Happy Sunday gang! We have a nine-game slate on our hands this afternoon. The Red Sox/Rangers game has already been cancelled, so make sure you don't have any of those guys in your lineups. I'll do my best to update before lock if there are any other weather concerns with the guys I have listed below. Let's get right to it!
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 8/22/2021. 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, contact me on Twitter.
DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers
Steven Matz - TOR vs DET ($8,200)
I don't expect to pay much for pitching today, as it appears we have some solid options in the low-to-mid-tier. We start with Steven Matz, who has been extremely solid for Toronto this season, bringing in a 3.97 xFIP on the year into this one. He has a solid matchup today with Detriot, a team that has a wOBA + ISO of just .428 against southpaws this season.
Carlos Hernandez - KC @ CHC ($5,900)
A very nice option below $6K, we lean on Carlos Hernandez today. Hernandez has been a middle of the park caliber starter this season for Kansas City. However, the guy has pretty good stuff and now has a solid matchup against the tanking Cubs. At only $5.9K, we don't ask for much, and I think that Hernandez hits value.
Other Options: Framber Valdez ($9,800), Adam Wainwright ($9,200)
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DraftKings DFS Infielders
William Contreras - C, ATL @ BAL ($3,400)
Sweet swingin' Willie is back! I loved taking advantage of Braves stacks earlier this season with the ever-cheap William Contreras. Today we'll just be using him as a one-off, which I have no problem doing considering he's got a 58.7% hard-contact rate against left-handed pitchers on the year.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. - 1B/3B, TOR vs DET ($6,200)
I mentioned Contreras being a one-off, and that will be because we are stacking the Blue Jays today. We start with Vladdy Jr., the would-be MVP if there wasn't some dude out in LA throwing to a sub-3.00 ERA while also leading the league in HR. It looks like it'll be Drew Hutchison followed by a bullpen game for Detroit, a great spot for the Jays to pounce.
Marcus Semien - 2B, TOR vs DET ($5,300)
Another guy who would be contending for the AL MVP if Ohtani wasn't lighting the world on fire from both sides of the ball. Semien has a .633 wOBA + ISO against right-handed pitchers this season, an incredible number for a second baseman. He'll fit nicely into our five-man Jays stack.
Aledmys Diaz - 3B, HOU vs SEA ($3,800)
The Astros bats finally woke up this weekend, as they've outscored the Mariners 27-4 in the first two games of this series. They face southpaw Tyler Anderson today, who comes into this one with an incredible .651 wOBA + ISO against lefties, to pair with a 41.1% hard-contact rate.
Bo Bichette - SS, TOR vs DET ($4,900)
An opponent of mine ten years ago, Bo Bichette has been fantastic for the Jays this season. He didn't hit for as much power back in 2011, but in 2021 he can do it all. He gets a solid matchup against Hutchison and the Tigers bullpen today, as he's got a 43.8% hard-contact rate against righties this season, and will be hitting leadoff.
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
Teoscar Hernandez - OF, TOR vs DET ($5,200)
Hernandez should hit cleanup today, making him a nice fit in our Toronto stack. He's got a 43.6% hard-contact rate against righties and should do damage hitting out of the four-hole.
Corey Dickerson - OF, TOR vs DET ($3,100)
There's not much more I can say about the Jays today other than that they should just crush. I already have one through four in the lineup locked in, so why not make it one through five? Dickerson has a 41.1% hard-contact rate against righties this year. He's cheap, is hitting in the five spot, and fits nicely into our stack.
Tyler O'Neill - OF, STL vs PIT ($3,500)
It's incredible that O'Neill is this cheap. He's got an insane 63.6% hard-contact rating against southpaws this season. He'll be going up today against Pittsburgh's Steven Brault. He hasn't done so great against Brault in past at-bats, but I expect him to get the job done today.
DraftKings DFS Stacks
- Toronto Blue Jays vs. Drew Hutchison/Tigers Bullpen
- St. Louis Cardinals vs. Steven Brault
- Atlanta Braves vs. John Means
- Kansas City Royals vs. Alec Mills
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