MLB DFS Playbook July 26: Top Plays for DraftKings and FanDuel
Published: Jul 26, 2023
Tonight's Thursday MLB DFS main slate features five games on both DraftKings and FanDuel after the FanDuel slate was shortened due to the postponed matchup between the Tigers and Angels. It's worth noting that FanDuel still says their slate lock time is at 6:40 pm ET while DraftKings slate is at 7:05 pm ET. 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: July 26
MLB Weather Updates
Chicago Cubs vs Chicago White Sox
This is one of our favorite games on the night but it isn't going to be dry at the beginning. This one could be a delayed start or they play a little wet early on.
DFS Lineup Construction Thoughts
We know the struggles Lance Lynn has against left-handed bats and the cover of both today's playbook and livestream features the Cubs so we are looking to get some lefty bats from the Cubs in our lineups here tonight. A contrarian play could be stacking the Red Sox against Spencer Strider as the Red Sox offense is streaking and very good at home.
Recommended DFS Starting Pitchers
Top Options for Strikeouts
Best Odds for a Win
- Spencer Strider vs Boston Red Sox
- Framber Valdez vs Texas Rangers
- Marcus Stroman vs Chicago White Sox
- Carlos Rodon vs New York Mets
- See More
Favorite Starters to Use for DFS Lineups
Marcus Stroman, Chicago Cubs
He isn't ever going to wow you in the strikeout department but he keeps the ball on the ground and the White Sox are a team that doesn't hit right-handed pitching all that well. The Cubs are favorites here tonight and we love their offense against Lance Lynn so why not back the starting pitcher tonight here as well.
Spencer Strider, Atlanta Braves
Strider can shut down offenses with the best of them and he is an elite strikeout talent but he has also given up nine earned runs over his last two starts and the Red Sox offense is rolling right now and they are also very good at their home ballpark. Can you use Strider tonight? Of course, even when he gives up runs his elite strikeout totals make up for the damage most nights.
Jose Quintana, New York Mets
We need a value pitcher on tonight's slate right? Quintana made his season debut for the Mets and pitched well against the White Sox, allowing just two runs over five innings while striking out three. He took the loss but if he gives us just this same outing but wins then we are looking at 13/14 fantasy points on DraftKings which is enough on this smaller slate at his price tag.
Recommended DFS Hitters
Highest Expected Run Totals
- Atlanta Braves vs Brayan Bello
- Houston Astros vs Andrew Heaney
- New York Yankees vs Jose Quintana
- San Francisco Giants vs Hogan Harris
- See More
Favorite Hitters to Use for DFS Lineups
Cody Bellinger, OF Chicago Cubs
This is all about the matchup as Lance Lynn has been tormented by left-handed hitters this season, allowing a .441 wOBA and a .663 slugging percentage against with 18 home runs allowed to lefties. Bellinger is having a career resurgence in 2023, looking much closer to the player he was during his MVP season. Lock and load play and he will be popular.
Francisco Lindor, SS New York Mets
Over the course of his career Lindor has hit left-handed pitching well and when it comes to BvP against Yankees starter Carlos Rodon he is 10-for-34 with two home runs and three doubles off of him. Rodon has struggled in his return outings for the Yankees and this could be another tough outing for him with Lindor and Alonso doing damage against southpaws.
Wilmer Flores, San Francisco Giants
Let's keep riding Wilmer shall we? Sure, last night he didn't get any hits but he had two walks and scored a run which was enough for his price tag. He is still far too cheap given his current stretch and he will face yet another lefty from Oakland, this time Hogan Harris. I like the Giants as a team tonight and Flores as a core of that stack.
Be Sure To Tune In At 5pm ET For Today's Livestream
Player Pool
$ Tier | SP | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | OF |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
High | Spencer Strider $11,200 | Matt Olson $4,200 | Jose Altuve $3,600 | Austin Riley $4,000 | Nico Hoerner $3,500 | Ronald Acuña $4,700 |
Framber Valdez $10,300 | Cody Bellinger $3,900 | Christopher Morel $3,600 | Rafael Devers $3,900 | Francisco Lindor $3,400 | Kyle Tucker $4,000 | |
Medium | Marcus Stroman $9,600 | Pete Alonso $3,500 | Gleyber Torres $3,000 | Josh Jung $3,400 | Dansby Swanson $3,000 | Chas McCormick $3,700 |
Brayan Bello $9,200 | Justin Turner $3,500 | Alex Bregman $3,300 | Masataka Yoshida $3,400 | |||
Ian Happ $3,000 | ||||||
Mike Tauchman $3,000 | ||||||
Low | Jose Quintana $7,200 | Wilmer Flores $3,100 | Miles Mastrobuoni $2,400 | Jace Peterson $2,300 | Jeremy Peña $2,800 | Michael Harris $2,900 |
Tommy Pham $2,800 | ||||||
Austin Slater $2,800 | ||||||
Isiah Kiner-Falefa $2,200 |
Stacks
Cubs | Mike Tauchman | Christopher Morel | Cody Bellinger | Ian Happ |
DraftKings | 3400 | 5000 | 4600 | 3300 |
Fanduel | 3000 | 3600 | 3900 | 3000 |
Braves | Austin Riley | Matt Olson | Ronald Acuña | Michael Harris |
DraftKings | 6000 | 6400 | 6700 | 4200 |
Fanduel | 4000 | 4200 | 4700 | 2900 |
Mets | Francisco Alvarez | Francisco Lindor | Tommy Pham | Pete Alonso |
DraftKings | 3800 | 4800 | 3300 | 4900 |
Fanduel | 3100 | 3400 | 2800 | 3500 |
Astros | Chas McCormick | Alex Bregman | Kyle Tucker | Yordan Alvarez |
DraftKings | 4100 | 5300 | 6000 | 5500 |
Fanduel | 3700 | 3300 | 4000 | 4100 |
Red Sox | Triston Casas | Masataka Yoshida | Justin Turner | Rafael Devers |
DraftKings | 2900 | 4800 | 4400 | 5000 |
Fanduel | 3000 | 3400 | 3500 | 3900 |
Player News
Mariners sent INF/OF Samad Taylor outright to Triple-A Tacoma.
Loui Trivino completed a bullpen session in front of scouts in Palm Beach on Tuesday.
USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale says Michael Kopech is “expected to possibly miss the first month of the season.”
The Dodgers are signing Kirby Yates, according to USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale.
Cubs signed RHP Trevor Richards to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.
Pirates designated INF Tristan Gray for assignment.