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We have a nice, even split on our Thursday this week. We have four early games and four games in prime time. As per usual, I will be with you all day for your MLB DFS needs.
This article contains my picks for the early slate on August 10, 2023, for DraftKings and FanDuel slates, which lock at 12:35 PM ET. Three of the four games have a chance for rain, though it doesn't look like there is a postponement risk. That said, we can't predict that this far out. Keep an eye to the sky before the slate starts and I will write this as if all four games will play.
The lineup picks will range from some elite high-priced players to mid-priced options and value plays. I'll give you a few of my top pitching options and then some infielders, outfielders, and teams to stack. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports here. It's also essential to monitor injury news and today's MLB starting lineups.
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DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Kenta Maeda, at DET ($9,500 DK, $10,200 FD)
Maeda's numbers don't look great, but he has a 2.47 ERA in eight starts since his return from the IL. He hasn't allowed more than three runs in any of those starts and has notched at least six strikeouts in all but one of those games. Maeda still has issues with walks, but he does a great job of limiting damage. His first start back from the IL was also in Detroit. Maeda held the Tigers to just three hits in five scoreless innings while striking out eight.
Alek Manoah, TOR at CLE ($6,900 DK, $8,200 FD)
The overall numbers are still terrible, but Manoah has a serviceable 4.26 ERA in five starts since returning from his exile to the minors. Manoah still has control issues – he has walked 14 batters and hit four more in the last four games – but he is usually getting some strikeouts to limit the damage. We aren't expecting miracles from Manoah, but he has topped double digits in four of the five games since his return. I'll take that for the price.
Others to consider: Reese Olson ($7,300 DK, $7,400 FD) vs. MIN
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Brandon Belt - 1B, TOR at CLE ($3,300 DK, $2,900 FD)
Belt is riding a modest four-game hit streak with two doubles, a homer, two RBI, and five runs scored in that span. I definitely want some exposure to Thor today since he gave up four homers to the White Sox in his first start in Cleveland. Belt hit 29 homers in only 325 at-bats as recently as 2021. There's still some pop in his bat and he is starting to get comfortable in his first year in Toronto.
Ozzie Albies - 2B, ATL at PIT ($5,600 DK, $3,800 FD)
Albies already has 13 hits in just eight August games with at least one in every game. He only had 21 hits in 23 July games! Albies has two homers, seven RBI, seven runs scored, and a steal in that span. To top it off, he is facing a lefty in Pittsburgh today. Albies is smashing lefties this year with a .389 average, five homers, 18 RBI, 14 runs, and a pair of steals in 90 at-bats. Expect that hit streak to get to nine today.
Gunnar Henderson - SS/3B, BAL vs. HOU ($4,900 DK, $3,200 FD)
While Hunter Brown has yet to have the wheels fall completely off, he has allowed six homers in his last four starts. Henderson has hit in the two-hole against righties of late and hit them much better. He already has two homers in August. I'm not completely going after Brown, but I am going to take a shot or two at him.
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Kyle Tucker - OF, HOU at BAL ($6,000 DK, $4,000 FD)
Tucker has been a one-man wrecking crew on this Baltimore staff. He is 3-for-8 with two walks, two homers, three runs scored, seven RBI, and a teal in the first two games of this series. All of the pay-up options in the outfield are really good on this early slate, and I may run more than one of them. Tucker is the first priority though.
Bryan Reynolds - OF, PIT vs. ATL ($4,300 DK, $3,400 FD)
Reynolds has seven multi-hit games since July 22 with five homers and 11 RBI in that span. Three of those homers have come in the last six games alone. Bryce Elder has surrendered at least five earned runs in three of his previous five starts, so he's going through a bit of a rough patch. The Pirates even got to Max Fried last night. They should be able to give Elder a hard time here as well.
Max Kepler - OF, MIN at DET ($3,600 DK, $2,700 FD)
When Kepler gets hot, he's really hot. That's the case now. He has driven in a run in five consecutive games with two homers in that span. Overall, Kepler is hitting .303 in August with four homers, six RBI, and eight runs scored. He still feels cheap for the kind of production we're getting out of him right now.
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
Atlanta Braves vs. Bailey Falter
As good as this Braves offense has been, they are even better against lefties. The Braves are hitting a blistering .291 as a team against left-handed pitching with 50 homers and 133 RBI in 824 at-bats. Falter has a respectable 4.87 ERA on the season, but he has been getting lucky. His first start for the Pirates was a good one against the Brewers. This won't be the same.
Favorite pieces: Albies, Ronald Acuna Jr., Marcell Ozuna, Austin Riley, Matt Olson
Also consider: Toronto Blue Jays vs. Noah Syndergaard
That start against Houston in his first appearance with the Guardians was a fluke in more ways than one. Most of us see the strikeout-less performance as the aberration, but I see him only allowing one run as more the break from the norm. Thor has allowed at least five runs in four of the other starts in that five-game span.
Favorite pieces: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Belt, Davis Schneider, Daulton Varsho, Matt Chapman
Sneaky stack: Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Bryce Elder
The Pirates have scored 18 runs in the first three games of this series against the Braves and they faced both Spencer Strider and Fried.
Favorite pieces: Reynolds, Josh Palacios, Alfonso Rivas, Endy Rodriguez, Liover Peguero
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