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Daily Fantasy Baseball: Early FanDuel Lineup For June 20

By Mike Marteny

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Jun 15, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Carlos Rodon (55) delivers a pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning of an inter-league game at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

There are five games this afternoon in major league baseball, which gives us 1/3 of the player pool to choose from. There is also one interleague game today, meaning that the picks based on stats alone are not going to be easy. This is one of the days where it is best to use a combination of past success and current hitting.

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NOTE: these picks are based solely on statistics. Some players have never faced their opponents, or have very little experience against them. I am not saying that none of those are good picks. This is based on statistical analysis only. If you have a gut feeling, then by all means, follow that. This is not an exact science. I just provide the facts.

Here is my early FanDuel Lineup For June 20:

Pitcher:

Best Bet:

Max Scherzer, Nationals ($11,900): Scherzer is more than $1000 more than anyone else, and with good reason. Not only is he pitching well right now, but he has Bob Gibson-esque numbers against the Pittsburgh Pirates. They are hitting a dismal .141 off of him in 71 at bats with 30 strikeouts to only three walks. Expect Scherzer to be worth every penny of his salary today. Leave him out of your lineup at your own risk.

Honorable Mention:

Carlos Rodon, White Sox ($6,800): This is a tough sell since Rodon got raked across the coals by Pittsburgh in his last start. Still, Rodon was very good against the Rangers back on June 4th, holding them to one run in six innings while striking out ten. That resulted in 15 FanDuel points since he got a no decision. He should provide solid value for the price. The trick is picking the bats that will make up the 10+ points less that Rodon gets you than Scherzer.

Stay Away:

Nick Martinez, Rangers ($6,400): The White Sox have not been kind to Martinez. They are hitting an unthinkable .486 off of him in 37 at bats (two games) with two homers and ten runs batted in while striking out only five times. The good news is that if you elect to go with Rodon, he has a great chance at a win. Just stay away from Martinez.

Catcher:

Best Bet:

Nick Hundley, Rockies ($3,100): Hundley is 4 for 12 in his career off of Kyle Lohse. That in itself is pretty pedestrian (.333), but two of those hits are home runs and he has driven in five. Look for another srong day for Hundley if they start him. If not, don’t worry. His backup, Michael McKenry ($2,900), is 4 for 8 off of Lohse with two doubles.

Honorable Mention:

Tyler Flowers, White Sox ($2,200): Flowers is 3 for 4 off of Nick Martinez with a triple and a home run. He could be a fantastic value at the lowest price in the game. Just make sure that he is in the lineup.

Next: How Does The Infield Look?

Jun 13, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (2) looks on from the dugout during the third inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

First Base:

Best Bet:

Jose Abreu, White Sox ($3,600): He is 4 for 6 with a home run and five RBI off of Nick Martinez. Maybe the White Sox pound Martinez again. Maybe they don’t. But I willl be willing to bet that Abreu gets at least a couple of points.

Honorable Mention:

Joe Mauer, Twins ($2,500): Mauer is no stranger to Jon Lester. Lester toiled for years with the Red Sox in the American League. Mauer doesn’t really have trouble hitting lefties, but his success against Lester is a little surprising. Mauer is 8 for 23 (.348) with four walks, three doubles and five RBI off of Lester. He could be a bargain at his price.

Second Base:

Ben Zobrist, Athletics ($3,200): Zobrist is 7 for 21 with a walk in his career against Jered Weaver. He has two doubles, a triple, a homer, and four RBI off of him as well. He is by far the best statistical bet at the keystone today.

Honorable Mention:

Johnny Giavotella, Angels ($2,400): Giavotella is 1 for 2 with a single off of Jesse Hahn in his career. With D.J. LeMahieu and Addison Russell having no history, and Brian Dozier not having a very good one, if you are following the stats, this is plan B.

Shortstop:

Best Bet:

Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies ($4,500): Tulo is 10 for 26 (.385) with two walks off of Kyle Lohse. Of those ten hits, eight of them are for extra bases, putting his slugging percentage at .769 against Lohse. He has five doubles, a triple, a home run, and three RBI off of Lohse. It could be a big day for Tulowitzki today.

Honorable Mention:

Marcus Semien, Athletics ($2,400): Semien is 3 for 6 off of Jered Weaver. All of them are singles, and he has no counting stats, but you get what you pay for at SS. If you want to go slightly cheaper, Erick Aybar is 1 for 2 with a two run single off of Jesse Hahn.

Third Base:

Best Bet:

Nolan Arenado, Rockies ($4,300): Arenado has only faced Kyle Lohse twice. He has won that battle convincingly both times. He has a double and a home run with three RBI in those two at bats. It’s a small sample size, but Arenado could do it again.

Honorable Mention:

Brett Lawrie, Athletics ($3,100): Lawrie is only 3 for 11 (.273) off of Jeff Weaver, but two of those hits are home runs and he has brought in four runs. If he gets ahold of a Weaver offering, chances are it’s going a long way.

Next: Let's Check The OF

Jun 3, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies right fielder Carlos Gonzalez (5) hits a broken bat single in the third inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Outfield:

Best Bets:

Mike Trout, Angels ($5,200): He only has two at bats off of Jesse Hahn, but he christened him the right way with a solo home run in one of those. You can’t really go wrong with Trout most nights.

Andrew McCutchen, Pirates ($4,500): He is the only Pirate that has had any kind of success against Max Scherzer. McCutchen is 4 for 14 (.286) off of Scherzer with a walk, a double, a homer, and three RBI. He has struck out seven times, but that doesn’t hurt you much in FanDuel. If you take away McCutchen, the Pirates are hitting even worse against Scherzer. They would be at 6 for 57 (.105) with a homer and two RBI (both by Neil Walker). McCutchen is the only Pirate I would go anywhere near today.

Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies ($4,200): CarGo is 7 for 18 off of Kyle Lohse with two walks, two doubles, a home run, and four RBI. Most of his teammates have fared well against Lohse as well, so he should get plenty of chances to drive in some runs agian today.

Denard Span, Nationals ($3,300): Surprisingly enough, Span is 4 for 9 off of fellow lefty and former teammate Francisco Liriano. He has one double and no counting stats, but he is a good bet to get on base.

If You’re Cheap:

Torii Hunter, Twins ($2,700): Hunter is an impressive 14 for 28 off of Jon Lester in his career. That said, Lester has limited the damage to just three doubles and two RBI. Still, Hunter has proven he is a certain bet for two pionts any time he faces Lester with the potential for more.

Adam Eaton, White Sox ($2,600): Eaton is another that has done well against Nick Martinez. He doesn’t have the gaudy power totals, but he will score some runs. He is two for three with three walks, a double, and two RBI off of Martinez. He has only failed to get on base once in six tries. He is a strong bet again today.

Next: The Evening FanDuel Lineups For Tonight

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