This article will outline the best daily fantasy MLB plays of the day at every position. We’ll take a comprehensive look across the DFS industry to uncover these core recommendations, factoring respective salaries into the analysis.
Please note, these player picks were organized early in the day. For MLB contests, always check lineups and weather closer to game time. Rain, wind, or unexpected managerial decisions could open up additional sources of value. Be sure to keep an eye on the MLB Headlines and Injuries desk.
Editor’s Note: Stay ahead of the competition from wire to wire with rankings, customizable projections, trade evaluator, exclusive columns and more in our Season Pass. And start using optimized lineups with our DFS Toolkit!
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We will be looking at the seven-game slate starting at 7:05 ET.
PITCHER
CC Sabathia – NY Yankees (vs. Toronto)
Sabathia had a strong bounce-back effort last Wednesday, allowing just one earned run through six innings (three hits, seven strikeouts) against the Rays. His price has fallen due to a handful of uninspiring performances, but Sabathia now has some wind in his sails following that most recent outing. That makes for an interesting buy-low opportunity while facing a Toronto offense that ranks 27th in wRC+ with the sixth-highest strikeout rate at 24.7%. Sabathia checks in as an overwhelming -245 money line favorite as one of the best “per dollar” pitchers for DFS purposes.
Also Consider: Clayton Kershaw, Adam Plutko, Eduardo Rodriguez
CATCHER / FIRST BASE
Carlos Santana – Cleveland (vs. Kansas City)
Santana has been heating up lately with seven hits, three homers, six runs, and five RBIs over his past five games. That raises his seasonal numbers to an impressive .293 average with 17 round-trippers and 47 RBIs. His salary remains noticeably lower than the elite first baseman despite that top-end production. Santana has an excellent chance of keeping his heater alive against subpar Kansas City RHP Brad Keller, who allowed seven earned runs and nine hits across four innings last Wednesday at Seattle.
Also Consider: Rhys Hoskins, Jose Abreu
SECOND BASE
Jason Kipnis – Cleveland (vs. Kansas City)
Cleveland makes for a viable stack on tonight’s seven-game slate, as they check in with one of the highest run-scoring projections. Similar to his teammate, Santana, Jason Kipnis has been swinging an impressive bat as of late. The Indians’ second baseman has collected 10 hits with two homers, six runs, and 10 RBIs over his past six starts. He’ll look to cash in against the aforementioned generosity of Kansas City RHP Keller.
Also Consider: Ozzie Albies, Joe Panik
THIRD BASE
Josh Donaldson – Atlanta (at Chicago Cubs)
The wind is blowing out to center at Wrigley Field (15 mph), pushing the over/under to a gaudy 11.5 total. Having said that, it’s not a bad idea to catch some exposure to both offenses. Josh Donaldson finds himself in a favorable righty/lefty draw against Cubs’ LHP Jon Lester, who has allowed 30 earned runs and 50 hits across 37.2 innings over seven starts in the last month. Meanwhile, Donaldson is finding a groove with 17 hits, six homers, seven runs, and 11 RBIs over his last 10 games.
Also Consider: Jose Ramirez, Kris Bryant
SHORTSTOP
Didi Gregorius – NY Yankees (vs. Toronto)
The Yankees check in with one of the highest run-scoring projections of the night, finding themselves in a cluster alongside Cleveland, Chicago Cubs, and Atlanta for that title. Didi Gregorius looked great in his first week after making his season debut on June 7. He has fallen on tough times with only two hits in his last 24 at-bats, but tonight’s draw makes for an encouraging breakout opportunity. Gregorius will step in against Toronto RHP Aaron Sanchez, who holds a .369 wOBA split to left-handed hitters. Sanchez has gotten hammered to the tune of 23 earned runs and 28 hits through 18.2 innings over his last four starts, and the hitter-friendly dimensions of Yankee Stadium should provide Gregorius a boost.
Also Consider: Jean Segura, Dansby Swanson
OUTFIELD
Ronald Acuna Jr. – Atlanta (at Chicago Cubs)
As mentioned earlier, we have the perfect storm for Atlanta to score some runs tonight. Acuna could be at the center of that as the most legitimate hitter donning a Braves’ uniform. He’ll enjoy the platoon advantage over the aforementioned struggles of Cubs’ LHP Lester as well as the wind at his back. If you choose Sabathia as your starting pitcher tonight, you shouldn’t have a problem blending Acuna’s cumbersome salary into a quality lineup.
Jeff McNeil – NY Mets (at Philadelphia)
McNeil has been a hitting machine this season while currently holding an impressive .342 average. He’s arguably holding his best form of the year with 11 hits, four doubles, two homers, six runs, seven RBIs, and two stolen bases over his past five games. McNeil and company will get a park boost in Philadelphia while facing Phillies’ RHP Zach Eflin and his .355 wOBA split to left-handed hitters.
Also Consider: Austin Riley, Michael Conforto, Alex Gordon, Kyle Schwarber, Ian Desmond, Oscar Mercado, Bobby Bradley (punt)