DraftKings MLB Picks August 15: Can We Trust MadBum Again?

MIAMI, FL – JULY 19: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the Miami Marlins hits a solo home run in the first inning during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Marlins Park on July 19, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

DraftKings MLB Picks For August 15

The Arizona-Houston afternoon game is the only one missing from our DraftKings slate tonight. We have a lot of aces taking the mound, but much like Sunday, not all of them are in good situation. Fortunately, we do have some good mid-tier options available. Let’s see who is who by checking some stats!

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The money line was back up to 117.4 tonight. It has been steady in the 110’s for a few days now. My lineup with Gausman and Stanton finished well above the money line. The other wasn’t even close thanks to a horrid outing from Ty Blach. What a waste of Anthony Rizzo!

The winning lineup was up to 211.25 last night. He got Greinke shutting out Houston (who would have thought?) with a Cubs stack and Stanton, of course. You’re trying to lose if you don’t you Stanton right now.

These picks are based mostly on statistical analysis . 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 $10 worth of free entry tickets, use this link for the referral bonus! Then continue reading for tips on how to turn that $10 into more!

Next: DraftKings Lineup 1

OAKLAND, CA – AUGUST 10: Tim Beckham #1 of the Baltimore Orioles races to third base with a lead-off triple against the Oakland Athletics in the top of the first inning at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on August 10, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

P: Madison Bumgarner ($12,700): Bumgarner has held the Marlins to a .222 average in 99 at bats with only three homers and eight runs while striking out 28. His numbers should hold serve in spacious Marlins Park even if (when) he gives up the gratuitous homer to Stanton. That is the opposing pitcher tax to playing in Marlins Park right now.

P: Marco Estrada ($7,400): The Rays have done well against Estrada this season, racking up 16 runs in just 14.1 innings pitched against him. However, Estrada has been outstanding lately. He has allowed just six runs in four starts since his midseason swoon, including shutting out the Yankees for seven innings in his last outing. I think he gets some revenge on the Rays here. The silver lining was that he had 14 strikeouts in those 14.1 innings against the Rays. The strikeout upside is high enough to mitigate the risk.

C: Drew Butera ($2,300): Butera is the cheapest starting catcher you can find, and he has a pretty favorable matchup against rookie Chris Smith. Don’t expect miracles (or a homer), but Butera is a solid bet for a knock or two and maybe a RBI thrown in there somewhere.

1B: Matt Olson ($3,100): Olson has slugged seven homers in his first 71 at bats. Six of those have come against right handed pitching. Jason Hammel doesn’t give up a lot of home runs, but when his pitchers are off, that is what the penalty is. There is risk here since Hammel hasn’t allowed a homer in August, but he gave up six big flies in July.

2B: Brian Dozier ($4,400): Dozier is 12-29(.414) with two walks, six doubles, two homers, four runs scored, and seven RBI in his career against Danny Salazar. On a night where there are so many other good pitching options, Salazar’s $12,200 salary is outrageous. He has a 4.15 ERA on the season and the current Twins are hitting .321 off of him in 109 at bats with seven homers and 17 RBI. His money can be much better spent elsewhere.

3B: Nick Castellanos ($4,800): Castellanos is 2-4 with a homer and five RBI in his career against A.J. Griffin already. He has also come alive at the plate lately with a .333 average and ten RBI in his last ten games. This price is a bit steep here, but I definitely want some kind of exposure to Griffin tonight.

SS: Tim Beckham ($4,100): Another day, another multi-hit game, including a leadoff homer. Go ahead and fade him. I dare you. Against a left hander making his major league debut, Beckham is again one of the best plays for his salary at any position.

OF: Max Kepler ($3,900): Kepler is worth playing nearly every time the Twins face a right handed pitcher. He is 3-7 with two homers and four RBI against Salazar already. He may as well be hitting off a tee against him at this point.

OF: Byron Buxton ($3,500): Buxton has only faced Salazar twice, but he hit a two run homer off of him. Buxton continues to heat up. He has collected 53 DraftKings points over his last four games at an average price of $3,200. That is getting more out of your money! If it weren’t for Beckham, Buxton would be one of the better bargains of August!

OF: Steve Pearce ($3,700): Pearce has always hit lefties hard, and Snell has allowed all 11 of his homers this year to right handed hitters. It’s only a matter of time until Pearce beats up on Snell, and Snell’s alarming walk rate assure that his homer wont be a solo shot.

Next: DraftKings Lineup 2

CINCINNATI, OH – AUGUST 10: Dinelson Lamet #64 of the San Diego Padres reacts as he walks to the dugout after being replaced in the sixth inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on August 10, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Reds defeated the Padres 10-3. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

P: Dinelson Lamet ($8,500): Lamet has turned some heads in fantasy circles lately because of his strong four game stretch. In that span, he has allowed only six runs in 23.1 innings with 23 strikeouts. The Phillies provide strikeout upside and are taking a park hit here. I am not all-in on Lamet like some because most of the Phillies’ damage is done by lefties, but another quality start is not out of the question. Lamet had a decent 4.03 ERA in five home starts so far.

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P: Luis Castillo ($8,100): Castillo has posted a 3.73 ERA in his first ten starts. That doesn’t sound great, but when you take into account his home park and the fact that he has started games in Chase Field, Coors Field, and played the Nationals twice, that is a great mark. Going into Wrigley doesn’t scare me off of Castillo. He will likely give up a couple of runs, but he has enough strikeout upside to still come out with a solid start.

C: Mike Zunino ($3,100): Zunino has clubbed 11 of his 17 homers in Safeco Field this season. It seems like a good spot to use him against struggling lefty Wade Miley, who has given up 11 homers in 13 road starts and sports a 5.40 road ERA.

1B: Joey Votto ($5,300): Votto is 7-13(.538) with seven walks, two solo homers, and four runs scored in his career against Kyle Hendricks. The hit streak may be over, but Votto is still getting on base. And with his history against Hendricks, this looks like a strong play.

2B: Jason Kipnis ($3,000): Kipnis is 3-9 with two doubles, a homer, two runs scored, and four RBI in his career against Bartolo Colon. Colon has been doing a kegstand from the Fountain of Youth upon his arrival in Minnesota, but it’s only a matter of time before he gets dropped. It may be here against Cleveland, and Kipnis is far too good of a hitter to pass up at this price.

3B: Rafael Devers ($4,700): Mike Leake has fallen out of orbit lately with a 5.08 ERA since July 1st. Don’t act shocked. We all knew it was coming. What is a bit surprising is that lefties are hitting .291 against Leake this year. His splits aren’t usually that pronounced. That is good news for Devers and his left handed teammates. NOTE: If Travis Shaw is in the lineup, I am switching to him. He is 10-13 with three homers and eight RBI against Ivan Nova in his career.

SS: Andrelton Simmons ($3,800): Simmons is 7-24(.292) with five walks, a double, a triple, two homers, six runs scored, and six RBI in his career against Gio Gonzalez. Simmons hit Gio even before his offensive epiphany this year, so this looks like a very safe pick. That is, if you can bear to fade Beckham.

OF: Giancarlo Stanton ($5,200): I am going to enjoy the one night reprieve on Stanton’s price. It doesn’t hurt that he is 8-16 with two walks, five doubles, a homer, four runs scored, and four RBI against Madison Bumgarner in his career. He is in a home run tear of epic proportions right now. Just because MadBum is on the mound doesn’t mean we should fade Stanton.

OF: Adam Duvall ($4,700): Duvall is 5-11(.455) with a solo homer and two runs scored against Hendricks. Wrigley Field is nearly as homer-friendly as his home park, so a park downgrade isn’t in play here. I will change the picks if the wind is blowing in though.

OF: Corey Dickerson ($3,500): Dickerson is 8-17(.471) with two walks, a homer, five runs scored, a steal, and three RBI in his career against Marco Estrada. Maybe that can help him snap out of this horrible slump that he is in. Dickerson is just 8-47 over his last 11 games.

Next: FanDuel MLB Picks and Pivots

Good luck out there, and check out our picks for FanDuel baseball, along with our PGA picks. We also have plenty of NFL stuff to get you ready for football!