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The top early-slate daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on August 2, 2023. Mike's MLB DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
We have a few matinee games on Getaway Day this week, but of course, both FanDuel and DraftKings chopped off the afternoon games. We still have four early games (classified as very early on FD) and at least both sites are on the same page this week as they both left off the game in Coors Field. Progress is progress...
This article contains my picks for the early slate on August 2, 2023, for DraftKings and FanDuel slates, which lock at 12:20 PM ET. Weather shouldn't be a concern today, so all five 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
Eduardo Rodriguez, DET at PIT ($9,500 DK, $9,900 FD)
Eduardo Rodriguez spurned the Dodgers and vetoed the trade in place from Detroit. Now, he gets a soft landing against the Pirates for sticking around with the Tigers. The Pirates are hitting a pathetic .212 with three homers in 231 at-bats against LHP over the last month with a 29% strikeout rate. Rodriguez struggled a bit against the Angels his last time out, but they have been one of the best teams against lefties in the last month. E-Rod gets a pass for that one and should get back on track against Pittsburgh.
Tanner Bibee, CLE at HOU ($8,700 DK, $10,000 FD)
This slate is light on pitchers that are in good situations. Osvaldo Bido could be, but he hasn't pitched more than four innings since June 24. The Brewers and Nats are both hitting lefties well over the last month, so Wade Miley and MacKenzie Gore carry a good bit of risk. I'll unearth value plays among the batters to afford my expensive pitching. Tanner Bibee is the safe play here. He has only had one truly bad start (June 13 in San Diego) and has only allowed 10 earned runs in seven starts since that blow-up.
Others to consider: MacKenzie Gore ($7,800 DK, $8,900 FD) vs. MIL
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Matt Olson - 1B, ATL vs. LAA ($6,200 DK, $4,400 FD)
Lucas Giolito may have a new uniform, but I can guarantee you that it won't matter when it comes to Matt Olson. Olson is on fire right now anyway with six homers in his last 10 games to go with eight runs scored, a .343 average, and 13 RBI. Olson is 4-for-9 with a pair of homers off of Giolito in his career. On the surface, Giolito's stats look solid. But take away his 2.44 ERA in his 10 starts at Guaranteed U.S. Cellular New Comiskey Rate Park, and it tells a different story. Giolito could have a really rough debut with the Angels and Olson will likely be a big reason why.
Luis Rengifo - 2B/3B(DK) - 2B/SS/OF(FD), LAA at ATL ($3,300 DK, $2,800 FD)
Luis Rengifo is leading off for an Angels team that not only kept Shohei Ohtani at the trade deadline, but they beefed up the lineup around him. That should benefit Rengifo as well, at least in the runs-scored department. Rengifo is hitting .341 with three homers, six RBI, and seven runs scored in the last 10 games. Only two of those have come with the Angels' new toys. Curiously, Rengifo is also hitting 82 points higher on the road than at home. Whatever the reason, don't question it and just follow the trend.
Gabriel Arias - SS/OF(DK) - 1B/SS/3B(FD), CLE at HOU ($2,500 DK, $2,300 FD)
I told you I was going to be hunting for value with hitters, so here we are. There's not a whole lot to choose from today, but the trade of Amed Rosario to the Dodgers has Gabriel Arias manning short every day for the Guardians of Lake Erie. Arias is 8-for-21 since taking over for Rosario; however, he hasn't managed to drive in a run. He has scored three and stolen a base. Arias hasn't left us completely empty, but this anomaly can't last forever. One of these days, he is going to drive in a run. Especially if he keeps putting the bat on the ball the way he has.
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Yordan Alvarez - OF, HOU vs. CLE ($5,900 DK, $4,100 FD)
You all know I like Tanner Bibee. Hell, you know I'm planning on using him today. One underutilized (because it seems counterintuitive) DFS trick on DraftKings with small slates is to run a hitter at one of your pitchers. Bibee has been really solid of late, but he did allow two homers to the White Sox in his last start even though he allowed only three runs. Eight of Bibee's nine homers allowed have been surrendered on the road. Yordan Alvarez is 7-for-18 with a double, two homers, four RBI, and five runs scored in five games since his return from the IL. He's the guy I'll run at Bibee.
Randal Grichuk - OF, LAA at ATL ($4,000 DK, $3,100 FD)
Randal Grichuk's hot hitting has carried over to his new team. Grichuk is 3-for-8 with a homer so far as an Angel and has three homers in his last five games going back to his last contests as a member of the Rockies. Yonny Chirinos didn't look good in his Atlanta debut or in his last outing with the Rays. He is just a placeholder until Max Fried returns, so I'm going after him while he's still there.
Steven Kwan - OF, CLE at HOU ($3,800 DK, $3,200 FD)
Steven Kwan has been one of the few bright spots in the Guardians' lineup of late. He is hitting .359 with two homers, six RBI, five walks, four runs, and a steal over the last 10 games. If I trusted the Cleveland lineup, I would throw a full stack at Ronel Blanco, but I don't. I'll have to settle for Kwan and Arias. The bottom of the OF barrel is rather gross on DK today.
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
Los Angeles Angels vs. Yonny Chirinos
Yonny Chirinos allowed four runs in 3 2/3 innings in his Atlanta debut. Over his last four appearances, Chirinos has allowed 10 runs in 12 innings with just seven strikeouts and four homers allowed. I don't think I will full-stack any team today since the Angels and Guardians, the teams I most want to stack, have been mediocre at best. Rengifo and Grichuk are my favorites here, but if you can afford Ohtani, go for it. Mickey Moniak and C.J. Cron feel expensive, especially on DraftKings. Expensive enough for me to avoid them.
Also consider: Washington Nationals vs. Wade Miley
Wade Miley is a troll. This looks like a spot to go after him since it is his first start in nearly a month and he didn't have any minor league rehab assignments, but Miley usually shines in those spots. I can't help myself, though. The Nationals are starting to hit. CJ Abrams is a must at the top of the order and Lane Thomas is a priority as well. Don't forget about Joey Meneses and Stone Garrett on the cheap, though both could be subbed once a right-handed reliever comes in.
Sneaky stack: Atlanta Braves vs. Lucas Giolito
I mentioned Lucas Giolito's less-than-stellar numbers away from the South Side earlier in this piece and the Braves have arguably the best offense on the planet. If you can manage to full-stack them and get pitching you can live with, you'll be in the minority.
Instead of going 1-5 with Ronald Acuna Jr., Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley, Olson, and Sean Murphy, try a wrap-around stack instead. It will save you money using Orlando Arcia and Michael Harris II and will set your stack apart. Another option is jumping around a little since I feel like Olson and Arcia are both priorities and both don't fit in a wrap-around.
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