DraftKings Main MLB Picks For August 27
There are 11 games in the main tournament tonight. We also have a few aces to choose from. Should we try for two of them since DraftKings has two pitcher slots, or should we find bargains and pay for hitters? Should we use two from the middle tier? Let’s check the past stats for some help.
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NOTE: these picks are based solely on statistics. Some players have never faced their opponents, or have very little experience against them. I am not saying that none of those are good picks. The highest scorer of the day could be someone with no experience against his opponent. This is based on statistical analysis only. If you have a gut feeling, then by all means, follow that. This is not an exact science. The best lineups usually have a mix of proven stats and hot players. Check out this post from Matt McGarvey for great tips about whether to use a hot player in DFS or not.
For you first time players, if you would like $20 worth of free entry tickets, use this link for the referral bonus! Then continue reading for tips on how to turn that $20 into more!
Next: Should You Dismiss These Pitchers Because Of No Past History?
Rookie phenom Alex Reyes will take the place of Mike Leake tonight. Reyes has dominated in relief for the Cardinals so far, striking out 13 batters in only 9.1 innings while allowing just five hits and no runs. He is a very intriguing option against Oakland tonight, but he may not go very deep into the game.
Zach Neal will oppose Reyes, and the rookie has never seen the Cardinals either. His 5.49 ERA is enough of a warning sign to keep me away. This slate is deep enough that you don’t need to take a chance like this.
Zack Godley gave up five runs to the Reds back on July 24th in only 5.2 innings. He was also throttled by the Braves his last time out. I would avoid this also.
The Padres are 4-8 against Jose Urena in relief. Why would we think they will do better over a full game?
Blake Snell has never faced the Astros, but he has had a solid rookie season. Snell is only 4-6, but he has a 3.17 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 65.1 innings pitched. The bad part is his WHIP is horrible (1.59). That makes him a constant risk, but considering he strikes out more than a batter an inning, he is an interesting play against the free swinging Astros.
Cuban rookie Ariel Miranda has never faced the White Sox. He has struggled some so far, posting a 5.49 ERA and just 17 strikeouts in 19.2 innings. He has yet to give up more than three runs in a start, but he has lasted six innings once in three tries. The White Sox hit lefties pretty well, so I would shy away from this one.
Next: Pitcher Picks
Best Bets:
Noah Syndergaard ($12,300): I wouldn’t blame you for not using Syndergaard at this price because of his recent struggles. Of course, his “struggles” are posting a 3.28 ERA in August (his season mark is 2.61). He has posted very good numbers against the Phillies so far in his career. The Phils are hitting only .176 against Thor in 51 at bats with 18 strikeouts. However, they do have two homers and five RBI. The strikeouts will help you forget about that though.
Michael Fulmer, ($10,500): Fulmer dominated the Angels back on June 1st. He went seven shutout innings, giving up just two hits and two walks, while striking out eight. Don’t let that thumping at the hands on the Red Sox scare you. The Angels are a far cry from the Sox in offensive potency.
Honorable Mention:
David Price ($10,000): Price’s numbers against the Royals are rather interesting. On one hand, the Royals are hitting .250 against him in 124 at bats. On the other, they have just six extra base hits and eight runs. The mind-boggling number for me is that Price has just 14 strikeouts in those 124 at bats. That severely limits his upside tonight.
Dark Horses:
Jimmy Nelson ($6,300): Nelson is just 1-4 with a 8.51 ERA in August, but he has been very good against the Pirates so far in his career. The Bucs are only hitting .228 in 101 at bats with a homer, only nine runs, and a nice total of 22 strikeouts. Don’t expect a great game from Nelson, but if he can get you 20 DraftKings points at this price, will you really be disappointed?
Jake Peavy ($6,000): It’s tough to use Peavy this year regardless of past stats. Peavy has pitched out of the bullpen for the entire month of August, but instead of getting back on track, he has been even worse, posting a 6.75 ERA this month. The Braves team is only hitting .228 against Peavy in 114 at bats with just two homers, nine runs, and 18 strikeouts. The strikeout numbers are very low, which makes an already risky situation almost impossible to take a chance on.
Brett Olberholtzer ($4,000): Olberholtzer has very good numbers against the Tigers in his career. The current Tigers are hitting only .204 against him in 54 at bats with five strikeouts and just two runs. The caveat here is that Olberholtzer has not started a game since July 9th of last season. He likely wont go deep into the game, so he carries a significant amount of risk.
Next: Who Are The Best Stacks?
Don’t forget to check out the DFS Lineup Optimizer over at FantasyPros. You can also pick your favorite players or favorite stack, and it will optimize the lineup around that! It really is an invaluable tool for you DFS players!
The Rangers are hitting a robust .297 against Carlos Carrasco with 14 RBI and five homers in only 74 at bats. True, Prince Fielder was responsible for a homer and five of those RBI, but there are others to stack. Such as Mitch Moreland ($3,100), who is 3-9 with a walk, a double, a homer, and two RBI. Robinson Chirinos ($2,600) is only 2-7, but both of those hits are solo homers. Elvis Andrus ($2,700) has driven in three runs in 12 at bats.
The Mets have struggled on offense lately, but they have hit Jeremy Hellickson well in his career. Yoenis Cespedes ($4,400) is 5-12 with a walk, two homers, and three RBI. The injured Lucas Duda is responsible for a homer and four of those RBI. Curtis Granderson ($3,400) is only 5-25, but he has two walks, two doubles, and a solo homer against Hellickson. Jose Reyes ($3,400) could be a solid play if he is in the lineup. Reyes is 8-24 wtih a walk, a double, a homer, and four RBI against Hellickson.
Despite the fact that the most of the Mariners’ power is from the left side, they have still swatted seven homers against Jose Quintana. Nori Aoki ($3,000) is 7-17(.412) with a walk, two doubles, and a RBI. Robinson Cano ($4,300) is 6-17(.353) with two walks and a solo homer. Nelson Cruz ($4,500) has the exact same numbers as Cano except he only has one walk. Franklin Gutierrez ($3,100) usually starts against lefties. He is in play here since his is 2-9 with a double, a homer, and three RBI against Quintana. Kyle Seager ($3,900) has just two hits in 16 at bats, but they are both home runs and he has driven in five.
Mike Foltynewicz has given up six homers to the Giants already in just 57 at bats. Brandon Belt ($3,600) has two of them, both solo shots, and two singles off Foltynewicz in nine at bats. Brandon Crawford ($4,000) also has two homers off of him with three RBI in seven at bats. Buster Posey ($3,500) has the other two in six at bats with four RBI.
Thinking about Dallas Keuchel tonight? Maybe you shouldn’t. The Rays have scored 12 runs against him in only 89 at bats. Bobby Wilson ($2,400) is 4-8 with the home run and three driven in. Evan Longoria ($4,400) is 5-15 with a pair of RBI. Brad Miller ($4,100), despite the lefty on lefty dynamic, is 4-13(.308) with two walks and a RBI. Mikie Mahtook ($2,000) is 1-3 with a pair of RBI.
Next: More Notes For 8-25
Lorenzo Cain ($4,000) is 4-14(.286) with a solo homer against David Price. However, it has been Salvador Perez ($2,700) that has hit Price hard. Perez is 4-12 with two homers and three RBI against him.
Matt Joyce ($4,000) has only faced Jimmy Nelson once. He hit a three run homer off of him. Andrew McCutchen ($4,700) is 4-10 with four walks, two doubles, and a RBI against Nelson.
Miguel Cabrera ($5,400) is 2-6 with a solo homer against Brett Olberholtzer.
Dustin Pedroia ($3,900) is 3-10 with a walk, a double, a triple, and three RBI against Danny Duffy. David Ortiz ($4,700) is also 3-10 against Duffy with a walk. All of his hits are doubles, and he has also driven in three.
If you only play one player based on past stats tonight, it should be Paul Goldschmidt ($5,100). Goldie is 6-6 with two doubles, a homer, and three RBI against Anthony DeSclafani. That it not a typo. DeSclafani has yet to retire Goldschmidt in two games against him.
Freddy Galvis ($3,200) and Ryan Howard ($3,100) both have a homer and two RBI against Noah Syndergaard.
Mike Napoli ($3,800) is 3-9 with two doubles, a homer, and five RBI against A.J. Griffin. Carlos Santana ($4,700) has a single, a solo homer, and two walks against Griffin in only four at bats.
Jameson Taillon has faced the Brewers twice already in his young career, and the only Beermaker to get to him is Hernan Perez ($4,200). Perez is 3-5 with a homer and three RBI, which is all of the homers and RBI that the Brewers have managed against Taillon.
New Marlin Jeff Francoeur ($3,600) is 4-10 with two walks, a homer, and two RBI against Clayton Richard. Adeiny Hechavarria ($3,100) is 2-4 with a double and a RBI.
Be sure to check out the FanDuel picks from out experts in that area! Brian Tulloch provides the picks, and alternative plays if you don’t want to follow the herd. Don’t play FanDuel before checking it out!
Next: DFS Strategy - Take Your Game to the Next Level
Good luck out there, and check out our picks for FanDuel baseball!