MLB DFS Expert Survey: Friday, July 17th

by Justin Bailey (Jbails26) Last Updated 2026-07-17 16:38:52 Premium Content Part of the product MLB DFS

Our panel of experts is here to give you their insights on MLB DFS today for the 7/17 main slate on DraftKings and FanDuel. They’re here to answer key questions that will assist you in making those crucial liwneup-building decisions. Curious who our experts have as their favorite sneaky stack? Or perhaps you’re wondering who they have as their top overall pitcher? Read their thoughts below!

MLB DFS Picks: DraftKings & FanDuel Expert Survey for Friday, July 17

Who is your favorite hitter to spend up for in cash games?

CheeseIsGood: Elly De La Cruz
ebeimfohr: Elly De La Cruz
boggslite: Elly De La Cruz

Who is your favorite hitter (when considering price, matchup, projected ownership, etc.) on the board and why?

CheeseIsGood: Alec Burleson and Michael Busch – It’s really tough to come up with a single favorite batter on a slate with this much to love. What I can tell you is that my favorite batter has to be a lefty power bat against either Bailey Ober or Merrill Kelly. These are two of the most power-prone pitchers we’ve ever seen, so I’ll have a ton of lefties from both the Cubs and Cardinals. Busch and Burleson both fit the bill here as affordable first basemen with clear power upside facing low-strikeout pitchers who have both allowed ISOs above .260 to lefties this season. Better still, first base is loaded on this slate, so neither of them should be overly popular.

ebeimfohr: Elly De La Cruz - Elly in Coors sounds awfully fun, and he draws a matchup with a young pitcher, Gabriel Hughes, who is probably just not a major league starting pitcher after a below-average minor league run the last 3 years. Elly has the 12th-highest barrel rate in the league at 14.9%, and he’s 13th in hard-hit rate. He’s also picked up his activity on the basepaths of late, with 4 steals (1 caught) in July after just 4 total attempts in May and June combined. He has also really figured out how to hit LHP, a flaw to this point in his career, which is a really nice boost for him if he runs into the Rockies’ left-handed reliever.

boggslite: JJ Bleday – Entering tonight’s game with a .375 wOBA and a .266 ISO against RHP, Bleday is cheaper than he should be heading into Coors Field with favorable hitting MLB weather. He draws a great matchup against an unproven righty in Gabriel Hughes and one of the league’s worst bullpens behind him.

Who is your favorite pitcher (when considering price, matchup, projected ownership, etc.) on the board and why?

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