MLB DFS Slate Preview: Tuesday, June 20
Erik Wardenburg previews the Tuesday, June 20th slate, breaking down his favorite MLB DFS picks, the top stacks, and some optimizer values at DraftKings & FanDuel. Sign up for MLB Premium to build DFS lineups like a pro!
Big 11-game main slate today, with some excellent pitching matchups such as Verlander vs. Valdez, Eovaldi vs. Cease, and Kirby vs. Cole. The Yankees are getting Harrison Bader back in the lineup, and we’ll see if Tim Anderson is able to return from his shoulder soreness for the White Sox. (Update: Anderson remains out)
Lots of other injury news, lineup notes, and MLB DFS picks to get to so let’s start the lineup building process.
MLB DFS Picks: FanDuel & DraftKings
This daily article highlights some of RG’s most helpful MLB DFS tools, including our industry-leading MLB DFS projections and MLB DFS optimizer, with some picks and analysis along the way. I will focus on the main slate of the day, but you can still find plenty of other tools, content, and analysis on RG for other slates.
MLB DFS Weather Check
Before we look at the projected lineups and MLB DFS picks for the day, it’s crucial to understand how the weather will impact the slate. Then we can better understand if we want to target certain games with ideal hitting conditions, for example, and possibly avoid games at risk of delay or postponement. Two tools to use are the MLB Weather Report and MLB WeatherEdge, which are both managed by RG’s Chief Meteorologist, Kevin Roth. You should also be following Roth on Twitter for his important weather news and updates.
- OAK/CLE and COL/CIN are very similar today, as both have a chance for some rain but not enough to put either game in danger of playing. Both are in the 70s with some wind blowing in.
- BOS/MIN is the warmest game with temps in the 80s and a 10mph breeze in from left. SEA/NYY, CHC/PIT, and STL/WSH will be in the 70s with slight breezes blowing in.
- TEX/CHW and LAD/LAA will be in the high 60s with slight breezes blowing out. SDP/SFG will be the high 50s with the usual 10-20mph wind blowing out at Oracle.
- Dome games today are NYM/HOU and ARI/MIL.
MLB Projected Lineups – Analysis & Top Stacks
There are ways to get edges in MLB DFS, such as stacking a lineup or targeting guys higher in the order (since they are more likely to see an extra at-bat). We should always look for value bats that arise each slate. They allow us to fit those extra one or two players into our lineup who are likelier to hit home runs and get us those ceiling games we need to win tournaments.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at MLB Starting Lineups to see what the likely batting orders are for this slate, which teams I’m looking to stack, and any other interesting notes. Going forward, the projected lineups will usually be pretty consistent daily, with the main changes being based on the opposing pitcher being a righty or lefty. Also, certain players are more likely than others to get a day off if playing a day game after a night game.
- With Bader back for the Yankees in CF, I’m expecting Kiner-Falefa to lose the most playing time. Meanwhile, Bauers/McKinnney/Calhoun should join Bader in the OF most of the time against righties like today.
- Against a lefty, the Cardinals will likely go with Edman at leadoff, while Donovan, Nootbaar (came off the IL yesterday), or Gorman could get a spot or two in the lineup even in the L/L matchup.
- With Tovar on the paternity list, Harold Castro will get the start at SS with Montes at 2B. Nolan Jones is up to the 2-hole, while Diaz and Alfaro continue to handle the C/DH spots.
- Bryan Reynolds is out of the lineup today with lower back tightness, and could miss a couple games as the Pirates are calling up Cal Mitchell. Henry Davis is back in there at DH hitting fifth, Palacios is getting the start at leadoff and Hayes is up to second with McCutchen getting a breather.
- Michael Taylor sat out yesterday after taking a pitch to the head, and if he needs another day off, look for Willi Castro to start in CF.
- Josh Rojas was sent down to AAA and Alek Thomas is back up for Arizona. Rivera and Longoria will get most of the 3B starts now, and with Thomas taking an OF spot along with Carroll/Gurriel/McCarthy most days, Pavin Smith could be looking at the most playing time lost now.
- Tim Anderson remains out of the White Sox lineup, so Andrus and Remillard will handle the middle infield again. Luis Robert is getting a day off, so Burger is up to cleanup and Vaughn is up to second in the order, and Frazier will handle CF.
- Schmitt remains out of the lineup for SF, but JD Davis is back in there hitting third. Estrada is down to sixth while Matos is down to ninth.
- Chris Taylor remains out even against a lefty, so Busch will play 3B, and Outman will get a rare start against a lefty.
- Rendon went on the IL yesterday, so Rengifo should get a lot of of the 3B starts for now. Drury should be the regular clean-up hitter too, and against a lefty, recently called up Kevin Padlo will get the start at 1B today.
- CLE and CIN are my top stacks today, as both are at home in warm weather and currently are the only offenses with projected totals above 5 runs. STL, ARI, and SDP round out my top five stacks today.
Make sure to follow the RG MLB Twitter feed for confirmed lineups, as well as our DFS Alerts page for important news and analysis.
MLB DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Optimizer Picks
With a good feel for the projected lineups, weather, and strong stacks to consider, let’s check out the RotoGrinders MLB DFS optimizer, LineupHQ. With this tool, you can create up to 300 MLB DFS lineups in seconds, all of which will adhere to the custom settings you input. For insight into how one of the best MLB DFS players uses LineupHQ, read this article and watch the embedded videos from the GOAT himself, CheeseIsGood.
If we click on the “P/$” column header in the LineupHQ grid, it will rank all of the available players from highest to lowest based on their expected fantasy points per dollar of salary on the specific DFS site you have selected — this is one of the best starting points for finding value on every slate. Let’s do that now and see what stands out on FanDuel and DraftKings.
- I will likely go with one of the $10k+ SPs in cash games as there’s enough value to easily fit one, and I always want an SP with CGSO in his range of outcomes. It’s between Valdez ($10,900), Kershaw ($10,700), and Cole ($10,600) for me, as I think Eovaldi ($11k) is just a bit too expensive along with Stroman ($10.3k), and Kirby ($10k) only has one start above 100 pitches this season, so he’s more of a GPP play to me at that price. Right now I’m leaning towards Cole in cash games, as he’s allowing just a .200 average at home, and the Mariners have the third-lowest team batting average against righties this season at just .225.
- Joey Votto ($2,600) was an absolute steal yesterday at minimum price going for over 30 FP. Today he’s only $600 more and he gets the platoon advantage. I’ll likely go with at least 1-2 more Reds in cash games, as I think India ($3,600) is still at a nice value, while De La Cruz ($3,900) and Friedl ($2,900) are other platoon advantage bats with HR and SB upside worth considering.
- CLE has the highest run total currently, and their entire projected lineup outside of Jose Ramirez ($4,000) is under $3.2k. If you can afford Ramirez, he is a clear top play of the slate at 3B. I like stacking him with Kwan ($3,000), Naylor ($3,100), and Gimenez ($2,600) if you want a full stack at a fantastic value.
I like taking higher than 1.5 total bases for Jose Ramirez on Underdog today, and if you’re a new user, make sure to use RG’s Underdog Fantasy bonus code.
(See RotoGrinders projections directly on the Fantasy Pick’em sites with our browser extensions, available to premium users.)
- I think the ARI/MIL game is a solid game to target as well, as both teams have run totals around 4.5 currently with a good mix of value bats and affordable studs. Geraldo Perdomo ($2,900) looks like the every day leadoff hitter for AZ now, and if he continues to produce like he has been this month, he is assuredly going to be $3.5k+ very soon. Take advantage of his current salary while you still can. Rowdy Tellez ($2,700) and William Contreras ($2,800) are cheap bats from MIL worth considering in cash games. If you need some extreme value options, I don’t mind Winker ($2,200) or Thomas ($2,000) from this game. Carroll ($4,300) and Yelich ($3,500) are my favorite spend-ups here.
- I’m always looking for leadoff hitter value bats with HR and SB upside for cash games, so Tommy Edman ($2,800) and Mike Tauchman ($2,600) fit the bill today. I’d try getting at least one of them in your cash game lineup to help fit in a stud SP. Swanson ($2,800) and Walker ($2,900) are my next favorite p/$ bats from CHC and STL respectively.
- Justin Verlander ($7,300) dropped $700 in price from his last start, and is the cheapest he’s probably ever been in his career on DK today. You know he’s going to be extra motivated against his former Astros team, but at this low of a salary, I’d probably use him in cash games in any matchup today. I still really like Cole ($10,900) for cash games, but I am tempted to go with Kirby ($8,700) for over $2k cheaper in a matchup he dominated in three starts ago. Cease ($7,700), Lively ($7,100), and Oviedo ($6,200) are some of my favorite value SPs to target in GPPs.
- I’m really not sure why Mike Tauchman ($2,400) continues to drop in salary, as he’s gone for 6+ FP in ten of his last thirteen games, and 19+ FP in three of his last six. He’s hitting leadoff in warm weather with the platoon advantage, and he has HR and SB upside. There’s really nothing I don’t like about his situation today, and he’s pretty much minimum price.
- CLE is where I’m going next in cash games, as they’re full of value and make it very easy to fit in Jose Ramirez ($5,200). Josh Naylor ($3,700) is my top p/$ 1B target today, while Kwan ($3,800), Rosario ($3,400), and Gimenez ($3,700) are top values to target either as a full stack or one-offs in cash games.
- I still like CIN bats as one-offs to target on DK but I likely won’t use too many in cash games, as they’re priced up compared to FD. India ($4,500) would be my first target, followed by De La Cruz ($5,300) and McLain ($4,800).
- Geraldo Perdomo ($3,800) remains one of my top value bats of the slate, and I don’t mind pairing him with Alek Thomas ($2,200) if you need an extreme salary saver OF for a mini AZ stack. Jordan Walker ($3,000), Esteury Ruiz ($3,200), Jorge Alfaro ($3,100), Chris Taylor ($3,000), Edouard Julien ($3,100), Alex Kirilloff ($3,200), and Luis Matos ($3,000) are other value bats on DK that are on my radar as cash game options.
MLB Premium subscribers will have access to all of this data in LineupHQ, so be sure to keep checking there as we start getting the confirmed lineups and projections update. The very best P/$ plays tend to be pretty consistent throughout the day for MLB. That being said, projections can always change if someone is hitting higher in the order than initially projected or if a player with a low salary gets a spot start for an injured/resting player.
MLB DFS – RotoGrinders Premium Tools Pre-Lock
If you have any tough last-minute decisions or need some quick MLB DFS picks, our MLB Premium package also contains Consensus Value Rankings, an Expert Survey, and daily LineupHQ Premium tags from our MLB DFS experts.
And for up-to-the-minute news and analysis leading right up to lock, make sure to watch MLB Crunch Time later in the day.
Good luck today!