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After a quiet Thursday, baseball roars back with 15 games on the schedule Friday. There are 11 games that will make up the main evening slates on DraftKings and FanDuel, leaving us with a bevy of options to choose from.
This article will provide my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 8/2/2024, with the slate starting at 7:05 p.m. EDT. The lineup picks will range from some elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports here. Monitoring injury news and today's MLB starting lineups is also essential.
Good luck, RotoBallers!
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DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Joe Ryan vs. CWS ($9,700 DraftKings; $10,600 FanDuel)
Ryan has a 1.08 WHIP for his career and has been even better in that department this season with a 0.99 WHIP. His strikeout rate is down compared to last season, but it’s still valuable at 27.2%. Expect him to be a popular option against a White Sox team that has scored the fewest runs in baseball, as he should be. For those playing in cash contests, Ryan might be a must.
Spencer Schwellenbach vs. MIA ($8,800 DraftKings; $9,300 FanDuel)
The Marlins have scored the second-fewest runs in baseball. Their lineup isn’t likely to be any better now that they traded away Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Bryan De La Cruz. This is a prime matchup for Schwellenbach, who has a combined 19 strikeouts over his last two starts. Across 10 outings with the Braves, he has a 1.06 WHIP.
Yusei Kikuchi vs. TB ($8,600 DraftKings; $8,900 FanDuel)
This will be Kikuchi’s first start for the Astros. He did not end his tenure with the Blue Jays on a high note, posting a 7.75 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP over his last eight starts. As bad as he has been lately, he still has a 26.2% strikeout rate this season and a 3.66 FIP. The Rays have scored the fourth-fewest runs in baseball and have now traded away Randy Arozarena and Isaac Paredes. Kikuchi has the potential to start off his time with the Astros on a high note.
Also consider: Gavin Stone vs. OAK, Paul Blackburn at LAA
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Royce Lewis – 3B, MIN vs. Davis Martin ($5,200 DK; $3,800 FD)
After trading away Erick Fedde, the White Sox will give Martin an opportunity to start. He is coming back from Tommy John surgery and allowed three hits and three walks over 2.2 innings in his only other appearance with the White Sox this season. Over 63.1 innings with the White Sox in 2022, he posted a 4.83 ERA and a 4.28 FIP. The Twins will likely be a popular team to stack, with Lewis being the top player to build such a stack around. Injuries have plagued him, but he has a .370 ISO and a .410 wOBA over the 30 games that he has appeared in.
Royce Lewis is back to hitting homers. 💪 pic.twitter.com/BukPz78aDf
— MLB (@MLB) July 27, 2024
Xander Bogaerts – 2B/SS, SD vs. Austin Gomber ($3,900 DK; $3,000 FD)
Since being activated from the injured list, Bogaerts is 24-for-53 (.453) with a home run and four doubles. During that 13-game span, he only struck out five times. He has the potential to provide significant value versus Gomber, who has struggled again with his 4.79 ERA and 4.86 FIP this season.
Spencer Horwitz – 1B/2B, TOR vs. Marcus Stroman ($3,700 DK; $2,600 FD)
Stroman has a 3.64 ERA, but his 5.24 FIP is a significant red flag. He has shown very good control with his 9.9% walk rate and his strikeout rate has fallen to 17.1%. Left-handed hitters have recorded a .358 wOBA against him. Enter Horwitz, who has recorded a .369 wOBA versus right-handed pitchers.
Also consider: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Jazz Chisholm Jr., Mark Vientos
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Juan Soto – OF, NYY vs. Kevin Gausman ($6,000 DK; $4,300 FD)
Soto is having a ridiculous season with his .284 ISO and .437 wOBA. He has a 19.7% barrel rate and a 57.8% hard-hit rate, which are both on pace to be the highest marks of his career. He comes with a hefty salary, but he could still be worth it. Gausman is in the midst of a down campaign, partly because his strikeout rate has fallen from 31.1% last year to 23.0% this season.
Anthony Santander – OF, BAL vs. Carlos Carrasco ($5,400 DK; $4,000 FD)
Carrasco returning to where he began his career is a feel-good story for Guardians fans. However, his return hasn’t been a triumphant one with his 5.68 ERA and 4.84 FIP. After giving up 1.8 HR/9 last year, he has continued to have problems keeping hitters inside the ballpark, allowing 1.6 HR/9 this year. That could end up being his downfall against Santander, who has slugged 32 home runs on his way to a .290 ISO.
13 HR in June. 9 HR in July.
How many will Anthony Santander finish August with? pic.twitter.com/gO19Z7S4Ii
— MLB (@MLB) August 1, 2024
J.D. Martinez – OF, NYM vs. Tyler Anderson ($4,600 DK; $3,000 FD)
Martinez is someone to consider whenever a left-handed pitcher is on the mound. Right-handed pitchers have limited him to a .326 wOBA this season, but he has a .392 wOBA versus lefties. That puts him on pace to finish with a wOBA of at least .381 against lefties for the third straight season. Anderson’s 2.96 ERA looks nice, but his 4.36 FIP indicates that he hasn’t pitched that well.
Also consider: Heliot Ramos, Jarred Kelenic, Trevor Larnach
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
1. Twins vs. Davis Martin
- Favorite Plays: Royce Lewis, Byron Buxton, Trevor Larnach
2. Orioles vs. Carlos Carrasco
- Favorite Plays: Gunnar Henderson, Anthony Santander, Jackson Holliday
3. Padres vs. Austin Gomber
- Favorite Plays: Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts, Kyle Higashioka
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