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Mark Kieffer highlights the top FanDuel MLB DFS lineup picks for 8/22/21, and a couple of FanDuel DFS sleepers to consider while building daily fantasy rosters.
If you're still playing MLB DFS by the point in the season, first of all, let me salute you because it's a long season and many have already given up on this game we love. And secondly, I hope you have learned to embrace the variance that occurs in baseball and especially some of the weird and wacky stuff that can happen in August/September baseball.
With 9 games on the slate, there are plenty of options for our rosters. My biggest piece of advice on large slates is to trust your research and process. Don't be afraid to fade some chalky spots or cross off some games entirely if you're not interested in them. Even if you are playing 150 lineups, you can't get exposure to every pitcher with a favorable matchup or offense with a solid Vegas total. You have to pick your spots!
I'll be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for the FanDuel main slate on 8/22/2021. 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 read more DFS advice and lineup picks for sites like DraftKings, and other sports.
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FanDuel DFS Pitchers
Cash Game/GPP Anchor Play
Steven Matz vs. DET ($8,000)
With several options more expensive on the slate, Matz is the cheapest pitcher on the slate that I trust at $8,000. He is just as likely, if not more likely, to get a win than the more expensive options with an outside shot at earning a quality start. I can see five to six innings with five to six strikeouts, a potential win, and a potential quality start which is a great way to build a lineup. He has the same range of outcomes as the more expensive options at a reduced price.
GPP Play
Carlos Hernandez vs. CHC ($7,100)
One of the less expensive options on the slate is Hernandez facing a weak Chicago Cubs lineup. Hernandez has a 23.6% K% but an 11.5% BB% which is high. Last start against Houston, he issued zero walks in six innings, but he also struck out just one batter. He is definitely more of a GPP play to me. He only gives up 1.04 HR/9, he can limit the damage if he keeps guys off the basepaths. Similar to Matz, I could see him pitching five to six innings with five to six strikeouts today, and if he does that could line himself up for a win.
Potential Alternate Play
UPDATE - it is raining in Boston and game has been postponed.
Nathan Eovaldi vs. TEX ($8,800):
How bad is Texas? While they are middle of the road in K%, they are 26th in ISO at.140, they're 27th in walk rate at just 7.5%, and they are 28th in runs score with 465 runs scored in 113 games. Eovaldi has the third-best K-BB% at 19.7% (Chris Archer and Reynaldo Lopez are ahead but do you trust them?), facing a terrible offense. He is most likely to record a quality start on the slate in my opinion. If you want an expensive pitcher for a cash game type of a lineup, this is the guy to go with.
FanDuel GPP Stacks
I am a tournament player, so I am going to give some GPP recommendations with some starting pitchers to pair with first, and then at the end, I will give a few value plays on the slate that I think can be good for either your GPP lineup or for cash games.
1. Boston Red Sox: the implied run total of 6.62 runs leads the slate, however, there is a great PPD chance here.
2. Toronto Blue Jays: With the potential rain in Boston and an implied run total of 6.52 runs, I would expect many to pivot to Toronto if they haven't already. They are facing Drew Hutchinson, who went 1.2 innings, allowed five hits, three walks, six runs (two earned). They are likely to face Hutchinson early and then the Tigers bullpen will take over and they are one of the worst in the MLB. If you stack Toronto 1-4, and roster Carlos Hernandez as your P, you have $2975 per position leftover to try to make pieces work. Because Toronto is likely to be the most popular stack, I would prefer to use 2-3 guys as a secondary stack in a GPP.
3. Atlanta Braves: 5.56 implied run total, however, there is a chance of rain in Atlanta. To me this spot is a great spot to attack to differentiate your lineups. The Braves are facing a priced-up pitcher in John Means at $8200 and there is a concern of rain which could move the masses off of Atlanta. Additionally, because Means is a lefty, ownership on Freeman could be suppressed as a casual gamer doesn't like going to the lefty-lefty matchup. They also are expensive, if putting in a Matz as your P, you have $2675 per position leftover.
4. Milwaukee Brewers: 5.47 implied run total and I imagine will go overlooked on this slate. Milwaukee is facing a lefty in Sean Nolin and with Wong and Yelich likely to be batting at the top of the order, it could move people off of them. Willy Adames, Eduardo Escobar, and Avisail Garcia all have .230+ ISO against LHP this season. If you stack the Brew Crew, make sure you include those three in your stack. These three also make a great secondary stack if you can make the prices work. When partnering with Matz as your P, you would have $3300 per position leftover.
5. Saint Louis Cardinals: Did you know that the Cardinals mash lefties? Check out these player ISO against LHP: Nolan Arenado - .390, Tyler O'Neill - .350, Yadier Molina - .270,Tommy Edman - .260, Paul DeJong - .260, Harrison Bader - .160. They aren't the cheapest option but I do not know how many will go to Saint Louis as their implied total is 5.12 which looks much less than other options on the slate but in reality isn't much different.
FanDuel DFS Value Plays
Here are some one-off options to help fill out your rosters that are at a value. You can also use any players from the above stacks as one-offs or make mini-stacks off of the recommended stacks above as well.
Manny Pina - C/1B vs. WAS ($2,000)
We don't like to roster catchers on Fanduel since we do not have to. At the same time, how many min-priced batters have a .240 ISO against LHP? If he's in the lineup and I am trying to make a couple of stacks with a decent pitcher work, I would be fine with rolling the dice here if he's in the lineup.
Corey Dickerson – OF vs. DET ($2,600)
In GPPs is likely to be under-owned, as he will likely bat fifth and outside of a 1-4 stack. Dickerson has been solid as of late, hitting two home runs in his last four games. He also went 0-3 yesterday, so I am hoping he bounces back in a favorable spot here. Getting a lefty against RHP in a lineup that could easily have the most projected runs in a run-producing spot in the order is where I want to be.
Mike Moustakas – 2B/3B vs. MIA ($2,300)
Sandy Alcantara is a good pitcher, so this isn't a smash spot by any means. When I am playing in tournaments, I want homerun upside and Moustakas gives me that. He's in a hitters park with no weather concerns and is always liable to hit the ball 400 plus feet every time he steps to the plate. As someone who frequently likes to punt a 2B spot, finding a punt with HR upside is tough at that position.
Kansas City Royals Players
Carlos Santana ($3,000), Andrew Benintendi ($2,900), and Michael Taylor ($2,600) are all at a value on this slate. Yes the wind is blowing in at Wrigley, so don't go too nuts with Royals, but I like the spot the Royals are in today.
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