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The top daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for FanDuel and DraftKings on August 31st, 2022. Juan Carlos Blanco's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
Welcome back to another edition of the FREE DraftKings and FanDuel MLB DFS picks. As customary, we have an all-day ledger on tap Wednesday, and although DraftKings does not have a full-day slate, FanDuel does. Consequently, today's article will feature picks on both sites for games throughout the day, as even on DK, the suggestions will prove viable for someone playing one of the site's split slates.
It's a very strong day on the pitching front, with four pitchers particularly standing out and arguably at least a couple of others beyond that worth considering. There are also some targetable pitchers taking the hill, so assembling some very appealing hitters and identifying two potentially profitable stacks was a fairly straightforward process as well.
This article will provide my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for FanDuel and DraftKings on 8/31/2022 that includes a FanDuel main slate locking at 2:05 pm ET. The lineup 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. It's also essential to monitor injury news and today's MLB starting lineups. If you have any questions or comments, find me on Twitter and ask away!
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DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Kyle Wright - ATL vs. COL ($9,800 DK, $10,800 FD)
Wright has had very few bumps in the road this season while finally delivering on his considerable potential, posting a 16-5 record, 2.99 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and a solid 24.0 percent strikeout rate across 24 starts. The right-hander has delivered handsomely at home as well, posting a 10-2 mark, 9.2 K/9, and 0.9 HR/9 across 85.2 innings. He'll also take a streak of three consecutive quality starts into Wednesday's turn for what is already a very favorable matchup on paper.
The Rockies haven't been very effective against right-handed pitching on the road in the second half of the season, generating a .295 wOBA and -6.6 wRAA in that split. Colorado has also been the NL's most punchless offense overall on the road this season, posting a league-low .282 wOBA and .109 ISO along with a -52.2 wRAA. Wright has yet to face the Rockies in his career, but Colorado's bats don't project to present much of a threat, and Wright's recent body of work supports the notion he can exploit the matchup.
Freddy Peralta - MIL vs. PIT ($8,200 DK, $8,600 FD)
Peralta has been in very good form since returning from an extended stay on the injured list, and he's going into Wednesday coming off his most impressive start of the season. The right-hander blanked the Cubs over six innings Friday, and he's pitched to a 2.55 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in the 24.2 innings since his return. Peralta also has one very impressive start against the Pirates already on his 2022 resume, having shut Pittsburgh out over six innings with seven strikeouts at PNC Park back on April 28th.
The Pirates have also been one of the most ineffective teams against right-handed pitching on the road in the second half of the season. Pittsburgh has just a .221 average, .621 OPS, .275 wOBA and -11.1 wRAA in that split since the All-Star break. Peralta has already generated strong performances against the likes of the Braves, Rays, and Dodgers at home as well, and he could well leave the Pirates lineup, which is of much lesser caliber than that of those clubs, largely overmatched as well.
Other options: Jacob deGrom - NYM vs. ATL ($11,500 DK, $12,000 FD); Drew Rasmussen - TB at MIA ($9,000 DK, $9,800 FD)
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Paul Goldschmidt - 1B, STL at Mike Minor ($6,300 DK, $4,700 FD)
Goldschmidt has been terrorizing left-handed pitching all season, and Wednesday, he'll face a vulnerable veteran in Minor whom he's already enjoyed plenty of success against in the past. The slugger has tormented Minor over 15 career plate appearances, posting a .571 average with three homers and only two strikeouts. He also went into Tuesday night's action wielding a red-hot bat, slashing a .371 average and 1.173 OPS with 11 extra-base hits and 21 RBI over his previous 18 games.
Additionally, Goldschmidt owns a .426 average and 1.301 OPS against left-handed pitching on the road, along with a jaw-dropping .543 wOBA and 259 wRC+. Goldy also has a 31.0 percent line-drive rate in that split, while Minor has been pounded by right-handed hitters for a .320 average, .431 wOBA, 2.8 HR/9, and 7.46 FIP at home.
Vaughn Grissom - 2B, ATL vs. Ryan Feltner ($3,000 DK, $3,300 FD)
Grissom has started his MLB career with a flourish; even factoring in a 1-for-18 slump over his last four games, he still entered Tuesday night's action with a .324/.361/.500 slash line over 72 plate appearances. The talented rookie draws a matchup that could be conducive to a resurgence Wednesday, as Feltner has pitched to an 0-3 record, 6.19 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, and 1.7 HR/9 across 32 road innings.
Grissom has enjoyed his most success by far thus far against right-handed pitching, producing a .340 average and .389 wOBA in that split. He's been at his absolute best at home versus righties, generating a .391 average, 1.049 OPS, .451 wOBA, and 191 wRC+. For his part, Feltner has been hit hard in same-handed matchups on the road, allowing a .305 average and .348 wOBA, along with an elevated 28.9 percent line-drive rate.
Willy Adames - SS, MIL vs. Zach Thompson ($5,400 DK, $3,600 FD)
The .233 average and .295 on-base percentage Adames went into Tuesday's game with left plenty to be desired, but he'd generated six extra-base hits (three doubles, three homers), nine RBI, a .378 average, and a 1.117 OPS over his previous nine contests. The 26-year-old now boasts career highs in home runs (26) and RBI (76), and he'll be in an excellent matchup Wednesday against Thompson, who he enjoyed success against previously and who struggles with right-handed hitters.
Thompson has pitched to a .307 average, .359 wOBA, and 1.5 HR/9 against righty bats, while also allowing a 36.6 percent hard-contact rate. Adames has slugged 21 of his 26 homers off right-handed pitching, and he's furnished a .343 wOBA and .284 ISO against that handedness at home. He's also tagged Thompson for a .556 average over 10 career encounters, and he's generated respective .414 and .413 wOBAs against the cutter and sinker, Thompson's top two pitches.
Brandon Drury - 3B, SDP at Alex Wood ($5,300 DK, $3,300 FD)
Drury has had mixed success at the plate since arriving in San Diego, but he did have five extra-base hits (two doubles, three homers) and 12 RBI over his last 17 games prior to Tuesday night's action. The slugger has been excellent against left-handed pitching all season as well, and Wednesday, he sees a southpaw that's been in less than stellar form lately in Wood, who's been blasted for a 17.61 ERA, 1.96 WHIP, and 5.9 HR/9 across the 7.2 innings covering his last two starts.
The veteran southpaw has had less trouble at home than on the road, but he's allowed a .282 average, .348 wOBA, and 1.5 HR/9 to right-handed hitters. For his part, Drury has been a terror against southpaws all season, posting a .304 average, .957 OPS, .404 wOBA, and .320 ISO in that split. He's also been outstanding with men on base and men in scoring position against either-handedness, generating .407 and .442 wOBAs, respectively, in those scenarios.
Other options: Matt Olson - 1B, ATL vs. Ryan Feltner ($4,800 DK, $ FD); Nolan Arenado - 3B, STL at Mike Minor ($5,900 DK, $ FD)
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Manuel Margot - TB at Trevor Rogers ($3,900 DK, $3,000 FD)
All three components of the .302/.361/.425 slash line Margot went into Tuesday with qualify as career-high figures for the veteran outfielder, who's also tagged left-handed pitching for a .386 average, .944 OPS, .414 wOBA, and 182 wRC+. The matchup against the vulnerable Rogers, who's slated to come off the IL on Wednesday, is therefore a very enticing one, considering the Marlins southpaw has pitched to a 4-10 record, 5.85 ERA, and 1.60 WHIP overall, including a 2-6 mark, 7.08 ERA, 1.67 WHIP, and 1.8 HR/9 at home across 40.2 innings.
Rogers has also had a heap of trouble against right-handed hitters at LoanDepot Park, pitching to a .346 BAA, .439 wOBA, 2.2 HR/9, and 5.99 FIP. Margot is an excellent performer against Rogers' trademark four-seam fastball, generating a .302 average, .397 on-base percentage, and .362 wOBA against a pitch that Rogers has conceded a .425 wOBA and .318 average on this season.
Steven Kwan - CLE vs. Jordan Lyles ($4,500 DK, $ FD)
Kwan enjoyed a very impressive rookie season, as evidenced by a well-balanced stat line that includes a .298 average, a .372 on-base percentage, 20 doubles, five triples, three homers, and 12 stolen bases. Kwan also went into Tuesday night's action wielding a hot bat, as he'd produced a .326 average, .806 OPS, and 10.2 percent walk rate over his previous 11 games. The hot-hitting outfielder has a solid matchup in Lyles, who's certainly had his moments this season but also has given up plenty of production to left-handed hitters.
The veteran righty has been hit especially hard by lefty bats on the road, surrendering a .323 average, .445 wOBA, 2.8 HR/9, and 6.32 FIP in that split. Lyles has also given up a 25.3 percent line-drive rate and 25.6 percent HR/FB to left-handed hitters when traveling, while Kwan has a .303 average, .797 OPS, and .352 wOBA against right-handed pitching in his home park.
Mitch Haniger - SEA at Tyler Alexander ($5,100 DK, $ FD)
Haniger has managed to bounce back nicely from an extended absence due to an ankle issue, recently homering three times over a four-game period and already mustering five multi-hit efforts in his first 20 games back going into Tuesday. Haniger has also been a very good hitter against southpaws throughout his career, and he'll get a chance to face a targetable one in Alexander on Wednesday.
The Tigers' starter has pitched to a .290 BAA, .347 wOBA, 1.7 HR/9, and 5.42 FIP against right-handed hitters. He's also been bounced around during the 26 innings he's logged in August, pitching to a 5.88 ERA, .291 BAA, and .354 wOBA over that sample, and he's given up a .316 average and .374 wOBA to right-handed hitters specifically during that period. Haniger has only a small sample of at-bats against left-handed pitching this season, but he owns a .279 average, .857 OPS, .361 wOBA, and .222 ISO versus lefties in his career.
Other options: Andrew Vaughn - CWS vs. Kris Bubic ($3,700 DK, $3,000 FD); Trey Mancini - HOU at Martin Perez ($3,900 DK, $3,000 FD)
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
- Cardinals at Mike Minor, CIN, LHP
- Braves vs. Ryan Feltner, COL, RHP
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