DraftKings Early MLB picks for June 18
The early tournament today has 10 games, which still gives us a lot of options to choose from. Who are the best ones? Let’s check out the past stats.
More from DraftKings
- DraftKings Open Championship picks 2023: Best PGA DFS golf lineup
- Genesis Scottish Open DraftKings picks 2023: Best PGA DFS golf lineup
- Rocket Mortgage Classic DraftKings picks 2023: Best PGA DFS golf lineup
- US Open DraftKings picks 2023: Best PGA DFS golf lineup
- RBC Canadian Open DraftKings picks 2023: Best PGA DFS golf lineup
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. The highest scorer of the day could be someone with no experience against his opponent. 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. The best lineups usually have a mix of proven stats and hot players.
Carlos Martinez has never faced the Rangers, but this team is starting to hit lately. You may want to pass on this one.
Cody Reed will make his major league debut against the Astros, a team that has never met a ball they couldn’t swing at. That may not be a good thing in this case.
Adrian Sampson is slated to make his major league debut today as well. Stay far away from him against Boston.
Dallas Keuchel has never faced the Reds. While this is tempting considering the competition, Keuchel does have a 5.54 ERA and has given up 49 runs in his last 11 starts. Why risk it?
Jerad Eickhoff has never faced the Diamondbacks, and considering he is facing a pitcher that has dominated his team, and an offense that hit nearly a half mile worth of home runs on the Philliies last night, you may want to steer clear.
Rookie Albert Suarez has never faced the Rays, but he is 2-1 with a 3.33 ERA so far in his young career. He doesn’t rack up strikeouts, but he could be serviceable play if you are looking to dig deeper this afternoon.
It doesn’t really matter whether the Rangers send Nick Martinez or Cesar Ramos to the mound today. Neither have faced the Cardinals, and neither are a great option right now.
Early indications are that Zach Neal will take the place of the injured Sean Manaea today, but that may change. At any rate, he isn’t really stretched out, and had a 9.75 ERA in the bullpen. You can do better.
Matt Moore has never faced the Giants, but the current team is just 1-9 against him, and he dominated the Astros earlier this week. The bad news? His ERA is still on the wrong side of 5.
For you first time players, if you would like a free entry into the $1 million baseball contest, use this link for the referral bonus!
Next: Pitcher Picks
Best Bet:
Zack Greinke ($13,000): Greinke has given up just two runs in his last three starts. Today, he gets a Phillies team that Arizona beat up on last night, and one that Greinke has owned in his career. The current incarnation of the Phitin’s is hitting just .183 off of Greinke in 71 at bats with just two extra base hits and five runs while striking out a whopping 25 times. Greinke will be widely used, but it’s more of a risk not to use him here.
Honorable Mention:
Danny Salazar ($11,400): Yes, the White Sox have hit seven homers off of him but have only scored 11 runs in 93 at bats. Salazar has given up the long ball, but he has managed to limit the damage. And he has racked up 35 strikeouts. That kind of strikeout potential makes him worth the risk.
Dark Horse:
Yovani Gallardo ($5,400): Gallardo didn’t look right in his first few starts of the year. Maybe his stint on the DL did him some good. Today features a whole horde of pitchers who have never faced their opponents, and a few that have mediocre at best past histories. Then we have the Gallardo conundrum. His history against the Blue Jays is good, and he is facing R.A. Dickey, but he is making his first start off of the DL. That alone makes him a risk. Why consider it? The Jays have only hit .233 in 133 at bats, but they have hit four homers and driven in 15. The good news is that one guy did most of the damage. The other was Troy Tulowitzki, who is on the DL. Tulo was 11-27 with a homer and four RBI. Take his stats out, and the Jays’ average dips to .187. And he still has 24 striekouts. Are you feeling lucky?
James Shields ($4,100): Now it’s time for conundrum number two: James Shields. The Indians are hitting only .229 against Shields in 188 at bats with three homers, 17RBI, and 47 strikeouts. The bad news? Shields is 0-1 with a 16.71 ERA in two starts with the White Sox. There are no words to describe just how bad he has been. Did we mention he gave up 10 runs in his last start with the Padres? That is 24 runs in three starts. Common sense says stay away, but stats say that if he is going to turn it around this year, it starts today.
Next: Who Are The Best Stacks?
You have heard our FanDuel experts Matt Rogers and Brian Tulloch talk about “stacking” pieces of a lineup against certain pitchers. Here are the stacks that could work well on DraftKings today, based on past statistics.
Yes, Danny Salazar has a 2.19 ERA this season. He has also allowed seven home runs to the White Sox in only 93 at bats. Jose Abreu ($3,700) is 4-13(.308) with two solo homers against Salazar. Todd Frazier‘s ($3,400) only hit in four at bats is a solo shot. Avisail Garcia ($2,700) is 3-12 with a walk and a solo homer. Fortunately for Salazar, Austin Jackson is on the DL. He has a homer and four RBI against him.
Robinson Cano ($5,200) is 9-24(.375) with two walks, two doubles, a homer, and four RBI against Rick Porcello. Adam Lind ($3,900) is just 3-15 against Porcello, but he does have a double, a homer, and three RBI. Seth Smith ($3,800) is 6-13(.462) with a walk, two doubles, a triple, and a RBI. Leonys Martin ($4,200) is 4-10 with two walks, a triple, and a RBI off Porcello.
The Yankees have demolished Ricky Nolasco in his career. Carlos Beltran ($4,700) is 16-48(.333) with six walks, a homer, and three RBI against Nolasco. Didi Gregorius ($3,500) is 8-16 with three doubles and three RBI. Chase Headley ($2,800) is 8-18(.444) with a walk, two doubles, and a solo homer. Brian McCann ($3,700) is 21-62(.339) with two walks, five doubles, eight homers, and a whopping 24 RBI. Play him today! Jacoby Ellsbury ($4,300) is only 2-10 off Nolasco, but he has a double, a homer, and four RBI off of him.
The Orioles have homered seven times off of R.A. Dickey in only 137 at bats, so let’s stack a couple. Start with Chris Davis ($5,200) is only 7-27(.259), but he has two homers, two doubles, and seven RBI. Mark Trumbo ($4,200) has only faced him five times, but his lone hit was a two run homer. Manny Machado ($5,400) is 7-19(.368) with three doubles and three RBI against Dickey.
Next: More Notes For 6-18
While nearly all of the Phillies have struggled against Zack Greinke, Ryan Howard ($2,700) is 4-15(.267) with four RBI against him.
Giancarlo Stanton ($3,000) is in the middle of the worst slump of his career, but he is 1-2 with a three run homer against Tyler Chatwood.
Mark Reynolds ($3,600) is 3-6 with a walk, two homers, and three RBI against Wei-Yin Chen. Ryan Raburn ($3,100) is only 2-10 against Chen, but both of those hits are home runs.
Kurt Suzuki ($2,400) is 4-7(.571) with two walks and three RBI against Michael Pineda.
Edwin Encarnacion ($5,500) is 5-16(.313) with three walks, three homers, and six RBI against Yovani Gallardo. Josh Donaldson ($5,600) is 3-9 with a walk and two RBI.
Khris Davis really missed Tim Lincecum. Davis is 3-4 with two solo homers off of the Freak. The rest of the current A’s are 12-53(.226) with no homers, three RBI, and 12 strikeouts.
Be sure to check out the FanDuel picks from out experts in that area! Brian Tulloch provides the picks, while Matt Rogers tells you where to save in his FanDuel Economics articles. Don’t play an FanDuel without them!
Next: DFS Strategy - Take Your Game to the Next Level
Good luck out there, and check out our picks for FanDuel baseball!