RADIO
Joel Bartilotta highlights the top FanDuel MLB DFS lineup picks for 8/14/19, and a couple of sleepers to consider while building daily rosters.
There are games spread all throughout the day on Wednesday, so I’m going to take a little bit of a different approach. With so many good options available, I’m going to offer up one value pitcher and one cash game pitcher. That allows you to pick what sort of lineup you want and should cater to different types of DFS players.
FanDuel has gifted us with plenty of huge tournaments, including the $44 GIANT Grand Slam that will prize $50k to first with a $250k prize pool. No matter your ideal price point, FanDuel has a tournament for you. Let's get into this slate and find a top option at each position!
Be sure to also check out all the Vegas Odds for today's slate. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for sites like DraftKings, and other sports too. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to hit me up on Twitter @Bartilottajoel
FanDuel DFS Pitchers
Clayton Kershaw, LAD at MIA ($12,000)
We’re going to go with one cash game pitcher and one GPP punt play. As you probably know, Kershaw is undoubtedly the best cash game pitcher on the board. We’re talking about a guy who has gone at least six innings in all 20 of his starts this season en route to a 2.77 ERA and 1,04 WHIP. That has allowed him to score at least 13 DK points in 19 of his 20 starts this season while scoring at least 20 fantasy points in 12 of those. That absurd floor is especially intriguing in a matchup like this, with the Marlins ranked bottom-three in runs scored, OBP, OPS, wOBA, xwOBA, SLG and xSLG. That’s why the Dodgers enter this game as a -280 favorite, with the Marlins projected for only 3.5 runs.
Marco Gonzalez, SEA at DET ($7,700)
While I’m not huge on this price tag, it’s going to be tough to fade Gonzalez in a matchup like this. Let’s start with this terrible Detroit lineup, as they too rank bottom-three in runs scored, OBP, OPS, K rate, wOBA and xwOBA. One would argue that they’re even worse than that, after trading Nicolas Castellanos to the Cubs at the trade deadline. That superb matchup against the Motor City Kitties is a huge benefit for a guy like Gonzalez, as he’s shown flashes of brilliance throughout his year. In fact, Gonzalez has at least 31 FanDuel points in seven of his last 11 games while dropping 52 FD points in his last one game against Detroit on July 27.
FanDuel DFS Infielders
Jose Abreu – 1B, CWS vs. HOU ($3,600)
Abreu is one of the most consistent players in baseball and it’s weird to see him below $4,000. We’re talking about a guy who has a career .291 AVG, .511 SLG and .858 OPS. That’s pretty much on par with what he does every season, averaging about 30 homers and 100 RBI in that span. What we like here is that he gets to face a lefty, with Abreu generating a .333 AVG, .387 OBP, .586 SLG and .973 OPS against left-handers since 2017. Wade Miley is really not a guy we’re worried about either, with the Astros lefty posting a 4.43 xFIP.
Rougned Odor – 2B, TEX at TOR ($3,400)
Odor is a regular in my articles and it’s easy to see why when looking at his recent form. Over his last 32 games, Odor has 11 homers, eight doubles and 27 RBI. He’s been even better recently, providing a .400 OBP over his last 19 games en route to a .662 SLG and 1.062 OPS. Odor is always better against right-handers too and that’s just a bonus against Sean Reid-Foley's 6.09 xFIP and 1.50 WHIP.
Renato Nunez - 3B, BAL at NYY ($2,800)
Nunez is a favorite of mine when he faces lefties and it’s time for FanDuel to take notice of his stellar play in these circumstances. While he is mired in a 3-for-36 slump, we can overlook that because of some tough matchups. This is far from that, as he gets to face J.A. Happ, who’s pitching to a 5.48 ERA and 1.35 WHIP this season. More importantly, it allows Nunez to get the platoon advantage in his favor, with the slugging third baseman posting a .517 SLG and .819 OPS against left-handers this season.
Nick Ahmed – SS, ARI at COL ($3,700)
We definitely want some Arizona players in there at Coors Field and Ahmed is one of the guys who’s actually a good value. What many people don’t know about Ahmed is that he absolutely kills left-handed pitching, In fact, Ahmed has a .306 AVG, .514 SLG and .869 OPS against southpaws this season while posting an .846 OPS against them dating back to 2017. That shows it’s no fluke and it’s even more enticing when you consider he faces Kyle Freeland and his 7.06 ERA and 1.61 WHIP. Not to mention, Ahmed has homered in three-straight heading into this matchup and gets to hit in Coors Field.
FanDuel DFS Outfielders
Ian Desmond, COL vs. ARI ($3,500)
Desmond has kind of found himself as a platoon player for the Rockies but that’s really not a bad thing for situations like this. The simple fact is, Desmond is one of their best hitters against left-handed pitching. In fact, the former shortstop has a .297 AVG, .594 SLG and .939 OPS against left-handers this season. He’s also been much better at home, generating a .310 AVG, .548 SLG and .913 OPS at Coors Field this season. That’s makes this price tag truly amazing and it’s rare that you see a Coors Field bat this cheap, let alone one with such great splits.
Cameron Maybin, NYY vs. BAL ($3,000)
Maybin has quietly had a resurgent season for the Yankees and he’s always in play against a right-hander. So far this year, Maybin is accruing a .350 AVG, .415 OBP, .607 SLG and 1.022 OPS with the platoon advantage in his favor. That’s downright shocking from a guy who looked to be done about three years ago and we have to consider him against the Orioles. This pitching staff currently sits dead-last in pretty much every notable pitching statistic, as Dylan Bundy’s 5.04 ERA and 1.35 WHIP definitely hasn’t helped those averages.
