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FanDuel MLB Daily Lineups for the 4th of July Main Slate

By Matt Rogers

FanDuel MLB: NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 25: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on June 25, 2019 in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Blue Jays 4-3. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
FanDuel MLB: NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 25: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on June 25, 2019 in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Blue Jays 4-3. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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FanDuel MLB: ANAHEIM, CA – JUNE 27: Griffin Canning #47 of the Los Angeles Angels pitches in the first inning of the game against the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 27, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

FanDuel MLB: Top Pitching Main Slate

For the Main slate, we have four games. So we have a short list of eight pitchers to pick through. The top pitcher is obvious, he’s the most expensive option. The Padres have a high 26.0% K-rate, and have consistently fanned at a high rate all season.

However, the Padres also have a solid offense, at times, even when striking out at a high rate. Fortunately for the Dodgers, Hyun-Jin Ryu ($10,800) has been surprisingly rock-solid all season. Ryu’s 3.06 xFIP is easily the best of this slate. Hyun-Jin also has a very low 1.83 ERA and incredible 0.90 WHIP. That’s the kind of WHIP you’d expect from someone like Max Scherzer.

But, of course there’s a rub. Ryu’s K-rate is only 23.9%. That’s concerning. For over $10K, I want a pitcher who’s fanning hitters at nearly a 30% rate. Yes, he Padres strike out at a high rate so it’s likely Ryu will be on the higher end of his average, but if there are better K-rate pitchers on this slate, we need to consider them.

Lance Lynn ($9,300) actually has the highest K-rate of this slate, at 26.3%. However, he’s facing an Angels team who has the lowest strikeout rate in baseball. The Halos are also swinging the bat better and playing with a heavy heart right now, after the sudden death of Tyler Skaggs. Lynn has entirely too much risk for his $9.3K price tag.

Fortunately, the Angles happen to have a cheaper Griffin Canning ($8,000) hurling from the mound tonight. Canning is risky, holding a 4.65 xFIP as he gives up nearly two home runs per nine innings. BUT, Griffin also has a low 0.99 WHIP, decent 3.79 ERA, and the second highest K-rate of this slate at 25.3%.

With Canning’s home run risk, there is some concern about pitching against some big bats in Arlington, Texas tonight. But, the Rangers also have a very high 25.8% K-rate, 3rd highest in baseball. So, even if Griffin is giving up three to four earned runs, as he has recently, he’s still a decent shot at 30 to 40 points on a cheaper salary.

With Ryu likely getting 40 to 50 points, while stealing away almost $3K of your salary, Canning is a better value. Ryu is still the better pitcher, but Griffin gives you significant options for offensive stacks, and we have some good one’s tonight.