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Dave Swan highlights the top FanDuel MLB DFS lineup picks for 8/30/20, and a couple of sleepers to consider while building daily rosters.
Sunday baseball looks to be a fun one with a more extensive slate. Thirteen games in total will give us more than enough stack options and matchups to exploit. My advice, find an arm you're comfortable with, throw in as many big producing bats as you can, and then squeeze in the last couple spots with a splits advantage. Once you've crafted the perfect lineup, kick back and win big.
In this article, we'll identify players who will help you win a cash game and build your bankroll or take down a GPP for a big pay-day. Every player on this list is on one of my own FanDuel teams.
I'll be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for the FanDuel main slate on 8/30/2020. Be sure to also check out all the MLB player news including late scratches, and the projected and confirmed daily MLB lineups for each DFS slate. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for sites like DraftKings, and other sports too.
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FanDuel DFS Pitchers
Kenta Maeda - CLE @ DET ($9,700)
Maeda was nothing short of impressive after following up on his near ho-hitter bid. The Minnesota Twins ace boasts a 2.21 ERA with 40 strikeouts in only 26.2 innings pitched. Maeda has been sharp as they come with a 24.3% K-BB%. He squares off against the Detroit Tigers, who have been on hitting the ball well as of recent. The Tigers are, however, an abysmal offense and strike out at an alarming 28.4% of the time, while only walking 7.2%. It's shaping up to be another good day for Maeda.
Brandon Woodruff - MIL vs. PIT ($9,100)
Woodruff draws the most favorable matchup on the slate, the Pittsburg Pirates. On the season, the Pirates only have a 52 wRC+ and .247 wOBA. They also sit dead last in team ISO at .108 and continue to fail to put runs on the board. Woodruff has done an excellent job keeping hitters off the basepaths and not allowing free passes; his WHIP is just under 1.20, and he hasn't more than two batters in a game. It should be a big day for Woodruff with a very safe floor.
FanDuel DFS Infielders
Brandon Belt - 1B, SFG @ ARI ($3,200)
Belt has been on a tear as of late. He has two or more hits in six of his last seven games. Belt has been a nightmare at the plate for opposing pitchers because he also draws a ton of walks. There is no stopping Belt right now; he is putting up an eye-popping .358/.442/.642 slash line with 1.083 OPS vs. right-handed pitching. His matchup today is RHP Taylor Clarke, who looked formidable in his first start but won't go deep in the game. Belt has a very safe floor with a high ceiling today.
Ketel Marte - 2B, ARI @ SFG ($2,800)
The Diamondbacks offense has not been what people expected. This has stifled Marte's counting stats and he only has ten RBI and 15 runs on the season. Let's look at the positive notes for just him though, he has a .308 batting average and only a 12% strikeout rate. He has looked every bit himself this month with eight doubles, eight RBI, and 11 runs scored. His price has fallen dramatically and he can be a monster at this price.
Jedd Gyorko - 3B, PIT @ MIL ($2,400)
Gyorko is an easy play that allows you to buy extra firepower in your lineup. Jedd is a lefty masher who has already taken four balls deep in only 32 plate appearances. His .222/.344/.704 slash line means that he is willing to take a walk when not putting them over the fences. He faces off against Steven Brault and his 4.80 ERA and 1.47 WHIP. Let's hope Gyorko hits a home run rather than walks a few times.
Trea Turner - SS, WAS @ BOS ($3,900)
Get Trea in your lineup today. He has been one of the hottest hitters on the planet. Turner is fresh off a 5-5 game with two doubles. He is on a massive 14 game hitting streak with big double-digit point totals in a majority of those games. A glance at his Statcast slider will also make you happy: 74th percentiles in xwOBA, 82nd percentile in xBA, 76th percentile in xSLG, and his usual 99th percentile in sprint speed. Turner does it all and will also draw the favorable matchup against Zack Godley.
FanDuel DFS Outfielders
Juan Soto - OF, WAS @ BOS ($4,800)
Soto continues to be a fixture in DFS lineups. You have to pay a pretty penny, but it has been worth it more times than not. Soto has a home run in two of his last three-game and is locked in. In 22 games played, he has nine home runs, 20 RBI, 19 runs, and a .358 batting average. If you thought Trea Turner's Statcast numbers from above were impressive, check out Juan Soto: 100th percentile in hard hit%, xwOBA, xBA, and xSLG. Don't get cute, play Soto today.
Max Kepler - OF, MIN @ DET ($3,300)
Kepler is leading off today and facing off against future stud, Casey Mize. Although Mize has not looked like the future Cy Young contender, he has been propped up to be. Mize has the erratic at the plate and giving up a lot of hard hits. Kepler has a .278/.394/.595 with a .989 OPS when facing right-handed pitching. His 74th percentile in xwOBA suggests he makes quality contact when he connects. Let's hope Mize leaves a fastball over the plate.
Jesse Winker - OF, CIN @ CHC ($2,900)
In years past, Winker was merely a matchup play, but things have changed in 2020. Winker is batting .329 vs. RHP and .350 against LHP. In 112 plate appearances, he has ten home runs, 17 RBI, and 18 runs with a stolen base. Winker also provides that safe floor with a .446 on-base percentage. He faces off against the home run bingo machine, Tyler Chatwood, in hitter-friendly Wrigley Field. Winker has become a player to look when creating a lineup and should be in yours today.
