As we embark on another big weekend of baseball, we have a huge MLB DFS main slate tonight on FanDuel, DraftKings, and Yahoo starting at 7:05 p.m. ET with 13 games. There will be a lot of research involved in a slate as large as this, but two pitchers stand out as good starting points to anchor your MLB daily fantasy lineups tonight -- Justin Verlander and Shane Bieber.
On the offensive side, the top hitters are the red-hot Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts to go along with Rafael Devers and Xander Bogaerts. It will also be important to keep an eye on the latest MLB Weather report (especially with rain concerns in Detroit, Washington DC, and New York).
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Today's MLB DFS Playbook: Lineup picks, tips for Friday
SP Justin Verlander, Astros (@ Mariners). Verlander is the top overall arm on the slate as a heavy favorite against Seattle. The Mariners strike out 23.7 percent to righthanded pitching, while Verlander comes in winning five straight with a league-leading 1.22 ERA and has thrown 19 straight scoreless innings.
SP Jon Gray, Rockies (@ Athletics). Over his last three starts, Gray has been priced from $8.3-$9.4K on DK and has put up mediocre results (15/19/13 fantasy points) against three strong offenses in the Yankees, Angels, and Astros. Now his price has dropped all the way down to $5K with his pitch count up. He finds himself the favorite against a weak A's offense that is striking out 22.3 percent of the time with a .128 ISO to righthanded pitching in pitcher-friendly Oakland Coliseum.
C Daulton Varsho, Diamondbacks (vs. Dodgers). Varsho is on a nine-game hit streak and has slashed .333/.381/.564 in that span, plus hitting .310 over the past 30 days with four home runs and 12 RBI. He gets a big-time matchup tonight with the platoon advantage (.237 ISO/.348 wOBA with 47.6 percent HC) over right-handed pitcher Ryan Pepiot.
1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays (@ Athletics). Don't look now, but Vlad Jr. is heating up. He has hit home runs in back-to-back games and now gets to face a right-handed pitcher (Chris Silseth) in a hitters park. Guerrero Jr. is a solid reverse-splits hitter with a .232 ISO/.392 wOBA and .304 average since last season.
2B Trevor Story, Red Sox (vs. Orioles). Story continued to rake last night with his third multi-hit game and seventh home run over his past seven contests. During this stretch, he's slashing .345/.394/1.069 and now is back in Fenway with a strong 14 mph wind blowing out against a rookie pitcher (Kyle Bradish).
3B Manny Machado, Padres (vs. Pirates). Machado is a real strong pivot off of the popular Rafael Devers tonight with 12 hits over his last seven games. Facing a mediocre lefthanded pitcher (Jose Quintana) and a mediocre bullpen, Machado is hitting .370 over the past 30 days with a .439 OBP and .476 wOBA.
SS Dansby Swanson, Braves (vs. Marlins). I have the Braves as a top low-owned stack tonight and most have had success against Trevor Rogers. Swanson is 6-for-10 with a home run and is raking with a .450 average over the past seven days (two home runs and seven RBI). He also has a .310 average over the last month with six home runs and 19 RBIs. The veteran shortstop is one of my favorite contrarian plays tonight away from the popular Trea Turner, Lindor, and Xander Bogaerts.
OF Yordan Alvarez, Astros (@ Mariners). The Astros are another one of my favorite stacks tonight. Chris Flexen does not miss many bats and has allowed six home runs over his past three starts (nine total). Alvarez will come in low owned tonight, yet he has elite splits against righthanded pitching (.416 ISO/.462 wOBA).
MORE PICKS: SP Shane Bieber, Guardians (@ Tigers); C Christian Vazquez, Red Sox (vs. Orioles); 1B Luke Voit, Padres (vs. Pirates); 2B Ozzie Albies, Braves (vs. Marlins); 3B Alex Bregman, Astros (@ Mariners); SS Francisco Lindor, Mets (vs. Phillies); OF Mookie Betts, Dodgers (@ Diamondbacks)
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