Early DraftKings MLB picks July 18: Blue Jays on Sale

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 27: Teoscar Hernandez #37 of the Toronto Blue Jays is congratulated by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 and teammates in the dugout after scoring a run in the fifth inning during MLB game action against the Oakland Athletics at Rogers Centre on April 27, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

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LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 04: Dinelson Lamet #29 of the San Diego Padres pitches in the fifth inning of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on July 4, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

DraftKings MLB Pitcher Plays:

Honestly, there is a lot to dislike about the pitching situation this afternoon. Though there are aces on it, their situations aren’t so good. I do like Aaron Nola in Philly, but not in this weather against the Dodgers, 2.74 home ERA be damned. Nola is back on point though, not having been below 24 DraftKings points in over a month. If you are going to pay up for someone, Nola is a strong choice. After all, the Dodgers haven’t homered against him in 50 at bats and are only hitting .220.

The Blue Jays have always hit Chris Sale hard. Nothing has changed this year. Sale has allowed 14 runs, including four home runs, to the Jays in just 14.2 innings over three starts this year. Sure, the 16 strikeouts are nice, but the 7.2 DraftKings points per game average is not. I’m not going near Sale today.

I really like both pitchers in Miami. Caleb Smith has a 2.04 ERA in six home starts, and pitched well against the Padres earlier this year, picking up 20.3 DraftKings points in that one.

Dinelson Lamet hasn’t been particularly strong in either start since his return, but keep in mind that he faced the Dodgers and Braves. Both are good offensive teams. The strikeouts are there, but Lamet isn’t going deep into games. Still, if he can muster a 14.4 point average in those games, he should be able to hit 20 against the Marlins in Miami. That’s a good return for the price.

Ross Stripling still isn’t going deep enough into games, so I’m crossing him off. I’ll also pass on lefty Thomas Pannone against Boston and Ross Detwiler is taking over for Dylan Covey and his 8.74 road ERA, but honestly, he may be worse.

That leaves Brad Keller. There’s nothing special about Keller, but he has a 3.35 ERA in seven home starts and is averaging 14.8 DraftKings points per game in four starts against Chicago this year. After what the rest of the KC staff has done against the Sux…..er…..Sox this series, I’m inclined to roll with Keller in one lineup.

Using Smith and Lamet in the same lineup leaves you a hair over $4,000 per position. That’s not bad. However, if you use Lamet with Keller instead, you have a nice $4,500 to pay per spot. I will make one lineup with each.