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 Ranger Suarez (BOS), $9,700: Suarez is due to be activated from the injured list before Sunday’s start, and the timing could not be better. The Red Sox starter gets to work his way back against a Blue Jays offense that is dead last in wRC+ in July by a solid margin. Given the short injury layoff, I don’t expect him to be on any innings limit; he has the full green light to cook this paltry lineup.
Pitcher Value Plays
SP Ronel Blanco (HOU), $7,800: Back in the rotation, Blanco is being called on for critical starts with the Astros fighting to stay in the playoff picture. On Sunday, Blanco gets a favorable tilt against a scuffling White Sox lineup with the third-worst wRC+ in July. Though he may not go 6+ innings, the offensive upside for Chicago is low, giving him strong value.
SP Andrew Abbott (CIN), $7,500: Why not keep spinning the wheel against struggling offenses? St. Louis’ lineup has been in the mud for weeks, while Andrew Abbott is rounding into form for the Reds. The lefty doesn’t wow you with strikeout stuff, but gets deep into games and prevents runs as well as he can. He’s a strong play amongst a deep group of starters.
SP Luinder Avila (KC), $5,600: If you REALLY need some value down the board, Avila is your guy. Detroit’s offense doesn’t inspire the fear it did last year, and Avila is showing better command in his last few starts and producing some good results. Provided he can avoid the walks, this is a good shot for him to return medium SP2 value on a bottom-barrel price.
Infield Studs
1B Pete Alonso (BAL), $5,500: If you need a lineup anchor with a good blend of floor and ceiling, Alonso is your man. Hits, walks, RBIs, runs, even stolen bases—he seemingly always finds a way to get something going. And of course, there’s the big home run upside, which is in play against the homer-prone Braves starter Reynaldo Lopez. All of this makes Alonso well worth the stud price.
2B/SS Tommy Edman (LAD), $4,700: Edman missed the first few months of the season and has hit the ground running since getting back in LA’s lineup. He’s batting well over .300 with an OPS above .900. Though he’s not providing a ton of power or speed, the on-base and run-scoring potential is through the roof against the Mets and struggling starter Freddy Peralta.
Infield Value Plays
C Francisco Alvarez (NYM), $3,300: Perhaps Alvarez is finally turning a corner for the Mets. He’s got his power swing back and is drawing more walks than usual. On Sunday, he gets a date with Dodgers starter Emmett Sheehan, who is giving up an awful lot of home runs to fuel his 5.13 ERA.
2B/3B Ildemaro Vargas (ARI), $3,200: Remember when Vargas was the hottest hitter on the planet to begin the season? That version of him isn’t coming back, but he’s putting together a strong week with a pair of three-hit games that have produced a lot of runs scored. Facing struggling Nats starter Miles Mikolas, it’s a good high-floor matchup for Vargas to provide value.
1B/3B Christian Encarnacion-Strand (BAL), $3,200: This guy is scorching hot since his call-up to the majors. The former Reds top prospect has bashed three homers and driven in eight runs since getting the call. He and Pete Alonso are a nice 1-2 punch against Braves starter Reynaldo Lopez.
Outfield Studs
OF Corbin Carroll (ARI), $5,500: Carroll comes into this game awfully hot. Over his past six games, Carroll has six hits, a home run, two triples, five runs scored, two walks, two RBIs, and three stolen bases. It’s nothing new for the stat-stuffing superstar. Against glorified batting practice machine Miles Mikolas, Carroll should continue his sweet-swinging ways.
Outfield Value Plays
OF A.J. Ewing (NYM), $3,500: Not a bad idea to pack in as many Mets as you can against Emmett Sheehan. Ewing has been surprisingly adept at the plate for a rookie, and I love his upside in this matchup. He has the potential to go deep but gets on base at a strong clip, giving him a solid floor-ceiling balance.
OF Heriberto Hernandez (MIA), $3,400: I can’t quit you, Heriberto. Though the Marlins are in a free fall, Hernandez continues to produce strong results at the plate in the middle of their lineup. Walker Buehler has been rough all season for the Padres, and it gives Hernandez a good shot at producing big results.
