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Mark Kieffer highlights the top FanDuel MLB DFS lineup picks for 8/29/21, and a couple of FanDuel DFS sleepers to consider while building daily fantasy rosters.
If you're still playing MLB DFS by the point in the season, first of all, let me salute you because it's a long season and many have already given up on this game we love. And secondly, I hope you have learned to embrace the variance that occurs in baseball and especially some of the weird and wacky stuff that can happen in August/September baseball.
With 11 games on the slate, there are plenty of options for our rosters. My biggest piece of advice on large slates is to trust your research and process. Don't be afraid to fade some chalky spots or cross off some games entirely if you're not interested in them. Even if you are playing 150 lineups, you can't get exposure to every pitcher with a favorable matchup or offense with a solid Vegas total. You have to pick your spots!
I'll be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for the FanDuel main slate on 8/29/2021. Be sure to also check out all the MLB player news, including late scratches, and the projected and confirmed daily MLB lineups for each DFS slate. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for sites like DraftKings, and other sports.
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FanDuel DFS Pitchers
Cash Game Plays
Jose Berrios vs. DET ($8,500)
Detroit has the third-highest K rate in major league baseball at 25.7% and the 8th lowest ISO at 0.157. Berrios has a solid 25% K rate and allows just 1.05 HR/9 and has a SIERA of 3.85. Berrios should have as solid of a shot to go six innings and pick up a quality start in a game where Toronto is favored. There is some light rain in the forecast so check conditions before roster lock.
Alternate: Dylan Cease ($9,300) vs. CHC - The Chicago Cubs lead the league in K rate at 26.8%. Cease has a 30.2% K rate, allows 1.11 HR/9, and has a 3.71 SIERA
GPP Play
Tylor Megill ($7,000) vs. WAS - Megill has not pitched well of late, picking up three losses and an ERA of 7.04 in the month of August. When he is pitching well, is capable of going five or six innings. The Mets are a strong favorite in this game as well. Despite the struggles, still has a K rate of 25.6% and a SIERA of 3.69.
Others to consider:
Tyler Mahle ($9,600) vs. MIA - Miami has the 2nd highest K rate (26%) and 2nd lowest ISO (0.140). Mahle has the 4th highest K rate on the slate and Cincinnati is a strong favorite to win.
Tanner Houck vs. CLE ($6,700) - Out of all the probable pitchers on the slate, Houck has the 2nd highest K rate on the season at 31.3% with just a 4.8% walk rate and a SIERA of 2.95. The challenge here with this being Fanduel is Houck doesn't pitch deep into games as he has gone just five innings twice this season, giving him virtually no chance of a quality start and a low chance of picking up a win. Additionally, Cleveland's K rate is one of the better ones in the league at 23.1%. There is some light rain in the forecast so check conditions before roster lock.
FanDuel GPP Stacks
I am a tournament player, so I am going to give some GPP recommendations with some starting pitchers and then at the end, I will give a few value plays on the slate that I think can be good for either your GPP lineup or for cash games.
1. Tampa Bay Rays: Highest game total on the slate at 10.5, the highest implied run total of 6.42 runs, and no weather concerns. I imagine they will be popular on the slate, so will have to look for ways to differentiate at Pitcher and at the value positions to be viable to take down a GPP.
2. Houston Astros: The Astros mash the ball against LHP. Yuli Gurriel and Yordan Alvarez have an ISO of .250 and .240 respectively against LHP. Over 5 runs implied on the team total. They are facing a pitcher with the second-highest walk rate on the slate in Taylor Hearn at 11.3%, who will be backed up by one of the worst bullpens in the league.
3. Milwaukee Brewers: The wind will be blowing out in Minnesota and Milwaukee has an implied run total of 5.27. Willy Adames has an ISO of .269 vs RHP this season, Avisail Garcia has an ISO of .215 vs. RHP this season. Assuming both are in the lineup, make sure they are included in your Brewers stack.
4. Cincinnati Reds: Modest implied run total of 4.51 runs going against Jesus Luzardo. Luzardo has a walk rate of 11.5% and has struggled all season. If looking for something sneaky or off the board for multiple lineup entries, I would look right here. Nick Castellanos has an ISO against LHP of .229 and Kyle Farmer has an ISO against LHP of 0.222. Tyler Stephenson's is also solid at .187. There's potential here.
FanDuel DFS Value Plays
Here are some one-off options to help fill out your rosters that are at a value. You can also use any players from the above stacks as one-offs or make mini-stacks off of the recommended stacks above as well.
1. Rowdy Tellez - 1B vs. MIN ($2,600) - Tellez has a .213 ISO against RHP in a game where Milwaukee should score some runs. Likely batting 6th, so won't be included in typical Milwaukee stacks.
2. Ryan Jeffers - C/1B vs. MIL ($2,200) - We typically fade catcher, but with an ISO of .266 against LHP I have to consider if I need a punt play to make the other pieces work.
3. Jarren Duran - OF vs. CLE ($2,500) - Likely batting leadoff for Boston, which has one of the highest run totals on the slate. Likely to be popular as part of Boston stacks.
4. Andrew McCutchen - OF vs. ARI ($2,800) - McCutchen has an ISO of .331 against LHP this season as Philadelphia takes on Madison Bumgarner this afternoon. This game has weather potential, so check the forecast and situation before lock.
Best of luck and I hope it's a profitable slate for you!
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