MLB DFS Picks & Playbook For Today’s Games: Tuesday, July 2nd
Published: Jul 02, 2024
Welcome to Tuesday! After an off day yesterday, with only three games happening throughout the day, we are back at it today with a big slate in store for us. We are exactly two weeks away from the All-Star game, so let’s ensure we build some all-star MLB DFS lineups today!
Today’s big 11-game main slate still be getting underway at 7:05 PM ET on both DraftKings and FanDuel. With no day games we have plenty of time to get dialed in and be ready with some winning lineups, so let’s jump into today’s playbook and my favorite MLB DFS picks for the day!
MLB DFS Picks & Daily Fantasy Playbook Today, July 2
MLB Weather Today, 7/02
Everything is looking clear so far today.
MLB DFS Lineup Construction Thoughts
We have some great pitching options today, with some really strong choices on the top end. After the top tier of pitchers, I think it starts to get thin pretty quickly, but I also have a cheap option in my favorites. Outside of my favorites, I would also give consideration today to Dylan Cease, Luis Gil, Reynaldo Lopez, George Kirby, Brady Singer, Jose Berrios, and Simeon Woods Richardson.
On the offensive side, we have some strong lineups in good matchups to target today with some of my favorites including the Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Colorado Rockies, Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Angels, and Philadelphia Phillies.
Recommended MLB DFS Starting Pitchers
Top Options For Strikeouts
- Grayson Rodriguez vs. Seattle Mariners
- Luis Gil vs. Cincinnati Reds
- Dylan Cease vs. Texas Rangers
- George Kirby vs. Baltimore Orioles
- Tarik Skubal vs. Minnesota Twins
Best Odds For A Win
- Reynaldo Lopez vs. San Francisco Giants
- Tarik Skubal vs. Minnesota Twins
- Luis Gil vs. Cincinnati Reds
- Brady Singer vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Core MLB DFS Pitchers
Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers
Tarik Skubal is rightly the highest-priced pitcher on today’s slate, and I am willing to pay for him. Through his first 16 starts this season, he has only had 2 starts in which he has thrown less than 6 strikeouts. He has a 2.32 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and a 29.1% strikeout rate, which puts him in the top 5 for ERA and WHIP and top 10 for strikeout rate among all qualified pitchers.
The Minnesota Twins have had a very strong offense against left-handed pitchers this season so this isn’t an easy matchup, but that doesn’t worry me with how Skubal has been pitching. Getting 6 innings with at least 6 strikeouts feels almost guaranteed, and the ceiling of what he could do is incredibly high as well.
Grayson Rodriguez, Baltimore Orioles
I love this matchup for Grayson Rodriguez today. He has been pitching very solidly lately. He had only 4 strikeouts in his last outing, but it was still 7 innings, giving up only 2 earned runs against a really strong Guardians offense. Before that, he gave up 7 runs in 5 innings against the Astros, but it at least still came with 8 strikeouts.
He should be able to limit the runs and tally plenty of strikeouts in this matchup against the Seattle Mariners, who strike out more than anyone against right-handers and are only slashing .221/.300/.369 against them. At this price, Grayson Rodriguez is probably my favorite pitching option overall on this slate.
Zack Littell, Tampa Bay Rays
If you are looking for a cheaper pitching option to plug into your lineup today, Zack Littell is the guy for me. He has more strikeout upside than most of the cheaper options today with 5 starts this season with more than 6 strikeouts, granted the Royals are a tough team to strike out.
Even if he doesn’t get you huge strikeout numbers, I still think he can return value today by providing you with at least 5 innings with under 3 runs scored and a handful of strikeouts, and I don’t see many of the other pitchers around his price being able to do that today.
Recommended MLB DFS Hitters
Highest Expected Run Totals
- Milwaukee Brewers vs. Ryan Feltner
- Colorado Rockies vs. Dallas Keuchel
- Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Ryne Nelson
- Atlanta Braves vs. Hayden Birdsong
- Chicago Cubs vs. Michael Mercado
Core MLB DFS Hitters
*Note: Will Be Updated As Official Starting Lineups Are Released
Nico Hoerner, 2B Chicago Cubs
I really like the Cubs offense today with them facing Michale Mercado. As their leadoff guy, Nico Hoerner is a great one to plug in today on the cheaper end. He is on a nice 8-game hitting streak over which he is slashing .344/.417/.531 with 2 homers and 3 steals.
Nico had a really slow start to the season, but his overall numbers really aren’t looking all that bad anymore. I still expect him to hit far above .248 for the rest of the season, and I am hoping for more than 14 steals in the second half, but I think he has turned things around recently, and we can expect more consistent production from him going forward.
Manny Machado, 3B San Diego Padres
If you blinked, you may have missed the fact that Manny Machado is on an absolute tear at the plate right now. Over his last 11 games he has a 1.106 OPS with 4 homers. This guy still isn’t that far removed from being the MVP runner-up, and we know he can be one of the best hitters in the league when he is locked in.
Nathan Eovaldi is a tough matchup, but this Padres lineup has been hitting pretty well lately. I think Machado will keep up this hot streak. He is a really strong option at third base in a field of really strong hitters at the top of that position.
Miguel Rojas, SS Los Angeles Dodgers
Miguel Rojas is finding himself with some more consistent playing time with Mookie Betts out of the picture for the time being, and he has been making the most of it recently. He has racked up 10 hits over his last 6 games. Granted, it's been just 7 singles and 3 doubles, but when you are getting on base half the time for the Dodgers, you are bound to get some good run and RBI numbers as well (5 runs and 4 RBIs over those 6 games).
Miguel Rojas is a very cheap way to get a guy getting hits in this strong Dodgers lineup, and with them facing Ryne Nelson today, I like getting a share of them. Miguel Rojas gives you solid production at this price to be able to afford some more luxury guys elsewhere.
Aaron Judge/Juan Soto, OF New York Yankees
Graham Aschraft's 1.46 HR/9 on the season is basically in line with his 1.42 HR/9 last season. He pitches in the best home run park in baseball, which doesn’t help, but pitching in Yankee Stadium isn’t exactly a reprieve from that.
Aaron Judge and Juan Soto have been incredible, and if you can afford to lock them both in, I am absolutely doing that today. If you can’t get both, I would at least find a way to put one of them into your lineup today, but they are certainly worth paying for as a duo as well, given what they have been doing this season.
Player Pool
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