DFS MLB Lineups for August 15, 2017 at Draftkings.com & Fanduel.com
For this daily fantasy baseball season, each day there’s a good slate of DFS MLB games, we’ll be writing up a group of pitchers and hitters that we’re considering for our cash and GPP lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel. We’ll also provide a list of stacks to consider, MLB start times, starting pitchers, and game run totals to give you a good idea of where the fantasy goodness might come from on a given night. As with any DFS sport, the advice below is relevant for fantasy purposes. A player or team might be better or worse from a fantasy perspective than they are in real life due to matchup, price, park factor, etc. This is important when constructing a roster. And if you’re looking for new ways to play DFS, be sure and give BOOM Fantasy and DRAFT a try!
A quick reminder while playing DFS MLB, don’t forget baseball is a game of variance. You can make a really solid lineup and still fall short of the cash line. Even Clayton Kershaw can get lit up, and Mike Trout can still go 0 for 4. Baseball is funny like that. Trust the process and know that if you’re playing quality lineups, you’ll be a winner in the long term.
Another thing to remember outside of making sure your player is in the lineup, is to always check the weather. Always. Make this something that is part of your basic routine. Baseball games can get postponed! Your players receive no points from postponed games!
8/15/17 MAIN SLATE TOURNAMENT RUNDOWN
DraftKings Record Breaker: $762 buy-in, $1M guaranteed
DraftKings Medium Record Breaker: $76 buy-in, $300k guaranteed
DraftKings Mini Record Breaker: $7 buy-in, $300k guaranteed
FanDuel Big Swing: $1500 buy-in, $1M guaranteed
FanDuel Grand Slam: $77 buy-in, $150k guaranteed
FanDuel Squeeze: $9 buy-in, $125k guaranteed
Best DFS MLB Pitchers for August 15, 2017
Madison Bumgarner @ MIA ($12.7k DraftKings, $10.3k FanDuel)
When Bumgarner is on, he’s one of the best in the game and that’s how he’s looked over his last few starts. The Giants ace has given up just 5 hits with 7 K’s in each of his last 3 appearances and did so against three elite opponents in the Dodgers, D’Backs and Cubs. Now he faces a middling Marlins offense at a massive stadium down in Miami and he’s posted a 0.97 WHIP with a 2.31 ERA over 5 road starts this season. Only Giancarlo Stanton has had success amongst current Marlins when facing MadBum, and the rest of his teammates are a combined 14-for-83 (.168) in their careers against the elite southpaw.
Danny Salazar @ MIN ($12.2k DraftKings, $9.5k FanDuel)
He’s been a strikeout machine with 8 or more K’s in 4 consecutive starts and Salazar’s given up just 4 ER during that span. He should get some good run support tonight with Bartolo Colon going for the Twins, even though the old vet has posted consecutive Quality Starts (his luck will run out). While he’s struggled in the past against Minnesota, Salazar seems to have found his rhythm at the right time for Cleveland and he’s pitching much better with playoff positioning on the line.
Dinelson Lamet vs. PHI ($8.5k DraftKings, $8.3k FanDuel)
If you’re hoping for elite production at a mid-tier price tag tonight, Lamet could be your guy. The Padres rookie flashed upside from the moment he entered the league with his strikeout potential and he’s learning how to navigate tough lineups, going 3-0 with a 3.88 ERA over his last 4 appearances. He’ll face a weak Phillies lineup tonight that ranks 27th in collective wOBA (.307) with a 22.8% K-Rate this year and will do so at Petco Park, where he’s rocking a .185 BAA and 0.90 WHIP through 5 appearances.
Other pitchers to consider: Justin Verlander, Gio Gonzalez, Sonny Gray, Kyle Hendricks, Jason Hammel, Marco Estrada
Best DFS MLB Hitters for August 15, 2017
Nelson Cruz vs. BAL ($5.2k DraftKings, $4.6k FanDuel)
Cruz has been quite streaky this year and he comes into tonight’s plus matchup with a .405 average and absurd 1.000 slugging percentage over his last 10 appearances, as he’s launched 6 HRs with 4 doubles during that span. The notable lefty killer faces an inconsistent southpaw in Wade Miley, who has posted a 5.40 ERA while giving up a 1.63 HR/9 ratio and and 37.9% Hard Contact Rate on the road against RHB. Cruz isn’t sporting the same type of lofty average this year against LHP, but still flashing power with a .213 ISO Mark and consistency with a .427 OBP.
Justin Turner vs. CWS ($4.8k DraftKings, $4.1k FanDuel)
White Sox RHP Miguel Gonzalez has been a target in most matchups, and he doesn’t stand to fare well at all on the road against a red-hot Dodgers team tonight. Righties are hitting .284 off Gonzalez this year and Turner’s been elite in RvR matchups throughout his career. One of the most improved hitters in the Majors, he’s hitting .346 with a .436 wOBA and 1.050 OPS at home this season and continued to flash gaudy upside with a two-homer game on Sunday.
Kolten Wong vs. BOS ($4.0k DraftKings, $3.6k FanDuel)
With such a lighting-quick swing and high hard contact rate, it’s a wonder Wong didn’t figure things out sooner in his career. In any case, he’s been raking with .409 average and 1.127 OPS during August and faces a RHP in Rick Porcello, who simply can’t right the ship. Porcello is rocking a rough 5.24 ERA and .306 BAA at Fenway Park this year and has given up 8 HRs over his last 4 starts, while giving up a 1.78 HR/9 ratio with a 44.1% Hard Contact Rate against LHB this year.
Other hitters to consider: Nolan Arenado, Joey Votto, Chris Taylor, Eduardo Nunez, Corey Seager, Howie Kendrick, Francisco Lindor, Yadier Molina, Lorenzo Cain
8/15/17 DFS MLB STACKS
Royals vs Chris Smith
The Athletics rookie RHP has been consistently hit hard throughout his 6 appearances this year and somehow gave up 4 HRs over 6 IP in his last start at home. While the Royals are unlikely to hit as many balls out of massive Oakland Coliseum as the Orioles, KC is capable of manufacturing runs with feisty hitters such as Lorenzo Cain, Whit Merrifield and Melky Cabrera leading the way. Mike Moustakas has been red hot while Eric Hosmer is showing signs of life and both LHB will have the platoon advantage against an inexperienced RH starter.
Red Sox vs Mike Leake
It’s hard to ignore the streaking Red Sox when they draw a plus matchup at home and tonight’s certainly qualifies against a struggling veteran RHP. Leake has given up 20 runs (16 earned) over 30 IP since the ASB and is posting a .339 BAA during that span, which is certainly a recipe for disaster at hitter-friendly Fenway. Boston could be led by new acquisition Eduardo Nunez, who continues to hit over .400 with his new club, while Andrew Benintendi has also been red hot. Leake has been worse against lefties throughout his career, so consider Mitch Moreland, Jackie Bradley Jr. and rookie Rafael Devers as possible options depending on their placement in the lineup.
Other Stacks to consider:
Rockies vs. Sean Newcomb
Dodgers vs. Miguel Gonzalez
Indians vs. Bartolo Colon
Brewers vs. Ivan Nova
