RADIO
We're back at it with a full 15-game slate here and it should be a fun day of baseball with the fantasy playoffs right around the corner.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 8/27/19. 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 @Bartilottajoel
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Today's Weather
We have rain projected in Toronto and Miami but both of those stadiums happen to have roofs! That means we have no weather to worry about on this slate for the time being but it's always worth monitoring before submitting lineups. We do have some windy conditions in Chicago though, so be sure to check on that as well.
DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers
Luis Castillo, CIN at MIA ($10,000)
Castillo very well might be the best pitching option on the board. Despite allowing eight runs just two starts ago, Castillo is still pitching to a 3.04 ERA and 1.12 WHIP for the year. That pairs beautifully with a 3.52 xFIP and 29 percent K rate, as the breakout is real. The reason we love him today is because he faces this putrid lineup in the most spacious ballpark in baseball, with the Marlins ranked bottom-two in runs scored, OBP, OPS and xwOBA. That’s why Miami has an implied run total right around 3.5, the lowest on the slate.
Adam Plutko, CLE at DET ($6,500)
This is a total punt play but it’s always worth considering pitchers against the Tigers. The reason for that is because the Motor City Kitties rank dead-last in K rate, runs scored, wOBA and xwOBA. Those ghastly numbers definitely make Plutko an intriguing option, as his .318 xwOBA, 3.8 percent walk rate and 1.16 WHIP indicates that he’s not as bad of a pitcher as this price would tell us. Vegas agrees with our assessment, making Plutko and the Indians a –180 favorite in this fixture.
DraftKings DFS Infielders
Yasmani Grandal – C, MIL vs, STL ($4,300)
Grandal is always one of my first considerations when picking catchers and it’s easy to see why when looking at his numbers. Not only are his .380 OBP and .843 OPS career-highs, they also both rank Top-5 at his position. What we like here is that he faces a righty with a measly 17 percent K rate, with Grandal generating a .482 SLG and .826 OPS against right-handers since 2017.
Rhys Hoskins – 1B, PHI vs. PIT ($4,500)
If you don’t already know, Hoskins makes absolute minced meat of left-handers. So far this season, Hoskins is posting a .457 OBP, .545 SLG and 1.002 OPS with the platoon advantage in his favor. Those are obviously bonkers statistics from a player south of $5,000 and we simply can’t fade him against a guy like Steven Brault. The Pittsburgh southpaw is currently pitching to a 5.05 xFIP and 1.41 WHIP.
Gleyber Torres – 2B, NYY at SEA ($4,800)
Torres is raking right now. Over his last 21 games., the slugging second baseman has eight homers and 20 RBI. That hot stretch exemplifies a year in which he’s accumulated 32 homers, 76 RBI and 84 runs scored en route to a .548 SLG and .900 OPS. Those absurd numbers make him very attractive against Yusei Kikuchi’s 5.19 ERA and 1.44 WHIP, with Torres posting a .538 SLG and .888 OPS against lefties for his career.
Matt Chapman – 3B, OAK at KC ($4,800)
Much like the rest of the players in this article, Chapman does work with the platoon advantage in his favor. Against lefties this year, Chapman has a .595 SLG and .946 OPS. That’s really all you can ask for from someone in this price range, especially against Mike Montgomery and his 4.99 ERA and 1.60 WHIP.
Trea Turner – SS, WSH at BAL ($5,400)
We have to get in at least one Washington bat against the Orioles because every offense is worth stacking against this team. The simple fact is, Baltimore just set the record for most dingers allowed, as they’re also a lock to finish dead-last in ERA, WHIP and xwOBA. Aaron Brooks and his 6.21 ERA and 1.44 WHIP have definitely played a factor in that and we have to love Turner atop this lineup against this putrid pitcher. Turner has really turned things around in the second half too, generating a .381 OBP and .871 OPS over his last 55 games while swiping 16 bags in that span.
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
Charlie Blackmon, COL vs. BOS ($5,700)
Blackmon very well might be the best play on the board. This dude has some ridiculous numbers at home this season and it’s really no surprise from a leadoff hitter who calls Coors Field home. So far this year, Chuck Nasty has a .409 AVG, .463 OBP, .817 SLG and 1.281 OPS in Colorado. That’s truly horrifying for Rick Porcello, who’s got a 5.49 ERA and 1.41 WHIP this season. It’s hard to fade the leadoff hitter whose team is projected for seven runs in such a premier matchup.
Aaron Judge, NYY at SEA ($4,500)
Judge has seen his price drop on DraftKings but it’s time to buy low. Some of the advanced statistics tell us that he might be the most dangerous bat in the game, with Judge leading the league in exit velocity and hard-hit percentage, while posting an xwOBA above .400. Those superb peripherals are really enticing with Judge homering three times this weekend and a matchup with Kikuchi. Those ugly Kikuchi statistics can be seen in the Torres write-up while Judge has a .483 OBP, .638 SLG and 1.120 OPS against left-handed pitching this season.
Khris Davis , OAK at KC ($3,400) or Franmil Reyes, CLE at DET ($3,900)
If you’re in need of a cheap outfielder, both of these guys have some serious power potential. While Davis is struggling mightily right now, he still leads the league in homers since 2016 and has an ISO north of .250 in that stretch. He also gets to face Montgomery and his 1.60 WHIP, which is scary since Davis has a .500 SLG and .833 OPS against lefties this season. Reyes has similar power potential, homering two times this weekend while posting a .513 SLG and .271 ISO for the year.
