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The top early-slate daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on August 26, 2023. Mike's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
The splits finally make some sort of sense on a Saturday. Just like Thursday, I am here all day long with your MLB DFS needs. I've even got college football covered if you want some of that this evening. This is the time of the year when sports really get fun! We will concentrate on the five early games first.
This article contains my picks for the early slate on August 26, 2023, for DraftKings and FanDuel slates, which lock at 4:05 PM ET. There is a chance of rain in Boston again, so watch that as we get closer to first pitch. FanDuel left the Cleveland and Toronto tilt on its slate while DraftKings took it off. The FD slate starts an hour earlier.
The lineup picks will range from some elite high-priced players to mid-priced options and value plays. I'll give you a few of my top pitching options and then some infielders, outfielders, and teams to stack. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports here. It's also essential to monitor injury news and today's MLB starting lineups.
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DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Max Fried, ATL at SF ($9,800 DK, $9,500 FD)
Max Fried allowed a season-high nine hits to the Giants during the week in Atlanta, but he has been much better on the road than at home this year. Fried hasn't allowed a homer in five road starts and has a 1.93 ERA to go with a 0.94 WHIP. His numbers at home (3.70 ERA, 1.44 WHIP) are far worse. This is a pitcher-friendly park anyway. I like Fried for the price, especially on FD. The Giants did pick up nine hits on Fried, but they only scored three runs and still struck out six times.
Jake Irvin WAS vs. MIA ($6,100 DK, $8,000 FD)
I will preface this by saying that there is no way I would use Jake Irvin on FanDuel. Eury Perez is only $500 more. The $2,700 savings on DK for my second pitcher is a necessity because of the good bats on the slate today.
Irvin has only allowed seven runs in 22 1/3 innings over his last four starts while striking out 21. Those are pretty good numbers for the price and compared to his season-long stats. Irvin also handcuffed this Marlins team on Father's Day, allowing only one run on five innings at a much more hitter-friendly park in D.C. There is nice potential for the price if you want to pay up for bats on DK.
Others to consider: Tyler Glasnow ($10,300 DK, $11,400 FD) vs. NYY; Eury Perez ($8,800 DK, $8,500 FD) vs. WAS
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Salvador Perez - C, KC at SEA ($4,400 DK, $2,600 FD)
Logan Gilbert has handled most of the Royals well. Salvador Perez is the one that he hasn't. The veteran catcher is 4-for-10 lifetime against Gilbert with a double and a pair of homers. Perez is still a catcher only on FD and he's priced really cheap. You can get leverage on the field with Salvy over there.
Bobby Witt Jr. - SS, KC at SEA ($6,200 DK, $4,300 FD)
Bobby Witt Jr. is the other guy that has hit Gilbert well and he might be even better than Perez. Witt has only faced Gilbert six times, but he has five hits (four singles and a homer) off of him. Witt is hitting .310 with four homers, nine RBI, nine runs scored, and three steals over the last 10 games. He's pricy, but I have no issues paying up for him here since we have decent pitchers that are cheap.
Eugenio Suarez - 3B, SEA vs. KC ($4,400 DK, $2,800 FD)
Eugenio Suarez really likes facing Jordan Lyles. He is 6-for-12 lifetime against him with two doubles, two homers, and two walks. Suarez has a modest six-game hitting streak going with a homer, five RBI, and three runs scored in that span. Hey, we'll take it when he's only hitting .234 on the season. I expect the streak to continue against Lyles.
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Mookie Betts - 2B/OF, LAD at BOS ($6,600 DK, $4,500 FD)
Mookie Betts is hotter than the surface of the sun right now. He has a 13-game hitting streak going in which he is hitting .553 with three homers, 12 RBI, 14 runs scored, and a pair of steals. Betts has a hit in all but one game since July 19. Think about that for a minute...only once in the last 28 games has he not recorded a hit. I don't need his 6-for-24 record against James Paxton with a double and three homers to help sway this pick. It's just gravy.
Adam Duvall - OF, HOU vs. BOS ($4,700 DK, $3,100 FD)
Adam Duvall has three homers and eight RBI over his five-game hitting streak. He has a homer off of Julio Urias already in his career. Duvall is seeing the ball well with three doubles and three homers in his 10 hits in this five-game streak. He should continue that today.
Harold Ramirez - OF, TB vs. NYY ($3,400 DK, $2,800 FD)
Harold Ramirez has 15 hits in his last 10 games, good for a .405 average. He has driven in nine runs and scored six in that span, but only has three extra-base hits (two doubles and a triple). That may seem like empty stats, but there's nothing empty about that hit parade. I'll take a hot hitter at this price any day.
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
Seattle Mariners vs. Jordan Lyles
Jordan Lyles has been better lately, but better is a relative term when you're toting a 6.20 ERA. His ERA is even worse (6.90) on the road and the Mariners torched him for seven runs (six earned) in five innings earlier this year. The current Mariners are hitting .301 against Lyles with six homers in 83 at-bats. Stack away!
Favorite pieces: Suarez, Teoscar Hernandez, Julio Rodriguez, Ty France, Josh Rojas
Also consider: Atlanta Braves vs. Sean Manaea
Sean Manaea's career numbers against the Braves aren't horrible, but this offense is just on a different level this year. The Braves carry a lofty 153 wRC+ against southpaws over the last month. Watch for flying objects in the Bay Area this afternoon.
Favorite pieces: Matt Olson, Austin Riley, Ronald Acuna Jr., Marcell Ozuna, Eddie Rosario
Sneaky stack: New York Yankees vs. Tyler Glasnow
Tyler Glasnow allowed seven runs (five earned) to the Angels in his last start. The Yankees are starting to warm up, and what better way to gain leverage on the field than to stack against the expensive guy?
Favorite pieces: Aaron Judge, DJ LeMahieu, Jake Bauers, Giancarlo Stanton
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