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Happy Thursday, RotoBallers! After we skipped a Thursday due to the All-Star break, MLB DFS is back with a six-game slate throughout the afternoon. The slate starts with a lunchtime battle between the Padres and Nationals at 12:05 p.m. EDT before ending on the West Coast in a classic NL West showdown with the Giants and Dodgers.
San Diego will be excited to face Patrick Corbin on Thursday afternoon. The veteran Southpaw has struggled for a few years, and the Padres are locked in against left-handed pitching. Over the last month, San Diego sports top three numbers in average, OPS, and wOBA versus left-handed pitching. There are no weather concerns for any of the afternoon slate of games.
This article will provide my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 7/25/2024 and the slate locking at 12:05 p.m. EDT. The lineup picks will range from some elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports here. Monitoring injury news and today's MLB starting lineups is also essential.
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DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Dylan Cease - RHP, SD at Nationals ($9.2K DraftKings; $10.9K FanDuel)
Dylan Cease entered the All-Star break on fire and came out of it similarly. The strikeout-heavy pitcher gets a nice matchup against Washington and looks to continue his impressive run. In five of the last six games, Cease has registered at least eight strikeouts, and for that entire run, he's boasting a 39.1 percent strikeout rate.
Absolute Brilliance from Dylan Cease.
100mph on pitches 103-105 and then a wicked slider. pic.twitter.com/ERvxhCQ6JO
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 14, 2024
Max Scherzer - RHP, TEX vs. White Sox ($8.6K DK; $9.3K FD)
This isn't the prime version of Max Scherzer we saw in the 2010s, but the veteran hurler is still getting the job done in 2024. Plus, the matchup in Chicago will significantly boost his DFS prospects. On the year, Mad Max owns a 3.99 ERA with a 1.16 WHIP and a 15.0 percent K-BB%. While Scherzer has developed a bit of a home run problem in recent start (five allowed in five games), he won't have to worry about that with the White Sox. Since June 24, Chicago has been a bottom-two squad in OPS, wOBA, and wRC+ to right-handed hurlers, and their 24.1 percent strike rate is the third-highest in the league.
Also consider: Corbin Burnes at MIA, Clayton Kershaw vs. SF, Chris Bassitt vs. TB
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Nathaniel Lowe - 1B, TEX vs. Jonathan Cannon ($3.6K DK; $2.8K FD)
With a RHP on the mound, Nathaniel Lowe will retain his usual slot in the Rangers lineup. Batting behind Wyatt Langford and Adolis Garcia usually leads to good things, and it's been fruitful for Lowe since the All-Star break. In the six games since the season resumed, the left-handed first baseman has a hit in five of those games, along with four runs, five RBI, and two home runs, averaging 13.55 FanDuel PPG in that stretch.
The exclamation mark! #StraightUpTX pic.twitter.com/f9JsCtGLmj
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) July 25, 2024
Xander Bogaerts - 2B/SS, SD at Patrick Corbin ($4.0K DK; $2.8K FD)
Due to the Nationals rolling out LHP Patrick Corbin on Thursday afternoon, Xander Bogaerts will likely move up the Padres batting lineup in a straight swap with Jake Cronenworth in the 3-hole. It's been a frustratingly injured-plagued season for Bogaersts in 2024, but he's showing signs of finding his groove. Since his return from the IL, the former Red Sox has multiple hits in six of his seven games, including a 4-for-4 performance yesterday. There are no signs of power in that bat, but this Padres lineup is humming against LHP, and grabbing Bogaerts right in the middle of that production is a fantastic play.
Gunnar Henderson - SS, BAL at Roddery Munoz ($6.3K DK; $4.5K FD)
For the season, Gunnar Henderson sports a .285/.371/.569 slash line for a .941 OPS. So when it's dropped to a .576 OPS over the last two weeks, DFS managers may raise their eyebrows. However, this is where you need to buy the dip. Henderson's not going to stay down for long, and you can get him at a discounted exposure against a great matchup in Roddery Munoz. The Marlins arm has a 5.21 xFIP in 2024 with a 19.7 percent HR/FB rate while also conceding a 13.1 percent Barrel rate.
Also consider: Jonah Heim, Luis Arraez, Marcus Semien, Daniel Schneemann, Taylor Walls
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Steven Kwan - OF, CLE vs. Kenta Maeda ($5.7K DK; $3.6K FD)
After Tuesday night's home run, Steven Kwan hit double-digit longballs for the first time in his career. The power he's added to his game in 2024 has come as a pleasant surprise and elevated him from a floor play with his ability for multi-hit efforts to a premium DFS asset. In 75 games this year, the Guardians outfielder has a .902 OPS with 57 runs, 26 RBI, 10 home runs, and six stolen bases, averaging 11.31 FD PPG. Hitting atop Cleveland's lineup with Kenta Maeda on the mound puts Kwan in an excellent DFS points-scoring role on Thursday's slate.
Richie Palacios - OF/2B/3B, TB at Chris Bassitt ($3.5K DK; $2.7K FD)
We've got a leadoff hitter under $4.0K on DraftKings here, folks! This article will always mention that value as the upside is too significant to pass up on. Even though Tampa Bay has been struggling against right-handed pitching over the last month, Richie Palacios can get the starting nod in our DFS lineups. The utility bat has a .697 OPS on the year but has seen a rise to a .814 OPS over the last two weeks. His leadoff spot and tendency to steal a base (17 this season) propel Palacios up the DFS rankings. Plus, in four at-bats versus Bassit, the Rays outfielder has sent one over the fence.
⚾Richie Palacios, @richiemille! HR (4)
5/17/24 @ TOR, ⬆️ 6th
vs RHP Chris Bassitt102.5 MPH / 29° / 373 ft to RF
Off a 72.7 MPH sweeper▶️It's a home run in 16/30 parks.◀️
📺: https://t.co/1QaCY0oKdW pic.twitter.com/8UmxI7RtWQ
— Home Run Report (@homerunreport) May 18, 2024
Justyn-Henry Malloy - OF, DET at Gavin Williams ($3.0K DK; $2.8K FD)
Over his last 10 games, Justyn-Henry Malloy is putting together the best stretch of his young career. In those 10 games, the Tigers outfielder is rocking a .974 OPS and 170 wRC+, which are way up from his season-long numbers of .760 OPS and 114 wRC+. Malloy's collected a hit in eight of those 10 games along with six runs, nine RBI, and four extra-base hits (three home runs), averaging 12.57 FD PPG. He's hitting third in the Tigers order and is worth the investment if you need to spread the salary among the rest of your DFS lineup.
Also consider: Luis Matos, Shohei Ohtani, Jurickson Profar, Will Brennan, Wyatt Langford
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
1. San Diego Padres vs. Patrick Corbin - LHP, WSH
Favorite Plays: Luis Arraez, Jurickson Profar, Xander Bogaerts
2. Baltimore Orioles at Roddery Munoz - RHP, MIA
Favorite Plays: Anthony Santander, Ryan O'Hearn, Colton Cowser
3. Texas Rangers vs. Jonathan Cannon - RHP, CWS
Favorite Plays: Wyatt Langford, Nathaniel Lowe, Jonah Heim
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