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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for FanDuel and DraftKings on August 15th 2022. Euan Leith's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
Happy Monday, Rotoballers! It's hard to believe we are entering the home stretch of the 2022 season already. It feels like yesterday that we kicked the year off. Still, we go again for another week and start the action with a 10-game slate. There's some earlier action between the Tigers-Guardians, Phillies-Reds, and Padres-Marlins, but none of those games make the featured contests on either site.
10 games give us 20 pitchers to choose from, and we've got some quality aces at the top. Gerrit Cole, Shohei Ohtani, Julio Urias, and Luis Castillo are all worthy of their price tags tonight. Meanwhile, Spencer Strider's alluring strikeout upside has to be tempered due to recent blips and not-so-great past meetings with the Mets. Finally, I'm piling up against Johnny Cueto and his inbound regression. So give me all the Astros I can fit into my team to begin the week.
This article has daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for FanDuel and DraftKings on 8/15/2022, Main Slate at 7:05 pm Eastern Time. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports. Monitoring injury news and today's MLB starting lineups is also essential. If you have questions or comments, find me on Twitter @EuanOrYouOut and ask away!
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DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Luis Castillo - P, SEA at LAA ($9,200 DraftKings, $11,200 FanDuel) - Better on DraftKings
I like Luis Castillo a lot versus Los Angeles. On DK, he's the fourth-most expensive pitcher behind Ohtani, Cole, and Urias, and I consider him a value. However, on FD, he's the top dog, and I struggle to pay up for him when the Yankees ace is $200 less, and his Angels opponent is $1,200 cheaper. Therefore, I'm more interested in the newly-acquired Mariners righty on DK than FD tonight.
Since coming over to the Pacific Northwest in a deadline deal, Castillo's faced the Yankees twice, and he's performed exceedingly well. He struck out 15 pinstripes in 14 2/3 innings and held them to three hits over eight shutout innings in his last start. Now, he'll face an Angels outfit that's striking out 28.2 percent of the time to right-handed pitchers since July 1st. He should thrive in the strikeout department and be able to keep this AL West team for from putting up a lot of runs. Smash Castillo into your lineups.
Josiah Gray - P, WAS vs. CHC ($7,900 DK; $8,900 FD)
At $7,900 on DK, Gray is as low as I want to go in tournaments for my SP2. His volatility makes him an option as he's either going to sink your lineups or let them swim based on his outcome. He's allowed a home run in eight consecutive starts, but he also owns a 28.3 percent strikeout rate over that stretch. He's facing the Cubs for the second start in a row, and their 23.9 percent K rate and .305 wOBA versus RHPs since July 1st gives me enough hope that Gray can lead us to the green in Monday's contests.
Joe Ryan - P, MIN vs. KC ($7,300 DK; $9,000 FD)
While Josiah Gray is as low as I go in tournaments, I will happily snag Joe Ryan as my SP2 in cash games on DK. Recently, he's had a couple of blowups versus the Dodgers and Padres but has been relatively consistent in his previous five starts outside of those tough matchups. In fact, in those five games, Ryan's allowed two or fewer earned runs while striking out 29 batters across 27 innings. If you need to save some salary, you can do much worse than the Twins' righty against the Royals on Monday.
Also consider - Shohei Ohtani, Gerrit Cole, Julio Urias, Spencer Strider, Carlos Carrasco, Alex Cobb
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Vinnie Pasquantino - 1B, KC at Joe Ryan ($2,100 DK; $2,700 FD)
Yes, I recommended Ryan as an SP2, but I'm not passing up on some budget bargains like Pasquantino for another lineup. The rookie first baseman sports an ordinary .781 OPS on the year but is heating up in August. Over his last 10 games, the slugging lefty is mashing a .378/.415/.757 slash line with seven runs, two doubles, four long balls, and seven RBI. He's dirt cheap right now and allows you to spread the cash to other areas of your lineup on the 10-game slate.
Max Muncy - 2B/3B, LAD at Freddy Peralta ($4,400 DK; $3,300 FD)
Muncy may be the most undervalued player on the slate. He's started August on a tear, and I wouldn't count him stopping anytime soon. This month, the Dodgers infielder is rocking a 1.148 OPS thanks to four walks, four doubles, and five home runs. The latest of which came on Saturday against the Royals in a blowout.
See ya later ball! ⚾️👋 pic.twitter.com/JVmUhmZHAu
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) August 14, 2022
Emmanuel Rivera - 3B, ARI at Alex Cobb ($2,300 DK; $2,000 FD)
Rivera was an acquisition for Arizona at the trade deadline, and he's off to a great start with his new club. He's started four of the previous five games for the Diamondbacks and batted second in his last three outings. Combine the lineup slot with his .357/.419/.893 slash line, and we've got a bargain on our hands.
C.J. Abrams - SS, WAS vs. Marcus Stroman ($2,100 DK; $2,000 FD)
By now, everyone will have heard the news.
The Washington Nationals are calling up top prospect C.J. Abrams, one of the main returns in the Juan Soto trade, sources tell ESPN.
Abrams, a 21-year-old shortstop, debuted with the Padres earlier this year. Infielder Luis García is headed to the IL to make room on the roster.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 14, 2022
Abrams was a slight disappointment in his first stint with the Padres earlier this year. However, he was an integral piece of the Juan Soto deal getting done. He was a consensus top-15 prospect heading into the season, and perhaps he needs a softer landing spot than a win-now team to grow his considerable skills. Nevertheless, Abrams provided a .875 OPS with a double and home run in his final 10 games with San Diego and is well worth a shot at the minimum pricing on both sites.
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Kyle Tucker - OF, HOU at Johnny Cueto ($4,700 DK; $3,800 FD)
The Astros right fielder had a miserable July as he slumped to a .625 OPS with seven extra-base hits. Fortunately, it's no longer July, and Kyle Tucker is mashing in August. In 10 games this month, the 25-year-old is slashing .324/.395/.618 with seven runs, two doubles, a triple, two home runs, 11 RBI, and a steal. The Astros face Johnny Cueto tonight (2.78 ERA, 4.42 SIERA), and I expect the AL-leading squad to help the Tigers righty on his way with some regression to kick off the week.
Michael Harris II - OF, ATL vs. Carlos Carrasco ($4,300 DK; $3,100 FD)
Harris would be $5,300 and $4,100, respectively, if the Braves ever moved him from the cellar of their lineup. But, alas, in the ninth spot he remains, and he'll just have to continue crushing in front of Ronald Acuna. The Braves outfielder came up because of his defense but has grown his offense over the season and seems here to stay. He's collected eight runs, seven extra-base hits, six RBI, and a steal in his last 10 games for a 1.063 OPS. Harris is a strong contender to be in many of my DFS lineups on Monday.
Adolis Garcia - OF, TEX vs. James Kaprielian ($4,200 DK; $3,800 FD)
Usually, I avoid home-run hunting, but I've got a good feeling about Adolis Garcia against the Oakland A's. He's riding an 11-game hit streak, but he's only powered three extra-base hits during the run. That's unusual for a guy with a .207 ISO over the last two seasons. Nevertheless, he's shown us the ability to have 30 home run power, and I believe he gets back on the board against Kaprielian.
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
Houston Astros at Chicago White Sox (Johnny Cueto, RHP)
- Yordan Alvarez, OF ($6,100; $4,300)
- Alex Bregman, 3B ($4,900; $3,700)
- Kyle Tucker, OF ($4,700; $3,800)
New York Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Rays (Ryan Yarbrough, RHP)
- Aaron Judge, OF ($6,500; $5,100)
- Miguel Andujar, OF ($2,900; $2,000)
- Jose Trevino, C ($2,800; $2,800)
Los Angeles Dodgers at Milwaukee Brewers (Freddy Peralta, RHP)
- Will Smith, C ($5,000; $3,700)
- Max Muncy, 3B ($4,400; $3,300)
- Gavin Lux, 2B ($4,100; $3,000)
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