Fansided

FanDuel MLB daily lineups July 18th: Early only & main slate

By Matt Rogers

FanDuel MLB: ARLINGTON, TX - JULY 14: Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros slides in safe at home in the second inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington on July 14, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Rick Yeatts/Getty Images)
FanDuel MLB: ARLINGTON, TX - JULY 14: Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros slides in safe at home in the second inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington on July 14, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Rick Yeatts/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
FanDuel MLB
FanDuel MLB: KANSAS CITY, MO – JULY 02: Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Trevor Bauer (47) pitches in the first inning during a Major League Baseball game between the Cleveland Indians and the Kansas City Royals on July 02, 2019, at Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Mo. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

FanDuel MLB: Top Pitching Main Slate

Early in the season, I would’ve been drooling over playing Matthew Boyd ($9,800) and his high, currently 32.1%, K-rate against the Indians offense. But, like the Nationals, the Indians offense has caught fire and their strikeout rate continues to plummet. So, even though Boyd has the highest starting pitchers K-rate in the Main slate, he’s a very dangerous play against the Tribe in Cleveland.

I know the Nats are facing a tough Braves offense, but Stephen Strasburg ($10,600) is quietly having one of his best seasons of his career. Also, the Braves are fanning at decent, for pitchers, 22.3% rate. That being said, it’s still a risky play.

However, the last time Stras was in Atlanta, this season, he only gave up two runs in seven innings, earning a quality start and win. Even bigger, Stephen mowed down eleven hitters, piling up 58 FanDuel MLB points. I’m not making a case for Strasburg as the best pitcher in this slate, but he’s a very good cash and GPP play, despite the match-up. He’ll also likely be lower owned.

The better play is more obvious, and the most expensive option. At the top of a long list of great starting pitchers tonight, including Noah Syndergaard ($9,200), is Trevor Bauer ($10,800) facing one of the most K-friendly teams in baseball, the Tigers.

With a 78 wRC+, the Tigers have one of the worst offenses in baseball. That alone gives us tons of confidence to play such a great starting pitcher as Bauer. But, the icing on the cake is the 25.8% K-rate, the third highest rate in baseball.

So, not only do we have a decent play at 40 to 50 FanDuel MLB points with this pick, but Trevor could pile up 60 to 70 points on Thursday night. The only rub, he’ll be highly owned.