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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on August 18th, 2019. Austyn Varney's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
Welcome to Sunday Baseball! We have nine games on the main slate with plenty of options one the mound and at the plate. The season is winding down and every game seems to mean just a bit more now. We'll have to decide what teams really need to win and what teams are fine with getting stomped. DraftKings has given us plenty of tournaments for any price point you desire. The $6 Sunday Eephus is prizing $100k to first place.
Without a game in Coors Field, things are a little bit more balanced. With that being said, there are a ton of terrible pitchers on the slate and offenses to take advantage with. There are also a few aces, but none stand out as obvious options. Let's dive in a find a top play at each position!
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 8/18/19. The lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. Be sure to also check out all the Vegas Odds for today's slate. 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 @VarneyDFS.
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DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers
Zack Wheeler - NYM @ KC - $10,700
Pitcher is a bit tough tonight. There are four aces to choose from, and they all have question marks. Zack Wheeler has the best match-up of all, facing off with the 28th ranked Royals and their .301 team wOBA. Kansas City is one of the best parks at reserving power and Wheeler uses that to his advantage. On the year, Wheeler has posted a 3.88 xFIP while striking out 9.31 batters per nine innings. The Mets have let him routinely go over 100 pitches and he has exceed seven innings three times in his last ten starts. You need two SP's on DraftKings and you'll need at least one of these expensive options. Wheeler is the safest.
Trevor Richards - TB vs. DET - $7,000
The Detroit Tigers are truly a pitiful offense. They are even worse than the Miami Marlins at this point. That's hard to do. They're now down to a .284 team wOBA and strikeout 26% of the time. Richards is typically a reliever, but he's a starter in the past and should get 5-6 innings if he can pitch well. He's only $k on DraftKings and all you really need is a serviceable start. This Tigers offense is anemic and Richards should be able to do what he wants for the few innings he's in there.
DraftKings DFS Infielders
C - Roberto Perez - CLE @ NYY (Sabathia) - $3,600
Perez is a bit priced down on DraftKings from the big names, and obviously has as much upside as anyone. He’s up to 20 home runs on the season (.347 wOBA vs lefties) and draws a match-up with homer prone C.C. Sabathia. Sabathia has given up 18 home runs and a .371 wOBA to opposing righties in just over 60 innings of work. These Indians righties are in play tonight and Perez is a great play at one of the weaker positions on the slate. If you're looking to pay up, Christian Vasquez is worth a look.
1B - Paul Goldschmidt - STL @ CIN (Wood) - $4,200
Paul Goldschmidt should be on your radar any night the Cards face off with a lefty. His wOBA is up to .379 on the season and he’s connected with 27 home runs. Wood has struggled since coming back from injury, and Vegas thinks that continues with the Cards projected for over five runs. He’s allowed a .364 wOBA to righties dating back to last season. Great American Ballpark is s huge upgrade from St. Louis and will only help the power of Goldschmidt.
2B - Mike Moustakas - MIL @ WAS (Fedde) - $4,100
Moustakas is now up to 28 home runs on the season and a .347 wOBA. He’s hitting for more power than ever and is doing it consistently. Tonight, the Brew Crew face off with Erik Fedde. He’s allowed a .378 wOBA to opposing lefties with four homers in just 30 innings. He gives up a 37% hard contact rate and only strikes out six batters per nine innings. Moustakas will stay under 20% owned, and he has as much upside as anyone on the slate. Second base may be the worst position to fill and Moustakas makes it easy.
3B - Manny Machado - SD @ PHI (Vargas) - $4,100
Machado has been one of the best hitters in baseball this season against lefties. In just under 100 at-bats, he’s hit 10 home runs and has sported a .463 wOBA. It doesn’t get much better than that. He’ll get to face off with Jason Vargas tonight, who’s an extremely susceptible lefty who gives up plenty of home runs. The Padres won’t be very popular today with so many other options, but they have an ability to hit the long ball and they’re far better against lefties.
3B - Xander Bogaerts - BOS vs. BAL (Blach) - $5,400
Bogaerts is extremely expensive, but he's been one of the best hitters at any position this season. He's already hit a career-high 27 home runs and his wOBA is up to a combined .383. The Red Sox are once again projected for seven plus runs, facing off with Ty Blach. Blach is easily one of the worst pitchers on this slate, and it would be laughable to read off his stats. Just know his wOBA has been well over .400. If you can find a way to roster some of these Red Sox, it will pay off.
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
J.D. Martinez - BOS vs. BAL (Blach) - $5,400
We're doubling down on the Red Sox here. Similar to Manny Machado, J.D. Martinez has been one of the best hitters in all of baseball against lefties. In over 100 at-bats, Martinez has sported a ridiculous .527 wOBA and has hit 14 home runs. Yes, you read all of that correctly. He now gets to face off with Ty Blach, who's been one of the worst pitchers in all of baseball. Martinez is my favorite hitter on the slate and I'll make sure I have him in 100% of lineups.
Michael Conforto - NYM @ KC (Sparkman) - $4,700
We haven't mentioned the Mets up to this point, but they are one of the top stacks of the night against Glenn Sparkman. He's had a few decent starts, but a 5.43 xFIP and .374 wOBA allowed shows his true colors. He only strikes out five batters per nine innings and gives up a 36% hard contact rate. Michael Conforto on the other hand, has posted a .385 wOBA against righties and is up to 19 home runs in just 100 games played. Conforto is the top lefty in this order, but don't be afraid to stack the Mets and hope Sparkman has one of his bad starts.
