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The top early-slate daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on August 12, 2023. Mike's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
We have a solid early slate on our Saturday with five of the 16 games getting underway just after lunch. The first game of the Braves/Mutts twin bill at CitiField is in this one, and since it was a scheduled day/night twin bill, we get the regularly scheduled game in the main slate. I love it when that happens! FanDuel did not include this game in the early slate, so theirs starts at 3:07 pm Eastern.
This article contains my picks for the early slate on August 12, 2023, for DraftKings and FanDuel slates, which lock at 1:10 PM ET. There is a rain chance in New York, so keep an eye on that one. They are going to want to play both games though since this is already from a rainout earlier this season.
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.
DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Brayan Bello, BOS vs. DET ($8,300 DK, $9,000 FD)
Bello struggled a bit at the end of July but rebounded nicely against the Royals last week. He's a ground ball machine, which helps to explain his good numbers at Fenway Park this year. Bello has a 3.08 ERA in 61 1/3 innings at home with 54 strikeouts and only five homers allowed. There is no sense in paying top dollar for pitching when you can get these numbers at a reasonable price.
Gavin Williams, CLE at TB ($6,400 DK, $8,400 FD)
I get it. The Rays can be pesky and unpleasant to pitch against, but Williams has more than proven himself at the major league level. Williams, despite the 1-3 record, has a 2.90 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP through nine starts. That's better than most pitchers that have taken a mound this year. His price seems out of whack, especially when you consider that he just turned in the best start of his young career last week against Toronto. Williams struck out a dozen in seven scoreless innings, so no, I'm not scared of the Rays.
Others to consider: Sandy Alcantara ($8,600 DK, $10,300 FD) vs. NYY
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Triston Casas - 1B, BOS vs. DET ($4,200 DK, $2,800 FD)
Casas has hit three homers in the last six games while driving in five and scoring five times. His price on FD is awfully low for a guy showing this kind of power. Matt Manning has given up six homers over his last three starts. I'll take a couple of shots at him starting with the guy who is already hitting homers lately.
Pablo Reyes - 2B/SS, BOS vs. DET ($2,900 DK, $2,100 FD)
Reyes has had four multi-hit games since Monday. This past Monday. As of August 7. That's not a typo. The guy has 10 hits in five games with two doubles, a homer, four RBI, five runs scored, and a steal. To top that off, he is very inexpensive on both sites. Reyes is a free space today, especially on FanDuel. He makes a lot of other stuff fit.
Austin Riley - 3B, ATL at NYM ($6,000 DK)
I went with cheap Boston bats so I can afford guys like Riley. We don't have to worry about that on FD, but Riley is one of my first clicks on DK. He has eight hits since Monday with three doubles, a homer, four RBI, and four runs scored. Technically, he's worse than Pablo Reyes, but he has a lot more potential than Reyes. Besides, six of those hits have been in the last two games. Even Reyes can't claim that.
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Cody Bellinger - OF/1B, CHC at TOR ($5,300 DK, $4,200 FD)
Bellinger is hitting .447 in 10 August games with three homers, 12 RBI, 10 runs scored, and five freaking steals! Bellinger has 79 steals in 829 major league games and five of them have come this month. This guy is doing everything right now. DK usually prices these guys at or above $6K. I'll take the nice little discount here.
Michael Harris II - OF, ATL at NYM ($4,400 DK)
Yeah, he bats ninth. He also bats ninth in the best offense in baseball. How many other 9-hole hitters do you know that are hitting .432 this month with 12 runs scored, three doubles, a triple, two homers, seven RBI, and two steals? How many other hitters period can claim that? What's in a number, anyway? Shakespeare would tell you to ignore the "9" by his name and follow the numbers. He's putting up plenty of them.
Jesus Sanchez - OF, MIA at NYY ($2,700 DK, $2,500 FD)
Sanchez is hitting .333 in August but doesn't have a ton to show for it. He only has three RBI and two runs scored and hasn't left the yard yet...and that included two games in Cincinnati. Jhony Brito has allowed seven homers in only 25 2/3 innings at home this season. Sanchez is cheap enough to chase this. Sanchez is hitting for a better average than at any point in his career and already has a career-high in doubles. The homers will come.
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
Atlanta Braves vs. Denyi Reyes
The Braves offense might be missing a couple of pieces with a day game after a night game and another game tonight, so keep an eye on that starting lineup. That said, everyone in said lineup is fair game. Reyes allowed five runs in just one inning to these Braves in CitiField in his last major league outing on May 1. He posted a 5.77 ERA at Syracuse once sent down, so it's not like he's markedly better than he was in May.
Favorite pieces: Michael Harris II, Austin Riley, Orlando Arcia, Ozzie Albies, Matt Olson
Also consider: Boston Red Sox vs. Matt Manning
Manning has allowed 19 runs (17 earned) in just 16 2/3 innings over his last three starts while surrendering six home runs. Wicked pissah! Stack the boys from Bahstahn up!
Favorite pieces: Triston Casas, Pablo Reyes, Rafael Devers, Alex Verdugo, Jarren Duran
Sneaky stack: Toronto Blue Jays vs. Justin Steele
The Jays hit 21 points higher against left-handed pitching and Steele has allowed nine runs (six earned) over his last two starts. I won't full-stack this, but the easiest way to get different on a small slate is to attack the highest-priced pitcher.
Favorite pieces: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., George Springer, Davis Schneider, Matt Chapman
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