DFS MLB Lineups for August 31, 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 Chris Sale can get lit up, and Paul Goldschmidt 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!
8/31/17 MAIN SLATE TOURNAMENT RUNDOWN
DraftKings 10 Max Championship: $555 buy-in, $300k guaranteed
DraftKings 25 Max Championship: $55 buy-in, $125k guaranteed
DraftKings 20 Max Championship: $4 buy-in, $100k guaranteed
FanDuel Home Run: $222 buy-in, $200k guaranteed
FanDuel Rally: $18 buy-in, $125k guaranteed
FanDuel Squeeze: $4 buy-in, $125k guaranteed
Best DFS MLB Pitchers for August 31, 2017
Gio Gonzalez @ MIL ($11.9k DraftKings, $9.3k FanDuel)
The Brewers are struggling mightily on offense right now and lefty-killer Ryan Braun is in the midst of a horrible 4-for-35 stretch, so this is clearly a prime spot for Gio despite his modest road splits. He’s still sporting a 2.91 ERA and .203 BAA on the road and should be able to supplement a Quality Start with several strikeouts against a Brewers team that leads the Majors with a 26% K-Rate this year. Gonzalez has allowed just 3 ER while winning each of his last 5 starts in efficient fashion and that makes him a premier cash game option.
Kyle Hendricks vs. ATL ($10.8k DraftKings, $8.5k FanDuel)
Hendricks continues to regain his rhythm as the Cubs look to regain some consistency and make another playoff push. The RHP has allowed 3 ER or fewer in 7 consecutive starts with an 8.34 K/9 ratio during that span and he should get ample run support at home with the Cubs offense set to tee off on rookie LHP Sean Newcomb. Hendricks is rocking a 2.48 ERA and 3.35 FIP since the ASB and he was incredible at home last year with a 1.32 ERA and .199 BAA at Wrigley Field.
Jeremy Hellickson vs. TOR ($6.2k DraftKings, $6.6k FanDuel)
If you want to take a chance and separate a GPP lineup with a true value, you could consider Hellickson, as he’s been quality in 3 of his 5 outings since joining the O’s and could get good run support from the team that leads the Majors in HRs hit at home. The Blue Jays offense has been awful all year and aside from Jose Bautista (who is slumping badly), the rest of Toronto’s hitters are just 9-for-54 with 13 K’s in their careers against Hellickson. He has the talent to post great numbers in the right spot and is worth a look on a short slate.
Other pitchers to consider: Madison Bumgarner, Zach Davies, Eduardo Rodriguez, Marco Estrada
Best DFS MLB Hitters for August 31, 2017
Giancarlo Stanton vs. PHI ($5.8k DraftKings, $5.2k FanDuel)
On a short slate, it might be even more vital to pay up for a hitter that is on an historic pace and could very well break the non-steroid single-season HR record. Stanton has been unconscious with a .514 wOBA and 1.312 OPS since the ASB and he faces arguably the most vulnerable SP on this short slate. Phillies rookie RHP Ben Lively is giving up a 1.34 HR/9 ratio with a 5.64 xFIP over his first 9 MLB appearances and Stanton’s been more dangerous at home all year, where he’s hitting .307 with a .619 slugging percentage.
Cesar Hernandez @ MIA ($3.6k DraftKings, $3.5k FanDuel)
If you’re trying to play Stanton and still afford an ace or 2 in Gonzalez, Hendricks and/or Madison Bumgarner, you’re going to have to find some great values tonight at other positions. Hernandez has long been overlooked as a contact hitter without much perceived upside, but he’s impressed lately with a .345 average and 6 XBH over his last 8 appearances heading into Wednesday’s action. Tonight he’ll face a RHP In Odrisamer Despaigne, who has almost exclusively given up production to LHB this season and allowed lefties to hit .272 throughout his career.
Rajai Davis @ TOR ($3.8k DraftKings, $2.7k FanDuel)
Boston has a new weapon in a speedy leadoff man that specializes in creating chaos against LHP. Davis is a career .286 hitter with a .775 OPS against LHP and he’s facing an ancient southpaw tonight in C.C. Sabathia. While the Yankees veteran has held Davis in check (9-for-52) over a large sample size, Rajai is 5-for-5 on SB attempts against the hefty lefty. Gary Sanchez is also a pretty poor defensive catcher, who might struggle to throw him out should he look to run once again.
Other hitters to consider: Kris Bryant, Marcell Ozuna, Rhys Hoskins, Brandon Crawford, Christian Yelich, Ben Zobrist, Domingo Santana, J.T. Realmuto, Nick Williams
8/31/17 DFS MLB STACKS
Cubs vs Sean Newcomb
They continue to rake against all pitching and the Cubbies will be licking their chops ahead of a matchup against a rookie southpaw. Newcomb’s been boom or bust this year and he’s dancing a dangerous line with a 5.33 BB/9 ratio and a 14.1% HR/FB ratio. Kris Bryant is the most appealing play in this stack given his lofty power numbers against the platoon while Anthony Rizzo has been good in LvL matchups as well. Consider Ben Zobrist as a crafty switch hitter that’s hurt lefties throughout his career and Rene Rivera could emerge as a viable punt play at catcher if Alex Avila sits against a lefty.
Red Sox vs C.C. Sabathia
The Red Sox lineup has very few weaknesses and now contains several LHB that are just as dangerous in LvL matchups, so Sabathia’s past successes against Boston are pretty irrelevant. This year, the veteran southpaw is posting a 5.08 ERA with a 1.58 HR/9 ratio at Yankee Stadium and winds are expected to be blowing out towards that short RF porch tonight. Consider Davis, Eduardo Nunez and Christian Vazquez as righties with plenty of potential against Sabathia, while Mookie Betts and Rafael Devers could clean up in the middle of the lineup.
Other Stacks to consider:
Marlins vs. Ben Lively
Giants vs. Michael Wacha
