Welcome to my weekly Sunday DraftKings MLB DFS plays. I’ll break down some of the prime picks on the board, including studs and value plays, and break down why these players can lead your lineup to victory.
Set your DraftKings MLB DFS lineups here: MLB $150K Bat Flip [$50K to 1st].
Top MLB DFS Targets
Pitcher Studs
SP Ian Seymour (TB), $8,200: On the surface, Seymour doesn’t seem like an elite fantasy option. With low name recognition and a 4.11 ERA, you might be wondering why he’s a stud DFS play. Seymour has two things going for him right now: an elite run of pitching form, and a great matchup. Over his last three starts, Seymour has allowed four runs in 18 innings, striking out 27 batters against two walks. Seattle’s offense has cratered in the last month, posting the third-worst wRC+ in MLB. Great spot for Seymour to keep the good times rolling.
Pitcher Value Plays
SP Matthew Boyd (CHC), $7,200: It was a long road on the injured list for Matthew Boyd, but he’s finally getting his legs under him on the mound. Boyd will make his fourth start after the near two-month layoff on Sunday, facing the division rival Reds. Boyd has allowed only three runs across his three post-injury starts, and is coming off six shutout innings against the Orioles. Facing a Cincinnati lineup that has struggled recently, it’s a great spot for Boyd to deliver great SP2 value.
SP Cade Cavalli (WSH), $7,100: Fresh off his suspension, Cavalli is back to the mound against the Yankees, who are a lot less intimidating than you’d think. Without Aaron Judge, the Bronx Bombers are more like firecrackers right now, placing 24th in wRC+ over the last month. Cavalli is lined up for a strong start here.
Infield Studs
2B JJ Wetherholt (STL), $4,500: Fresh off his massive extension, JJ Wetherholt has a bit of a chip on his shoulder after an All-Star Game snub. The rookie has been an elite run-scoring threat due to his bat-to-ball skills, walk-taking abilities, and hitting in front of Jordan Walker. St. Louis is lined up for a great day against Braves starter and fellow rookie JR Ritchie, who has been smacked around a fair bit in his debut season.
3B/SS Kevin McGonigle (DET), $4,800: Kevin McGonigle gets a difficult matchup on Sunday against Phillies ace Zack Wheeler, but that hasn’t been a problem for the rookie this season. He’s elite at putting the bat to the ball, and takes a ton of walks. Even if Wheeler is pitching well, McGonigle brings a very high floor, along with his upside. He’s a great value in a thin 3B field
Infield Value Plays
1B Luis García Jr. (WSH), $4,300: So much of the credit for Washington’s offense goes to James Wood and CJ Abrams, but Luis García Jr. deserves his flowers. The slugging first baseman is on pace for a 30 homer/100 RBI season, with an OPS approaching .900. The Nationals offense is hot, and they get a date with the home run-prone Will Warren. Great spot for García Jr. to produce.
C Iván Herrera (STL), $3,900: It’s a beautiful thing that Iván Herrera maintains his catcher eligibility. St. Louis’ slugging DH continues to mash this season, cracking 26 extra-base hits on the year, and draws a ton of walks. You know who gives up a lot of walks and hard contact? Braves rookie starter JR Ritchie. A match made in heaven for Herrera.
SS Jacob Wilson (ATH), $3,800: Some of the shine has come off Jacob Wilson after an excellent rookie season. Even though he doesn’t provide a ton of power, the contact-minded shortstop is still racking up the base hits, and is coming off three straight multi-hit games going into Sunday’s game. Wilson gets a date with White Sox starter Noah Schultz and his 6.00 ERA, which gives him excellent run-scoring potential.
Outfield Studs
OF Jordan Walker (STL), $4,800: Shall we continue the Cardinals stack? Jordan Walker was a very deserved All-Star for his breakout first half, and is red-hot heading into the Midsummer Classic. Walker extended his hitting streak to six games on Saturday; in that span, the slugger has two homers, seven RBI, and six runs scored. Owning 3/4ths of the top of the Cardinals lineup against JR Ritchie is the kind of risk to take if you want to win this contest.
Outfield Value Plays
OF Heriberto Hernández (MIA), $3,200: Man, this guy has some power. Hernández rocked his ninth extra-base hit of July on Saturday, including five home runs. With Miami surging, Hernández is going to be in the lineup as long as he’s rolling, and he gets a solid matchup against the homer-prone Joey Cantillo. As an added boost to his floor, Hernández has some buoyed base-on-balls appeal against the oft-wild Cantillo.
OF Chase DeLauter (CLE), $3,000: Hitting hasn’t been fun for Cleveland as of late, but Chase DeLauter hasn’t noticed. Though the rookie’s six-game hitting streak ended on Saturday, he still managed to draw a pair of walks. Over that seven-game span, DeLauter has 10 hits, five runs scored, three home runs, six RBI, and four walks. He always seems to find a way to contribute. With Miami opting for a bullpen game on Sunday, he will have his chances to contribute in the middle of Cleveland’s lineup.
