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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for FanDuel and DraftKings on August 18th, 2022. John Brubaker's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
Happy Thursday, RotoBallers! This is John Brubaker dropping some of my favorite plays for today's slate. After a few weeks of relatively normal Thursday slates, we're hit with a five-game main slate this evening. Not only that, pitching is extremely top-heavy, with guys like Jacob deGrom, Max Fried, and Shane McClanahan taking the ball for their respective clubs. We might not have such an easy time finding value guys.
We don't have any slate differences today, which is awesome. It's tough for me to express all of my favorite plays in this article, and when some players are on FanDuel but not DraftKings and vice-versa, it makes it even more difficult. Nevertheless, with all of the games being on the same slate, let's giddy up and have some fun tonight.
This article will provide my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel at 7:05 pm on 8/18/2022. 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 of that out of the way, it's onto the picks!
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DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Jacob deGrom, NYM at ATL ($10,300 DK, $12,000 FD)
This one should come as no surprise. Jacob deGrom is back and establishing his dominance as the best pitcher in baseball once again. It's unfortunate that he's pitching tonight and not tomorrow since I'll be heading to Philadelphia to watch the Mets take on the Phillies. It's likely that the Mets won't stretch deGrom out past six innings or about 80 pitches tonight, but he's been making the most of what he's got. deGrom projects to a 1.67 xFIP and 44.79% strikeout rate tonight. deGrom brings in a career ERA of 2.09 against the Braves into this one and allowed two earned runs in 5.2 innings while striking out 12 back on August 7th. I'm more willing to lock him in on DraftKings than I am FanDuel due to the price difference, but I'll certainly have exposure across both sites.
DraftKings Projection: 26.8
FanDuel Projection: 43.93
Frankie Montas, NYY vs TOR ($7,300 DK, $9,400 FD)
Here's another guy I'll be looking at on DraftKings rather than FanDuel, Montas is a really solid "value" arm on DK. The Blue Jays' potent offense has been up and down over the last few weeks and we should take advantage of Montas's cheap price while it's available. Montas projects to have a rather solid night, too, as my model gives him a projected 26.13% strikeout rate and 2.90 xFIP. He's pitched twice against Toronto, the last time coming in May of 2021 where he threw six innings of three-run baseball while striking out four.
DraftKings Projection: 14.7
FanDuel Projection: 29.3
Also consider:
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Manny Machado - 3B, SD vs. Anibal Sanchez ($5,800 DK, $4,500 FD)
As far as hitters go, we'll start the slate off with Manny Machado against veteran righty Anibal Sanchez. Machado is having himself an excellent season, coming into this one hitting .305 with 21 home runs and an OPS of .909. He projects to more of the same tonight against Sanchez, with a projected 48.65% hard contact rate and .667 wOBA + ISO against Sanchez's pitch types. He's had some prior success against Sanchez as well, going 8-17 with a double and four homers against the righty.
DraftKings Projection: 12.34
FanDuel Projection: 14.66
Anthony Rizzo - 1B, NYY vs. Jose Berrios ($5,000 DK, $3,700 FD)
We'll head up to the Bronx for the second hitter of the afternoon while taking a look at Anthony Rizzo. The Yankees ended their skid with an electric walk-off victory last night, with Rizzo going 1-4 with a home run and a walk in the process. Rizzo projects to a 35.94% hard contact rate this evening and a .805 wOBA + ISO against Berrios's pitch types. Rizzo is 5-16 against Berrios for his career, with three singles and two homers.
DraftKings Projection: 10.95
FanDuel Projection: 12.85
Michael Massey - 2B, KC vs. Shane McClanahan ($2,100 DK, $2,300 FD)
Taking a bit of a chance here with Massey as I can't guarantee that he'll start against the southpaw Shane McClanahan tonight. Massey is hitting .308 with a .769 OPS on the year so far, and while it's based on small sample size, he does have a .849 wOBA + ISO against lefties this season. He projects to a 32.57% hard contact rate and .915 wOBA + ISO against McClanahan's pitch types. I'm not sure if he'll be in Kansas City's lineup this evening, but if he is, he's my favorite infielder value play.
DraftKings Projection: 7.93
FanDuel Projection: 9.74
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Aaron Judge - OF, NYY vs. Jose Berrios ($6,000 DK, $5,000 FD)
Most likely a DraftKings-specific play here, as I've been hoping that FanDuel would lower Judge's price during his recent skid. He's still hitting .297 with 46 homers and a 1.063 OPS on the year, so it is warranted I guess. He projects well against Berrios tonight as well, projecting to 48.21% hard contact and a .931 wOBA + ISO against Berrios's pitch types. He's 6-15 with a homer against Berrios in his career, so I'm sure he'll look to get back on track tonight.
DraftKings Projection: 13.06
FanDuel Projection: 16.27
Bryan Reynolds - OF, PIT vs. Josh Winckowski ($4,100 DK, $3,100 FD)
I'll head out to Pittsburgh for the second outfielder, Bryan Reynolds, who's taking on Boston's Josh Winckowski. Reynolds is hitting .259 with 18 homers and an OPS of .805 coming into tonight's game, with two homers in his last three games. He projects to a 32.26% hard contact rate this evening and has a .645 wOBA + ISO against Wickowski's pitch types. He doesn't have any data against Wieckowski but will look to get after him tonight.
DraftKings Projection: 9.87
FanDuel Projection: 12.16
David Peralta - OF, TB vs. Carlos Hernandez ($3,100 DK, $2,500 FD)
To finish up our hitters for today, we'll look at a nice value option in David Peralta. Since joining the Rays, Peralta is 13-48 with two doubles and a triple as well as logging four RBIs. He'll look to get it going tonight against Carlos Hernandez, with who he projects a 39.26% hard contact rate as well as a .733 wOBA + ISO against his pitch types. He should be hitting cleanup for the Rays tonight and is an excellent value option in the outfield on both sites.
DraftKings Projection: 9.21
FanDuel Projection: 11.58
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
San Diego Padres vs. Anibal Sanchez
The new-look Padres have been a bit up-and-down since trading for Juan Soto and co. but nonetheless should have no problems putting up runs tonight. They rank 14th in OPS (.709), 14th in wOBA (.311), and 12th in wRC+ (102). They'll be taking on the veteran right-hander Anibal Sanchez who brings in a 7.20 ERA as well as a struggling Nationals bullpen that's ranked among the worst in baseball all season.
Favorite Plays: Juan Soto, Manny Machado, Brandon Drury, Josh Bell, Jake Cronenworth, Ha-Seong Kim, Jorge Alfaro
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Carlos Hernandez
We'll be paying up for at least one pitcher tonight, so we're going to need some value on offense. I'll be looking at the Rays in that aspect, taking on Royals starter Carlos Hernandez who will be coming into tonight's start with a 9.08 ERA. The Rays have been less than impressive against right-handed pitchers this season, ranking 25th in OPS (.679), 24th in wOBA (.300), and 14th in wRC+ (100). Like the Padres, they should have many issues against a struggling starter and a bullpen that ranks among the worst in baseball, and have plenty of options to choose from as six players grade out well according to my model tonight.
Favorite Plays: Yandy Diaz, Brandon Lowe, David Peralta, Ji-Man Choi, Taylor Walls, Jose Siri
Also Consider: New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates
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