RADIO
Mike Marteny highlights the top FanDuel MLB DFS lineup picks for8/16/21, and a couple of sleepers to consider while building daily rosters.
After a small four-gamer last Monday, FanDuel has a busy Monday with a ten game slate today. Despite the large slate, only two of the pitchers check in priced over $10,000. This looks like a solid night to go cheaper on pitching and load up on bats.
The only rain chance is in Cincinnati. I wouldn't consider pitchers safe, so I have no issues crossing off two of the 20 pitchers tonight. Right now, it doesn't look like a good reason to take the risk. It will be humid in Miami, but the roof will likely be closed anyway. That leaves Kansas City as the only other really humid locale. The wind blowing in from right in Minneapolis is a little disappointing for bats as well.
I'll be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for the FanDuel main slate on 8/16/2021. 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 DraftKings MLB DFS lineup picks, and read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports too. Let's get to it!
FanDuel DFS Pitchers
Cash Game/GPP Anchor Play:
Kevin Gausman – SF vs. NYM ($10,300)
I don't really trust Gausman right now. His righting of the ship after being tossed around by Pittsburgh and Houston has been dominating Arizona twice. Excuse me if I'm not impressed. However, those of you in cash games have to like what Gausman has to offer tonight. The Mess......er.......Mets are hitting just .216 in the month of August with only 47 runs in 14 games. If he can dominate Arizona, he should be able to handle the Mess at home as well.
Potential Alternate Play
Touki Toussaint – ATL at MIA ($7,900)
The Marlins offense has come alive in August, but they still aren't hitting that well at home. They just beat up the AAA Chicago Cubs, but that doesn't count for a whole lot right now. The Cubbies have lost ten in a row now. Touki hasn't been as sharp in August as he was in his first two starts of the year, but he has been solid enough in his last couple starts against the improving Cardinals and the Reds. I think we see a strong outing in the best pitcher's park in the majors here. I have more faith in Touki than the higher-priced options, at least as far as points per dollar are concerned.
Want more MLB DFS tools and content? Our MLB Premium package includes our daily DFS Cheat Sheets, Research Station, Optimizer, and access to our Premium Slack Chatrooms where members can chat with our MLB analysts. Check out this recent big win from RotoBaller's RealTalkRaph on DraftKings - join in on the winning!
? Our #MLB Optimizer & written content content is coming in hot to start off 2021!
? BIG thanks! The highly celebrated @RotoBaller Premium Tools have done it again!
? The Math: 20 optimized lineups + written content to tweak things = SHABBAT SHALOM!https://t.co/RGP9W0ebXb pic.twitter.com/LR8MDaOm8r
— Raphstradamus ? (@RealTalkRaph) April 3, 2021
FanDuel DFS Infielders
C.J. Cron – 1B, COL vs. SD ($4,000)
Cron looked like a giant waste of resources in the first half for the Rockies, but he has taken off in the second half. He is hitting .274 with seven homers and 28 RBI in just 24 games since the break. Cron has been even better in August, hitting .381 with five homers and a staggering 20 RBI in just 12 games. 15 of his 19 homers on the season have come at Coors this year and he's hitting .301 there on the season. There's a lefty on the mound. Lock in Cron.
Whit Merrifield – 2B/OF, KC vs. HOU ($3,700)
Merrifield has been one of the few bright spots on the Royals and about the only one to survive the deadline. He has 9 hits in 21 career at bats against Jake Odorizzi with three homers, eight runs scored, five RBI, and a steal against him. That damage was mostly done during Odorizzi's solid few years in Minnesota. He hasn't quite been the same pitcher this year, so Whit is the main Royal I'm targeting.
Matt Chapman – 3B, OAK at CWS ($3,500)
It took a bit, but Chapman is finally starting to hit in 2021. Chapman is hitting .286 with three homers, eight RBI, ten runs scored, and a steal in 12 August games. This we can live with. Add in his career-long torment of Dallas Keuchel, and we have someone worth using in DFS. Chapman is hitting .400 in 15 tries against Keuchel with a pair of homers and three RBI.
Brendan Rodgers – 2B/SS, COL vs. SD ($3,300)
I mentioned earlier how potent Cron has been since the break. Rodgers has been almost as good. He is hitting .321 with four homers and eight RBI in 20 games since the break. Overall, he is more consistent than Cron, but you can't match Cron's domination in Coors. We can just plug in Rodgers, who is hitting .292 against southpaws with six of his nine homers on the season off of them in just 70 at-bats.
FanDuel DFS Outfielders
Starling Marte – OF, OAK at CWS ($4,400)
The A's gave up prized prospect Jesus Luzardo for Marte back on July 28. So far, it looks like a hell of a deal for the A's. Marte is hitting .382 with two homers, 12 runs scored, 11 RBI, and a staggering 11 steals in just 15 games for Oakland. All those steals can add up quickly and it doesn't hurt that he has tagged Keuchel for two singles and a homer in six at bats against him.
Yordan Alvarez – OF, HOU at KC ($3,900)
Alvarez had a rough July, but he is back on yet another hot streak in August. He is hitting .356 with three homers, eight runs scored, and nine RBI in 11 August games. There are great hitting conditions and a bad pitching staff in Kansas City tonight. Yordan is definitely one of the bats that I'm paying up for tonight.
Luis Robert – OF, CWS vs. OAK ($3,000)
Robert made his long-awaited return from the IL a week ago today. In that week, Robert is 6-for-20 with a homer, three runs scored, and three RBI. The steals haven't shown up yet, but Robert is averaging 11.2 FanDuel points per game since his return even without them. Robert is a steal at this price.
FanDuel DFS Stack Options
- Colorado Rockies
- Houston Astros
- Los Angeles Dodgers
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!
