Daily Fantasy Baseball 2015: Ideal DraftKings Lineup Picks for June 22

In fantasy baseball, great pitchers tend to make safer plays than great hitters. That's why they're so much more expensive. So, in general, I usually pick one high-priced starter and one mid-level pitcher with a nice matchup, then fill out the batting order accordingly.

However, Joe Blanton's ridiculous $4,100 price point made me change my strategy. For Monday's ideal lineup, I went with a cadre of all-stars in the field and spent very little on my two chuckers.

Position	Player	Opponent	Price
P	Joe Blanton	@ Sea	$4,100
P	Michael Pineda	vs. Phi	$9,300
C	Brian McCann	vs. Phi	$4,200
1B	Albert Pujols	vs. Hou	$4,500
2B	Brian Dozier	vs. CWS	$5,000
3B	Miguel Cabrera	@ Cle	$5,100
SS	Alexei Ramirez	@ Min	$3,500
OF	Yasiel Puig	@ ChC	$4,000
OF	Mike Trout	vs. Hou	$5,300
OF	George Springer	@ LAA	$4,600

NumberFire.com, an algorithm-based data analytics sports website, projects Joe Blanton as the most valuable play on the entire slate today. He's dirt cheap because he made his first start of the season last Wednesday when Jason Vargas went out with an injury.

Though his ERA is much lower at home than on the road this season, Blanton should harbor no fear pitching against the Mariners. According to Fangraphs.com, Seattle has scored the fourth fewest runs at home this season despite the sixth most plate appearances. 

Michael Pineda is a bit hyperbolic on the mound. In his past eight starts, per DraftKings.com, he's had five fantasy days with 26 or more points, including a monster 46.2-fantasy point, 16-strikeout game. He's also had two negative fantasy point games. 

Kathy Willens/Associated Press

But Monday, Pineda gets the Phillies, whose offense closely resembles that of their Broad Street neighbors, the 76ers. Per Fangraphs.com, the Phillies have scored 96 runs on the road this season—the lowest output in the league. 

Per Fangraphs.com, Yankee catcher Brian McCann is hitting .341 with eight of his 10 homers at home this season. Nine of his 10 jacks have come against right-handed hurlers.

Kathy Willens/Associated Press

Yasiel Puig's salary took a nose dive after he scored just 20 fantasy points over a six-game stretch last week. But he rebounded with a nice two-hit, two-run outing in Sunday's win over the Giants. At $4,000 and batting leadoff for a team that scores a ton of runs, Puig looks quite tasty.

Alex Gallardo/Associated Press

Starting Mike Trout in fantasy needs no defense. Per DraftKings.com, he's scored five or more fantasy points in seven straight games.