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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on August 18, 2023. Nick's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
We have a light Thursday to begin with, then it's chopped aside from that. The two early games are fairly boring for DFS purposes, but I know you'll still play just like I will. The early is fairly simple. Stack Boston and Seattle, run Kirby and Sale. You can get creative and try to run Corbin, but he's risky. Pablo Reyes might be my favorite play on the entire slate.
Now that is out of the way, let's turn the focus to the evening. This article contains my picks for the 13-game main slate on Friday, August 18, 2023, for both DraftKings and FanDuel, which locks at 7:05 PM ET. There is a chance of rain in Cleveland, so keep watch there. The other three games look good to go.
The lineup picks will range from some elite high-priced players to mid-priced options and value plays. I'll give you a few of my top pitching options and then some infielders, outfielders, and teams to stack. 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.
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DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Tarik Skubal, DET at CLE ($7,500 DK)
Skubal and the Tigers were rained out yesterday so he'll have an extra day of rest before taking on the Guardians. It's not that Skubal is without risk. He has not pitched well on the road at all this year. However, Cleveland is hitting just .223 in August and only has five homers in 13 games. For this price, it's worth the risk considering the bats we can use with him.
Spencer Strider, ATL vs. SF ($12,700 DK, $11,500 FD)
Strider is the top pitcher on tonight's slate, but he is very expensive especially on DraftKings. In his last start, he shutout the Mets for seven innings but only had six strikeouts. In his start before that, he allowed six earned runs against the Pirates. For the price tag tonight, you're certainly looking for more out of Strider here.
Others to consider: Kyle Gibson BAL at OAK ($8,200 DK, $9,900 FD) and Pablo Lopez MIN vs. PIT ($10,600 DK, $10,800 FD)
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Ryan McMahon - 3B, COL vs. CHW ($5,000 DK, $3,700 FD)
McMahon and the Rockies have a great matchup tonight at home at Coors Field going up against Michael Kopech. Kopech has allowed a lot of power to both sides of the plate as he's allowed a .231 ISO to left-handed hitters and a .226 ISO to right-handed hitters this season. McMahon has a .253 ISO against right-handed pitching this year. He's a really good play on both sites tonight.
Ezekiel Tovar - SS, COL vs. CHW ($4,800 DK, $3,300 FD)
I'm not just going to list all the Rockies here, though it wouldn't be the worst idea. While McMahon likely has the best matchup, Tovar is one of the best plays on the entire slate when considering his price. He's especially too cheap on FanDuel tonight. Tovar has a .175 ISO in 30 games since the All-Star break.
Andrew Vaughn - 1B, CHW at COL ($3,900 DK, $3,400 FD)
Sticking with the Coors Field game here, but going to the other side. Andrew Vaughn is underpriced tonight on both sites. Vaughn has a .167 ISO against right-handed pitching this season. Peter Lambert, tonight's starter for the Rockies, has allowed a .295 ISO to right-handed hitters this season.
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Kyle Schwarber - OF, PHI at WAS ($5,000 DK, $3,500 FD)
It doesn't get much better of a matchup than Kyle Schwarber against Joan Adon. Schwarber gets a ballpark upgrade going to Washington, a great hitter's park. Schwarber has a .240 ISO against right-handed pitching this season. Adon has allowed a .226 ISO to left-handed batters this season. Fire up Schwarber as a spend up option worth paying for tonight.
Kerry Carpenter - OF, DET at CLE ($4,000 DK)
Carpenter homered two nights ago, which was his fourth in the last five games. Overall, Carpenter has a 12-game hitting streak with five homers, seven RBI, and 12 runs in that span. There are few hotter hitters in the league right now and Carpenter is a good value on DraftKings. Unfortunately, this game isn't on the FanDuel main slate.
Tyler O'Neill - OF, STL vs. NYM ($3,600 DK, $2,700 FD)
Tyler O'Neill against a left-handed pitcher? Sign me up. O'Neill has a .225 ISO against left-handed pitching this season. Joey Luchessi is starting for the Mets and he has allowed a .236 ISO against right-handed batters this season. O'Neill is underpriced on both sites tonight, but especially on FanDuel.
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
Colorado Rockies vs. Michael Kopech
It's hard to get away from the Rockies at Coors Field as the top stack of the night. There are other good stacks, but this one is also a good value when considering the pricing. Kopech has allowed a lot of power to both sides of the plate this season and the Rockies should be able to take advantage of him at home. The White Sox also have the sixth-worst bullpen ERA in all of baseball behind Kopech.
Also consider: Chicago White Sox vs. Peter Lambert
The White Sox are simply too cheap for their expectation in Coors Field tonight. Nobody besides Luis Robert Jr. and Eloy Jimenez are even above $4,000 on DraftKings. That makes them very easy to stack up here in what should be a high scoring game.
Sneaky Stack: Tampa Bay Rays vs. Tyler Anderson
Anderson has allowed a .186 ISO to right-handed hitters this season and the Rays have a lot of right-handed hitters that crush left-handed pitching this season. Yandy Diaz, Randy Arozarena, Harold Ramirez, Jose Siri, and Christian Betancourt all have at least a .191 ISO against left-handed pitching this season.
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