7/31 MLB Cheat Sheet: Top DFS Plays
July 31, 2024
Today, we have a 5-game MLB slate on DraftKings, starting at 7:05 p.m. ET. Check out my favorite players at each position, value plays, and stacks! Our partners at DFSHero.com provide us with access to their lineup optimizer and AI simulator, which we use to provide you with the best DFS plays every day!
SP:
Nick Lodolo, Cincinnati Reds (FD:$9,200 | DK:$9,200)
Framber Valdez, Houston Astros (FD:$9,500 | DK:$8,900)
Logan Webb, San Francisco Giants (FD:$9,000 | DK:$8,600)
Notes: Valdez and Webb are the number-one and number-three ranked SPs on the DFS Hero Optimizer today. Both have good matchups and are priced well. Lodolo has the highest upside of the group because of his huge strikeout potential, but that is also why he is the most expensive.
Top Stacks:
Cincinnati Reds vs. Chicago Cubs
Houston Astros vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Notes: The Reds are at home tonight in the “Great American Small Park” and have an excellent matchup against Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks. Although Hendricks has had some good starts this season, most of them have been disastrous. His 6.95 ERA and 1.49 WHIP this season is evidence of that. The Astros are also at home tonight, and they will face Jake Woodford of the Pirates. Woodford has only made two appearances in MLB this season, and they have both been bad. In total, he has pitched 8.1 innings while allowing 15 hits and 10 ER.
C:
Tyler Stephenson, Cincinnati Reds (FD:$2,800 | DK:$3,600)
Yainer Diaz, Houston Astros (FD:$3,000 | DK:$4,300)
Logan O’Hoppe, Los Angeles Angels (FD:$2,800 | DK:$4,100)
Notes: These are the top-three ranked catchers on the DFS Hero Optimizer today. Stephenson and Diaz can also be used in my top stacks. O’Hoppe has the highest projected ceiling of the three and offers the most leverage, too.
1B:
Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers (FD:$4,700 | DK:$6,600)
Spencer Steer, Cincinnati Reds (FD:$3,500 | DK:$5,000)
Patrick Wisdom, Chicago Cubs (FD:$2,500 | DK:$3,800)
Notes: Ohtani is the second-ranked 1B on the DFS Hero Simulator tonight, and he is always a threat to be the highest-scoring position player on a slate. Wisdom is the top-ranked 1B on the simulator and has a 33.9% chance of 3.5X tonight. Steer is the third-ranked 1B on the simulator and has a 23% chance to 3X tonight.
2B:
Jonathan India, Cincinnati Reds (FD:$3,200 | DK:$4,400)
Jose Altuve, Houston Astros (FD:$3,700 | DK:$5,400)
Notes: India and Altuve are ranked as the number-two and number-four options at 2B tonight on the DFS Hero Simulator. They can also both be used in my top stacks. Altuve’s price makes it harder for him to return value, but India has a 29% chance to 3X.
3B:
Luis Rengifo, Los Angeles Angels (FD:$3,000 | DK:$4,800)
Alex Bregman, Houston Astros (FD:$3,400 | DK:$4,400)
Notes: Bregman has been hitting better lately, and he is in a good matchup tonight. Rengifo is the second-ranked 3B option on the DFS Hero Optimizer tonight and has a strong leverage score as well.
SS:
Elly De La Cruz, Cincinnati Reds (FD:$4,300 | DK:$6,200)
Jeremy Pena, Houston Astros (FD:$3,000 | DK:$4,200)
Tyler Fitzgerald, San Francisco Giants (FD:$3,400 | DK:$4,500)
Notes: Elly and Pena are the number-one, and number-two ranked SS on the DFS Hero Optimizer tonight. Elly is a slate breaker due to his elite power and SB ability. Pena is a nice option if you are stacking Astros. Fitzgerald is the fourth-ranked SS on the Optimizer and he has been on fire at the plate.
OF:
Yordan Alvarez, Houston Astros (FD:$3,700 | DK:$5,600)
Jake Fraley, Cincinnati Reds (FD:$2,900 | DK:$3,500)
TJ Friedl, Cincinnati Reds (FD:$2,900 | DK:$4,000)
Jake Meyers, Houston Astros (FD:$2,700 | DK:$3,500)
Taylor Ward, Los Angeles Angels (FD:$2,900 | DK:$4,300)
Notes: Everyone except Ward can be used in my top stacks tonight. I like Ward because he has a good matchup vs. LHP Kyle Freeland and is the fifth-ranked OF on the DFS Hero Simulator. Of the others listed, Yordan and Fraley are the highest-rated players on the simulator, with Yordan being the best and Fraley being the third-best. Fraley has a 35% chance to 3X tonight.
Value Players:
1B Jon Singleton, Houston Astros (FD:$2,500 | DK:$2,900)
2B Brandon Drury, Los Angeles Angels (FD:$2,500 | DK:$2,600)
OF Will Benson, Cincinnati Reds (FD:$2,700 | DK:$3,300)
Notes: All of these players rank highly on the DFS Hero Simulator tonight and have high percentages to 3X. Singleton and Benson can be used in my top stacks as well, which will help to pay up for expensive bats like Elly and Yordan.
Please note: The content in our articles is based on data available at the time of publishing. Always double-check your lineups before locking in your players.