Thursday, July 4th is providing several options for our MLB DFS enjoyment on Yahoo, DraftKings and FanDuel, along with games in Coors Field, Cincinnati, Atlanta, and Texas which should make things very interesting in tournaments. Before you lock in your fantasy baseball lineups, make sure to check out Awesemo’s MLB rankings and projections. Not a member? Sign up HERE and use Promo Code: MLBSTACKS for 50% off any one month subscription.
For Thursday’s free Spotlight Pitchers article click here
Greetings Gamers! Welcome to the Thursday slate which is a little “funky” with the holiday… the best part is that those of you with our premium Awesemo+ access, you will have the keys to the kingdom… yes not fun for non-subscribers… thought who is paying for the ticket to ride?
If you have not yet signed up for Yahoo Fantasy DFS, click this link and use the promo code Awesemo when making your first deposit and you will be eligible for $30 of “free play” which Yahoo will match through the first $30 of your deposit (this bonus will be received in Yahoo Sports Rewards Points aka YSRP which can be used to enter any paid contest immediately)
Early Slate
LHP Matt Boyd at RHP Reynaldo Lopez – 10.0 implied runs
Okay, this should be fun for us in the DFS world as we celebrate the founding of the Good Ol’ US of A with a reprise that was rained out on Tuesday night. For the record, I am going with what’s posted on the MLB.com Probable Pitchers page, though I’ll update if things change.
RHP Matt Boyd has been outstanding this season with a high strikeout rate and a low walk rate, so roll with impunity against a ChiSox squad that has power, yet is a windmill from a pitching perspective. Over the last 60 days the active roster of the Sox has the third worst 25.6 K% which is intriguing for Boyd.
RHP Reynaldo Lopez has DEFINITELY had his moments, both good and beyond bad… so that is what we refer to as “variance” and even though the Motor City Kitties pretty much suck in all aspects of hitting with the third worst 25.3 K% and bottom three .146 ISO and last place 80 wRC+ against right handed pitching. Wild outcomes can happen, but it does seem that the savings offered by Lopez are the way to go and also the LEVERAGE option on the other side of things with our focus on non-Lopez teams being some power hitters – again, being “uncomfortable” in your strategy does provide differentiation and a path to the good times.
Afternoon Slate
Minnesota Twins at RHP Tanner Anderson – 5.1 implied runs
The weather may be keeping this run total somewhat suppressed as we are looking at a cooler game time temperature somewhere in the upper-60s on Thursday (how CRAZY are things these days when we see teams with implied run totals in the sevens?).
In a fun note, RHP Tanner Anderson was drafted from Harvard in the 20th round by Pittsburgh after spending three years in the Ivy League as both a starter and reliever. He has logged five seasons in the minors and had a brief cup of coffee last year with the Pirates making six appearances for 11.1 innings with a 6.35 ERA and 2.029 WHIP and this year he has four appearances for the A’s with 17.2 innings and a 7.13 ERA and 1.472 WHIP.
The Twins have a solid lineup and while the key options of Max Kepler, Nelson Cruz and Jorge Polanco are not discounted, we can do a little downward cost averaging with C.J. Cron, Marwin Gonzalez and Jonathan Schoop.
Main Slate
Toronto Blue Jays at RHP Hector Velazquez – 5.3 implied runs
We shall see if the roof is open in the Rogers Centre though on a four game “main slate” we are being particularly picky as the only matchup with a run total of less than double digits (again the night before) is this one. That does mean we can be frisky on this four game slate and utilize the Awesemo+ popularity projections. Some of the BEST analysis and strategy that we provide here is in the premium Slack channel so “gosh” why not try that out.
Typically, while I do encourage gamers with key information that is free on Awesemo – for Thursday, the rest will be behind they paywall. Yes, that is not fun… though fun does not pay the bills…. You know what to do.
As always, you can reach out to me in Awesemo.com Premium Slack or on Twitter @EMacDFS if you have any questions.
Good Luck Gamers! ~ EMac
Of course, please do stop by our Awesemo YouTube channel for loads of FREE MLB DFS content, including fantasy MLB lineup advice on The Strategy Show with Josh Engleman and Loughy, as well as MLB picks on Four Corners with Chris Spags, and the MLB Deep Dive with Awesemo, Loughy and ShipMyMoney, where they’ll discuss Awesemo’s MLB rankings.
