Early DraftKings MLB Picks September 2: Stack Astros Against Harvey

CHICAGO, IL – AUGUST 16: Starting pitcher John Lackey #41 of the Chicago Cubs delivers the ball against the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field on August 16, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

DraftKings Early MLB Picks For September 2

We only have five games in the early DraftKings tournament today. College Football will take center stage for some of the afternoon, and then a huge game at night. For us baseball fans, the larger tournament is at night, but there are some interesting options during the day as well.

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The money line yesterday was all the way down to 82.5. It wasn’t because of the pitching, it was because of the hitting. My Braves-Cubs stack didn’t work.

The winning lineup was at just 117.5, the lowest total of the season. They all had Carrasco and Lackey with Edwin Encarnacion, the highest scorer of the day and James McCann, the highest scoring catcher.

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

ST. LOUIS, MO – AUGUST 27: Lance Lynn #31 of the St. Louis Cardinals delivers a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays in the first inning at Busch Stadium on August 27, 2017 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

The Braves are hitting just .214 in 154 at bats against Jon Lester with just two homers and three runs with 40 strikeouts. Those numbers are what you want from an elite pitcher. You should get what you pay for with Lester this afternoon.

Ah, the Mets. All of us DFS players thank you for making your team a glorified AAA squad. Any pitcher is in play against them. When it’s a guy who has had a solid season like Charlie Morton, it means that he is in line for one of his highest point totals of the season. I rust him at least as much as Lester, if not more.

Masahiro Tanaka is a solid bet, even against Boston. The Red Sox are hitting a solid .249 against him, but they only have seven homers and 20 runs in 205 at bats. Tanaka isn’t a huge strikeout guy, but he gets enough. Despite a down season numbers-wise, Tanaka has only given up eight runs in 21.2 innings to Boston this year. He has a 3.77 ERA at home, and a 3.29 ERA anywhere over his last ten starts. His early season was so bad that his season long numbers don’t show just how good he has been lately. Tanaka may be safer than Pomeranz.

Middle Tier:

Drew Pomeranz has been solid against the Yankees this year. What is especially promising is his 2.18 career ERA in four games at Yankee Stadium. The Bronx isn’t intimidating him, and the players in uniform really aren’t either. There is always some risk involved in throwing a pitcher out there against the Yankees, but surprisingly enough, the Yankees have actually hit right handed pitching better. Pomeranz has allowed a .270 average with six homers and 17 runs over 152 at bats to Boston, but a large percentage of that damage was done in Beantown. There is value to be had here.

Lance Lynn is going to draw a lot of attention against the Giants, and he should. However, Chris Stratton likely has almost as much upside as Lynn if you are looking for a suitable pivot. I expect this to be the lowest scoring game of the afternoon as does Vegas, so you can even use both if you want. It is a good day for pitching at AT&T Park.

Bargain Pitchers:

If you are trolling the bottom of the lake again, Brock Stewart is about as good as you are going to get. The Padres have only one hit in seven at bats against him, and, well, it’s the Padres. Stewart has a 3.38 ERA in three starts and seven relief appearances this year. He is a solid play if you are paying for hitting.

NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 27: Gary Sanchez #24 of the New York Yankees follows through on a first inning RBI single against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium on August 27, 2017 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant are the obvious plays against Lucas Sims making his Wrigley Field debut. That is a lot of budget wrapped up into two hitters, but the pitching is solid enough on the middle tier that you can make it happen.

Gary Sanchez is one of the few Yankees that has figured out Drew Pomeranz. He is 6-15 with a double, three homers, and six RBI against the lefty. If you need to save some change, Chase Headley is 6-20 with three walks, two doubles, and five runs scored against Pomeranz.

Anyone wearing a Dodger uniform is a solid bet against Clayton Richard. As a team, the Dodgers are hitting .346 against him in 156 at bats. Justin Turner is 8-17(.471) with a walk, a double, a homer, five runs scored, and two RBI. Austin Barnes is 5-9 with two doubles, a homer, and five RBI. Even Cody Bellinger has hit the lefty. Bellinger is 4-7 with two walks, three runs scored, and three RBI. if Adrian Gonzalez is in the lineup somewhere, he is 11-20(.550) with two walks, a solo homer, and five runs scored.

Middle Tier:

You get to enjoy a price cut, but not a production cut, with Freddie Freeman against Lester. Freeman is 5-17(.294) with a walk, a triple, a solo homer, a steal, and three runs scored against Lester in his career. If Kurt Suzuki starts, and he could with a day game today, play him. Suzuki is 7-23(.304) with two walks, a solo homer, and three runs scored in his career against Lester.

Matt Carpenter could be a solid buy against a rookie pitcher, but don’t expect a homer. Maybe just a ball or two to the gap.

Bargain Shoppers:

Buster Posey is 4-8 with a walk, a homer, two runs scored, and four RBI in his career against Lance Lynn. Pablo Sandoval could be worth a look just because he is cheap.

DENVER, CO – MAY 13: Kike Hernandez #14 of the Los Angeles Dodgers dives back to first base in the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on May 13, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. Members of both teams were wearing pink in commemoration of Mother’s Day weekend. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

Chris Taylor is 3-8 with two walks, a double, and two runs scored against Clayton Richard. Logan Forsythe is 4-7 with two walks and a RBI. Lefty killer Enrique Hernandez is 3-11 with three walks, two doubles, two runs scored, and two RBI. Corey Seager is one of the few Dodgers that have not got their licks in against Richard.

Every current, former, and future Astro is in play against Mike Harvey. I know that he is on a pitch count, but the Met bullpen is almost as bad. An Astro stack could be very lucrative today.

Middle Tier:

Dustin Pedroia is 9-31(.290) with two walks, a homer, two runs scored, and two RBI in his career against Masahiro Tanaka. Mitch Moreland, Mookie Betts, Andrew Benintendi, Xander Bogaerts, and Hanley Ramirez (twice) have also hit homers against Tanaka. None of them are hitting better than .250 against him though, so buyer beware.

Didi Gregorius is 8-19(.421) with a walk, a homer, three runs scored, and two RBI against Drew Pomeranz. His ownership should be low due to the lefty-lefty matchup, but Gregorius doesn’t have problems with this lefty for whatever reason.

Bargain Shoppers:

Yangervis Solarte is still priced in this tier and is still batting cleanup. He is worth rolling out there for power potential alone against Brock Stewart. Same with Jose Pirela. They both feel too talented to be this cheap against an average pitcher.

How is Paul DeJong only $3,000? I will just assume that it is a clerical error and play him at the bargain price.

Next: Top Outfield Plays

HOUSTON, TX – JULY 17: George Springer #4 of the Houston Astros hits a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Minute Maid Park on July 17, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

George Springer and Josh Reddick should go without saying against Matt Harvey.

Kyle Schwarber against Lucas Sims looks like about as good a shot as you will get at a homer today. Ian Happ‘s bat has woke back up, so he is in play if you aren’t stacking Astros.

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Middle Tier:

I’m still not sure I would pay up for Judge, so Brett Gardner could save you a few hundred. He is 8-23(.348) with a walk, a double, a homer, four runs scored, and three RBI against Pomeranz.

I know that Yasiel Puig is hitting righties better this year, but he may make an exception for Richard. Puig is 4-14(.286) with three walks, a double, a homer, and four RBI off of him in his career.

Bargain Shoppers:

There isn’t a lot in this tier, but a couple stand out. Juan Lagares has very good speed, but will he even be able to get on base against Charlie Morton?

This looks like a great spot for Leonys Martin to make his Cubs debut. Even if the doesn’t, Jon Jay is a great punt batting leadoff against Lucas Sims.

Who knows if the Dodgers will throw Alex Verdugo out there again with a lefty on the hill. If they do, I would think about it for $2,500

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!