MLB DFS Slate Preview: Wednesday, June 7
Erik Wardenburg previews the Wednesday, June 7th 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 Wednesday slate on tap with ten games, and the Coors Field game is our only worry for rain. Because of the rain concern for SF bats, the Dodgers look like the slate’s top stack with a huge 6.2 run total against Williamson in Cincinnati. Elly De La Cruz didn’t disappoint in his MLB debut going for 11+ FP on both sites, and DK bumped his price all the way up to….$2,700.
Scherzer vs. Morton is the marquee matchup of the slate, while Burnes vs. Kremer should also be a great duel, as BAL/MIL is tied with BOS/CLE for the lowest projected run total currently.
Let’s check out today’s news, notes, and MLB DFS picks!
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.
- CHW/NYY has been postponed due to the bad air quality.
- SFG/COL will see scattered showers and storms at first pitch and likely a couple of hours at least after that. Right now, a delayed start seems inevitable while a PPD is on the table if the forecast gets worse closer to first pitch. SF bats are in another great spot, so make sure to check this game closer to lock to see if it’s worth risking them in cash games or even in GPPs. Temps will be in the mid 60s with 5-10mph out to right if it plays.
- NYM/ATL has the best hitting weather today, with temps in the 80s, 35-50% humidity, and 8-12mph wind blowing out. Against Scherzer and Morton, I’m not too excited about either offense, but both are worth a GPP flier given the weather.
- ARI/WSH and LAD/CIN will be in the 70s with slight breezes out to right.
- BOS/CLE looks like the worst hitting conditions with temps in the 60s and 13mph wind blowing in. CHC/LAA will be in the 60s with an 8mph breeze out to center.
- Today’s dome games are STL/TEX, BAL/MIL, and HOU/TOR.
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.
- Lourdes Gurriel is dealing with groin tightness and remains out for Arizona. Carroll will hit second even against a lefty, while Pavin Smith will take Gurriel’s place and hit sixth.
- Jose Altuve is back in the lineup for Houston, but Pena and Bregman are getting days off so Dubon and Kessinger will start for them. Matt Chapman is back in the lineup for Toronto after sitting yesterday because of an ingrown toenail removal.
- Jonny DeLuca will make his MLB debut for the Dodgers and should see regular starts against lefties. CIN will have a similar lineup as yesterday with De La Cruz at cleanup, but Jake Fraley was scratched around 5:40PM so Will Benson will move up to leadoff.
- Amed Rosario is back in the lineup for CLE, and after sitting yesterday Gunnar Henderson is also back in the lineup for BAL. Mountcastle is getting a day off and O’Hearn will start at 1B. Adolis Garcia is getting a breather for TEX, so Jung will hit cleanup and Josh Smith will join the lineup.
- Willy Adames is off the IL and Turang is being sent down. I’m expecting more starts for Singleton and Toro against righties with MIL down another lefty bat. Contreras is getting a day off so Caratini will catch today, and Urias is getting a breather so Monastero and Miller will handle 2B/3B.
- Rendon returned from the IL yesterday, getting his clean-up spot back immediately. Taylor Ward also hit leadoff against a righty, so I expect that to continue with Ohtani and Trout hitting 2 and 3. Renfroe is expected to go on the paternity list so either Moniak or Adell will start for him.
- JD Davis and Patrick Bailey are getting days off for SF, so Schmitt and Sabol will start for them.
- The Dodgers are by far my top stack today with a 6.20 run total currently in a great hitters’ park. SF would probably be my top stack if there were zero weather concerns in Coors, but with the possibility of delays and even a PPD, I’m a bit hesitant to go too heavy on them at the moment. CIN, LAA, and TEX are other offenses I love stacking today, while TOR and ARI are also worth having stack exposure to.
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.
- Vasquez ($5,500) and Blanco ($5,600) are coming in as top p/$ SPs, but I can’t trust either in cash games, especially Blanco against Toronto. I will have exposure to both in GPPs with loaded hitting lineups and hope one of them can go for 30+ FP. There are plenty of great cash game SPs to choose from, and even though he’s facing Atlanta, I’m leaning towards Max Scherzer ($9,600). He’s allowed 1 or less ER in four straight starts and has 17 strikeouts over his last two, so the upside and a pretty high floor are very enticing as the 5th most expensive SP. I also really like Burnes ($10,000) and Gray ($9,500) at similar prices if Scherzer’s matchup has you hesitant. Morton, Bassitt, Bibee, and Kremer are where I’m looking for a GPP pool. (Update: NYY has been PPD so scratch Vasquez out of your lineups)
- I have to have Dodgers exposure in cash games, starting with Mookie Betts ($4,000) and his .339 ISO against lefties this year. JD Martinez ($4,000) is my next top target with the platoon advantage, while Taylor ($2,700) and Vargas ($2,800) are great value options to complete a full righty stack. Freeman ($4,200), Smith ($3,900), and Muncy ($3,800) are all fine options as well if you have the extra salary. Overall this is an offense to get at least three bats in cash games and stack up in various ways in GPPs.
- If the SF/COL game looks safer weather-wise closer to lock, I will be looking to use LaMonte Wade ($3,400), Joc Pederson ($3,500), Mike Yastrzemski ($3,400), and Mitch Haniger ($3,300) as potential cash game targets. I doubt I’ll have the salary for Estrada ($3,900) or Conforto ($3,700) after loading up on Dodgers along with a top SP, but both are still high-upside bats to consider.
- Elly De La Cruz ($2,800) was as advertised yesterday, going for 15.2 FP, and with the same cheap salary today, likely hitting cleanup, he is a cash game lock for me. Syndergaard is notorious for giving up stolen bases too, so I’d expect the Reds to run wild as their entire lineup can swipe a bag. Will Benson ($2,100) is an excellent value bat today hitting leadoff, while McLain ($3,500) and India ($3,700) are pricier and will likely only be in GPP stacks for me and not my main build.
- The D-Backs offer some nice value bats against Corbin, and it will be hard not to have at least a couple of them in cash games at these prices. Christian Walker ($3,100) is the highest-upside bat at a great price, while Ketel Marte ($3,300) is a great 2B target for cheap. Rivera ($2,600) and Longoria ($2,700) are solid value options at 3B, and Corbin Carroll ($3,700) should be pretty low-owned in the L/L matchup, so I like getting GPP exposure to him.
- There are just so many offenses I want a piece of in my main build that it’s going to come down to some decisions at certain positions. The Angels are one of these offenses that have big upside at home against Taillon, and their prices are sort of forcing us to use them in some capacity. Mike Trout ($3,600) and Shohei Ohtani ($3,800) should both be at least $4k, and if Taylor Ward ($2,900) remains at leadoff, he is going to be hard to fade given the way he’s hitting lately. Rendon ($2,700), Thaiss ($2,600), and Drury ($3,300) are cheap one-offs to consider.
- Springer ($3,300), Belt ($2,600), Chapman ($3,200), and Varsho ($2,900) are one of my favorite value GPP stacks today, and I’d recommend getting Rangers’ exposure in GPPs as well as potentially Nate Lowe ($3,400) in cash games as he’s still pretty cheap.
- If I were to use a cheap SP in cash games today, it would be Randy Vasquez ($4,000) on DK. There are so many fantastic bats to spend up on today that I may end up going with a top SP and Vasquez and loading up on hitters. It’s going to be tough to nail down the right two expensive SPs as each have some kind of concern, be it weather, matchup, or inconsistency this year. Vasquez went for 13 FP in his first start, and that would honestly be a fantastic score for the price if he could repeat it today in a better matchup with CHW compared to SD in his last start. Scherzer ($9,700) is still my preferred spend-up SP, while Gray ($8,900) and Kremer ($7,800) are two of my favorite GPP plays today. (Update: NYY has been PPD so scratch Vasquez out of your lineups)
- I’m just going to get it out of the way right away; Elly De La Cruz ($2,700) should be in every cash game lineup today, and if you fade him at this low of a salary, you are hurting your chances of cashing. Yes, he could go for under 10 FP at extremely high ownership, but it’s more likely he crushes this salary and lineups that have him will be able to afford more expensive bats around him. Also from CIN I love Will Benson ($2,300) for value hitting leadoff today, as I’m expecting any Reds hitter that gets on base to attempt to steal a base or two against Syndergaard. I like taking higher than 1.5 total bases for Elly De La Cruz 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.)
- For the Dodgers, I’m looking at Taylor ($2,800) and Vargas ($3,000) for value, while I will be spending up for Mookie Betts ($5,800) in this good of a spot. JD Martinez ($4,800) is also a bit too cheap and will make my main build, and Will Smith ($5,500) is easily my top catcher of the slate, but I may opt to go a bit cheaper at that position.
- LaMonte Wade ($3,900) is too cheap for a leadoff hitter in Coors Field with HR and SB upside, and either he, Walker, or Steer will be 1B for cash games. Joc Pederson ($4,100) is also too cheap with huge upside, but he does come with big pinch-hit risk once a lefty RP comes in. Conforto ($4,300) and Haniger ($3,700) are my next favorite bats from SF at great prices.
- Matt Thaiss ($2,500) is one catcher I’m considering over Smith, as I want some LAA exposure in cash games. Taylor Ward ($3,200) is someone I want to find a spot for badly in my main build at this low of a price, while Ohtani ($6,100) and Trout ($5,700) are super expensive, but I can’t fault anyone who uses them in cash games today.
- I’m not sure I’ll have the room for many AZ bats in cash games, but I still love Marte, Rivera, Walker, and Carroll as a GPP stack that could be lower-owned than usual with so many other great offenses in play today.
MLB Premium subscribers will have access to all of this data in LineupHQ, so be sure to keep checking there as we start getting the confirmed lineups and projections update. The very best P/$ 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!