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With all of the topsy-turvy scheduling, re-scheduling, double-headers, and postponements going on, it seems odd that we have just a modest seven games in store on the DraftKings main slate tonight. We work with what we have, right? The few attractive pitching options on the slate are in either in tough spots or are overly expensive and while we do have a Coors game in play, the pitchers are actually pretty good this time around and the projected total is currently only sitting at 9.2 runs. The classic 'plug-and-play a Coors stack' strategy doesn't seem optimal on the surface, though there will be hitters to target in the mile-high stadium. There are a few other spots to chase stacks against susceptible pitching.
I'll be going through some of the best plays at each position on DraftKings with a GPP/tournament lineup build in mind. That's not to say that these players won't work in cash-game lineups, but we're looking to provide high-upside plays for the most part (it's more fun that way, anyway). As a reminder, it is best practice to stack 3-5 hitters from the same team for DFS purposes, so try to envision how the games will play out and build your lineups from there. Utilizing unique lineup combinations (i.e the nine, one, two, and three hitters) is another great way to differentiate.
In this article, I'll be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for the DraftKings main slate on 8/29/2020. 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, feel free to contact me on Twitter @kringstad19
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DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers
Dylan Bundy - SP, LAA vs SEA ($10,300)
This is either a clear sign of the apocalypse or it's just the new norm in 2020, it's hard to tell. Dylan Bundy is the most expensive pitcher on the slate, by far, and he's still being recommended as the top play. He has quickly realized his potential in Los Angeles in what has to be one of the starkest turnarounds in the last 10 years, holding a 2.58 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 3.08 FIP, 3.50 xFIP, and a 29% K%. He has already faced Seattle twice this season, going 1-1 with an absurd 18/2 K/BB ratio. Bundy should be able to feast on them again as their 24.4% K% is the 10th-highest in the league and their 306 total strikeouts is the third-most in the league.
Trevor Cahill - SP, SF vs ARI ($5,900)
This rock-bottom pricing is simply too enticing for a pitcher who just put up 24.2 DK points against this same team in his last start on 8/23. He wasn't great against the Angels or Astros in his previous two starts, but he has racked up his pitch count in each game and has impressive metrics for a pitcher with the third-lowest salary on today's slate. He holds a 1.64 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 3.70 FIP, and a slate-best 31.1% K% and 4.1 H/9 allowed. His 8.7% SwStr% is curiously low, but his advanced metrics are amazing as he ranks in the 90th percentile or better in exit velocity, hard-hit rate, xwOBA, xERA, xBA, and xSLG. The Diamondbacks aren't a team to be scared of as they rank 25th in wOBA (.304), 26th in wRC+ (88), and 26th in ISO (.135). They aren't a high-strikeout team at just 20.1%, but Cahill should be able to handle this lineup as he did in his last time out and you don't need much at his salary.
Other options: Brett Anderson (MIL vs PIT) $6,400
DraftKings DFS Infielders
Manny Machado - 3B, SD vs COL ($5,600)
This pricing seems really high, but it actually isn't when you consider Machado's form, matchup, and hitting venue for Saturday night's contest. Machado might currently be the hottest hitter in baseball as he's hitting .560/.538/1.280 with five homers, nine RBI, and 10 runs scored over the last seven days. He has put up at least 10 DK points for 10 consecutive games, and he went over 17 DK points in six of those games. He has high marks in every relevant hitting category, highlighted by a .331 ISO and .430 wOBA. Antonio Senzatela has had an OK start to the season, but he holds a low 16.8% K% and got rocked for six earned runs (four homers) against the Dodgers in his last outing.
Eric Thames - 1B, WAS vs BOS ($3,700)
Thames is a platoon-only option as he has displayed very drastic splits to this point in his career. His OPS is .193 higher against RHP since 2018, and he has hit 39 of his last 42 homers against right-handers. He hasn't done a whole lot this year on limited opportunities, but his Hard Hit rate remains high and he'll face off with a pitcher who hasn't yet shown the ability to pitch effectively at the major league level. Chris Mazza, a 30-year-old, holds a career 5.73 ERA and 1.73 WHIP through 22 innings. He got rocked in his first career start as he gave up eight hits, four earned runs and a homer to the Yankees on 8/16.
Erik Gonzalez - 3B/SS, PIT vs MIL ($3,400)
Anderson makes sense as a cheap pitching option against the very light-hitting Pirates team (.117 ISO), but it also makes sense to get to a few Pirates bats if he projects to be highly-owned. Even though Anderson holds a 3.52 ERA over five starts, his 4.98 FIP tells a different story and his 23.5% HR/FB ratio ranks as the second-highest on the slate. Erik Gonzalez ranks second on the team among tonight's projected starters with a .157 ISO, and he projects to hit leadoff with dual-position eligibility on DK. He has two homers and seven doubles this year while he ranks really well on the advanced hitting metric side of things (see below). The Pirates don't project to put up a ton of offense, but Gonzalez could be a solid contrarian pick who possesses more upside than it appears on first blush.
Other options: Howie Kendrick (WAS vs BOS) $3,800, Brendan Rodgers (COL vs SD) $3,100, Trevor Story (COL vs SD) $5,700
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
Alex Verdugo - OF, BOS vs WAS ($4,700)
Verdugo has quietly been hot, hitting .326/.292/.543 with one home run, seven doubles, five RBI, 11 runs scored, and two stolen bases in the last 14 days. He has raised his batting average by .030 points since 8/14 and has eight double-digit outputs on DraftKings in that span. He should hit leadoff against RHP Anibal Sanchez, who is certainly a pitcher to attack with Red Sox bats. Sanchez was solid in his last start against Miami but he really struggled in the three starts prior, allowing 13 earned runs while holding a brutal 7/8 K/BB ratio. He holds a 6.48 ERA, 1.72 WHIP, 5.56 xFIP, and a slate-low 16.2% strikeout rate on the season. He also has a slate-low groundball rate (33%), and gives up a lot of hard contact (44.3%).
Juan Soto - OF, WAS vs BOS ($5,700)
Soto is a great pay-up option again as he gets to platoon-advantage against the overmatched Chris Mazza (see Thames, Eric). The Nats' star is off to a sizzling start to the year, slashing .368/.361/.803 with nine homers, 20 RBI, 18 runs scored, and one steal in just 76 at-bats. He has crushed RHP in his young career and is hitting for a 1.291 OPS against them this season. He holds insane metrics in what is still a limited sample size with a .434 ISO, .534 wOBA, and advanced metrics that are among the league's very best (see below). He has also homered in two straight games - get to him if you can swing it.
Shin-Soo Choo - OF, TEX vs LAD ($3,000)
Choo is cheap, productive, and projected to hit at the top of the order on Saturday. Ross Stripling has been objectively bad this season, holding a 5.46 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 6.83 FIP, 7.70 tERA, and slate-worst marks in HR/9 (3.0), HR/FB (25%), GB% (32%), WAR (-0.3), and Soft % (9.1%). He barely ranks above only Luke Weaver for the worst Hard% at 51.5%. Choo, who holds the platoon-advantage over Stripling, is as good a bet as any Ranger to produce tonight. The 38-year-old veteran only has 79 at-bats as he started the year on the IL, but he has still put up useful stats with three home runs, 12 RBI, nine runs, and four steals on the season. He has recorded double-digit DK points in three of his last five games, including a 20 DK point game against the Rockies in his last outing.
Other options: Justin Upton (LAA vs SEA) $2,300, Adam Eaton (WAS vs BOS) $3,400, Matt Kemp (COL vs SD) $2,900
DraftKings DFS Stacks
The Red Sox and Nationals are both deploying dubious pitchers and Vegas projects that contest to finish at a slate-high 11.7 runs. You'll want to get plenty of bats from both sides, and it's definitely doable as there are hitters in all price ranges that can be considered. The Padres and Rockies are worth considering as they're playing in Coors Field, but it seems wise to not overexpose there as the projected total is at just 9.2 runs. Lastly, the Giants and Rangers are two sneaky, contrarian stacks worth considering in their favorable matchups.
Good luck in your DraftKings contests and make sure to give me a follow on Twitter!
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