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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on August 28th, 2019. Austyn Varney's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
Welcome to Wednesday baseball on DraftKings. While the rest of the world is focused on football, there is still plenty of money to be made in baseball. With the season winding down, it's more important than ever to pay attention as lock approaches to breaking news and lineups. With a game in Coors Field, the slate is always tilted a little bit.
Max Scherzer has a phenomenal match-up, but he'll be limited with a pitch count and you don't get a discount. We'll have to look elsewhere and hope at least a few fall for the trap. There are plenty of gas can arms to pick on and we won't have trouble finding hitters. Let's dive in and take a look at the top play at each position.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 8/28/19. The lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. Be sure to also check out all the Vegas Odds for today's slate. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for sites like FanDuel, and other sports too. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to hit me up on Twitter @VarneyDFS.
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DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers
Gerrit Cole - HOU vs. TB - $12,200
Gerrit Cole is just a different breed. After missing two weeks with a hamstring issue, he immediately bounced back and pitched seven shutout innings with 12 K’s. The Rays are another underwhelming offense, ranking 22nd against right-handers on the season with a 24.9% strikeout rate. Cole has struck out 12+ batters per nine innings while holding both sides of the plate to a sub .289 wOBA. Cole is expensive, but it doesn’t get any safer and 40 DK points isn’t that crazy to look for.
Aaron Civale - CLE @ DET - $7,000
It’s no secret how bad the Detroit Tigers are. Since the all-star break, they’ve ranked 29th in baseball against righties with a .278 wOBA and 24% strikeout rate. Aaron Civale is no dominant arm, but he’s gone six innings in four of his last five games and went 5.2 in the only miss. He’s consistent and striking out 5-6 batters per outing. He’s only $7,000 on DraftKings, so he really opens you up to Gerrit Cole and a few pricey bats. Civale is a great cash game SP2, though I’d be careful if he’s overly popular in tournaments. Sandoval is just a bit more expensive and faces a Rangers team that strikes out a boatload against lefties.
DraftKings DFS Infielders
C - Mitch Garver - MIN @ CWS (Detwiler) - $5,400
There are a ton of terrible pitchers on tonight's slate and we have to take advantage. Ross Detwiler has given up a .410 wOBA to opposing righties and has allowed 11 homers in just 32 innings. He had success against the Rangers last time out, but they struggle against southpaws. The Twins don't at all. Garver himself has posted a .444 wOBA against lefties and has hit nine home runs in just 100 at-bats. He's expensive but has more home run upside than anyone at the position and he won't be very heavily owned.
1B - Matt Adams - WSH vs. BAL (Wojciechowski) - $4,400
It's not hard to figure out what to do with Asher Wojciechowski. Against lefties, he's given up a .376 wOBA and eight home runs in just 24 innings of work. This Nationals lineup is potent against right-handers and Adams offers up some power. He's smoked lefties to the tune of a .357 wOBA and has hit 20 home runs on the year. The Nationals are expected to put up six-plus runs and Adams will have plenty of RBI opportunity with RISP. He's rather affordable on DraftKings and I don't think he'll be very popular.
2B - Jason Kipnis - CLE @ DET (Zimmerman) - $3,700
Jordan Zimmerman is only in the major leagues because of the pitcher he was five years ago. He's currently sporting a .362 combined wOBA against and has allowed 12 homers in just 60 innings of work. He faces off with an unrelenting Indians squad that is top 10 in baseball against right-handed pitching. Jason Kipnis isn't the firepower of this order, but he's held a .341 wOBA against righties and has hit 13 home runs, so the upside is there. He's an affordable option at a second base position that doesn't offer much.
3B - Nolan Arenado - COL vs. BOS (Rodriguez) - $5,200
You can stack Coors Field on any night, but we'll just talk about one guy from each team. Eduardo Rodriguez is a very up and down pitcher, but it's tough to expect much in Coors Field. He's been extremely lucky against righties on the season, posting a 4.42 xFIP with a .301 wOBA allowed. He gives up a ton of fly balls and Coors Field will hurt him a ton. Nolan Arenado is still one of the best hitters in baseball against lefties, sporting a .418 wOBA that goes up to .482 in Coors Field. There are a lot of options at third base and Arenado may fly under the radar with Rodriguez being thought of as a solid pitcher.
SS - Fransisco Lindor - CLE @ DET (Zimmerman) - $4,900
We've already looked at the Indians and I just want to drill it home how much I like this lineup. I like Carlos Santana as well, but he's extremely expensive. Fransisco Lindor is priced down a little bit and has as much upside as anyone at the position. Lindor has sported a .375 wOBA against opposing righties and has hit 18 of his 23 home runs against them. Lindor is the heart of this lineup and a must if you're stacking the Indians. Jordan Zimmerman will be lucky to last five innings.
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
Nelson Cruz - MIN @ CWS (Detwiler) - $5,500
If you don't roster Nelson Cruz, you're going to be on the edge of your seat all night long. Ross Detwiler is absolutely terrible against right-handers (.375 wOBA) and has a huge issue with the home run ball. Nelson Cruz is the best hitter in baseball vs lefties, posting a .451 wOBA with 13 home runs in just 88 at-bats. Guaranteed Rate Field is one of the best hitting environments in the league and Cruz legitimately has two home run upside against such a bad lefty.
Jackie Bradley Jr. - BOS @ COL (Lambert) - $4,700
We've seen time and time again how bad Peter Lambert is. At home in Coors Field, he's given up a combined .386 wOBA and 14 home runs in just 70 innings of work. I could've went with any of these Red Sox outfielders, but Bradley Jr. is pretty affordable and has a ton of upside no matter where he is in the order. A .361 wOBA against righties is great, but he's also a fly ball hitter and Coors will do him wonders. Target Coors Field as much as you can, as always.
Things change quickly as lineups come out. If you have any questions, hit me up on Twitter @VarneyDFS and I'd be more than happy to help.
