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DraftKings Daily Fantasy Baseball Picks (8/15/18): MLB DFS Lineups

Boy, do we have an interesting 10 game slate under the lights this evening. Pitching looks like it could be tough sledding, as there aren't many reliable arms, but stacking offenses should be a fun exercise with a lot of potentially lucrative directions to go in. There is a four game Early Only slate, but I'm going to concentrate this post on where the majority of the money and action is.

In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 8/15/18. The lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays.

You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for sites like FanDuel, and other sports too. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to hit me up on Twitter @kpLuch.

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DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers

Zack Wheeler - SP, at BAL ($10,800)

After a rough start out of the gate, Zach Wheeler has been a strong pitcher this season and particularly great of late. It's reflected in the price, certainly, but I don't think it's risen to a point where he can't hit value comfortably and potentially exceed it thanks to his strikeout prowess. His SIERA now sits below 4.0 and he's posted a good 11.2% SwStrike rate to go with a 23.8% strikeout rate. In the second half of the season, he's been even stronger as that K% rises above 27% and he's allowed an opponent wOBA of just .190. He gets a negative park shift today, but the upside is high as this Orioles lineup strikes out at a high clip and they don't feature many left-handed bats. Between he and Gerrit Cole, Cole may have the slightly safer points floor (though he has been disapoointing by relative standards his last two starts) but I don't think Wheeler is too far behind that safe floor, and I like his ceiling more tomorrow. He has a bigger price discrepancy on DraftKings as well, so I like the discount he provides from Cole. He's my top GPP option and a solid cash one, too.

Robbie Erlin - SP, vs SDP ($4,900)

Let me preface this section by saying I don't have the utmost confidence in the vast majority of the pitchers starting tonight. With that in mind, it may be a night more suited for tournament play than cash games. But, as everything is relative in DFS, I will say I like Erlin has an SP2 tonight compared to the field, and that he's been pretty good this season. The price here is incredible, and the kid has posted a 3.22 SIERA (third lowest on the slate) and owns a 21.5% K rate this season. He takes on an Angels team that could be without Mike Trout as he tends to a personal matter, and their wOBA clip against lefties isn't very impressive anyway (.274). Erlin has done a good job this season at inducing soft contact and his strikeout rate (8.0 K/9) is respectable as well.

DraftKings DFS Infielders

Evan Gattis - C, vs COL ($3,900)

Catchers with home run upside are pretty scarce tonight. Gattis doesn't draw the easiest of matchups, but it isn't one to shy away from as Tyler Anderson has actually allowed more home runs per 9 on the road (1.40) than he has at home in Coors. Gattis of course brings big ISO power to the dish against southpaws with his .222 mark and his has an average exit velocity on balls hit of 93 mph over the past two weeks.

Ryan Zimmermann - 1B, at STL ($4,900)

Righties haven't had huge success against Austin Gomber in the small sample he's thrown in the majors (in regard to wOBA, ISO, etc) but he has allowed a 40% hard hit and a 40% fly ball rate to righties in that stretch. I like Zimmermann's chances tonight, especially as we've seen a lot of extra-base hits from him in the past week. He comes into tonight's action with a 52% hard hit rate in his last 10 games and a .453 wOBA and .300 ISO against southpaws in the 2018 season.

Jason Kipnis - 2B, at CIN ($4,200)

I like that Kipnis can give us middle-of-the-order exposure to one of the hottest offenses in baseball (implied run total of 5.5) going up against a rookie pitcher and a taxed bullpen. Kipnis has collected five hits over the past three nights and has a 42% hard hit rate over the past two weeks. He splits are just okay on the seaosn (.308 wOBA, .159 ISO) but those are brought down a bit by a terrible April and May start.

Justin Turner - 3B, vs SFG ($4,200)

It looks like Derek Holland's nice little (see also: surprising) run of positive starts has ended. He's allowed a 47% hard hit rate over his last two starts and the Dodgers have an implied run total of 4.7 tonight in Los Angeles. I think Turner is too cheap here, considering his prowess against southpaws and the lineup context. For the season, he's posted fantastic splits - .435 wOBA and a .231 ISO.

Manny Machado - SS, vs SFG ($4,200)

I like the idea of a Dodgers mini-stack here with Turner and Machado in back-to-back slots. They both bring high floors and power upside, having shown the ability to tee off on southpaws. Machado owns a .235 ISO split and has a 52% fly ball rate in the past 10 games. He's also relatively cheap considering the matchup and lineup context.

DraftKings DFS Outfielders

Curtis Granderson - OF, at KCR ($4,000)

In his 60+ innings of work this season, opposing starting pitcher Burch Smith has been lit up by left-handed batters to the tune of a .401 wOBA and a .595 slugging percentage. As such, that makes Granderson out of the leadoff spot an awesome value at this price, with definite power upside. For the season, he's rocking a .200 ISO split and enters the game with a 50% hard hit rate over the past week.

Ronald Acuna - OF, vs MIA ($5,700)

This kid is something, huh? He's on an unreal heater right now and I'm not going to quit him - especially in tournaments - until he cools off. Besides, the price isn't even that steep, as we're lucky his price was set before he went off for two more home runs last night. Anyway, the matchup is a good one and he's over a .400 wOBA and close to a .300 ISO split. The hard hit rate in the past two weeks sits at 55% as well.

 

MLB DFS News and Injury Alerts

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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Corey Heim

Does Not Qualify for Cup Race at Chicago Street Course
LaJohntay Wester

Stands out on Special Teams
Clarke Schmidt

Likely to Undergo Tommy John Surgery
Nolan Arenado

Scratched from Saturday's Lineup
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Starting on Saturday
Corbin Carroll

Activated from 10-Day Injured List
Cincinnati Bengals

Shemar Stewart, Bengals Continue Contract Talks, No Progress Made
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Potential Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade may not Happen Until "August, September"
Ha-Seong Kim

Removed Early During Season Debut
ARI

Christian Fischer Retires From NHL at 28
NHL

Spencer Martin Moves to Russia
WAS

Anthony Beauvillier Re-Signs With Capitals for Two Years
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Sitting Out With Foot Issue
Isaiah Neyor

Impresses at Minicamp
Houston Rockets

Jock Landale Waived by Rockets
Bo Bichette

Back in Blue Jays Lineup
Jonas Valančiūnas

Jonas Valanciunas Considering Returning to Europe
Miles Sanders

Works With Starters During Mandatory Minicamp
Jabari Walker

Signs Two-Way Deal With Sixers
Chimere Dike

Titans Could Move Chimere Dike Inside
Keandre Lambert-Smith

KeAndre Lambert-Smith not Guaranteed Roster Spot
Anthony Bradford

Working Hard to Win Back Starting Job
Byron Young

Still Improving?
Cody Simon

Jonathan Gannon has Been Impressed With Cody Simon
SirVocea Dennis

has Impressive Offseason
Trevor Penning

Could Still Have a Role in New Orleans
Jonathan Kuminga

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Moritz Wagner, Magic Agree to One-Year Deal
Clarke Schmidt

Placed on Injured List
José Soriano

Jose Soriano Throws Gem Against Braves
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Earns Ninth Win in Complete Game
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Likely to Reset the Edge-Rush Market
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James Wood

Goes Yard in Five-Hit Night
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Suns Discussing Potential Buyout
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Jaxson Hayes Staying with the Lakers
NBA

Damian Lillard "Open" to Signing With a Team This Offseason
Max Muncy

Out at Least Six Weeks
Clarke Schmidt

Leaves Start with Forearm Tightness
Colson Montgomery

Promoted to the Major Leagues
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Omar Khan, Steelers Agree to Three-Year Contract
Max Muncy

Goes on Injured List With Knee Bruise
Max Muncy

Out of Thursday's Lineup
James Wood

Joining Home Run Derby
SJ

Sharks Claim Nick Leddy Off Waivers
Max Scherzer

Cleared to Start on Saturday
SJ

Sharks Sign Dmitry Orlov to Two-Year, $13 Million Contract
CAR

Nikolaj Ehlers Joins Hurricanes on Six-Year Contract
Kodai Senga

Could be "in Play" to Return Before All-Star Break
Ha-Seong Kim

Rays Reinstate Ha-Seong Kim From Injured List
Chau Smith-Wade

Having Stellar Offseason
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Divine Deablo

Could be the Quarterback of the Defense
Isaiah Rodgers

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Jacob Monk

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Avonte Maddox

has Impressed Dan Campbell
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Josh Minott Inks Deal With Celtics
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Ruben Hyppolite Shows Notable Improvement
Sandro Mamukelashvili

Heading to Toronto
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Commanders Coaches Impressed With Daron Payne
Danny Gray

Makes Impression During Offseason Workouts
Jared McCain

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Dylan Harper

Unavailable for California Classic
COL

Brent Burns Inks One-Year Deal with Avalanche
STL

Blues Land Pius Suter on Two-Year Deal
Morgan Frost

Agrees to Two-Year Extension with Flames
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Gustav Nyquist Moves to Winnipeg
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Devils Re-Sign Cody Glass to Two-Year Deal
PIT

Anthony Mantha Joins Penguins
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Larry Nance Jr. Headed Back to Cavaliers
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Deandre Ayton Joining Lakers
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Re-Signs with Islanders for Two Years
UTA

Nate Schmidt Signs Three-Year Deal with Mammoth
UTA

Brandon Tanev Moves to Utah on Three-Year Contract
NJ

Evgenii Dadonov Joins Devils on One-Year Deal
BUF

Sabres Snap Up Alex Lyon on Two-Year Contract
Dallas Mavericks

Dante Exum Returning to Dallas
Ryan McLeod

Inks Four-Year Extension with Sabres
NAS

Predators Bring in Nick Perbix on Two-Year Deal
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Has Surgery to Repair a Turf Toe Injury
LA

Cody Ceci Moves to Los Angeles
Charlotte Hornets

Spencer Dinwiddie Lands With Charlotte
Bud Cauley

in Great Form Ahead of John Deere Classic
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

a Player to Avoid at John Deere Classic
Jake Knapp

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PGA

Sungjae Im Looking for Consistency at John Deere Classic
Ryan Gerard

a Solid Option at John Deere Classic
Rickie Fowler

Looking to Rebound at John Deere Classic
Cameron Champ

a Volatile Option at John Deere Classic
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Staying Below 70 is Key to Success for Jackson Suber
Kevin Roy

Playing Better Heading into John Deere Classic
Justin Lower

Hoping for Something Positive in Illinois
Ben Kohles

a Long Shot at John Deere Classic
Stephan Jaeger

Attempts to Stop Roller-Coaster Ride
Beau Hossler

Needs a Challenge in Illinois
Harry Higgs

Has Potential at John Deere Classic
Nick Dunlap

Keeps Plugging Through Tough 2025 Season
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Taurean Prince Staying in Milwaukee
Kevin Yu

a Near Must-Play at TPC Deere Run
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J.T. Poston Returns to John Deere Classic Looking for Another High Finish
Thriston Lawrence

a Decent Fit For John Deere Classic
Tom Kim

Not Finding Much to be Happy About Ahead of John Deere Classic
Si Woo Kim

is a Prohibitive Fade at John Deere Classic
Ben Griffin

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and Trackhouse Racing Parting Ways After 2025 Season
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Kai Kara-France

Alexandre Pantoja Submits Kai Kara-France
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Bounces Back
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Competitive Run Ends With Third-Place Finish at Atlanta
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Secures A Top-Five Finish After Adversity In Atlanta
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Collects A New Career-Best Finish At Atlanta
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF