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Jesse Borek highlights the top FanDuel MLB DFS lineup picks for 8/25/20, and a couple of sleepers to consider while building daily rosters.
It only took a month, but it appears that MLB has finally gotten themselves onto the right track as it pertains to getting all of its clubs playing at the same time. Tuesday marks a jam-packed slate, albeit one that has the advantage of multiple games being played earlier in the day.
The historic start to the 2020 season by Cleveland right-hander Shane Bieber highlights the day, while Gerrit Cole being on the bump and Fernando Tatis Jr. returning to the diamond serve as additional highlights. All are tremendous DFS options, yet feature price tags that make conservative owners blush. With that in mind, we’ll look elsewhere today for some upside value, as well as the picks that jump off the page.
I'll be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for the FanDuel main slate on 8/25/2020. Be sure also to 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 too.
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FanDuel DFS Pitchers
Lucas Giolito - CWS v. PIT ($10,400)
Taking Giolito’s season numbers into account isn’t an accurate interpretation of how he’s pitched thus far in 2020. While there was one complete clunker and another start not worth writing home about, those outings came against above average offenses. And the current collaboration of Pirates that Giolito is set to face Tuesday is far from being considered anything above average. The .645 team OPS that Pittsburgh has produced is the lowest mark in the National League and second-lowest in the Majors; many of their key bats are mired in sizable slumps, making Giolito an excellent pivot from the high-priced stalwarts Bieber and Cole, especially when considering that the White Sox ace has a vastly more favorable matchup.
Chris Paddack - SDP v. SEA ($8,900)
While Paddack has not developed into the elite strikeout pitcher than many projected after he displayed electric stuff in his rookie season, he has become San Diego’s unquestioned ace and held opponents to a 1.14 WHIP through his first six starts. Paddack’s two road starts this season have dragged down his overall fantasy stock, but he’ll be on the hill at Petco Park on Tuesday where he owns a 2.66 ERA and has held opponents to a .665 OPS through his first four starts. Seattle will be without Dylan Moore (wrist) and overall presents an exploitable offense as their collective .372 SLG ranks as the fourth-lowest mark in the Majors. Paddack’s primary bugaboo has been the home run ball, so as long as he keeps the ball in the yard against a light-thumping offense at one of the league’s premier parks, he should deliver a considerable return on investment.
FanDuel DFS Infielders
Paul Goldschmidt, 1B - STL v. KCR ($3,700)
Coming out of a layoff that lasted over two weeks, Goldschmidt has simply performed at an MVP level. His .558 on-base percentage during the month of August makes him arguably the premier cash play at first base on a nightly basis, with Tuesday’s meeting with Matt Harvey serving as particularly exploitable. This Harvey isn’t the Harvey of years past, and while he worked just three innings in his first start of 2020, batters blistered the ball against him to the tune of a 96.2 MPH average exit velocity. Combine the hot hitting stylings of Goldschmidt and out comes a high floor, high upside selection.
Cesar Hernandez, 2B - CLE v. MIN ($2,800)
Not normally known for his power, Hernandez became the first Cleveland batter in history to homer to leadoff a game in back-to-back contests on Monday. A staple at the top of the lineup, Hernandez stands out amongst a pedestrian second base class Tuesday due to his hot bat (.656 SLG over his last seven games) and terrific slash line at Progressive Field this season (.358/.424/.566).
Manny Machado, 3B - SDP v. SEA ($3,700)
Machado enters Tuesday’s contest scorching hot at the dish, having reeled off an average of 26.4 FD points over his last five games. He has collected multiple hits in five of his last six contests, going 11-for-23 with three home runs and nine RBI in that span. Despite Petco Park’s reputation as an offensive suppressor, Machado has treated it as his own personal hitter’s paradise in 2020, having compiled a 1.072 OPS in his first 15 outings. He is as hot of a bat in the Majors and should have massive ownership at the hot corner.
Tim Anderson, SS - CWS v. PIT ($4,000)
To put it succinctly, Anderson has bludgeoned left-handed pitching in 2020. In 24 at-bats, Anderson has 11 extra-base hits, including five home runs. His sOPS+ of 445 against lefties is mesmerizing to consider, and facing Pittsburgh southpaw Steven Brault is not a matchup that should cause pause. Chicago figures to be one of the more prominent clubs to stack Tuesday, with Anderson likely at the heart of that choice.
FanDuel DFS Outfielders
Luis Robert - OF, CWS v. PIT ($3,300)
Robert has been almost just as advertised to begin his career, having become a key cog in the Chicago order. While he has delivered reverse splits through his first 27 games (.928 OPS vs. RHP, .641 vs. LHP), his matchup against Brault is one that is worth embracing. The southpaw isn’t getting batters to swing and miss very much (16.9% Whiff rate), which could spell trouble when facing Robert, who has delivered an elite 18.6% barrel rate and .574 xwOBAcon.
Wil Myers - OF, SDP v. SEA ($3,000)
While Myers may not demolish southpaws at the same rate that Anderson has so far this season, his 1.430 OPS is nothing to sneeze at. Myers has delivered something of an offensive revival this season with his 17.2% barrel rate, .408 xwOBA, and .562 xwOBAcon all ranking within the top nine percentile of all batters. His production has not been stifled by Petco Park, either, where he has compiled a .913 OPS in 2020.
David Peralta - OF, ARI v. COL ($2,800)
There has been no opposing pitcher that Peralta has faced with a higher frequency in his career than Rockies starter German Marquez. While 32 at-bats is a small sample size, Peralta has mashed the ball to the tune of 14 hits, seven of which have been of the extra-base variety. His 1.267 OPS against the righty looms even larger when factoring in that Marquez has hit a recent skid, with the 37 hits that he has allowed leading the National League.
