Today’s MLB schedule includes a 10-game slate for this evening’s DraftKings DFS offerings. With plenty of options in the player pool for fantasy baseball lineups, we’re taking a look at top contributors for Tuesday’s contests.
Here are three must-start MLB DFS picks for the virtual diamond.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $222K Bat Flip [$50K to 1st]
SP Seth Lugo, KC Royals vs. PIT Pirates; $8,800
I really considered Nathan Eovaldi ($10,000) as the best starting pitcher option today, but ultimately pivoted due to a mixture of salary concerns, positive matchup, and recent success from the player I chose in his stead.
The Royals’ Seth Lugo ($8,800) is an excellent pitcher who probably deserves some more credit for the season he’s having. With a 2.65 ERA and 1.09 WHIP, the righty posts some great rate stats that make up for his lack of high-end strikeout production (83 Ks in 95.0 innings). He averages a respectable 17.7 FPPG on the campaign but is on fire over his last four starts with outings of 25.45, 27.35, 25.05, and 29.9 points. He’s allowed just three earned runs over his last five starts and seems to have discovered some strikeout upside with at least seven Ks across those four high-scoring appearances. With Kansas City hosting a lowly Pirates squad that struggles to put the ball in play, Lugo feels like a fantastic value tonight.
C Cal Raleigh, SEA Mariners @ NY Yankees; $6,200
When it comes to writing must-starts, I just can’t help but add Cal Raleigh ($6,200) in the column more often than not.
“Big Dumper” has fully cemented himself among baseball’s elite this season with an MLB-leading 35 home runs… and we haven’t even quite reached the All-Star break. While he’s slumped a bit as of late, Raleigh still averages 11.0 FPPG (second-most on this slate) and hits .265 with a 1.016 OPS on the year. The slugger finds himself in a prime spot to bounce back tonight against the Yankees’ Will Warren ($8,000), who throws to the tune of a 5.02 ERA and 1.42 WHIP. Warren’s 46th percentile barrel percentage and 12th percentile hard-hit percentage make this a very tasty matchup for Raleigh, who ranks 85th percentile or better in each metric himself. Watch for him to homer again this evening.
OF George Springer, TOR Blue Jays @ CHI White Sox; $5,200
Are there many things more fun in this world than a fully-healthy George Springer ($5,200)?
The Blue Jays are playing great baseball as winners of nine straight games and Springer can be thanked extensively for the role he’s played in the hot streak. While he’s coming off two unimpressive outings, he’s stuffed the stat sheet over the last couple of weeks and averages 13.3 FPPG over his last 10 games with a .333 AVG, 1.127 OPS and five homers. His season-long average of 8.6 FPPG isn’t anything to scoff at either, so the floor looks reliable here as well. Tonight, Springer and his team take on Aaron Civale ($5,500) who holds a 4.60 ERA and 1.49 WHIP. The White Sox bullpen doesn’t strike fear into anyone either, so the Jays could tack on plenty of runs here.
