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Juan Carlos Blanco highlights the top FanDuel MLB DFS lineup picks for 7/9/21, and a couple of sleepers to consider while building daily rosters.
FanDuel brings us a robust Friday night slate that features all but the Cardinals-Cubs afternoon tilt. We have some likely DFS-friendly games in Baltimore and Boston, which informs a pair of hitter decisions, and some vulnerable arms in other spots that can also be taken advantage of.
There are also some very appealing salaries for hitters in appealing matchups, a couple of arms that could also prove to be very good fantasy-point-per-dollar values on a night when pitching depth isn’t all that formidable.
I'll be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for the FanDuel main slate on 7/9/2021. 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 read more DFS advice and lineup picks for sites like DraftKings, and other sports.
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FanDuel DFS Pitchers
Cash Game/GPP Anchor Play:
Taijuan Walker – vs. PIT ($9,500)
Walker will take the hill on an extra day of rest and still likely motivated by his All-Star snub, and he’ll do it in a highly appealing matchup to boot. The right-hander owns an unblemished 4-0 mark, 1.52 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 0.2 HR/9 across 41.1 home frames, and he checks in having allowed two earned runs or less in eight of his last 10 turns overall. The Pirates make for an excellent matchup as well, as Pittsburgh has just a .228 average, .297 OBP, -7.0 wRAA and .287 wOBA against righties on the road in the last month.
Potential Alternate Play
Kenta Maeda – vs. DET ($7,300)
There are some warts on Maeda and on the matchup overall, but as already noted, the pitching depth isn’t necessarily the greatest Friday. The right-hander has actually been very good in three of his last four starts while allowing two earned runs or less, but he also had a concerning meltdown on the road against the White Sox two starts ago where he surrendered seven earned runs across 4.2 innings. Nevertheless, he’s at home Friday, where he owns a 3.29 ERA, 9.9 K/9 and has yet to allow a home run over 13.2 innings. Maeda already owns a quality start against the Tigers this season as well, giving up two earned runs on seven hits over six innings back on April 7. Detroit has been good against righties on the road of late, but brings a ceiling north of 40 FD points, which makes him a potentially rewarding tournament value at his current salary.
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FanDuel DFS Infielders
C.J. Cron- 1B, at SDP ($2,800) (Pivot Option if Cron is out: Jose Abreu, at BAL - $3,500)
Cron’s status should be monitored closely before lineup lock, as he’s passed concussion protocol after getting hit in the head Thursday but could potentially still be held out for precautionary reasons. If he is, as noted above, the White Sox’s Abreu makes for a strong pivot in a matchup against the Orioles’ Jorge Lopez. As far as Cron, he’s very worthy of consideration if in the lineup, as he owns a .319 average, .414 wOBA and .261 ISO against left-handers overall, including a .303 average outside of Coors. The Padres’ Blake Snell is questionable to take the hill Friday, but if he does, it’s worth noting he’s allowed a .371 wOBA to right-handed hitters and a .400 average to Cron in 10 career encounters. If Snell doesn’t start, Cron could have a crack at a group of relievers that have given up a .371 wOBA to right-handed hitters in the last 10 days.
Jean Segura – 2B, at BOS ($3,100)
Segura is in the midst of an excellent season, as he owns a .324 average and .824 OPS across 57 games. The veteran infielder has been especially effective in same-handed matchups, posting a .336 average, .822 OPS and .360 wOBA against right-handed pitching, and an impressive 24.6 percent line-drive rate when facing righties on the road. The Red Sox’s Garrett Richards shapes up as a nice target, as he’s pitched to a 6.75 ERA, .349 BAA and .403 wOBA at Fenway Park and has allowed a .364 average and .414 wOBA to right-handed hitters specifically at home.
Yoan Moncada– 3B, at BAL ($2,700)
The switch-hitting Moncada has put up some impressive numbers when hitting from the left side, as he owns a .270 average and .362 wOBA against right-handed pitching. He’s also posted an elite 30.8 percent line-drive rate against righties on the road, and he enjoys an excellent matchup Friday. Orioles starter Jorge Lopez has had plenty of trouble against hitters of either handedness and has allowed a .262 average and .359 wOBA to left-handed hitters, as well as a .283 BAA and .355 wOBA at home. Finally, it’s worth noting Moncada has frequently made Lopez miserable, as the ChiSox infielder owns a .546 average and two homers against him over 11 career encounters.
Elvis Andrus – SS, at TEX ($2,300)
Andrus picked up another two hits Thursday, pushing his average to .294 over the last 25 games after a forgettable start to the season. The veteran shortstop gets a crack at his old Rangers squad Friday and faces the very hittable Jordan Lyles, who’s allowed a .340 average, .378 wOBA and 1.7 HR/9 to right-handed bats in his home park. Andrus’ offensive successes have come almost exclusively against right-handed pitching as well, and he owns a .279 average versus that handedness on the road. Meanwhile, Rangers relievers have given up a 5.28 ERA and .334 wOBA to right-handed hitters over the last 10 days, keeping Andrus’ outlook bright when Lyles exits.
FanDuel DFS Outfielders
Franmil Reyes– vs. KC ($3,200)
Reyes continues to arguably be one of the more underappreciated sluggers in all of baseball, and he’ll check into Friday with homers in three straight games. The 26-year-old has been particularly effective at home, where he boasts a .327 average, .428 wOBA and .345 ISO against right-handed pitching, and a 1.058 OPS overall. Royals starter Brad Keller is coming off a strong outing, but he’s had a fair share of disastrous outings this season and carries a .388 BAA, .457 wOBA, 2.1 HR/9 and 6.41 xFIP against right-handed hitters on the road.
Mitch Haniger- vs. LAA ($3,400)
Haniger has had his share of hot and cold spells this season, but he’s squared up nicely against right-handed pitching for a .334 wOBA and .216 ISO. The veteran outfielder has a tantalizing matchup against Angels starter Alex Cobb, who’s been tormented by righty bats on the road for a .378 average, .449 wOBA and gargantuan 45.2 percent line-drive rate. Haniger also happens to be very good hitter against the sinker, Cobb’s trademark pitch – he owns a .354 wOBA and .227 ISO against the pitch this season, and a .303 average, .367 wOBA and 14.6 wRAA versus the offering for his career.
Tommy Pham – vs. COL ($2,500)
Pham makes for an intriguing tournament play in particular Friday against southpaw Kyle Freeland, who checks into the road matchup having pitched to an outstanding 0.53 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 9.0 K/9 across the 17 innings covering his last three starts. Freeland also hasn’t allowed a home run in any of those turns after surrendering nine over his first five starts, but he’s undoubtedly pitching over his head a bit at the moment. Meanwhile, Pham has atypically struggled against left-handed pitching this season, but he still owns a .285 average and .377 wOBA against southpaws for his career and has certainly been largely held back by an unlucky .182 BABIP against that handedness at home in 2021. Freeland, despite his recent success, has also been at his most ineffective on the road, where he’s given up a .283 average, .404 wOBA, 3.1 HR/9 and 5.47 xFIP to right-handed hitters.
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