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With only seven games on this small Monday slate, we’re going to take a different approach with this article. It would be easy to sit here and write about all of the players in the Dodgers-Rockies game in Coors Field but that’s too easy. I’m going to focus on all value plays and try to help you fill out a lineup with those Coors Field bats. It’s going to be imperative to stack that game in a seven-game slate, so hopefully, some of these cheap guys will make that build much easier. Let’s get into our 7/29 DFS hitter picks!
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7/29 DFS Hitter Options
Catcher
Carson Kelly, ARI at MIA
DK ($3,700) FD ($2,700)
I really don’t like to use anyone against Caleb Smith but we need to get creative on a seven-game slate. What makes Kelly such an attractive option here is that he absolutely destroys left-handed pitching. In fact, Kelly has a .475 OBP, .808 SLG and 1.283 OPS against southpaws so far this season. Kelly has also been a much better away from home, as his 1.021 road OPS is more than 300 points higher than his home OPS.
First Base
Justin Smoak, TOR at KC
DK ($3,900) FD ($3,200)
Smoak has been one of the unluckiest hitters in the league this season but the luck is finally turning around. Over his last 11 games, Smoak has four homers, seven RBI and 10 walks en route to a .435 OBP and 1.040 OPS. That’s the guy that we’ve been expecting all season, as his .385 xwOBA and .511 xSLG is way off his .339 wOBA and .423 SLG. That means positive regression is right around the corner and this recent hot stretch is hopefully the start of it. Getting to face Brad Keller should only help, with the Kansas City righty pitching to a 4.87 xFIP. It also puts Smoak on the left side and he has a .365 OBP and .857 OPS against righties despite the poor luck.
Second Base
Brian Dozier, WSH vs. ATL
DK ($3,400) FD ($2,400)
Dozier really deserves more credit and these sites need to raise his price. Over his last 43 games. Dozier has a .380 OBP and .890 OPS. That’s the former All-Star that we loved and this price doesn’t quite match up with that production. Getting to face a lefty is what really makes him hard to fade, with Dozier generating a .418 OBP, .625 SLG and 1.043 OPS with the platoon advantage in his favor this season. Not to mention, Dozier went 2-for-3 on Sunday, with a double, homer and two runs scored.
Third Base
Manny Machado, SD vs. BAL
DK ($4,600) FD ($4,000)
Machado should have a higher price and he’s easily one of the best 7/29 DFS hitter options on the board. This perennial All-Star is one of the hottest hitters in the game right now and he should be $500 more on each site. In fact, Machado is hitting .329 over his last 35 games while providing a .685 SLG and 1.058 OPS in that span. That’s obviously stupendous production and he should continue that success against a pitching staff that has a 5.53 team ERA. It’s unclear exactly who he’ll face but just the fact that this horrible pitching staff has to call someone up is a very promising sign. I also believe that Franmil Reyes and Hunter Renfroe are too cheap on both sites and these three make for a beautiful stack against this putrid pitching staff.
Shortstop
Jonathan Villar, BAL at SD
DK ($4,000) FD ($3,100)
Villar is a personal favorite of mine and I really don’t like how these sites continue to disrespect him with these price tags. Any leadoff hitter with 20-30 potential should be much higher, especially when they’re hot. Not only does Villar have multi-hit games in four-straight, he’s also collected nine runs, two homers and five steals in that span. That equates to nearly 35 FanDuel points per game, which is downright absurd. Getting to hit on the left side is a huge bonus too, with Villar accruing a .350 OBP against right-handers this season while swiping 18 of his 22 stolen bases against them. Dinelson Lamet is talented but his 5.00 ERA and 1.39 WHIP make him a pitcher we can exploit.
Outfield
Shohei Ohtani, LAA vs. DET
DK ($5,200) FD ($4,200)
Ohtani has done nothing but rake against right-handers since being signed from Japan and he’s my favorite 7/29 DFS hitter. In fact, Ohtani has a .307 AVG, .373 OBP, .613 SLG and .987 OPS against righties since being signed. He also has 15 of his 18 career steals against them and it’s crystal clear just how much more comfortable he is from the left side. This happens to be a pitcher we definitely want to stack against too, with Jordan Zimmermann pitching to a 7.57 ERA and 1.71 WHIP en route to a disastrous 0-8 record.
Corey Dickerson, PIT at CIN
DK ($4,200) FD ($2,800)
Dickerson is in the same boat as Ohtani and he too loves to mash righties. So far this season, Dickerson has a .376 OBP, .538 SLG and .915 OPS with the platoon advantage in his favor. That’s pretty close to the guy that we’ve seen throughout his career, with Dickerson attaining a .239 ISO, .361 wOBA and .861 OPS against right-handers for his career. That’s all you can ask for from a guy priced so cheaply who gets to hit in in a small park like Great American Ballpark should only help. If Dickerson misses this game because of a nagging groin, pivot to Jesse Winker atop the Reds lineup in the same price range.
Josh VanMeter, CIN vs. PIT
DK ($3,700) FD ($2,700)
VanMeter has been incredible the last few games and it’s time for these DFS sites to take notice. Four homers in his last eight games tells you everything you need to know, with VanMeter providing a .520 AVG, 1.120 SLG and 1.650 OPS over his last nine games. Those are Barry Bonds-like numbers, as he’s carried over his ridiculous numbers from the minors. At Triple-A this season, VanMeter hit .348 while generating a .669 SLG and 1.098 OPS. Getting the platoon advantage against Jordan Lyles is simply the icing on the cake, with the Pirates righty pitching to a 9.57 ERA and 1.99 WHIP over his last nine starts.
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