Main DraftKings MLB Picks August 19: Can Strasburg Score As Much As Sale?

BALTIMORE, MD – AUGUST 18: Manny Machado /

DraftKings Main MLB Picks For August 19

We have 11 games in the main DraftKings tournament tonight, but the pitching options are very top heavy. Should we stack and hope for the best? Probably, but before just hoping, let’s check some stats for a little bit of educated guessing.

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The money line last night was still up to 120.75 despite 6% still having Max Scherzer. Me? I switched to Matt Moore and at the extra $8,000, and rode that to above the cash line. The other lineup had weak hitting and Austin Pruitt.

The winning lineup was up a ways to 223.45. He stacked Cardinals and had the huge nights from Manny Machado (3.9% owned) and Nicky Delmonico to victory.

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 25% of your first deposit in DraftKings dollars, use this link for the referral bonus! Then continue reading for tips on how to turn those dollars into more!

Next: DraftKings Lineup

NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 13: Chris Sale #41 of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the New York Yankees in the first inning at Yankee Stadium on August 13, 2017 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

P: Chris Sale ($14,100): Sale dominated the Yankees on Sunday night baseball last weekend. They are now hitting just .195 against him in 118 at bats with three homers, five runs, and an amazing 47 strikeouts. Sale is expensive because he is worth it. And he plays earlier, so even if he is scratched, we can soak up the extra cash all through our lineup.

P: Vance Worley ($6,000): Some of you may not even know that Vanimal is back in the league. He is, racking up a 2.12 ERA in three August starts. The same always applies to Worley. He doesn’t strike out many, leaving him susceptible to blow ups, but using him against the Mets seems pretty safe right now. This incarnation of the Mets is just 2-16 lifetime against him with no runs and six strikeouts.

C: Sandy Leon ($3,200): Leon is 3-8 with two walks, a homer, and four RBI in his career against CC Sabathia. On top of that, Sabathia has a nasty little 4.95 ERA in 17 career starts at Fenway. If you can afford right handed Red Sox, buy up!

1B: Mike Napoli ($3,800): Napoli is only 5-20 against Derek Holland, but he has homered off of him twice. Holland is one of the worst pitchers in baseball against right handed bats. Facing a guy like Napoli who really only hits lefties at a hitter’s park is going to lead to a ton of runs, and likely home runs. I want at least a little exposure to this one!

2B: Kaleb Cowart ($2,400): I do realize that Kevin Gausman is pitching well lately, but this is the same Angels team that knocked him around in Anaheim on August 9th. That was Gausman’s worst start since the beginning of July. Camden Yards is a better hitter’s park than Anaheim, so I’m seeing another bump in the road for Gausman, and the Angels are cheap enough to stack so I can use Sale. Cowart continues to hit, smacking a home run last night. Can he make it two in a row?

3B: Luis Valbuena ($3,700): Valbuena is 3-7 with two homers and three RBI in his career against Kevin Gausman. The other four are strikeouts, but we wont worry about that little hiccup. If he hits one of those homers, he is a nice bargain tonight.

SS: Tim Beckham ($4,400): Another game, another hit and run scored for Beckham. Lather, rinse, repeat. It doesn’t hurt that he is 3-6 lifetime against JC Ramirez either.

OF: Mike Trout ($5,300): Trout is a good play against anyone, but I know, you want proof. Trout is 5-10 with two walks, two runs scored, and a solo homer off of Gausman. And he is a bit cheaper than the upper echelon of outfielders tonight. He should be able to produce like the rest of them though.

OF: Melky Cabrera ($3,800): Melky is hitting .286 with two homers, a steal, and nine RBI since his return to Kansas City. He also has two career homers against Trevor Bauer in 25 at bats. He is priced nicely tonight to see if we can get some production out of him against Cleveland.

OF: Nick Williams ($3,300): Wait….isn’t Nick Williams left handed? Ty Blach is too, correct? Yes to both. However, the rookie is hitting .303 with two homers and ten RBI in 33 at bats against left handed pitching this year. This is a great spot for Williams as Blach is coming off his worst start of the season.

Next: DraftKings Main Lineup 2

PHILADELPHIA, PA – JULY 29: Starting pitcher Jerad Eickhoff #48 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws a pitch in the second inning during a game against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park on July 29, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /

P: Stephen Strasburg ($11,000): If you are into fading Sale, you have to go with Strasburg. He has dominated the Padres. He is 6-1 with a 2.93 ERA against them lifetime with 58 strikeouts in 43 innings. He also has a 2.77 ERA in his career at Petco Park. This incarnation of the Padres doesn’t have much of a history against him, but they are a pathetic 3-25 with no runs and ten strikeouts. All signs point to Strasburg having a great outing. Maybe even as good as Sale’s.

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P: Jerad Eickhoff ($7,900): You may have forgotten about Eickhoff, but you shouldn’t. He has a 3.49 ERA in his last ten starts while striking out 53 in 56.2 innings. It dips down to 2.83 over his last five! The Giants struggle against righties, and Eickhoff is just beginning to roll. He is far and away my favorite option of the non-elite pitchers tonight. 20 DraftKings points is likely his floor tonight.

C: Yan Gomes ($3,200): Gomes is 6-18 with three walks, a double, a homer, and three RBI in his career against Jason Vargas. Cleveland is an expensive stack, but Vargas has fallen off the rails lately. And they will be far lesser used than the Rangers and White Sox.

1B: Rhys Hoskins ($3,400): Ty Blach gave up six runs in his last start in Miami, which is one of the most friendly in baseball next to his own. The Phillies don’t possess a ton of right handed power, but Hoskins is one of the exceptions. He has three homers this week. Don’t be shocked if he adds to that total.

2B: Yoan Moncada ($4,000): Moncada has homered twice in his last seven games. Facing a lefty in a hitter’s park like Arlington could help him add to that total in a big hurry.

3B: Jake Lamb ($4,600): As most of you already know, I am a Twins fan, and a big Jose Berrios fan. However, this is business. And stacking Diamondbacks is good business. Berrios has an ugly 6.28 ERA since the first of July. Lamb has quietly hit .282 with three homers and eight RBI in his last ten games. This series at Target Field could wake the DFS world back up to him again.

SS: Alcides Escobar ($3,400): Escobar is 6-19(.316) with two walks, a double, a steal, two runs scored, and two RBI in his career against Trevor Bauer. He looks like a good way to save money at a rather shallow position.

OF: Howie Kendrick ($5,200): Travis Wood has just one quality start in his last ten tries. Facing a lineup with this much right handed power, he is going to be in a world of trouble. A Nationals stack is right up there with the Rangers for me, and if I can find a suitable way to make one work, I will put one together. The Nats could have a huge night out west.

OF: David Peralta ($4,200): Peralta is leading off against righties still, even with A.J. Pollock healthy. He has taken to the role quite well, hitting .316 with two homers, a steal, seven RBI, and seven runs scored in August. I’ll take that against the struggling Berrios.

OF: Byron Buxton ($3,100): This may seem a peculiar spot for Buxton, and it kind of is. However, Buxton is hitting everything right now. He is hitting .405 with three homers, nine RBI, four steals, and 11 runs scored in his last 11 games. I know he is facing Zack Greinke, but it may not matter. Buxton is cheap and will come with very low ownership, giving us a chance to separate from the pack.

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!