FanDuel MLB Lineup Picks (7/18/21): Daily Fantasy Baseball Advice

July 18, 2021

JorgePucks highlights the top FanDuel MLB DFS lineup picks for 7/18/21, and a couple of sleepers to consider while building daily rosters.

Hello RotoBallers! We have a nice-sized Sunday main slate to dissect with lots of batting and pitching options for us to consider. We have some good pitching options on this slate so we will need to figure out which one can get us a few strikeouts and a win while also choosing between some great offenses like Houston, San Diego, and Washington to choose from.

I'll be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for the FanDuel main slate on 7/18/21. 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 FanDuels 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:

Corbin Burnes - MIL @ CIN ($11,200)

Burnes is the highest-priced pitcher on the slate and while the matchup against the Reds is a little troublesome, he is still one of the top options to consider in all formats. Burnes has been in great form over his last three starts as he has allowed only three runs in 19 innings pitched while combining for 20 strikeouts during that stretch. The matchup against Cincinnati looks tough on paper as they have some great bats and have hit right-handed pitching well but glancing at their last 14 days, they are only hitting .236 as a team and have the fourth-highest strikeout total (72 ks) during that span.

Alternate Play(s)

Sonny Gray - CIN vs. MIL ($8,600)

If you're wanting a cheaper option, you could always look to the other side of the Reds and Brewers game and consider Sonny Gray. Gray is over 2k cheaper than Burnes and has churned out back-to-back solid performances since returning from the IL as he has gone 12 innings pitched, allowed three runs while striking out 15 batters. The matchup against Milwaukee presents some upside as they have seven batters who have a strikeout percentage that is greater than 21% while only having two batters that sport an ISO that is greater than .185. Gray has a 30.4% strikeout percentage on the year and has a 49.5% groundball rate so even when getting hit, Gray is able to keep the batters from lifting it into the air which is always a benefit to the pitcher.

Other recommended value pitching options: Zack Wheeler vs. Miami Marlins

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FanDuel DFS Infielders

Mike Zunino - C, TBR @ ATL ($2,500)

Zunino is one of the better lefty-hitting Rays batters and most likely will draw the start behind the plate for the Rays. He is slashing .313 and leads all Rays batters with nine home runs against left-handed pitching this season. He profiles well against Smyly's two main pitches which are hit fastball and knuckle-curve and while rostering Zunino is a risky move, it is one that should be used only in tournaments.

Ozzie Albies - 2B, ATL vs. TBR ($3,700)

If there is one Braves bat that can do some damage against the crafty veteran pitcher in Rich Hill, it will be Ozzie Albies. Albies leads the Braves with a .295 ISO and six home runs against the split while also having a .434 XwOBA. Rich Hill throws two pitches to righties (fastball and knuckle-curve) and Albies profiles extremely well against his fastball as he has an ISO of .600 and an XwOBA of .611 against that pitch type.

Wilmer Flores - 2B/3B, SFG @ STL ($2,500)

Flores could be a nice cheap splits bat that allows you to spend your salary on other high-priced players on this slate. . He is hitting .273 against lefty pitchers this season and is also sporting a .218 ISO. Righties have gotten to Wade LaBlanc as they are hitting .304 against him while also sporting an ISO of .243.

Wander Franco - SS, TBR @ ATL ($2,500)

If you're wanting another Rays batter that poses as a threat against left-handed pitching, it is Wander Franco. Franco has an ISO of .370 and a batting average of .323 against left-handed pitchers this season. his pricepoint is very cheap and with him batting near the top of the order, you could consider him in all formats.

FanDuel DFS Outfielders

Whit Merrifield - 2B/OF, KCR vs. BAL ($3,800)

The Royals will be a popular stacking choice against Matt Harvey and one of the more popular plays on the slate will be Whit Merrifield. Whit is hitting .268 against right-handed pitchers and while the power numbers don't seem to be there, he does have 13 doubles against this handedness this season. Harvey is allowing righties to have a .235 ISO against him and throws his fastball over 40% of the time to right-handed batters which is a pitch that Whit crushes as he has a .320 ISO and a .441 XwOBA against it.

Trey Mancini - OF, BAL @ KCR ($3,200)

Runs could definitely be scored on both sides of this game and Trey Mancini comes in at a very favorable price point to where he could be considered in all formats. Mancini has a hard-hit percentage of 40.9% while having a .420 XwOBA against right-handed pitching this year. Carlos Hernandez will be on the hill for the Royals today and he throws a mixture of pitches to batters with his sinker being the one he uses the most (32% of the time) and Mancini has a .203 ISO and an XwOBA of .354 against that pitch type.

Austin Slater – OF, SFG @ STL (2,300)

Slater is a cheap Giants batter that should be batting near or at the top of the order against Wade LeBlanc. While he is only hitting .222 against lefties, he does lead the Giants with seven home runs against this handedness and has an ISO of .273 with a hard-hit percentage of 42.3%. Slater profiles well against some of Smyly's pitch types especially his cutter and sinker which he throws close to 50% of the time to right-handed batters.