Penned By: @Ryan_Humphries on Twitter and LineStar Chat.

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Main Slate Rundown 🏟

Another big day of baseball awaits with a dozen games lined up on this evening’s MLB main slate that showcases an array of enticing elements. With strong pitching options and two or three potential pitching duels on the horizon, strategic lineup decisions will be crucial. And we can’t ignore another Coors Field game landing on this slate, where a sky-high 12.5-run total promises offensive fireworks. But the excitement doesn't stop there – numerous other non-Coors offenses find themselves in intriguing spots, primed for successful performances. With a blend of dominant pitchers, nail-biting showdowns, the Coors Field factor, and the potential for explosive offensive displays, this slate offers an abundance of possibilities from a lineup construction standpoint. Let’s get into the action! Best of luck!

Main slate match-ups with implied run totals and moneyline odds:

Main Slate Weather Outlook 💨🌦️☁️

Check LineStar's MLB Daily Dashboard to see an overview of the most up-to-date game forecasts.

SEA @ BOS (7:10 ET): Winds OUT to center/right at 10-15 mph.

TB @ NYM (7:10 ET): Winds OUT to right at 10-15 mph.

CLE @ CWS (8:10 ET): Winds OUT to center/right at 10-15 mph.

CIN @ COL (8:40 ET): Low-end chance of a stray shower sparking a delay. No real PPD concerns.

Pitchers to Consider ⚾

Clayton Kershaw (LHP), LAD | DK: $11k, FD: $11.4k | vs. MIN

Kershaw leads the way on today’s slate with his lofty DFS salaries, but he’s in a prime spot to return value tonight. Targeting Kershaw at home where he averages +42.1% more FPPG is always a strong proposition. In three starts (20.0 IP) at Dodger Stadium this season, he has pitched to a microscopic 0.45 ERA, 1.72 xFIP, 0.45 WHIP, .138 opp wOBA, and a dominant 39.1% kRate while averaging 34.5 DKFP/56 FDFP. In general, whether home or away, he’s been in vintage form as of late and he leads all pitchers today with an elite 15.6% SwStr%. Across his last five starts (31.2 IP), Kershaw has posted a 1.71 ERA, 2.87 xFIP, 0.85 WHIP, .231 opp wOBA, and a 32.5% kRate.

Kershaw also draws an appealing match-up this evening. The Twins have been a bottom-five offense against LHPs this season, posting a .204 AVG (ranks 29th), 77 wRC+ (27th), and 27.0% kRate (3rd highest). The Twins’ kRate vs. LHPs has risen to 30.7% when on the road. The Dodgers (-200 ML) step in as the heaviest favorites on the slate and we should anticipate six or seven dominant innings out of Kersh this evening.

Cristian Javier (RHP), HOU | DK: $9.6k, FD: $10k | vs. CHC

One of those pitching duels alluded to in the intro looks to take place in Houston tonight between Cristian Javier for the ‘Stros and Justin Steele for the Cubbies. This match-up is pinned with a slate-low 7.5 over/under, with Houston stepping in as the -168 ML favorites. We’ll get ample strikeout upside from Javier at fairly expensive, but fair price points. Javier owns a 29.0% kRate on the season and he has bumped that up to an elite 34.8% kRate across his last five starts while maintaining a sharp 0.91 WHIP.

The Cubs jumped out to a hot start offensively this year, but the bats have cooled off as of late. Chicago has scored four runs or fewer in 11 of their last 13 games. Against RHPs in that 13-game stretch, they’ve put up a lackluster .304 wOBA, 90 wRC+, and a 26.2% kRate -- the 4th highest kRate in the MLB in that span. They’ve been struggling against righties in road games and Javier is a borderline ace-level talent who can continue to keep the Cubs’ bats in check. The Cubs are also missing some firepower with Nico Hoerner (hamstring) on the 10-day IL and Cody Bellinger (knee/day-to-day) possibly sidelined tonight as well.

Jordan Montgomery (LHP), STL | DK: $7.4k, FD: $8.6k | vs. MIL

Monty has put up some fairly pedestrian numbers this season (4.11 ERA, 4.03 xFIP, 1.30 WHIP, 20.6% kRate), but he’s provided solid DFS scores in five of his eight starts, and he won’t break the bank tonight. He’s also pitching behind a surging Cardinals offense that has won seven of their last eight games while averaging 8.0 runs/gm in that stretch.

The real appeal for Montgomery today stems from his match-up with the Brewers -- lefty pitchers have become a routine “flowchart play” when facing this Milwaukee team. The Brew Crew has been arguably the worst offense against LHPs this season, putting up a meager .210 AVG (ranks 28th), .275 wOBA (last), 70 wRC+ (last), and 31.0% kRate (highest in MLB). Montgomery has also had some historical success against Milwaukee. In 86 PA versus the current MIL roster, Montgomery has held them to a .213 AVG, .300 wOBA, and 33.7% kRate. Rostering LHPs against the Brewers is no secret at this point of the season, so don’t expect Montgomery to fly under the radar, ownership-wise. But he will be an attractive spend-down option on this slate and open up some additional salary for a high-end SP1 (on DraftKings) and/or some extra room to fit in some bigger bats.

Other Pitchers to Consider:

Kevin Gausman (RHP), TOR | DK: $10.7k, FD: $11k | vs. NYY

Zack Wheeler (RHP), PHI | DK: $9.2k, FD: $9.4k | @ SF

Shane Bieber (RHP), CLE | DK: $9k, FD: $11.2k | @ CWS

Seth Lugo (RHP), SD | DK: $8k, FD: $9k | vs. KC

Team Stacks to Target 🎯

Disclaimer: Stacking in MLB DFS is not a requirement but it is a very common strategy used to take down GPPs. This strategy is covered in more detail in the MLB DFS strategy guide linked in the header at the top of this newsletter. Check out the MLB StackFinder on LineStar.

Obligatory Coors Field Stacks

Cincinnati Reds vs. Chase Anderson (RHP), COL

Colorado Rockies vs. Brandon Williamson (LHP), CIN

Non-Coors Stacks

Seattle Mariners vs. Nick Pivetta (RHP), BOS

+ Mariners: 5.4 implied runs (ranks 1st among non-Coors teams).

+ Pivetta is one of the top SPs to target when home run hunting -- he’s given up 2.08 HR/9 this season with an 18.2% HR/FB Rate.

+ Over his last five starts, Pivetta owns a poor 8.39 ERA and 1.62 WHIP.

+ Over the last 30 days, Pivetta ranks in the bottom 5th percentile in average exit velocity, bottom 10th percentile in average distance, and bottom 20th percentile in barreled balls allowed.

+ SEA receives a strong park upgrade at Fenway Park, the #3 most hitter-friendly ballpark.

+ SEA has been a top-10 offense on the road in the last two weeks -- ranking 10th in OPS, 9th in wOBA, 10th in ISO, and 8th in wRC+.

-/+ BOS bullpen has been fairly average this season.

- Overall, SEA has been very average versus RHPs this season -- their 98 wRC+ ranks 16th.

Favorite SEA Bats: Jarred Kelenic, Julio Rodriguez, Cal Raleigh | Bargain Bat: JP Crawford

St. Louis Cardinals vs. Wade Miley (LHP), MIL

+ Miley’s respectable 3.60 ERA is backed up by a shaky 5.28 xFIP and he’s coming off of a blow-up game where he allowed 6 H, 3 HR, 2 BB, and 7 ER across 5.0 IP against LAD.

+ STL is swinging some very hot bats -- over the last week, they rank 1st in the MLB with a .307 AVG, .406 wOBA, .266 ISO, and 160 wRC+.

+ MIL bullpen has faltered recently, posting an MLB-worst 6.75 ERA and 2.66 HR/9 Rate over the last two weeks.

- Miley has limited both RHBs and LHBs to a sub-.300 wOBA this season.

- STL has found much more success against RHPs than LHPs so they may struggle to bust things open against Miley.

Favorite STL Bats: Nolan Arenado, Paul Goldschmidt, Tommy Edman | Bargain Bat: Lars Nootbaar

Low-Owned Stack That Just Might Work Out 🤔

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Bailey Ober (RHP), MIN

+ All LAD bats have a <10% pOwn%.

+ Bailey Ober has pitched to a sharp 1.85 ERA and 0.90 WHIP in four starts this season, but he has faced some fairly soft competition (vs. WAS, vs. KC, @ CLE, vs. SD) and his 4.59 xFIP signifies that some regression is due.

+ Ober is allowing a high 57.1% Fly Ball Rate this season -- LAD ranks 3rd with a 16.9% HR/FB Rate vs. RHPs.

+ LAD has been elite when facing RHPs at home: .367 wOBA (ranks 1st), .239 ISO (1st), 136 wRC+ (2nd), 18.7% HR/FB Rate (2nd).

+ LAD averaging 5.86 runs/gm at home.

- MIN has had a borderline top-10 bullpen.

- LAD does not offer a ton of stolen base upside, ranking 20th in SBs this season.

- Core LAD bats are fairly expensive.

Favorite LAD Bats: Will Smith, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts | Bargain Bat: Miguel Vargas

One-Off Bats ☝️

A maximum of one hitter per team will be listed below. Feel free to use these players as one-off options, one-half of a two-man mini-stack, or a core piece to a full team stack.

OF Ronald Acuña Jr., ATL | DK: $6.3k, FD: $4.6k | vs. Dane Dunning (RHP), TEX

OF Fernando Tatis Jr., SD | DK: $6.2k, FD: $3.7k | vs. Brady Singer (RHP), KC

OF Aaron Judge, NYY | DK: $6.1k, FD: $3.8k | vs. Kevin Gausman (RHP), TOR

OF Bryce Harper, PHI | DK: $6k, FD: $4.4k | vs. Alex Cobb (RHP), SF

2B Marcus Semien, TEX | DK: $5.8k, FD: $4.4k | vs. Jared Shuster (LHP), ATL

3B Nolan Arenado, STL | DK: $4.9k, FD: $3k | vs. Wade Miley (LHP), MIL

OF Jarred Kelenic, SEA | DK: $4.7k, FD: $3.1k | vs. Nick Pivetta (RHP), BOS

C Will Smith, LAD | DK: $4.6k, FD: $4.4k | vs. Bailey Ober (RHP), MIN

OF Jake Fraley, CIN | DK: $4.2k, FD: $3.4k | vs. Chase Anderson (RHP), COL

OF Luis Robert Jr., CWS | DK: $4.2k, FD: $3.3k | vs. Shane Bieber (RHP), CLE

1B Christian Walker, ARI | DK: $4.1k, FD: $3.5k | vs. Kyle Muller (LHP), OAK

OF Randal Grichuk, COL | DK: $4.1k, FD: $3.6k | vs. Brandon Williamson (LHP), CIN

Bargain Batters 💸

Note: Additional hitting value may open up once all official starting lineups are released. For now, here are some cheap hitters who are already confirmed or currently expected to be on the field tonight and find themselves in a good spot to pay off their modest DFS salaries.

Default cut-off to qualify as a “Bargain Batter” is <$4,100 on DraftKings

OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr., ARI | DK: $3.9k, FD: $3.2k | vs. Kyle Muller (LHP), OAK

1B Spencer Steer, CIN | DK: $3.5k, FD: $3.4k | vs. Chase Anderson (RHP), COL

OF Esteury Ruiz, OAK | DK: $3.4k, FD: $3.2k | vs. Tommy Henry (LHP), ARI

SS JP Crawford, SEA | DK: $3.3k, FD: $2.8k | vs. Nick Pivetta (RHP), BOS

1B Josh Naylor, CLE | DK: $3.3k, FD: $2.6k | vs. Lance Lynn (RHP), CWS

SS Ezequiel Duran, TEX | DK: $3.3k, FD: $2.9k | vs. Jared Shuster (LHP), ATL

2B Miguel Vargas, LAD | DK: $3.2k, FD: $2.8k | vs. Bailey Ober (RHP), MIN

OF Robbie Grossman, TEX | DK: $2.9k, FD: $3k | vs. Jared Shuster (LHP), ATL

C Gabriel Moreno, ARI | DK: $2.8k, FD: $2.6k | vs. Nick Mulelr (LHP), OAK

SS Matt McLain, CIN | DK: $2k, FD: $2k | vs. Chase Anderson (RHP), COL

Home Run Calls of the Day 💣

Ryan’s PrizePicks Power Play of the Day⚡

Here is a two-pick “Power Play” I’m liking for today's MLB action over on PrizePicks! Nothing is ever a guarantee to hit but I put my own money on these picks so I don't just lightly throw them out there without believing they'll cash! If it hits, it will return 3x the wager.

Randal Grichuk MORE than 0.5 Runs

Jonah Heim MORE than 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs

🆕 Props AI 🆕

In LineStar’s ongoing mission to improve, innovate, and help you reel in some cash, we are introducing Props AI for MLB! This tool can help you find value and mispriced odds on player props from sportsbooks and, more specifically, for PrizePicks and UnderDog Fantasy!

Speaking of props, put the Props AI tool to use by signing-up for UnderDog Fantasy for 2-months of LineStar Premium (Promo code: LINESTAR). Plus $100 deposit match for new customers. What many people may not realize is that you can legally place prop bets in most states using UnderDog (or PrizePicks) – it’s called Pick'Em and it’s insanely easy.

Best of luck out there today, everyone!