MLB DFS Playbook June 19: Top Plays for DraftKings and FanDuel
Published: Jun 19, 2023
We have a seven-game MLB DFS main slate on Monday, June 19th, on DraftKings and FanDuel. It's an interesting slate that has had some developments take place from last night until now. We have multiple openers hitting the mound, the Pittsburgh Pirates called up former number one overall pick Henry Davis, Joey Votto is making his season debut for the Cincinnati Reds. Some of the top pitchers tonight include James Paxton, Corbin Burnes, and Hunter Brown, but are any one of them elite DFS options tonight? Be sure to check out all of our tools including the MLB Lineups page, MLB DFS Projections – powered by FanJections –, MLB DFS Ownership, and all of the rest of our tools HERE! Let's dive into today's playbook, core plays, and top stacks of the day!
MLB DFS Weather Center
Colorado Rockies @ Cincinnati Reds
The weather here looks to be improving and this game should play without much PPD risk. We're not fully in the clear and there could be a delay, but I feel comfortable with playing guys in this game.
Recommended DFS Starting Pitchers
Top Options for Strikeouts
Corbin Burnes, Milwaukee Brewers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks - 6.5 Ks (-115)
Merrill Kelly, Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Milwaukee Brewers - 6.5 Ks (+110)
Max Scherzer, New York Mets vs. Houston Astros - 5.5 Ks (-170)
Best Odds for a Win
Brandon Williamson, Cincinnati Reds vs. Colorado Rockies (-159)
Pablo Lopez, Minnesota Twins vs. Boston Red Sox (-131)
Corbin Burnes, Milwaukee Brewers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (-131)
Favorite Starters to Use for DFS Lineups
James Paxton, Boston Red Sox
It’s hard to look at James Paxton today and not want to get there given the elite upside he’s shown and yes, it’s been elite. Paxton has 22+ DKP in three straight starts and five of his last six. He’s been elite in the strikeout department notching 8+ Ks in three straight and four of six overall. Minnesota has the second-highest strikeout rate in the league against left-handed pitching.
Pablo Lopez, Minnesota Twins
Lopez has had a very up-and-down season but is coming off back-to-back really strong outings notching 22 DKP against the Rays and Brewers. Lopez faces the Red Sox and that’s a tough spot, but this slate of pitchers isn’t great and Lipez has some of the best strikeout upside today. He’s had 20+ DKP in eight of 14 starts this year. It’s worth mentioning Boston’s offense has not been the same on the road this year ranking 23rd in OPS and wOBA.
Merrill Kelly, Arizona Diamondbacks
The Brewers offense has not looked very good lately and they’ve really tailed off after a hot start to the year. Milwaukee has the fifth-highest strikeout rate against righties this year at 24.6% and over the last two weeks, they’ve struck out 28.9% K-rate. Kelly has four straight quality starts, has 17+ DKP in each and is 3-0 over that span. Kelly’s been one of the most consistent starters in the game as he’s notched double-digit fantasy points in every outing this season.
Brandon Williamson, Cincinnati Reds
Look, we’re obviously going to need to get a better idea of how the weather is going to play out in Cincy, but if the game plays I really like Williamson here. Colorado has been awful against left-handed pitching this season. Awful. They’re dead last in OPS and wOBA against southpaws and have a 26.2% K-rate which is the fourth highest in the league. Williamson’s best start as a pro came against Colorado IN Coors Field and he’s flashed decent swing-and-miss stuff with two starts of six strikeouts this season.
Recommended DFS Hitters
Highest Expected Run Totals
Cincinnati Reds - 5.46
Texas Rangers - 5.17
Chicago Cubs - 4.91
Colorado Rockies - 4.68
Favorite Hitters to Use for DFS Lineups
Corey Seager, Texas Rangers
Even though the White Sox are deploying a lefty to start the game, that doesn’t deter me from using Seager here. He has a .208 ISO and a .394 wOBA against southpaws on the year. When Tanner Banks is removed and a righty comes in, Seager has a .333 ISO and a .465 wOBA. No matter the handedness, Seager is an elite bat.
Christopher Morel, Chicago Cubs
The power is back on display for Morel again as he’s homered four times in eight games and now has 13 bombs in 31 games on the year. He’s done basically all of his damage against righties as he’s hitting .306 with 10 home runs, .400 ISO, and .453 wOBA. The strikeouts have been cut down drastically of late, which is what’s hurt Morel since he was called up last year.
Luis Robert Jr., Chicago White Sox
Luis Robert sees left-handed pitching preeeeetty well and Andrew Heaney is in the midst of his worst stretch this year. He has a 5.40 ERA and opponents are batting .300 with a .393 wOBA against him. Robert has a .367 ISO and .517 wOBA against left-handed pitching this season. Heaney has allowed a .200 ISO and .339 wOBA against right-handed bats.
Spencer Steer, Cincinnati Reds
The Reds have some solid thump against left-handed pitching and it’s led by Spencer Steer. Steer’s posted a .250 ISO and .363 wOBA against southpaws this year and he’s now homered twice over his last four games. Austin Gomber has been shelled against everyone this year and righties have a .240 ISO and .387 wOBA. If the weather holds up, the Reds as a whole are one of my favorite stacks of the night.
Leody Taveras, Texas Rangers
It’s really hard to ignore what Taveras has done lately and really this entire season. He has a .172 ISO and .381 wOBA against southpaws and a .188 ISO and a .353 wOBA against righties, so he’s great no matter the pitcher's handedness. Taveras is hitting .333 with 5 HR, 2 SB, and a 1.178 OPS over his last 10 games.
Player Pool
| $ Tier | SP | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | OF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High |  Merrill Kelly  $10,500 |  Jose Altuve $4,100 |  Elly De La Cruz $3,900 |  Corey Seager $4,400 | ||
 James Paxton $10,200 | Matt McLain $3,800 | |||||
| Medium |  Pablo López $9,600 |  Andrew Vaughn $3,000 |  Jonathan India $3,600 | Spencer Steer $3,300 | Ezequiel Duran $3,000 |  Christopher Morel $3,600 |
 Nathaniel Lowe $3,200 | Josh Jung $3,400 |  Juan Soto $3,500 | ||||
| Jake Burger $3,200 | Luis Robert $3,500 | |||||
| Eloy Jiménez $3,200 | ||||||
 Leody Taveras $3,100 | ||||||
| Low | Brandon Williamson $7,000 |  Connor Joe $2,700 |  Rodolfo Castro $2,400 |  Kevin Newman $2,700 |  Stuart Fairchild $2,600 | |
 Nick Senzel $2,800 | Mike Tauchman $2,600 |
Stacks
| Reds | Spencer Steer | Matt McLain | Elly De La Cruz | Jonathan India | Kevin Newman | Stuart Fairchild |
 DraftKings | 4500 | 4700 | 5200 | 4600 | 3200 | 2400 |
| Fanduel | 3300 | 3800 | 3900 | 3600 | 2700 | 2600 |
| White Sox | Luis Robert | Andrew Vaughn | Eloy Jiménez | Jake Burger |
| DraftKings | 4600 | 3000 | 4000 | 3500 |
| Fanduel | 3500 | 3000 | 3200 | 3200 |
| Rangers | Leody Taveras | Nathaniel Lowe | Josh Jung | Corey Seager | Ezequiel Duran |
| DraftKings | 3100 | 4100 | 4400 | 6000 | 3000 |
| Fanduel | 3100 | 3200 | 3400 | 4400 | 3000 |
| Cubs | Mike Tauchman | Christopher Morel | Seiya Suzuki | Ian Happ |
| DraftKings | 2500 | 4800 | 3800 | 4100 |
| Fanduel | 2600 | 3600 | 3000 | 3100 |
Player News
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde told reporters that Zach Eflin (lat) is likely to return and start Sunday against the Angels
It was assumed that Eflin would be back this weekend, but now we have a concrete date. The 31-year-old may not be at full strength after throwing fewer than 60 pitches in his rehab start, but the Orioles feel confident enough to have the right-hander back on the bump for the series finale against the Angels.
Riley Greene is not in the lineup for the first game of a doubleheader against the Rockies on Thursday.
Greene will get a break and likely return to the lineup for the second game of the twin-billing. Zach McKinstry will get the start in left field while Greene rests.
Yu Darvish (elbow) is facing live hitters on Thursday.
Darvish has been throwing bullpen sessions and traveled to the team’s complex in Arizona to face live hitters on Thursday. It will be his first time facing live batters since a spring training appearance on March 13th. He will likely need a few sessions like this before the Padres can map out a rehab appearance timeline for him.
Adael Amador is starting at second base and batting ninth for the Rockies on Thursday.
Amador has now started three of the last four games at second base for the Rockies. He’s gone just 7-for-43 this season with 15 strikeouts in 16 games. He’s just 22 years old, so there is plenty of time for him to adjust to the MLB level, but he doesn’t need to be on redraft radars right now.
Jackson Holliday is playing second base and batting second for the Orioles on Thursday against the Twins.
With Cedric Mullins sitting out on Thursday, Gunnar Henderson will bat lead off, and Holliday will jump up from sixth in the order to second. Holliday is riding a hot streak right now, and the Orioles are taking advantage. This is likely just a one-game sample with no Mullins or Adley Rutschman in the lineup, but Rutschman has been struggling, so perhaps it could become a more permanent spot in the lineup for Holliday moving forward.
Endy Rodriguez (finger) had his splint removed this week.
Rodriguez suffered a lacerated right index finger on April 14th. Now that he is out of his splint, he “is playing catch and doing a slightly modified swing.” Once he can progress to taking full swings, we’ll have a better sense of the timeline for his return.