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We have a 15-game main slate on tap tonight, and it's a loaded one. We have some solid pitching options at different price points and a lot of solid spots for bats. This makes for a lot of different ways to build, which is really nice. Coors is in play but may not be the fun chalk. Corbin Burnes is the top-priced pitcher, but he may not be necessary. Slates like tonight are a blast with so many ways to go but can also be a headache with so many places to go. It would be best to plant your flag on the plays you like, then let the pieces fall where they will.
The slate starts with which pitchers to build around. Do you pay up for Burnes, or do you drop down to Chris Bassitt, Logan Webb, or some other pitchers priced just below? Do you punt pitching and go with Huascar Ynoa or German Marquez? Starting with your pitching strategy could be really interesting as there are a lot of different stacking options. Some of the stacks are pricey, like the Padres, Blue Jays, and Astros. Whereas the Twins, Indians, Tigers, Rockies, and some others bring some nice value. Playing the roster percentage game could be key tonight. Listen in to MLB DFS Quick Hits to get a full slate rundown with some lineup-building strategies.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 8/17/2021. The lineup will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. You can also check out today's FanDuel MLB DFS lineup picks and read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports too. It’s also important to monitor injury news and today's MLB starting lineups. If you have any questions or comments, contact me on Twitter @bdentrek.
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DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers
Chris Bassitt - P, OAK at CHI ($9,100)
Bassitt enters tonight's game on quite the heater. He has pitched six or more innings in six straight starts, with quality starts in five of those outings. He has allowed nine total runs over 39 innings, good for a 2.08 ERA and 3.63 xFIP. Bassitt has struck out six or more in five straight games and over the six games has. A 20.7% K-BB. He has limited contact quality with a 44% ground ball rate, 7.7% barrel rate, and 30.8% hard-hit rate. Bassitt has been absolutely locked in and gets an interesting matchup tonight versus the White Sox. A White Sox team that got to Frankie Montas last night. In August, the White Sox are striking out 25% of the time versus RHP with a .249 average and 109 wRC+. We know the White Sox have some thump, but we also know they can strike out a lot as well. All of this makes Basssitt a strong GPP play as he looks to put up 20+ DK points for the sixth time in the last seven games.
Logan Webb - P, NYM vs. SF ($8,800)
My man Webb has been absolutely dealing since his return from the IL. It took a few starts to get fully stretched out, but he is there and has been great over his last four starts. Webb has thrown at least six innings in four straight starts, allowing two runs or less in each start, and struck out at least five in three of four starts. Webb has scored 27+ DK points in his last two starts and has scored 19+ in three of his last four. He will bring his 22.5% K-BB into tonight's game versus a Mets offense you can definitely take advantage of. In August, the Mets are striking out 22.2% of the time versus RHP while hitting .218 with a 75 wRC+. Webb is my top pitcher tonight, and I am looking for some late-night magic with Webb versus the Mets.
Other Options: Corbin Burnes (MIL at STL) $10,200, Adam Wainwright (STL vs MIL) $9,000, Alek Manoah (TOR at WAS)$8,600, Huascar Ynoa (ATL at MIA) $7,300, German Marquez (COL vs SD) $7,100, Vladimir Gutierrez (CIN vs CHC) $7,000
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DraftKings DFS Infielders
Mike Zunino - C, TB vs. John Means ($3,700)
Baseball can be a crazy sport, and Zunino's recent stretch has been just that. We usually love to use Zunino as he drops bombs everywhere, especially versus LHP, but we also expect a ton of strikeouts and hitless games. Well, Zunino is proving us wrong. Zunino brings an eight-game hitting streak into tonight's game which includes five home runs. Four of those home runs have been hit in each of the last four games. Zunino is locked in right now and is racking up DK points to the tune of 10+ in six of his last eight games. Tonight Zunino faces Means, and that bodes well as he is hitting .341 with a .488 ISO and 1.242 OPS versus LHP this season. That is just insane. Lock in some Zunino in your lineups tonight as he looks to add Means to the list of LHP he has dominated this season.
Max Muncy - 1B, LAD vs. Wil Crowe ($5,400)
Muncy brings his hot bat into a great matchup versus Crowe tonight. He has hit safely in eight of his last 10 games, as well as hits in each of his last four and three home runs in his last two games. To say Muncy is locked in would be an understatement. Over the 10-game stretch, he is hitting .282 with a .385 ISO and 1.058 OPS. The plate discipline is still there as he is only striking out 13.5% of the time, which means more balls in play for his 24.2% barrel rate and 42.4% hard-hit rate. He will face Crowe tonight, who has allowed eight runs in his last 8.2 innings pitched. Crowe is also allowing LHH to slug .392 with 1.2 HR/9. The Dodgers offense should be a nice stack tonight, and that includes paying up for Muncy, who should come in lowly rostered and will likely make it three straight games with a home run.
Josh Rojas - 2B/SS, AZ vs. Kyle Gibson ($4,700)
Rojas retired from the IL six games ago, and after two games of getting comfortable, Rojas has locked back in at the plate. He has hit safely in his last four games, with multiple hits in three of four games. He is hitting .667 over the streak with five extra-base hits. He is only striking out 5.9% of the time while walking 11.8%. To say Rojas is locked in would be an understatement. Rojas will likely come in low-rostered tonight versus Gibson, and that will lead to a great tournament play. He will face Gibson, who allowed six runs in his last outing and, on the season, is allowing LHH to hit .243 with a .362 SLG. Rojas is one of my top tournament/ownership leverage plays on the slate tonight.
Trevor Story- SS, COL vs. Nabil Crismatt ($5,300)
In a night with so many high-priced shortstop options, Story is my top option, and there are seven players priced higher at the position. In August, Story is hitting .375 with 10 extra-base hits. His .292 ISO and 1.122 OPS are outstanding and will likely go up tonight as the Padres throw a bullpen game. Since the trade deadline, he is one of the top hitters and has scored double-digit DK points in six of his last 10 games. The Rockies should be very popular tonight, but do not forget their most expensive player in Story.
Jeimer Candelario - 3B, DET vs Dylan Bundy ($3,700)
Candelario has been locked in of late yet is always super affordable and does not get rostered much. This can be said for many Tigers, but let's talk the Candy Man here. In August, he has hit safely in 11 of 13 games for a .319 average. He has nine extra-base hits to go with his .298 ISO, 1.103 OPS, and 172 wRC+. To put it simply, Candelario has been raking, but it gets better. Candy's plate discipline has been outstanding as he is walking 11.3% of the time while striking out 18.9%. He usually hits cleanup for the Tigers, and that is another major plus tonight as he faces Bundy and should have his fair share of chances to rack up some DK points. Candelario is cash game and GPP viable tonight.
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
Randy Arozarena - OF, TB vs. John Means ($4,200)
Arozarena enters Tuesday's game streaking, hitting safely in eight straight games. He is hitting .467 with seven extra-base hits, including two home runs. He has a .400 ISO and 1.396 OPS during this streak and has been extremely productive despite striking out 32.4% of the time. A lot of the success can be credited to his contact quality as he is barreling the ball 15.8% of the time with a 57.9% hard-hit rate. He will face Means tonight, and that is another point in the right direction as he is hitting .275 with a .245 ISO versus LHP this season. The Rays are in play tonight, and bats like Arozarena and Zunino should start your stacks.
Connor Joe- 1B/OF, COL vs. Nabil Crismatt ($2,800)
Joe heads into tonight's game, hitting safely in seven of his last nine games, including a two-hit game with a home run last night. He has four home runs over the last nine games and has a .314 average and .343 ISO. Joe is also putting the ball in play a lot as he is only striking out 12.8% of the time. The biggest reason Joe should be locked into your lineups (just like I said yesterday in my value article) is the fact he is cheap and leading off for the Rockies in Coors Field. Do not overthink this one, and just put Joe in your cash and GPP lineups tonight.
Michael Brantley - OF, HOU at Daniel Lynch ($3,600)
Brantley usually is not one of the flashy plays but is usually an excellent play. With the Astros being a great stack tonight, I wanted to mention Brantley as a solid piece of the stack, and do not forget him. He comes into tonight's game hitting safely in five of his last six games, good for a .375 average. He has two extra-base hits with five runs scored. The Astros' number two hitter sets the table for the big boppers behind him, which helps rack the DK points in your stacks. Lastly, Brantley hits LHP well. On the season, he is hitting .256 with a .375 SLG versus LHP. The bottom line is, don't forget about Brantley tonight as he is in for a big night in your Astros' stacks.
DraftKings DFS Stacks
- Colorado Rockies (Nabil Crismatt, RHP)
- Tampa Bay Rays (John Means, LHP)
- Los Angeles Dodgers (Wil Crowe, RHP)
- Houston Astros (Daniel Lynch, LHP)
- Many Many More
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