Early DraftKings Picks August 27: Save On Pitching And Pay For Hitting

BALTIMORE, MD – AUGUST 19: Starting pitcher Kevin Gausman #39 of the Baltimore Orioles throws a pitch to a Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim batter in the second inning during a game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 19, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /

DraftKings Early MLB Picks For August 27

There are 12 early games today which makes the early tournament the big one today. We don’t have much for aces on this slate, but we do have a whole lot of options to choose from. Which middle tier options can perform like aces? Let’s check out some stats!

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The money line yesterday afternoon was at 113.1, which is a pretty steady score. I didn’t get enough form the offense outside of Tim Beckham to place.

The winning lineup was under 200 for the first time in a few days. He used Kevin Gausman‘s dominance of the Red Sox as a good starting point, and capped it off with Chad Pinder‘s monster day for the win.

We will provide you with several options to build your lineup here. Want to spend all your money on pitchers and play bargain bats? We will highlight who is worth the money. Want to punt arms and pay up for the big boppers? We can help you with that as well, and everything in between!

For you first time players, if you would like a bonus of 25% of your first deposit, use this link for the referral bonus! Then continue reading for tips on how to turn those DraftKings dollars into more!

Next: DraftKings Pitcher Plays

DETROIT, MI – AUGUST 22: Masahiro Tanaka #19 of the New York Yankees pitches against the Detroit Tigers during the second inning at Comerica Park on August 22, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

Chris Archer carries the highest price tag this afternoon, but does that make him the best pitcher? There are a couple of warning signs here. First off, Archer’s ERA is nearly a run higher on the road this year. That can happen when calling Tropicana Field home. Still, if you are looking at that 4.26 ERA, it brings his value down some. Archer does have double digit strikeouts in four of his last six starts. A trip to a National League park should also help his cause, especially when the Cardinals don’t score a ton of runs. If you can look past that road ERA, there is value to be had with Archer today.

Carlos Carrasco still has too many blow ups, like last week against Boston, to be priced this high. His ERA is an ugly 5.13 at home, and he gave up five runs in only 4.1 innings in his first start against the Royals this year. It gets worse. The Royals are hitting .248 with six homers and 25 runs in 214 at bats against Carrasco over his career. These numbers are nowhere near what you want from his price.

Masahiro Tanaka has a nice 3.09 ERA over his last ten starts, which highlights just how bad he was over the first two months of the season. That seems to be behind him now. The Mariners are only hitting .191 in 89 at bats, but they do have five homers and 11 RBI. The 25 strikeouts suggest that Tanaka may be able to mitigate damage that way. Tanaka’s ERA is also a run and a half better at Yankee Stadium. If you are fading Archer, Tanaka is a suitable option.

Charlie Morton looks like a safe option against human pitching machine Ricky Nolasco and the Angels.

Middle Tier:

Jon Gray has a 5.72 road ERA this year, and it isn’t likely to get any better with a visit to SunTrust Park. John Lackey‘s price is inflated due to the perceived weakness of the Phillies offense, but I still want no part of it. The past history is good, but the Phillies best players are rookies that have never faced Lackey, and he has a 5.25 road ERA this year.

Dan Straily has been hit and miss this year, but he has a 3.01 ERA at home. He also gets elevated strikeout potential with the Padres coming to town. Straily has the look of a upper tier starter today. He bordered on dominant against the Phillies his last time out. As long as he is at home, he looks like a good pick.

Tanner Roark has a solid 3.14 ERA since the All Star Break, and a great chance at a win against Tom Milone. Roark isn’t going to wow you with strikeouts, but he is capable, and he is playing a Mets team that has all it’s stars in other locations or injured. He could be a real bargain at $7,800.

If you are thinking Jameson Taillon as an under-exposed pick, don’t. He has allowed 16 runs in just 14.2 innings in three starts against the Reds this year. There is no reason to think this one will turn out any better.

Bargain Pitchers:

The Marlins are only hitting .243 with a homer and three RBI in 70 at bats against Clayton Richard. Sure, Stanton will hit a homer or three, but don’t be surprised if Richard comes up with a quality start against an average offense in a cavernous park.

Even after an average start against San Diego earlier this week, Lance Lynn still has a 2.08 ERA over his last ten starts. He faces a Rays offense without a DH that strikes out a lot. That is quite a bit of potential for a guy priced this cheap.

Lucas Giolito was serviceable against the Twins in his 2017 debut. The Detroit offense is sputtering right now, and Giolito is in a good spot to take advantage of it if he trusts his pitches.

Tyler Mahle will make his major league debut against Pittsburgh today. He was dominant at AAA Louisville this year and threw a perfect game in AA Pensacola, but it can be tough to debut in a hitter’s park like Cincinnati. Still, Pittsburgh is in the bottom half of the league in every offensive category. Mahle could shine in his debut if his AAA numbers are any indication.

BALTIMORE, MD – AUGUST 22: Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles hits a two-run home run in the sixth inning against the Oakland Athletics at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 22, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

Gary Sanchez is an elite option if you are choosing to pay up for a catcher. With a rookie lefty on the mound for the Mariners, Chase Headley and Todd Frazier look like solid options on the cheap as well.

Manny Machado is another top option worth paying up for. He is 4-8 with a walk and two solo homers off of Doug Fister in his career. Chris Davis comes a bit cheaper, and he has also homered twice against Fister in his career.

Josh Donaldson is an elite play against Kyle Gibson. He is 4-8 with four walks, a double,a homer, a steal, three runs scored, and a pair of RBI in his career against Gibson.

Freddie Freeman looks like a great option against a pitcher that struggles on the road.

Jose Abreu is 9-15(.600) with two homers, three runs scored, and four RBI in his career against Matt Boyd. The best part is that he comes cheaper than five other first basemen this afternoon.

Middle Tier:

John Lackey has surrendered a staggering 31 homers this year, including 18 in 13 road starts. This is a park that boosts power, but it’s not like Rhys Hoskins needs any help. He looks like an elite play again. Maikel Franco could deserve consideration at a discount price as well.

Josh Bell is tearing the cover off the ball lately, hitting .400 with two homers and 13 RBI in his last ten games. He could be worth a look against Tyler Mahle in his major league debut.

Eric Hosmer is 7-26(.269) with four walks, two doubles, a triple, a run scored, and three RBI in his career against Carlos Carrasco. The Royals could be scoring some runs today. If you believe that is the case, Hosmer is a guy you want from the middle of that lineup.

Yuli Gurriel has only two hits in seven at bats against Ricky Nolasco, but one of those is a two run homer. Nolasco didn’t allow a homer in his last start, which is an achievement of sorts considering he had allowed the most in the majors prior to that start. We all know that the Astros like to hit home runs and are pretty good at it, so a stack may be in order. If it is, Brian McCann better be in the lineup. He is 25-73(.342) with two walks, five doubles, nine homers, 13 runs scored, and 27 RBI in his career against Ricky Nolasco. That is about as good as it gets for BvP stats.

You didn’t think I was going to let Wade Miley get away free and clear, did you? The Red Sox are so deep that they don’t need to play Mitch Moreland. I hope they do. He is 2-4 with a homer and two RBI in his career against Miley. Rafael Devers is also in play. Lefties haven’t really seemed to bother him yet.

Bargain Shoppers:

Yandy Diaz went 4-4 against Boston in his last start. With lefty Eric Skoglund on the mound today, expect Diaz to be back out there. What can he do for an encore? It may be worth finding out for his low price of $3,100.

Miguel Cabrera is facing Lucas Giolito in his second start of the season, and Kennys Vargas is facing a guy that has bounced between the bullpen and AAA for much of the season. Yet somehow they are both priced this low. Don’t get me wrong. I could think of a dozen reasons not to use either of them, but Miggy is too good of a hitter to stay this bad, and Vargas has tremendous power but little else. If you are paying up for pitching, these are solid punt plays.

HOUSTON, TX – AUGUST 23: Howie Kendrick #4 of the Washington Nationals singles to center field in the third inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on August 23, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

Jose Altuve is 6-11(.545) in his career against Ricky Nolasco. The bad news is that all of the hits are singles and he has no counting stats. Are you willing to pay $5,500 for that?

Brian Dozier has slowed down a little, but he is still hitting .364 with three homers, two steals, and seven RBI in his last ten games. Against Joe Biagini, he is worth a look at the lower end of this tier.

Howie Kendrick is 10-29(.345) with a double, two homers, four runs scored, and seven RBI in his career against Tom Milone. Wilmer Difo is a solid pick here as well. Hell, any right handed Washington batter is in play. Considering this is the first game of a day-night twin bill, don’t be shocked if Washington starts no lefties at all!

Tim Beckham may never stop hitting in an Oriole uniform. It seems that way right now. I doubt it stops today against Doug Fister either.

Middle Tier:

If Robinson Cano can get a game in in Yankee Stadium, I want him in my lineup. It doesn’t look likely though, and I would rather it wasn’t against Tanaka. Cano has homer against Tanaka, but he is just 4-19 lifetime.

Scooter Gennett is 6-16 with two doubles, a run scored, and two RBI in his career against Jameson Taillon. Jose Peraza could be a steal today if he is in the lineup. He is 8-10 with two doubles, two steals, and four run scored in his career against Taillon so far.

Whit Merrifield has three hits and a walk in six at bats already against Carlos Carrasco. He is a single shy of the cycle against him with three runs scored and three RBI. His price today is very reasonable if you think the Royals can get to Carrasco again.

I know the Rockies aren’t that great away from home, but DJ LeMahieu is 10-12 with a walk, four runs scored, and three RBI in his career against Mike Fotynewicz. This may transcend the road struggles today.

Cesar Hernandez is leading off for a team that could score a bunch against John Lackey. He is also 3-7 with two runs scored and a steal against Lackey, so there is a good platform to start from.

Bargain Shoppers:

Danny Espinosa has homered twice off of today’s starter Lance Lynn as well. The bad news is that he may not see the field again. Be sure to check your starting lineups right before game time if you go with Espinosa. Adeiny Hechavarria will also come really cheap, and he is 4-8 with two runs scored, a steal, and two RBI against Lynn from his time in the National League.

Tim Anderson is 7-20 in his career against Mat Boyd, and costs just $2,800. Tyler Saladino is the same price and should be starting again. Saladino is 4-13 with a walk, a solo homer, a steal, and two runs scored against Boyd. He will likely have the added benefit of batting near the top of the order as well.

Starlin Castro batted fifth for the Yankees yesterday and drove in a pair. He is a very strong play against young lefty Andrew Albers, especially at this price.

Next: Top Outfield Plays

MIAMI, FL – JULY 10: George Springer #4 of the Houston Astros and the American League speaks with the media during Gatorade All-Star Workout Day ahead of the 88th MLB All-Star Game at Marlins Park on July 10, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

I passed on Stanton yesterday, but I wont today with lefty Clayton Richard on the mound. He only has one hit in five tries against Richard so far, but Stanton has also never had a prolonged hot streak like this. I think he could hit anyone right now.

Mike Trout is 2-5 with a walk, a RBI, and two steals so far against Charlie Morton. I do still like Morton against the Angels, but I know he isn’t going to shut them out. Trout is always in play, right?

George Springer is very close to a must play today. He is 4-8 with a walk and a solo homer against Ricky Nolasco already. If you are looking to save money, Carlos Beltran is 20-57(.351) with six walks, a double, a homer, 11 runs scored, and three RBI.

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Middle Tier:

Avisail Garcia is 8-16 with a double, two homers, four runs scored, and seven RBI already against Matt Boyd. Count me in!

Max Kepler continue to hit righties hard, and Joe Biagini isn’t a threat to stop that. Kepler is a strong bargain today if you don’t feel like paying up for Eddie Rosario.

Adam Duvall is 6-14 with a walk, two doubles, two homers, three runs scored, and four RBI in his career agaisnt Jameson Taillon. Not to be outdone, Billy Hamilton is 4-11 with a walk, a triple, two homers, three runs scored, a steal, and six RBI against Taillon. They fit nicely as part of a full or mini Reds stack.

It is likely that Austin Jackson will get the start against lefty Eric Skoglund today. He looks like a solid bargain play as well.

Melky Cabrera enjoys the same price drop that many of the Royals do today against Carrasco. He shouldn’t. Cabrera is 9-33(.273) with four walks, a double, two homers, six runs scored and eight RBI against him.

Seth Smith is always a good leadoff play against weak righties. That may not be true against Fister. Smith is just 2-12 against him lifetime, but both of those hits are home runs and he has driven in four.

Bargain Shoppers:

The entire Blue Jays outfield is underpriced against Kyle Gibson. The whole Blue Jay team with the possible exception of Josh Donaldson in underpriced against Gibson. These two teams combined for 19 runs yesterday. Don’t be shocked to see it happen again.

Chris Young is a great way to save money against lefty Wade Miley. He is 6-15 against him lifetime with two doubles, a run scored, and two RBI. A homer can’t be far off.

Carlos Gonzalez is cheap and he has homered and driven in four already in nine at bats against Mike Foltynewicz. His home/road splits aren’t as drastic as a lot of his teammates, mostly because he has struggled so badly this year. But he is priced to buy in a stadium that favors lefty power. I will pass on Charlie Blackmon though since he is just 1-11 lifetime against Foltynewicz.

Nick Williams is still dirt cheap against John Lackey, in case you were wondering.

Next: Main Slate DraftKings MLB picks

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!