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

The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on August 18th, 2018. Troy Klauder's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.

We've got five different slates on this busy Saturday, with the featured slate starting at 7:05 pm and covering 11 games.

In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 8/18/18. 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 @TroyKlauder.

Black Friday Special! Save 50% on any Big-4 Sports Premium Pass using discount code THANKS. Win more with our DFS, Betting and Season-Long Premium Pass, get expert tools and advice for NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL from from proven winners! Dan Palyo leads the team with exclusive picks for DFS picks, Props, betting. Enhance your game with industry-leading tools like our Lineup Optimizers, Team Sync Platform, DFS Cheat Sheets and more. GAIN ACCESS

 

DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers

Jacob deGrom, NYM (@ PHI) - $13,000

deGrom is easily the top starter on today's slate, so if you can make room in your payroll for him, it will be worth your time. He's got an absurd 2.26 Deserved Run Average with a 2.14 FIP and a dominant 31.3% K-rate. The Phillies have a 25.4% K-rate against righties, which is the third-highest mark in the league. deGrom has a rare high floor and high ceiling combo that makes him the best investment available.

Zack Godley, ARI (@ SD) - $8,700

Godley has been on a tear over the last month, striking out 35 batters in 31 2/3 innings with a 2.84 ERA. His hot streak should continue against the Padres, who are the worst lineup in the league versus right-handers according to their .288 wOBA. They've also got the second-highest K-rate, at 25.7%, and play in one of the most pitcher-friendly parks in baseball. Godley is a steal at this price.

 

DraftKings DFS Infielders

C - Yasmani Grandal, LAD (@ SEA) - $4,200

Grandal is one of the only catchers worth spending on. He's been demolishing right-handed pitching this year with a 140 wRC+ and gets to face Erasmo Ramirez, who has a 6.75 ERA through three starts. Grandal has 21 homers and can do some work in the loaded Dodgers lineup.

1B - Jose Abreu, CWS (vs. KC) - $4,200

Abreu is on fire right now, with homers in back-to-back games and a .950 OPS over the last 15 days. While opposing starter Brad Keller has a 3.40 ERA, his 4.77 SIERA and 5.53 DRA suggest that he's been overperforming. Indeed, Keller has just a 15.7% K-rate with a 10.1% walk-rate. Take Abreu and some of his White Sox teammates for an effective stack.

2B/OF - Whit Merrifield, KC (@ CWS) - $4,000

Merrifield is batting .345 over the last 15 days and leading off for the Royals, so he should rack up some hits against Dylan Covey, owner of a 6.06 ERA. Merrifield will maximize his plate appearances out of the leadoff spot, giving him better odds at racking up runs and steals.

3B - Evan Longoria, SF (@ CIN) - $3,900

Longoria can take advantage of an extreme hitter's park in Cincinnati against Matt Harvey, who has a 5.19 ERA and an insane 2.28 HR/9 at home. Even a hitter like Longo can easily go deep with this matchup.

SS - Trea Turner, LAD (vs. MIA) - $4,400

Turner may only be a league-average hitter, but his spot batting second for the Nationals gives him a ton of value. Wei-Yin Chen has a 5.32 ERA, so Turner should be involved in some run-scoring. Of course, Turner also has 32 steals this year, so he can easily get you some points on the basepaths.

 

DraftKings DFS Outfielders

Starling Marte, PIT (vs. CHC) - $4,300

Any time you can get Marte for this cheap, you should take advantage. He's been an elite fantasy player with 17 homers and 28 steals. Tyler Chatwood has been absolutely horrible this year, with more walks than strikeouts.

Lorenzo Cain, MIL (@ STL) - $4,100

Cain's batting .409 in the last week and will get lots of plate appearances batting second for the Brewers. He's another speed option, with 22 steals this year.

 

MLB DFS News and Injury Alerts

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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Shohei Ohtani

to Play for Team Japan in 2026 World Baseball Classic
Patrick Williams

Available Monday vs. Pelicans
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Cleared to Play Against Denver
Kevin Huerter

Ruled Out With Pelvis Soreness
Nicolas Claxton

Cleared to Face New York
Dean Wade

Sidelined Monday
Nikola Vučević

Nikola Vucevic Unavailable Against Pelicans
Landry Shamet

Sidelined Against Nets
Tyler Herro

Making 2025 Debut on Monday
Caris LeVert

Jaden Ivey, Caris LeVert Available Versus Indiana
Kevin Love

Out Monday Versus Warriors
Grayson Allen

and Ryan Dunn Sidelined vs. Rockets
Lamar Jackson

Now Dealing With a Toe Injury
Anthony Davis

Downgraded on Monday Night
Lonzo Ball

Set to Suit Up Versus Toronto
Jake Walman

to Remain Out Tuesday
Draymond Green

Ruled Out With Foot Sprain
Sam Merrill

and Craig Porter Jr. Out Monday
RJ Barrett

Sidelined Versus Cleveland
Ridly Greig

Still Out Monday
De'Andre Hunter

Out Versus Raptors
Baker Mayfield

Dealing With Low-Grade Shoulder Sprain
Thomas Chabot

Misses Monday's Matchup
Mitchell Robinson

Under the Weather, Out Versus Brooklyn
Kirill Marchenko

Out Monday
Jarrett Allen

Out of Action Again on Monday
J.T. Miller

Unavailable Monday
Andrew Wiggins

Norman Powell Out on Monday Night
Brayden Point

Out Against Flyers
Darius Garland

Sidelined on Monday
Nikita Kucherov

Good to Go Monday
Chris Godwin

Buccaneers Plan to "Ramp Up" Chris Godwin's Usage
Colorado Rockies

Warren Schaeffer to Stick Around as Rockies Manager in 2026
Ashton Jeanty

Ankle Injury isn't Severe
Jayden Daniels

to Practice This Week, Considered a Long Shot for Week 13
C.J. Stroud

Remains in Concussion Protocol
Mike Evans

Could Return Before End of Regular Season
J.J. McCarthy

in Concussion Protocol
Tyrod Taylor

to Remain the Jets' Starting QB
Shedeur Sanders

to Make Another Start for Browns in Week 13
Tee Higgins

Won't Play on Thanksgiving
Joe Burrow

Bengals Expect Joe Burrow to Play on Thursday
Baker Mayfield

Not Being Ruled Out for Week 13
CFB

Chris Bell Out for Rivalry Matchup Against Kentucky
New York Giants

Giants Fire Defensive Coordinator Shane Bowen
Tee Higgins

in the Concussion Protocol
Scott Wedgewood

Gives Avalanche Second Consecutive Shutout
Macklin Celebrini

Makes History During Multi-Point Performance
Joey Daccord

Posts Shutout in Losing Effort
David Rittich

Keeps Kraken Quiet
Jesper Wallstedt

Picks Up Third Shutout of the Season
Rasmus Andersson

Extends Point Streak With Three Assists
Davante Adams

Catches Two Touchdowns in Sunday Night Win
Baker Mayfield

has Sprained Shoulder, Will Undergo MRI Monday
Las Vegas Raiders

Raiders Fire Offensive Coordinator Chip Kelly
Ryan Helsley

Tigers Eyeing Ryan Helsley as a Starter
Quinshon Judkins

Salvages his Day With Two Trips to the End Zone
Alvin Kamara

Dealing With MCL Sprain, Timetable Unclear
Michael Wilson

has Double-Digit Catches, Over 100 Yards for Second Straight Week
Dan Hooker

Suffers Second-Round Submission Loss
Marcus Semien

Shipped to the Mets on Sunday
Arman Tsarukyan

Gets Submission Win
Brandon Nimmo

Traded to Texas
Belal Muhammad

Loses Back-to-Back Fights
Belal Muhammad

Ian Machado Garry Outpoints Belal Muhammad
Alonzo Menifield

Suffers First-Round Knockout Loss
Volkan Oezdemir

Gets Back In The Win Column
Jack Hermansson

Gets Knocked Out
Jack Hermansson

Myktybek Orolbai Knocks Out Jack Hermansson
Shamil Gaziev

Suffers First-Round Knockout Loss
Waldo Cortes-Acosta

Shines At UFC Qatar
Tagir Ulanbekov

Suffers Third-Round Submission Loss
Kyoji Horiguchi

Makes Triumphant UFC Return
MON

Alexandre Texier Joins Canadiens
Jason Dickinson

Returns to Action Sunday
Elias Lindholm

Activated From Injured Reserve
Mikko Rantanen

Suspended for One Game
Neal Pionk

Sustains Lower-Body Injury Sunday
Jean-Gabriel Pageau

Out Week-to-Week
Alexander Romanov

Out 5-6 Months Due to Shoulder Surgery
Sidney Crosby

Records 500th Multi-Point Game
Adolis García

Rangers Non-Tender Adolis Garcia on Friday
CFB

Beau Pribula Expected to Start Against Oklahoma
Dan Hooker

An Underdog At UFC Qatar
Arman Tsarukyan

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Ian Machado Garry

A Favorite At UFC Qatar
Belal Muhammad

Looks To Bounce Back
Alonzo Menifield

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
Volkan Oezdemir

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Myktybek Orolbai

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Jack Hermansson

Makes His Welterweight Debut
Kyoji Horiguchi

Returns To The UFC
Elly De La Cruz

Played Through Partially Torn Quad to End 2025
Tarik Skubal

Tigers "Doubtful" to Trade Tarik Skubal
Raisel Iglesias

Returning to the Braves on One-Year Deal
Sahith Theegala

Looking to Continue Fall Run at RSM Classic
Stephan Jaeger

Looking to Bounce Back at RSM Classic
Tom Hoge

Looking to Regain Form at RSM Classic
Joe Highsmith

Searching for Turnaround at RSM Classic
Adam Hadwin

Looking to Build on T11 Finish in Bermuda
Austin Eckroat

Searching for Momentum at RSM Classic
Joel Dahmen

Trying to Find Form at the RSM Classic
CFB

Garrett Nussmeier Doubtful to Play Against Western Kentucky
Michael Thorbjornsen

Hopes to End 2025 Campaign With Another Solid Finish
Andrew Novak

Looks to End 2025 Season on High Note at RSM Classic
Harry Higgs

Teetering for PGA Tour Card in 2026
PGA

Nico Echavarria has the Potential to Contend at the RSM Classic
Sam Stevens

Finishing Out Year in Georgia
Seamus Power

Playing Better at the Right Time
Beau Hossler

Roller Coaster Comes to Saint Simons Island
Quade Cummins

The Time is Now for Quade Cummins in Georgia
Austin Cook

Needs a Win at the RSM Classic
Cameron Champ

on the PGA Tour Card Bubble
Grayson Rodriguez

Shipped to Angels
Taylor Ward

Orioles Acquire Taylor Ward From Angels
Shota Imanaga

Accepts Cubs Qualifying Offer
Brandon Woodruff

Returning to Milwaukee in 2026
Denny McCarthy

Looking For Another Solid Finish at RSM Classic

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP