FanDuel MLB: Picks and Pivots for August 17

Welcome to the Wednesday edition of Picks & Pivots, a daily fantasy baseball column focused on providing analysis and insights into the top FanDuel MLB lineups. The purpose of this column is to first identify key building blocks that can be used for any roster construction and then identify pivot points to help differentiate your lineup in hopes of a big payday!

FanSided and Fantasy CPR have you covered – For additional FanDuel MLB analysis, take a look at Matt Rogers FanDuel Economics column or Mike Marteny who provides Draft Kings MLB Picks analysis giving you the most in-depth DFS coverage for tonight’s baseball slate.

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Wednesday’s MLB action kicks off at 1:05PM EST with a 5 game early slate and an additional 10 games on the main slate starting at 7:00PM EST.

I will continue to track winning Tournament lineups and compare trends over 5 day periods to help us understand what it takes to remain profitable. I HIGHLY recommend each of you do this each morning to look back on the previous night and understand how the winning lineups are constructed in the games you participate in.

The view below tracks GPP entries over various time periods, breaking out key metrics to understand the trends and compositions of GPP winning rosters:

Time Period	Score	Pitcher Salary	Pitcher %	Hitter %	Hitter $/Player	Value
Season	256.0	$ 8,610	25%	75%	$ 3,299	7.31
5 Day	260.7	$ 7,867	22%	78%	$ 3,392	7.45
Prev Day	298.6	$ 9,600	27%	73%	$ 3,175	8.53

Now on to the picks…For more DFS Strategy insights, check out my latest article to help take your game to the next level! I highly recommend gamers track their game performance across the various types of games they play – GPP’s, Cash, Multipliers etc – as this simple exercise will help teach you more about profitable roster construction than you can imagine.

Next: Who is the top pitching option on Wednesday's Slate?

Chris Archer ($9,400) at home versus San Diego (EARLY): Attacking the Padres continues to be a profitable strategy over the last week and in the early slate, locking in Chris Archer as your top arm is my preferred approach for a few key reasons.

First, Archer comes into the game averaging 41.6 points per game over the last month which is 2nd most on the day behind J.A. Happ. Secondly, Archer has a 28.4% K rate on the season which is 8th most in MLB and gets to take on a Padres team that strikes out at a 24.5% rate which is 2nd most on the slate.

Lastly, Archer may actually be a contrarian play as with Stephen Strasburg in Coors Field for $200 cheaper at $9,200 I expect most will shy away from spending up on Archer which makes him an even better target.

Carlos Carrasco ($9,800) at home versus CWS (MAIN): The main slate has three top end pitching options with Jon Lester, Yu Darvish and Carlos Carrasco all locked in as massive favorites (-200 or better) which means paying up at SP is the best course of action on this 10 game slate.

Carrasco comes into this game averaging 44.5 points per game over his last 2 starts, striking out 17 batters in 14 IP against the Yankees and Angels.

He gets a solid match up with the White Sox who strike out at a 20.7% clip and as the cheapest of the 3 aces on the hill may be the best bang for your buck on the evening if you are looking for salary savings for your lineup!

Next: Top Hitting Options

Blue Jays versus C.C. Sabathia (EARLY): On the early slate, paying up for the Nationals bats against Jon Gray will be popular and although I will look to get some exposure, specifically Daniel Murphy, I will look to pivot away from the chalk stack and move towards the Blue Jays in Yankee Stadium.

Sabathia has given up 2 home runs in 3 of his last 4 starts and the Blue Jays right-handed bats should be able to punish the Yankees hurler.

Russell Martin ($2,800) has been on a tear the last 3 games with 4 home runs over that span and at only $2,800 is a key cog in any format on Wednesday.

Edwin Encarnacion ($4,000) is averaging 14.5 points over the last 2 weeks and with most gamers focused on the high priced Nats bats, the Blue Jays may go under-owned.

Chicago Cubs versus RHP Jimmy Nelson: The Cubs have the highest projected run total on the entire slate and make for a great main slate stack against Jimmy Nelson.

Kris Bryant ($4,100) is averaging over 14 PPG over the last 2 weeks and makes for the top target as Nelson is actually a reverse splits pitcher giving up more home runs to RHB this season.

Next: Top FanDuel MLB Lineups

Below you will find my initial lineup for Wednesday’s Early and Main FanDuel MLB slate including notes/comments on my roster construction.

Early Slate

Pitcher: Chris Archer ($9,400)

More from FanSided

Catcher: Russell Martin ($2,800)

First Base: Edwin Encarnacion ($4,000)

Second Base: Daniel Murphy ($4,400)

Third Base: Josh Donaldson ($4,400)

Shortstop: Troy Tulowitzki ($3,000)

Outfield: Mikie Mahtook ($2,200) The Rays have one of the top run projections on the early slate so keep an eye on the lineups as if Mahtook is in the lineup he gets the platoon advantage at a top value price

Outfield: Matt Joyce ($2,200)

Outfield: Tommy Pham ($2,400)

Main Slate

Pitcher: Carlos Carrasco ($9,800)
Catcher: Willson Contreras ($2,800)
First Base: Paul Goldschmidt ($4,400) Goldy at home against a LHP (Jon Niese) is my top play in the main slate
Second Base: Jason Kipnis ($3,800)
Third Base: Kris Bryant ($4,100)
Shortstop: Javier Baez ($2,600)
Outfield: Yasmany Tomas ($3,200)
Outfield: Alejando De Aza ($2,100)
Outfield: Rob Segedin ($2,200)

Next: DFS Strategy - Take Your Game to the Next Level

Best of luck tonight gamer’s! Make sure to review the lineups as they are announced before locking in your lineups!