We’ve got a nine-game slate for Tuesday’s MLB action.
Let’s find some studs and values for your MLB DFS lineups on DraftKings. This article was written before lineups were announced.
Make your DraftKings MLB DFS picks here: MLB $175K Bat Flip [$50K to 1st]
PITCHER
Stud
Kevin Gausman, Chicago Cubs vs. Chicago White Sox ($9,000) — Since arriving in Chicago, Gausman has had one good start and one bad one. In his Cubs debut, he went seven innings, walked one, struck out four and allowed two earned runs on four hits. In the most recent outing, the Washington Nationals tagged him for six earned runs in 4.2 innings. Gausman walked one and struck out seven. He allowed one home run in each start. And that could be an issue because the White Sox are third in ISO. That said, the White Sox are also sixth in strikeouts. On the season, Gausman has a 3.53 FIP and 17 K-BB%. He’s gone over 20 FPTS seven times this season, with two of those over 30 FPTS.
Value
Cristian Javier, Houston Astros vs. Los Angeles Angels ($7,500) — I hate the price and, frankly, I hate the pitcher. Before you send the hate police to my house, it’s nothing personal. Strictly from a fantasy perspective. In 32.1 innings, Javier has a 5.62 FIP, 6 K-BB% and served up six home runs. The average exit velocity is 90.5 mph with a 24.7 degree launch angle and 9.4% barrel rate. He’s produced single-digit FPTS in all but one start. But, but, but….that one start was three outings ago against the Angels when he struck out seven in five innings en route to 27.4 FPTS. Los Angeles is second in strikeouts, 28th in ISO and 27th in wRC+.
INFIELD
Stud
Drake Baldwin, Atlanta Braves at Minnesota Twins ($5,000) — Drake Rakes should be a bumper sticker. Baldwin has 20 home runs in 448 plate appearances. The walk rate is 10.3%, strikeout rate is 20.5%, average exit velocity is 91.6 mph, barrel rate is 13.2% and the bat speed is 75.1 mph. Whew, I need a cigarette. And I quit decades ago. Against right-handed pitching, the wRC+ is 135 with a .186 ISO. 13 of the 20 home runs have come against righties. Zebby Matthews is young and has tons of potential, but the long ball has been an issue throughout his young career while the strikeout rate has dissipated. Through 91 innings, the strikeout rate is only 19.9%, after being over 24% the prior two seasons, and he’s allowed 18 home runs, nine to lefties.
Value
Kaelen Culpepper, Minnesota Twins vs. Atlanta Braves ($2,500) — It’s only been 29 plate appearances, but the numbers are meh for Culpepper. The strikeout rate is 31%, barrel rate is 6.3% and bat speed is 73.5 mph. He is slashing .308/.400/.308 against right-handed pitching, though, and has produced fantasy goodies in every game he’s played. Granted, only one of those contests finished with double-digit FPTS, but fantasy points are fantasy points, no matter how small, especially when considering Culpepper’s price. Tyler Mahle has a 5.28 FIP and 7.7 K-BB% against righties while allowing a .294/.376/.461 slash.
OUTFIELD
Stud
Cole Carrigg, Colorado Rockies vs. Los Angeles Dodgers ($5,000) — Carrigg is slashing .292/.378/.486 with an 11% walk rate, 20.2% strikeout rate and .195 ISO in 218 plate appearances. Against left-handed pitching, the wRC+ is 123 with a .195 ISO. Since joining the Dodgers 10 starts ago, Eric Lauer has a 5.11 FIP, 5.37 K/9 and 1.6 HR/9. Righties have hit 16 of the 22 home runs allowed while the FIP is 5.6 and the K-BB% is 6.2.
Value
Jordan Beck, Colorado Rockies vs. Los Angeles Dodgers ($3,100) — Yup, we stacking against Lauer in Coors Field. It’s a small sample size of 48 plate appearances, but Beck has crushed lefties this season. The slash is .341/.375/.545 with a .205 ISO and 135 wRC+. Beck has produced fantasy goodies in 11 straight with two of those in double digits.
