NEW YORK — With a 15-game MLB slate on Tuesday, DraftKings DFS players face a deep player pool to craft a winning lineup within the $50,000 salary cap. A balanced approach mixing high-upside chalk plays with value picks is essential for success in tournaments and cash games. Using verified DraftKings salaries, this lineup optimizes performance based on current matchups and healthy players. It’s MLB July 8.
Pitching Core
Pitching sets the tone, and Clayton Kershaw ($7,700, Los Angeles Dodgers) is a dependable anchor against the Milwaukee Brewers. Kershaw’s 2.90 ERA and 25.8% strikeout rate project for 18-22 DraftKings points against a Brewers lineup with a 24% strikeout rate. For balance, Hunter Brown ($11,000, Houston Astros) faces the Cleveland Guardians. Brown’s 3.48 ERA and 9.3 K/9 project for 15-18 points, leveraging a pitcher-friendly park.
Offensive Pillars
Big bats drive the lineup’s ceiling. Shohei Ohtani ($6,500, 1B/OF, Los Angeles Dodgers) is a lock against Milwaukee’s Freddy Peralta (4.15 ERA). Ohtani’s .328 average, 31 homers, and 16 steals project for 12-16 points. Bobby Witt Jr. ($5,400, SS, Kansas City Royals) takes on the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Mitch Keller (4.25 ERA). Witt’s .333 average and 13 stolen bases ensure a 10-14 point output.
MLB July 8.
Value Picks to Round Out
Colton Cowser ($4,100, OF, Baltimore Orioles) faces the New York Mets’ Jose Quintana (4.55 ERA). Cowser’s .278 average and 15 homers offer 7-9 points. Ryan Jeffers ($3,900, C, Minnesota Twins) takes on the Chicago Cubs’ Shota Imanaga (3.85 ERA), with 17 homers and a .268 average projecting 7-8 points. Luis Garcia Jr. ($3,700, 1B/3B, Washington Nationals) completes the lineup against the St. Louis Cardinals’ Sonny Gray (3.95 ERA), with a .298 average projecting 6-8 points.
Projected Lineup
- P: Clayton Kershaw ($7,700)
- P: Hunter Brown ($11,000)
- C: Ryan Jeffers ($3,900)
- 1B: Shohei Ohtani ($6,500)
- 2B: Nico Hoerner ($3,900)
- 3B: Luis Garcia Jr. ($3,700)
- SS: Bobby Witt Jr. ($5,400)
- OF: Colton Cowser ($4,100)
- OF: (Utility) Shohei Ohtani (already slotted)
- Remaining Salary: $3,800
Strategy Notes
This lineup banks on Kershaw and Ohtani’s high floors while exploiting value plays like Hoerner and Cowser in strong matchups. Check lineups and weather, especially for Reds-Marlins. With a projected 85-95 points, this roster is built for DraftKings cash games and tournaments.
Meanwhile, Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton continue to shine on the grass courts.
It’s DFS on Tuesday in the MLB.
