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The top 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.
Most of the MLB action takes place tonight with eight games in prime time. I'll be a good little degenerate and throw my MLB lineups in, but today is my Opening Day. The last great college football season starts today. However, this MLB slate won't be overshadowed. It's only eight games, but it's loaded!
Now that is out of the way, let's turn the focus to the evening. This article contains my picks for the eight-game main slate on Saturday, August 26, 2023, for both DraftKings and FanDuel, which locks at 7:05 PM ET.
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
Kyle Bradish, BAL vs. COL ($9,000 DK, $10,300 FD)
Kyle Bradish has a superb 2.15 ERA over his last 10 starts and a 2.18 ERA in nine home starts. He hasn't even had the privilege of facing the Rockies on the road yet! Bradish is also quietly racking up the strikeouts this season. He doesn't have the strikeout ceiling of Max Scherzer or Zack Wheeler, but he doesn't have the volatility of Max and the Cards aren't striking out much of late either. Bradish is the most solid option of the night and it isn't really close.
Javier Assad, CHC at PIT ($6,300 DK, $7,500 FD)
Most of the expensive bats are on the afternoon slate, but there's still enough that I want to pay for at night. And honestly, I'm sick of these higher-priced pitchers tanking a good lineup by getting knocked around anyway. If it happens to a guy at this price, so be it.
That hasn't really been happening with Javier Assad, though. He hasn't allowed more than three runs in a game all season. He has a 2.45 ERA filling in for Marcus Stroman over the last three starts. Expecting another solid one against the Pirates here, because, well...it's the Pirates.
Others to consider: Zack Wheeler ($11,600 DK, $10,800 FD) vs. OAK; Chase Silseth ($6,600 DK, $7,700 FD) at NYM
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Bryce Harper - 1B/OF, PHI vs. STL ($6,000 DK, $3,800 FD)
I really hate that Bryce Harper clogs up our 1B slot on DK since he isn't OF-eligible there anymore. Harper is running hot with a .378 average, five homers, nine RBI, 11 runs scored, and a steal for the cherry on top over the last 10 games. Harper just missed a homer in his fourth consecutive game last night, but he notched a triple and scored twice. He has also torched Dakota Hudson in his career, notching four hits (a single, two doubles, and a homer) and two walks in seven plate appearances. All aboard!
Corey Seager - SS, TEX at MIN ($6,600 DK, $4,500 FD)
Joe Ryan wasn't pitching all that well before he landed on the IL, so I'm not scared of him coming back either. Corey Seager has been matchup-proof of late anyway. He has three consecutive multi-hit games and four in the last five with two homers, four RBI, four runs scored, and a steal in that span. Seager's .338 average in August has actually brought down his season mark, but his nine homers are almost double any other month. Joe Ryan and the Twins bullpen aren't putting out this fire.
Ke'Bryan Hayes - 3B, PIT vs. CHC ($4,400 DK, $3,100 FD)
Ke'Bryan Hayes picked up where he left off in June. Hayes hit a robust .337 in 21 June games before missing most of July with a back injury. He has come back with a .293 average in August with four of his nine homers this month and 14 RBI in 19 games. Assad doesn't go deep into games and the Cubs' bullpen ERA is frighteningly close to 4.00.
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Corbin Carroll - OF, ARI vs. CIN ($5,700 DK, $3,800 FD)
Corbin Carroll has nine hits and three walks over his last six games with a homer, four RBI, five runs scored, and two stolen bases. He is doing a little bit of everything right now and will get a patchwork Cincinnati pitching staff on what might count as a bullpen day. Carroll has five double-digit fantasy point days in those six games. Expect another tonight.
Tommy Pham - OF, ARI vs. CIN ($3,800 DK, $2,900 FD)
Tommy Pham extended his hitting streak to 15 games last night. He has five doubles, a triple, three homers, and 16 RBI in those 15 games. I have no idea how he is still this cheap, but I'm going to keep running him. Getting guaranteed points at any slot in your lineup is very nice.
DJ Stewart - OF, NYM vs. LAA ($2,700 DK, $2,400 FD)
Five of DJ Stewart's six home runs on the season have come in the last nine games. So have 10 of his RBI. He's still striking out a lot, but Carlos Carrasco's days of blowing it by hitters are over. He has been very hittable this year. Stewart has a great chance to go deep yet again.
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
Baltimore Orioles vs. Chris Flexen
Chris Flexen turned in his best start of 2023 against the White Sox his last time out, but I'm not fooled. The Sox have made many a pitcher look better than they really are. Flexen has allowed a homer in nine straight starts. Six of those games weren't even in Coors Field! The 7.18 ERA speaks for itself. This guy just isn't major league material no matter where he pitches.
Favorite pieces: Anthony Santander, Adley Rutschman, Ryan Mountcastle, Gunnar Henderson, Ryan O'Hearn
Also consider: Oakland Athletics vs. Touki Toussaint
Touki Toussaint has been living dangerously in his last four starts, allowing 18 walks in just four games. It caught up with him against Seattle last week. Toussaint has allowed six homers in those four starts and 18 runs in just 18 1/3 innings. Oakland's offense isn't as bad as their record shows. They can still score some runs and should tonight.
Favorite pieces: Zack Gelof, Brent Rooker, Seth Brown, Aledmys Diaz, Shea Langeliers
Sneaky Stack: Philadelphia Phillies vs. Dakota Hudson
This may not seem sneaky, but with so much stack bait on the slate tonight, Dakota Hudson's 3.95 ERA on the season looks pretty good. What doesn't is his bloated expected stats in his career against the Phillies. The overall ones aren't that bad, but a .340 xBA, .579 xSLG, and .432 xwOBA paint a different picture. This kind of luck won't last forever.
Favorite pieces: Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, Bryson Stott, Alec Bohm
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