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We have a busy Sunday in the majors, but most of the action is early in the afternoon...but not too early. DraftKings and FanDuel don't like that. Both sites chopped off the Baltimore and Minnesota game that starts at high noon. Killjoys. However, FanDuel did include the Coors tilt on the main slate, so those cheap Tigers bats can really help you there!
This article contains my picks for the nine-game main slate on Sunday, July 2, 2023, for both DraftKings and FanDuel, which locks at 1:35 PM ET. Rain could be an issue in Philly, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati today. Keep an eye on those games before lock. As of now, I am writing as if they will play.
The lineup picks will range from some elite high-priced players to mid-priced options and value plays. I'll give you a few of my top pitching options and then some infielders, outfielders, and teams to stack. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports here. It's also essential to monitor injury news and today's MLB starting lineups.
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DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Spencer Strider, ATL vs. MIA ($12,800 DK, $11,600 FD)
Strider is the low-hanging fruit on this slate, but I'm convinced that the price is weighing this fruit down. It's warranted though. Strider has hog-tied the Marlins in his brief career. His only start against them this season was his best start of the year. He struck out 13 Marlins in eight scoreless innings back in April.
That kind of ceiling is worth paying for. His brief hiccup in the middle of June is already a distant memory thanks to two dominating starts since. This should be the third.
Garrett Whitlock, BOS at TOR ($6,900 DK, $8,000 FD)
Whitlock's peripherals are in line with the rest of his career, but the actual numbers aren't close. The 5.15 ERA is nearly a run higher than his expected ERA. Whitlock's Statcast page is very similar to the rest of his career as well, so what gives this year? Bad luck. The .345 batting average on balls in play is extraordinarily high, as is the 15.5% HR/FB ratio. Those stats should normalize soon.
Toronto isn't a team I usually target with pitchers, especially struggling ones, but Whitlock has an astronomical 34.3 K% against the Jays in two career starts and has only allowed one extra-base hit: a double to Danny Jansen. I like this play in large-field GPPs.
Others to consider: Jordan Montgomery ($7,800 DK, $9,300 FD) vs. NYY; Rich Hill ($6,200 DK, $7,800 FD) vs. MIL
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Justin Turner - 1B(DK) - 1B/3B(FD), BOS at TOR ($4,100 DK, $3,300 FD)
I'm not making it a point to go after Kevin Gausman, but a Turner one-off could set us apart and be lucrative at the same time. Turner has homered in each of the first two games of this series in Toronto and is 8-for-22 (.364) in his career against Gausman with a pair of doubles and a pair of homers. Turner is arguably my favorite sneaky play of the day.
Jose Altuve - 2B, HOU at TEX ($4,700 DK, $3,700 FD)
As a team, the Astros have slugged eight homers against Andrew Heaney in his career. Jose Abreu has four of them, but I don't know if I trust him enough to use him. If you do, that's a great way to afford the expensive outfielders that deserve to be rostered today. If not, you can take Altuve's two homers and .393 career mark against Heaney in 28 at-bats and be good with it.
Anthony Volpe - SS, NYY at STL ($3,000 DK, $2,800 FD)
The rookie had a tough go of it early on in the Big Apple, but he is starting to catch fire now. Volpe has four consecutive multi-hit games and a five-game hitting streak overall. He has scored a run in four of those five games. The bad news is that he only has two doubles and a steal for counting stats, but those multiple hits give you a nice floor for a value play.
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Ronald Acuna Jr. - OF, ATL vs. MIA ($6,600 DK, $4,700 FD)
Sandy Alcantara has allowed five runs in three of his last five starts. That's not good when you're gearing up to face the Braves, a team that has hit him hard in his career anyway. Acuna himself is 9-for-30 in his career against Alcantara with three doubles, a triple, a pair of homers, and six walks. I'm not full-stacking this, but I will have a healthy dose of Acuna in my lineups.
Kyle Schwarber - OF, PHI vs. WAS ($4,800 DK, $3,700 FD)
Don't mind me. I'm just here for the homers. Schwarber has two of those with five RBI in the last three games alone. On top of that, he has destroyed Trevor Willams in his career. Schwarber is 10-for-34 (.294) with four homers and a pair of doubles against Williams. That's more extra-base hits than singles. Chances are we get another one of those today.
Harrison Bader - OF, NYY at STL ($3,600 DK, $3,100 FD)
Bader went hitless in his return to St. Louis last night, but he still drove in a run, his fourth RBI in the last five games. He also has four doubles, seven hits, and seven runs scored in that span. He is heating up just in time for his return to the only baseball home he knew prior to New York. Bader is hitting .400 against lefties so far this season. He feels like a bargain at this price with former Yankee Jordan Montgomery on the mound.
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
Philadelphia Phillies vs. Trevor Williams
Williams only has three quality starts in 16 tries and has allowed an average of one homer per game so far. He allowed two to this same Phillies team about a month ago. That's not the only time the Phillies have hit him well.
That's a high average for the Phillies and the expected stats support continued hard contact and walks for the Phillies. I'll have some Schwarber one-offs in lineups. The stack will have Trea Turner, Bryce Harper, Nick Castellanos, and Alec Bohm in them as well.
Also consider: Cleveland Guardians vs. Jameson Taillon
Taillon's first couple of months with the Cubbies have been miserable. He has a putrid 6.90 ERA on the season and the only silver lining from his last start against Philly was the eight strikeouts. He still gave up five runs, including two homers, in five innings. The Cleveland bats aside from Jose Ramirez are very affordable, which makes them even more appealing.
Sneaky Stack: San Diego Padres vs. Andrew Abbott
Abbott has been outstanding in his major league career so far, allowing just four runs in five games. That has led him to a 4-0 record, 1.21 WHIP, and 0.94 WHIP. Those numbers simply aren't sustainable, especially in Great American Small Park. While his 3.12 expected ERA isn't bad, that may be a bit generous. Abbott has a really low .186 BABIP and has left 100% of runners on base. 100%. That simply won't last. Regression might be swift and ugly, especially against a San Diego team that punishes lefties in a tiny ballpark.
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