Early DraftKings MLB Picks June 19: Oh say can you CC

TOKYO, JAPAN – NOVEMBER 11: Infielder Whit Merrifield #15 of the Kansas City Royals hits a single in the top of 6th inning during the game three of Japan and MLB All Stars at Tokyo Dome on November 11, 2018 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images) /

Early DraftKings MLB Picks June 19: Oh say can you CC

We have a five game early slate for our DraftKings MLB tournaments today. That doesn’t mean that we are lacking for good pitching. There are two aces and a couple of middle tier players that look good. We have both games of the Washington doubleheader in the main tournaments today. The Seattle-Kansas City game is left to its own showdown with a weird start time.

DraftKings MLB Pitcher Plays:

Top Tier:

Gerrit Cole ($11,400): You don’t play Cole thinking he’s going to pitch a shutout. You use Cole for the ridiculous number of strikeouts that he’s going to get. The Reds are a free swinging bunch. Cole is likely going to give up a run or three, but if you set the over/under on strikeouts at 12, I would have a hard time taking the under. 140 strikeouts in 90.2 innings pitched is impressive no matter how you look at it.

Zach Eflin ($9,100): Eflin’s career numbers against Washington are nothing great, but he has held the Nationals to just one run in 12 innings over two starts this year, picking up 55 DraftKings points in the process. The price is a touch high, but on a short slate, Eflin could provide a very good return. I want to find a way to get Cole and Eflin together. For now, the Phillies are supposedly sticking with Eflin and starting Arrieta in the nightcap. The Nats are sending Corbin to the mound.

Middle Tier:

Chris Bassitt ($8,000): Bassitt has been worse at home than on the road, but I’m not sure it matters with Baltimore. The issue I have here is that Bassitt hasn’t been over 12 DraftKings points (and only in double digits once) in his last five starts and he’s still priced this high. I expect a solid outing against Baltimore, but I’m still not sure Bassitt and his recent performance are worth the premium. CC looks much safer.

Zach Davies ($7,100): Davies has a 7-1 record and a 2.60 ERA, but still only averages 12.5 DraftKings points per game. The lack of strikeouts is to blame, but Davies has become a much better pitcher by lowering the strikeouts. Davies has a 2.25 ERA in eight road starts and is facing one of the most strikeout prone teams in the National League. Sure, the Padres have power, but Davies is one of the lowest risk arms of the day. He should be your SP2 in cash games, no questions asked.

Bargain Pitchers:

Tyler Mahle ($6,500): Mahle has a 3.10 ERA in six home starts, but he hasn’t allowed less than three runs in a start since May 7th. It’s pretty hard to use him right now. The Astros aren’t nearly as powerful as they will be by the beginning of July, but there’s still some good bats in here. Good enough that I have a hard time seeing Mahle keeping it under three runs again. He really doesn’t generate a lot of strikeouts either, so there isn’t a lot of upside. A lot has to go right for Mahle to keep his head above water, even at this price.

CC Sabathia ($6,300): Sabathia has a 2.33 ERA in five home starts and has racked up 21.8 DraftKings points (14.7 at home) in two starts against the Rays this year. What’s not to like? Sure, CC doesn’t get the strikeouts that he did early on in his career, but he is still a force in Yankee Stadium. Sabathia is going to give up a couple of runs, but he has at least a puncher’s chance at a win and should get us somewhere in the mid teens for DraftKings points. We could do worse.

My picks: Davies, Sabathia; Cole, Davies

FanDuel MLB: BALTIMORE, MD – APRIL 09: Khris Davis #2 of the Oakland Athletics hits a single in the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 9, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) /

DraftKings MLB daily notes:

Patrick Corbin has failed to last more than five innings in any of his last three starts. His home numbers are good enough that I’m not for a stack here, but Scott Kingery, Hoskins, and Realmuto all look good. Righties have punished Corbin lately.

The only Astro that Mahle has faced is Michael Brantley, who scored in both plate appearances. I like Brantley here, but the main target should likely be Yordan Alvarez. Josh Reddick and Gurriel also look good for the price. I’m not really a fan of paying for Altuve in his return since his price didn’t really go down any.

The Rays have slugged six homers against CC Sabathia in 105 at bats, but have only nine runs. It’s not bad to chase the long ball though. Kiermaier has two of them, but he looks expensive. Yandy Diaz, Zunino, Avi Garcia, and Adames have the others. I particularly like the prices on Adames and Diaz.

Josh Rogers made his first start against the A’s, and it didn’t go well. He allowed five runs in 3.2 innings. His second start against Boston wasn’t much better. Rogers may find the going easier on the road, but Khris Davis smacked two homers off of him in that game. I’m all in on Davis. Matt Chapman hit a two run homer in that game as well.

I don’t necessarily think Strahm will have a horrible game just because it’s the Brewers. I really like Lorenzo Cain and Arcia for the price again. Braun is worth a look. As per usual, Moose and Christian Yelich hit lefties well enough, but those prices are getting out of control.

NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 20: Gary Sanchez #24 of the New York Yankees connects on a 2-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium on June 20, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

DraftKings MLB one-off plays:

Eugenio Suarez has a homer and six RBI against Gerrit Cole so far. If you want to take a shot at him this is likely the place to do so. I kind of like Yasiel Puig for the price and power potential as well.

More from FanSided

Ugh, don’t make me try to use a National against Zach Eflin. If I had to choose one, it would be Juan Soto, and that is based almost solely on affordability.

Even with a struggling Bassitt, I’m not sure how much exposure I want to the Orioles. Alberto leading off is solid, and so is the power potential of Renato Nunez, but I think Stevie Wilkerson is probably the better pick.

Taking a stab with Padres seems like a place to fill your lineup with zeroes. The prices are still inflated from that series in Coors. You can try Eric Hosmer for his on base prowess, but I’m not all that crazy about chasing anyone else against a pitcher that doesn’t allow a lot of hard contact.

For the record, Snellzilla has a 4.97 ERA in nine career Yankee Stadium starts. Gary Sanchez is 4-14 with three homers off of him. If Sanchez plays, make sure he’s in your lineup. Stanton, Gleyber Torres, and Hicks have the other homers, but I wouldn’t touch Hicks right now.

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