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Today is an 11 game day with some potentially high scoring affairs across the board. The only match ups I am confident will be controlled by pitchers are both Los Angeles teams with Zack Greinke and Garrett Richards. Without further adieu, here are my MLB DFS lineup picks for DraftKings games for July 9th, 2015.
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Offenses to Target for Stacking
Tigers vs. RHP Mike Pelfrey
Pelfrey has not been pitching well recently and today is a great day to capitalize on his expected misfortunes. He has been giving up a .323 wOBA / .400 SLG % / 3.61 ERA to RHB and .349 wOBA / .383 SLG % / 4.38 ERA to LHB this season. Those numbers are among the worst for pitchers today besides Kyle Kendrick. In his past three games, Pelfrey is winless with has a 9.95 ERA. He is better at home with a .277 wOBA and 1.80 ERA, but the Tigers are one of the best teams on the road this season. They own both the second highest wOBA and wRC+ with .329 and 110 respectively. Target Field is a RHB favorable park so look for J.D. Martinez to rack up some points today. J.D. has knocked four homers and driven in 10 RBI in the past week. He is one of the most promising options today and must be played.
Braves vs. RHP Kyle Kendrick
The fact that Kyle Kendrick is homer-prone should be an immediate red flag. He is giving up a 6.44 ERA vs RHB and 5.44 ERA vs LHB. Even though it seems hard to believe, Kendrick is worse when facing LHB, giving up a .402 wOBA and .560 SLG %. It does not help his case playing in Rockies stadium which is one of the most hitter favorable parks. There are plenty of LHB to choose from including Nick Markakis and A.J. Pierzynski who have proven to own RHP. Cameron Maybin is one of the hottest bats right now in Atlanta and although he is a RHB, he should have no problem with Kendrick. A .343 wOBA and .420 SLG % including two homers in the last seven days should be enough to start Maybin as one of the top OF options today. The Braves have been mediocre on the road so far but the favorable matchup today makes them irresistible.
Starting Pitchers to Target for DraftKings
Zack Greinke (SP, LAD) - $11,200
Zack Greinke is absolutely unstoppable. In his last two starts, a 0.00 ERA along with 15 Ks is near flawless. In six out of his 17 starts, he has refused to let up a run. The Phillies are among the worst in the league in both wOBA and wRC+ with .291 and 83. For a RHP, Dodger Stadium is impartial but favors the pitcher when facing LHB. Regardless of the park, Greinke is automatic and should be played in all tournaments today.
Garrett Richards (SP, LAA) - $9,300
Garrett Richards has been able to limit the Mariners to only three runs this year. He has pitched a little over 14 innings against the Mariners and is giving up a respectable .269 wOBA and 3.31 to LHB this year. The Mariners rank among the bottom in wRC+ vs. RHP with 87. In addition to poor batting vs RHP, the Mariners also struggle on the road with a .299 wOBA and 95 wRC+. Richards does have some trouble on the road, giving up a .304 wOBA and 4.50 ERA. Luckily for Richards, Safeco Field favors pitchers so he should be able to keep the balls in play. The Mariners also have a 23.4 K% at home which should help Richards rack up the strikeouts today.
Infielders to Target for DraftKings
A.J. Pierzynski (C, ATL) - $3,800
A.J. Pierzynski is my must start for the day. He has been playing some fantastic baseball and his .429 BA, two homers and five RBI in the past week prove that. His matchup with Kyle Kendrick is downright tasty. With a .345 wOBA and .477 SLG % against RHP as a LHB, A.J. should dominate Kendrick. Even on the road A.J. produces a .358 wOBA and 129 wRC+. He is in a hitters park playing against a very vulnerable pitcher. A.J. all day.
Jose Abreu (1B, CWS) - $4,500
Jose Abreu has seemed to catch a spark in the past week. His .300 BA along with one homer and three RBI should look to grow as he faces R.A. Dickey at U.S. Cellular Field. Jose has destroyed previous RHP for 132 wRC+ and .512 SLG %. He is a dangerous bat and it does not change when he is playing at home. The park favors LHB slightly but has a recent history of allowing a plethora of runs. When Dickey is on the road, he is horrendous and is currently holding a 6.04 ERA coming into today. Abreu should be good for at least a hit or two if not much more.
D.J. LeMahieu (2B, COL) - $3,600
The Rockies playing at home always make for exciting games. Coors Field heavily favors hitters and both teams have hittable matchups. Alex Wood has been much better overall than Kyle Kendrick but still struggles against RHB. Wood is giving up a .341 wOBA and .414 SLG % which will hurt him tonight. DJ plays much better at home and has a 104 wRC+ so far this season. I also like this matchup with Troy Tulowitzki but DJ is a much cheaper option.
Kelly Johnson (3B, ATL) - $3,600
The second Braves player that I recommend has been on fire lately. In the past week, Kelly Johnson has accumulated two home runs along with seven RBI. His .341 wOBA when facing LHP only looks better when it is next to his . 472 SLG %. Even on the road Johnson has a 120 wRC+ which should help the Braves today when they face Kyle Kendrick. The Braves should pour it on the Rockies and Johnson should be part of the hit parade that should ensue.
Outfielders to Target for DraftKings
Nick Markakis (OF, ATL) - $4,000
Nick Markakis is one of the top options for today due to his ability to punish RHP. He faces Kyle Kendrick who is frequently destroyed by the teams he faces. The Braves have a very promising matchup and Markakis is due for a good game. They are playing in the most favorable stadium for hitters which makes his .380 SLG % against RHP more enticing. While on the road Markakis has remained consistent and his .348 wOBA accents his 123 wRC+ and proves he can score runs, especially today when many of the Braves players should make contact. He is a contact hitter and his matchup today is in favor of Markakis.
Adam Eaton (OF, CWS) - $3,700
Adam Eaton has been one of the best batters on the Sox lately. This is a matchup he should come out of successfully as he has torched RHP for a .335 wOBA and 111 wRC+. The White Sox at home only slightly hurts Eaton as he is facing R.A. Dickey who is one of the worst pitching options today, especially on the road. When facing LHB, Dickey sacrifices a .340 wOBA and 4.34 ERA to LHB. Dickey also gives up a 6.04 ERA and .392 wOBA which puts him at the top for worst pitchers on the road today.
Ryan Raburn (OF, CLE) - $2,600
As a cheaper outfield option with plenty of upside, Raburn kills LHP and has a .395 wOBA / .545 SLG % / 159 wRC+ when facing them. Raburn is at home and even though Progressive Field favors LHP slightly, Raburn has managed to provide support for the Indians. His last outing ended with three strikeouts against LHP Dallas Keuchel but I do not see that happening again. Oberholtzer is giving up a .320 wOBA and 3.20 ERA to RHB this season. On the road, Oberholtzer struggles and the numbers jump to a .354 wOBA and a 4.58 ERA. This is a nice little matchup that should prove to be well worth the price.
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