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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on August 30th, 2019. Austyn Varney's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
What's up guys! Welcome to Friday baseball on DraftKings! With the hurricane breathing down my neck, I'll do my best to find the top plays on this slate. In all seriousness, the baseball grind is still on and there is plenty of money to be made. With all eyes on football, we may very well see an edge decrease in baseball
Tonight, we're working with 13 games and plenty of pitching to pay for. We'll have to decide what to do at SP2, as there are plenty of pitchers worth paying up, but even more bats. Let's dive in and find the top play at each position.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 8/30/19. 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.
DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers
Dinelson Lamet - SDP @ SFG - $10,700
This is the most expensive we’ve seen Dinelson Lamet, so let’s hope that keeps the masses off of him. Lamet is extremely talented and only struggles with being able to last deeper into games. The San Francisco Giants have ranked 28th in baseball with a team .282 wOBA and 25% strikeout rate. Lamet hasn’t been the most consistent option, but he’s been unlucky with a .251 BABIP and has seen his pitch count slightly increase. The upside is huge here and the Giants are such a putrid offense that even Dinelson Lamet is pretty safe.
Kyle Gibson - MIN @ DET - $9,500
It’s getting old targeting the Tigers every night, but they are a historically bad team. They’ve ranked 29th in baseball with a .279 team wOBA and 25% strikeout rate. They’re only getting worse and this AT&T ballpark in San Fran is made for pitching. Kyle Gibson is about as boring as it gets, but he eats up innings and is capable of striking out a guy per innings. He’s affordable and helps you pay up elsewhere.
DraftKings DFS Infielders
Tom Murphy - SEA @ TEX (Allard) - $4,900
I know Murphy seems insanely expensive, but he’s actually been that good of a hitter vs lefties. On the season, he’s posted a .468 wOBA against lefties and has hit 11 home runs in just 100 plate appearances. The Mariners are facing off with Kolby Allard, who’s been insanely average to say the last of late. He gives it up to righties and has always had HR issues. Murphy is expensive at catcher, but a great play in all formats and he won’t be very popular.
Josh Bell - PIT @ COL (Senzatela) - $5,700
Josh Bell is easily my favorite Pittsburgh Pirates bat in tonight’s game. He missed the party last night, but should jump on board tonight against the weak, right-handed Antonio Senzatela. He’s posted a .371 wOBA to opposing lefties in Coors Field and hasn’t shown any signs of improvement. Bell on the other hand, has sported a nearly .400 wOBA against righties and loves to hit the ball in the air. Coors Field will be a big boost for Bell and he’s my favorite pick of the night to hit one out.
Gleyber Torres - NYY vs. OAK (Anderson) - $4,900
Gleyber Torres is obviously one of the more boom or bust plays in baseball. Especially at a middle infield situation. He’s up to 32 home runs on the season and has posted a .361 wOBA to opposing lefties. Facing off with Brett Anderson, there isn’t much to be worried about. He’s given up a .338 wOBA to righties and that number drops drastically on the road. The Yankees are in play tonight and I love Gleyber Torres as a one-off play.
Renato Nunez - BAL @ KC (Skoglund) - $4,300
Anytime the Orioles face off with a lefty, Renato Nunez is in play. Against southpaws, Nunez has posted a .352 wOBA and hit nearly the majority of his home runs against them. Eric Skoglund has only pitched a few innings this season, but everything in years past suggests he should struggle mightily with righties. Mancini and Nunez are two of my favorite plays on the slate that will go relatively ignored.
Bo Bichette - TOR vs. HOU (Miley) - $5,000
Wade Miley has been one of the luckiest pitchers in baseball this season, posting an ERA nearly two runs lower than his xFIP. The baseball gods eventually catch up with everyone and it’s not too late for Miley to regress. When he has struggled, it’s with right-handed power. The Blue Jays have quite a bit of that and it all starts with Bo Bichette. Though a small sample size, Bichette has held a .400+ wOBA. The Blue Jays are a team I like a lot tonight and Bichette is my favorite of the bunch. Shortstop is relatively weak and Bichette has a ton of upside.
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
Yordan Alvarez - HOU @ TOR (Thornton) - $
We haven’t touched on these Astros just yet, but Yordan Alvarez is one of the top plays on the entire slate. Trent Thornton is about as terrible as it gets vs lefties, allowing a ..362 wOBA with over two home runs per nine innings. Alvarez has cemented himself as a premier power bat in baseball, already stroking 22 home runs since being called up. If I’m paying up for an outfielder, it’s Yordan Alvarez. He has two home rum upside and I don’t think we’ll see him over 15% owned.
J.D. Martinez - BOS @ KC (Skoglund) - $5,300
J.D. Martinez has legitimately been one of the best hitters in the past 10 years against lefties. On the season, he’s sporting a .486 wOBA against them. That should tell you all you need to know. We haven’t touched on the Red Sox yet, but Jose Suarez is an up and down pitcher and the Red Sox could put up a huge game. The lefty has given up a .347 wOBA and a 2.11 HR/9 to right-handers. You can target Martinez in both cash games and tournaments.
Things change quickly as lineups come out. If you have any questions, hit me up on Twitter @VarneyDFS and I'd be more than happy to help.
