Happy Father’s Day to all the Dad’s out there and may your MLB DFS and Betting journey be a profitable one today. Or, if not, just imagine that MLB DFS is that extra kid you never planned on having but wound up with and now you are just spending more money to bring joy to their faces. You see, it’s all about perspective.
Ten game slate on FanDuel as they include the PIrates and Rockies, while DraftKings is just nine games.
There is no early, pre-slate, morning game today because the early game is at Wrigley, so thankfully we have a normal 1:05 EST lock.
The Athletics/Twins are playing a day-night double header with JP Sears/Bailey Ober set for the early game.
WEATHER
All games will play today
STL at CHC – Warm temps and winds expected to be blowing out to Left Center Field. Normally a big boost for the offense.
BEN LIVELY (DK: $8300, FD: $8700)
The Guardians organization knows how to teach pitching. Lively’s lowered his walk rate, raised his K% and the results are that he’s been a quality pitcher. The Jays meanwhile are not a quality lineup. The math adds up on this ugly pitching day for him to be in our mix as a top 3 guy.
JESUS LUZARDO (DK: $7600, FD: $8900)
We will just throw the Luzardo start on June 4th when he posted a nice -10 out the window. There’s one bat for Washington in Lane Thomas who of course has fantastic power vs LHP (and is 7-16 with 3 HR lifetime against Jesus), but aside from that I believe he’ll cruise around the rest of the DC lineup to be ok.
RONEL BLANCO (DK: $9800, FD: $9400)
Next man up. The Houston Astros are scrambling and just moving guys up in the order, which puts Ronel Blanco actually on our radar today because I think he can do better than Spaghetti did in the last minute spot start yesterday.
OTHER PITCHING THOUGHTS
- The Marlins approach yesterday (also vs a LHP) was a disgrace and I cannot imagine it being any worse, then again, I cannot imagine it being any better either. So, yeah, Mitchell Parker is probably a correct pick today.
- Colin Rea, JP Sears and even Kenta Maeda — all “sure” type picks who are cheap, not great, but serviceable today.
- I dont trust Miles Mikkolas who has pitched well of late.
- Dylan Cease has been very average away from PETCO park & Sunday Citi Field overs.
- Wheeler/Burnes … neither for me.
THE SUNDAY SLEEPER
ZACH EFLIN (DK: $7500, FD: $7900)
You could probably deduce through the fact that I gave little yay/nay on almost every pitcher above that there’s two guys we haven’t talked about in Hurston “Dont call me Darrell” Waldrep and Zach Eflin. For Eflin, he does not walk batters, and that’s HUGE vs Atlanta since they’ll swing at everything & the last thing you want to do is give them a free pass. For Eflin in 2024, he just isn’t getting folks to help him out with swings and misses — something Atlanta should help with. Nobody will have Eflin in hot Atlanta with his low strikeout rates, but the guy knows how to pitch and can be crafty to get through 6 innings on a low PC today with 5 strikeouts. For $7500 on DraftKings, he’ll fly under the radar and be solid.
1060 West Addison St, Chicago, IL
Goldschmidt, Arenado, Gorman, Burleson, Suzuki, Happ, Swanson
Well, lets buy into the NOON local time start here in Wrigley simply due to the wind and warm temps. Goldy CANNOT leave here without a homer, but I really like Arenado — I know he hasn’t been the same this year, but you’re gonna see a multi-HR game from him VERY soon — maybe today.
41 Seaver Wy, Queens, NY
Merrill, Machado, Cronenworth, Lindor, Marte
Citi Field Sunday’s and overs. Traditions I love. The Mets offense is hitting with power now, Cease is bad on the road and there’s two Padres bats who I LOVE today (Merrill & Machado). Hammer this one, its a sneaky over.
CATCHER
Unlike on Friday night’s slate, I do not see catchers being very deep today. It’s likely though we see lots of cheap options here given the Sunday lineups, so don’t just blindly click anyone — take guys who have shown some power or are in nice hitting environments
- Yan Gomes
- Bo Naylor
- Gary Sanchez
FIRST BASE
Meanwhile at First Base, if you only have 1 HR today you could be behind the 8-ball.
- Harper, Bryce
- Paul Goldschmidt
- Pete Alonso
- Josh Naylor
SECOND BASE
- Jake Cronenworth
- Nico Hoerner
- Brandon Lowe
THIRD BASE
- Nolan Arenado
- Manny Machado
- Matt Vierling
SHORTSTOP
I wouldn’t laugh at you if you picked EDLC or Gunnar Henderson here at their top end prices, but tough to say either is a must play.
- Francisco Lindor
- Willy Adames
- Dansby Swanson … He’s better than Tim Anderson. Granted, so is Big Al sitting in section 147, Row F, seats 6 and 7, who is passed out drunk.
OUTFIELD – Mt. Rushmore
- Jackson Merrill … He has arrived, ride it.
- Seiya Suzuki
- Byron Buxton
- Starling Marte
OUTFIELD – Tier Two
- Kyle Schwarber
- Brent Rooker
- Steven Kwan
- Yordan Alvarez
- Paul Goldschmidt – 1B – St. Louis Cardinals – Chairman of The Dongers Club
- Bo Naylor – C – Guardians
- Brandon Lowe – 2B – Rays
- Manny Machado – 3B – Padres
- Francisco Lindor – SS – Mets
- Starling Marte – OF – Mets
- Kyle Schwarber – OF – Phillies
- Byron Buxton – OF – Twins
- BONUS 1 … Nolan Arenado – 3B – Cardinals
- BONUS 2 … Steven Kwan – OF – Guardians
- BONUS 3…. Bryce Harper – 1B – Phillies
TOP BETS
Cardinals/Cubs OVER 10.5
Padres/Mets OVER 7
Guardians ML
Phillies/Orioles OVER 7