DraftKings Early MLB Picks August 15: Lock in Berrios at home

CHICAGO, IL – MAY 09: A general view of the field with a tarp on it as it rains before a game between the Chicago Cubs and the San Diego Padres on May 9, 2016 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images) /

DraftKings Early MLB Picks August 15: Lock in Berrios at home

We only have four games on our early DraftKings slate today, but the pitching pool actually looks pretty good. Who are the best bets here? Who can separate us from the pack? Let’s take a look!

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The Brewers and Cubs are going to have a hard time getting the game in today. Chicago gets weather the day after I do, and it’s been raining for the last 12 hours. Nothing strong, just steady. Steady enough to make the field enough of a mess not to play this one. SP’s are very risky, and hitters aren’t much better.

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!

These tips are based mostly on past performance. This is a nice tool for building a lineup, but should not be the only pieces of information you use. We have plenty of writers on here who give you relevant information no matter which site you play on!

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ST PETERSBURG, FL – AUGUST 4: Carlos Rodon #55 of the Chicago White Sox throws a pitch in the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays on August 4, 2018 at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

Jose Berrios ($10,000): Berrios was knocked around by the Tribe in Cleveland his last time out. That could serve to keep ownership low. Berrios has been on fire at home, going 8-2 with a 2.95 ERA and 0.88 WHIP with 96 strikeouts in 13 starts. That’s pretty impressive considering this offense usually doesn’t score a lot of runs. Berrios has allowed just four homers in 85.1 innings at home this year. Don’t expect much from the Pirates offense in what should be an enjoyable duel in Minneapolis this afternoon.

Carlos Rodon ($9,100): Most of you know by now that I’m kind of a Rodon fan, but there is plenty to be wary of today. Yes, I know it’s the Tigers, but Rodon has an ERA that is more than two runs worse on the road (still a respectable 3.72) and the Tigers have hit him well. The current Tigers are hitting .346 against Rodon in 26 at bats with two homers, three runs, and only five strikeouts. Now as to why he is here, I still think the Tigers are a mess. Rodon has strong numbers on the year, so I don’t expect a blowup here. However, this price is a little tough to pay, even on a short slate.

Middle Tier:

Chris Archer ($8,600): Archer’s numbers against the Twins border on dominant. He has held the Twins to a .203 average in 74 at bats with only one homer, just three runs, and an astonishing 25 strikeouts. Why pay up when you can get this kind of dominance at what looks like a bargain price? Oh yeah, Berrios is a stud at home. At any rate, I have no qualms about starting both Archer and Berrios here on a short slate with one game likely to be struggling with rain all day.

Bargain Pitchers:

Kyle Hendricks ($7,500): The fact that Hendricks is higher than Guerra is just asinine. That alone makes it hard to play Hendricks unless you are rolling with both starting pitchers in this game. I can make a case for Hendricks. After all, the Brewers are only hitting .221 with four homers and 12 runs in 140 at bats, but the 28 strikeouts falls way short of what we want for this price. Especially when you look at what Guerra has done against the Cubs.

Junior Guerra ($7,100): If it looks like the weather will cooperate, this is a great place to save some cash. The Cubs are hitting just .169 against Guerra in 77 at bats with only one homer, three runs, and a lofty 22 strikeouts. This is a pitching rich slate, especially when you consider that there are only four games. If this plays, play Guerra!

CHICAGO, IL – MAY 19: Jose Abreu #79 of the Chicago White Sox is congratulated by Matt Davidson #24 after hitting a home run against the Texas Rangers during the seventh inning at Guaranteed Rate Field on May 19, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) /

Chicago White Sox vs. Jordan Zimmerman:

The Sox are hitting .379 with three homers and 19 runs in just 87 at bats against Zimmerman. Even in a year where Zimmerman has a respectable 3.98 ERA, the White Sox have put up ten runs (nine earned) in just 9.1 innings against him. This offense owns him for some reason, so we may as well ride that! Matt Davidson, Jose Abreu, and Avi Garcia have the homers and nine of the RBI off of Zimmerman. Yolmer Sanchez is 4-9 with a pair of RBI and a steal. If Omar Narvaez is behind the plate, he is worth a look since he is 5-6 against Zimmerman. If not, Tim Anderson is a good way to finish this off.

Oakland Athletics vs. Mike Leake:

The A’s are hitting .350 against Leake in 120 at bats, so you know it’s not a fluke. they also have four homers and 18 runs in that span while striking out just 17 times. Lucroy has done a lot of the damage with two homers and eight RBI, but his poor numbers on the season make it hard to use him. Since he started last night, he likely wont be in there anyway. Khris Davis and Matt Chapman have the other homers, and Piscotty is 4-11 with two RBI against Leake. Canha, Semien, and Jed Lowrie are all candidates to be included in this stack as well. The only A that hasn’t hit Leake well is Matt Olson. He is just 1-9 against Leake despite the platoon advantage.

Seattle Mariners vs. Brett Anderson:

Anderson has a 6.30 ERA in two starts at the Coliseum this year, and the Mariners have hit him well so far. Seattle is hitting .256 with four homers and 11 runs in 86 at bats against Anderson so far. With the right handed power in this lineup, it’s easy to see Anderson getting creamed again. Nelson Cruz and Mitch Haniger are the elite options with Jean Segura and Ryon Healy hot on their heels. Robinson Cano‘s price is too low, so throwing him in there isn’t a bad idea either. Kyle Seager hits lefties well enough to consider. If Zunino is in there, I love his power potential.

WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 16: Javier Baez #9 of the Chicago Cubs and Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Chicago Cubs hug during the T-Mobile Home Run Derby at Nationals Park on July 16, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

Javier Baez is still worth a look against Guerra. He is 3-8 with a double and a RBI off of him. Schwarber has the only homer, and is always a threat to tack on another, especially if the wind is blowing out like it appears it will.

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Middle Tier:

Max Kepler has the homer off of Chris Archer, and Joe Mauer has driven in a pair off of him. Other than that, I don’t want any exposure to the Twins today. Even this is pushing it.

Travis Shaw has smacked three homers in 18 at bats and driven in seven already against Kyle Hendricks. Watch out on Sheffield Avenue this afternoon! Eric Thames has homered off of Hendricks as well.

Corey Dickerson does have a homer against Jose Berrios. Just don’t plan on him doing it again today. Berrios is a monster at home.

Bargain Shoppers:

James McCann and Victor Martinez have both homered off of Carlos Rodon in the past, and they are both under $3,000. Castellanos is worth a look if you have some extra money to spend.

Next. MLB Game by Game breakdown August 15. dark

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