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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 8/16/21. Euan Leith's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
Happy Monday, Rotoballers! Thanks to a postponement from earlier this year, we are treated to a 10-game slate to begin the week. The extra game is quite the spectacle as Shohei Ohtani takes aim in the batter's box versus the New York Yankees once again in 2021. Outside of that must-watch contest, we get the first game of a massive series between the A's and White Sox in a possible playoff preview, and then the Padres visit the Mile High City to take on the Rockies.
10 games on the schedule mean there are 20 pitchers to choose from. Once again, my eye is drawn towards Matt Harvey, of all people. Since the All-Star break, he's put together a 1.65 ERA and 0.99 WHIP and taken home the win in three of his five starts. However, his 5.05 xFIP and 4.91 SIERA screams regression is in the cards. Meanwhile, Gerrit Cole returns to the mound after a battle with COVID-19. He's been on the IL since Aug. 2, and I'll be curious to see how the Yankees manage their ace in his first start back. The strikeout upside with Cole is tantalizing, but it could be a short and sweet appearance for the perennial Cy Young candidate.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 8/16/2021. The lineup will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. You can also check out today's FanDuel MLB DFS lineup picks and read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports too. It’s also important to monitor injury news and today's MLB starting lineups. If you have any questions or comments, find me on Twitter and ask away.
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DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers
Frankie Montas - P, OAK at CWS ($9,500)
Montas bounced back from a rough first inning with five scoreless innings to grab his eighth consecutive quality start in his last start. Sadly, for us DraftKings players, it wasn't enough to snag a win, but it continued a great stretch of pitching for the 28-year old. Since the All-Star break, Montas is rocking a 2.61 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 34.5 strikeout rate over 31 innings. Usually, I avoid any pitcher going against the White Sox, but they've stumbled, offensively, coming out of the break. However, in the second half of the season, Chicago's .229 batting average and .302 OBP versus righties are nothing to avoid with opposing pitchers. Plus, they're up to a 24.4 percent K rate against RHP, and it will play up versus Montas. The right-handed hurler has at least six strikeouts in eight of his last 10 outings and averages 8.5 Ks per game over his previous six starts.
Carlos Hernandez - P, KC vs. HOU ($6,600)
I'm using my second recommendation for the pitching slot to highlight some excellent work from fellow Rotoballer writer Eric Samulski put together about Carlos Hernandez. Check out this superb breakdown and tell me you don't want a small piece of this pie against a top-rated Houston lineup.
Carlos Hernandez is one of my favorite SP on the waiver wire right now. I dug into why I think you should be adding him @RotoBallerMLB #CatchersCorner pic.twitter.com/YxxK3H4sEy
— Eric Samulski (@SamskiNYC) August 14, 2021
Other options: Gerrit Cole vs. LAA ($10,900), Cal Quantrill at MIN ($7,800), Griffin Jax vs. CLE ($7,000)
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DraftKings DFS Infielders
Sean Murphy - C, OAK at Dallas Keuchel ($3,900)
I recommended Frankie Montas as one of my starting pitcher picks, and I'm also inclined to roster the man catching for him on Monday. Sean Murphy sits with a $3,900 price tag, but his recent binge of doubles makes me think a ball is going over the fence in the not-too-distant future. In his last five games, Murphy is 5-for-20, but four of those hits are of the two-bag variety. This has produced three runs, six RBI, and nine fantasy points per game. Plus, Josh Harrison (quad) still hasn't returned to the lineup, and it's resulted in Murphy hitting fifth in his previous two games.
C.J. Cron - 1B, COL vs. Ryan Weathers ($4,800)
There are certainly cheaper pieces to look at if you want a part of Coors Field. However, Cron sees the ball so well that it'll be hard to fade him in this opportune spot. The first-base journeyman is having a blistering August and is one of the primary run producers for the Rockies. Since the calendar turned from July to August, Cron is slashing .410/.500/.872 with three doubles, five home runs, 10 runs, and 20 RBI over 11 games. Now, with Ryan Weathers and his post-All-Star break 1.76 WHIP and 1.95 HR/9 rate coming into town, Cron will have plenty of chances to add to his season-long counting stats.
Jorge Polanco - 2B, MIN vs. Cal Quantrill ($3,300)
With Coors on the schedule, finding the values to pair with the big guns at the top is crucial. Jorge Polanco fits this description perfectly with his $3,300 salary. While the Twins are a disaster in 2021, Polanco is quietly putting together a fantastic year. During the second half of the season, the infielder is slashing .314/.363/.638 with 15 extra-base hits (nine home runs), 19 RBI, 20 runs, and two stolen bases. He's perched in the upper-third of the Twins lineup, and while I like Cal Quantrill against this team tonight, Polanco has the upside as a one-off play riding a hot streak.
Matt Chapman - 3B, OAK at Dallas Keuchel ($5,300)
Another high-value bat in a great spot is Matt Chapman. It's been a tough year for the third baseman as he came into the campaign as a dark-horse MVP candidate but has fallen well short of those expectations. However, he seemed to find his groove over the weekend against the Rangers and will try to continue the form he found versus Dallas Keuchel and his 2.54 HR/9 rate since the All-Star break. Over Chapman's last eight games, the 28-year old has four multi-hit efforts with 10 runs, nine walks, seven RBI, and three long balls. Those performances produce 13.1 FPPG, and one hard swing of the bat versus Keuchel can get Chapman there again on Monday.
Wander Franco - SS, TB vs. Matt Harvey ($5,000)
I believe you can always find discount options in the outfield. It's why I'm not worried about spending up at my infield positions tonight. My trust in Franco is similar to what I laid out in Sean Murphy's recommendation. The extra-base hits are coming around, and he's going against a below-average starting pitcher. Over his last eight contests, the rookie phenom has two doubles, three home runs, seven runs, and eight RBI. Since the All-Star break, Matt Harvey has been beyond lucky and has given up a long ball in two straight starts. Franco is smashing the ball all around the diamond right now, and he seems a great pick to be the Rays player to extend Harvey's streak of allowing home runs to three contests.
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
Aaron Judge - OF, NYY vs. Jose Suarez ($5,300)
When Aaron Judge is locked in like he is right now, there aren't many players I have to watch in the batter's box. Over his last 10 games, the Yankees slugger is slashing .333/.404/.718 with seven runs, four home runs, 13 RBI, and even a stolen base. Admittedly, Jose Suarez's 6.75 ERA since the break is worse than his peripherals suggest he should have (4.43 FIP), but it shouldn't scare us away from the Bronx bomber. The ball is flying off Judge's bat right now, and I don't want to be sitting on the sidelines if he goes for another big game against the Angels.
Trent Grisham - OF, SD at Antonio Senzatela ($4,100)
If you've read any of my other articles this season, you know I have an affinity for the leadoff men around the $4,000 mark. So while Grisham comes in slightly above, I still want him on my roster when the Padres visit Coors Field. Over his last 10 games, the lefty bat is sporting a 1.058 OPS with four runs, four extra-base hits, five RBI, and eight walks to six strikeouts. So while he's lost his spot atop the lineup, he's an excellent wraparound stack candidate, with Fernando Tatis Jr. and Adam Frazier leading the way as the 1-2 combo for San Diego.
Aristides Aquino - OF, CIN vs. Justin Steele ($3,700)
Aquino has made three straight starts when the Reds see an opposing southpaw pitcher on the mound. Therefore, it feels safe to assume he'll get his name on the lineup card against left-handed Justin Steele. Players like Aquino always deserve a contrarian spot in a lineup because of their home run potential. He's my home-run-hunting pick for the night, as he could swing a contest with one flick of his powerful bat.
DraftKings DFS Stacks
- Oakland Athletics at Chicago White Sox (Dallas Keuchel, LHP)
- Tampa Bay Rays vs. Baltimore Orioles (Matt Harvey, RHP)
- New York Yankees vs. Los Angeles Angels (Jose Suarez, LHP)
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