DraftKings daily picks: Fantasy baseball lineup-July 27
Shortstop
High-Salary Option: Aledmys Diaz-St. Louis Cardinals (5,100): Diaz is much cheaper than he has been recently in tonight’s game against the Mets. He has faded a bit lately going just 4-21 in his last five games, but I still think he’s a solid play against Logan Verrett and the Mets. Diaz is still hitting .311 on the year despite his recent mini-slump with an overall OPS of .889. He is remarkably affordable given his overall numbers if you can chalk up his recent slide to a bit of fatigue and a few rough outings.∗
High-Salary Option: Jonathan Villar-Milwaukee Brewers (4,700): Villar has posted double-digit fantasy points in four of his last seven contests and continues to be a spark plug at the top of the Brewers lineup. He is 22-79 (.278) this month, but he has picked things up in his last three games going 4-13 with a double, triple, homer, four RBI, three runs scored, and a pair of stolen bases. He offers a nice blend of power and speed from a thin SS spot tonight, so give him a look as he and the Brewers host the D-Backs. ∗∗∗
Mid-Range Option: Elvis Andrus-Texas Rangers (3,800): Andrus got the day off yesterday in the Rangers’ 6-3 loss to Oakland, but he should be back in there tonight against the A’s and starter Sean Manaea. Andrus is 3-5 with a double and an RBI against Manaea in his career, and hs is 28-78 (.359) against lefties as a whole this season with a robust .944 OPS against them. He also has excelled at Globe Life Park in Arlington, so look for Andrus to be a nice play from under 3K tonight when the Rangers hang a big number on Oakland’s pitching staff tonight.∗∗∗
High-Value Option: Andrelton Simmons-Los Angeles Angels (2,900): Another under-valued regular is the Angels’ Andrelton Simmons who ha multiple hits in six of his last eight contests and has gone 14-40 (.350) since the All Star break. He doesn’t hit for much power, but he has a .930 OPS this month while going 31-78 (.397) Tonight, he faces lefty Danny Duffy, and he has hit .040 better against southpaws this season than against righties going 19-61 (.311) with a .764 OPS.∗∗
High-Value Option: J.J. Hardy-Baltimore Orioles (2,600): Hardy is 10-21 (.476) over the last week and 25-70 (.357) for the month of July. His power numbers have been down for most of the season, but he continues to contribute to a very good lineup with multiple hits. He has exactly two hits in five of his last six starts and has picked his average on the season up to a solid .282 even though he only has four homers. Tonight, he takes on Jon Gray and the Rockies at home in Baltimore as he looks to continue his hot hitting in the month of July.∗∗∗
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