MLB DFS Value Plays June 29: Top DraftKings and FanDuel Picks
Tonight’s MLB DFS coverage is for the tiny 5-game main slate that starts at 7:05 pm ET on both DraftKings and FanDuel. Starting pitching is headlined by Max Scherzer… and it falls off FAST after that. We have Coors Field on the slate, so keep that in mind when setting lineups. We have a couple mild mlb weather concerns today, so make sure to keep a close eye on the reports leading up to first pitch. Henry is on the playbook today, make sure to give that a read, and don’t forget to check out the MLB Lineups page, Vegas Odds, and all of our MLB DFS Tools. Let’s dive into some of my favorite value options of the day and some we can fit into our cash and tournament lineups!
MLB DFS Value Pitcher
Emmet Sheehan, Los Angeles Dodgers (DraftKings: $7,400)
A pitcher in Coors? I know and I don’t love it either, but we are dealing with a five game slate and these value pitching options are ROUGH. Really, pitching on this slate is awful in general. Sheehan has pitched great so far through two starts, compiling a 1.50 ERA and 0.58 WHIP, but only striking out seven across 12 innings of work. He should have a nice chance at picking up a win today.
MLB DFS Value Hitters
Jose Abreu, 1B, Houston Astros (DraftKings: $3,200 / FanDuel: $2,700)
Abreu is playing pretty well right now, hitting .250 with two home runs and 9 total R/RBI over his last 10 games. He has been a slightly more productive road player this year (6.0 dk ppg to 5.6 dk ppg) based on the fact that five of his six long balls have been on the road. Tonight he faces Adam Wainwright, who has been abysmal this season with a 6.56 ERA, 1.82 WHIP, .348 BAA, and eight home runs allowed across 46.2 innings of work. It has somehow been even worse at home for Waino as those numbers jump to 7.03 ERA, 3.69 BAA, and 1.97 WHIP.
Jordan Walker, OF, St. Louis Cardinals (DraftKings: $3,100 / FanDuel: $3,000)
Walker is cooking right now, hitting .353 over his last 10 games with two home runs and a stolen base. Tonight he faces J.P. France, who has not pitched as well recently after starting off the season with two great outings. Over his last seven starts France has a 4.32 ERA, 5.29 FIP, and has given up 43 hits and eight home runs across 41.2 innings in that timeframe.
Corey Julks, OF, Houston Astros (DraftKings: $2,500 / FanDuel: $2,700)
Julks is hitting .258 with a home run and a pair of steals over his last 10 games and now has six home runs and 12 steals on the year. He provides a little bit of upside in a variety of ways. He has been far more productive on the road this season, hitting .289 with a .737 OPS and 10 steals, compared to .217, .632, and two steals on the road, respectively.
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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.