Daily Fantasy MLB DFS Picks For DraftKings 6/16/16 – SportsBlog.com (blog)
David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
If you have any questions or comments about this article or fantasy baseball, please Tweet me @dynasty_digest. Please follow my blog for daily updates on my daily fantasy baseball rosters for DraftKings (dynastydigest.sportsblog.com). There are only 10 games on the slate today, so the picks are limited. Since the slate is so limited, I have decided to go with almost a full stack against a rookie pitcher.
P- Tanner Roark (vs. San Diego Padres): $10,300. Roark is by far the best pitching matchup on the slate for Thursday. He is facing a San Diego Padres offense that has struggled all season, and more importantly, recently. Over the last seven games, the Padres are batting .229 (25th overall), with 23 runs (26th overall), and a .286 OBP (28th overall). He will also be pitching at PetCo Park, which is known as a pitchers’ park. In 2016, Roark owns a 5-4 record, with 73 strikeouts, and a 2.93 ERA.
P- Dan Straily (vs. Atlanta Braves): $9,200. Honestly, I think any pitcher is a good start against the Atlanta Braves. Unless I’m stepping on that mound, you should feel comfortable that any MLB pitcher has a good shot at taking care of the Atlanta offense. In Straily’s last 10 starts, he has gone at least six innings in nine of those starts. He has gone at least seven innings in three of his last four starts. So far this season, he is 4-2, with 64 strikeouts, and a 3.15 ERA.
POSSIBLE START: P- Eduardo Rodriguez (vs. Baltimore Orioles): $6,500. This is a risky play for Thursday, but I feel confident with the splits. The Baltimore Orioles have really struggled against left-handed pitching this year. They are ranked 18th overall in runs scored against lefties, 29th in batting average, 28th in on base percentage, and 18th in slugging percentage. E-Rod has struggled since coming off of the DL, so that is what worries me. Typically I would go with a safer pick (maybe CC Sabathia or Dan Straily), but I’m not a huge fan of the match-ups of this slate. In 70 career at bats against E-Rod, the Orioles are batting .257, with one home run, eight RBIs, and a .303 OBP.
C- Salvador Perez (vs. Justin Verlander): $3,400. In 44 career at bats against Verlander, Perez is batting .477, with two home runs, 13 RBIs, and nine XBH.
1B- Mitch Moreland (vs. Daniel Mengden): $3,700. In his last seven games, Moreland is batting .391, with four home runs, and six RBIs. He is facing a rookie, right-handed pitcher, which is always a huge plus for Moreland.
2B- Jurickson Profar (vs. Daniel Mengden): $3,500. Profar has really thrived against right-handed pitching this season. Luckily, he faces a rookie right hander on Thursday. At only $3,500, he provides great value.
3B- Manny Machado (vs. Eduardo Rodriguez): $4,800. In his last seven games, Machado is batting .348, with two home runs, four RBIs, seven runs, and a .375 OBP. He is facing a left-hander, which is always a plus for right-handed batters like Machado.
SS- Didi Gregorius (vs. Kyle Gibson): 3,400. Gregorius provides a nice and safe option to make up for this stack. In his last 10 games, he is batting .297, with one home run, six RBIs, four runs, and a .366 OBP.
OF- Ryan Rua (vs. Daniel Mengden): $3,200. Once again, I’m stacking against Mengden. In Rua’s last seven games, he is batting .300, with three home runs, six RBIs, and two stolen bases. Hopefully his recent success will help this stack on Thursday.
OF- Nomar Mazara (vs. Daniel Mengden): $3,900. I’m sure you’re getting tired of this, but I have to pick one of the Ranger’s best bats against Mengden. At only $3,900, Mazara is a steal. In his last 10 games, he is batting .317, with one home run, three RBIs, three runs, and a .356 OBP.
OF- Ian Desmond (vs. Daniel Mengden): $4,500. Okay, this is getting a bit ridiculous. I’ve never done this much of a stack before, but the prices of the Rangers’ lineup are incredibly affordable. Desmond is probably the best bat in the Rangers’ lineup, so it’s impossible to do this stack without him. In his last 10 games, he is batting .300, with two home runs, eight RBIs, four runs, and a .349 OBP.
Available Cash: $100
Other Hot Starts: CC Sabathia, Eduardo Rodriguez, Wilson Ramos, Steve Pearce, Jung Ho Kang, Mark Trumbo
Avoid: Melvin Upton Jr., Alcides Escobar, J.D. Martinez, Ian Kinsler, Joe Mauer, Starling Marte, Chris Davis, Stephen Vogt
Potential Stacks: Nationals vs. Erik Johnson, Rangers vs. Daniel Mengden
Potential Weather Issues: None
