DraftKings Early MLB Picks For August 28
There are 11 games in the early tournament today. We don’t have any pitchers over $10,000, and only seven over $8,000. 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?
Robert Gsellman will make his first major league start today against the Phillies, and considering the 8.86 ERA his mound opponent Vince Velasquez has posted in August, you may be very tempted to roll the dice. Just keep in mind that Gsellman has a 5.73 ERA at AAA Las Vegas this year. Lucas Giolito is still one of the best prospects around despite an unspectacular start to his career. Giolito gave up up eight runs (six earned) in two July starts. August doesn’t look to be kind either since his first start of this month for the major league club comes against the Rockies. At least he avoids Coors Field!
Chad Bettis has given up seven runs in just 33 at bats to the Nationals in his career, so you can stack pretty much any Nationals hitter you want. They are hitting .424 against him, though they have yet to hit a homer off Bettis.
Andrew Triggs wont go deep into the game, but he has given up just one run in over his last two starts, spanning 11.2 innings. He has eight strikeouts over that span as well. The Cardinals are a pretty good offense, but Triggs is pitching well if you feel like rolling the dice.
Luis Perdomo gave up three runs on six hits and two walks in six innings against Miami back on June 15th. That was one of his best starts of the season, so using him is still a risk.
Justin Nicolino started the June 15th game against Perdomo. He gave up five runs on ten hits and two walks in 4.2 innings pitched. If he got knocked around by the Padres, you should likely avoid him here as well.
Next: Pitcher Picks
Best Bets:
Chris Archer ($9,900): Archer has a 3.12 ERA since the beginning of July, but has just a 3-6 record to show for it. He simply doesn’t get run support. That will make some people shy away, but don’t be one of them. Archer’s career numbers against Houston are elite. The Astros are hitting just .172 off of him in 93 at bats with just two runs and a whopping 30 strikeouts. Matchups don’t get much better than this, especially at under $10,000!
Carlos Rodon ($8,900): The Mariners are just 7-35(.200) against Rodon with nine strikeouts. They do have a homer and four RBI, but all of the damage was done by one player, and it isn’t the one you are expecting. Rodon has four quality starts in four tries in August with a spectacular 1.46 ERA. You can trust him once again.
Honorable Mention:
Kevin Gausman ($8,700): The Yankees are only hitting .200 against Gausman in 135 at bats. They only have 27 strikeouts, but Gausman has given up just six runs. That is less than half of what would be considered average! He doesn’t have the strikeout upside of the top tier. However, he likely will give up less runs, putting him in better shape for the win.
Jaime Garcia ($7,300): The A’s haven’t scored a run off of him, and own just three hits in 21 at bats to go with seven strikeouts. Garcia could be a sneaky play for big points this afternoon.
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 Orioles are a strong stack option against CC Sabathia. Adam Jones ($4,100) is 19-67(.284) with four walks, four doubles, a triple, four homers, and 14 RBI against Sabathia. J.J. Hardy ($2,800) is 12-36 wtih a walk, five doubles, a homer, and eight driven in. Chris Davis ($4,500) only has six hits in 31 at bats (.194), but he has four walks, a homer, and three RBI. Manny Machado ($4,800) is 11-37(.297) with two walks, four doubles, a homer, and seven RBI against Sabathia. Nolan Reimold could be a sneaky play if he starts. Reimold ($2,900) is 13-39 with four walks, two doubles, a triple, two homers, and five RBI. Mark Trumbo ($4,600) is 6-25(.240) with a homer and two RBI.
The Pirates are very familiar with Chase Anderson, and they really like what they see. The Bucs are hitting .371 against Anderson in 70 at bats. Josh Harrison ($3,300) is 5-7 with two doubles, a homer, and two RBI. Starling Marte ($5,100) is 4-8 with two walks, two doubles, a homer, and two driven in. Jordy Mercer ($3,500) could be a nice punt option at SS. He is 5-8 with a double and two RBI against Anderson. Gregory Polanco ($5,300) is 3-13(.231) with a walk, a double, a homer, and two RBI.
The Twins have had no problems driving in runs against R.A. Dickey (13 in just 66 at bats). You can find a stack here! Start with Brian Dozier ($4,700), who is 4-12 with a walk, two homers, and five RBI against Dickey. Kurt Suzuki ($2,900) is 5-13(.385) with a walk, a homer, and three RBI. Danny Santana ($2,900) is 2-3 with a solo homer. Robbie Grossman ($3,600) has also taken Dickey deep, but it is his only hit off of him in six at bats.
Don’t worry, Jays fans. You can stack against Kyle Gibson too! Edwin Encarnacion ($4,400) is 2-7 with two walks, a double, a homer, and two RBI. Josh Donaldson ($5,300) has three hits in just six at bats, but he only has one RBI to show for it. Michael Saunders ($3,900) is 4-9 with a walk and a solo homer.
The Angels have clobbered Anibal Sanchez. They own a .412 average in 67 at bats. Jefry Marte ($3,300) is perfect with a single and a solo homer. C.J. Cron‘s ($4,100) hit in two at bats is a two run homer. Albert Pujols ($4,400) is 8-24 wtih a walk, two doubles, a homer and two RBI against Sanchez. Andrelton Simmons ($2,500) is 4-7 with a double, a triple, and two RBI. Mike Trout ($5,500) is 3-11 with a walk, two homers, and five RBI.
The Rangers are one of the teams that have solved Danny Salazar. Carlos Beltran ($3,400) is 2-7 with a walk, a double, and two RBI against Salazar. Adrian Beltre ($4,600) is 5-6 with two walks, but all of the hits are singles and he only has one RBI. Robinson Chrinos ($3,400) could be in for another start since he is 3-4 with two doubles against Salazar. Most of the damage was done by Shin-Soo Choo and Prince Fielder, both of whom are injured. They are 7-16 with two homers and four RBI against Salazar.
The Indians have pounded Derek Holland even worse though. Mike Napoli ($4,000) is 5-15 with two walks, two homers, and three RBI. Carlos Santana ($4,300) is 7-21 with three walks, a double, two homers, and seven RBI against Holland. Brandon Guyer ($4,200) and Lonnie Chisenhall ($4,300) are both 1-3 with solo homers off Holland.
Next: More Notes For 8-28
Jose Altuve ($5,200) hits everyone. You know this. So it should come as no surprise that Altuve is 4-15(.267) with a walk and a RBI against Chris Archer.
Brett Gardner ($3,700) is 7-19(.368) with two doubles, a homer, and two RBI against Kevin Gausman. Mark Teixeira ($3,000) has also homered off of Gausman, but he is only 3-14(.214).
Evan Longoria ($4,500) is 4-13(.308) with a walk and a RBI against Doug Fister. It is the only RBI the Rays team has against Fister, even though they own a .300 average against him in 50 at bats.
MIguel Cabrera ($4,200) is 2-3 with a solo homer against Tyler Skaggs.
Franklin Gutierrez ($3,400) is 3-4 with two walks, a double, a homer, and four RBI against Carlos Rodon. He is the only Mariner to figure Rodon out so far.
Will Middlebrooks and Kirk Nieuwenhuis ($3,600) both have hit solo homers against Ivan Nova. Those are the only runs driven in by the current Brewers against Nova in 14 at bats. Of course, Nova only has to deal with Nieuwenhuis since Middlebrooks is in the DL.
Yoenis Cespedes ($4,200) only has one hit in five at bats against Vincent Velasquez, but that hit is a homer and he has three RBI.
Jose Abreu ($4,700) is 3-8 with a homer and two RBI against Taijuan Walker. Walker has given up 14 runs in three starts since July 1st. Abreu looks very safe today.
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!