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Kevin Luchansky highlights the top FanDuel MLB DFS lineup picks for 8/22/18, and a couple of sleepers to consider while building daily rosters.
Happy hump day, Rotoballers. We've got a nifty 10-game slate on deck this evening, with a handful of solid and intriguing (see also: risk + upside) pitchers toeing the rubber under the lights.
There should be some solid competition, too, as this is the first Wednesday slate I can recall in a while where there is just one team greater than -200 as favorites on the moneyline in Vegas. Speaking of favorites, that team is the Rockies at -236, and there are a few others worth calling out as well: Diamondbacks (-191), Yankees (-184), Dodgers (-183), Nationals (-175), and the Mets at -160. As for implied run totals, as of Tuesday night the notable ones look like this: Rockies (6.5), Cubs (5.3), Diamondbacks (5.0), Nationals (4.9), and the Yankees and Indians both at 4.7
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for FanDuel on 8/22/18. The lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. You can also read more DFS lineup picks for DraftKings and other sports too. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact me up on Twitter @kpLuch.
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FanDuel DFS Pitchers
Noah Syndergaard - SP, vs SFG ($9,600)
I think we can look past Thor's last outing, which was a poor one in the box score and in DFS scoring, but in reality he was singled to death on some groundballs that found some space. In his last two outings, he's posted a stellar 12% hard hit percentage allowed and we get him at quite a discount tonight in a strong matchup. Sndergaard boasts a 0.5 HR/9 allowed and a 9.3 K/9 this season. He's going up against a frail Giants offense, one whose projected lineup has a 25% K rate split to go with a .280 wOBA. As the Giants have an implied run total of only 3.3 and the Mets are -160 favorites, Sndergaard can be used in all formats tonight.
Jon Gray - SP, vs SDP ($8,600)
The risk and upside combo I alluded to in my intro presents itself first and foremost with Jon Gray, who draws a strikeout heavy team but in the dangerous (for pitchers) Coors Field environment. Gray has the stuff to succeed there in Denver, though, as he's shown before. So far in 2018 at home in Coors, Gray has a 27.5% K rate and an xFIP of 2.78, while doing a good job of keeping the ball in the yard (0.97 HR/9). This Padres squad has an implied run total of 4.1, and the big upside presents itself in their projected lineup's strikeout percentage clip, which stands at a whopping 33% against right-handed pitching. For me, he's tournament play only, but I do like him quite a bit there.
FanDuel DFS Infielders
Yan Gomes - C, at BOS ($2,400)
If you're looking to "punt" the position in tournaments in order to pay up at pitcher, Gomes is in a nice spot. He gets a park upgrade, hits in an offense with a top five projected run total and he does boast strong splits against lefties. He brings a .375 wOBA, a .228 ISO and he also has a hard hit percentage over 50% in his last nine starts.
Daniel Descalso - 2B, vs LAA ($2,600)
Descalso represents nice value and has a chance for a strong return on investment. The D-Backs have one of the highest implied run totals and get a favorable matchup against Odriasmer Despaigne. Despaigne hasn't pitched at the MLB level much this season, but he's allowed a high hard hit rate and a .356 wOBA to left-handed hitters. Descalso has good splits - especially for a player in this price tier - showcased by his .353 wOBA and .202 ISO mark.
Eduardo Escobar - 3B, vs LAA ($4,200)
For the same reasons I like Descalso above, I'm a fan of Escobar and then some - as I think he's got a higher ceiling and a safe floor. Eduardo has a strong .376 wOBA split and a monstrous ISO sitting at .302 in 2018. He also has a solid 35% hard hit rate in the past two weeks and a desireable 44% fly ball rate.
Francisco Lindor - SS, at BOS ($4,400)
The Indians are enjoying their time at Fenway, plating 11 runs over the last two nights - and they draw their most favorable matchup tonight against Brian Johnson. Lindor boasts a really high floor out of the leadoff spot with his .414 wOBA, and also brings a good deal of power upside to the dish when he digs in from the right side (.218 ISO). His batted ball profile over the past two weeks make him an even more enticing play, as he has a 44% hard hit percentage and a 25% line drive rate in that stretch.
FanDuel DFS Outfielders
Carlos Gonzalez - OF, vs SDP ($3,800)
Jacob Nix is a nice pitching prospect but he appears to be in trouble tonight in the friendliest of pitchers' parks. The Rockies have the highest implied run total of the evening, and although Nix doesn't have enough MLB level stats to pick dissect, I'm going to favor the Rockies hitters with the platoon advantage that high in the top two-thirds of the order. Gonzalez is my favorite play of that crew, as he has really good numbers against righties this season (.404 wOBA, .246 ISO) and also has a 47% hard hit rate in his last 10 games.
Nick Castellanos - OF, vs CHC ($3,600)
I like Castellanos as a contrarian tournament play tonight. Much of the focus will be on games in Denver and Arizona, but Jon Lester has shown he's vulnerable of late and Castellanos is a monster against southpaws. He has a 55% hard hit rate percentage in his last 11 games, which is tremendous, and the splits are, too (.461 wOBA split and a .221 ISO).
