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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for FanDuel and DraftKings on August 13, 2023. Kevin Hickey's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
Happy Sunday, RotoBallers! I'm excited to be covering another fun DFS slate. The MLB season has been good to me in the early going, so I'm looking forward to sifting through another crop of games. Let's break down my favorite plays from today's main slate!
Today's main slate features an enticing eight-game matinee mix. There might be some weather spots to watch today, so it's essential to check in with your preferred meteorologist ahead of lock. I'll point out the standout plays, but there will be plenty of opportunities to get creative with your builds on this slate.
This article will provide my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 8/13/2023 and the slate locking at 1:35 PM ET. The lineup picks will range from some elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports here. It's also essential to monitor injury news and today's MLB starting lineups. Now that we got all that out of the way, it's onto the picks!
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DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Freddy Peralta, MIL vs. CWS ($10,100 DK, $10,700 FD)
In my opinion, there's no need to pay all the way up to Gerrit Cole today. Freddy Peralta is the slate's preferred starter. Through 22 outings, he boasts an impressive 3.53 xERA and 3.72 xFIP. That includes other strong numbers like a .216 xBA, .366 xSLG, and .293 xwOBA. Most notably, Peralta sports a 29.7% strikeout rate accompanied by a 33.8% whiff rate. He's posted two 13-strikeout performances over his last three outings, and something similar today is certainly within the range of outcomes.
The White Sox present a fairly ideal matchup for Peralta. Chicago holds an awful 84 wRC+ against right-handed pitching this season. That includes a .674 OPS, .292 wOBA, and a 23.6% strikeout rate. Overall, the White Sox score 4.1 runs per game for the season and could be extra shorthanded today. Jake Burger was traded a week ago, and Luis Robert Jr. has been sidelined with a finger injury since Wednesday.
Eury Perez, MIA vs. NYY ($8,600 DK, $9,400 FD)
Eury Perez is my favorite SP2 today. He's fresh off his first start back from a month-long rest and should be able to approach a normal workload on Sunday. Perez has enjoyed a fantastic rookie campaign, posting a 2.79 ERA across 12 outings. That includes a .219 xBA, .302 xwOBA, 28.8% strikeout rate, and 32.5% whiff rate. He's surrendered some power, but playing in the pitcher-friendly LoanDepot Park should help mitigate that risk.
The Yankees shouldn't give Perez too much trouble. There's always looming risk with Aaron Judge, but the rest of their lineup is pretty manageable. New York scores a middling 4.3 runs per game on the season. They struggle to move the needle against right-handed pitching, carrying a weak 92 wRC+, .696 OPS, and .303 wOBA.
Also consider: Gerrit Cole, Tanner Bibee, Dylan Cease
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Elly De La Cruz – 3B/SS, CIN vs. Mitch Keller ($6,200 DK, $3,800 FD)
Elly De La Cruz is a little overpriced these days. But if nothing else, that should keep his ownership low. He carries a .265/.315/.461 slash line with nine home runs and 17 stolen bases through his first 56 career games. The switch hitter has been particularly effective against right-handed pitchers, slugging .509 with a 115 wRC+.
Mitch Keller's early-season dominance has faded, and he's now working through some struggles. Keller owns a 9.11 ERA across five second-half starts, surrendering a .647 slugging percentage and at least one home run in each outing.
Brandon Drury – 2B, LAA vs. Jose Urquidy ($4,600 DK, $2,900 FD)
Brandon Drury looks great today. He's slashing .277/.319/.494 with 15 home runs this season. That includes a 46.3% hard-hit rate and a 10.9% barrel rate. Drury is slugging .510 against right-handed pitching this season, alongside a .347 wOBA and 120 wRC+.
Jose Urquidy is a pitcher worth targeting against today. He owns a 6.10 ERA and 5.51 xFIP across seven starts this season. Right-handed hitters are slugging .541 versus Urquidy, part of a .474 career mark. Numerous Angels bats look good in this spot.
Brandon Belt – 1B, TOR vs. Jameson Taillon ($3,500 DK, $3,000 FD)
Brandon Belt is an affordable bat in a good spot today. He sports a .818 OPS this season, including a 129 wRC+ and 12.5% barrel rate. All 11 of Belt's home runs have come against right-handed pitching, posting a .220 ISO and .365 wOBA.
Jameson Taillon has performed deceptively well lately, but the underlying numbers are not pretty. He owns a .466 xSLG, .265 xBA, and a 10.4% barrel rate. Left-handed hitters are slugging .527 against Taillon this season, making Belt an ideal play.
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Cody Bellinger – OF, CHC vs. Hyun Jin Ryu ($5,500 DK, $4,200 FD)
Cody Bellinger is enjoying an outstanding bounce-back campaign. He's slashing .331/.380/.561 with 18 home runs and 17 stolen bases. That includes an impressive .272 xBA, .445 xSLG, and a career-best 15.6% strikeout rate. Interestingly, Bellinger has performed better against southpaws this season, slugging .609 with a 173 wRC+.
At 36 years old and with recurring injury issues, Hyun Jin Ryu might be cooked. He's pitched just 36 innings since 2021, and the results have not been good. Ryu has surrendered a .474 xSLG this season, a .502 xSLG in 2022, and a .440 xSLG across 31 starts in 2021.
Lane Thomas – OF, WAS vs. Ken Waldichuk ($4,800 DK, $3,700 FD)
Assuming Lane Thomas is back in the lineup after missing Saturday's contest, he's a fantastic play. Thomas is slashing .284/.330/.485 with 20 home runs and 15 stolen bases. He's been particularly dominant against left-handed pitching, slugging .619 with a 171 wRC+.
Ken Waldichuk sports a 6.30 ERA through 26 appearances this season. That includes a 5.12 xFIP, .422 xSLG, 41.1% hard-hit rate, and .339 xwOBA. Right-handed hitters are slugging .500 against Waldichuk for his career.
Lawrence Butler – OF, OAK vs. Trevor Williams ($2,000 DK, $2,000 FD)
For the absolute minimum price, you won't find a higher upside than Lawrence Butler. His MLB career is just two games deep, but the 23-year-old is the fifth-ranked prospect in Oakland's farm system. He features above-average power and speed, opening up numerous avenues for fantasy production. Butler posted a .284/.350/.475 slash line with 15 home runs and 21 stolen bases across 89 games in the minors this season.
Trevor Williams isn't having a good season. He carries a 5.24 xERA and 5.12 xFIP through 23 starts. That includes an ugly .480 xSLG, .275 xBA, .350 xwOBA, 9.8% barrel rate, and 17% strikeout rate. Left-handed hitters are slugging .531 against Williams with a .378 wOBA.
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
Chicago Cubs vs. Hyun Jin Ryu
Favorite Plays: Cody Bellinger, Dansby Swanson, Christopher Morel, Nico Hoerner, Jeimer Candelario
Los Angeles Angels vs. Jose Urquidy
Favorite Plays: Shohei Ohtani, Luis Rengifo, C.J. Cron, Brandon Drury, Mickey Moniak
Also Consider: Toronto Blue Jays, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds
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