Fantasy Baseball: DraftKings Early MLB Picks For June 25

Jun 23, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; Oakland Athletics right fielder Matt Olson (28) takes the field during the fourth inning of the game against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports /

DraftKings Early MLB Picks For June 25

We have nine of the 15 games early on our Sunday, leaving most of the DraftKings action on the early slate. Should we pay the premium for the ace? Who should we stack? Let’s check out some stats!

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The money line yesterday afternoon was way up to 126.45, even on a short slate! My lineup with R.A. Dickey and Corey Kluber made the money easily. The one with James Shields was much like him: a disaster.

The winning lineup was also up at 229.9 DraftKings points. He had the same pitchers I did, but capitalzed on the first two homers of Matt Olson‘s career. He also picked up two homers from Michael Taylor and had good production from the rest of his Nationals stack.

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

Jun 20, 2017; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado (13) doubles in the seventh inning against the Cleveland Indians at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports /

P: Ervin Santana ($9,200): The Indians are hitting just .209 against Santana in 182 at bats with five homers and 17 runs to go with 41 strikeouts. Santana has only allowed one run in 13 innings over two starts against Cleveland this year. He also has a stellar 1.71 ERA in five road starts. This in lining up to be another good outing for Santana.

P: Jason Hammel ($8,000): Hammel was awful in the first two months of the 2017 season, but he has righted the ship in June, posting a quality start in all four tries. There is some risk involved against Toronto, but they Jays are only hitting .213 with one homer and four runs scored in 61 at bats against Hammel. Hammel has never been a strikeout pitcher, but he does induce a lot of ground balls, which helps mitigate the risk.

C: Jett Bandy ($2,700): This is nothing more than a punt play in hitter’s park with someone I know will be in the lineup. If Jason Castro is in the lineup, I will move to him instead.

1B: Mitch Moreland ($3,400): Parker Bridwell has been pretty solid in his first three major league starts, considering two of them were against the Yankees. He has a 3.07 ERA, but has only pitched 14.2 innings over those three games. This is as much picking on the Angels bullpen as Bridwell himself.

2B: Whit Merrifield ($3,800): Merrifield has never faced Francisco Liriano, but Merrifield is a .333 hitter in 126 at bats against left handed pitchers. And Liriano has a dreadful 8.53 road ERA this year. I want some exposure here, and the leadoff hitter seems to be the best place to get it at a reasonable price.

3B: Manny Machado ($4,600): Machado is 9-32(.281) with two walks, four homers, five runs scored, and 11 RBI in his career against Jake Odorizzi. He also has 66 DraftKings points over the last six games. Machado is hot right now, and facing a pitcher that he has feasted off of in his career. It could be a big day for Machado!

SS: Xander Bogaerts ($5,100): Bogaerts is on a roll lately, racking up 11.4 DraftKings points per game over the last ten games. The Angels haven’t really slowed him down in the first two games of the series. Today should be no different.

OF: Mookie Betts ($5,000): Betts seems to have put a slow May behind him. His numbers so far in June are pretty much in line with the rest of his career. Betts was a must-play against unproven pitchers before his slow May. He has regained that status.

OF: Eric Thames ($4,200): There is no statistical basis here either besides the fact that left handed hitters destroy Julio Teheran, a fact which has been exacerbated with the move to SunTrust Park. Teheran has a morbidly obese 6.65 ERA at home.

OF: Adam Jones ($3,800): Jones is 13-34(.382) with a walk, a double, two homers, four runs scored, and four RBI in his career against Jake Odorizzi. This looks like a pretty good spot for Odorizzi given the recent struggles of the Orioles, but they have hit .295 off of him in 146 at bats.

Next: DraftKings Early Lineup 2

Jun 20, 2017; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Michael Pineda (48) pitches against the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports /

P: Michael Pineda ($11,700): Pineda presents a bit of a risk, but don’t let his home park scare you off. He has a stellar 1.92 ERA in eight home starts this season. The Rangers are also hitting just .196 off of Pineda in 56 at bats with one homer and only four runs to go with 18 strikeouts. Pineda is likely worth the premium attached to him today.

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P: Mike Montgomery ($6,800): Montgomery has a stellar 2.27 ERA on the year, but has only started three games. He three hit the Padres through six innings, a season high, his last time out. Facing the Marlins in Marlins Park is another favorable matchup for a very reasonable price. The Marlins are only 3-12 with three singles and three strikeouts against Montgomery in relief. Can he have similar success facing them more than once? I don’t see why not!

C: Jesus Sucre ($3,000): Wilson Ramos is back, which will cut a huge swath through Sucre’s playing time. However, the Rays really have no reason to play Ramos in a day game after a night game. Sucre draws Chris Tillman today, who has really struggled against the Rays in his career. The Rays are hitting .287 in 136 at bats with nine homers and 19 RBI. Welcome to my favorite stack of the day!

1B: Matt Adams ($4,300): Adams is only 2-6 career against Zach Davies. There are no little bits about both hits are home runs or anything that. Adams has no counting stats. He is in my lineup because I expect him to change that today.

2B: Starlin Castro ($3,800): Castro is still batting cleanup for a potent lineup against a mostly bad starting pitcher. Nick Martinez has struggled to a 5.27 ERA, and has surrendered eight homers in just five road starts. That number is likely to increase today in the hitter’s paradise known as Yankee Stadium. I definitely want Castro for this price!

3B: Evan Longoria ($4,100): Longoria would win the MVP if he got to face Chris Tillman every time out. He is 19-63(.302) with five walks, four doubles, a triple, eight homers, 14 runs scored, and 11 RBI off of him. To add insult to injury, he has even stolen a base! Longoria is a must-play in all formats today!

SS: Didi Gregorius ($4,200): Gregorius will hit high in the lineup against Nick Martinez, giving him a chance to score as well as drive in some runs. He has 39 DraftKings points in the last six games, so Gregorius seems a safe pick at a fairly shallow position in the early slate.

OF: Steven Souza ($4,500): Souza is 6-20 with three walks, a double, a homer, and four RBI in his career against Chris Tillman. Tillman has an awful 8.40 ERA on the season, and has allowed at least five runs in every one of his starts this month. Stack away!

OF: Kole Calhoun ($4,000): Calhoun is 2-6 with three walks, a solo homer, and two RBI in his career against Doug Fister. This will be Fister’s 2016 debut. He is going to have his hands full with a suddenly hot Angels offense. I want at least some exposure here.

Mallex Smith ($3,600): Smith is leading off against a pitcher with an 8.40 ERA and a terrible history against his team. All for only $3,600. Smith is going to be a huge bargain today!

Next: FanDuel MLB Picks and Pivots

Good luck out there, and check out our picks for FanDuel baseball, along with our PGA picks. We also have plenty of NFL stuff to get you ready for football!