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We have a pretty busy Thursday this week with four games during the afternoon and five in the evening. The Dodgers/Guardians game is tentatively on the DK slate, but it wouldn't be a total shock to see them pull it since it's part of a doubleheader from yesterday's rainout. FanDuel didn't even bother to give us hope and add it to the early slate.
This article contains my picks for the early slate on August 24, 2023, for DraftKings and FanDuel slates, which lock at 1:05 PM ET. There is a chance of rain in New York, so watch that as we get closer to first pitch.
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
J.P France, HOU vs. BOS ($8,200 DK, $10,100 FD)
We are getting some nice value with France on DK, but if I'm paying five figures on FD anyway, I'm paying for Cole. I don't care that he's not starting. Meanwhile, France has outscored Cole on both sites in each of his last three appearances, one of which was out of the bullpen. Cole isn't getting strikeouts lately, but France is. He hasn't allowed more than two earned runs in a game since before the All-Star break. France has allowed just nine runs in 41 2/3 innings since the break. I'll trust that over Cole at home.
Peter Lambert, COL at TB ($5,200 DK, $6,000 FD)
SP2 doesn't look good on DraftKings today. On FanDuel, I don't know that I would move out of the top two. Since we have to use two pitchers on DraftKings, I'm not going for upside. I'm going for the guy that will hurt me the least. That's Lambert.
Lambert has been serviceable away from Coors this year. He has a 3.60 ERA in 35 road innings with 28 strikeouts. Those numbers are good enough for the price here.
Others to consider: Gerrit Cole ($11,600 DK, $10,700 FD) vs. WAS
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Yainer Diaz - C/1B, HOU vs. BOS ($4,000 DK, $2,700 FD)
Diaz is a great value on FanDuel since most won't scroll down that far. With the pricing, you don't have to. Yainer has a six-game hitting streak going with three homers, three doubles, six RBI, and five runs scored. There are better attack spots, but I'm a sucker for a Diaz one-off at this price.
Isaac Paredes - 2B/3B, TB vs. COL ($4,300 DK, $3,100 FD)
Paredes is on fire lately with seven hits in the last three games alone, including four in the first two games of this series. Paredes has two doubles and two homers in those seven hits, driving in seven and scoring five times. Getting that production at any price is a blessing. It's even better when it comes at a discount on both sites.
DJ LeMahieu - 3B/1B, NYY vs. WAS ($3,100 DK, $3,300 FD)
LeMahieu has beaten Patrick Corbin like a tied-up goat in his career. LeMahieu has 21 hits in 54 tries against Corbin with three triples and six homers. Some of that is from Coors Field from their time in the N.L. West, but not all of it. LeMahieu hit his first homer of August last night. It's worth seeing if he can get another off of Corbin at this price.
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Aaron Judge - OF, NYY vs. WAS ($6,200 DK, $4,200 FD)
Judge had a slow start off the IL and a slow start to the season, but those terms are relative. The dude still has 27 homers in 72 games. Three of those came last night alone! Judge has five hits in the last five games and they have all left the park with nine RBI in that span. Patrick Corbin is a world-class troll at times, but I doubt it happens against a Yankees team that is starting to heat up at the plate.
Chas McCormick - OF, HOU vs. BOS ($4,500 DK, $4,000 FD)
We went cheaper on the infield so we can stack the outfield bats. McCormick already has six homers in 18 August games with a .273 average and 11 RBI. On FanDuel, I will grab Kyle Tucker at just $100 more. That's a hell of a discount ($1,300) on DK for Chas over Tucker and Chas will hit cleanup again if Yordan Alvarez remains out.
Charlie Blackmon - OF, COL at TB ($3,800 DK, $2,600 FD)
I usually don't use Rockies on the road, but I'll make an exception here. First off, Erasmo Ramirez is the worst pitcher on the slate and it isn't close. Second, Blackmon is warming up of late. He is hitting .303 with a double, two triples, two homers, five RBI, and nine runs scored in the last 10 games. Even if you don't stack on Ramirez, a Blackmon one-off looks enticing.
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
Colorado Rockies vs. Erasmo Ramirez
Ramirez has allowed 11 runs in just 10 2/3 innings in his last four appearances. Bullpen, starting rotation, wherever...he has been awful. Ramirez has a 6.33 ERA on the season with an ugly 7.86 mark since the break. He isn't going to suddenly be good, even against the Rockies. Ramirez has only made it to the fourth inning twice and hasn't made it out either time.
Favorite pieces: Ezequiel Tovar, Blackmon, Michael Toglia, Ryan McMahon, Brendan Rodgers
Also consider: New York Yankees vs. Patrick Corbin
Corbin has been light years ahead of his disastrous 2022 season and he has only allowed one earned run over 11 innings in his last two starts. That will keep me and many others off of a full Yankees stack. However, this team has a ton of right-handed power in a park that caters to it. A five-man Yankees stack could prove quite lucrative if Corbin doesn't troll.
Favorite pieces: Judge, LeMahieu, Harrison Bader, Gleyber Torres, Anthony Volpe
Sneaky stack: Washington Nationals vs. Michael King/Gerrit Cole
King has allowed five runs in his last seven innings opening games. Cole has surrendered 14 runs in 24 innings over his last four starts with four homers allowed and has allowed seven walks. I don't think I'll go with a full Nats stack, but I do really like a few pieces here.
Favorite pieces: CJ Abrams, Joey Meneses, Dominic Smith, Keibert Ruiz
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