Daily Fantasy Sports
Sharp App
Season Long Fantasy
Free Month
Wall of Champions
Discord

DFS Army Full Count – MLB Game Breakdown, Advice, and Strategy for FanDuel and Draftkings – June 17th, 2019

Welcome to the DFS Army MLB Full Count! You have to start your research somewhere, and often times going game by game and breaking down every matchup and its key players is the first step in our process. My name is Michael aka @MadnessDFS on Twitter, make sure to give me a follow as I’ll occasionally make updates to the advice in the article out on Twitter as well as inside our coaching forums.  With that said, let’s get it started!

My Take on a Consistent Process – Looking at Pitchers

I always start a slate by looking at pitching, not only do you get a grasp on who the pitchers are that you want to target. But it also gives you an idea of what offenses are in good spots against bad/vulnerable pitchers. I start my research by going straight to the Nilly’s MLB Carnage Report, this is where we can analyze all the pitchers on the slate in a compact, yet detailed manner.

These three guys have the highest carnage scores on the slate, so with that said we can break them down a little further on an individual level.

  • Kenta Maeda – Maeda draws a great matchup with the San Francisco Giants who have an implied run total of just 3.3 here. Maeda also has massive home/road splits on the season, averaging 22 Draftkings points per game at home while averaging just 11 on the road. He has the highest KSCORE of the top three as well, which is something I seek out when it comes to pitching because strikeouts are key. It’s tough not to like Maeda at his price tag.
  • Tommy Milone – I would bet you weren’t expecting to see Tommy Milone pop up in the top three here, so let’s breakdown what he’s got going for him. He gets a nice matchup with the Royals who strikeout at a 23.6% rate on the season. Milone is also priced at a point where we can squeeze in some top bats. It’s a strategy I’ve been using almost all season and it’s worked great. Paying up at pitching just hasn’t worked all that much this season, so I’ve begun my lineups with the bats I want and then play the pitchers that fall to me. I would guess I get some Milone here at his price tag.
  • Yonny Chirinos – Chirinos is one that will likely fall under the radar because of his difficult matchup with the Yankees. I wish the Yankees struck out a bit more but that will come when Judge and Stanton come back. If I’m being honest I don’t love Chirinos here, however, he has been in good form as of late. He has scored at least 18.7 Draftkings points in three of his last four games. The matchup is tough, but sometimes you just gotta roll with the Carnage Score.

Full Count MLB Breakdown:

Tampa Bay Rays @ New York Yankees

I just broke down Yonny Chirinos in the Carnage Report breakdown, although I don’t love him here I also won’t be stacking up the Yankees against him. He’s proven to have MLB level stuff and I respect his talent. I feel pretty similar about the Rays against Tanaka here if I fall on one of these pitchers I won’t readjust my lineups, but neither guy or offense is one that I’m actively seeking out.

TBR 5-star plays: None

4-star plays: Austin Meadows, Tommy Pham

GPP Note: Not really in love with the Rays here

NYY 5-star plays: None

4-star plays: Gary Sanchez, Luke Voit, Edwin Encarnacion

GPP Note: One-offs


Philadelphia Phillies @ Washington Nationals

It looks like there will be some weather concerns in the area so this is a spot where I will have one eye on the Weather Station all the way up until lock. If we get the green light here I will have some interest in Patrick Corbin, he is priced way too low here. For a guy with one of the higher upsides on the slate, I love him for GPP and will even give him a look in cash games. I normally don’t have Jake Arrieta interest and that doesn’t change here. I don’t mind targeting the Nationals in GPP’s.

PHI 5-star plays: None

4-star plays: Bryce Harper, JT Realmuto, Jay Bruce

GPP Note: One-offs

WAS 5-star plays: Anthony Rendon, Juan Soto

4-star plays: Trea Turner, Adam Eaton

GPP Note: GPP stack


Los Angeles Angels @ Toronto Blue Jays

We have two bottom of the barrel starting pitchers in this game, but there is one that I have been stacking against all season and that is Edwin Jackson. I don’t normally love stacking the Angels because the bottom of that lineup is a buzzsaw, but on the road, I’m more willing to do it since they’re guaranteed ninth-inning at-bats in a more hitter-friendly park. Edwin Jackson has an ERA over 10 this season, it’s hard not to like them here. I like the Jays as well, but the truth is their offense isn’t great and I’ve been burned by them before.

LAA 5-star plays: Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, Tommy La Stella

4-star plays: Justin Upton, Albert Pujols

GPP Note: Love the Angels here, the addition of Justin Upton makes this lineup much better

TOR 5-star plays: Vlad Guerrero, Justin Smoak

4-star plays: Rowdy Tellez, Randal Grichuk

GPP Note: I like them here, but I don’t know how much I can trust them.

Our MLB Domination Station lineup optimizer is Powered by DFS Army proprietary projections. The Domination Station will help you create 150 of the highest projected lineups in a matter of minutes. With features that allow you to Like 😀 Love 😍 or Dislike 😡 a player, you can create a fully unique pool of players to generate your lineups from every day. Combine the power of the Domination Station with our VIP content and the MLB Research Station to really take your game to the next level.


Houston Astros (+104) @ Cincinnati Reds (-112)

It looks like we will have some weather issues in this one as well, so again just keep that Weather Station tab open. Luis Castillo has turned himself into a solid ace in this league, but the Astros, although banged up, are still an offense that I don’t love using pitchers against. With that said, pitching isn’t great on this slate so I won’t talk you off of him. The Reds were popular yesterday and I hope they are again today because I will be fading. I simply don’t stack against Wade Miley, he has an incredible bullpen behind him and is able to limit runs.

HOU 5-star plays: Alex Bregman, Yordan Alvarez

4-star plays: Michael Brantley

GPP Note: One-offs, this park is great for home run hitters

CIN 5-star plays: None

4-star plays: Eugenio Suarez, Nick Senzel

GPP Note: One-offs, I don’t stack against Wade Miley


New York Mets (+140) @ Atlanta Braves (-152)

Mike Soroka is the highest priced pitcher on the slate and Zach Wheeler isn’t too far behind him. The Braves stack has been working great over the past week or so, so I don’t mind going to them in GPP’s. However, I will not be going with the Mets. Soroka is legit and I’m hoping people see his last game and jump off of him here if I’m paying up for pitching it will be with him.

NYM 5-star plays: None

4-star plays: Peter Alonso, Michael Conforto

GPP Note: One-offs

ATL 5-star plays: None

4-star plays: Ronald Acuna, Freddie Freeman, Austin Riley, Josh Donaldson

GPP Note: One-offs, GPP stack


Cleveland Indians (-129) @ Texas Rangers (+119)

Mike Clevinger is finally back from the IL which is great news. I love Clevinger and think he is one of the better pitchers in the league, however, I will be waiting to use him. I never love targeting pitchers in their first game back because they’re often limited and will be pulled at the first sign of fatigue. With that said, I will not be targeting the Rangers offense. Lance Lynn continues to pitch well and I’m not sure how. Until he proves otherwise I think we just need to avoid offenses against him.

CLE 5-star plays: Francisco Lindor, Jose Ramirez

4-star plays: Jason Kipnis, Oscar Mercado

GPP Note: Mini-stacks and GPP stacks

TEX 5-star plays: None

4-star plays: Elvis Andrus, Shin-soo Choo, Hunter Pence

GPP Note: I’m excited to see Clevinger back on the mound, avoid the Rangers for now

The MLB Research Station is my #1 source for research every single day and is one of the VIP Only tools our members have access to daily. The info in the MLB ReSearch Station includes today’s 📊 DFS Army Projection, Adjusted BVP matchups and much more. This tool will cut your daily research time in half. If you’re familiar with CeeGee and Ben you already know the time they’ve put into the “Sheets” and are extremely happy to provide them as apart of your DFS Army VIP Membership this year.


Boston Red Sox @ Minnesota Twins

Jose Berrios is very good at home but gets one of the worst matchups he could ask for. I don’t hate using Berrios in GPP’s because of his ceiling but this spot is too risky for cash games. Rick Porcello, on the other hand, can be had especially against this Twins offense. The Twins are one of my top stacks of the day.

BOS 5-star plays: None

4-star plays: Mookie Betts, JD Martinez, Rafael Devers, Andrew Benintendi

GPP Note: GPP stack, but Berrios is solid at home

MIN 5-star plays: Max Kepler, Jorge Polanco, Eddie Rosario

4-star plays: CJ Cron, Nelson Cruz, Jason Castro

GPP Note: I like this stack from top to bottom


Miami Marlins (-186) @ St. Louis Cardinals (-203)

Elieser Hernandez has proven to have major league strikeout potential and if looking for a cheap pitcher he may be my first option. The Cardinals offense is scary, but it’s a risk I’m willing to take. If you go heavy on him just please be sure to make a hedge stack, the Cardinals are simply too good.

MIA 5-star plays: None

4-star plays: Garrett Cooper, Starlin Castro

GPP Note: One-offs

STL 5-star plays: Paul DeJong, Paul Goldschmidt

4-star plays: Matt Carpenter, Marcell Ozuna

GPP Note: I like Hernandez as a cheap pitching option, but the Cards are still a great offense


Baltimore Orioles (+188) @ Oakland Athletics (-205)

Andrew Cashner is another one of those below average pitchers that I just do not stack against, especially in this ballpark. I would rather stack up the Orioles against Mike Fiers in this spot. Fiers has been solid over his past few weeks, so I would only do such a thing in GPP’s.

BAL 5-star plays: None

4-star plays: Jonathan Villar, Trey Mancini, Keon Broxton

GPP Note: GPP stack

OAK 5-star plays: None

4-star plays: Matt Olson, Matt Chapman, Khris Davis

GPP Note: GPP stacks

Watching the weather is half the battle when it comes to MLB DFS. The DFS Army Weather Station has you covered, from games that have delay and postponement potential, to games that could have significant winds that will play a roll in selecting a team to stack or a pitcher to use.


San Franciso Giants (+235) @ Los Angeles Dodgers (-258)

I touched on Kenta Maeda earlier on, but he is my top pitcher on the slate when taking price into consideration. If I were to bet on one pitcher to get a win on this slate it would be Maeda, he’s just in a great spot. I love the Dodgers offense here as well, they always go under-owned at home and they are really should not be. They’re up there with the Twins as my favorite stacks on the slate.

SFG 5-star plays: None

4-star plays: None

GPP Note: I love Maeda

LAD 5-star plays: Cody Bellinger, Max Muncy, Joc Pederson

4-star plays: Justin Turner, Alex Verdugo

GPP Note: Top three stack for me


Kansas City Royals @ Seattle Mariners

This Mariners offense got worse over the weekend as they traded away first basemen Edwin Encarnacion. I will have some interest in Danny Duffy in this spot as a cheaper pitcher to try and force in some bats. I broke down Tommy Milone at the beginning as well and will get some of him as well if wanting an expensive stack and a top tier pitcher.

KCR 5-star plays: Adalberto Mondesi, Hunter Dozier

4-star plays: Whit Merrifield

GPP Note: GPP stack

SEA 5-star plays: Daniel Vogelbach, Domingo Santana

4-star plays: Tim Beckham, Kyle Seager

GPP Note: Mini-stacks and one-offs


Milwaukee Brewers (+118) @ San Diego Padres (-128)

Jhoulys Chacin has not been what he was last season, but in this ballpark, I could get convinced to use him if paying up for bats. Lucchesi is a guy that I like and think has good stuff, but I won’t be using him against one of the best offenses in the league.

MIL 5-star plays: Christian Yelich, Mike Moustakas

4-star plays: Yasmani Grandal

GPP Note: One-offs, GPP stack

SDP 5-star plays: Fernando Tatis, Hunter Renfroe

4-star plays: Franmil Reyes, Manny Machado

GPP Note: One-offs, GPP stack


As always I appreciate everyone who gave the article a read! Feel free to mix it up with me in our coaching forums as news breaks and lock approaches.

The only thing you are missing at this point is the key to unlock the next level of your game.  Come inside and check us out!!  We have the experts sharing their secrets and experience on a daily basis.  Combine that with the actual ability to ask them questions and get quick answers in return, and you have a recipe for success that puts our army hats on leaderboards all over the face of DFS.

When you sign up, don’t forget to use promo code MADNESS to save 20% on your membership each and every month!

–> Join the Winning Team Now! <–