RADIO
We have another full slate on Friday, August 21st, and once again the Cubs will play an afternoon game, eliminating them from my analysis. They will take on the Braves at Wrigley Field at 4:05.
As far as the rest of the field, we have plenty of top pitching options to choose from, and I’ll help you decide which pitcher to match with your value bats. There shouldn’t be much concern for rainouts or delays today, but remember to keep an eye on weather reports and starting lineups throughout the day. Let’s get to it!
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Offenses to Target for FanDuel DFS (Pitchers to Pick On)
Once again the Phillies and Marlins will send out terrible pitchers to play the “I can do it worse” game. Both Kendrys Flores and Jerad Eickhoff are fine to pick on, but there aren’t a whole lot of big bats in either lineup to take advantage of the terrible pitching. Usually Marlins Park plays pretty big, so I wouldn’t expect another night full of homers despite last night’s display.
Bartolo Colon and Jonathan Gray are pitching at Coors Field tonight, and while I love the idea on picking on both of those guys, FanDuel has really jacked up the prices of players in Colorado in recent weeks. Ben Paulsen is one player to keep an eye on when starting lineups are released, regardless.
Hector Santiago is likely begging to be skipped in the rotation today. The Blue Jays visit him, and we know how well they slug lefties. Josh Donaldson is a little overpriced for my liking, but Troy Tulowitzki is someone I could certainly see myself building a lineup around. He sits at a reasonable $3,800 Friday.
DFS Starting Pitchers to Target for FanDuel
Top Options to Choose From
I’m going to rank the top pitching options today from 1-5 in order of preference on FanDuel. I’ll give a quick tidbit about why I put each where I did.
- Chris Sale (SP, CWS) - $12,200
Sale has the highest strikeout upside against a lefty-heavy Seattle lineup. I see him as the safest bet for good production, and the pitcher-friendly park should limit his mistakes.
- David Price (SP, TOR) - $11,700
It’s very likely that Price will get the win today. The Angels have been brutal as of late (2.6 runs per game in their last seven games), and Price has strikeout upside as well.
- Madison Bumgarner (SP, SFG) - $12,800
MadBum has been on fire lately (50 K in last 39.1 IP), but his price tag is too high for me to use him in this situation. Despite what the numbers say (7th highest strikeout percentage vs. lefies), the Pirates are a dangerous offense. Bumgarner could have a lights out day, but the price and risk puts him here.
- Johnny Cueto (SP, KC) - $11,000
Despite consistently good outings, Cueto’s strikeouts have been hit or miss as of late. The Red Sox have the second lowest strikeout percentage in the league against lefties, and they have been crushing the ball lately (9.6 runs per game in their last 7 games). Not enough guaranteed production for me.
- Felix Hernandez (SP, SEA) - $11,000
King Felix has burned me one too many times this year for me to use him in this spot. He hasn’t let up five hits or less since June 28th, and it’s been longer than that since he struck out 10 or more batters. He has a good home-field park tonight, but the White Sox can be dangerous if they show up to play.
Lower-Price Tournament Pick: Chris Bassitt (SP, OAK) - $7,600
Everyone and their mothers will likely be on Bassitt tonight, but that’s for good reason. He has a solid matchup against a Rays offense that is better against lefties, and he gets to pitch in his own pitcher-friendly park. Bassitt has at least six strikeouts in each of his last four starts (10 Ks vs. Houston), and he hasn’t walked more than two batters all year. It sure doesn’t look like Drew Smyly is back to full form, so maybe the A’s can put some runs on the board and get Bassitt a valuable win on Friday.
DFS Infielders to Target for FanDuel
Josh Phegley (C, OAK) - $2,400
Phegley loves lefties (.362 wOBA vs. L this year), and Smyly was hit hard in his return on Sunday. As a low-priced catching option, Phegley is a good way to save some salary.
Adrian Gonzalez (1B, LAD) - $3,300
In an effort to pay up at outfield, I’m trying to find lower-priced options in the infield. Gonzalez has really plummeted in price lately, and if Ben Paulsen isn’t in the 4th or 5th spot in the Rockies’ order, A-Gon is my favorite middle-tier 1B to go deep tonight against Mike Fiers.
Chase Utley (2B, LAD) - $2,500
I hope that the Dodgers are smart enough to put Utley atop their lineup. If so, I love his upside tonight. He was unconscious at the plate (using that as a good adjective) prior to the trade from Philly, and he should be able to keep that up to help his new team in the playoff race. If Utley is batting at the bottom of the order for some reason, Andres Blanco at $2,800 is still a fine play while he’s hot.
Todd Frazier (3B, CIN) - $2,800
If you have money to spend, I can’t fault you for moving up to Matt Carpenter, but at this point I have a stand to take. Frazier will bounce back eventually, and I want to have him in my lineups at this price when he does. He heads home to hitter-friendly GABP tonight.
Alcides Escobar (SS, KC) - $2,500
If you don’t have money to roster Tulowitzki, Escobar is a nice, cheap option at shortstop. He gets a lefty in Henry Owens who shouldn’t be nearly as effective as Wade Miley was last night. Escobar is sure to score some runs atop the Royals lineup.
DFS Outfielders to Target for FanDuel
Lorenzo Cain (OF, KC) - $4,000
Despite his disappointing 0-3 performance last night, I’m not losing faith in Cain vs. lefties. He has a 179 wRC+ against them this year, and he should be able to rocket a couple Owens fastballs off (or over) the green monster tonight.
Starling Marte (OF, PIT) - $3,200
Marte should have low ownership tonight, going up against Bumgarner, but that doesn’t really scare me off. The left-fielder has four 2-hit games in his last five starts, and he can put up big points through base-stealing once he gets on. Marte could put up sneaky good production despite his worrisome matchup.
Byron Buxton (OF, MIN) - $2,400
Buxton is back in the majors, and he’s already in the leadoff spot again. I love cheap leadoff hitters, and Buxton faces up against Wei-Yin Chen (who’s a lefty) on Friday. He still might have some adjusting to do, but at this price I like Buxton’s upside in a tournament.
Good luck with your FanDuel and DFS lineups RotoBallers!
DFS Q&A with Max Petrie @ 6PM on 8/21
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