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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on August 19th, 2018. Elliott Baas' MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
We've got an 11-game featured slate this Sunday on DraftKings, and with top pitcher Chris Sale scratched from his start things really open up on the pitching side of things.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 8/19/18. 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 @ElliottBaasBB.
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DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers
Mike Clevinger, CLE (vs. BAL): $10,200
Matchups don’t get much easier than the Baltimore Orioles these days, and the team has a .309 wOBA and 23.7% strikeout rate against right-handed pitching this season. And those stats include before they traded away their two best hitters, Manny Machado and Jonathan Schoop. Clevinger has pitched to a 3.38 ERA and 3.58 FIP this season along with a 23.8% strikeout rate. He should have no trouble shutting down the tepid Orioles at home today.
Jake Odorizzi, MIN (vs. DET): $6,700
Odorizzi has been hit-or-miss all season, but a date with the Detroit Tigers at home should be a good time for him. On the year he has a 4.44 ERA and 4.35 FIP, but his 23.5% strikeout rate is the highest since 2014 and he’s had seven or more strikeouts in nine of his 25 starts. The Tigers lineup is putrid, especially against right-handed pitching. This season the Tigers have a .288 wOBA and 22.2% strikeout rate versus righties, and their .134 ISO means Odorizzi should have better luck with his home run problems in this outing.
DraftKings DFS Infielders
C – Danny Jansen, TOR (@ NYY): $3,300
Jansen takes on lefty J.A. Happ, who is no pushover on the mound, but this one is more about talent than matchup when it comes to the value. Jansen had a 145 wRC+ at Triple-A before his promotion and has gone 4-for-10 with a homer in his first three games. A catcher with this much upside and platoon advantage is a good value at $3,300 regardless of matchup. Happ certainly isn’t untouchable either. Even the best pitchers give up runs.
1B – Albert Pujols, LAA (@ TEX): $4,100
It’s a mystery as to who is starting this game for the Rangers. Based on their rotation it should be Bartolo Colon, who is awful, but also dealing with back stiffness. DraftKings has Martin Perez listed as their starter, which is false because he started Saturday. There are rumors of the Rangers trying the opener strategy famously employed by the Tampa Bay Rays. It doesn’t matter either way, because the Rangers’ system is utterly devoid of quality pitching. They have a 5.41 ERA as a team this season and a 5.62 ERA at home, both highest in the majors. The opener loses some of its allure when Matt Moore or Eddie Butler are throwing the first two innings. Regardless of who is starting we want Angels’ bats. This is the second best hitting park in baseball against the worst pitching staff. Pujols gives up cheap power in the middle of the order for the Angels.
2B – Rougned Odor, TEX (vs. LAA): $4,800
Angels’ starter Jaime Barria is lucky to have a 3.50 ERA. He has allowed 1.46 HR/9 and only has a 6.9 K/9. His 4.74 FIP and 4.51 SIERA say a lot more about his true skill level than his ERA. That home run rate will bite Barria in Globe Life Park, and Odor is the perfect hitter to take advantage. He is hitting .340 with eight homers since the All-Star break, and perhaps most impressively has a 10.7% walk rate in the second half. It looks like Odor has finally made his ascension into the upper tier of second basemen, and he’s a good play even at this price.
3B – David Fletcher, LAA (@ TEX): $3,400
Fletcher really isn’t special, but he hits second for the Angels every day with just a 12.6% strikeout rate. Sandwiched between the Angels’ big hitters (minus Mike Trout, of course) Fletcher provides good value at this price. He is also second base eligible.
SS – Elvis Andrus, TEX (vs. LAA): $4,000
Unless we pay up for Francisco Lindor shortstop is pretty bleh on this slate. Andrus hits second or third for the Rangers every day and should be involved in run production against a weak pitcher like Barria.
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
OF – Kole Calhoun, LAA (@ TEX): $4,600
Since returning from the disabled list on June 18 Calhoun has hit .299 with 16 home runs and a 1.000 OPS. He’s quietly been hitting at a superstar level, and he’s been even better against righties with a .407 ISO and 1.128 OPS during that stretch. Without Mike Trout Calhoun is the best hitter on the Angels and a required piece to an Angels stack.
OF – Joey Gallo, TEX (vs. LAA): $4,900
Mr. Three-True-Outcomes is always a good GPP option at home, but he’s especially good against a flyball-heavy pitcher like Barria. Gallo is having a monster August as well, hitting .309 with six home runs and a 1.104 OPS. Barria should be easy pickings for Gallo.
OF – Matt Adams, WAS (vs. MIA): $3,900
Adams has crushed right-handed pitchers this season to the tune of an .899 OPS and .279 ISO, and he gets a weak one today in Pablo Lopez. Lopez has a 4.79 ERA, 4.71 FIP, and has allowed 1.53 HR/9 this season in eight starts. Adams has not been starting regularly, so if he isn’t in the lineup then Nicky Delmonico ($3,800 vs. KC) or Tommy Pham ($3,600 @ BOS) would be fine substitutes.
