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Happy Thursday and happy August, RotoBallers! MLB has provided its classic, smaller Thursday slate for DFS managers to build lineups. Five games populate the featured slates on DraftKings and FanDuel, with two games starting at 6:40 p.m. EDT.
Baltimore leads the AL East and called up the top prospect in baseball this week, so life is pretty good for Orioles fans. It doesn't hurt that the Orioles are first in OPS (.774) and trail only the Yankees in wOBA (.333) and wRC+ (118). As for the weather, a strong breeze in Detroit is blowing into the ballpark. It may stifle some power potential as a result.
This article will provide my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 8/1/2024 and the slate locking at 6:40 p.m. EDT. 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. Monitoring injury news and today's MLB starting lineups is also essential.
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DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Sonny Gray - RHP, STL at Cubs ($9.8K DraftKings; $10.0K FanDuel)
When there's a slate this small in DFS, you should chase strikeouts, and Sonny Gray boasts the best strikeout rate (30.6 percent) among the 10 pitchers on Thursday. In 2024, the Cubs strike out the ninth most (23.8 percent) to right-handed pitching while also producing the ninth-lowest OPS (.683) and wOBA (.301). In two starts against Chicago this season, the Cardinals pitcher has thrown 12 innings, allowing three earned runs and striking out 14 Cubbies.
Max Meyer - RHP, MIA at Braves ($7.5K DK; $8.7K FD)
Some DFS managers like to go with the chalk on smaller slates, but you've got to have a risk-it-for-the-biscuit pick at some point in your lineup. Max Meyer fits that description to a tee. The former top prospect came through the ranks with electric strikeout stuff, but injuries have hampered his progress to the big leagues. However, since July 1, Atlanta's striking out at the third-highest rate (25.9 percent) to RHPs with the 10th-lowest wOBA (.301). Meyer threw 85 pitches in his last start, so five clean innings with some strikeouts is reasonable to expect.
Max Meyer strikes out six in his latest scoreless start 🤫
MLB's No. 80 prospect (@Marlins) has given up just one run over his past 16 innings for the Triple-A @JaxShrimp: pic.twitter.com/W7bHsntItm
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 14, 2024
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Nolan Schanuel - 1B, LAA vs. Ryan Feltner ($3.6K DK; $2.8K FD)
A leadoff hitter below $4.0K on DraftKings and $3.0K on FanDuel is free money in DFS. The plate appearances and opportunities to rack up points are always worth the price. Nolan Schanuel for the Angels against a struggling Ryan Feltner (4.99 ERA) is no different. It doesn't hurt that the Angels first baseman is on a bit of a tear. Over the last 10 games, Schanuel is averaging 12.73 FD PPG thanks to nine runs, five RBI, three extra-base hits (two home runs), and four multi-hit games.
NOLAN SCHANUEL WITH ANOTHER 💪@Angels | #RepTheHalo pic.twitter.com/RQmqYOVQDo
— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) July 27, 2024
Michael Massey - 2B, KC at Keider Montero ($4.2K DK; $2.8K FD)
It's been a slow start for Michael Massey out of the All-Star break. The Royals second baseman only has five hits since the season resumed, but three of those five hits have gone for extra bases. He received a day off yesterday, and hopefully, it'll let him reset. Massey will return to the top of Kansas City's lineup and hope to set the table versus Keider Montero and his 5.85 ERA.
Jackson Holliday - SS/2B, BAL at Ben Lively ($3.0K DK; $2.3K FD)
Remember all that stuff about top-of-the-line hitters? Throw it out the window regarding top prospects like Jackson Holliday. The No. 1 prospect in baseball has returned to the majors and won't stay this cheap for long. DFS managers have to jump on this price while they can because he may never be discounted this much in DFS for the rest of his (hopefully long and prolific) career.
JACKSON HOLLIDAY!
His first big league homer is a grand slam! pic.twitter.com/UhYSrT2MiQ
— MLB (@MLB) July 31, 2024
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Lane Thomas - OF, CLE vs. Trevor Rogers ($5.0K DK; $3.5K FD)
Lane Thomas showed enough in the first half of the season with Washington to become a deadline acquisition for Cleveland this week. The Guardians immediately threw the outfielder into a prime DFS-scoring spot as the two-hole hitter between Steven Kwan and Jose Ramirez. This is the best spot Thomas has found himself in as a major league player, and the DFS points should follow. He went 1-for-4 in his debut for his new ballclub and has a hit in eight of nine games since the All-Star break.
Charlie Blackmon - OF, COL at Carson Fulmer ($4.4K DK; $2.9K FD)
Compared to his DraftKings price, Charlie Blackmon is a much better value on FanDuel for Thursday's five-game slate. The veteran outfielder doesn't pack the same power he did back in the day, but he's still getting the bat on the ball (enough) to be useful for your DFS lineups. Blackmon is on a six-game hitting streak with three multi-hit efforts shoved in that same streak. He also hit four of his seven home runs this season in July, so maybe the 38-year-old will have a summer surge in 2024.
Matt Vierling - OF, DET vs. Max Meyer ($3.9K; $2.7K FD)
In 11 games since the All-Star break, Matt Vierling has posted a .800 OPS, which is a slight improvement on his season-long .730 number. The strikeouts are down, the walks are up, and the counting numbers are rising. In that same post-All-Star break stretch, Vierling has seven runs, one RBI, five extra-base hits, and two stolen bases, averaging 9.44 FD PPG.
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
1. Kansas City Royals at Keider Montero - RHP, DET
Favorite Plays: Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino, Hunter Renfroe
2. Baltimore Orioles at Ben Lively - RHP, CLE
Favorite Plays: Cedric Mullins, Jackson Holliday, Colton Cowser
3. Los Angeles Angels vs. Ryan Feltner - RHP, COL
Favorite Plays: Nolan Schanuel, Taylor Ward, Willie Calhoun
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