Identifying the top high salary and value pitcher plays from around Major League Baseball for your July 9 DraftKings lineup.
Our goal is to help you win DraftKings contests with consistently strong lineups. To accomplish that, we’ll be highlighting some higher salary players worth paying up for, and some value picks that will help you save salary in key areas. These picks are specifically for DraftKings lineups, so all references to prices and fantasy points are based on DK figures.
As always, be sure to double-check final MLB lineups and monitor weather situations before locking in your DFS lineups.
High Salary
Max Scherzer, Nationals (13,700): No doubt about this choice. Saturday’s slate features a handful of solid pitchers, but the majority of low-priced options are unappealing. Scherzer (9-6, 3.21 ERA) has struggled with home runs this season, allowing 21 (tied for second-most in the majors). However, he’s also a double-digit strikeout threat every time he takes the mound. The New York Mets, his opponent on Saturday, are also expected to be without slugger Yoenis Cespedes (quad).
Danny Salazar, Indians (10,400): Salazar has had a tendency to be up and down this season, but if you believe in trends, he’s due for a bounce-back Saturday against the New York Yankees. Salazar’s last four starts have produced these DK totals: 25.40, 11.35, 32.75, 13.35. He consistently strikes out between six and nine batters in virtually every start. He’s a solid play Saturday against an underwhelming Yankees lineup.
High Value
Carlos Martinez, Cardinals (9,300): Again, the low-priced pitchers on Saturday’s slate are rather uninspiring. Martinez isn’t exactly cheap, but he costs less than eight other pitchers on the board. He’s failed to top 20 DK points in his last three starts, but remember that his opponent, the Milwaukee Brewers, ranks second in the majors in strikeouts (806). Martinez’s best start of the season came against Milwaukee in late May (8 IP, 8 Ks, 0 R, 34.40 DK points).
Adam Conley, Marlins (8,000): Conley, like Martinez, has also experienced some ups and downs this season, which is to be expected for a 26-year-old in his second MLB season. When he has his strikeout pitches working, Conley has proven to be formidable. The Cincinnati Reds, his opponent on Saturday, rank 10th in the majors in strikeouts (733). Miami is also favored at home, giving Conley a solid chance at earning the win.
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