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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 8/20/21. Euan Leith's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
Happy Friday, Rotoballers! It's crazy to think we are already down to the final 40 games of this campaign. We started this wild season back in March, and here we are, one week away from September and the playoff push ratcheting up to 11. Today, the Chicago Cubs host a daytime contest versus the Kansas City Royals to bring us down to 14 games on the Friday slate. While I'm sure some will miss the option to roster Brad Keller or Zach Davies, I think we will be alright with the other 28 arms to choose from.
A quirk I noticed among today's pitchers is there are 14 southpaws scheduled to pitch. I don't think there is anything of value to gain from this random occurrence, but it was worth pointing out because I don't remember seeing that many on a single day this entire season. Also, it explains why there are so many compelling splits to look at in the research for today's slate, and I believe we will see many value bats as a result.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 8/20/2021. 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
Robbie Ray - P, TOR vs. DET ($9,900)
The Tigers are annihilating left-handed pitchers in August. As a unit, Detroit is posting a 188 wRC+ and .448 wOBA versus southpaws. However, that also comes with a hefty 25.7 percent strikeout rate. This is where Robbie Ray comes into play. The Blue Jays lefty has struck out at least eight batters in eight of his last 14 games. It's undoubtedly a high-risk, high-reward kind of play, but sample sizes also need to play a role. So I'm rolling with the pitcher with a season-long 2.88 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 30.3 percent strikeout rate, over the team with impressive stats over 113 plate appearances.
Matt Moore - P, PHI at SD ($7,200)
I'm writing about Matt Moore, and it's even raising my eyebrows as I type this out. The Padres are scuffling now, losing seven of their last eight contests while averaging 2.5 runs per game. Since the All-Star break, Matt Moore's 6.20 ERA is quite dreadful, but the advanced metrics suggest he's been quite unlucky. The southpaw has a 3.39 xFIP and 3.70 SIERA since the second half kicked off, and his 27.9 percent strikeout rate isn't half bad either. I wouldn't mind if the Padres have a higher strikeout rate versus lefties (22.5 percent in 2021), but I'm buying high on Moore and riding the contrarian wave on Friday night.
Other options: Lance McCullers Jr. vs. SEA ($9,500), Yusei Kikuchi at HOU ($8,100), Brett Anderson at STL ($7,300)
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DraftKings DFS Infielders
Tucker Barnhart - C, CIN vs. Elieser Hernandez ($2,600)
On the surface, playing a left-handed catcher vs. a lefty on the mound seems like a bad idea. Although, for Tucker Barnhart, it's where he is excelling this season. When he faces a southpaw in Great American Ballpark, the Reds' backstop slashes .294/.316/.529. I'll admit it's dangerous to split the splits, but at $2,600, it's worth the punt play behind the plate. Plus, in his last seven games, Barnhart has three multi-hit outings and four extra-base hits. So there's a surprising amount of upside here.
C.J. Cron - 1B, COL vs. Tyler Gilbert ($4,900)
A Colorado hitter doesn't need a lot to catch fire, but Cron has bottled it up and been sipping from the bottle for the entire month of August. In 15 games, the first baseman has an absurd 1.387 OPS with 13 runs, four doubles, seven home runs, and 25 RBI. Still, he's below $5,000, and he will be an ultra-chalk candidate against Tyler Gilbert. Yes, the rookie threw a no-hitter in his first career start, but the positive results will come to an end in Coors Field. Cron may be the one bat I have to roster in my lineups on Friday.
Jorge Polanco - 2B, MIN at Nestor Cortes ($3,500)
What's the similarity between Jorge Polanco and Rodney Dangerfield? They get no respect. The Twins infielder is having a terrific August and an incredible week but still finds himself saddled with a $3,500 price tag. Over his last four games, Polanco is 9-for-20 with one run, two doubles, seven RBI, and a stolen base. Now, he brings his hot-hitting ways to Yankee Stadium. He's had success versus the pinstripes this year with a 1.154 OPS, and I look forward to that kind of production continuing this weekend.
Yoan Moncada - 3B, CWS at Michael Wacha ($4,100)
While Moncada has not lived up to the heights of his 2019 season, I remain interested in any piece of this White Sox lineup. On the year, Moncada is sporting a .256 batting average with 10 home runs and 49 RBI. At $4,100, he will be easy to fit into any roster construction you prefer. Also, he's on a six-game hit streak, but it's been devoid of production. Nevertheless, we've seen the sort of explosive performances Moncada can provide in the past, and I'm willing to take a chance on him in Tampa Bay at this discounted price tag.
Kyle Farmer - SS, CIN vs. Elieser Hernandez ($3,400)
I'm going back to the discount Reds stack for what seems like the ninth time this season, but it's paid off more than it's failed. Farmer has been one of the better statistical shortstops in the game since the All-Star break. His .561 slugging, .403 wOBA, and 150 wRC+ rank him second, third, and third among qualified shortstops since the break. Elieser Hernandez has looked sharp since his return from the IL, but it only increases my interest in the Reds as a contrarian play.
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
Fernando Tatis Jr. - OF/SS, SD vs. Matt Moore ($5,700)
I'm a sucker for novelties, so getting the chance to play Tatis in the outfield is just too much fun to pass up. Since his return from the IL, the MVP candidate is 6-for-17 with two doubles, three home runs, five runs, and five RBI. While I recommended Matt Moore as a possible pitcher, rostering Tatis automatically raises the ceiling of any DFS roster. He's certainly expensive, but with a couple of swings, the "outfielder" can get your team above that precious green line.
Teoscar Hernandez - OF, TOR vs. Tyler Alexander ($5,000)
I played the hot hand a couple of weeks ago when Joey Votto was on his home-run streak, and I'm pushing my luck again with Teoscar Hernandez. It's been a long season of strategy and navigating the statistics, and sometimes you've got to roll with the fun and buy-in even when everything is telling you to get off the ride. Over his previous four contests, the Blue Jays outfielder is 10-for-16 with six runs, six RBI, three doubles, four home runs, and a stolen base. Hernandez is averaging a laughable 23.75 fantasy points per game during this quartet of games, and I certainly wouldn't;t be opposed to those numbers popping up on my team tonight.
Connor Joe - OF, COL vs. Tyler Gilbert ($3,400)
A final piece of Coors Field to round out the Friday roster, Connor Joe will be worth every penny of his $3,400 salary. The Rockies outfielder has found plenty of playing time recently, and he's returning significant production. In his last 10 games, Joe is rocking a .263/.364/.579 slash line thanks to the Mile High City effect. Fortunately, he's still playing at home, and, as I mentioned with C.J. Cron, I don't think Tyler Gilbert is throwing another no-hitter. Therefore, I expect Joe to continue his high-level production at a low cost and be a valuable part of any DFS lineup.
DraftKings DFS Stacks
- Tampa Bay Rays vs. Chicago White Sox (Lucas Giolito, RHP)
- Boston Red Sox vs. Texas Rangers (Dane Dunning, RHP)
- Contrarian Game Stack: Detroit Tigers (Tyler Alexander, LHP) at Toronto Blue Jays (Robbie Ray, LHP)
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