Can You Afford To Fade Clayton Kershaw On DraftKings July 18th?

MIAMI, FL – JULY 17: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the Miami Marlins hits a two run home run in the first inning during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Marlins Park on July 17, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

DraftKings MLB Picks For July 18

We have a full 15 game slate today, and we have two outstanding pitching options and several others who could be good. Where do we go cheap to afford pitching? Who do we pick on today? A couple of hurlers are back in the majors, one with a new team. There are stack options galore!

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The money line last night was a modest 102.45 DraftKings points. Both of my published lineups made money, it was the bonus lineup that failed to chart thanks to Brent Suter.

The winning lineup was only at 189.4 DraftKings points. He went cheap on pitching with mixed results, but the money was well spent on Giancarlo Stanton, Mike Zunino, Kyle Seager, and Charlie Blackmon.

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 Lineup

NEW YORK, NY – JULY 09: Travis Shaw #21 of the Milwaukee Brewers connects on a first inning three run home run against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on July 9, 2017 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

P: Clayton Kershaw ($14,000): This one is a bit tricky because statistically the White Sox are the best team in the majors against left handed pitching. Kershaw also takes a park hit at Guaranteed Rate Field, but Kershaw is unlike anything we have ever seen. He only has one non-quality start this year. It was against that North Side team. However, Kershaw has been so dominant since the calendar hit June that I just can’t see the White Sox getting to him. I am going to use Kershaw in one lineup because I’m afraid not to.

P: Adam Conley ($5,900): If you want to have any kind of hitting with Kershaw at his outlandish price, you have to take a risk at your second SP slot. Conley is just that. Conley had a solid start to the season, but he was exiled back to the minors after three bad start in a row at the beginning of May. He hasn’t been great back in the minors either, but he is facing a Philadelphia team that just isn’t very good. Conley wont rack up the strikeouts which makes this even more of a risk. I was going to go with Blake Snell, but he is still walking batters at an alarming rate. Conley at one of the best pitcher’s parks in the league looks slightly more safe. Besides, Conley has only allowed one run to the Phillies in 55 at bats. That has to count for something, right?

C: Jonathan Lucroy ($3,200): Let’s get this out of the way right now. Dylan Bundy has dominated the Rangers in a small sample size. He has only allowed two hits in 20 at bats with no runs. Now the good news: Bundy has a 7.76 ERA with nine homers allowed in his last six starts. Texas has plenty of power bats in this lineup, but we did see the struggling Chris Tillman shut down this lineup last night. Does it happen two nights in a row? I wouldn’t bet on it. I’m all in on the Rangers here.

1B: Joey Gallo ($3,700): Gallo’s average makes him better suited for DFS dice throws as opposed to season long leagues. Bundy is allowing homers at an alarming rate, which plays right into Gallo’s hands. He should be worth it tonight.

2B: Rougned Odor ($3,700): Odor has cooled off some since the break, but he fits the motif of my Rangers stack. Good power and a favorable platoon split. I may move off of this stack before tomorrow, but only if something better comes along. This is the place to be if you don’t want to pay up for Coors.

3B: Travis Shaw ($4,400): Shaw is 7-10 with a walk, two doubles, two homers, and five RBI in his career against Ivan Nova. This is Nova’s best year of his career, but Shaw is not the reason why. Nova could still throw a quality start and strike out a dozen, but I would bet that Shaw reaches base at least once.

SS: Andrelton Simmons ($4,000): Simmons is 4-11 with a double, a homer, and three RBI in his career against Edwin Jackson. Yes, that Edwin Jackson. He has resurfaced for a start for the Nationals, and if you are looking for an under the radar stack, the Angels are it.

OF: J.D. Martinez ($4,300): Martinez is 4-13(.308) with a double, a homer, and three RBI in his career against Travis Wood. Like many other options today, Wood has eight been in the bullpen or exiled to the minors. His firs start since 2015 happened on July 2nd. While it wasn’t bad, it wasn’t all that good either. I wouldn’t blame you for stacking Tigers tonight.

OF: Shin-soo Choo ($3,900): Choo is near the top of a lineup that could score a lot of runs today, and he is very reasonably priced. Count me in!

OF: Chris Young ($2,800): Chris Young has hit lefties hard, and even J.A. Happ is not immune to it. Young is 4-14(.286) with four walks, a double, a homer, and four RBI against Happ. Young is way too cheap to ignore tonight.

Next: DraftKings Lineup 2

ST. LOUIS, MO – JULY 6: Starter Michael Wacha #52 of the St. Louis Cardinals delivers a pitch against the Miami Marlins in the first inning at Busch Stadium on July 6, 2017 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

P: Robbie Ray ($11,200): The Reds are only hitting .212 against Ray in 33 at bats with two homers, but only three runs to go with an amazing 12 strikeouts. Ray has been spectacular on the road, posting a 1.34 ERA in eight starts. Great American Ball Park is going to be a tough test, but his amazing strikeout potential and past history make him a strong play.

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P: Michael Wacha ($9,500): The Mets have been absolutely awful against Wacha. They are hitting a pathetic .106 in 47 at bats with no runs and 17 strikeouts. 11 of those are by Jay Bruce! Wacha has been awful on the road this year, but he has only given up three runs in his last three starts. Wacha is catching the Mets are the right time. I see another strong start for him tonight.

C: Mike Zunino ($2,900): Zunino is 3-9 with two homers and five RBI in his career against Brad Peacock. Zunino hit one out last night. Don’t be surprised if he does it again.

1B: Matt Adams ($3,700): John Lackey isn’t having a very good year anyway. Now he has to face a Braves team with quite a bit of power from the left side. Adams is 2-4 with a homer and three RBI in his career against Lackey. The problems start here for the Cubs.

2B: Starlin Castro ($3,700): Bartolo Colon is back, and American League hitters are licking their chops. Colon had a brutal 8.14 ERA in 13 starts for the Braves. How do you think he is going to do when he has to face an extra hitter all the time? The Twins also have a pretty bad bullpen, so all Yankees are in play today, but they will likely be widely owned. Castro is 4-9 with a walk, a double, and a run scored against Colon. He could do better tonight.

3B: Kyle Seager ($3,500): Seager is 7-20 with two walks, a double, a homer, five runs scored, and six RBI against Brad Peacock already. Seager is way too cheap tonight. Peacock will rack up some strikeouts, but he isn’t going to pitch a shutout. I have no problems chasing past history here.

SS: Didi Gregorius ($3,800): Gregorius is 0-3 in his career against Colon, but when you look at this for what it is – batting practice against a 44 year old with an ERA over 8 – Gregorius is worth a shot for this price.

OF: Brett Gardner ($4,300): I am taking the Yankee road less traveled. Partially because I didn’t have the cash for Sanchez and Judge, but partially because I don’t want to fight with high ownership. Gardner is 3-13 with a homer and four RBI against Colon, so there could be some overlap here, but the price is still right on Gardner.

OF: Cory Spangenberg ($3,800): Well, Spangenberg is enjoying the most productive stretch of his young career, and it just so happens that he gets some games in Coors Field that coincide with that. He owns the platoon advantage over Antonio Senzatela, who is back fresh from a trip to the minors. His price doesn’t reflect his current output right now, so I feel comfortable starting him at Coors against a struggling pitcher.

OF: Nick Markakis ($3,600): Markakis is 23-70(.329) with ten walks, six doubles, a triple, 11 runs scored, and six RBI in his career against John Lackey. I’m not playing this in search of that elusive home run, I am playing Markakis because doubles and runs can add up quickly. This is also a very good price for that history.

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!