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Happy Tuesday, RotoBallers! Tonight, we have a massive 13-game DFS slate on our schedule. With so many players in action, the strategies will be all over the map.
DraftKings and FanDuel have priced the Yankees so well that it takes a lot of work to build a stack with their lineup. However, there's no parallel universe where the pinstripes don't pummel Matthew Boyd tonight, so do your best to get a New York hitter in your DFS lineup.
This article will provide my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 8/20/2024 and the slate locking at 7:05 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
Zack Wheeler - RHP, PHI at Braves ($9.3K DraftKings; $10.5K FanDuel)
It's a tough debate between Zach Wheeler and Cole Ragans as your SP1 on tonight's slate. The Phillies ace gets the nod due to Atlanta's strikeout tendency. Over the last month, the Braves strike out the fifth-most against RHPs (24.9%), while the Angels strike out the sixth-fewest against LHPs (19.2%).
Wheeler's recorded at least six strikeouts in seven straight outings and eight of his last nine trips to the mound. Oddly, he's only faced Atlanta once this year, on Opening Day. The veteran right-handed hurler threw six shutout innings with five strikeouts.
Zack Wheeler, Painted 95mph Front Door Two Seamer. 🖌️🎨 pic.twitter.com/1DPRLe0BGk
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 15, 2024
Robbie Ray - LHP, SF vs. White Sox ($8.6K DK; $9.7K FD)
During his last outing, Robbie Ray was brought back to earth by Atlanta. The Braves put up five earned runs in 0.2 innings against Ray, and it caused his ERA to balloon to 6.00. Still, before that start, the left-handed veteran had at least seven strikeouts in three of his four starts, and that's where DFS managers can grab points on Tuesday.
Ray's 32.6% strikeout rate will match well with Chicago's 28% K rate to lefties over the last month. The White Sox will also neutralize Ray's home run problem due to its league-worst .212 wOBA versus southpaws.
Also consider: Cole Ragans vs. LAA, Javier Assad vs. DET, Shane Baz at OAK,
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Joey Bart - C, PIT at Cody Bradford ($3.8K DK; $3.0K FD)
Pittsburgh likes Joey Bart's bat enough these days that they use him as a catcher and designated hitter. The former Giants top prospect has found himself batting in the heart of the Pirates order and producing promising results in recent games.
Over the last 30 days, Bart's swinging a .329/.374/.600 slash line with 16 runs, 16 RBI, five doubles, and six home runs. While rostering a catcher isn't the most fun task in DFS, getting one at this price while batting in the heart of a lineup is as good as it gets.
Patrick Wisdom - 1B/3B/OF, CHC vs. Bryan Sammons ($3.3K DK; $2.5K FD)
Patrick Wisdom leads the pack in the boom-or-bust category for tonight's slate. The Cubs only utilize him when there's a lefty on the mound, so the infielder could have a short night if Chicago knocks around Detroit's Bryan Sammons.
The season-long OPS (.685) doesn't stand out, but he's sporting a .750 OPS over the last seven days. Plus, each of his previous five hits has gone for extra bases (three doubles, two home runs).
Bobby Witt Jr. - SS, KC vs. Tyler Anderson ($6.6K DK; $4.6K FD)
If Aaron Judge didn't exist, Bobby Witt Jr. would run away with the 2024 AL MVP award. The Royals shortstop has taken a giant leap this year, and Kansas City is in the postseason chase. He trails Judge and Shohei Ohtani in price on DraftKings but leaps the Dodgers DH on FanDuel.
As if a season-long 1.014 OPS wasn't impressive enough. Witt Jr. has moved it up another level since the All-Star break. Over the last 30 days, the 24-year-old owns a 1.244 OPS with 30 runs, 25 RBI, 19 extra-base hits (eight home runs), and three stolen bases.
Bobby Witt Jr., how did you hit this baseball out?!?! pic.twitter.com/BAMJLhiFnl
— MLB (@MLB) August 14, 2024
Also consider: Kyle Farmer, Miguel Vargas, Mookie Betts, Junior Caminero, Dansby Swanson
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Ian Happ - OF, CHC vs. Bryan Sammons ($4.5K DK; $3.4K FD)
Since the calendar flipped to August, Ian Happ has erupted. Over the last 14 days, the Cubs outfielder has 10 runs, seven RBI, a double, five home runs, and two stolen bases. Another big game tonight would see his OPS climb above .800 for the first time since July 20.
With 13 games on the schedule and very popular stacks on the board, there are far worse options than riding a differential Chicago stack. Especially when you consider they're facing a 29-year-old rookie pitching in his fifth MLB game.
Adolis Garcia - OF, TEX vs. Mitch Keller ($4.2K DK; $3.2K FD)
It hasn't been the best World Series defense from the Texas Rangers in recent memory, but they still need to be included in DFS consideration. Adolis Garcia can destroy an entire slate with a couple of swings of the bat.
The Rangers outfielder has had that skill on full display over the last two weeks. In four of his previous 10 games, Garcia has blasted a home run (or two in some cases) and cleared 20 FanDuel points. That type of upside must be rostered at his Tuesday evening price tag.
Austin Slater - OF, BAL at Jose Quintana ($2.5K DK; $2.5K FD)
With left-handed Jose Quintana taking the mound for New York, Austin Slater should get the starting nod for Baltimore. Even better, the outfielder will shoot to the top of the lineup because he's started in the leadoff spot in three of the last five games where the Orioles have faced a southpaw.
Compared to his season-long .587 OPS, Slater is an All-Star when it comes to facing lefties. And, over the last month, the 31-year-old has a .840 OPS in a very limited 20 at-bats. Slater is your salary-saving savior tonight if you need to save a lot of money to load up at another spot.
Also consider: Aaron Judge, Yordan Alvarez, Michael Taylor, Parker Meadows, Connor Joe
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
1. San Francisco Giants vs. Davis Martin - RHP, CWS
Favorite Plays: Tyler Fitzgerald, Michael Conforto, Matt Chapman
2. Kansas City Royals vs. Tyler Anderson - LHP, LAA
Favorite Plays: Bobby Witt Jr., Vinne Pasquantino, Freddy Fermin
3. Houston Astros vs. Nick Pivetta - RHP, BOS
Favorite Plays: Jose Altuve, Yainier Diaz, Jeremy Pena
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