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Happy Sunday, RotoBallers! I'm excited to be covering another fun DFS slate. The MLB season has been good to me in the early going, so I'm looking forward to sifting through another crop of games. Let's break down my favorite plays from today's main slate!
Today's main slate features an enticing eleven-game matinee mix. There might be some weather spots to watch today, so it's essential to check in with your preferred meteorologist ahead of lock. I'll point out the standout plays, but there will be plenty of opportunities to get creative with your builds on this slate.
This article will provide my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 8/6/2023 and the slate locking at 1:35 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!
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DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Tyler Glasnow, TBR vs. DET ($11,000 DK, $11,000 FD)
Without question, the highest ceiling on this slate belongs to Tyler Glasnow. His price has climbed considerably in recent weeks, but it's not hard to understand why. Through 12 starts, he carries a strong 3.15 ERA. That includes an elite 2.67 xFIP and .225 xBA. In truth, Glasnow is vulnerable to hard contact, and it's well within the range of outcomes that he surrenders a home run or two today. Still, it doesn't matter that much if he's running up the strikeout numbers. Glasnow produces a phenomenal 34.5% strikeout rate and 37.2% whiff rate. He's struck out at least seven hitters in eight consecutive outings, averaging 8.8 strikeouts per game in that span. That's why we love Glasnow.
The Tigers present an advantageous matchup for Glasnow. With Riley Greene back in action, Detroit doesn't bring the same rollover offense that plagued them for most of the first half. They still aren't very good, scoring just 3.9 runs per game. The Tigers hold a league-worst 82 wRC+ against right-handed pitching, including a .653 OPS, .287 wOBA, and a generous 24% strikeout rate.
Taijuan Walker, PHI vs. KC ($7,500 DK, $8,900 FD)
I'm not saying Walker is the second-best pitching option on this slate, but after spending $11,000 on Glasnow, salary relief is something I want out of my SP2. Walker is a middling arm, sporting a 3.99 ERA through 22 starts this season. That includes a 4.11 xERA, .314 xwOBA, .391 xSLG, 88.4 MPH average exit velocity, and a 6.7% barrel rate. He induces weak contact at an above-average rate and is pretty average in most other areas. Walker's hallmark is consistency. He's surrendered two earned runs or less in eight of his past ten appearances and has only given up more than four earned runs twice all season.
The primary reason I'm inclined to roster Walker today is his matchup. Kansas City makes for an ideal opponent. The Royals score 3.9 runs per game on the season. They're tied with the Tigers for league-worst with their 82 wRC+ against right-handed pitching, which includes .677 OPS, .294 wOBA, and a 23.8% strikeout rate.
Also consider: Zac Gallen, Charlie Morton, Johan Oviedo
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Nolan Arenado – 3B, STL vs. Austin Gomber ($5,400 DK, $3,200 FD)
Arenado is having another great season at the dish. He carries a .282/.328/.510 slash line with 23 home runs this season. That includes a .463 xSLG and 126 wRC+. Arenado is slugging .524 against left-handed pitchers, part of a .597 career mark.
Austin Gomber has been one of the worst starting pitchers in baseball this season. Through 22 starts, he owns an awful 5.74 xERA and 4.73 xFIP. That consists of an awful .504 xSLG, .292 xBA, 91 MPH average exit velocity, and a 45.8% hard-hit rate. Target Gomber with confidence.
Bryson Stott – 2B, PHI vs. Zack Greinke ($4,300 DK, $3,100 FD)
Stott doesn't flash the same power upside as some of his teammates, but he's been the most consistent bat in the Phillies' lineup this season. He boasts an impressive .302/.344/.434 slash line with nine home runs, 20 stolen bases, and a 112 OPS+.
Greinke is cooked at this point in his career. He sports a 5.24 xERA and 4.47 xFIP across 21 outings this season. That includes a .290 xBA, .494 xSLG, and .350 xwOBA. Left-handed hitters have been particularly challenging for Greinke as he's surrendered a .558 slugging percentage against them.
Triston Casas – 1B, BOS vs. Chris Bassitt ($3,900 DK, $3,100 FD)
Since the beginning of June, Casas boasts a blistering .972 OPS. That includes a 162 wRC+ and 10 home runs during that span. He's figured out major-league pitching, and the underlying numbers support Casas' sustained success. He carries a .496 xSLG, 91.8 MPH average exit velocity, 48.1% hard-hit rate, and 14.1% barrel rate.
Bassitt hasn't been terrible, but 2023 has been his worst season in the majors. Through 23 outings, he sports a 4.37 xERA and 4.35 xFIP. The primary concern for Bassitt is his inability to handle left-handed hitting. Lefties are slugging .539 against him with a .382 wOBA and 16 home runs.
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Jorge Soler – OF, MIA vs. Andrew Heaney ($4,900 DK, $3,100 FD)
Soler sports an impressive 121 OPS+ this season. He's launched 26 home runs en route to a .526 xSLG and 14.7% barrel rate. That includes absolutely dominating southpaw pitching to the tune of a .747 slugging percentage and 204 wRC+.
Heaney is fresh off his best outing of the season, but we're still talking about a guy with a 4.65 xERA and 4.53 career ERA. He surrenders a .434 xSLG and 10.9% barrel rate. His struggles are particularly concentrated on right-handed hitters, who are slugging .457 against Heaney with 18 home runs.
Chas McCormick – OF, HOU vs. Carlos Rodon ($4,300 DK, $3,500 FD)
McCormick has been red-hot in the second half, smacking seven home runs with a 1.168 OPS and 216 wRC+ across 20 games. He won't be able to keep up this pace, but with .461 xSLG and a 12.5% barrel rate, McCormick should remain a productive bat for the long haul. This is a good spot for him to keep the good times rolling.
After missing most of the first half of the season, Rodon's rust has been showing. Through five starts, he owns a 5.89 xERA and 6.20 xFIP. Rodon has surrendered a .484 xSLG, 11.1% barrel rate, and a 92.7 MPH average exit velocity. He probably starts performing better at some point, but for now, Rodon is a pitcher worth targeting.
Tommy Pham – OF, ARI vs. Dallas Keuchel ($3,100 DK, $2,900 FD)
Pham is hitting the ball a lot better than his .261/.342/.456 slash line suggests. He carries some truly impressive underlying numbers, like a .294 xBA, .515 xSLG, 92.8 MPH average exit velocity, 46.2% hard-hit rate, and 12.6% barrel rate. Pham has been overdue for positive regression all season.
If you're like me, you're mystified as to how Dallas Keuchel ever found his way back on a major-league roster. He posted a 5.28 ERA across 32 appearances in 2021 and a 9.20 ERA across 14 outings in 2022. Last season's struggles included a .461 xSLG, .289 xBA, and .357 xwOBA. Right-handed hitters slugged .596 against him. At 35 years old, I'm skeptical Keuchel has suddenly rediscovered himself.
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Dallas Keuchel
I touched on my skepticism toward Dallas Keuchel above. He's been cooked for the last couple of seasons, posting awful numbers, like 5.28 ERA and 9.20 ERA in 2021 and 2022, respectively. That includes surrendering a .493 xSLG and a .461 xSLG in each of those two years. I don't expect Keuchel to be meaningfully reformed at this point in his career. The Diamondbacks are slumping lately, but this looks like the perfect bounce-back spot.
Favorite Plays: Ketel Marte, Christian Walker, Corbin Carroll, Tommy Pham, Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Austin Gomber
Gomber has been a favorite pitcher to target against all season. Through 22 starts, he owns an awful 5.74 xERA and 4.73 xFIP. That consists of an awful .504 xSLG, .292 xBA, 91 MPH average exit velocity, and a 45.8% hard-hit rate. Once Gomber's day is done, he'll hand it over to the Colorado bullpen, which sports a weak 4.87 ERA. The Cardinals should have their way offensively today.
Favorite Plays: Nolan Arenado, Paul Goldschmidt, Tommy Edman, Nolan Gorman, Jordan Walker
Also Consider: Philadelphia Phillies, Miami Marlins, Houston Astros
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