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The top main-slate daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for FanDuel and DraftKings on August 30, 2023. Kevin Hickey's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
Happy Wednesday, RotoBallers! I'm excited to be covering another fun DFS slate. The MLB season has been good to me this season, so I'm looking forward to sifting through another crop of games. Let's break down my favorite plays from today's main slate!
With a full lineup of matinee baseball spread throughout the day, we're left with a fun-sized six-game main slate. It'll be difficult to ignore another day of the Braves in Coors Field, but all the chalk will open up plenty of opportunities to get creative with your lineup builds. I'll point out the standout plays.
This article will provide my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks on 8/30/2023 and the main slate locking at 6:40 pm ET. The lineup picks will range from some elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. 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. Now that we got all that out of the way, it's onto the picks!
DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Gerrit Cole, NYY vs. DET ($11,500 DK, $11,000 FD)
In terms of ceiling, nobody on this slate comes close to Gerrit Cole. Through 27 starts, he boasts a 2.95 ERA and is among the frontrunners for the American League Cy Young Award. Cole's 3.69 xERA and 3.66 xFIP highlight the regression he's due, but that's not much of a deterrent. He's a workhorse, regularly pitching into the seventh inning or later, and he's reached at least six frames in nine of his last 10 appearances. Cole rarely has control issues, walking just 6.4% of hitters, and his 27% strikeout rate underscores his ability to rack up fantasy points.
The Tigers have featured one of baseball's weakest offenses all season, scoring only 3.9 runs per game. That includes an awful 85 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers, alongside a .676 OPS, .295 wOBA, and a generous 24.7% strikeout rate. Detroit has picked things up mildly since the All-Star break, but that only amounts to 4.1 runs per game. Spencer Torkelson is having a great summer, though little else about this offense is exciting.
Zach Eflin, TB vs. MIA ($9,700 DK, $10,000 FD)
If you're trying to spend up for Braves bats, as many of us are, then you might be priced out of rostering Cole. For nearly two thousand cheaper (on DK), Zach Eflin is debatably the best pitcher on this slate. Over 25 starts, he carries a tremendous 2.93 xERA and 3.20 xFIP. That includes a .267 xwOBA, .217 xBA, 3.5% walk rate, 35.1% hard-hit rate, .368 xSLG, and a 25.75 strikeout rate.
The Marlins bring a pretty mediocre offense. They score just four runs per game on the season, down to 3.6 runs since the All-Star break. The second-half struggles include a horrible 85 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers, with a .691 OPS and .298 wOBA. Miami doesn't strike out excessively, but they barely move the needle offensively these days. Jorge Soler departed Tuesday's contest with hip tightness, and his absence would be a huge hit to their already weak lineup.
Also consider: Dane Dunning, Jesus Luzardo
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Ozzie Albies – 2B, ATL vs. Kyle Freeland ($5,900 DK, $3,800 FD)
The entire Braves' lineup looks great today at Coors Field, but I'll isolate Ozzie Albies as my favorite bat. The switch-hitter is an absolute southpaw killer, slugging .622 against left-handed pitchers this season with a 173 wRC+. Albies has been better as a right-handed hitter his whole career, sporting a .930 OPS across his seven seasons in the majors.
Kyle Freeland will have his hands full today. Through 25 starts, he owns an awful 5.51 xERA and 5.13 xFIP. That consists of a .500 xSLG, .286 xBA, 44.1% hard-hit rate, 9.1% barrel rate. Right-handed hitters have lit him up to the tune of a .546 slugging percentage and .381 wOBA.
Max Muncy – 3B, LAD vs. Brandon Pfaadt ($4,700 DK, $3,600 FD)
Max Muncy feels underpriced for a guy flirting with a 40-home run campaign. Overall, he sports a .205/.336/.486 slash line with 31 long balls this season. That includes a .522 xSLG, 16.6% barrel rate, 47.5% hard-hit rate, 91.2 MPH average exit velocity, and .376 xwOBA.
Brandon Pfaadt has been better recently, but the ugly overall numbers are hard to shake off. He sports a 4.96 xERA and 4.69 xFIP through 13 outings. That includes a .476 xSLG, 45.6% hard-hit rate, 11.2% barrel rate, and 90.6 MPH average exit velocity. Left-handed hitters are slugging .538 against him.
Hunter Goodman – 1B/C, COL vs. Darius Vines ($2,900 DK, $2,500 FD)
There are plenty of expensive hitters to roster today, so isolating some punt plays is important. At first base, I don't think you can find a better upside than Hunter Goodman. His MLB career is just three games deep, but he's already recorded five hits in that time. Goodman posted 34 home runs and a .918 OPS between Double-A and Triple-A this season, and it's only a matter of time before he drops his first career long ball.
If you're skeptical about whether Goodman has actually adjusted to major-league pitching, then you're in luck – Darius Vines has never pitched in the majors. He's the tenth-ranked prospect in the Braves farm system and posted a strong 2.86 ERA in Triple-A this season, albeit in a limited sample size. Still, Vines doesn't project as a particularly dominant MLB pitcher, and he did suffer from the long ball in the minors this year.
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Aaron Judge – OF, NYY vs. Joey Wentz ($6,600 DK, $4,300 FD)
Aaron Judge needs little introduction at this point. He ranks fourth in the American League with 29 home runs despite missing nearly half of the season with an injury. Judge sports an unreal .734 xSLG, 63.8% hard-hit rate, 28.2% barrel rate, and 97.5 MPH average exit velocity. That amounts to a .266/.395/.630 slash line.
It's yet to be confirmed, but Joey Wentz is expected to be called up for the start Wednesday. Wentz flashed his potential last season, but the results haven't been there in 2023. Across 19 major-league appearances, he carries a weak 5.55 xERA and 5.08 xFIP. Wentz has surrendered a .487 xSLG, .275 xBA, and 10.8% barrel rate.
Adolis Garcia – OF, TEX vs. Denyi Reyes ($5,600 DK, $3,700 FD)
Despite a recent slump, Adolis Garcia is having the best season of his career. He's smashed 32 home runs alongside a .248/.325/.496 slash line. Garcia's underlying metrics support his sustained success, posting a .526 xSLG, 15.5% barrel rate, 49.9% hard-hit rate, and 92.2 MPH average exit velocity.
Denyi Reyes does not bring much MLB experience, so there isn't a lot to draw from. That said, he posted a 5.80 ERA and 5.98 xFIP across 17 appearances in Triple-A this season. That includes 2.49 home runs allowed per nine innings. I don't envision Reyes locking down this Rangers lineup.
Nelson Velazquez– OF, KC vs. Andre Jackson ($2,900 DK, $2,900 FD)
Nelson Velazquez is another punt play that can pop off today. Playing time has been his biggest barrier to success, but Velazquez has been in the lineup most days since joining the Royals. He's crushed the ball this season to the tune of a .569 xSLG, 18.5% barrel rate, 48.1% hard-hit rate, and .278 xBA.
Andre Jackson is another pitcher on this slate with limited major-league service time. He posted a 5.86 ERA across 11 outings in Triple-A this season and a 5.13 xERA over 36 2/3 innings pitched in the majors. Jackson has surrendered a .491 xSLG, 10.8% barrel rate, 91.2 MPH average exit velocity, and 45.9% hard-hit rate.
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
Atlanta Braves vs. Kyle Freeland
Favorite Plays: Ronald Acuna Jr., Matt Olson, Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley, Marcell Ozuna
Los Angeles Dodgers
Favorite Plays: Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Max Muncy, Will Smith, Jason Heyward
Also Consider: New York Yankees, Colorado Rockies, Texas Rangers
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