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Another day goes by and again I find myself covering for one of my MLB DFS buddies as this is usually Mike Marteny's article on Saturdays. I'm team #nodaysoff so I am happy to help cover for some of my teammates and get you started with your research for today's 10-game slate.
I'll be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for the DraftKings main slate on 8/14/21. Be sure to also 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 check out today's FanDuels MLB DFS lineup picks, and read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports too. Without any further ado, let's get to it!
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DraftKings DFS Pitchers
Cash Game/GPP Anchor Play:
Walker Buehler - LAD @ NYM ($10,600)
I see no reason not to pay up for the top arm on this slate in cash games. Buehler has been a top-10 pitcher in baseball this year and is a -185 road favorite here against a Mets team that has negative offensive trends over their last 14-day sample. Buehler is a good bet for 5-7 strikeouts and hasn't allowed a home run in eight straight starts. I think L.A. should be favored even more than they are considering how bad New York's starter Taijuan Walker has been over the last month.
Alternate Play(s)
Joe Musgrove - SDP @ ARI ($9,100)
Musgrove is a nice 1B to Buehler's 1A on this slate. Joe has righted the ship after some midseason struggles and is arguably the most consistent starter in the Padres rotation at the moment as Blake Snell and Yu Darvish have been somewhat hot and cold in the second half.
As far as recent trends go, the Snakes are striking out 4% more than usual against RHP over the last two weeks, giving Musgrove some nice K upside here. Arizona pulled off a win last night behind a strong outing from Mad Bum, but they are rolling with reliever Tyler Gilbert and their bullpen in this one. Musgrove is a -200 favorite and should get a win here and I expect him to pitch effectively.
Other recommended value pitching options: Yusei Kikuchi vs. Toronto (GPP leverage), Kenta Maeda vs. Tampa (just way too cheap and K upside)
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DraftKings DFS Infielders
Will Smith - C, LAD @ NYM ($4,600)
While many folks will look to pay down at catcher, I am often trying to spend up at that position as there are some elite hitting catchers that can be worth the investment. Smith certainly qualifies as he's a guy with a .405 wOBA and .230 ISO this season against RHP. He should hit third or fourth in this potent Dodgers lineup and is facing Taijuan Walker - a guy who started strong but completely fallen apart and now sports an xFIP over five this season. Walker has been a reverse splits pitcher in 2021, with righties hitting him harder and more often.
Darin Ruf- 1B, SFG vs. COL ($2,800)
How often can you roster a cleanup hitter with a .319 ISO against left-handed pitching for under 3k? The answer is pretty much any time the Giants face a lefty as Ruf continues to be one of the most productive and sneaky values for our DFS lineups. Freeland relies on ground balls for a lot of his outs but is allowing 45% hard contact to righties over last year and this year.
Miguel Sano - 1B, MIN vs. TBR ($2,900)
It feels like a guessing game when you roster Sano because there isn't always a rhyme or reason for when he goes off and you're more likely to get an 0-4 with three strikeout line (we call that the "Joey Gallo boxscore") than you are a double-dong. But Sano actually has a .336 wOBA and .286 ISO this year against righties and I believe this is the matchup that we can feel better about our odds of catching a good Sano game. Wacha is a reverse splits pitcher, Sano's batted ball profile looks great against his cutter, and he's been in good form, making a lot more contact of late (hits in 10 of his last 15). I'm calling for a Sano dong tonight, book it!
Willy Adames - SS, MIL @ PIT ($5,100)
I was all over Adames and a Brewers stack yesterday against Mitch Keller so I am going right back to this spot for the nightcap. The Pirates will slide Bryse Wilson into the rotation for the first game and then save Keller for the second game. I've given up on Keller reaching his potential this season or maybe ever - he simply hasn't figured out how to locate his pitches or harness his talent. Meanwhile, the Brewers are red hot and Adames has been the lynchpin of their renaissance since he came over from Tampa earlier this year.
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
Kyle Tucker - OF, HOU @ LAA ($3,700)
Tucker has been one of my favorite guys to roster in DFS all season. He's continually underpriced and has some excellent numbers this year against RHP (.380 wOBA, .260 ISO). It's crazy to me that a guy with 22 homers and 11 stolen bases in under 4k just about every slate, but it likely has to do with his lineup slot as he usually hits in the six-hole. Fire him (and some other Astros) up tonight against Jaime Barria who has a 5.91 XFIP this year, only a 12% K rate, and is allowing loud contact to hitters from both sides of the plate.
Bryan Reynolds - OF, PIT vs. MIL ($3,400)
This is the second game of a doubleheader for the Brewers and Pirates after they were rained out last night, so just make sure Reynolds is in the lineup. But he should be - as he is their best hitter and one of the most underrated and lesser-known good hitters in baseball. The Pirates' entire lineup is stupid cheap and the Brewers will be rolling out rookie Aaron Ashby who has only faced 18 hitters this season but is sporting a 7.7 xFIP!
Austin Slater – OF, SFG @ ARI (2,500)
I have to go back to the Giants again here - stacking them against lefties has been a recipe for success all season long. Slater should lead off again tonight against lefty Kyle Freeland and was 2-5 last night with three runs scored (both hits were doubles). He has nine steals on the year, too, so you know he has some wheels if he gets on base he's a threat to swipe a bag. He's simply too cheap for his lineup position, power, and speed.
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