DraftKings MLB Lineup Picks (8/6/21): Daily Fantasy Baseball Advice

August 6, 2021

JorgePucks highlights the top DraftKings MLB DFS lineup picks for 8/6/21, and a couple of sleepers to consider while building daily rosters.

Hello RotoBallers! We have a nice-sized Friday main slate to dissect with lots of batting and pitching options for us to consider. We have some good pitching options on this slate so we will need to figure out which one can get us a few strikeouts and a win while also choosing between some great offenses to choose from.

I'll be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for the DraftKings main slate on 8/6/21. Be sure to also check out all the MLB player news, including late scratches, and the projected and confirmed daily MLB lineups for each DFS slate.

You can also check out today's FanDuels MLB DFS lineup picks, and read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports too. Let's get to it!

DraftKings DFS Pitchers

Cash Game/GPP Anchor Play:

Chris Bassitt - OAK vs. TEX ($9,800)

One of the top arms on this slate is Chris Bassitt. He has owned the Rangers this year as he is 3-0 against them and has pitched 21 innings while striking out 14 batters and only allowing two total runs to be scored. The Rangers are hitting .167 as a team against him and have five batters that all have a strikeout percentage that is greater than 21%. When glancing at the Rangers batters over their last 14 days, they have a batting average of .197 against right-handed pitchers which is the lowest average in the league against that handedness. Bassitt is viable in all formats and carries some upside in this matchup against the Rangers.

Alternate Play(s)

Mike Minor- KCR @ STL ($7,800)

A cheaper pitching option that could be considered in all formats would be Mike Minor against the Cardinals. Minor has been in solid form as of late as he has won two of his last four starts and has managed to go at least six innings in three out of four of those starts as well. This is a pretty moderate matchup for Minor as the Cardinals lineup features five batters that have a 21%+ strikeout percentage and with Minor getting ahead in the count by throwing the first pitch for a strike 61% of the time, it can only lead to positive outcomes for him. The Cardinals have been average against lefty pitchers over the last 14 days as they are collectively averaging .242 but what really stands out is that they have a team ISO of .097 which is the third-lowest ISO in the league during that span against that handedness.

Other recommended value pitching options: German Marquez vs. Miami Marlins, David Price vs. Los Angeles Angels

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DraftKings DFS Infielders

Kyle Higashioka- C, NYY vs. SEA ($3,000)

With Gary Sanchez being placed under the COVID-19 injured list, Kyle Higashioka should absorb the main catching duties for the Yankees for the time being. Higashioka has fared well against left-handed pitchers as he is batting .281 and is sporting an ISO of .345 against that handedness this season. Lefty Marco Gonzales will be pitching for the Mariners and his Achilles heel has been right-handed batters as they're hitting .309 and have an ISO of .309 against Gonzales this season. If Higashioka draws a start for Yankees behind the plate, he could be a viable catcher option that can open up salary elsewhere. 

Jed Lowrie - 2B, OAK vs. TEX ($3,700)

One batter that could fit in either cash game and tournament lineups is Jed Lowrie. The switch-hitting second baseman for the A's is always batting in the top half of the lineup for the A's and has recorded a hit in three out of his last five games while also managing to record multi-hit efforts in two out of the five games. Mike Foltynewicz will be pitching for the Rangers and the A's as a team profiles well against him with Lowrie being one of the safest options should he draw a spot in the lineup. Lefties have an ISO of .306 and a batting average of .291 so this seems to be a great spot to consider Lowrie given the pricepoint and matchup.

Jose Ramirez - 3B, CLE vs. DET ($6,400)

One of the most expensive batters on the slate is Jose Ramirez and while it might scare some people away from rostering him, he makes for a prime tournament target on this slate. Matthew Manning will be pitching for the Tigers and while he has pitched well and has held lefty batters this year to just a .211 average, the lone lefty home run he has allowed has been to J-Ram.  Manning throws his fastball over 50% of the time to both sides of the plate and really relies on that specific pitch. Ramirez matches up well against his fastball as he has a .479 ISO and a .455 XwOBA against that pitch type while also having a 45% hard-hit percentage and an 87% contact percentage.

DraftKings DFS Outfielders

Aaron Judge - OF, NYY vs. SEA ($5,200)

Another Yankees player that really stands out in the matchup against Gonzales is Aaron Judge. He is in the low 5k range which is kind of a steal for the upside that Judge brings and he has been seeing the ball well as he has collected a hit in four out of his last five games played. Judge has smashed left-handed pitching this season as he has a .314 average, a .278 ISO, and a 52% hard-hit percentage and with Gonzales's notable struggles against righty batters, Judge easily stands out. Gonzales mixes up his pitches but he throws his sinker often to righties (42% of the time) and Judge profiles well against that pitch as he makes contact over 90% of the time and has a .286 ISO and a .533 XwOBA against that specific pitch type.

Yordan Alvarez- OF, HOU vs. MIN ($4,500)

The pricing on the Astros outfielders seem to be very "lineup friendly" and one of them that stands out is Yordan Alvarez. Alvares is one of the top Houston batters and is swinging a hot bat as he has collected a hit in four straight games and has hit a home run in two out of his last three played. Bailey Ober will be on the mound against the Astros and lefties have gotten to him this year as they are collectively hitting .303 and have a combined ISO of .287 against him. Ober really leans on his fastball as he throws it 57% of the time to left-handed batters and Alvarez profiles well against that pitch type as he has a .371 ISO and a .572 XwOBA while having a 48% hard-hit percentage.

Ketel Marte – OF, ARI @ SDP ($3,600)

One bat that really sticks out based on the price alone is Ketel Marte. Marte is hitting .358 on the season and in somewhat limited at-bats against left-handed pitching, he is hitting .500 against that handedness with two home runs. Marte has recorded a hit in four out of his last five games played and sports a .345 ISO and a .520 BABIP against the split. Ryan Weathers will be pitching for the Padres and he throws three main pitches to right-handed batters (fastball, changeup, and sinker) and Marte has a .229+ ISO and a .357+ XwOBA against both his sinker and changeup pitch types.