MLB DRAFT DFS Picks (DRAFT.com): Friday, July 6th

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Welcome to today’s edition of MLB DFS DRAFT Picks from FantasyCPR. The DRAFT app can be downloaded to your mobile device through your app store, or you can access their desktop site here.

I play quite a bit on DRAFT, and have always been a big fan of the snake draft format. On DRAFT, you roster one starting pitcher, two infielders, and two outfielders. They offer head-to-head, 3-man, 6-man and 10-man drafts that start upon filling. Also, they have a tournament format, where one contest will span a few days. The further you advance, the more you win. I play mostly the six-man contests for cash games, which payout to the top two spots.

My goal here will be to give you my strategy for drafting today on DRAFT, followed by my top 30 overall rankings. Strategy of course changes day by day, depending on what type of slate we are working with. I always start with my pitcher, as everything else revolves around that. After having completed my rankings for today and done a few six-man drafts, here is how I am attacking this slate.

MLB DFS DRAFT Picks –  Slate Overview:

Kicking off the weekend on a fabulous Friday we have a full slate of action, with just one afternoon game at Wrigley between the Cubs and the Reds. That game will start at 2:20 ET, so I will leave it off of the rankings, and focus on the main 14-game slate that kicks off at 7:05 ET. Looking at today’s pitchers was sort of a breath of fresh air after the last couple, as aces Chris Sale will be in action in KC against the Royals, and Jacob deGrom will also toe the rubber at home against the Rays. Both elite pitchers in elite match-up’s make them my top targets today. I’ll break the tie in our pitching target section, along with give a couple other pitchers to target, in case we miss out on these two.

On the hitters side, tons of depth at both positions and plenty of ways to go. Red Sox face Jason Hammel, Indians face Paul Blackburn, and the scorching hot Dodgers face Felix Pena and the Angels. The Yankees top bats also very viable as always, and my personal Top DRAFT Plays favorite Paul Goldschmidt faces another lefty in Padres rookie Joey Lucchesi. With all of these options, I am definitely putting a priority on pitching today, as the bottom couple choices get a little tough. Let’s move ahead to the targets and find out who I am ending up with in my drafts.

MLB DFS DRAFT Picks –  Today’s Top Pitching Targets:

I felt like changing this up a bit so welcome to the new format! It is pretty easy to decipher throughout my rankings what that day’s particular strategy will be, so let’s mix it up a bit. Instead of giving you some basic vanilla strategy, like repeating the fact that the Infield position is usually deep throughout, and the outfield position drops off pretty dramatically usually in terms of “lock” type plays, I will opt to point out the guys I am actually targeting and drafting. I think this will be more helpful in terms of understanding why I have certain players ranked where they are. Similar to the rankings, followed by each target will be their overall ranking of 30 in parenthesis.

Instead of deciding between deGrom and Sale like I said I would, I changed my mind. Yup it’s my article and I can do that as I go. Look, if you have the chance to take one of those two do it. Tons of hitters today. Let’s instead focus on who we should grab when the top dogs are gone.

Lance McCullers Jr. – Houston Astros – (5)

With just as good of a match-up as Sale and deGrom, McCullers actually ranks just a spot or two behind the aces. Houston will have their second crack at the White Sox as the Astros host Chicago at Minute Maid Park. Verlander was spectacular yesterday striking out 10 and allowing just two earned over seven innings, but as of right now the Astros trail 3-2. If they lose this game McCullers will no doubt be looking to pick this team up tomorrow. He has been fairly dominant since the end of May, spinning six straight quality starts, averaging just over six K’s. He also will likely garner a first round pick in your drafts, and my guess is he will be worth it.

*UPDATE – The Astros won in the ninth, still love McCullers Jr. tomorrow.

Freddy Peralta – Milwaukee Brewers – (11)

Peralta finally had another flop start, but this time it was in Cincy, where hitters feast. I look for him to bounce back nicely in this spot at home against the Braves, Atlanta struggled with Chacin last night, and they seem to be having a tough time stringing runs together. We know this kid has massive strikeout upside, as he already has two double-digit strikeout games in his young career of just five starts. He is at home tonight, where he has had just one start. That was one of the good ones, as he went seven innings, striking out 10 and putting up 21 DP against the Royals. Under any circumstance where I miss the top three, I have no problem with Peralta, and will grab him in the second round where possible.

Dylan Bundy – Baltimore Orioles – (29)

Ok so you missed all four guys… now what? For me, it is going to be a toss-up between the hit and miss Mike Foltynewicz, and the youngster Bundy. I am giving Bundy the slight edge here against a Twins team that is reeling right now. The Orioles aren’t very good on the road, but Bundy should be able to rack up some K’s here in this start. He has been very good in his last three starts, scoring between 11 and 17 DP’s in all three. He is coming off of the DL, but it was an ankle injury and not something to worry about at this point. Out of all of the mid-tier options, I am going Bundy when I can’t get the top four.

MLB DFS DRAFT Picks –  Today’s Top Hitter Targets:

IF – Jose Ramirez – Cleveland Indians – (8)

It is very tough to separate the cream of the crop at the infield position today, but Ramirez and teammate Francisco Lindor make for an appealing stack if you can get them both against Blackburn and the A’s. Ramirez’ All-Star campaign continues, as he is up to .294 on the season with 24 home runs and 17 stolen bases. Along with Goldschmidt, and JD Martinez, the infield spot is loaded today. Let’s not forget about those red hot Dodgers, and move along to my next target.

IF –Max Muncy – Los Angeles Dodgers – (19)

Why not ride this wave until it crashes? Muncy is just raking right now, and can be had as late as the fourth round. The Dodgers will begin an interleague series with the Angels, who will throw right-hander Felix Pena. The lower projections on Muncy, along with Cody Bellinger and Joc Pederson make them a fairly easy to obtain stack. This is my target stack if I land one of the top pitchers today. I love Cleveland and also the Nats again, but the Dodgers have been to hot to not be the top stack. In the previous series with the Pirates, Muncy was 5-for-13 with three home runs, and averaged over 20 DP per night. If you end up in a draft with me don’t snipe him!

OF – Juan Soto – Washington Nationals – (17)

Simply sticking with what works here. I targeted Soto yesterday and it worked out well, as he went for 18 DP, and hopefully finally broke out of his mini-slump. There was an abundance of runs in last nights game between the Nats and the Marlins, and we should expect more of the same tonight. Washington will face veteran Dan Straily, who is coming off of two decent outings. It’s not like Straily to string three good ones together at this stage of his career, so I am banking on another run outburst tonight. Bryce Harper is going later than he should in drafts, and Trea Turner broke the slate last night with his 45 DP performance. Feel confident stacking them up if you can.

OF – Joc Pederson – Los Angeles Dodgers – (20)

Now Joc hasn’t been as hot as say Muncy or Bellinger, but he can go yard at any time. Not one to hit for average, Pederson is seeing the ball well over the last couple weeks, and has homered four times in his last eight starts. He currently sits at a .261 batting average, which is actually pretty good for him compared to what we have seen in the past. He has 13 home runs and 34 RBI’s, and as long as the Dodgers are facing a righty, he is likely to be in that lead-off spot. In order of importance as far as drafting goes, it has been Muncy in the third, Pederson in the fourth, and Bellinger in the fifth. If I get the first or second pick and land a solid one-off with a top ace, I’ll be set.

MLB DFS DRAFT Picks –  Today’s Rankings:

My rankings are pretty easy to follow. I have ranked the top 30 overall. We will go six deep at pitcher, and twelve deep at IF and OF. Rankings are broken down into positions, and following each players name will be their overall ranking in parenthesis.

Pitchers:

1. Chris Sale – Boston Red Sox – (1)

2. Jacob deGrom – New York Mets – (2)

3. Lance McCullers Jr. – Houston Astros – (5)

4. Freddy Peralta – Milwaukee Brewers – (11)

5. Dylan Bundy – Baltimore Orioles – (29)

6. Michael Foltynewicz – Atlanta Braves – (30)

Infielders:

1. JD Martinez – Boston Red Sox – (6)

2. Jose Ramirez – Cleveland Indians – (8)

3. Paul Goldschmidt – Arizona Diamondbacks – (9)

4. Francisco Lindor – Cleveland Indians – (10)

5. Trea Turner – Washington Nationals – (12)

6. Giancarlo Stanton – New York Yankees – (14)

7. Alex Bregman – Houston Astros – (18)

8. Max Muncy – Los Angeles Dodgers – (19)

9. Cody Bellinger – Los Angeles Dodgers – (24)

10. Manny Machado – Baltimore Orioles – (25)

11. Ozzie Albies  Atlanta Braves – (26)

12. Freddie Freeman – Atlanta Braves – (27)

Outfielders:

1. Mookie Betts – Boston Red Sox – (3)

2. Aaron Judge – New York Yankees – (4)

3. Mike Trout – Los Angeles Angels – (7)

4. Eddie Rosario – Minnesota Twins – (13)

5. Andrew Benintendi – Boston Red Sox – (15)

6. Bryce Harper – Washington Nationals – (16)

7. Juan Soto – Washington Nationals – (17)

8. Joc Pederson – Los Angeles Dodgers – (20)

9. Michael Brantley – Cleveland Indians – (21)

10. Charlie Blackmon – Colorado Rockies – (22)

11. Rhys Hoskins – Philadelphia Phillies – (23)

12. AJ Pollack – Arizona Diamondbacks – (28)

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That is all for today’s MLB Top DRAFT picks on FantasyCPR. If you have any questions regarding any of my rankings, reach out to me on Twitter at @JuanBondDFS. You can also leave a question right here in the comments, and I will do my best to respond. Good luck tonight and happy drafting on DRAFT!