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Joel Bartilotta highlights the top FanDuel MLB DFS lineup picks for 8/3/19, and a couple of sleepers to consider while building daily rosters.
After a fascinating Friday slate, we’re back at it here with a full Saturday slate. Everyone is in action, with most of the games being played at night.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 8/3/19. The lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays.
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 FanDuel, and other sports too. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to hit me up on Twitter @Bartilottajoel
FanDuel DFS Pitchers
Walker Buehler, LAD vs. SD ($11,400)
This is easily the best cash game option on the board, as Buehler has been one of the best pitchers in the NL since the opening month. In fact, Buehler is pitching to a 2.85 ERA and 0.98 WHHIP over his last 17 starts while striking out 128 batters across 110.1 innings of action. That’s huge against a lineup like this, with the Padres sitting 27th in K rate, 24th in OBP and 23rd in xwOBA. Vegas sees this and they’ve made Buehler a –250 favorite in this game while giving the Padres an implied run total of 3.5.
Yonny Chirinos, TB vs. MIA ($8,000)
FanDuel continues to disrespect Chirinos and it really doesn’t make any sense. This guy has done nothing but produce which is evident by his 3.70 ERA and 1.08 WHIP. He’s been doing that damage in a tough division like the AL East and getting to face the Marlins here is quite the boost as well. Miami currently ranks bottom-three in runs scored, OBP, OPS, wOBA and xwOBA. That’s why Chirinos enters this matchup as a –220 favorite with Miami projected for fewer than four runs. There's some discussion that he may be pushed back to Sunday and we would like whoever takes the mound for Tampa, if that's the case.
FanDuel DFS Infielders
Ji-Man Choi – 1B, TB vs. MIA ($3,200)
The Rays just swept the Red Sox in their last series and Choi played a major part of that atop their lineup. It’s no surprise when you consider his splits, with Choi providing a .376 OBP, .502 SLG and .878 OPS against righties since 2017. He actually scored at least 21 FanDuel points in all three of those Red Sox games and he did that against much better pitching than he’ll face here. The Rays face Elieser Hernandez and his 4.93 ERA and .334 wOBA.
Brian Dozier – 2B, WSH at ARI ($2,500)
Dozier has quietly had a bounce-back year for the Nationals and it’s hard to understand why his price remains so cheap. Over his last 47 games, Dozier is providing a .385 OBP en route to a .902 OPS. That’s all you can ask for from a guy who used to be a 40-20 threat and he’s been particularly good against left-handers. In fact, Dozier is posting a .404 OBP, .581 SLG and .985 OPS against southpaws so far this season.
Nolan Arenado – 3B, COL vs. SF ($4,300)
If you don’t already know, Arenado rakes against lefties at home. Since 2017, Arenado has a .345 AVG, .644 SLG and 1.053 OPS at home and a .370 AVG, .733 SLG and 1.182 OPS against left-handers in that same span. That equates to an OPS near 1.500 when he faces a lefty at home and that’s big no matter the price. We actually have quite the discount too, as a recent slump and a matchup against Madison Bumgarner has made him quite the value.
Javier Baez- SS, CHC vs. MIL ($4,300)
Baez has absolutely obliterated left-handed pitching this season and we have to like him in this price range. So far this season, Baez has a .342 AVG, .709 SLG and 1.093 OPS with the platoon advantage in his favor. Those are monstrous numbers and it’s scary that he’s got at least 25 FanDuel points in five of his last 12 games, scoring 50 on Friday. Gio Gonzalez is a pitcher we’re definitely willing to exploit too, as his 1.33 WHIP since 2015 is an ugly mark.
FanDuel DFS Outfielders
Nelson Cruz, MIN vs. KC ($4,400)
Cruz is arguably the hottest hitter in the game right now and we have to love him with the platoon advantage in his favor. Over his last 19 games, Cruz has 11 home runs, four doubles and 21 RBI en route to a 1.260 OPS. That’s a power surge to say the least and he’s absolutely killed left-handed pitching. In fact, Cruz has a .389 OBP, .720 SLG and 1.109 OPS with the platoon advantage in his favor this season. He actually has an OPS north of .900 for his career against lefties, and we really want to use him against a guy like Danny Duffy, who’s got a 4.70 ERA and 1.44 WHIP since last season.
Andrew Benintendi, BOS at NYY ($3,700)
Don’t look now but Benintendi is starting to get hot. Over his last 16 games, Benintendi is hitting .385 while generating a .723 SLG and 1.175 OPS. That’s the guy that we’ve been waiting for all season and this discount in price is more indicative of his slow start. We like him with the platoon advantage against Domingo German too, who’s got a 6.05 ERA and 1.30 WHIP over his last eight starts.
