MLB Daily Fantasy Helper: Tuesday 7/21/15
If you've never played daily fantasy baseball before, it's time to start. Unlike traditional leagues, you're able to select the players you want on that specific day only, giving you a different squad to root for each and every day.
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As for today's lineups -- those can be found here. The information below is to help you understand why particular players are being picked, because we don't want you going into the things completely blind. We want to help you. Keep in mind, however, that things often change up until the games start, so make sure you're refreshing the optimal lineups as close to the start of games as possible.
Top Pitchers
High-Cost Pitcher
Jacob deGrom – deGrom has been one of the more undervalued top-notch pitchers this season, but he's generally been a high floor guy with decent strikeout upside. Aside from an outing against the Cubs two games ago, deGrom hasn't allowed more than two earned runs since May 11th...against the Cubs. His strikeout per nine rate is a strong 8.87, and he'll be facing a team that's striking out at the seventh-highest rate against right-handers. He's a good cash game option tonight, but still has plenty of upside.
Alternative Option: Michael Wacha
Cost-Effective Pitcher
Joe Ross – Facing deGrom is Ross, who will get another start in the Nationals' rotation thanks to a Stephen Strasburg injury. The last time this happened, the rookie went 20.1 innings in three starts, throwing 5.0, 8.0 and 7.1 innings against the Cubs, Brewers and Pirates, respectively. In those starts, he gave up a total of just six earned runs while striking out 4, 8 and 11 batters. He's so cheap across DFS tonight that it would be incredibly difficult to not get some exposure, especially against a weak Mets lineup.
Alternative Option: Nate Karns
High-Cost Hitters
Prince Fielder – Prince has a .405 wOBA against right-handed pitching over his career, hitting to a .256 ISO in the split. He'll be in Coors tonight against a righty in Kyle Kendrick, who has a 5.96 FIP and is surrendering a .398 wOBA to left-handers this season. I don't know how you wouldn't target Fielder tonight.
Andrew McCutchen – Outside of the Coors game, we've got McCutchen going up against left-hander Jason Vargas. Almost anything is a positive park shift from PNC, which is a plus for Cutch, but what's more important is that he has the platoon advantage against a pitcher who's given up a career .325 wOBA to right-handed hitting.
Alternative Option: AJ Pollock
Cost-Effective Hitters
Josh Hamilton – This is really just a FanDuel-specific play, as Hamilton's price tag is still under the $3,000 mark over there. But using him will give you exposure to a lineup that's facing the aforementioned Kendrick. And, like Fielder, Hamilton has the handedness advantage here to really take advantage of the matchup.
Justin Bour – Bour has an impressive .373 wOBA against right-handers this year to go along with a .242 ISO. These numbers are stronger than what he's seen over his career, but make no mistake about it -- he's a platoon guy who can hit righties well. In one of the best hitter's parks in the game against a below average right-hander in Jeremy Hellickson, he's a great value play across the board.
Alternative Option: Lucas Duda
