We have a solid six-game slate tonight. The doubleheader between the Braves and Mets is left entirely off the slate so we don't have to deal with the joke that is a seven-inning official game. Only one pitcher tips the scales at five figures. Is he a must-play, or can we get about the same out of one of the others for a lower price? We'll check that out!
The only place with a slight rain threat is Baltimore. If the rain stays away, it's going to be hot and humid, making Baltimore right up there with Phoenix for the best hitting destinations. The wind is blowing in at both Wrigley and Globe Life Field, making them two of the best spots for pitchers. It's a little cool in Minneapolis for solstice day, but it's still an overall hitter's park.
I'll be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for the FanDuel main slate on 6/21/2021. Be sure to also check out all the MLB player news, including late scratches, and the projected and confirmed daily MLB lineups for each DFS slate. You can also check out today's DraftKings MLB DFS lineup picks, and read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports too. Let's get to it!
FanDuel DFS Pitchers
Cash Game/GPP Anchor Play:
Frankie Montas – OAK at TEX ($9,500)
I'm in no hurry to run any pitcher at the Dodgers, especially one with the control issues that Yu Darvish has. Instead I'll turn to Montas, who is facing a Texas squad that has lost six straight and seven of eight. They are hitting just .215 in the month of June with 57 runs in 16 games. Montas hasn't been great this year, but he has been good enough. He has at least six strikeouts in five of the last six games to help offset the few runs he is giving up.
Potential Alternate Play
Kyle Gibson– TEX vs. OAK ($7,900)
The new Globe Life Park is turning out to be a great place for pitchers. Gibson has a 0.96 ERA and 0.91 WHIP in six home starts this season. Gibson hasn't given up more than three runs in any of his 13 starts. Most of the metrics support the great season he is having. The 3.13 xERA shows slight regression is coming, but opponents are having problems getting the ball in the air and aren't getting the barrel on the ball. As long as Gibson can keep doing that, he'll be successful. I'll say that most of his regression is going to come away from Globe Life Park. Gibson doesn't rack up a ton of strikeouts so his ceiling is limited, but he's not priced for a ceiling game.
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FanDuel DFS Infielders
Matt Olson – 1B, OAK at TEX ($4,100)
Yes, I am well aware that Kyle Gibson has a 0.96 ERA at home this year. I also know that he has a losing record in his career with a 4.41 ERA and 1.39 WHIP, so quite frankly, he is pitching out of his ass. The .244 BABIP is 41 points lower than his best season in 2018 and the 84% strand rate is unsustainable. Yes, Gibson has learned how to pitch, but he's also due for some regression. Olson is hitting .330 on the road this year, has four straight games with double-digit FanDuel points, and hasn't been scoreless in DFS since May 29. Oh, and he's 7-14 with three homers and five RBI in his career against Gibson.
Ketel Marte – 2B/OF, ARI vs. MIL ($3,400)
Brett Anderson trolled everyone last week with a gem against the Reds, but prior to that he had two single-digit FanDuel point outings along with two negative FanDuel point outings in his prior seven starts. The other three starts in that period combined equaled the 52 FanDuel points he put up against the Reds, so I'll call it what it was: a fluke. Meanwhile, Marte has nine hits over his last five games with seven runs scored, six RBI, and a steal. There's points to be had here in a hitter's park against the soft-tossing lefty.
Jonathan India – 2B/3B, CIN at MIN ($2,800)
It makes sense to take the leadoff hitter of a team that you're stacking. In this case, I'm going after J.A. Happ and his gaudy 6.12 ERA and current cold streak. India has three multi-hit games in the last week, but no hits in the other four games combined. However, he did walk five times. Considering that India's main assets are his speed and scoring runs, we don't much care how he gets on base just as long as he gets on. Many Reds will be crossing home plate at Target Field tonight. I'd be willing to bet that India is at least one of those.
Carlos Correa – SS, HOU at BAL ($3,900)
Baltimore has some great hitting weather, and Correa is on a heater right now anyway. He has homered in back-to-back games and has three in the last week. He has also driven in a run and scored at least one run in six of the last seven games. Keegan Akin does have a solid 3.97 ERA at home this year, but that's in serious jeopardy tonight with the way the Astros in general and Correa in particular are hitting.
FanDuel DFS Outfielders
Nick Castellanos– OF, CIN at MIN ($4,200)
I'm going to be heavy on Reds tonight because Happ has given up 14 runs, including six homers, over 14 innings in his past three starts. Cincinnati is a good hitting team anyway. Put them up there against a guy who's not pitching well in another hitter's park, and you can see where this is going. Castellanos is 12-22(.545) lifetime against Happ with a homer, seven runs scored, and seven RBI. I'll start there. And although Olson gets the nod at 1B, I would strongly consider Joey Votto for the UTIL slot. He's hot right now anyway, and he is 9-23(.391) lifetime against Happ.
Ramon Laureano– OF, OAK at TEX ($3,500)
I know it seems like I'm picking on Gibson, but I'm not. Not really. It's conceivable that he could put up another quality start with both Olson and Laureano also getting what we paid for. Laureano is 7-13 lifetime against Gibson with two homers, four RBI, a steal, and four runs scored. Even if Gibson pitches well again, Laureano should still get something off of him.
Trevor Larnach – OF, MIN vs. CIN ($2,600)
Larnach picked up four hits over the weekend in Texas, including a homer. That's now ten hits in the last eight games for Larnach. He has actually fared better than top prospect Alex Kiriloff so far in the majors. Kiriloff has more potential due to a more favorable lineup slot, but for now I'll take Larnach at a discount. I want to see Kiriloff comfortable at the plate again like he was before he got hurt. That hasn't happened yet.
FanDuel DFS Stacks Options
- Houston Astros
- Cincinnati Reds
- Arizona Diamondbacks
- Milwaukee Brewers
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