DraftKings MLB Daily Fantasy Helper: Friday 6/19/15

Now that the NHL and NBA seasons are officially over, it's the perfect time to start playing MLB DFS, if you haven't already.

DraftKings has contests going on each night where you can win real cash prizes. And with a nice slate tonight in baseball, it's the perfect chance to join and play. After all, new users at DraftKings get a free entry into a league with up to $100,000 in prizes.

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Not sure who to select? Don't worry, we've got you covered with tonight's optimal lineup.

Be sure to check out our optimal lineups prior to games starting to ensure each player is in his team's lineup.

On a night where there are a number of aces taking the mound, some might be surprised to see Carlos Carrasco as our top overall projected pitcher on the board today, but when you take a look at his advanced metrics it becomes clear why he is an elite pitching option. Although he has earned a less-than-stellar 4.38 ERA this season, he's posted a very strong 2.67 FIP and 2.84 xFIP, both of which rank in the top 12 in the league among starting pitchers. He is also one of just nine starting pitchers who have struck out batters at a ten-plus strikeout per nine innings rate, ranking eighth in the league at 10.34.

It's not just that Carrasco's advanced analytics are strong, but he also draws an excellent matchup against a Rays squad who ranks 22nd in the league in wOBA against right-handed pitching at .299 and strike out at the seventh highest rate against righties in all of baseball at 21%. Carrasco is in an excellent spot tonight and provides exceptional value at just $8,800.

The other pitcher our algorithm recommends -- Jacob deGrom -- comes into tonight scorching hot. The Mets' ace has pitched at least seven innings in each of his last five starts, striking out at least eight batters in each of those five starts while not allowing more than two earned runs in any of them. He sports a 2.33 ERA, 2.72 FIP and 2.79 xFIP on the season and is striking out batters at an impressive 9.53 clip per nine innings. With a matchup with a Braves team who ranks 19th in the league in wOBA (.307) and 21st in wRC+ (93) on the docket, look for deGrom to continue his hot streak in Atlanta tonight.

It's almost always a good idea to roster batters who are playing at Coors field, especially when you get a stud like Ryan Braun facing off with a struggling southpaw like Jorge De La Rosa. Braun has absolutely mashed lefties throughout his career, posting a monstrous .431 career wOBA and .292 ISO against left-handed pitching. And, although he boasts a slightly less impressive .347 wOBA and .235 ISO against lefties this year, should have little trouble knocking around De La Rosa who has allowed a .364 wOBA to righties so far this season. The Brewers' slugger is one of my favorite players on the board tonight, despite his relatively expensive price tag.

Speaking of Brewers' hitters who destroy left-handed pitching, Aramis Ramirez has earned a career .404 wOBA and .279 ISO against lefties and gets an outstanding matchup against De La Rosa at Coors Field. The Brewers' third baseman will be batting in the middle of Milwaukee's order in a game that features an massive 10.5 over/under and should have plenty of opportunities to drive in runs tonight. Although he has struggled for much of this season, Ramirez' upside is hard to ignore at a very reasonable $3,800.

Outside of the Brewers, one other lineup our algorithm is extremely high on tonight is the Cardinals. St. Louis gets the pleasure of welcoming Phillies' starter Phillippe Aumont to his first start the big leagues this season. Aumont has earned a career 6.13 ERA, 4.44 FIP and 4.49 xFIP while allowing a horrendous .827 wOBA to lefties and .492 wOBA to righties, making every Cardinals batter a viable play tonight. With Jhonny Peralta, Kolten Wong and Mark Reynolds all priced below $4,000, all three make spectacular plays against Aumont and the Phillies tonight.