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Euan Leith highlights the top FanDuel MLB DFS lineup picks for 8/24/20, and a couple of sleepers to consider while building daily rosters.
Today is the second day of the entire season, where there are less than 10 baseball games scheduled. The good news is we still get to enjoy nine games of this great sport, but, unfortunately, only seven make the main slate on FanDuel. Although we always want more baseball, a shortened slate will allow us to take a closer look at some options we usually pass over when every team is swinging the bat.
It's a very pitching-heavy day with Trevor Bauer, Jack Flaherty, Lance Lynn, and Kenta Maeda, costing $9,400 or more to have as your pitcher. Bauer will be high on everyone's list, but a $12,000 price tag will force fantasy managers to look for some bargain bin options in the hitting departments.
I'll be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for the FanDuel main slate on 8/24/2020. Be sure also to check out all the MLB player news including late scratches, and the projected and confirmed daily MLB lineups for each DFS slate. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for sites like DraftKings, and other sports too.
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FanDuel DFS Pitchers
Lance Lynn - TEX vs. OAK ($9,800)
Lance Lynn has thrown at least 100 pitches in 30 consecutive starts dating back to May 21, 2019. During that stretch, Lynn has 20 Quality Starts, pitched 193 innings, and struck out 239 batters. That means that he has been excellent on FanDuel. It rewards all those stats quite well.
The right-hander returns home after a road trip that saw him throw a complete-game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field and then seven innings of two-run baseball versus Slam Diego. His opponent, the Oakland A's, strikeout 25.1 percent of the time against right-handed pitchers (seventh highest in MLB) and hit .219 off them at the plate (seventh-lowest in MLB). Start Lynn with extreme confidence to lead your lineups.
FanDuel DFS Infielders
Martin Maldonado, C - HOU vs. LAA ($2,700)
With so many big arms to choose from, it's favorable to get a cheaper bat to start your offense today, and Maldonado fits the bill perfectly. Houston's catcher will bat near or at the bottom of the lineup on Monday but should have some productive at-bats versus Angels left-handed starter Patrick Sandoval. On the year, Maldonado has three home runs with 17 RBI and has been crushing lefties. The 34-year-old is slashing .375/.464/.708 in 29 appearances versus southpaws in 2020 and will look to continue that trend at Minute Maid Park where he has an even higher 1.238 OPS versus opposing left-handers on the mound.
Yuli Gurriel, 1B - HOU vs. LAA ($3,400)
I'm slotting Gurriel into my utility spot tonight to get more exposure to the Astros bats versus Patrick Sandoval. Gurriel was a clear regression candidate for season-long leagues, but he seems to be producing similar results to his 2019 season. His 37.1 percent hard-hit rate is higher than last season, and he has very similar numbers with a .238 ISO and .368 wOBA this year. Gurriel is 11-for-27 versus southpaws this year with three home runs, three doubles, and five RBI. The Astros stack versus Sandoval is one of my favorite looks on the slate.
Keston Hiura, 2B - MIL vs. CIN ($3,200)
Hiura has an incredibly tough matchup with Trevor Bauer today. Still, the sophomore sensation is heating up at the plate, and I like him as a contrarian play while other daily players load up on Bauer and fade the Milwaukee Brewers. Hiura has hit three home runs in his last seven games and been on base in six of those seven contests. The ceiling he provides on any given night is well worth his $3,200 price tag on Monday. The second baseman is averaging 11.62 FPPG in his last 10 games, and that is at least two points per game better than the three other second baseman priced above him today.
Anthony Rendon, 3B - LAA @ HOU ($4,000)
Rendon was batting .103 on the season after a 0-for-3 performance against the Texas Rangers on August 9. Since that game, the third baseman is 25-for-52 with five home runs, three doubles, 12 RBI, 11 runs, a 1.420 OPS, and has raised his batting average to .319. He has multi-hit efforts in eight of those 13 games and has given daily managers at least 15 fantasy points in nine of those outings. Rendon is the top-priced third baseman in the main slate, but that's not deterring me from putting him in the lineups. Sometimes you have to play the hot hand, and Rendon certainly qualifies for that title after his recent two-week stretch.
FanDuel DFS Outfielders
Kole Calhoun - OF, ARI vs. COL ($3,200)
Kole Calhoun's Monday opponent, the Colorado Rockies, have right-handed Ryan Castellani on the mound to start the series. Calhoun has seven home runs this season, and they have all come against right-handed pitching. The outfielder has batted first or second in 20 of Arizona's 29 games this season and projects to hit leadoff again tonight. Calhoun has made subtle changes at the plate this year and has career-highs with a .274 ISO, an 11.9 percent barrel-rate, and a 15.2 launch angle. All of this adds up to make me believe Calhoun launches one over the wall tonight and becomes a strong play in our daily lineups.
Kyle Schwarber - OF, CHC @ DET ($2,700)
Kyle Schwarber gets a crack at rookie-sensation Casey Mize in his second big league start. Schwarber is coming off a 2-for-4 performance on Sunday that saw him hit his fifth home run of the season. For 2020, the outfielder is batting .230 with a .791 OPS, but I still like his chances with the platoon advantage over the rookie. Mize ran out of gas in his first start and gave up two barrels in 13 batted balls. If Schwarber connects with one of the rookie's pitches on Monday, it could go a long way and give big rewards for Schwarber's fantasy managers.
Sam Hilliard - OF, COL @ ARI ($2,300)
Sam Hilliard is finally getting some regular playing time for the Colorado Rockies and is making the most of his opportunity. Luckily for us, FanDuel hasn't noticed yet and has kept his salary at a dirt-cheap $2,300. Hilliard has appeared in six-straight games and gone 6-for-18 with two home runs, one triple, three runs, two RBI, and a stolen base. In three of his last four games, the outfielder has returned at least 18 fantasy points to his managers and will look to make it four of five on Monday against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
