MLB DFS Picks & Playbook For Today’s Games: Saturday, June 8
![Rafael Devers Boston Red Sox](https://d29m18w01sxjzp.cloudfront.net/thumbnails/source/fatest/Rafael_Devers_Boston_Red_Sox-1000x600.jpg)
Published: Jun 08, 2024
Welcome to another day of MLB DFS here at Fantasy Alarm. We get a great 10-game early slate on DraftKings kicking off at 4:05 PM EST.
This slate has a handful of solid pitching options at the top end and enough value hitters to allow spending up on two pitchers on DraftKings. Charlie Morton, Ben Brown, and Taj Bradley are all in questionable matchups against teams that did a ton of damage to them the last time they faced off.
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MLB DFS Picks & Daily Fantasy Playbook
MLB Weather: Today, 6/8
Boston Red Sox vs Chicago White Sox
Rain is expected to fall around the first pitch which will most likely cause this game to start late. Keep an eye on the weather as we approach roster lock.
Milwaukee Brewers vs Detroit Tigers
There are scattered showers in the area. The game should play but be prepared to pivot if the rain is expected to be more severe.
MLB DFS Lineup Construction Thoughts
There are enough pitching options at the middle and upper tiers that you don’t need to spend down, but I have a ton of interest in MacKenzie Gore today. Atlanta can be scary but they have not been good lately and we have seen worse pitchers shut them down, including Jake Irvin’s six scoreless frames on Friday.
The White Sox are starting Nick Nastrini and his 9.74 ERA which gives me a lot of interest in the Red Sox. A big question mark I have is whether Taj Bradley will recover in his second straight start against Baltimore after allowing nine runs on nine hits a week ago. My general approach on this slate has been to pay for pitching and an infielder like Rafael Devers while spending down in the outfield and getting to some cheap players on the Giants against Andrew Heaney.
Recommended MLB DFS Starting Pitchers
Top Options for Strikeouts
- Freddy Peralta (6.5 Ks -125) vs Detroit Tigers
- MacKenzie Gore (6.5 Ks +100) vs Atlanta Braves
- Kevin Gausman (6.5 Ks +120) vs Oakland Athletics
- Charlie Morton (6.5 Ks -+130) vs Washington Nationals
Best Odds for a Win
- Freddy Peralta vs Detroit Tigers
- Kevin Gausman vs Oakland Athletics
- Luis Castillo vs Kansas City Royals
Core MLB DFS Pitchers
Freddy Peralta, Milwaukee Brewers
Freddy Peralta has the best odds to record a win on this slate at +105. He has not reached the sixth inning in three of his last four starts, but he’s at least recorded seven or more strikeouts in three of four. His 11.90 K/9 is elite but he has been bitten by the home run ball of late, allowing at least one in four straight games. Detroit has the seventh-highest strikeout rate at 24.2% and aside from their .154 ISO, ranks in the bottom half in most categories. If he can keep the ball in the park and keep Riley Greene at bay, he should find himself a win with strikeouts upside.
Kevin Gausman, Toronto Blue Jays
Kevin Gausman has been all over the place this season. It’s felt like every time he gets into a rhythm, he has a blowup, including his last outing where he allowed six runs to Baltimore. His 4.60 ERA is very misleading compared to the elite talent he has as a pitcher. His 8.75 K/9 is down almost three full strikeouts from last season, but he’s matched up against Oakland who has the third-highest strikeout rate at 26.4% and a terrible offense overall. He only managed to find three strikeouts in each of his last two starts, but he did have a double-digit strikeout game just before that. The A’s have shown flashes of power, but considering Gausman’s talent and the price tag, he’s a very appealing option on this slate.
MacKenzie Gore, Washington Nationals
Mackenzie Gore may be coming off his worst start of the year and is matched up against the Braves, but he’s been far too good not to consider here, especially since he recorded 10 strikeouts against them a week ago. The Braves are still an elite offense on paper, but without Ronald Acuna, and over the last month, they have ranked in the middle of the league in most offensive categories against left-handed arms. In cash games, Brayan Bello looks to be the much safer choice in the mid-tier, but Gore presents the highest ceiling. Gore carries a 3.57 ERA and 10.57 K/9 while being effective against both sides of the plate.
Alec Marsh, Kansas City Royals
Alec Marsh is likely the cheapest pitching option I have an interest in on this slate. His last two starts have been shaky, allowing five runs in both games, but seven strikeouts in three of his last five starts has been solid for fantasy. He has another ceiling strikeout opportunity here against the Mariners who strikeout more than any other team in baseball at 28.2% against right-handed arms. In his last outing against Seattle, he allowed one run through five innings with seven strikeouts. His win equity is diminished by Luis Castillo being on the other side, but if he can pile on the strikeouts and limit damage, he should be in line for another solid start.
Recommended MLB DFS Hitters
Highest Expected Run Totals
- Boston Red Sox (5.1) vs Chicago White Sox
- St. Louis Cardinals(5.0) vs Colorado Rockies
- Texas Rangers (4.9) vs San Francisco Giants
- Cincinnati Reds (4.7) vs Chicago Cubs
Core MLB DFS Hitters
Note: Will Be Updated as Official Starting Lineups Are Released
Jorge Soler, OF, San Francisco Giants
Jorge Soler has not been very impressive this year, but this is a matchup where he has some upside. He has hits in four of his last five games, including two multi-hit games and a home run. Andrew Heaney is on the mound and if there’s one thing Soler can do, it’s hit lefties. He has a .222 ISO this season and held a .411 ISO last season against southpaws. Heaney has given up seven home runs to righties this season and the Giants present a relatively cheap way to chase home runs.
Christopher Morel, 3B, Chicago Cubs
Christopher Morel has hits in four straight games, including two home runs and four RBIs. He’s very streaky but when he’s hitting home runs, we keep playing him, and his .231 ISO against lefties helps our case. Cincinnati is a great hitting environment and Andrew Abbott has allowed 11 home runs to righties on the year. In 12 starts this year, Abbott has allowed multiple home runs in four of them. If you don’t pay up for Rafael Devers, Morel looks like the best mid-tier option at third base.
Wilmer Flores, 1B, San Francisco Giants
One of my favorite value plays on the board is Wilmer Flores against Andrew Heaney. Heaney is coming off a seven-strikeout game across six scoreless innings, but he has allowed seven home runs to righties this season while allowing a .424 SLG. Flores carries a .162 ISO against lefties and is coming off a double dong, with three home runs over his last two games. On top of that, in a small sample of 14 plate appearances, Flores is batting .462 against Heaney in his career with two doubles and a home run.
Rafael Devers, 3B, Jarren Duran, OF, Boston Red Sox
Both Rafael Devers and Jarren Duran are in great spots here against Nick Nastrini. Devers has three home runs over his last five games and Durran has two in his last three. Nastrini has a 9.74 ERA and is allowing a .461 wOBA and .520 SLG to lefties on the year. A mini stack of both players comes with a lot of power, a .255 ISO for Duran and .359 ISO for Devers, as well as speed from Duran who has 12 steals on the year and stole home on Friday.
Player Pool
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Stacks
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