a bit more safety and a lot less upside, Jameson Taillon is the guy. He has been fantastic since entering the majors earlier this season and I will assure you that he is not just a rookie that is getting lucky. Taillon has been one of the biggest pitching prospects in baseball and what he has been doing is no surprise to anyone. The Pirates will have the honor of taking on the Philadelphia Phillies team that ranks dead last in terms of wOBA against right handers. Taillon is a guy that deserves a ton of consideration across the board.

CATCHER

Nick Hundley FD 2800 DK 3800
Opponent - ATL (Jenkins) Park - @COL
FD - 11.56 DK - 9.04

While I know some hate when the Rockies are mentioned a ton, this is the type of match up where they just need to be. While I will save the details for later, Tyrell Jenkins is the king of gas cans and will have a ton of trouble in Coors Field against a prolific Rockies lineup. Hundley may not hit at the top of the lineup, but he still offers a ton of upside as he has hit righties to the tune of a +.450 wOBA at home in Coors Field over the previous 2 seasons. Hundley is a great cash game and tournament play.

Wilson Ramos FD 3300 DK 4100
Opponent - SD (Friedrich) Park - @WSH
FD - 10.74 DK - 8.28

The Washington Nationals will be taking on Christian Friedrich, a wild card lefty that has struggled mightily with control on the season. In 50 innings against righties, Friedrich has given up a .326 wOBA that has been inflated by a .296 BABIP. With a 36% hard contact rate allowed, you can expect the Nats to get to him here. Ramos has been one of the better hitting catchers on the season and has been great against both lefties and righties. If you want to get off of Hundley, Ramos is a great way to go.

 

FIRST BASE

Brandon Belt FD 3900 DK 3600
Opponent - NYY (Eovaldi) Park - @NYY
FD - 10.51 DK - 8.16

First base is loaded as always and I will be looking for a guy that is going to be low owned and has just as good as a match up as the rest of the group. That guy for me is going to be Brandon Belt. Belt absolutely smashes fastballs and as we know, Nathan Eovaldi is known for his super fast fastball. Belt has hit righties very well this season and will be receiving the huge ballpark bump to Yankees Stadium. If Belt can hit a pop up right field, it is a home runs in Yankees Stadium opposed to an infield fly in AT&T Park. I am obviously exaggerating, but you catch my drift.

Paul Goldschmidt FD 4000 DK 5300
Opponent - CIN (Finnegan) Park - @CIN
FD - 12.81 DK - 10.03

Paul Goldschmidt against a lefty used to be a must play, but not so much anymore. Why? Because he is getting very unlucky. He is still the same hitter that he was last year where he hit lefties to a nearly .500 wOBA and over 20 home runs. I expect the luck to start up soon against for Goldschmidt and this would be a terrific match up to get it going. Brandon Finnegan is a left hander that likes to pitch low in the zone, exactly where Goldy rakes. While I do prefer Belt, I think Goldy makes for a great pivot if you have the salary.

 

SECOND BASE

Jean Segura FD 3700 DK 4500
Opponent - CIN (Finnegan) Park - @CIN
FD - 8.83 DK - 7.8

Like I just mentioned with Goldschmidt, the Diamondbacks will be taking on Brandon Finnegan. Finnegan, a lefty, has struggled against both lefties and righties on the season with a .346 wOBA that is actually deflated by a low BABIP and a lucky HR/FB rate. Segura on the other hand, has mashed lefties over the past 3 yeas with a .336 wOBA. Segura brings power and speed upside that only a few possess. As a note, Tucker Barnhart is the worst fielding catcher on the Reds and Segura will receive a huge bump if he is in the lineup.

Dustin Pedroia FD 3600 DK 4500
Opponent - MIN (Milone) Park - @BOS
FD - 13.42 DK - 10.58

Tommy Milone went absolutely HAM against the Tigers last time out, so yes, it is going to be a little difficult to target the Red Sox. However, we can't let 1 game cloud our judgement on a guy who has been consistently bad for years. Dating back to 2014, Milone has held a .352 wOBA against right handers and that number is well supported by his peripherals and batted ball numbers. With the green monster in short left, Milone could be in for a world of hurt. Pedroia makes for a great play in all formats, on both sites.

 

SHORTSTOP

Trevor Story FD 4000 DK 5500
Opponent - ATL (Jenkins) Park - @COL
FD - 12.58 DK - 10.14

Trevor Story seems to be a placeholder in this article whenever the Rockies are at home, and rightfully so. He absolutely demolishes the baseball in Coors Field with a 45% hard contact rate that must be trusted as it is all we have seen. The Rockies will face off with the right handed Tyrell Jenkins. Jenkins is a rookie that has been forced up way too early and is not ready for the majors. In only 20 innings, he has given up 3 home runs and a .345 wOBA to right handers, and those innings came in neutral/pitcher friendly ballparks. Story is a fantastic play all around, however, he is only my 3rd favorite Rockies bat.

Xander Bogaerts FD 4000 DK 5300
Opponent - MIN (Milone) Park - @BOS
FD - 13.73 DK - 11.02

If I am looking to move off of Trevor Story, it is going to be to a guy that is in a powerhouse offense in a good match up. Xander Bogaerts is going to fit that mold to a T. As I just mentioned, Tommy Milone is not a good pitcher and the Red Sox are going to do their best to stay on the hot streak they have been on for about a week now. I am willing to ride it out with the Sox and hope they extend it for at least 1 more game.

 

THIRD BASE

Nolan Arenado FD 4900 DK 5300
Opponent - ATL (Jenkins) Park - @COL
FD - 15.61 DK - 11.99

Here is my second favorite Rockies bat on the night and that is Nolan Arenado. While he is discredited a ton because he plays in Coors Field, he is still a top 10 player no matter his home team. When you give him the Coors Field bonus, he is right up there with the best of them. He hits righties very well over the past 2 seasons with a .386 wOBA and as I mentioned, Tyrell Jenkins is no good. You are going to want exposure to this offenses in both cash games and tournaments, Arenado is a great way to do that at a position that lacks upside today.

 

OUTFIELD

Carlos Gonzalez FD 4700 DK 5600
Opponent - ATL (Jenkins) Park - @COL
FD - 16.55 DK - 12.71
Charlie Blackmon FD 4100 DK 5400
Opponent - ATL (Jenkins) Park - @COL
FD - 14.4 DK - 12.31

What more is there to say about this match up? The Rockies are going to have a ton of success here against Tyrell Jenkins and the bad Braves bullpen. I just don't see anyway around it. Carlos Gonzalez is going to be my top bat on the entire slate and I am predicting hiim for a home runs. While CarGo is preferred, Both Blackmon and Gonzalez have hit righties to the tune of a +.375 wOBA against righties as home this year. Both make excellent plays across the board, though I certainly prefer Gonzalez.

Jayson Werth FD 3500 DK 4400
Opponent - SD (Friedrich) Park - @WSH
FD - 12.08 DK - 9.34

Like I mentioned earlier with Wilson Ramos, Christian Friedrich is a wild card. He will either go out and be on his game or will go out and not be able to throw a strike. If the ladder occurs, there is a great shot that Jayson Werth can get a hold of a fastball that is left over the middle of the plate. Since opening day, Werth has hit righties to an insane .444 wOBA that is backed up by a crazy 50% hard contact rate. Werth and the Nationals make for a great stack in tournaments and even better 1 off plays in cash games.

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