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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 8/18/20. Brian Entrekin's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
We head into Thursday night with a nice 8 game slate on tap. There is a nice mix of pitching and bats to attack tonight. It has been hot on the west coast, so do not forget to focus on some of those big offenses. There is no Coors in play tonight which is always nice, but there are some other definite spots to attack for bats.
When looking at the slate there are a few main targets on the mound. At the top, you have Shane Bieber, Sonny Gray, and maybe even Clayton Kershaw. All three in strong spots and all cash viable. After the top targets, it is all about finding the mid-tier and punt targets on the mound. When it comes to bats I don't need to tell you the Dodgers and Indians are in strong spots, but I will point out other bats to attack in your lineups.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 8/20/2020. 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, contact me on Twitter @bdentrek.
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DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers
Shane Bieber - P, CLE at PIT ($10,600)
There has not been a better pitcher in baseball to start this wacky season than Shane Bieber. He enters tonight's action 4-0 on the season with a 1.30 ERA and a 1.65 xFIP. He has been just filthy. He has pitched at least 6 innings in all five starts, he has eight or more strikeouts in all five starts and has scored 29+ DK points in four of five stars. He is as consistent as they come and gets a solid matchup vs the Pirates tonight. Yep, we are going to continue picking on the Buccos as they continue to strikeout 24.7% of the time and only hit .194 vs RHP. Bieber is the easy cash game lock and is also GPP viable.
Dinelson Lamet - P, SD vs TEX ($8,500)
Everyone is waiting for the Lamet blowup, but that is not happening tonight. Lamet has been dominating this year with a 32.1% strikeout rate, a 1.59 ERA and a 3.88 xFIP. He has really turned it on in his last two starts, throwing at least six innings, allowing only one run in each on solo home runs and striking out at least eight. He'll face the Rangers tonight, a team that Chris Paddack just mowed through for six innings. They are striking out around 21% of the time vs RHP while hitting .214 with a .124 ISO. Lamet is very GPP viable with a smidge of cash attraction tonight.
Other Options: Sonny Gray (CIN at STL) $9,500, Kevin Gausman (SF vs LAA) $6,500
DraftKings DFS Infielders
Mitch Moreland - 1B, BOS at Asher Wojciechowski ($4,800)
Over the last 10 games, Moreland has been streaking, hitting .407 with four home runs and a .519 ISO. It is not just all hitting either for Moreland as he is also walking 17.5% of the time. He is also barreling the ball 25% of the time with a 50% hard-hit rate on the season. It likely isn't sustainable, but for now, he is raking and the train is worth jumping on. He continues to produce game after game and is in a great spot tonight at hitter-friendly Camden Yards. Last season lefties slugged .530 and homered 2.3 times per nine innings.
Other Options: Shohei Ohtani (LAA at SF) $4,300, Renato Nunez (BAL vs BOS) $4,200, Danny Santana (TEX at SD) $3,700, Eric Hosmer (SD vs TEX) $3,500
Chad Pinder - 2B, OAK vs Alex Young ($2,700)
If looking for savings tonight in your GPP builds than look no further than Swipe Left himself, Chad Pinder. Pinder is apart of an Oakland platoon that starts him vs LHP. His last start vs a lefty he went 3-4 with a home run and has shown power vs lefties throughout his career. He'll face Young tonight who allowed a .453 SLG and nearly two home runs per nine vs RHH last season. Pinder is strictly a GPP play where Cronenworth is more cash game if looking for a second base punt.
Other Options: Mike Moustakas (CIN at STL) $4,800, Tommy La Stella (LAA at SF) $4,100, Jake Cronenworth (SD vs TEX) $2,500
Rafael Devers - 3B, BOS at Asher Wojciechowski ($5,400)
It's been a long season for the Red Sox offense and especially Rafael Devers. It appears something has finally clicked for Devers over the last seven games. Over those seven games, he is hitting .355 with four extra-base hits and has multi-hit games over the last two games. Devers is pricey tonight and the Red Sox will be popular, but he is one of the players worth paying up for in his matchup vs Wojciechowski.
Other Options: Matt Chapman (OAK vs AZ) $4,700, Manny Machado (SD vs TEX) $4,500, Evan Longoria (SF vs LAA) $3,600
Nick Ahmed - SS, AZ at Sean Manaea ($3,000)
No one is talking about Ahmed, but we should be as he has been consistently good over the last 15 games. He has hit safely in 13 of the 15 games while hitting .415. He is stuffing the stat sheet over that time with seven extra-base hits, 14 runs scored, 16 RBI, and even two steals. He is facing the broken lefty, Sean Manaea tonight and that bodes even better as Ahmed hit .312 vs lefties last season with a .248 ISO and only striking out 14.6% of the time. Ahmed is one of the better salary savers on the board and is cash and GPP viable.
Other Options: Xander Bogaerts (BOS at BAL) $5,500, Francisco Lindor (CLE at PIT) $5,200, Fernando Tatis Jr (SD vs TEX) $5,100, Marcus Semien (OAK vs AZ) $4,700, Brandon Crawford (SF vs LAA) $3,400, Freddy Galvis (CIN at STL) $3,100
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
Anthony Santander - OF, BAL vs Nate Eovaldi ($4,300)
For those that listen to MLB DFS Quick Hits (and if you don't come on!!!!) then you know my love for Santander and the fact I play him nightly. It's a good thing too as he is riding a 15 game hitting streak where he has 15 extra-base hits (seven home runs), a .344 average, .492 ISO and only striking out 12.1% of the time. He has been a double-digit fantasy producer game after game and has another great matchup tonight vs Eovaldi. As long as DK keeps pricing him down, I'll keep plugging Santander into my lineups, especially in cash.
Trent Grisham - OF, SD vs Kyle Gibson ($3,100)
I just can't wrap my head around DK's disrespect of Trent Grisham. He is hitting .310 over his last eight games, setting the table atop a very potent Padres' offense. The early season power has disappeared, but when looking for savings and a solid floor, Grisham is your guy. He faces Gibson tonight who has allowed lefties to hit at least .270 and as high as .326 over the last four seasons while allowing an SLG of .456 or better in three of the last four seasons. Grisham and Hosmer are two Padres I'll be looking to save some money with if needed.
Jesse Winker - OF, CIN at Adam Wainwright ($3,400)
I know 2020 has been crazy, but JESSE WINKER AT ONLY $3,400!?!?!?!?!? Yep, I'll take the bait on this one. He has hit safely in 10 of his last 12 games, good for a .545 average with nine extra-base hits (six home runs), a .636 ISO, oh, and he is still walking 16.7% of the time. Winker is as locked in from a fantasy production perspective as anyone else in baseball, yes even Tatis. He faces Waino tonight who allowed lefties to hit .288 with a .503 SLG last season. Winker and Santander should be starting in your cash lineups tonight.
Other Options: Starling Marte (AZ at OAK) $4,000, Mark Canha (OAK vs AZ) $3,700, Stephen Piscotty (OAK vs AZ) $3,600, Brian Goodwin (LAA at SF) $3,200, many many more
DraftKings DFS Stacks
- Boston Red Sox at Baltimore Orioles (Asher Wojciechowski, RHP)
- Arizona Diamondbacks at Oakland Athletics (Sean Manaea, LHP)
- Baltimore Orioles vs Boston Red Sox (Nate Eovaldi, RHP)
- Sneaky Stack - San Francisco Giants vs Los Angeles Angels (Matt Andriesse, RHP)
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