Welcome to my weekly Sunday DraftKings MLB DFS plays. I’ll break down some of the top picks on the board, including studs and value plays, and explain 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 Gavin Williams (CLE), $9,700: How about four straight games with 11+ strikeouts for Gavin Williams? He’s taking the reins as Cleveland’s true ace, and it’s going to be hard to stop him from producing value. Williams has put up 33+ DFS points in three of those four games and churns out value even when he gives up runs. Though Arizona is a solid team when it comes to avoiding strikeouts, Williams should get it done against a mediocre lineup.
Pitcher Value Plays
SP Matthew Liberatore (STL), $6,800: It’s hard to find value in this slate with a lot of rough pitchers taking the mound. I’ll fade an offense here; the Toronto Blue Jays are as cold as cold gets with the bats, posting an 81 wRC+ mark in July. Liberatore hasn’t covered himself in glory this season with a 5.26 ERA, but he’s good for a handful of strikeouts and has a solid floor against a feeble lineup.
SP Colin Rea (CHC), $5,500: How about the cheapest pitcher on the board for a value? Colin Rea gets a matchup with the Yankees on Sunday, but the Bronx Bombers are hardly a firecracker right now. No Aaron Judge, no Cody Bellinger, no Giancarlo Stanton. If Rea can avoid getting burned by Ben Rice, he should find enough success against a lineup that stumbled to an 83 wRC+ mark in July. Those savings will come in handy elsewhere.
Infield Studs
1B/3B Yandy Diaz (TB), $5,000: The best hitter nobody ever talks about, Diaz continues to cook for the AL-leading Rays. He’s batting over .300 with a solid power bump and could push for a 100-RBI season. On Sunday, Diaz gets a matchup with lefty Anthony Kay, who hasn’t had a good year. The Rays’ DH gets a solid power boost against southpaws, increasing his appeal.
SS Jeremy Peña (HOU), $5,000: Injuries have kept Peña down at times, but he continues to cook when he’s healthy. He’s been a huge part of Houston’s turnaround, batting .381 with a 1.110 OPS in July while averaging two combined RBIs and runs scored per game. I like stacking Astros here against Kumar Rocker, who has taken his lumps and is facing a hot lineup.
Infield Value Plays
C Yainer Diaz (HOU), $3,800: Catcher is arguably the worst position on the board for Sunday. I don’t want to negate our Gavin Williams play by going for D-Backs catcher Gabriel Moreno, so I’ll pivot to Diaz here. The shine has come off Houston’s catcher, but he still puts it together sometimes. Diaz had a pair of four-hit games on Thursday and Friday, with a home run in each. Against Kumar Rocker, a solidly middling pitcher, Diaz has great upside here in a shallow position.
1B Alec Burleson (STL), $4,500: In stark contrast to the catcher spot, first base is the deepest on the board. Despite having a solid price, Alec Burleson is 10th on the board among first basemen in total price. He has quietly been one of the best righty mashers in the league, boasting a .323/.398/.544 triple slash line with 13 home runs and 22 doubles off right-handers. On Sunday, he gets a date with Max Scherzer and his 9.49 ERA on the season. That’s what we call a smash spot.
2B Xavier Edwards (MIA), $4,000: This guy is an on-base machine. Edwards’ average has been hovering around .300 all season long, and he is being put in good RBI situations as the cleanup hitter for Miami. New York has yet to announce a starter for Sunday, and the prospect of a bullpen game for Edwards is awfully appealing.
Outfield Studs
OF Chase DeLauter (CLE), $4,200: DeLauter has been one of Cleveland’s most important bats this year and will once again be relied upon on Sunday. The exciting rookie gets a date with Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly, who is having a rough return season in the desert. DeLauter’s on-base skills give him a solid floor, while the power provides the ceiling. This outfield group is light on star depth after the inner-circle guys, which makes DeLauter a strong value.
Outfield Value Plays
OF Lars Nootbaar (STL), $3,600: Why not stack up more Cardinals against Scherzer? Nootbaar hasn’t been the most impressive hitter for St. Louis, but has been strong against righties and has better splits in day games. Anybody facing Scherzer and this bullpen has a solid floor, and for this price Nootbaar is a great addition to the lineup.
OF Steven Kwan (CLE), $3,300: Known primarily for his glove, Kwan took a huge step backward at the plate this season. But there have been signs of life in July. Kwan batted .390 last month with an 8-to-13 K/BB ratio to boot. He’s not going to provide power, but the on-base potential is incredible, and that should put him in line to score runs against Merrill Kelly.
