Fantasy Baseball: DraftKings MLB Picks For June 2

Jun 1, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez (24) hits a two run home run in the fourth inning during a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /

DraftKings MLB Picks For June 2

We only have 14 games in our main DraftKings tournament tonight. The Cubs and Cardinals play a matinee at Wrigley. This is a pitching-rich slate, even outside of Kershaw. Who is worth paying up for? Are there cheap options so we can stack against Kyle Gibson? Let’s check out some stats!

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The money line last night was all the way down to 96.9 DraftKings points. I missed badly due to Eduardo Rodriguez and stacking the low scoring Twins-Angels game.

The winning lineup was very high considering the low money line. the 210.3 point winner was the only lineup over 200. He used Wade Miley and Zack Greinke for a solid base, then used Gary Sanchez, Aaron Hicks, and an Orioles stack to take it home.

These picks are based mostly on statistical analysis . 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. Check out this post from Matt McGarvey for great tips about whether to use a hot player in DFS or not.

For you first time players, if you would like $10 worth of free entry tickets, use this link for the referral bonus! Then continue reading for tips on how to turn that $10 into more!

Next: DraftKings Main Lineup 1

May 23, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) throws in the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

P: Clayton Kershaw ($13,100): Kershaw has only faced one current Brewer, but his 4-0 record with a 1.41 career ERA in Miller Park over five starts speaks for itself. He has given up just one homer there in 38.1 innings pitched! The Brewers are strikeout prone, Ryan Braun is still injured, and most of their power will be neutralized with a lefty on the mound. Surprise, surprise, Kershaw is the best option of the day yet again.

P: Michael Pineda ($8,600): The Blue Jays are hitting just .186 against Pineda in 129 at bats with only three homers and 11 RBI while striking out 31 times. Jose Bautista is the only current Blue Jay to hit a homer off of Pineda, so if he can stay away from Joey Bats, this could be a very good outing for Pineda. The Jays were shut down by the geriatric CC Sabathia last night. Why can’t Pineda do it again? His 2.61 ERA in six career starts at Rogers Centre suggests he can.

C: Martin Maldonado ($2,800): One of the other awful pitchers tonight, Kyle Gibson, is also facing a team that is ripe with low cost hitters. With all of the injuries to the Angels, Maldonado is now batting in the middle of the order, and is having the best offensive season of his career. I will bet that continues against Gibson.

1B: Matt Adams ($3,600): Bronson Arroyo takes the mound again, which means it’s time to stack hitters against him. Fortunately for us, nearly all of the Braves hitters are cheap. Adams is 2-6 against Arroyo in his career. Both of the hits are home runs, and he has driven in four. And he is this cheap! Cheap enough to use with Kershaw! It’s a good night to be a DFS player!

2B: Brandon Phillips ($3,700): I still can’t wrap my head around why Phillips is more than Adams, but I will take him anyway. Second base is a little more scarce, and Phillips should get a nice batting order slot against a pitcher with a 6.62 ERA. Arroyo has trimmed that to 5.86 at home, but I still like the Braves to score at least a half dozen runs tonight. I also like Phillips returning to Cincinnati where he had so many great years.

3B: Luis Valbuena ($3,000): Valbuena has been batting cleanup against righties with Mike Trout out. Tonight’s righty is Kyle Gibson, owner of a 7.86 ERA. If that isn’t bad enough, Gibson’s ERA rises even more on the road, to a staggering 8.79. Any Angel that is not currently on the DL (which honestly doesn’t leave much) is in play tonight.

SS: Andrelton Simmons ($3,900): Simmons will lead off again if Cameron Maybin is unable to go, or he will bat second. It really doesn’t matter where he is slotted. It will be at the top of a lineup that is going to score a lot of runs. Let’s face it, the Minnesota bullpen is almost as bad as the starter tonight. The Angels hitters are priced way too low!

OF: Kole Calhoun ($2,600): Especially Calhoun. I know he has been awful this year and is only 2-12 in his career against Kyle Gibson, but come on! Gibson can’t get anyone out, even at AAA. Calhoun should be able to at least get something tonight.

OF: Matt Kemp ($4,600): Kemp is easily the best hitter in the Braves lineup with Freddie Freeman out, so he is worth paying for. Kemp is also 12-28(.429) with two walks, two homers, four runs scored, and three RBI in his career against Bronson Arroyo. He is a necessary part of the Braves stack tonight.

OF: Khris Davis ($4,100): What, Khris Davis in here against Stephen Strasburg? Don’t worry, I have the stats to back it up. The A’s are hitting .321 against Strasburg in his career. Davis has done a bulk of the damage, slugging both homers and driving in four of the five runs against Strasburg. He is about due to start getting hot again. It may start tonight!

Next: DraftKings Main Lineup 2

May 31, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (13) hits an RBI single against the Detroit Tigers in the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /

P: Yu Darvish ($9,200): Most of you are going to be tempted to take Dallas Keuchel over Darvish if you are touching this marquee pitching matchup. Don’t be one of those. Why not? Keuchel’s career numbers against Texas aren’t that bad. However, he has a bloated 6.46 ERA in eight career start at the Ballpark. Darvish has held the Astros to a .212 average in 118 at bats with just two homers (both by George Springer) and eight runs allowed while striking out 37. Oh, and he has a career 3.20 ERA in 59 home starts.

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P: German Marquez ($7,200): Marquez’s only appearance against the Padres was a perfect relief inning last September, so there isn’t much to go on. However, He has posted a solid 3.76 ERA this season while pitching for the Rockies. Dig a little deeper, and he becomes a great option. He has a 1.06 ERA in three road starts this season. Petco Park should help him stay around that mark!

C: Salvador Perez ($3,500): Perez is a blistering 18-35(.514) with eight doubles, a homer, four runs scored, and six RBI in his career against Josh Tomlin. I know that the Royals aren’t really a power team, but they have enough juice to give problems to a fly ball pitcher like Tomlin. Especially with past stats like this!

1B: Hanley Ramirez ($4,500): Hanley has only faced Alec Asher four times. He has hit two homers off of him. Those are the only two homers that Asher has surrendered to Boston so far. There could be more after tonight.

2B: Chase Utley ($3,900): Utley has lost the ability to hit left handed pitching, but he still hits righties well. He is 2-3 with a walk, a double, and a solo homer in his career against Jimmy Nelson. Utley is a solid mid range option at second base tonight.

3B: Mike Moustakas ($4,100): Moose is 7-24(.292) with two walks, three doubles, two homers, six runs scored, and six RBI in his career against Tomlin. I will fall short of stacking Royals because of their well documented lack of power, but Moose and Perez are still great plays.

SS: Xander Bogaerts ($5,300): Bogaerts is 2-6 with a double, a run scored, and three RBI in his career against Asher so far. It’s a strong bet that Bogaerts will drive in a couple more tonight.

OF: Andrew McCutchen ($4,200): McCutchen has largely been cold all season, but he is 3-7 with a walk, a homer, and two RBI in his career against Matt Harvey. Until Harvey starts pitching more like Matt Harvey than Steve Harvey, I am going to continue throwing hitters out there against him. A Pirates stack may not be out of line due to the big park upgrade for the guys from Pittsburgh.

OF: Adam Jones ($4,100): Jones is heating up lately, and though he is just 11-48(.229) against Rick Porcello, there is value to be had here. He has a double, three homers, four runs scored, and nine RBI in his career against Porcello.

OF: Mark Trumbo ($4,000): Trumbo is 9-29(.310) with two doubles, three homers, six runs scored, and seven RBI in his career against Porcello. Alec Asher is begging to be stacked against, but the Boston offense is very expensive for no more than they have produced lately, even with great matchups. I will sneak a couple of Orioles in there just in case.

Next: FanDuel MLB Picks and Pivots

Good luck out there, and check out our picks for FanDuel baseball, along with our PGA and EPL picks!