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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for FanDuel and DraftKings on August 20, 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 a good one so far, and I'm looking forward to sifting through another crop of games. Let's break down my favorite plays from today's main slate!
With most West Coast games washed away, today's main slate features an enticing nine-game matinee mix. There might be some additional 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 8/20/2023 and the slate locking at 1:05 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
Max Scherzer, TEX vs. MIL ($11,000 DK, $10,900 FD)
Max Scherzer is expensive to roster, but nobody on this slate comes close to him in terms of the ceiling. Through 22 starts, he sports a 3.37 xERA and 3.85 xFIP. That includes a fantastic .286 xwOBA, alongside a .209 xBA, 37.2% hard-hit rate, 88.4 mph average exit velocity, and 6.8% walk rate. Scherzer will surrender damage at times, but the strikeouts are a consistent source of fantasy production. He boasts an impressive 28.4% strikeout rate and has managed at least six strikeouts in 11 consecutive outings.
Despite holding onto first place in the NL Central, the Brewers lineup has regressed into one of baseball's weakest offenses. They score 4.3 runs per game on the season. They struggle mightily versus right-handed pitching, posting an 87 wRC+ against them with a .684 OPS, .301 wOBA, and a 23.4% strikeout rate.
Max Fried, ATL vs. SF ($9,900 DK, $9,800 FD)
Most of 2023 has been lost to injury for Fried, but he's back and looks excellent in this spot. Through eight starts this season, he boasts an impressive 2.04 xERA and 3.14 xFIP. Those marks consist of a .223 xwOBA, .195 xBA, .259 xSLG, 2.5% barrel rate, 4.8% walk rate, and 29.4% hard-hit rate. Fried's 23.4% strikeout rate is barely north of the league average, but he's dominant in every other regard.
The Giants score an underwhelming 4.3 runs per game this season. That includes being one of the league's worst lineups against left-handed pitching, posting an 86 wRC+ against southpaws. That includes a .678 OPS, .297 wOBA, and a generous 25.2% strikeout rate.
Also consider: Hunter Brown, Eduardo Rodriguez, Nick Pivetta
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Nolan Arenado – 3B, STL vs. Carlos Carrasco ($5,600 DK, $3,400 FD)
The Cardinals are playing irrelevant games at this point, but Nolan Arenado has been a bright spot this season. He carries a .285/.331/.511 slash line with 26 home runs and a 123 wRC+. Arenado has been particularly successful against right-handed pitching, slugging .515 this season, part of a .513 career mark.
Carlos Carrasco appears fully washed in 2023. He's getting lit up to the tune of a .510 xSLG, 46.8% hard-hit rate, 91.2 mph average exit velocity, 10.8% barrel rate, and a .295 xBA. Right-handed hitters are especially problematic for Carrasco, slugging .563 against him. That all amounts to a 6.49 xERA and a 4.97 xFIP.
Pete Alonso – 1B, NYM vs. Dakota Hudson ($5,400 DK, $3,800 FD)
Pete Alonso continues to conduct himself as one of baseball's best power hitters. He ranks second in the National League with 38 home runs, including a .553 xSLG, 15.6% barrel rate, and a 131 wRC+. Alonso's also been red-hot since the All-Star break, blasting 12 home runs across 34 games in that span.
Thanks to a high groundball rate, Dakota Hudson isn't the most vulnerable to home runs. That said, he does get hit exceptionally hard. That includes surrendering a .448 xSLG and a 43.9% hard-hit rate.
Noelvi Marte – SS, CIN vs. Hyun Jin Ryu ($2,500 DK, $2,400 FD)
Noelvi Marte is the latest stud prospect the Reds have called up, and he figures to draw his first career start on Sunday. He's the 24th-ranked prospect in baseball, per MLB Pipeline, featuring 60-grade power and above-average running ability. Inexperience is certainly a factor. But given his upside, Marte is an excellent value for near-minimum pricing.
Hyun Jin Ryu has hardly pitched recently, totaling 41 innings over the last two seasons. He posted a 5.67 ERA last season and a 4.37 ERA during his last full season in 2021. Ryu carries a deceptive 2.57 ERA through three outings this year, but a 4.20 xFIP and 4.50 xFIP tell the real story. It's safe to assume the 36-year-old's best days are behind him.
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Cody Bellinger – 1B/OF, CHC vs. Jordan Lyles ($5,800 DK, $4,100 FD)
It's no secret that Cody Bellinger is one of the league's hottest hitters these days. Since the All-Star break, he's crushed 11 home runs with a 181 wRC+. Overall this season, Bellinger is slashing .326/.375/.564 with 20 home runs and 17 stolen bases. This has been Bellinger's best year since his 2019 MVP campaign.
Targeting hitters against Jordan Lyles is a tried and true recipe for success. Through 23 starts this season, he owns a 5.14 xERA and 5.34 xFIP. That includes a .491 xSLG, 10.3% barrel rate, .265 xBA, and .347 xwOBA. Lyles has surrendered 28 home runs in 2023, tied for second-most in the majors behind only Lance Lynn.
Masataka Yoshida – OF, BOS vs. Clarke Schmidt ($4,800 DK, $3,200 FD)
Masataka Yoshida is enjoying an outstanding rookie season. He's slashing .301/.356/.470 with 13 home runs and a 125 wRC+. That includes an excellent .274 xBA and a minuscule 12.4% strikeout rate. Yoshida isn't the most powerful hitter, but he's proof that good things happen if you put the ball in play.
Left-handed hitters have gotten the better of Clarke Schmidt all season long. They're slugging .513 against him with a .383 wOBA. Playing in Yankee Stadium, which greatly favors left-handed power, won't do Schmidt any favors either.
Max Kepler – OF, MIN vs. Osvaldo Bido ($3,800 DK, $2,800 FD)
Max Kepler's price is finally starting to climb, but it's still lower than it should be. He's slashing .241/.303/.472 with 20 home runs and a 111 wRC+. His underlying numbers are even more impressive, including a .508 xSLG, 12.9% barrel rate, 46.1% hard-hit rate, and 91.7 mph average exit velocity.
Osvaldo Bido has shown nothing special on the mound during his short MLB career. Through 13 appearances, he sports a 4.68 xERA and 5.02 xFIP. Left-handed hitters are slugging .488 against Bido this season.
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
Chicago Cubs vs. Jordan Lyles
Favorite Plays: Cody Bellinger, Nico Hoerner, Dansby Swanson, Jeimer Candelario, Mike Tauchman
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Carlos Carrasco
Favorite Plays: Nolan Arenado, Paul Goldschmidt, Tyler O'Neill, Tommy Edman, Willson Contreras
Also Consider: Atlanta Braves, Houston Astros, Minnesota Twins
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