DraftKings MLB Daily Fantasy Helper: Friday 7/3/15

Now that the NHL and NBA seasons are officially over, it's the perfect time to start playing MLB DFS, if you haven't already.

DraftKings has contests going on each night where you can win real cash prizes. And with a nice slate tonight in baseball, it's the perfect chance to join and play. After all, new users at DraftKings get a free entry into a league with up to $100,000 in prizes.

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Not sure who to select? Don't worry. We've got you covered with tonight's optimal lineup.

Be sure to check out our optimal lineups prior to games starting to ensure each player is in his team's lineup.

After posting one of the most impressive seasons in MLB history just a year ago, Clayton Kershaw has actually looked human through his first 16 starts of this year. He's seen a significant increase in both his ERA (3.20) and FIP (2.59) and boasts just a 5-6 record so far this season. That said, the reigning National League Cy Young award winner has still been one of the best pitchers in all of baseball through the first half of the season. Despite what appears to be some regression, the Dodgers' ace still actually leads the league with a 2.09 xFIP and trails only Chris Sale in strikeouts per nine innings at 11.78.

Although poor luck has turned three straight quality starts into losses for Kershaw, a matchup with the offensively-challenged Mets provides a perfect opportunity for the Dodgers' star to bounce back tonight. New York ranks in the bottom five in the league in both wOBA (.288) and wRC+ (85) while striking out at a 21.2% clip, which is the eighth highest rate in all of baseball. Los Angeles is currently -250 favorites in a game that features the lowest total of any game on the board. Kershaw is worth every penny of his massive $13,100 salary.

If you are going to pay up for Kershaw as your number one pitcher as our algorithm recommends, you will likely be forced to target a value pitcher as your second option, and Jesse Chavez should do the trick. Despite just a 4-7 record though 17 starts, Chavez boasts a very respectable 3.02 ERA, 2.89 FIP and 3.62 xFIP on the year and draws an excellent matchup against a Mariners squad that has struggled to hit right-handed pitching all season long. Seattle ranks 28th in the Majors in wOBA and 26th in wRC+ while striking out at a massive 22.6% rate against righties this season. Chavez also gets to face the Mariners at home in the friendly confines of O.co Coliseum, where he has earned a 2.16 ERA, 2.56 FIP and has held opposing batters to just a .252 wOBA. The Athletics' starter provides great value in all formats at just $7,000 tonight.

The Orioles are almost always one of my favorite teams to target when facing left-handed pitching, and tonight's matchup with John Danks is no different. Danks has been absolutely lit up by right-handed batters this season, earning an abysmal 5.08 FIP and 4.49 xFIP while allowing opposing righties to hit for a massive .398 wOBA. With this in mind all Baltimore righty bats are in play tonight, but there two Orioles' players who stand out above the rest -- Manny Machado and Nolan Reimold.

Machado has really come into his own in his third season in the big leagues, posting career bests in batting average (.302), OPS (.880), wOBA (.378) and ISO (.221) and has absolutely crushed left-handed pitching this season. The Orioles' third baseman has earned a .385 wOBA and .905 OPS against southpaws this season and should have little trouble taking advantage of a plus matchup against Danks tonight.

Despite the fact that he is not an everyday player, Reimold is actually dollar-for-dollar an even stronger play than his teammate Machado. The Orioles' outfielder has mashed southpaws to the tune of a ridiculous .478 wOBA, .421 ISO and 1.146 OPS and will likely be hitting in the middle of the Baltimore order in an outstanding matchup tonight. At a minuscule price of just $3,000, Reimold is one of my favorite value plays on the board tonight.

Although he does not receive nearly as much support from the rest of his lineup as the Orioles do, Joey Votto is still in a great spot tonight against Brewers starter Mike Fiers. Fiers has posted a less-than-stellar 4.37 FIP while allowing left-handed batters to hit for a .360 wOBA so far this season. He's also had trouble keeping the ball in the part against lefties, giving up 1.34 home runs per nine innings against left-handed hitting through 16 starts. Meanwhile, Votto has tagged righties for a .391 wOBA and .245 ISO and should get a major boost at home at the Great American Ballpark where he has obliterated right-handed pitching with a .400 wOBA and .303 ISO. Votto can be had for a very reasonable price and has a great chance to knock one out of the park tonight. He makes a strong play in all formats.

Catcher is usually a position where you can save a few bucks, and Josh Phegley makes the perfect target to do so tonight. The Athletics' young catcher is always on my radar against left-handed pitching and gets the pleasure of facing off with Mariners' southpaw J.A. Happ tonight. Happ has earned an unimpressive 4.16 FIP and 4.47 xFIP against righties this season, which bodes incredibly well for Phegley who has destroyed southpaws so far this season. Phegley has amassed a .422 wOBA, .981 OPS and .245 ISO against left-handed pitching and is in a great spot at home against Happ tonight. He is an absolute steal at just $3,100.