MLB DFS: The Daily Diamond – 6/7

*All pricing references are based on DraftKings unless otherwise noted

This article is designed to give you a head start/a brief look at the top pitchers and hitters on the slate from a cash game and single entry contest point of view. Obviously, you’re not going to put together a full lineup from the players listed below but that’s not the idea. The idea is to give you an early look and to point you in the right direction. Combined with all of the other articles and resources we have here at FullTime DFS, collectively we’ll have you in a great spot to cash!

Top Pitchers

Gerrit Cole (HOU)

Cole was underwhelming in his last start against Oakland throwing six innings but recording just four strikeouts. He comes in with a ridiculous 37.4 percent K rate while walking just 6.5 percent of the hitters he faces. The Orioles will be no match for Cole who I feel is worth every penny on a night where there is plenty of value to be had out there by way of the bats.

Jacob deGrom (NYM)

Feasibly you could go both Cole and deGrom tonight and work in bats around them. That’s how much value is available and considering deGrom is just $9,400 he has to be considered at home against the Rockies. We’ve seen this season already that Colorado is susceptible to being dominated, especially on the road, just as Chris Sale dominated them a few weeks back in Boston. deGrom left his last start early with a bit of an injury scare but it was considered to be more precautionary than anything, a start in which he was cruising in by the way in Arizona. Either way, Jake will be good to go tonight and look continue his recent home success as he’s gone 20 innings over his last three starts at Citi Field with 22 strikeouts and just two earned runs allowed.

Clayton Kershaw (LAD)

The only two problems I have with Kershaw are his salary and his lack of upside in this matchup. Imagine that. Clayton Kershaw lacking upside. That’s where we are with the future Hall of Famer who comes in at $11,200 tonight in San Francisco against the Giants. By now, we all know about the great park shift and the Giants offense or lack thereof. However, they don’t strike out a ton and Kershaw has not shown to be the high K guy he once was and we’ll more than likely never see that again. Would I be surprised to see him throw a complete game shutout against the Giants? No. But I don’t expect it like we probably could have three or four years ago. What I do expect is a six or seven inning outing with five to six strikeouts and a run or so allowed. Kershaw is a rock-solid option but not necessarily someone we need to have tonight.

Brandon Woodruff (MIL)

Woody had his worst start of the season last time out against these same Pirates, an outing that blew up on him with a string of two-out hits leaving Woodruff with a line of four innings, 10 hits, and six earned runs. This is where he bounces back, at home against Pittsburgh who is playing way over their heads right now. Before that last start, Woodruff had been on a roll pitching six innings in each of his last four starts allowing a total of four earned runs over 28 innings. At his salary he’s a fine SP2 option tonight.

Bats to Build Around

My top bats on the slate. Not to say that you should force all of these guys into your lineup(s), simply said, these are my favorite bats considering a number of variables.

Khris Davis (OAK)

While he may not be destroying righties this season like he has in season’s past, Davis is still my top bat on the slate to consider tonight in Texas against the Rangers. ‘Wait. Did you say IN TEXAS???’ Yes, I did. Khris Davis owns the Rangers, especially in their home park. In 28 career games there, Davis has 16 home runs, 11 doubles, a .328 batting average, and a 1.227 OPS. 10 of those home runs have come between 2017 and 2019 in 20 games over that span. Lynn throws his four-seam fastball 47 percent of the time against righties while mixing in a cutter (19 percent), and a sinker (25 percent); all pitches that Davis handles well against righties, specifically the sinker. In 236 batted-ball events since 2016 against that pitch, Davis has posted a .431 wOBA, .505 xwOBA, .300 ISO, and 81 percent contact rate.  Against Lynn who has some reverse splits and the bad Rangers bullpen, Davis is in store for a good night at a sub-4K price tag.

Mike Moustakas (MIL)

Since August 24th of last season, Moose is 17-49 (.346) with three doubles and eight home runs against the Pirates, including three against them in three games already this season. He’s hitting the piss out of the ball right now with a 95 mile per hour average exit velocity over his last 10 games which has resulted in six home runs over that span. It looks like this will be somewhat of a bullpen game for the Pirates as they are starting Rookie Davis (who isn’t a rookie) and he’s also not very good either. Moose’s salary has dropped since the start of the Brewers’ past series when it was as high as $5,600, but he hasn’t stopped hitting and won’t tonight either.

Bryce Harper (PHI)

Harper and the Phils are back home after their six-game road trip, a trip that didn’t go well for them except for the last two games in which they scored nine and seven runs respectively. They face Tyler Mahle and the Reds at home tonight and Mahle is someone to target with left-handed bats. On the season in 25.2 innings against lefties he’s allowed seven home runs and a .373 wOBA. Harper, as I said last week, is starting to hit his stride in the sense that he’s hitting everything hard, including an opposite field, fly out in San Diego two days ago that would’ve been a home run anywhere else and a ringing double later in the game. He’s posted a 50 percent hard-hit rate over his last 10 games with an average exit velocity 97 miles per hour over that span. Good park, good weather, and a pitcher that struggles against lefties seems like a perfect fit for a locked-in Bryce.

Jose Abreu (CWS)

The glue in the middle of the White Sox lineup that should beat the piss out of Homer “Donger” Bailey tonight is Jose Abreu who has beaten up on the Royals forever. Bailey comes into tonight allowing four home runs and 14 earned runs over his last three starts, a span of 9.2 innings. That’s not good. He’s allowed a .356 wOBA and 48 percent hard contact rate on the season to righties. Abreu has a .294 ISO and 15 of his 16 home runs against righties this season. He’s the first baseman I’ll lock in IF I’m paying up at the spot.

Quick Hits

Favorite value bat(s)

Matt Olson (OAK – This is my alternative option off of Abreu), Cesar Hernandez (PHI), Travis Shaw (MIL), Eloy Jimenez (CWS)

Low owned home run

Michael Conforto (NYM)

Position that is weakest/has the most value

Second Base: Cesar Hernandez (PHI), Cavan Biggio (TOR), Jurickson Profar (OAK), Ozzie Albies (ATL)

GOOD LUCK!!