DFS MLB Lineups for August 22, 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!
8/22/17 MAIN SLATE TOURNAMENT RUNDOWN
DraftKings Full Count: $55 buy-in, $500k guaranteed
DraftKings Rally Cap: $8 buy-in, $125k guaranteed
DraftKings Four Seamer: $4 buy-in, $100k guaranteed
FanDuel Grand Slam: $44 buy-in, $125k guaranteed
FanDuel Squeeze: $9 buy-in, $125k guaranteed
FanDuel Monster: $666 buy-in, $200k guaranteed
Best DFS MLB Pitchers for August 22, 2017
Chris Archer @ TOR ($12.4k DraftKings, $10.2k FanDuel)
Archer has always been able to flash upside throughout his career by harnessing his incredible stuff but his consistency has been quite notable over the past couple of months. The Rays ace has gone at least 6 innings and allowed 3 ER or fewer in 12 of his last 13 starts, posting a 12.69 K/9 ratio during that span. Tonight he faces a Blue Jays offense that’s been quite weak with the second-lowest batting average (.241) and fifth-fewest runs scored (529) this season and current Jays are 59-for-259 (.228) with 72 K’s over a large sample against Archer.
Charlie Morton vs. WAS ($8.9k DraftKings, $8.6k FanDuel)
It wasn’t his usual modus operandi before this season, but Morton used the strikeout yet again to dominate the Diamondbacks while allowing a season-low 3 hits over 6 innings of one-run ball last Wednesday. Tonight he’ll face a Nationals offense with a great reputation, yet that lineup has struggled a bit lately with Bryce Harper on the shelf and Daniel Murphy breaking down a bit. Current Nats are just 13-for-66 (.197) with just 1 XBH and 10 K’s to post a .246 wOBA in their careers against Morton, who has made the most of his run support, picking up 10 wins over 18 outings this year.
Lance Lynn vs. SD ($7.4k DraftKings, $8.0k FanDuel)
All things considered, Lynn pitched pretty well in a tough spot at Fenway Park last Wednesday and his DFS production doesn’t necessarily reflect that he only give up 1 ER to the best home offense in baseball. Now he takes on the Padres bottom-feeding offense at Busch Stadium, where he’s rocking a 2.62 ERA with a .203 BAA this season. Lynn’s been solid with a 1.70 ERA since the ASB even though he’s posting a 5.64 K/9 ratio during that span that limits his upside, but doesn’t restrict him from serving as a very solid value play.
Other pitchers to consider: Jimmy Nelson, Patrick Corbin, Jeff Samardzija, John Lackey, Danny Duffy, Jameson Taillon
Best DFS MLB Hitters for August 22, 2017
Anthony Rizzo @ CIN ($5.2k DraftKings, $4.5k FanDuel)
Reds RHP Homer Bailey has the poor luck of facing the hot-hitting Cubs in a second consecutive start after he give up 6 ER over 5.2 IP in a meeting with them last week. Rizzo happened to homer off Bailey in the first inning of that contest, finishing 2-for-4 with 4 RBIs, and he’s been on a pretty good run with a .324 average and .917 OPS during August. Rizzo’s now 8-for-21 with 2 HRs, 6 walks and just 2 K’s over 28 plate appearances against Bailey, who is posting a troublesome 5.51 BB/9 ratio while getting rocked to the tune of a .416 BAA and 30% HR/FB ratio over 3 home starts this year.
Byron Buxton @ CWS ($4.2k DraftKings, $3.4k FanDuel)
This is what the Twins hoped to see from Buxton when they took him 2nd overall in the 2012 amateur draft. The five-tool stud is hitting .328 with 3 HRs and 6 SB in August and is now 16-for-17 on SB attempts this year. Tonight he’ll face a vulnerable young RHP in Lucas Giolito, who posted a 6.75 ERA with a notable 29.2% HR/FB ratio and 8.21 FIP over 6 appearances with the Nationals last year. Giolito’s given up a 1.93 WHIP with a 50% HR/FB ratio over a small sample of at-bats against righties and Buxton could hurt the tanking White Sox with his bat or legs tonight.
Nicky Delmonico vs. MIN ($3.9k DraftKings, $2.9k FanDuel)
Just like Buxton, Delmonico participated in a doubleheader on Monday, yet these young guns shouldn’t have any problem with fatigue at their age. Delmonico, an unheralded sixth-round pick by the Orioles in 2011, has provided a huge lift for the struggling White Sox with 5 HRs, a SB and a .361 batting average over 17 appearances this year. He’s an even better value than usual because the White Sox face a RHP tonight in Kyle Gibson, who is posting a 5.36 xFIP and giving up a 34.2% Hard Contact Rate when facing lefties this season and he’s ripe to target.
Other hitters to consider: Mike Trout, Paul Goldschmidt, Justin Upton, Manny Machado, Gary Sanchez, Corey Dickerson, Francisco Lindor, Jon Jay, Adam Frazier, Javier Baez, Chris Iannetta
8/22/17 DFS MLB STACKS
Angels vs Tyson Ross
Two vulnerable SPs take the mound at Angel Stadium tonight and the starter for Texas has been hit quite consistently. Ross appears to be at the end of his line with a 7.02 ERA and dead-even 1.00 K/BB ratio that has led to struggles in most of his outings, so the supporting staff could come alive behind Mike Trout, who is obviously a fantastic play in this spot. Luis Valbuena and Kole Calhoun have both flashed power lately and are worth considering with the platoon advantage, while Cliff Pennington and catcher Martin Maldonado standing out as potential values.
Twins vs Lucas Giolito
While Buxton is a solid value play who could potentially set the table, the most appealing Twins to target could be slugging second baseman Brian Dozier. He’s swinging a hot bas right now and will have a chance to take Giolito deep given the young pitchers’ struggles with the long ball. With fellow slugger Miguel Sano headed to the DL, big switch hitter Kenny Vargas could emerge as a solid value and you can also consider Max Kepler as a high-upside play with power. Eddie Rosario took a 10-game hitting streak into Monday’s doubleheader and he’s another platoon specialist to use against a vulnerable young righthander.
Other Stacks to consider:
Orioles vs. Paul Blackburn
Cubs vs. Homer Bailey
Mariners vs. Lucas Sims
Rangers vs. Ricky Nolasco
