FanDuel MLB DFS Picks and Helper: Friday 7/12/24

Our daily fantasy helper is available every day to analyze FanDuel's main slate and give you a starting point when you're building lineups.

Be sure to incorporate our MLB DFS projections -- which are powered by numberFire -- into your research process. numberFire also has the latest starting lineups and weather as well as heat maps to help you find the best matchups.

Let's check out the top options on today's main slate.

Note: All MLB odds come from FanDuel Sportsbook. All stats come from FanGraphs and Baseball Savant unless noted otherwise.

MLB DFS Picks

Pitcher Breakdown

Garrett Crochet ($11,000) draws a favorable matchup against a Pittsburgh Pirates squad that has the 10th-worst wOBA (.302), 8th-worst wRC+ (93), and 5th-highest strikeout rate (24.7%) against left-handed pitching. After Crochet recorded just five Ks and 21 FanDuel points in his last outing versus the Miami Marlins, FanDuel Research's daily projections have Crochet posting the second-most FanDuel points (36.7) among pitchers on Friday's main slate.

Sonny Gray ($10,400) also has a solid matchup, with the Chicago Cubs logging the fifth-highest strikeout rate (24.7%) versus right-handed pitching over the last 30 days. Gray notched 45 FanDuel points against the Cubs earlier this year and has achieved 52-plus FanDuel points in two of his last five outings.

Cole Ragans ($10,200) faces a high-K team in the Boston Red Sox, who are registering the highest strikeout rate (29.6%) versus southpaws in the last 30 days. While Ragans is in the 90th percentile or better in whiff rate (32.6%) and strikeout rate (29.7%), Boston has the 9th-highest ISO (.186) and 11th-highest walk rate (9.0%) in the same 30-day span mentioned above.

Others to Consider

• Joe Ryan ($9,800 at SF) could be a popular pitcher on Friday as he's posting a 2.78 ERA and 27.3% strikeout rate on the road, compared to a 3.81 ERA and 27.1% strikeout rate at home. Aside from throwing at pitcher-friendly Oracle Park, the San Francisco Giants have accrued the ninth-worst wOBA (.301) and ISO (.142) against right-handed pitching.
• Sean Manaea ($8,800 vs. COL) is among the best value options on the main slate ahead of a date with the Colorado Rockies at home. Besides Manaea being the only sub-$9,000 pitcher projected for 32-plus FanDuel points, the Rockies are registering the sixth-worst wRC+ (86) and third-highest strikeout rate (25.1%) against left-handed pitchers.

Stacks to Target

• Cincinnati Reds (5.18 implied total) -- Face Yonny Chirinos, who has given up three earned runs in back-to-back starts. Cincinnati has the highest ISO (.232) against right-handed pitching in the last 14 days while it's expected to be nearly 90 degrees at Great American Ball Park.
• New York Mets (5.03) -- Aside from having the seventh-lowest strikeout rate (19.3%) against right-handed pitching over the last 30 days, the Mets boast the third-best wOBA (.353), second-best wRC+ (134), and best ISO (.211) in that split during that span. Tanner Gordon gave up five earned runs and two homers in his first career start last time out.
• Baltimore Orioles (4.35) -- Gerrit Cole hasn't looked right since returning from injury, tallying a 5.90 xERA, 14.0% barrel rate, and 46.0% hard-hit rate across his first four starts in 2024. The Orioles -- who are sporting the second-best wOBA (.330), third-best wRC+ (116), and best ISO (.204) versus right-handed pitching -- could go overlooked in their second meeting against Cole this season.
• Atlanta Braves (4.33) -- Likely should have a higher implied total despite not being as lethal of a lineup as last season. Randy Vasquez is expected to be on the mound for the San Diego Padres, and he ranks in the second percentile in xERA (6.32), first percentile in xBA (.326), and sixth percentile in strikeout rate (14.8%).

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.