It is time for Saturday Baseball! There is plenty of exciting baseball happening all day today. Justin Steeles is returning to the mound for the Chicago Cubs at 2:20 PM EST, the best rivalry in all of sports takes place at 7:15 PM EST with the New York Yankees facing the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, but we are focused on the 9-game slate this afternoon that is going to start at 4:05 PM EST, with all 9 games starting between 4:05 and 4:10. This slate is highlighted on the pitching side by Mitch Keller, Kodai Senga, and Logan Gilbert. On the offensive side, I am expecting some fireworks from the Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Angels, Atlanta Braves, and the Philadelphia Phillies. The featured player of today’s playbook is none other than Shohei Ohtani, who isn’t taking the mound today but has been hitting the baseball better than anyone else in the league. Let’s dive into the playbook to help you create some winning lineups, whether you are playing cash games or gpp tournaments. Be sure to check in with our MLB DFS Tools, with the daily MLB projections, MLB DFS rostership projections, and our MLB DFS Lineup Generator when building those lineups today to help you decide which players you should be targeting!

 

MLB DFS Playbook June 17

MLB Weather Updates

No weather concerns today!

DFS Lineup Construction Thoughts

While I don’t dislike the top-end pitchers on today’s slate, I think you can get just as much upside from some of the pitchers a little lower on the price range today. Braxton Garrett and Hunter Greene are my two favorites that fit that category. I believe each has the potential to be the best pitcher of the slate, and they save you some money for your hitters compared to some of the other pitching options. Speaking of saving money for hitters, my approach to hitters is going to be a bit of a stars and scrubs type of lineup for today. Shohei Ohtani is hitting the ball so much better than anyone else right now that I want to find a way to afford his price tag to put him in my lineups. If you want to fit both of my favorite pitchers, Hunter Greene and Braxton Garrett, along with Shohei Ohtani on the hitting side all into your lineup (which is certainly what I am doing), you will need to find some good cheaper players when filling out the rest of your lineup.  

Recommended DFS Starting Pitchers

Top Options for Strikeouts

Kodai Senga vs St. Louis Cardinals

Hunter Greene vs Houston Astros

Mitch Keller vs Milwaukee Brewers

Logan Gilbert vs Chicago White Sox

Best Odds for a Win

Bryce Elder vs Washington Nationals

Christopher Sanchez vs Oakland Athletics

Griffing Canning vs Kansas City Royals

Braxton Garrett vs Washington Nationals

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Favorite Starters to Use for DFS Lineups

Braxton Garrett, Miami Marlins

The Washington Nationals are better against left-handers, but they still don’t scare me in the slightest. Braxton Garrett has been pitching brilliantly lately as well. He had a season-high of 9 strikeouts in his last outing against the Chicago White Sox while only giving up 3 hits and not surrendering a single run. In his last 7 starts, he has 47 strikeouts in 37.1 innings and only has one game with less than 6 strikeouts. He also has a 2.89 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP over that stretch and there is no reason to think we won’t get more of the same today against the Nationals. 

Hunter Greene, Cincinnati Reds

Hunter Greene is quickly becoming one of the best strikeout pitchers in the game. Over his last 5 starts, he has at least 8 strikeouts every game and has totaled 46 strikeouts in 28.1 innings, which is absurd. That wasn’t against easy teams either, with that stretch including a start in Colorado and having to face the Yankees, Cubs, Red Sox, and Cardinals. Houston’s offense is good but quite a bit less scary without Yordan Alvarez. I don’t see why we wouldn’t get another 8+ strike-out game from Greene here.

Recommended DFS Hitters

Highest Expected Run Totals 

Los Angeles Angels vs Mike Mayers

Atlanta Braves vs Connor Seabold

Texas Rangers vs Trevor Richards

Philadelphia Phillies vs James Kaprielian

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Favorite Hitters to Use for DFS Lineups

J.T. Realmuto, C Philadelphia Phillies

J.T. Realmuto is on an absolute tear at the plate right now. In his last 4 games, he has 8 hits including 3 home runs, 2 triples, and 2 doubles. Not to mention a stolen base, 7 RBIs, and 8 runs. He gets to face James Kaprielian and the Oakland Athletics today which should be no challenge for him to be able to keep up this amazing run. I don’t pay up for catchers very often, but it is pretty rare for any catcher to be hitting as well as Realmuto is right now. 

Shohei Ohtani, 1B/OF Los Angeles Angels

I am almost certain I have never put a hitter that cost this much as one of my favorite hitters to use. Shohei Ohtani has been so good that even at this price you can probably consider it a discount. Even if he cost $1,000 more than anyone else you might have to still consider getting him in your lineup that is how good he has been hitting. He would currently be the frontrunner for AL MVP even if he hadn’t pitched a single inning. He is the best baseball player on the planet, and he is worth sacrificing at other positions to find a way to fit him into your lineup right now.

Bryson Stott, 2B Philadelphia Phillies

Here we have our second Philly on my favorites who has been on an amazing stretch at the plate. In his last 6 games, Bryson Stott has 12 hits and is slashing .522/.542/.1000 along with 2 home runs and a stolen base. He got the day off yesterday but should be back in the lineup today for this good matchup against the Athletics and ready to continue hitting. He is also very cheap, which will help you with your roster construction today and trying to fit some of the higher-priced players in. 

Jorge Soler, OF Miami Marlins

Jorge Soler is having quite a season for the Miami Marlins. Only Shohei Ohtani and Pete Alonso have more home runs than him this year. He is one of the better home run threats in the league right now and getting to face the rookie Jake Irvin for the Washington Nationals will be a great chance for him to add to his season total in home runs today. 

Player Pool

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Stacks

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