FanDuel MLB Daily Lineups: Tuesday July 10

Welcome back to the FanDuel MLB Daily Lineups column. This is the Tuesday, July 10th 2018 edition. We’re a fantasy baseball column focused on helping you build a DFS MLB optimal lineup for each slate.

Yesterday’s FanDuel MLB slate was difficult. But we had some decent success. Yes, if you paid up for Jose Berrios and Gerrit Cole, you saw more points in your pitcher spot. However, Andrew Suarez ($7,700) was a cheap way to still get 34 FanDuel MLB points out of the spot, while having plenty of cash to stack your offense positions.

The Indians offensive stacks were relatively successful, scoring five runs last night. Jason Kipnis was low-owned, and his home run helped us to get over 28 points in the 2B spot, on a low $3,000 salary.

The Twins stack wasn’t as great as we hoped, with Danny Duffy pitching a solid game, and the Royals only gave up three total runs. However, the Pirates and Nats stack worked well, as expected, and with the Indians and Suarez in your lineup, it was easy to win cash games.

Tonight, we’re back to a full 15 game, 30 team, MLB schedule. The FanDuel MLB Main slate has every team, and every pitcher, to consider. Looking at this slate is mind-blowing. It’s going to be a difficult one to win. But we think we have the right components narrowed down.

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: Boston and Pittsburgh are the only trouble spots today, and each should see shower activity clear before game time. However, it’s possible each game could start off as a delay. With that in mind, think twice before playing the Nationals, Pirates, Red Sox, or Rangers pitchers tonight. If you do go with them, keep a close eye on the weather toward ‘lock’.

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

FanDuel MLB: Top Pitcher Main Slate

Wow, look at that pitching talent in this FanDuel MLB Main slate list tonight! Justin Verlander ($11,800) and Trevor Bauer ($12,000) are each averaging over 45 FanDuel MLB points-per-game, but they’re expensive.

Of the two, Verlander has a slightly higher K-rate (31.8%) over the last month, and the better match up. However, Bauer has the better xFIP, 3.01, over the last 30 days. I hate playing pitchers against the Reds lately, though, even away from the Great American Ballpark. Paying up for Bauer doesn’t seem worth it.

Verlander may be worth the price, but we need to see if we can get another 40+ FanDuel MLB point pitcher at a cheaper price. As we’ll see later, our offensive stacking targets are a bit pricey, and the extra salary will be helpful.

The Colorado Rockies aren’t fanning often to lefties in Coors Field. Their 20% K-rate isn’t ideal to target, even with a good pitcher. However, of all the pitchers on the mound tonight, Patrick Corbin ($8,800) is currently the hottest.

In the last month, Corbin has a 31.5% strikeout rate, just slightly lower than Verlander and second of all starters tonight. Patrick is giving up less than one home run per nine innings, and has a low 1.01 WHIP in the last 30 days.

Even better, Corbin’s 2.65 xFIP is easily the best of all starting pitchers tonight. We also know Patrick is used to pitching in hitters parks, hurling roughly half of his starts in Chase Field.

Even when Corbin is getting hit well, he’s piling up enough strikeouts in those games that he’ll still land around 30 to 40 FanDuel MLB points. We could shoot for a higher ceiling, but Corbin’s ceiling is high too. Also, we have plenty of salary left after this pick, he’s are favorite arm tonight.

 FanDuel MLB: Top Hitting Stacks Main Slate

The last time Pablo Lopez hit the mound, we grabs the Nationals for one of our stacks. Lopez quickly gave up five runs in just five innings. Tonight, Pablo enters a home game with the Brewers carrying a 2.45 home runs per nine innings in the last month. That bodes well for a Brewers offense who’s crushing the baseball lately.

We’re not sure, yet, if we’ll try to afford him tonight, but Jesus Aguilar ($4,400) hit another home run last night, and is playing on a All-Star Game snub right now. With this match up, Aguilar could be a must-have in your lineup tonight.

We’re going to grab some value from the Brewers lineup as well, but we also want to find a way to get uber efficient Christian Yelich ($3,900) into our lineup. We might consider another pick in Aguilar’s spot, if we can find another home run threat, but we’re keeping Yelich in our lineup regardless.

Yovani Gallardo has a curious 8.17 ERA, considering his much lower 4.75 ERA, over the last 30 days. But the ERA isn’t surprising when you realize Gallardo is giving up nearly two home runs per nine innings in the last month.

With that in mind, we love the Red Sox stack tonight. They’re often expensive, but guys like Steve Pearce ($3,200) and J.D. Martinez ($4,800) could have a home run or two tonight. And Jackie Bradley Jr.‘s ($2,700) salary is climbing as he’s hot lately. Still, Bradley has great value.

FanDuel MLB: Summary and Example Lineup

To mix things up in our lineup tonight, and to get value out of the utility pick, we’re going with Jason Kipnis ($3,000) again tonight. Kipnis is a streaky player, who’s great to own when hot. And with the Indians facing Sal Romano at home, Jason has another great match up tonight.

Along with Kipnis, we’re stacking the Red Sox and Brewers against pitchers giving up entirely too much hard contact and home runs over the last month. Fortunately, both stacks are affordable, even with a typically expensive Corbin in the pitcher spot of our lineup. Yes, we love Corbin even in Coors Field against the Rockies tonight.

With that summary in mind, here’s a look at a sample lineup for the MAIN FanDuel MLB slate on Tuesday, July 10th 2018:

FanDuel MLB Main Slate Sample Lineup: 

P                Patrick Corbin ($8,800)

C/1B         Steve Pearce ($3,200)

2B              Jonathan Villar ($2,900)

3B              Hernan Perez ($2,900)

SS              Brad Miller ($2,700)

OF             Christian Yelich ($3,900)

OF             Jackie Bradley Jr. ($2,700)

OF             J.D. Martinez ($4,800)

UTIL         Jason Kipnis ($3,000)

Remaining Salary: $100

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!