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Happy Thursday, RotoBallers! It's the last Thursday slate for a couple of weeks due to the All-Star break next week, and MLB loaded up the schedule. DraftKings and FanDuel have even done DFS managers a favor and launched an extended seven-game slate for the pre-weekend competitions. However, it is an earlier start time than usual, with the primary contests locking at 6:05 p.m. EDT.
The Red Sox are red hot at the plate, and it would be a rough day on the mount for any pitcher facing this lineup. Rafael Devers is crushing baseballs all over Fenway Park despite a shoulder injury that will see him miss the All-Star game in Texas next week. On the weather side, the only thing of note is that some strong winds in Boston are blowing out to center field. This could make an already rough assignment that much harder for Oakland's pitcher, Luis Medina.
This article will provide my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 7/11/2024 and the slate locking at 6:05 p.m. EDT. The lineup picks will range from some elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports here. Monitoring injury news and today's MLB starting lineups is also essential.
DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Tanner Houck - RHP, BOS vs. Athletics ($9.5K DraftKings; $10.2K FanDuel)
It's been up and down for Tanner Houck recently, but he's in a terrific bounce-back spot on Thursday against Oakland. The Red Sox righty looked to be turning things around in his previous start, but a fourth-inning rain delay caused his day to unravel against New York. Fortunately, the 28-year-old will face the team that kickstarted his 2024 breakout season. On April 1, Houck threw six innings of shutout baseball against the A's with 10 strikeouts while accruing 35.7 DraftKings points. A repeat performance will be welcomed by DFS managers versus the squad, with the second-highest strikeout (27.3 percent) rate to RHPs over the last month.
Tanner Houck, Wicked Sliders. 🤢 pic.twitter.com/gB2DLiQEVY
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 2, 2024
Brandon Pfaadt - RHP, ARI vs. Braves ($7.3K DK; $8.1K FD)
Thursday's SP2 is rough, so DFS managers must spend or take a risk. Besides Justin Steele against Baltimore (also scary), Brandon Pfaadt is the most trustworthy low-priced SP2 option among the seven games. The Diamondbacks pitcher should be able to shake off an ankle injury he suffered over the weekend to take the mound against Atlanta. Pfaadt has at least seven strikeouts in five of his previous 10 starts and allowed one earned run or fewer in three of his last five trips to the mound. This recent form will play well against a Braves squad with the third-highest strikeout rate (26.0 percent) and third-lowest wOBA (.292) versus RHPs since June 12.
Also Consider: Luis Castillo at LAA, Max Fried at ARI, Aaron Nola vs. LAD, Justin Steele at BAL, Jake Bloss vs. MIA
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Ben Rice - 1B, NYY at Shane Baz ($3.8K DK; $3.1K FD)
New York needed a first baseman after Anthony Rizzo (arm) hit the IL, and Ben Rice has done a more than admirable job in Rizzo's absence. Through 19 games, the left-handed hitter owns a .914 OPS but has kicked on in the last 10 outings. Since June 28, Rice is slashing .294/.368/.824 with seven runs, 13 RBI, three doubles, and five home runs, averaging 11.9 DK PPG. He's a sub-$4.0K option batting in the heart of New York's lineup and feels like an auto-play in Shane Baz's second start in over two years.
A THREE-HOMER GAME FOR BEN RICE pic.twitter.com/xJIcGB0RhJ
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) July 6, 2024
Jose Altuve - 2B, HOU vs. Roddery Munoz ($5.3K DK; $3.8K FD)
Houston is slowly hunting down Seattle in the AL West race, and Jose Altuve has been a massive catalyst for the team's bounce back in June and July. The perennial All-Star has returned to a more balanced version of his game this season with 13 home runs, 14 steals, and a .309 batting average through 89 games. Altuve is on an eight-game hitting streak and has registered at least one hit in 31 of his previous 38 games. While perched atop the Astros lineup ahead of Alex Bregman and Yordan Alvarez, the 34-year-old is a fantastic (but expensive) DFS option.
Max Schuemann - SS, OAK at Tanner Houck ($2.3K DK; $2.6K FD)
Sometimes, in DFS, it's nice just to find a cheap, hot bat and slap it in your lineup. That's what Max Schuemann brings to the table on Thursday's slate. If you're not ready to trust Tanner Houck as your SP1, then Schuemann is an excellent pick on the seven-game schedule. Since June 28, the A's shortstop owns a .980 OPS with 5 runs, 7 RBI, 3 extra-base hits, and 5 steals, averaging 13.11 FD PPG. He's relegated to the bottom of Oakland's lineup but gets on base at a decent clip (season-long .328 OBP) and loves a stolen base. There's only upside here with a pick this cheap.
Also consider: Christian Walker, Michael Busch, Isaac Paredes, Ceddanne Rafaela, Will Smith
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Aaron Judge - OF, NYY at Shane Baz ($6.4K DK; $4.6K FD)
When it's all quiet on the Aaron Judge front, that's the time to strike in DFS. The Yankees outfielder has gone a whole seven games without a home run, so he's certainly due a longball sooner rather than later. For the year, Judge has smashed a 1.096 OPS with 32 home runs and 83 RBI, and it's not even the All-Star break. The 32-year-old is well on pace for his third 50-home-run season of his career, and DFS managers should buy this slight dip in performance and bet on a bounce back versus the Rays.
Randal Grichuk - OF, ARI vs. Max Fried ($3.2K DK; $2.5K FD)
With left-handed Max Fried on the mound, Randal Grichuk will enter the Diamondbacks starting lineup. He's hit second in the last couple of games where he's been called upon, and Thursday should provide any DFS points-scoring position for the veteran outfielder. 2024 hasn't been kind to Grichuk with three home runs in 136 at-bats, but 20 percent of his extra-base hits this season have come in the last 17 at-bats. If Grichuk is rounding into summer form, it's a great time to jump on him and take advantage of his position in the Arizona lineup.
Austin Hays - OF, BAL vs. Justin Steele ($3.2K DK; $2.5K FD)
It's very familiar logic for Austin Hays, who was just touted with Randal Grichuk. A short-side platoon bat in a good lineup facing a Southpaw. With Justin Steele pitching for Chicago, Hays will settle into the fifth or sixth spot in the Orioles lineup. Any piece of this AL East-leading offense is a good spot for DFS. Plus, with Hays' bottom-of-the-barrel price tag, he's another discount bat to plug into your DFS lineup if you prefer him to Grichuk. Hays is in better form than Grichuk, with a 1.045 OPS in his last 10 games, with six doubles and one home run.
Also consider: Shohei Ohtani, Brent Rooker, Ian Happ, Kyle Schwarber, Adam Duvall
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
1. Boston Red Sox vs. Luis Medina - RHP, OAK
Favorite Plays: Jarren Duran, Rafael Devers, Masataka Yoshida
2. Philadelphia Phillies vs. Landon Knack - RHP, LAD
Favorite Plays: Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, Alec Bohm
3. Houston Astros vs. Roddery Munoz - RHP, MIA
Favorite Plays: Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, Yainer Diaz
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