DraftKings MLB Picks For August 30

Sep 12, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; A general view of the DraftKings sign board during the match with FC Dallas playing against New York City FC at Toyota Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

DraftKings MLB Picks For August 30

We have full slate on for the DraftKings main tournament tonight. Eight pitchers priced at $9,000 or more take the mound tonight. Should we go cheap on hitting, or spend on a couple of elite pitchers? Let’s take a look at the past stats to try and point us in the right direction.

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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?

Aug 24, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Colorado Rockies pitcher Tyler Anderson (44) throws a pitch in the first inning during the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Chad Kuhl got knocked around by the Cubs back on July 9th, giving up four runs on seven hits and a walk with just one strikeout in 2.1 innings pitched. It may not end up being that bad again, but I still wouldn’t use him.

The Marlins picked up a couple of runs off of Seth Lugo in relief earlier this year. He was very good against St. Louis in his last start, but I still don’t know if I would trust him against the Marlins. The win potential isn’t really high, he doesn’t have strikeout upside, and he is unlikely to go more than 5-6 innings. His price is very reasonable ($4,100), but it could blow up on you.

Tyler Anderson beat the Dodgers back on August 3rd, giving up two runs on six hits and two walks in seven innings. That game was at Dodger Stadium. Now, Anderson gets the Dodgers at Coors Field where he is 4-1 with a 3.45 ERA in nine starts. Anderson looks like a good play once again!

Rich Hill has never faced the Rockies, meaning he has never been exposed to the thin air of Coors Field. His first start as a Dodger was a good one. He gave up only five hits in six shutout innings against the Giants while striking out three. However, I don’t think I’m ready to trust him at Coors Field yet, even with his price suppressed by the park.

Tim Adleman has never faced the Angels. He is a solid 2-1 with a 3.68 ERA in six career starts, but he has not gone more than six innings in a start. In fact, he has not made it out of the sixth inning since his first start. His penchant for not going deep into games makes him an unnecessary risk.

Only three Reds (Zack Cozart, Brandon Phillips, and Joey Votto) have ever faced Jered Weaver. They are a combined 0-8 with two strikeouts. That said, Weaver has a bloated 5.31 ERA this year. He pitched pretty well against Toronto his last time out, but he got beat up by the Yankees, Indians, Cubs, and A’s in his four starts before that, leading to a 6.08 August ERA. This looks like a solid matchup, but there is a significant amount of risk involved.

Next: Pitcher Picks

Aug 25, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) pitches during the fourth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Best Bets:

Max Scherzer ($13,600): Scherzer has pitched well against the Phillies in his career. The Phils are only hitting .216 against Scherzer in 167 at bats with three homers, eleven RBI, and 51 strikeouts. He may give up a run or two, but the win potential is high, and so are the strikeouts. That makes him one of the better options tonight.

Drew Pomeranz ($11,600): The Rays are only 14-60(.233) against Pomeranz in their careers with a homer, three RBI, and an impressive 16 strikeouts. 11 if those came against Tampa on Thursday. Jake Odorizzi outdueled him for the win, but Pomeranz still outscored him because of the strikeouts.

Honorable Mention:

Julio Teheran ($9,800): A couple of Padres have managed to get to Teheran (more on that later), but the team as a whole is still hitting only .231 against him in 65 at bats. They do have three homers, but only five runs and they have struck out 15 times. Teheran is a solid alternative to the expensive tier.

J.A. Happ ($9,300): The Orioles are only hitting .236 against Happ in 174 at bats. They do have 11 homers, but only 22 runs, so he has done a good job of limiting damage. The 52 strikeouts are well above average and should mitigate any damage done by the long ball. The only issue with that is it increases the chances for an early shower should too many homers be hit.

Dark Horses:

Adam Wainwright ($6,900): Yes, pitting him against Wily Peralta is almost an instant win. That gets him points right there, but he has also pitched very well against the Brewers. Milwaukee is hitting only .232 in 125 at bats against Wainwright with only two homers, just eight runs, and a solid 30 strikeouts. After a superb July, Wainwright has struggled to a 7.50 ERA in five August starts. Look for him to get back on track here.

Daniel Norris ($6,600): Check out this line: 0-18 with five strikeouts. That is the line of the current White Sox against Daniel Norris. That kind of dominance is a huge bargain at this price. If he can duplicate the feat, of course.

Andrew Albers ($4,000): The Twins continue rotation roulette. This time Albers gets the call. It could be good for him though. Cleveland is only 6-31(.194) against him with a two run homer by the injured Yan Gomes being the only blemish. He only has one strikeout, but if you are getting a lot of outs for this price, you are likely ahead of the game.

Next: Who Are The Best Stacks?

Aug 23, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Michael Saunders (21) hits a solo home run in the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Rogers Centre. Toronto defeated Los Angeles 7-2. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

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 Diamondbacks have actually managed to hit Johnny Cueto pretty well. Michael Bourn ($3,400) is 11-28(.393) with a walk, two doubles, and five RBI against Cueto. Jake Lamb ($3,900) has four hits in nine at bats with a double, a homer, and two RBI. Welington Castillo ($3,400) is only 4-19(.211), but he has two walks, a homer, and two RBI. Yasmany Tomas ($3,700) only has two hits in nine at bats against Cueto, but one of them is a solo homer.

The Cardinals have absolutely hammered Wily Peralta. They are hitting .332 with eight homers and 37 RBI in 214 at bats against him. Matt Carpenter ($5,000) leads the charge, going 18-38(.474) with four walks, five doubles, three homers, and seven RBI against Peralta. Randal Grichuck ($4,200) is 4-8 with a homer and two RBI. If you are looking for a cheaper catcher, Yadier Molina ($3,500) is 9-32(.281) with two walks, a double, and four RBI. Tommy Pham ($3,600) has only faced Peralta twice. Both hits are home runs, and he has driven in four. Stephen Piscotty ($4,800) is 3-6 with three walks and three RBI.

The Diamondbacks-Giants game may be more high scoring than you think. The Giants are hitting .258 against Greinke with five homers and 20 RBI. Brandon Belt ($3,700) is 6-2(.261) with a walk, a double, a homer, and three RBI. Trevor Brown ($2,500) has a two run double in his two at bats, and is worth using if he starts. Joe Panik ($4,400) is only 3-14(.214), but he has a walk, a double, a homer, and two RBI. Buster Posey ($3,700) boasts a .313 average (10-32), but he only has three walks, a double, and two RBI to show for it. Denard Span ($4,000) is 13-40(.325) with two walks, two doubles, a triple, and four RBI against Greinke. Hunter Pence ($3,400) has a miserable .154 average (4-26) against Greinke, but he has two walks, a double, two homers, and four RBI.

Cole Hamels has mostly handled the Mariners, but they have still hit eight homers in 156 at bats against him. DraftKings provides nice rewards for homers, so they are worth chasing. Nelson Cruz ($4,100) is 4-13(.308) with two walks and a solo homer. Robinson Cano ($3,800) has really struggled against Hamels, going just 4-24(.167), but he has hit two solo homers. Franklin Gutierrez ($3,100) is 4-14(.286) with two walks, a double, a homer, and two RBI. Adam Lind ($2,600) is 3-11(.273) with a solo homer as well. Leonys Martin ($3,300) is also another lefty with a solo shot against Hamels, but it is his only hit in five at bats. Seth Smith ($3,000) has one as well, his only hit in three at bats. Kyle Seager ($3,700) is 6-22(.273) with two walks, a homer, and three RBI against Hamels.

Jake Odorizzi has pitched better lately, but the Red Sox have been able to get to him over his career. Mookie Betts ($5,300) is 5-17 with three walks, a double, and two RBI. That means he isn’t likely to be worth that huge price tag. Xander Bogaerts ($4,200) is 7-20 with four walks, three doubles, a triple, and three RBI against Odorizzi. If Brock Holt ($3,200) plays, he is a good option. Holt is 4-15(.267) with a double, a triple, a homer, and four driven in. On the outside chance that Chris Young ($3,200) cracks the lineup, he is 3-11 with a walk, a double and a solo homer against Odorizzi. Dustin Pedroia ($4,400) is 8-22(.364) with two doubles, a homer, and two RBI. David Ortiz ($5,200) has homered against Odorizzi, but he is still only 4-22(.182).

Jose Altuve ($5,200) is 4-15(.267) with a homer and three RBI against Kendall Graveman. Evan Gattis ($4,100) only has two hits in eight at bats, but one is a two run homer. Marwin Gonzalez ($3,200) is 4-11 with a walk, a double, and a solo homer off of Graveman.

If you are ever going to stack Braves, it should be tonight against Edwin Jackson. Gordon Beckham ($2,900) is 8-14(.571) with two walks, three doubles, a homer, and five RBI against Jackson. Freddie Freeman ($4,800) is 7-17(.412) with a walk, a double, a triple, two homers, and four RBI. Matt Kemp ($4,100) has six hits in 19 at bats (.316) with two walks, two homers, and five RBI. Nick Markakis ($4,000) is 8-22(.364) with two doubles and three RBI. At least Jackson dodges A.J. Pierzynski, who has homered off of him twice.

When a team has 11 home runs off of an opposing pitcher, you know a stack could be in order. Pedro Alvarez ($3,400) is 4-10 with two walks, a double, and a solo homer against J.A. Happ. Chris Davis ($4,100) has three hits in 12 at bats with a walk, two doubles, a homer, and three RBI. Adam Jones ($3,600) has eight hits in 32 at bats, but only has a solo homer to show for it. Steve Pearce ($3,700) is 9-25(.360) with three walks, two doubles, four homers, and 11 RBI against Happ. Matt Wieters ($2,700) also has a solo homer, but it is his only hit in seven at bats.

Facing Ubaldo Jimenez is an automatic stack nowadays. Josh Donaldson ($5,400) is 5-23(.217) with two walks, a double, a triple, a homer, and six RBI against Ubaldo. Edwin Encarnacion ($5,200) has nine hits in 37 at bats(.243) with seven walks, three doubles, a homer, and five RBI. Russell Martin ($4,500) has yet to hit a home run against Ubaldo, but he is 11-42(.262) with nine walks, two doubles, and five RBI. Michael Saunders ($4,400) is 7-16(.438) with two walks, three homers, and seven RBI. Devon Travis ($4,200) is 4-9 with a double, a homer, and four RBI already. Melvin Upton, Jr. ($4,300) has six hits in 19 at bats (.316) with a walk, a double, a homer, and four RBI against Ubaldo.

Even this version of the Yankees has hit Edinson Volquez hard. Starlin Castro ($3,900) is 6-24 with a double, a homer, and two RBI against Volquez. Didi Gregorius ($3,800) is 4-9 with a walk, two homers, and three RBI. If Brian McCann ($4,000) ends up behind the plate, he is 4-15 with two walks, a double, a homer, and two RBI against Volquez. Mark Teixeira ($3,400) and Brett Gardner ($3,800) have both homered against Tanaka, but they are a combined 2-15 against him.

Josh Tomlin is really glad that Byung Ho Park is not in the Twins’ lineup. Park was 3-5 with three homers off of him. However, there are still enough Twins that have hit him well. Max Kepler ($4,600) is 1-3 with a solo homer against Tomlin. Joe Mauer ($4,000) has seven hits in 20 at bats, but all of the hits are singles and he has three RBI. Trevor Plouffe ($4,100) is only 3-14(.214), but he has a homer and four RBI. Miguel Sano ($3,900) has a single, a double, a homer, and two RBI in nine at bats against Tomlin.

Next: More Notes For 8-30

Aug 29, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals center fielder Lorenzo Cain (6) drives in a run with a single against the New York Yankees in the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

Odubel Herrera ($3,400) is about the only Phillie that has had any sustained success against Max Scherzer. Herrera is 6-19(.316) with five walks, a double, a triple, and a RBI against him.

Jayson Werth ($3,700) is 2-3 with a homer and two RBI against Jerad Eickhoff.

Lorenzo Cain ($3,700) is 2-3 with two homers and four RBI against Masahiro Tanaka. Cheslor Cuthbert ($2,900) is also 2-3 against Tanaka with a homer and two RBI.

Ryan Braun ($4,900) is 16-71(.216) with two walks, four doubles, two homers, and seven RBI against Adam Wainwright in his career. That is all of the homers, and all but one of the RBI the current Brewers have against Wainwright.

Ben Zobrist ($4,700) is 1-2 with a homer and two RBI against Chad Kuhl.

Wil Myers ($4,000) is 2-7 with a walk against Julio Teheran. Both hits are solo home runs. Yangervis Solarte ($2,900) is 5-9 with a homer and two RBI against Teheran.

Justin Turner ($4,400) is 2-3 with a homer and two RBI against Tyler Anderson.

Adrian Beltre ($4,700) is 4-7 with three walks and a RBI against James Paxton. Ironically, it has been two left handed hitters than have given Paxton the most problems. Unfortunately for Texas, both Shin-Soo Choo and Prince Fielder are out.

Brad Miller ($3,700) is 3-8 with a homer and two RBI against the lefty Drew Pomeranz.

Yoenis Cespedes ($4,400) is 6-14 with three doubles, a triple, and two RBI against Tom Koehler. Asdrubal Cabrera ($3,500) is 3-7 with a solo homer. Travis d’Arnaud ($3,100) is 7-17(.412) with four walks, two doubles, and a solo homer. Curtis Granderson ($3,800) has also taken Koehler deep, but he is only 6-28(.214) against him.

Ian Kinsler ($3,900) has only faced Anthony Ranaudo once. He hit a two run homer against him.

Marcus Semien ($3,100) is 6-13(.462) with two walks, two doubles, a homer, and three RBI against Collin McHugh. Billy Butler ($3,100) has a homer and two RBI on four hits in 12 at bats. Danny Valencia ($4,100) is 6-17(.353) with a walk, two doubles, a homer, and three RBI against McHugh.

Josh Harrison ($3,000) is 4-10 with a double and a solo homer against Kyle Hendricks. Gregory Polanco ($4,600) is 6-14(.429) with two doubles, a homer, and two RBI. Sean Rodriguez ($3,100) also has a solo homer against Hendricks, his only hit in three at bats.

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