Friday, July 23, has a rollicking 14-game main slate with several aces to choose from. Let’s get into the top MLB DFS picks for pitchers and stacks for Yahoo, DraftKings and FanDuel daily fantasy baseball lineups.
MLB DFS Picks: Spotlight Pitchers and Top Stacks, Friday, July 23
Yahoo Stack of the Day: Baltimore Orioles vs. LHP Patrick Corbin — 4.7 implied runs
The Orioles will be hosting the Nationals in the Beltway Series this weekend, facing Patrick Corbin tonight. This has been a lost season for Corbin, and he has particularly struggled in this last three starts. While two of these games have been against the Padres and one against the Dodgers, he was hammered for a 7.31 ERA and two baserunners per inning while striking out just eight across 16 innings. For the full season, Corbin’s 18 home runs are among the league leaders, and his 5.66 ERA and 1.47 WHIP has been a major disappointment considering he is in the National League East.
Trey Mancini ($14) has been amazing with his .395 wOBA and .271 ISO in 123 righty/lefty matchups. Austin Hays ($17) and Ryan Mountcastle ($16) are not the most well-known names, but they should be slotted on either side of Mancini in the order tonight. Hays has been elite with a .235 ISO against lefties this season, and Mountcastle (.167 ISO) has been serviceable as well. Anthony Santander ($10) is on the COVID-19 list, but if he clears the protocol for tonight’s game or on Sunday against Jon Lester, get him in lineups.
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Evening Slate
Detroit Tigers at LHP Kris Bubic — 5.2 implied runs
This is a nice spot for the Tigers tonight against lefty Kris Bubic, who has issued three walks in each of his last three appearances. Across his trio of July starts spanning 14.1 innings, he has allowed four home runs on his way to a 6.91 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP. Game-time temperatures will be in the low 90s with a 7 to 9 mph breeze out to left field.
Though their salaries vary across the different DFS sites, the Detroit righties should be the targets on the evening slate. Over his last 402 opposite-handed matchups, Bubic is allowing a .201 ISO and a horrendous 10.2% walk rate. For perspective, this is the approximate production of Giancarlo Stanton at the plate this season. Jonathan Schoop is showcasing for a trade and not afraid to take big hacks. Eric Haase is one of the hottest hitters over the last six weeks, and switch-hitter Robbie Grossman is a solid option batting third. Additionally, in this matchup gamers can even look to Miguel Cabrera for a trip down memory lane.
Late Slate
San Francisco Giants vs. RHP Chad Kuhl — 4.1 implied runs
Even though this is going to be a 6:45 p.m. local start, the weather is definitely chilly tonight in San Francisco with game-time temperatures slated for the upper-50s. On the mound for the Pirates will be Chad Kuhl, who has been living on borrowed time. Over his last six outings he has allowed at least three walks in four of them against just 18 strikeouts in 21.1 innings. Somehow he has survived by allowing only two home runs, but regression is coming and may even arrive on Friday.
Looking to the lefties is key, with Mike Yastrzemski and Alex Dickerson in play on all slates. LaMonte Wade Jr. has been flashing power out of nowhere with nine home runs in 135 at-bats this season. Buster Posey continues to remind everyone of his 2012 National League MVP form when at the plate, and even Wilmer Flores is getting it done with nearly a .200 ISO in his last 250 same-handed matchups.
Spotlight Pitchers
Top Target: RHP Lucas Giolito at Milwaukee Brewers — 4.0 implied runs
- DFS Salary: Yahoo $47 | FanDuel $9,800 | DraftKings $9,600
Tonight there is a bonus with Lucas Giolito squaring off against a National League squad. This means he gets to face a pitcher instead of a designated hitter, and he provides a little salary relief. Giolito has been solid in his last two starts, including a nine-inning game in his last appearance against the Astros in which he allowed just one run and struck out eight. That made 17 strikeouts for Giolito in his last 14.1 innings while ceding just one home run and two walks. The Brewers are striking out 25.6% of the time against righties, which is the fifth-highest rate in the league, while creating runs 12% less efficiently than league average. Zack Wheeler or Gerrit Cole would be the alternatives.
Secondary Target: RHP Freddy Peralta vs. Chicago White Sox — 3.6 implied runs
- DFS Salary: Yahoo $52 | FanDuel $9,300 | DraftKings $9,900
While garnering the victory tonight may be a bit much to ask from Freddy Peralta, he has a few things going in his favor. First, he gets to take on the White Sox, who will be without the designated hitter, and he received extended rest over the All-Star break to help manage his innings. This year has been sensational for Peralta, who has posted a 2.39 ERA that ranks seventh and a 0.90 WHIP that is fourth. Even more impressive is that his 12.4 strikeouts per nine innings are behind only the 13 of Carlos Rodon among qualified starting pitchers. Yasmani Grandal is on the injured list, so as long as Peralta can navigate Tim Anderson, Jose Abreu and Yoan Moncada, he should be in line for a solid performance tonight.
Wild Card: RHP Alex Cobb at Minnesota Twins — 4.8 implied runs
- DFS Salary: Yahoo $34 | FanDuel $8,700 | DraftKings $7,900
On FanDuel Alex Cobb should only be considered as a tournament longshot on the evening slate. However, on Yahoo and DraftKings his reasonable salaries have him worthy of consideration as a second pitcher. The Twins are in selling mode, having traded Nelson Cruz to Tampa Bay last night. Mitch Garver is on paternity leave, Luis Arraez is day to day, and Byron Buxton and Kyle Garlick are on the injured list. While Cobb has a rough June, allowing five-plus runs in three of four starts, he has allowed one or fewer in four of his last five. Rolling with Cobb can be an adventure since the strikeouts seem to come and go, but he does an admirable job of limiting baserunners.
Final Thoughts for the Friday, July 23, MLB DFS Slate
Weather is in gamers’ favor Friday, and there are some giant tournaments available as the DFS sites try to keep the NBA gamers interested in everyday action. Tonight there are 28 teams in the player pool, so do not feel forced into any particular build or team — there should be a little something for everyone, and there are many ways to approach MLB DFS.
