We have ten games tonight with the first pitch at 1:05 PM EST. Today’s slate of games is highlighted by Christian Yelich and the Milwaukee Brewers, taking on Nick Markakis and the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati. The highest implied run totals tonight sit with the Minnesota Twins (5.6), Kansas City Royals (5.4), and the Detroit Tigers(5.0).
The weather looks good across the board, so we shouldn’t see any rain-related delays or postponements.
Here is a selection of today’s Core Players 50-50 MLB DFS lineup for 7/18/21 (using DraftKings Values)
| Pitcher | Zack Wheeler | $9,500 | ||
| Pitcher | ||||
| Catcher | Pedro Severino | $3,000 | ||
| First Base | ||||
| Second Base | Kolton Wong | $4,300 | ||
| Third Base | ||||
| Short Stop | Willy Adames | $4,100 | ||
| Outfield | Whit Merrifield | $5,000 | ||
| Outfield |
Zack Wheeler – P ($9,500) – In four of Wheeler’s last six starts, he hasn’t given up a run. He will face a Marlins team today that isn’t known for scoring lots of runs, which should lead to a good start for Wheeler, and he has a really good chance to get the win today as well.
Pedro Severino – C ($3,000) – There is much to like about this spot and the price for Severino. He has hit two home runs in his last five starts, and the Orioles shouldn’t struggle to score runs today, so I expect him to get a good number of at-bats.
Kolton Wong – 2B ($4,300) – While Wong is far from a power-hitter, he is still a player who is more than capable of hitting for extra bases, and he will also steal bases. He won’t see high ownership due to his lack of home run power, but he is still a player we like to exceed value heading into today.
Willy Adames – SS ($4,100) – In the last two games, Adames has really taken advantage of the Reds’ pitching. He has six hits in those two games, with a double and a home run. He will be facing a Reds starter today in Sonny Gray who has only made two starts in the last month, so don’t be surprised if he is a bit rusty today, and doesn’t go deep into the game.
Whit Merrifield – OF ($5,000) – Merrifield is often a player who gets lost in the shuffle playing in Kansas City. He is among the top stolen base threats in the league, and he is a player who can hit home runs as well. This is a nice matchup against the Orioles today and with him leading off he should see plenty of at-bats.
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The Pitchers
Hyun Jin Ryu ($7,600 DK) – Ryu struggled heading into the break, but he will face a Rangers team that has been among the worst in MLB at hitting lefties, with an OBP of just 0.308 and an SLG of 0.388. You should consider Ryu at this price today.
Taijuan Walker ($8,400) – Walker has given up more than two runs in just one of his last five starts. This is a solid opportunity for him to go up against a Pirates team that has a batting average of 0.256 over the last month.
Corbin Burnes ($10,000) – I don’t love starts in Cincinnati because of the ballpark, but the Reds have come out slow in the first two games after the break, and Burnes should still be considered a top pitching option as he strikes out 37 percent of the batters he faces.
The Value Players
Alex Kirilloff – 1B/OF ($3,500) – Kiriloff had a nice first half, and it’s hard for me to imagine that he will go three games without a hit against a Tigers team that doesn’t have good pitching, and the Twins are expected to score lots of runs today according to the Vegas numbers.
Michael Brantley – OF ($3,900) – Even in his mid-thirties Brantley is still one of the best hitters in the game. He has a double and a home run in the last two games and while Carlos Rodón has been great this year, Brantley can hit off of anyone.
Jean Segura – 2B ($3,400) – Before the break, Segura had hit in five straight games. He will be facing the Marlins today, and a left-handed pitcher in Braxton Garrett, and Segura has crushed lefties throughout his career.
The Stacks
Minnesota Twins – The Twins have the highest implied run total today, and you can get the middle of their order without a massive cost as you will get both Larnach and Kirilloff without a huge cost, which will allow you to get Nelson Cruz into your lineup.
Kansas City Royals – We are back with the Royals again today. They will be facing Matt “Harvester of K’s” Harvey, who might be the least intimidating pitcher in baseball today. You can take any three or four out of their first seven batters, and really you’re only going to have to pay up for Merrifield and Sal Perez.
Atlanta Braves – If you can find the salary the Braves are a stack worth looking at. Freddie Freeman has been hot, Ozzie Albies hits lefties well, and you will get Guillermo Heredia who hits lefties very well also, and you will get him at a discount.
Go win your lineup and tell us how you did. Twitter (@FantasyDFSX) is a good place for that.
