Draftkings Best MLB Showdown Picks: Nationals vs. Cardinals 7/26/24

Major League Baseball presents a matchup between the Washington Nationals and the St. Louis Cardinals. Let’s take a look at this MLB Game from a Draftkings perspective.

Prior to discussing the Washington Nationals vs. St. Louis Cardinals game let’s review the rules for the Draftkings single game showdown contest.

Draftkings Single Game Showdown Contest Rules

You have $50,000 to utilize on five players from either team. However, one of those players will be designated as your team captain. The captain accumulates 1.5 times the standard fantasy points. Additionally, the captain is 1.5 times the standard cost of the flex position.

The remaining four players in your lineup will receive the standard fantasy points. Having stated that, it is highly important for you to identify the correct player for your captain position if you hope to win a large field DFS GPP (guaranteed prize pool) showdown contest.

If you have additional questions regarding the rules for the single game showdown contest, I recommend that you check out the Draftkings website for more details.

*I recommend that all readers review the starting lineups for both teams prior to setting your DFS lineup for this one game slate.

Here are my Draftkings picks for tonight’s Washington Nationals vs. St. Louis Cardinals matchup.

Draftkings MLB Showdown Picks

Captain-Sonny Gray, Pitcher, St. Louis Cardinals $12,000

On Friday night, Major League Baseball presents the first game of a three game National League series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Washington Nationals.

How are these two teams playing entering tonight’s MLB Game? The Washington Nationals arrive at this evening’s opening Game of this three Game National League series with the St. Louis Cardinals playing subpar baseball. Let me be more specific. The Washington Nationals have lost nine of the team’s last 14 Games played in the 2024 MLB regular season, including a including a 3-0 shutout loss to the San Diego Padres yesterday afternoon.

*It should be noted, in yesterday’s win over Washington, San Diego starting pitcher Dylan Cease threw a no-hitter versus the Washington Nationals. Clearly, the Nationals are not swinging the bats well entering tonight’s contest.

Conversely, the St. Louis Cardinals are playing rather average baseball. The St. Louis Cardinals have won three of the team’s last six games played this season, including a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates three days ago.

Now that we have determined how both of these Major League Baseball teams are currently playing let’s turn our attention to this evening’s contest. Talented St. Louis pitcher Sonny Gray has ascended to be a valuable member of the St. Louis Cardinals starting pitching rotation this season. Having stated that, how has Gray been playing from a statistical standpoint in 2024? Let’s review Gray’s recent game data to answer that question.

In the 18 games that Sonny Gray has pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2024 MLB regular season, Sonny Gray has posted a respectable 3.54 ERA (Earned Run Average), a 1.06 WHIP (walks, hits, inning pitched), and added a robust 131 strikeouts while allowing only 24 walks. It has to be said, those are the type of fantasy numbers I need from a player that I select for my captain position.

For the reasons just noted, I am backing St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Sonny Gray as my captain for this one Game DFS MLB contest.

Flex Plays

Paul Goldschmidt, First Baseman, St. Louis Cardinals $8,000

Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt has certainly played quality baseball for St. Louis this season. In his last three games played for the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2024 MLB regular season, St. Louis first baseman Paul Goldschmidt accumulated three hits, one home run, and one walk in 11 plate appearances.

I expect the talented St. Louis Cardinals first baseman to continue his quality play on the baseball diamond in tonight’s matchup versus the Washington Nationals later today.

Additional flex plays I like this evening (Draftkings price noted): Masyn Winn, Shortstop (St. Louis Cardinals) $7,400: Luis Garcia Jr., Second Baseman (Washington Nationals) $7,600.