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Free daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for today's slate on DraftKings, FanDuel. Use Kevin's MLB DFS expert picks to build winning DFS lineups on August 11, 2024.
Happy Sunday, RotoBallers! I'm excited to be covering another awesome MLB DFS slate. We're into the final two months of the regular season now, so let's secure a tournament takedown before football season sets in. I'm locking in on this seven-game slate!
We have some excellent matchups today. The pitching mix is relatively thin today, featuring few aces alongside uncertain midrange and punt plays, undoubtedly leading to interesting lineup decisions. I'll point out the standout plays, but there will be plenty of opportunities to get creative today.
This article will provide my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 8/11/2024 and the slate locking at 1:35 p.m. EDT. The lineup picks will range from some elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports here. Monitoring injury news and today's MLB starting lineups is also essential.
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DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Dylan Cease vs. Miami Marlins ($10.1K DK, $11.1K FD)
Without a doubt, Dylan Cease is the top pitching option on this slate. Over 24 starts this season, the 28-year-old sports a fantastic 3.16 xERA and a 3.17 xFIP. Cease has shut down opposing hitters, limiting them to just a .202 xBA and a weak 36.3% hard-hit rate. He's also allowed just one total run and five total hits over his last five appearances combined and 28 2/3 innings pitched. While the stifling pitching numbers are impressive, they only partially encapsulate why we want to roster him. Cease's elite fantasy ceiling is mostly due to his 32.4% strikeout rate and 32.6% whiff rate.
On top of being the best pitcher on this slate, Cease also draws the best matchup. The Miami Marlins have operated one of baseball's worst offenses all season long, plating just 3.6 runs per game -- the second-worst mark in the league. Their struggles include a horrible 86 wRC+ against right-handed pitching alongside a 23.3% strikeout rate and a .133 ISO. Those numbers are without even factoring in that the Marlins recently shipped out several of their key bats at the trade deadline, including Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Bryan De La Cruz, leaving Miami with an especially watered-down lineup.
JP Sears vs. Toronto Blue Jays ($7.6K DK, $8.3K FD)
Outside of Dylan Cease, there is uncertainty surrounding every other pitching option, so I'm most interested in chasing a discount with my SP2.
Of all the affordably-priced arms, JP Sears feels like the most reliable play. Over 23 starts, he sports a middling 4.33 xERA with a decent .326 xwOBA. His statistics don't inspire a ton of confidence, but let's focus on the recent results to get a sense of what form Sears is in. He has pitched seven innings in each of his last two outings, allowing just one total run between them. Further, Sears has surrendered three earned runs or less in six of his last seven starts, accruing at least 15.4 DK points in all but one of those appearances. Sears isn't the most exciting play there is, though he does offer consistently good returns for his price.
Sears will benefit from a favorable matchup with the Toronto Blue Jays today. Toronto is scoring fewer than 4.2 runs per game this season, ranking 23rd among all teams. Their struggles include a mediocre 92 wRC+ against left-handed pitching alongside an abysmal .124 ISO and a .296 wOBA. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is a name to watch out for, but otherwise, this Blue Jays lineup is weaker than you might expect.
Also Consider: Nick Lodolo, Hunter Brown, Albert Suarez
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DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Elly De La Cruz - SS, CIN vs. DL Hall ($6.3K DK, $4.3K FD)
At the time of writing this, we don't know yet who the Milwaukee Brewers will send to the hill. Regardless of whether it's DL Hall or Colin Rea, it seems unlikely that there is a scenario where Elly De La Cruz does not look like a fantastic play.
hey this guy elly de la cruz is pretty fast pic.twitter.com/nKfxPaWirL
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) August 6, 2024
For the season, De La Cruz boasts a .841 OPS with 20 home runs and a league-leading 59 stolen bases. His impressive batted-ball metrics include a .450 xSLG, 13.7% barrel rate, 45.3% hard-hit rate, and a 91.6 MPH average exit velocity. He's live to go yard during any at-bat, but with De La Cruz's elite speed and base-stealing ability, he possesses the unique ability to produce slate-breaking fantasy performance without even generating a hit.
Yainer Diaz - C, HOU vs. James Paxton ($4.5K DK, $3.2K FD)
Yainer Diaz stands out as the preferred play at catcher today. He sports an impressive .300/.326/.446 slash line for the season with 11 home runs and a 116 wRC+. Diaz's success includes an outstanding .306 xBA alongside similarly strong batted-ball metrics, like a .468 xSLG, 90.2 MPH average exit velocity, and a 46.6% hard-hit rate.
James Paxton is one of the more vulnerable pitchers on this slate. Through 20 starts in 2024, the 35-year-old carries a weak 4.72 xERA and a 5.23 xFIP. In addition to persistent control issues, Paxton has been crushed by opposing hitters to the tune of a 43.5% hard-hit rate and a 90.6 MPH average exit velocity.
Coby Mayo - 3B, BAL vs. Jeffrey Springs ($2.5K DK, $2.2K FD)
Coby Mayo hasn't received as much playing time as we had hoped for since being promoted to the majors, but with a lefty on the bump today, he expects to be in the lineup. His MLB career is only five games deep, but the 22-year-old ranks as the No. 15 overall prospect in baseball. Mayo produced a 1.003 OPS with 23 home runs across 81 games played in the minor leagues this season, illustrating his prolific upside.
Jeffrey Springs was one of baseball's most effective pitchers in 2022, but he has not looked well since his return from Tommy John surgery. He posted an uninspiring 4.50 ERA across 12 minor-league rehab appearances and has been lit up in his two major league outings, posting a 6.25 xERA and a 5.61 xFIP. Although the sample size is small, Springs has surrendered a .497 xSLG, 12.9% barrel rate, and a 51.6% hard-hit rate. It would not be the least bit surprising to see him struggle against this loaded Baltimore Orioles offense.
DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks
Aaron Judge - OF, NYY vs. Andrew Heaney ($6.8K DK, $3.8K FD)
Aaron Judge is the best hitter on this slate, and his borderline absurd price tag reflects that. Still, he is absolutely worth the spend if you can manage it. The American League MVP frontrunner boasts an incredible .323/.458/.689 slash line with a league-leading 41 home runs. Judge's unbelievable advanced metrics include a .730 xSLG, 27.3% barrel rate, and a 60.6% hard-hit rate, just to name a few.
Andrew Heaney is not the worst pitcher on this slate, but he really isn't any reason to scare us off rostering Judge. While Heaney's 4.03 xERA is decent enough, he has surrendered a 40.9% hard-hit rate and a .418 xSLG to opposing hitters. Right-handed hitters are slugging .456 against Heaney for his career.
Jackson Merrill - OF, SD vs. Max Meyer ($4K DK, $3.2K FD)
Jackson Merrill is one of baseball's hottest hitters at the moment. He has hit safely in six consecutive contests entering Sunday, including four home runs over his last four games played. Overall, Merrill is up to a .293/.326/.486 slash line with 17 home runs and a 127 wRC+ during his rookie campaign. His success includes a .301 xBA and a .514 xSLG.
Jackson Merrill does it again! pic.twitter.com/oeAMQ8vuM1
— MLB (@MLB) August 10, 2024
Max Meyer will be a preferred pitcher to target against on this slate. Despite being a promising prospect, Meyer has not looked great in his return from Tommy John surgery. He posted a 4.34 ERA over 15 starts in Triple-A and has a 5.11 xERA over six outings in the majors. Meyer has been crushed by opposing hitters this season, surrendering a .484 xSLG, 48.9% hard-hit rate, and a 15.6% barrel rate.
David Peralta - OF, SD vs. Max Meyer ($2.3K DK, $2.5K FD)
David Peralta is one of the best values you can find on this slate. The 36-year-old has unexpectedly emerged as a productive bat for the San Diego Padres of late, hitting safely in five consecutive games started. Overall, Peralta sports a solid .712 OPS on the season. He doesn't offer tremendous power-hitting upside, but he has been a pleasant surprise with a 42.7% hard-hit rate and a 39.8% sweet-spot rate. Peralta is a worthwhile punt play that will allow you to spend up for names like Dylan Cease and Aaron Judge.
DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks
1. San Diego Padres vs. Max Meyer
- Favorite Plays: Jackson Merrill, Jake Cronenworth, Manny Machado, Jurickson Profar
2. Houston Astros vs. James Paxton
- Favorite Plays: Yordan Alvarez, Yainer Diaz, Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman
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