Fantasy Baseball: DraftKings Early MLB Picks For June 4

Jun 3, 2017; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Edinson Volquez (36) throws a pitch in the ninth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

DraftKings Early MLB Picks For June 4

We have a full slate today with nine early games. The Yankees-Jays game in the Bronx starts earlier than everyone else, so that game is only available on the all day tournament. However, we still have a few high priced pitchers with little mid-tier options. Is this the day to pay up for pitching? Let’s check some stats!

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The money line yesterday afternoon was up to 110.7 DraftKings points. My lineup with Johnny Cueto and Jhoulys Chacin made it over the mark thanks to a huge day from Matt Adams. Negative points from both pitchers ruined by Tigers/White Sox stack.

The winning lineup was another solid total at 219.75 DraftKings points. He had the no-hitter from Edinson Volquez (at 4.2% ownership) and a monster day from Chris Taylor to go with Cueto and Adams to take down the prize.

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 Early Lineup 1

May 18, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Julio Teheran (49) throws a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays in the first inning at SunTrust Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

P: Chris Sale ($12,800): Sale struggled in his return to the South Side in his last start, and certainly Camden Yards could be tough on him. However, the Orioles are only hitting .229 against Sale in 105 at bats with four homers, but only seven runs with a big total of 35 strikeouts. Sale is also 2-1 with a 2.49 ERA in four starts and three relief appearances in Camden Yards. I think we can trust him today.

P: Julio Teheran ($7,900): Teheran has held the Reds to a .170 average in 53 at bats with just one homer and three RBI. Lefties have punished Teheran this year, and there are a few lefty bats in this lineup that could cause trouble, but I like Teheran’s chances for a win opposite Amir Garrett in his return from the DL. Teheran may give up a few runs, but he should still be worth this depressed price. Especially considering his 1.42 ERA in five road starts.

C: Tyler Flowers ($4,000): Did I mention Amir Garrett? The struggling rookie will return today. He has electric stuff, but he has a 9.24 ERA in his last five starts. I’m stacking Braves righties here!

1B: Jose Abreu ($3,700): Abreu is 12-32(.375) with three walks, two doubles, four homers, seven runs scored, and five RBI in his career against Justin Verlander. Abreu has done most of the damage for the White Sox against Verlander. For this price, I will pay to see if he can do it again.

2B: Brandon Phillips ($3,500): Phillips is having a quiet return to the Queen City so far, but teeing off against Garrett could break that silence. For $3,500, it’s worth finding out!

3B: Maikel Franco ($2,800): Franco looks dirt cheap against a pitcher with a bloated 7.80 ERA in six road starts. Citizens Bank Park is not a forgiving ballpark either. Balls can fly out of here. Franco only have one hit in five at bats in his career against Moore, but he is always a threat to hit one out.

SS: Dansby Swanson ($3,200): Swanson is still hitting under the Mendoza line due to a brutal April, but it seems like the off day on Thursday did him some good. He hit a solo homer in yesterday’s loss, and recorded as many hits in that game as he did in the previous 29 at bats. He has a chance to keep it going against Garrett.

OF: Michael Conforto ($5,000): Trevor Williams has never faced the Mets, but his 5.20 ERA and 6.48 road ERA suggest that he is not yet comfortable in the major leagues. All Met lefties are in play today, especially Conforto and the hot Lucas Duda.

OF: Aaron Altherr ($3,500): Altherr is 1-2 with a walk, a double, and a RBI against Matt Moore. How many pieces from a struggling offense do we dare use? I don’t know for sure, but I want the two most powerful righties in my lineup against Moore.

OF: Melky Cabrera ($3,600): Melky is 9-39(.231) with two walks, three doubles, a triple, a homer, four runs scored, and seven RBI in his career against Verlander. Verlander has struggled at times this year. In case this is one of those times, I will find Abreu a friend.

Next: DraftKings Early Lineup 2

May 30, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Trevor Bauer (47) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Oakland Athletics at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

P: Justin Verlander ($9,600): I don’t really trust the White Sox offense, so in this lineup, I will use Verlander. The White Sox are hitting just .238 against him in 130 at bats with six homers and 13 runs. Once again, most of the damage was done by Abreu. The 36 strikeouts show the significant upside that is here. He also has a great chance for a win opposite David Holmberg.

P: Trevor Bauer ($8,200): Bauer has held the Royals to a .242 average in 99 at bats, but he has allowed three homers and 11 runs. The 21 strikeouts helps to erase some of that damage. What has me using him here is his career-high 14 strikeouts against the A’s in his last outing. Bauer has righted the ship after a horrid start, not allowing more than three runs in a game since May 8th. He should turn in another quality outing here.

C: John Hicks ($2,700): Holmberg had a hard time finding the plate against the Red Sox in his first start since 2015 his last time out. We all know that he Tigers can hit the White Sox bullpen. They did yesterday. And they could get to that unit with about half the game to go today. I feel good about a Tigers stack here. That has to start with Hicks, a cheap righty bat with some pop.

1B: Justin Smoak ($4,400): Smoak is 4-9 with a walk, a homer, two runs scored, and three RBI in his career against Luis Severino so far. Smoak has hit three homers since last Friday, and is hitting .288 on the season. He looks like a safe option right now.

2B: Neil Walker ($4,300): I couldn’t find a suitable way to fit Walker in with Conforto, but the reasoning still stands. Trevor Williams has struggled this year, especially on the road. I’ll take it!

3B: Nick Castellanos ($3,300): Castellanos hit a home run yesterday in Detroit’s ten run outburst. He is way too cheap against a struggling left handed starting pitcher.

SS: Jose Iglesias ($3,400): I’m not exactly sure how Iglesias is more expensive than Castellanos, but it isn’t enough to move me off of him. He could be at the top of the order with a lefty on the hill, which significantly increases his value.

OF: J.D. Martinez ($5,200): Martinez has a ton of power. Of course I want him in there against David Holmberg!

OF: Brett Gardner ($4,700): Gardner is 7-24(.292) with two walks, a double, two homers, three runs scored, and five RBI in his career against Marcus Stroman. Gardner is in the midst of a career season anyway. It would make sense that he hits Stroman here.

OF: Justin Upton ($4,200): Upton is the only current Tiger that has faced Holmberg. He is 2-4 with a walk, a homer, two runs scored, and four RBI against him. Even without this nice history, I would have started him anyway. I can’t think of a good reason not to stack Tigers today.

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!