Hey, everyone. Jared from Fantasy Cruncher here. With a few afternoon games, we have a set of 11 to work with tonight for the main slate.
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Weather
There are threats of rain in Pittsburgh this evening, as well as Chicago and Cleveland. It should clear up in all 3 of those spots closer to game time, but they are all of moderate concern at this point. Make sure to monitor those situations in case you plan to go heavy with exposure, as we’d hate to see you go too heavy with risky SPs or even bats that may not get a chance to play their game. Hold off, Mother Nature!
Overall Thoughts
Despite some attractive mid-range options on the board today, I didn’t have a hard time building a lineup that I think is very strong with Corey Kluber on the mound for me. It does result in a couple “punts” with power upside, which I am more than willing to take a gamble on for GPPs.
Pitcher
Corey Kluber (CLE): $10,200 vs LAD
Kluber enters the evening slate as the clear No. 1 favorite with an excellent sabermetric profile over his last couple starts. While only a two-game sample, his 13.5 K/9, 2.26 SIERA, 21.1% whiff rate and 40% chase rate are tremendous. The 16% hard hit rate is elite and bodes extremely well for a tough match-up with a talented Dodgers club that hits RHP pretty well on the year. He continues to be one of the better DFS plays in the game, particularly on a slate like this where he rises above the rest of the field in so many areas. On a single pitcher site like FanDuel for just over $10,000 – I have no problem with it. I expect a QS at minimum over seven innings with at least that many strikeouts in the process.
Other Notables
- Michael Pineda
- Brian Johnson (punt option)
Catcher
Cameron Rupp (PHI): $2,000 vs BOS
Despite liking Brian Johnson as a punt SP candidate on FanDuel, I have no problem giving Rupp some run against a lefty that won’t blow guys away with his raw stuff. He is a fly ball pitcher and at the site minimum in a decent match-up, this is one spot that I am ok with a moderate amount of risk. Gary Sanchez is a close second, but you can imagine how different the lineup would look for a guy that is more than 2x Rupp’s salary.
Other Notables
First Base
Matt Carpenter (STL): $3,300 vs MIL
For what continues to be a great price, it’s hard to stay away from Carpenter while he’s leading off and hitting very well for the Cardinals. He has a juicy match-up today against Matt Garza who traditionally struggles against LHB, and Carpenter’s xBH streak continues to climb. St. Louis has a 5.1 run expectancy per Vegas, and I want at least a share of that offense tonight in this lineup.
Other Notables
Second Base
Brian Dozier (MIN): $3,900 vs SEA
Dozier has to be one of the hottest hitters in baseball right now, sporting an eight-game hitting streak and putting up 12+ FDP in five straight. Sam Gaviglio is in for a tough time tonight against a Twins team that is projected for nearly six runs. The Twins’ leadoff bat for under $4,000 is an absolute steal.
Other Notables
Third Base
Wilmer Flores (NYM): $2,700 vs CHC
With the way that Flores hits the ball against LHP, you have to consider him a top sub-$3,000 play on the slate. He gets a solid arm that is Mike Montgomery, but not one that will blow hitters away by any means. The run total for the Mets won’t jump off the page, but with his wOBA and ISO splits the last couple years against lefties, you can’t go wrong. He will be popular, though.
Other Notables
Shortstop
Xander Bogaerts (BOS): $3,500 @ PHI
There are a handful of attractive options at shortstop today, but as far as value and match-up goes, Bogaerts checks in as a really nice play. Carlos Correa and Francisco Lindor both sit in great spots but are a bit too expensive to fit what I am trying to do here. So, that leaves me with the Boston play, on a team that is projected for five runs per Vegas. He has solid splits vs RHP and Hellickson won’t blow anyone away. For a high-contact bat in a good spot, I will take it for $3,500 tonight.
Other Notables
- Carlos Correa
- Francisco Lindor
- Aledmys Diaz (very nice sneaky play)
Outfield
J.D. Martinez (DET): $4,000 vs ARI
I absolutely love the power Martinez brings to the table at home against Walker, who tends to have trouble with righty power bats historically. Martinez has hits in seven of his last eight games and has gone deep three times so far in June. He has gaudy ISO numbers on the year and is a nice bet for a double-digit FDP outing today.
Andrew Benintendi (BOS): $3,000 @ PHI
After a long string of games where he basically disappeared, Benintendi is back in a big way for the Red Sox. For the price, you can’t really argue it, with three-straight games of at least 16 FDP and plenty of production in the hits, runs, and RBIs departments. Hellickson really struggles vs LHB, which is where Benintendi’s value and splits really make him a great play today.
Kyle Schwarber (CHC): $2,400 @ NYM
I consider Schwarber a punt play, much like Rupp at my C spot. He hasn’t been playing every day for the Cubs, but he is coming off a night where he hit sixth for Chicago, and continues to be a great price. Assuming he is back in the lineup today against Harvey, his power potential for the price makes for a nice lower-end play. Note that if he doesn’t start, you may wish to pay down at SS for Diaz so you can coin-up a bit at OF3 with a $3,000 or so option.
Other Notables
- Yoenis Cespedes
- Michael Brantley
- Jose Bautista
- Mookie Betts
- Tommy Pham
- David Peralta
- Carlos Gonzalez
- Seth Smith
- Aaron Judge
- George Springer
My Lineup
- SP – Corey Kluber (CLE): $10,200 vs LAD
- C – Cameron Rupp (PHI): $2,000 vs BOS
- 1B – Matt Carpenter (STL): $3,300 vs MIL
- 2B – Brian Dozier (MIN): $3,900 vs SEA
- 3B – Wilmer Flores (NYM): $2,700 vs CHC
- SS – Xander Bogaerts (BOS): $3,500 @ PHI
- OF – J.D. Martinez (DET): $4,000 vs ARI
- OF – Andrew Benintendi (BOS): $3,000 @ PHI
- OF – Kyle Schwarber (CHC): $2,400 @ NYM
Jared Kwart is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Jared, find his work at FantasyCruncher.com and follow him @FCJaredK.
