FanDuel MLB Daily Lineups: Monday June 25

Welcome to FanDuel MLB Daily Lineups. This is the Main slate edition for Monday, June 25th 2018. The 2018 Summer Solstice edition. We’re a fantasy baseball column focused on helping you build a DFS MLB optimal lineup for each slate.

We weren’t able to get a post out for Sunday’s Main slate, but yesterday had some fireworks and we were still in the game. Chris Sale ($11,300) was an expensive option but with 13 strikeouts, the win and quality start earned over seven innings, Sale gave you an incredible 70 FanDuel MLB points. With the right offensive picks, you could build a lineup with as much as 270-300 points.

We didn’t play Sale, we took another route as soon as the Jeremy Blevins new broke from the Mets organization. With Blevins starting, we immediately stacked several Dodgers, including Cody Bellinger, Max Muncy, and Yasiel Puig. That stack, alone, gave us over 70 FanDuel MLB points.

Before even looking at the pitcher spot, we also grabbed several bit Yankees bats as well, and boy did that pay off. Giancarlo Stanton had two singles, two doubles, a home run, and a walk for 46.4 FanDuel MLB points. Our Yankees stack also had nearly 70 FanDuel MLB points.

And with a home-run friendly situation in Cleveland, we played Edwin Encarnacion, who had a home run and double for 41.7 FanDuel MLB points, thanks to five RBI’s. How did we afford this? We VERY seldom like punt-pitcher plays, but we grabbed Paul Blackburn in the SP spot. Still, we expected Blackburn to have more than his nine FanDuel MLB points. And tonight, we may have a similar situation.

Before we get there, a reminder to never take a DFS MLB optimal lineup as ‘bible’ for your personal lineup each day. Use the suggestions as guidance. Also, make sure you follow final lineup thoughts throughout the day on our twitter account @FantasyCPR or me @mattymcmatt17 look for late breaking lineup news.

Weather Note: With the slow-moving, and annoying, weather system exiting the eastern part of the U.S., our weather related impacts to baseball today are minor. In fact, we’d consider every game playable, even with a few minor shower risks in Kansas City and St. Louis.

So, with weather-related considerations addressed, let’s get to the top pitching options…

FanDuel MLB: Top Pitcher Main Slate

Frankly, the pitcher position is overwhelming tonight. Starting with Justin Verlander ($11,700), there are many high K-rate and low xFIP pitchers on the mound. Thirteen of the starting pitchers have an xFIP of below 4.00, which is generally very good. Also, nine (or exactly half) of tonight’s starting pitchers have a K-rate of 25%+.

Verlander leads the pack with a 32% strikeout rate, but his xFIP is 3.53, only fifth best in the group. Still, we know what we’re getting for Justin. He’ll give us at least 40 to 50 FanDuel MLB points, with the potential to pile up more than ten K’s tonight, opening up a ceiling of 60 to 70 points. The Blue Jays have a high 23.6% K-rate against RHP’s this season, 11th highest in baseball. So we know the ceiling if possible.

But the problem with Verlander is the salary. He’s very expensive tonight, and our offensive stacking options are limited. In fact, as we’ll see shortly, we do have two stacks we like, but they’re expensive. Many of the cheaper stacks tonight carry greater risk.

The SP we like most does carry some risk, but the reward potential is also significant. I typically do not grab the cheaper pitchers for DFS MLB optimal lineups. The ‘punt’ play at pitcher can be an easy way to lose with FanDuel MLB.

But I wouldn’t consider Seth Lugo ($5,900) a punt play tonight. Yes, Lugo has primarily been a relief pitcher this season. Lugo only has four starts this season. But those starts have been impressive.

Seth gave up three runs in three innings against the Rockies in Coors, and five runs to the Diamondbacks in Chase Field. Neither ballpark is easy to pitch in. But Lugo also had 12 total strikeouts across those two games. And on June 10th, Seth threw a six inning and eight K shutout of the Yankees in New York.

While the stats are skewed by his relief work, Lugo actually has the lowest xFIP of any starting pitcher tonight, 3.06. And Seth’s 27.6% K-rate is tied with Blake Snell for fifth best on the mound tonight. Lugo’s WHIP is also a low 1.04.

The Pirates have one of the lowest K-rates against RHP’s in baseball. But, they’re also struggling with a 93 wRC+ against RHP’s, again one of the lower in baseball. So while we may need to temper our strikeout expectations from Lugo tonight, maybe they’re four to six, we can also expect a low run rate.

The Mets also just pitched a long relief game yesterday, so it’s likely they’ll need their relief arms to take a break today, and they should push Lugo to stay in the game as long as possible. Along with a low ERA rate, that means we could get a solid 30 to 40 FanDuel MLB points on a dirt-cheap pitcher play. Even better, it’s highly likely Lugo’s ownership is near the rock-bottom, with so many great options on the list tonight.

FanDuel MLB: Top Hitting Stacks Main Slate

There is one offensive stack we absolutely love tonight, and it’s in Miami. The Diamondbacks run production against RHP’s this season has been disappointing. Some of that may be related to Chase Field becoming less hitter-friendly this season.

But, the D-backs have better success on the road this year, and they’re playing Dan Straily and the Marlins in Miami tonight. Straily has a 4.89 ERA and 1.50 WHIP this season. But the juicy stat is Dan’s 2.15 home runs per nine innings. That makes top of the order guys like Jon Jay ($3,500), David Peralta ($3,700), and Paul Goldschmidt ($4,500) great plays for offense tonight.

We have plenty of cash left over with our top-hitting D-Back stack, so we’re looking for another expensive lineup in a hitter-friendly situation. Fortunately, the Braves are still in Atlanta, and have the Reds pitching on the mound.

Tyler Mahle is having a decent season, this year, especially for a Reds pitcher. Unfortunately for Mahle, he’s facing a top-ten wRC+ offense against RHP’s in a hitter friendly Sun Trust Park. Nick Markakis ($3,800) and Ozzie Albies ($4,300) may seem expensive, but with Lugo in the pitcher spot, Johan Camargo ($2,700) at 3b, and Dansby Swanson ($3,000) at SS, they’re affordable.

FanDuel MLB: Summary and Example Lineup

We’re not stacking the Cardinals against a good ground ball pitcher like Mike Clevinger. But Matt Carpenter ($3,600) has been hot lately, and pitchers like Clevinger won’t keep him off the base-path. Also, we have plenty of salary left to drop Carp into the Utility spot.

So with D-backs bats in Miami, likely getting a few home runs, and the Braves bats facing the horrendous Reds pitching, we’re feeling pretty awesome with our offense, especially with Carp as the cherry on top. And we can afford all of that, thanks to Seth Lugo‘s high value pick at the starting pitcher position.

With that summary in mind, here’s a look at a sample lineup for the MAIN FanDuel MLB slate on Monday, June 25th 2018:

FanDuel MLB Main Slate Sample Lineup:

P               Seth Lugo ($5,900)

C/1B        Paul Goldschmidt ($4,500)

2B            Ozzie Albies ($4,300)

3B            Johan Camargo ($2,700)

SS             Dansby Swanson ($3,000)

OF            Nick Markakis ($3,800)

OF            David Peralta ($3,700)

OF            Jon Jay ($3,500)

UTIL        Matt Carpenter ($3,600)

Remaining Salary: $0

Note: This is a recommended lineup after discussing our top options for today. You should use this as a guide, and provide your own input when building FanDuel NHL lineups.  We are not telling you, or selling you, to use this lineup.

Next: MLB DFS Game by Game Breakdown

Best of luck in your FanDuel MLB contests and stay tuned to Fantasy CPR for all your DFS news and analysis across MLB, PGA, and World Cup this summer!