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Early DraftKings MLB picks July 17: Everything turns Gray

ByMike Marteny|
CINCINNATI, OH - JUNE 16: Sonny Gray #54 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches during a game against the Texas Rangers at Great American Ball Park on June 16, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Reds won 11-3. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - JUNE 16: Sonny Gray #54 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches during a game against the Texas Rangers at Great American Ball Park on June 16, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Reds won 11-3. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – MARCH 28: Nelson Cruz #23 and C.J. Cron #24 of the Minnesota Twins celebrate scoring against the Cleveland Indians during the seventh inning of the Opening Day game on March 28, 2019 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Indians 2-0. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

DraftKings MLB Daily Notes July 17:

So it’s official. Jason Vargas just can’t pitch against the Marlins. Honestly, a healthy Minnesota lineup is poised to beat the hell out of him too. This is a poor matchup for Vargas no matter how you look at it. I usually make it a point not to stack against Vargas, but on a short slate, it’s really tempting. At the very least, I’ll have a lot of Nelson Cruz, you know, since he has five homers against Vargas in his career. Miguel Sano and Mitch Garver aren’t far behind. I will probably have some shares of Kepler and Jorge Polanco as well.

Albert Almora, Addison Russell, and Heyward have the homers against Sonny Gray this year, but that is Heyward’s only hit against him in 11 career at bats. This would look like a place to go after Gray. Summer at Wrigley sees some crazy scores. However, with the way he is pitching right now, I think I’ll stay light on Cubs. Well, except Schwarber. Just keep in mind that Gray isn’t a fly ball pitcher.

Despite Darvish’s strong start to the second half, his ERA is still nearly six at Wrigley and against the Reds. The Reds have three homers and 11 runs in only 65 at bats. Deitrich has two homers and five RBI against Darvish in just nine at bats. Puig has the other homer. Eugenio Suarez has also hit Darvish well. I wouldn’t rule out a super cheap Nick Senzel either. He is 3-7 against Darvish so far.

Shaun Anderson at Coors? I’ll have all the lefties! Blackmon and David Dahl are pretty much locks. So is Daniel Murphy. Arenado and Story are always money at Coors, but they also cost a ton of money. Moving down to Raimel Tapia or Tony Wolters may be a better idea for one of them. I do want at least one of the two in my stack though.

Tom Milone has pitched well this year in long relief, but I make it a point not to target pitchers against the A’s. His lack of strikeouts has him priced in a range that we want to gamble with, and I wont think any less of you if you do. However, the A’s are loaded with dangerous right handed bats. Just know that I’ll be using Matt Chapman, Marcus Semien, and Khris Davis as leverage against those that go it Milone.