Main DraftKings MLB picks July 18: Freeman isn’t free

By Mike Marteny | Jul 18, 2019

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 28: Freddie Freeman #5 of the Atlanta Braves hits a home run in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at SunTrust Park on April 28, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images) /

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BALTIMORE, MD – MAY 28: Nicholas Castellanos #9 of the Detroit Tigers grounds out to third base during the eighth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 28, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /

DraftKings MLB one-off plays:

You simply do not use Strasburg against the Braves. They are hitting .297 with nine homers and 38 runs in just 192 at bats. Freddie Freeman has destroyed Strasburg, hitting .340 in 53 at bats with four homers and 17 RBI. Aside from that, I don’t see any must play Braves. Austin Riley and Markakis are worth some exposure though.

Trevor Bauer’s career, and season, numbers against the Tigers leave a lot to be desired. Add that to his 4.92 home ERA, and I’m fading all $11,000 of Bauer. As for taking shots against him, six Tigers have homered off of Bauer so far. Nick Castellanos stands out in particular. He has a homer and 10 RBI against Bauer. Christin Stewart could be my favorite play due to price and the fact that he is 3-10 with a homer off of Bauer.

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Harrison Bader has the only Cardinals homer against Roark, but I’m not sure I want to play him. I would much rather go with Tyler O’Neill or Goldschmidt here. Jose Martinez looks good for the price as well.

Ramon Laureano and Matt Olson are the guys you want against Kyle Gibson. Both have homers and are a combined 7-11 against Gibson so far in their careers. No other A’s really interest me here.

Wade Miley isn’t really a guy you go after this year. His road ERA of 4.50 isn’t all that bad. Both Pujols and Justin Upton have homered twice off of Miley. I’m also using Kevan Smith as my catcher punt since he is 2-3 lifetime against Miley and is super cheap.

Jake Lamb is really the only Arizona batter that I’m interested in for the price. Jones, Escobar and Ketel Marte are all priced to the point where I would rather stack Astros than use them against a guy with a sub 3 ERA.

I don’t trust Happ, but the Rays aren’t doing a lot to instill confidence in their offense right about now. Avi Garcia has homered off of him twice, so I really like that play. Tommy Pham is the only other one that has hit Happ well enough for me to want to use him.

I think a lot of people are going to go after Kelly with Moose and Yelich, and I don’t blame them. However, if I have that kind of money to burn, I’m going Astros. Lorenzo Cain and Yasmani Grandal are more in my price range.

Despite Thor’s struggles, lefties still aren’t hitting him a whole lot better than righties. I may take a shot with Stephen Vogt or Alex Dickerson here, but the Giants prices are all jacked up from a Coors series. There isn’t a lot of value until they go cold again. Joe Panik and Buster Posey are the only Giants hitting better than .250 against Thor for what that’s worth.

Like Thor, MadBum has hit a rough stretch called the 2019 season. Pete Alonso looks really good here, but beyond that, I’m not reaching. Wilson Ramos and Todd Frazier do have two homers each against MadBum.

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