Early DraftKings MLB Picks July 26: Chris Sale Is A Must Play In Seattle

CLEVELAND, OH – JULY 25: Bradley Zimmer #4 of the Cleveland Indians hits a grand slam home run during the second inning against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Progressive Field on July 25, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

DraftKings Early MLB Picks For July 26

There are only four early games today. If you want a piece of the Orioles-Rays tilt, you have to play the all day tournament or arcade mode. It is left out of here for some reason. Which is unfortunate because we miss out on stacking against Ubaldo Jimenez. Still, the best pitcher of the day goes this afternoon. What kind of team can we build if we use him? Let’s find out!

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The money line last night was down a little to 114.5 DraftKings points. Jameson Taillon getting lit up by the Giants had something to do with it. One of my lineups was done in by a below average start from Mike Clevinger and failed high priced hitters. The other lineup made it in because of solid pitching, Manny Pina, and Michael Brantley.

The winning lineup was all the way up to 228.35 DraftKings points. He used Jordan Montgomery and Charlie Morton as a solid base with Bradley Zimmer, Edwin Encarnacion, and Joey Gallo pushing him to the top.

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

ANAHEIM, CA – JUNE 14: Matt Holliday #17 of the New York Yankees points to the dugout after hitting a single during the fifth inning of a game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 14, 2017 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

P: Chris Sale ($13,400): The Mariners are only hitting .200 against Sale in 100 career at bats. Sale has 31 strikeouts in that span, and only Nelson Cruz has really been able to get to him. The rest of the team has just two RBI in 77 at bats without Cruz. On top of that, Sale has a career 2.42 ERA in Safeco Field in 22.1 innings pitched. Sale is not for fading today, especially in cash games.

P: Trevor Williams ($6,300): Williams was outstanding in his start against the Giants earlier this year, and that was in Pittsburgh. San Francisco is a great pitcher’s park as well, and the team that is in it is very friendly towards pitchers as well. Williams wont rack up strikeouts, and is a mostly average pitcher, but in the right situation like this one appears to be, he can really help your DFS lineup.

C: Christian Vasquez ($2,400): Vasquez should be in the lineup for the matinee game. He has really struggled at the plate lately, but he is cheap and going up against Andrew Moore, who is arguably the weakest pitcher on the early slate. I will take my chances since there isn’t a sure thing at catcher this afternoon anyway.

1B: Matt Holliday ($3,900): It’s Homer day in Yankee Stadium. Isn’t every day homer day? Well….yes, but today it is literally homer day, as in Homer Bailey. He has given up a lot of his namesake this season, and a trip to the Bronx will not help that. Holliday is 14-43(.326) with five walks, five doubles, a triple, two homers, five runs scored, and eight RBI against Bailey from his days in St. Louis. He should have no problems hitting him at Yankee Stadium.

2B: Brandon Drury ($3,400): It is Aaron Blair, not Kris Medlen, that will take the open rotation spot vacated by Jaime Garcia. That is almost better for Drury, who has hit right handed pitching much better than lefties this year. He is also hitting .325 with six of his eight homers in the friendly confines of Chase Field. Drury could be a great bargain this afternoon, which we need to roster Sale and have a chance at cashing.

3B: Chase Headley ($3,900): Todd Frazier hasn’t taken off yet as a member of the Yankees, but his acquisition had lit a fire under Headley. Headley is 8-21 since the team traded for Frazier, and he appears to be the better bet right now, though any Yankee is a solid play against Bailey this afternoon.

SS: Dansby Swanson ($2,400): The top prospect has had a rough go of it in his first full season in the majors, but he is significantly better against left handed pitching and is playing in a hitter’s park. Patrick Corbin is pitching well lately, even at home, so I wont touch him with anyone else, but the price is right to take a shot with Swanson. He is hitting .241 with two homers and seven RBI in only 58 at bats against lefties this season.

OF: Aaron Judge ($5,700): Judge throws the book at pitchers in his home courtroom. What’s Homer Bailey’s sentence? My guess is the power alley in left center.

OF: David Peralta ($5,200): Peralta is destroying right handed pitching, and Blair is 2-7 with a 7.59 ERA in 15 career major league starts. Blair also boasted a very average 4.86 ERA in 18 starts for AAA Gwinnett this year. Pay up for Peralta today. You wont be disappointed.

OF: Jacoby Ellsbury ($3,300): Ellsbury is perfect against Homer Bailey so far with a single, a solo homer, and two runs scored against him. And we can get Ellsbury super cheap today. Cheap enough to take a chance on him building on past success.

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!