Monday 7.6

Here are some of my picks for Monday, July 6.

Top Pitchers: 

AJ Burnett - $9,400

Absolutely 100%, pick AJ Burnett. Burnett faces one of the most anemic offenses in the San Diego Padres while at home, where he is sporting a 1.30 ERA with a 1.00 WHIP. This is the perfect matchup for a reasonable price. 

Jon Lester - $9,000

If you're looking to go slightly cheaper, then Lester is another great pick for you. Lester is facing former teammate John Lackey at Wrigley Field, which will be sure to be a close contest. The Cardinals are also only hitting .233 against lefties this season, making this an ideal matchup.

NOTE: I personally will be staying away from Chris Sale today. Normally I would love to take him on, but he is facing the Toronto Blue Jays, who have the highest team batting average against lefties by far (.307). 

Top Hitters:

Aramis Ramirez - 

Wow. This guy has been unbelievable, hitting .545 with a .577 OBP in his past seven games. 

Sunday 7.5

Here are my picks for today's MLB contests

Top Pitchers

Lance Lynn - $10,100

I'm not normally one to pick the most expensive pitcher, but if you want to feel safe and sound with your pick, then this is the guy for you. Lynn is facing the most anemic team in baseball this afternoon and at home where he posts a 2.40 ERA and averages 20.8 FPPG. The Padres have the second worst team batting average in the NL at .240 and the third worst for day games (.239). This is surely a good matchup.

Mike Bolsinger - $6,800

So, here's the deal. Bolsinger has a 2.76 ERA this season with a 1.21 WHIP. Nothing great or amazing, but when you look at his DK value, it seems fair. So what makes this pick so special? Well, because he is facing the New York Mets. The Mets have the worst batting average on the road in the NL (.227), the worst against batting average against right handers (.231), the second worst OBP (.296) and the second worst total runs scored (282). It will be hard for Bolsinger to mess this up.

Top Hitters

Gerardo Parra - $3,500

Parra has one of the best bats right now, hitting .480 in his past seven starts. He is 6-16 against Leake, who has struggled this season at home with an embarrassing 6.11 ERA and .310 BAA. Parra is hitting .326 on the road and .313 against right handers. Easily one of the best matchups available today.

Erick Aybar - $3,600

Aybar has the best batting average in the past seven games in all of baseball, hitting.550 with a .571 OBP. Aybar's OBP is .435 against the Rangers this season. Another absolute steal.

Aramis Ramirez - $3,700

Ramirez is hitting .524 with a .560 OBP in his past seven games. Facing the struggling right hander Mike Leake, Ramirez is sure to put up some great numbers in today's contest.

Joe Mauer - $3,700

Looking for a cheap first baseman? Mauer is the guy for you. He has been hitting .400 in his past seven starts with a .429 OBP (best of all first baseman). Mauer is also coming off a 4-5 night against the Kansas City Royals.

Tuesday 6.30

Top Pitchers

Shelby Miller - $7,900

OK so Miller is no Chris Sale...but he is a hell of a lot cheaper! Miller has posted consistent numbers throughout the season and will get you around 20 to 30 FPPG. Great economical pick.

Top Hitters

Caesar Hernandez - $2,900

It still blows my mind that this guy is under $3,000. Yes he plays for the worst team in baseball. But he's a switch hitter at the top of the Phillies lineup who seems to find a way on base every single game. Great cheap pick.

Jonathon Lucroy - $3,100

Another dirt cheap pick. Despite his subpar season numbers, Lucroy has found his bat recently and will be facing a lefty in Cole Hamels.

David Murphy - $2,900

I'm scared. I really am. Why is this guy always so cheap when he rakes in so many fantasy points for the Indians? Who knows. Murphy has a .331 average on the season and will be batting fourth in the lineup against the righty Erasmo Ramirez.

Thanks for reading and good luck!

Monday 6.29

Wow, the pitching for Monday is absolutely atrocious...well, let's take a look at how to make the best of a bad situation.

Top Pitchers:

Lance McCullers - $7,700

Very cheap for his value but there are some problems that come along with McCullers. Although he has been absolutely great for the Astros since being called up last month, McCullers faces some challenges facing a hot team in the Kansas City Royals. The Royals have the second-best team batting average in baseball at .273, (.270 on the road) and have a four game winning streak. McCullers is also not going very deep into ball games, which may be a problem.

Mike Bolsinger - $6,700

Bolsinger has been great for the Dodgers this year but faces the red-hot Diamondbacks Monday night. The game could go either way, but I have a feeling he will pitch well against the division rivals.

Top Hitters:

Wilin Rosario - $3,500

I haven't seen a deal this good in a long time. Rosario has been one of the hottest hitters in baseball, hitting .579 in his past seven games. Great value for the price you're paying.

Caesar Hernandez - $2,800

Another great deal. If you're looking for a cheap infielder, here's your guy. Hernandez hits high in the lineup (I think like second or third?) and he has had a .556 OBP in his past seven games with three stolen bases. He has a lot of potential to get you a lot of fantasy points.

Logan Forsythe - $3,600

Forsythe has been seeing the ball really well, hitting .435 in his past ten games with a .530 OBP. He has done wonders for the Rays this season and will continue to do damage driving in runs in the cleanup spot.

Friday 6.26

Happy Friday everyone and welcome to Rob's Daily MLB DraftKings Picks.

Top Pitchers

Max Scherzer - $14,000

If you want a guaranteed 30 points or so, Max Scherzer is your guy. Despite boasting a stupidly expensive price tag, Scherzer is absolutely on fire of late and is easily the best pitcher in baseball. If you like to focus on good pitching in your DK lineup, this is the guy for you. If you wanna get someone more reasonable, check out some of the alternatives below.

Core Kluber - $10,000

Slightly more affordable than Scherzer, Kluber may be another ideal pitcher for Friday night. Although most of his stats are average, the one that particularly stands out is his strikeout rate. Of course, we all remember earlier in the season when he threw 18 Ks against the Cardinals in eight innings, earning 56.8 points. Kluber has averaged over eight strikeouts per game in his last ten starts, making him an ideal pick.

Anibal Sanchez - $8,700

Sanchez displays some pretty atrocious numbers on the season, but it seems the right-hander has settled down a bit in last few starts. His price tag is very cheap, but you can expect about 20 points from him if he continues to pitch how he has been -- especially facing a struggling offense such as the White Sox.

Top Hitters

Thursday 6.25

Top Pitchers

Jacob DeGrom - $10,700

Jacob DeGrom may be the most expensive pitcher available, but he is just too good to resist. He has pitched 92.1 innings in 14 starts, which equates to about 7 per game. He also has 93 K's on the season with a 0.96 WHIP.  Expect a solid outing from this hot young pitcher against a struggling team in the Milwaukee Brewers.

A.J. Burnett - $9,700

OK, so you don't wanna spend top dollar for DeGrom? That's cool. I can understand that. But Burnett is a guy you definitely don't wanna miss out on. Pitching at PNC Park, Burnett has a 1.27 ERA and 1.05 WHIP. Opponents are only hitting .239 off him, which makes him an attractive candidate for Thursday's contests.

Dallas Keuchel - $9,000

After giving up five earned runs in his last outing, Keuchel's DK value has finally dropped to something a little more affordable. Am I worried? Absolutely not. Although the Yankees have been hitting a hot bat, Keuchel has the lowest BAA (batting average against) in the American League at .194 and is fourth in WHIP at 0.98. At home, Keuchel is 6-0 with a 1.62 ERA. He has also induced 168 ground outs, which leads the majors by far. Need I say more? Just sign this guy already.

Top Hitters

Jason Heyward - $3,900

$3,900! Are you kidding me? Heyward has been on fire lately hitting .440 with four homers in his last seven games. Going up against a mediocre right-handed pitcher in Dan Haren will give him all he needs to get the job done and win you some money.

Hernan Perez - $2,200

Want a dirt cheap infielder? Hernan Perez may have laughable season numbers, but he has a .540 OBP in his past ten games with a .500 batting average. Perez might be worth considering -- especially going against lefty Jacob DeGrom.

Wednesday 6.24

Top Pitchers

Chris Sale - $12,600

Wow that's a lot of money. But is he worth it? Absolutely. Sale has pitched outstandingly in 2015 and is the perfect candidate for a DraftKings pitcher: he goes deep into ballgames, he strikes out tons of batters and he rarely ever walks hitters. Sale has averaged 29.6 FPPG in his last ten starts.

Gerrit Cole - $10,500

Cole has a MLB-leading 11 wins on the season with a 1.78 ERA. Cole goes deep into ball games and will most likely have a great outing against the Reds.

Shelby Miller - $8,400

In my mind, Shelby Miller may be the most underrated pitcher in DK. His price tag is dirt cheap for what he's really worth every single time he's available. If you're looking to focus more on your offense, Miller is a great pick.

Clay Bucholtz - $7,200

Bucholtz has a had a rough season to say the least but has seemed to settle down as of late. If you're looking to really bolster your offense, consider pairing him up with one of the three pitchers mentioned above. Keep in mind there is a lot of risk with Bucholtz. But, when he's locked in, you'll be glad you signed him. He has the potential to be a strikeout machine that goes deep into ballgames. He is coming off one of his best starts of the season and will pitch in Boston.

Top Hitters

Ian kinsler - $3,600

Kinsler is cold of late but his DK value has dropped tremendously. Hitting second in the lineup, all Kinsler needs to do is get on base and the hitters behind him will surely drive him in. Low risk high reward with this guy.

Brock Holt - $3,700

Caesar Hernandez - $2,600

Tuesday 6.23

Tuesday holds an array of excellent pitching, but which two hurlers will make the cut for your DraftKings lineup? Let's get started.

Top Pitchers

David Price - $11,600

Let's face it. If you don't pick Price, your opponent(s) will and you're gonna end up being sorry you didn't. Price features a 2.50 ERA with a 1.11 WHIP. He has 88 strikeouts in 14 starts, and looks to continue his dominance against the Indians in Cleveland. Weirdly enough, Price has pitched better in away games, posting a 1.92 ERA and a .203 BAA. Price does not walk many hitters (only 21 on the entire season) and can strikeout the side when he is locked in. You will be sure to get a quality outing from Price.

Madison Bumgarner - $11,200

I don't know what it is, but I've always had a soft spot for the Giants; they always seem to find a way to win. Like Price, Bumgarner has 88 strikeouts in 14 games. One thing that is nice about Bumgarner is his consistency; he rarely ever gives up more than three earned runs a game. He has great control, posting a season 1.07 WHIP. One other thing to remember when considering Bumgarner is that, unlike some of these other elite pitchers up for grabs, he will be pitching in a pitcher's park against an anemic offensive team in the San Diego Padres. 

Zach Greinke - $10,500

If you're still not convinced with Bumgarner, you may wanna take a safer and slightly cheaper bet in Greinke. Although Greinke is nothing overly special, he is consistent and attacks hitters. He owns a season 1.81 ERA (3rd best in baseball) and a 0.94 WHIP (also 3rd best). Opponents are hitting just .211 against him. So what's the catch? Greinke will be pitching against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, a hitter's park. With a hot lineup featuring Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo, Greinke may find himself in trouble. 

Top Hitters

Kevin Pillar - $3,500

Although he is hitting near the bottom of the lineup, Pillar may be a great cheap pickup for another outfield spot. He posts a .500 batting average in his past seven games is one of the hottest hitters in all of baseball.

Miguel Cabrera - $5,000

Although $5,000 may be a lot, it's a very low amount for Cabrera's value. Cabrera is swinging a hot bat, hitting .421 with a .577 OBP in his last seven games. Cabrera also has absolutely owned the Indians this season, hitting .598 against the division rival. If you can afford him, you will not be disappointed.

Brock Holt - $3,800

Holt, along with Dustin Pedroia and Mookie Betts, is holding the Red Sox offense together. He has been on fire of late, hitting .462 with a .517 OBP in his past seven games. Take this kid into consideration - especially facing the right-handed Ubaldo Jiminez. Holt will be hitting second in the lineup tonight in Boston.

Joey Butler - $3,700

Talk about a hot bat. Butler is hitting .338 this season with a .375 OBP. He will be hitting second in the lineup tonight against knuckleballer R.A. Dickey. Except a lot of long balls at the Trop tonight.


Tip: Something I've learned from DraftKings is to incorporate as many leadoff/number two hitters as possible. Not only do they get more plate appearances than other players, but they are also typically the fastest baserunners on the team. Remember, a stolen base in DK is worth 5 points. A scored run is worth 4. Gose, who I've mentioned above, is a perfect example of this. 

Monday 6.22

What an awesome day for DraftKings! So many great picks to choose from. Where do we begin?

Top Pitchers

Clayton Kershaw - $12,700

Although he is the most expensive pitcher available by far, Kershaw is an absolute strikeout machine with 122 on the season. He is only behind Max Scherzer (123) who, let's face it, is pitching like he's from another planet. Kershaw has gotten some serious FPPG in his last handful of starts and is sure to continue his success against the Cubs. However, keep in mind that the Cubs are a hot team and Wrigley Field is a hitter's park -- Kershaw can pitch well, but there's not much room for error.

Felix Hernandez - $10,900

Hernandez is a must-have in Monday's lineup. Although he is a pricey pickup, Hernandez leads the American League in wins (10) and is playing in Seattle, a pitcher's park. At home, Hernandez has a 2.59 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and sports an impressive 25.5 FPPG average. However, keep in mind that the Royals have the second-best team road batting average in baseball (.272). Lefties Eric Hosmer and Kendrys Morales may give Hernandez some trouble.

Michael Pineda - $9,300

It may seem like a copout for picking the top three players on DraftKings, but there really aren't any shortcuts in todays pitching match-ups. These three pitchers are elite and are sure to give you a quality outing.  Although Pineda has had some serious ups and downs this season, he may be a risk worth taking. Facing the struggling Phillies at home, Pineda has some serious potential to get a lot of strikeouts and go deep into the game. However, like with Kershaw, Pineda is pitching in a HITTER'S park. Take that into consideration when drafting -- especially coming off a game where the Phillies outscored the Cardinals (the best team in baseball) 9-2.

Top Hitters

The New York Yankees

I know this isn't very specific, but you honestly can't go wrong. Yankee Stadium. Crappy opposing team. Crappy opposing pitcher. Get ready for a home run derby folks. Brett Gardner, Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez and Brian McCann are solid picks to name a few.

Chris Colabello - $3,400

For some reason, this kid is always on the cheap and I can never figure out why. Colabello has done nothing but rake for the Blue Jays this season. Hitting .344, Colabello leads the entire Blue Jays team in batting average. That says something. He normally hits comfortably behind Jose Bautista in the number five spot and is a must-have OF.

Joey Butler - $3,800

Butler, like Colabello, is a super cheap pickup for what he does. Hitting .336 with 6 home runs, he also leads his respective team in batting average. Butler has floated around the lineup all season, but has recently found himself in the number two spot. I know it seems counterintuitive to pick two players that will be playing against each other, but both starting pitchers are so bad that we might be in for a high-scoring game.

Tip: Something I've learned through my experience at DraftKings is to look at the weather. If it's supposed to rain, stay away if you can. Not only is there a chance that the game will be postponed, but pitchers do not pitch well in wet weather.

Preface

Hello, and welcome to my blog Rob's Daily DraftKings MLB Picks. I've been playing on DraftKings since May of 2015 and have found gradual success in my earnings. Although I can't guarantee you will find the same success by adhering to my guidance, I can guarantee that I will give you the best available and economical daily fantasy options for your DraftKings lineups. Thank you for viewing and supporting my blog and I wish you all the best of luck in your contests!

-Rob