DraftKings MLB Picks August 17: Is Flaherty an ace tonight?

PITTSBURGH, PA – JUNE 23: The tarp sits on the field during a rain delay in the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Arizona Diamondbacks at PNC Park on June 23, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /

DraftKings MLB Picks August 17: Is Flaherty an ace tonight?

The Mets and Phillies start an hour earlier than everyone else, so that game is available in showdown mode only. The other 14 games make up our main DraftKings tournament tonight. There is something for everyone at every pitching tier tonight. This kind of slate makes for a lot of lineup differential. Which way are we going? Let’s take a look!

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There is a lot of rain to go through today. The strongest PPD risk is in Pittsburgh. The rain went around yesterday, so let’s hope it does again. They are going to be dealing with showers in New York as well. There is a small risk of PPD there as well. Rain will hit during the game in Washington. If that isn’t a quick game, there is risk it gets called early. A late start is likely in Cleveland with delays possible thereafter as well. A late start in Fenway is possible with more storms arriving in the late innings. Atlanta has a late start risk, but should be fine to play afterwards.

Aside from the normal wind in Oakland, we have nothing to worry about there.

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!

For you first time players, if you would like a free shot at a million dollars, use this link for the referral bonus with your first deposit of $5 or more! You will receive a free entry into the Fantasy Football Millionaire contest on opening weekend!

CHICAGO, IL – AUGUST 12: Max Scherzer #31 of the Washington Nationals pitches against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Wrigley Field on August 12, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

Max Scherzer ($12,600): I haven’t used Scherzer against the Marlins in three starts this year. The past stats aren’t that great, and the price has been way too high. However, I may reconsider tonight. Not that Max pitched well against them last time – he really didn’t – it’s just that the price is actually reasonable enough that we could get some value here. Scherzer has averaged a modest 21.6 DraftKings points in this three meetings with the Marlins. However, the current Marlins are only hitting .177 against Max in 113 at bats with six homers and 12 runs with 33 strikeouts. The absence of Bour could make a difference here.

Carlos Carrasco ($11,200): Carrasco is mostly a guy to use when the spot is right, and it definitely is here. The Orioles are only hitting .241 with a homer and two runs in 54 at bats with 16 strikeouts. The potential is here for Carrasco to score as much or more than Scherzer, so it is perfectly acceptable, and maybe a little chalky, to move down. It sure doesn’t feel like a step down. Carrasco racked up 27.7 DraftKings points against Baltimore earlier this year. He should do something like that tonight as well. Oh, and about that homer and two RBI? They are by Adam Jones, who is going to miss the weekend series.

Jack Flaherty ($9,800): Flaherty has 60.4 DraftKings points in two games against Milwaukee this year. That’s domination. He has allowed only seven hits in 12 innings and racked up an astonishing 22 strikeouts. Flaherty may not have the name of the more expensive names on this slate yet, but don’t be surprised if he outscores all of them tonight. Yes, ALL of them.

Middle Tier:

Walker Buehler ($9,200): Buehler has 71.6 DraftKings points over his last three starts, and they have all been against offenses that have some clout. Houston, Milwaukee, and AT Colorado. It’s easy to see why Buehler is expensive because he is rolling right now. Safeco is a pitcher’s haven. Seattle’s offense is dangerous enough to end his hot streak, but they also have ghosted us enough in good situations to know that Buehler is a legitimate threat to score among the elite tonight.

Kyle Gibson ($8,500): I believe that one of the Ten Commandments of the first two months were “thou shalt not trust Kyle Gibson at home.” However, Gibson has not allowed more than three runs in a home start since May 18th. The Tigers have only mustered four runs in 13 innings off of Gibson this year. The 29.6 DraftKings points in two games against the Tigers are a disappointment for this price if Gibson can’t outdo that. There is always risk since Gibson hasn’t been much of a strikeout pitcher until this year. The Tigers offense is going pretty good right now, but they were cold until about a week ago.

Dereck Rodriguez ($8,300): Rodriguez continues to pitch well in his rookie year. Normally I would be cautious with a rookie in a launching pad like this, but the Reds offense is scuffling lately. Rodriguez likely wont get much for run support, but he could hit 20 DraftKings points without getting the win here. However, there is risk since Rodriguez doesn’t rack up the strikeouts.

Freddy Peralta ($8,000): Peralta has massive GPP upside due to his strikeout potential, but he does have a 5.17 ERA in seven road starts. That is a lot of risk, especially with a Cardinals offense that is mashing right now. The Cardinals have scored 47 runs in the last week. Peralta should be able to rack up enough strikeouts to keep him from having a truly horrible game, but we want more for this price.

Bargain Pitchers:

Robbie Ray ($7,600): If Ray isn’t chalk tonight, he should be. Yes, his numbers against the Padres aren’t great. You can’t be shocked will all that righty power in the lineup. However, Ray has been brilliant on the road, posting a 2.70 ERA in eight starts. The bad numbers are almost exclusively at home. Ray has at least six strikeouts in all four starts since returning from the DL. A fifth is imminent, and I tend to think that the Padres are going to have trouble hitting him here. This is the K upside we covet in GPP’s at a very reasonable price.

Matt Boyd ($7,200): This is going to be interesting. The Twins beat up on former ace Francisco Liriano last night. Another lefty takes them on here. Boyd is only allowing a .197 average to the Twins in 122 at bats, but he has allowed 14 runs with the 35 strikeouts. There are enough good and bad things that I can make a case for or against Boyd. After last night, I think I’m out on him though.

Sean Newcomb ($7,100): Newcomb was pulverized by the Brewers at home in his last start, which could really temper ownership. It shouldn’t. The Rockies are striking out at an alarming rate on this road trip, and they really aren’t scoring many runs. Newcomb could have a bad game, but I see him still having solid numbers due to the huge strikeout potential here. He could have a huge game if he keeps the Rockies off the scoreboard.

Wade LeBlanc ($6,900): How brave are you? The Dodgers are only hitting .167 in 42 at bats against LeBlanc with one homer and 11 strikeouts. The five runs can be forgiven. I am also really tempted by this since the Dodgers offense has been putrid lately. They have scored just 16 runs in the last six games, and three of those were in Coors Field. Am I really crazy? Maybe, maybe not. The stats say that LeBlanc could do very well here.

Trevor Williams ($6,000): Williams has been cruising lately, allowing just two runs combined over his last five starts. Williams also held the Cubs to one run in six innings the first time he faced them this year. There are some dangerous bats in this lineup, and Williams really doesn’t have a high upside, but this price looks low for what he has done lately. Williams has topped 20 DraftKings points in three of his last four starts.

CLEVELAND, OH – APRIL 30: Francisco Lindor #12 and Jose Ramirez #11 of the Cleveland Indians celebrate after scoring on a hit by Yonder Alonso #17 during the eighth inning against the Texas Rangers at Progressive Field on April 30, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Boston Red Sox vs. Ryne Stanek/Yonny Chirinos:

Chirinos had his best outing as a pro in his last appearance, but it was against Baltimore. We have to take it with a grain of slate. Chrinos has been good lately, but the amount of firepower in this Boston lineup in a pitcher’s park spells bad news for Rays pitching. The expensive options are all in play with Betts being my favorite. Mid tier options like Xander Bogaerts, Mitch Moreland, and Eduardo Nunez fit well if you don’t want to spend all your budget on Sox hitters. Even someone like Sandy Leon is in play in a potent offense. I like pretty much the whole team here.

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Lance Lynn:

The Blue Jays have destroyed Lynn. Like six homers in 43 at bats destroyed. Kendrys Morales and Russell Martin both have a pair off of Lynn. Smoak and Granderson each have another. These may not even be the best part of the stack. Teoscar Hernandez and Aledmys Diaz look very good as well. This is a fair priced stack, and as a Twins fan, let me tell you that Lynn will get caught up to at some point. Logic says it will be at Yankee Stadium. A team that has demolished him in the past is a good place for that to happen.

Washington Nationals vs. Dan Straily:

The Nats are only hitting .232 against Straily, but they have six homers and 16 runs in only 99 at bats. Matt Wieters has two of those homers, and looks to be finally getting in a groove at the plate. Juan Soto, Ryan Zimmerman, Rendon, and Trea Turner have all homered off of him as well. Bryce Harper may be best avoided tonight though. He is just 2-16 lifetime against Straily. Adam Eaton is a good substitute since he is 2-5 against Straily.

Cleveland Indians vs. David Hess:

Let’s see….a 6.25 ERA against the Cleveland offense? I’ll buy shares of that! Cleveland has been rolling anyway. I have a hard time passing on Jose Ramirez at all right now, and it’s the same with Lindor. You can mix and match after that. Brantley and Kipnis look good from the left side, and Yonder Alonso is still a good bargain. Even Greg Allen has had some good games at the bottom of the order and he wont break the bank. Anyone in a Cleveland uniform looks good tonight. I would even use Terry Francona if he writes himself in the starting lineup.

Texas Rangers vs. Odrisamer Despaigne:

Despaigne has a 4.76 ERA in 331 major league innings. Predictably, lefties hit Despaigne harder than righties. That’s bad news for the Angels because the Rangers have a lot of big lefty bats. Joey Gallo‘s legendary power leads this stack, as does the consistency of Choo. Rougned Odor and Jurickson Profar are both hitting lately. You can finish this stack off with Adrian Beltre because Despaigne hasn’t been all that good against righties either.

SAN DIEGO, CA – AUGUST 16: Hunter Renfroe #10 of the San Diego Padres hits a solo home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at PETCO Park on August 16, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

Anthony Rizzo is finally heating up, and he has a homer and three RBI in his career against Trevor Williams. Schwarber and his power are always worth a look, but beyond that, I’m not attacking a hot pitcher in a pitcher’s park with any more than that.

Trevor Story and Nolan Arenado have both homered off of Newcomb before, but this park really doesn’t help right handed power. Their prices are way too high away from Coors. I would rather spend on Red Sox or Indians.

Arizona hits lefties hard, especially on the road. I want Goldy here, and maybe David Peralta, but I’m apprehensive about going too crazy here. Joey Lucchesi has been solid this year, and I think he has a pretty good game here. The issue is that I’m not paying more for him than Robbie Ray.

It’s to the point where we almost have to play Matt Carpenter if he is in the lineup. Harrison Bader and Tyler O’Neill are raking right now. Paul DeJong has four homers in the last ten games. There are a host of hot Cardinals right now. Take your pick.

It looks as though Drew Hutchinson is going to start for the Rangers, so that means Ohtani and Kole Calhoun are firmly in play again. Justin Upton is worth a look as well, but same as with Rockies bats, I think we are better off spending on a Cleveland or Boston stack. There is a chance that Mike Trout returns tonight. If he does, play him!

The more I look at this, the more I think that I don’t really want any Seattle hitters. Nelson Cruz maybe, but that’s it.

What to do with the Dodgers? Soft tossing lefty Wade LeBlanc looks like an all you can smash buffet for Manny Machado and lefty killer Kike Hernandez. However, the Dodgers have looked like a money stack no less than three times in the last week and come up almost completely empty. I’m curious as to where you stand on this @2locksports. I think I’m done with the Dodgers right now.

Hunter Renfroe could be your late night hammer. He has three homers in 11 at bats against Robbie Ray. Wil Myers has taken Ray deep twice. Ray has been money on the road, so I don’t want to get too exposed here, but Renfroe is in a great spot.

I’m not a huge fan of Charlie Morton against the A’s. The A’s are a good offense that doesn’t strike out a whole lot. This is a pitcher’s park, and Morton is a lock for a quality start. I’m just not sure that he scores enough for his price, and Khris Davis is a big reason why. Davis has two homers and four RBI in only 12 at bats against Morton. I’d rather use Davis and Morton.

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Middle Tier:

Before you go jumping on Brian Johnson against the Rays, he has been torched by them this year. Johnson has allowed seven runs in just 4.2 innings to Tampa this year. C.J. Cron and Willy Adames are my favorite ways to attack here.

Marcus Stroman‘s career numbers against the Yankees are solid, but there is no way I trust him here. Brett Gardner has two homers and five RBI off of Stroman. Gregorius has five runs and three RBI. Stanton is worth a look too, but I don’t know that I would build around him.

The White Sox have been all or nothing against Jake Junis. Matt Davidson and Yoan Moncada have got all. Both have homered twice against Junis. The red hot Jose Abreu is in play here as well.

Starling Marte is slumping a bit lately, but he is the only current Pirate to homer off of Cole Hamels. A sneaky play could be Adeiny Hechavarria. He has five RBI and a .355 average in 31 at bats against Hamels.

Castellanos has smacked two homers against Kyle Gibson in his career. Niko Goodrum and Mikie Mahtook have also homered off of Gibson. The uber cheap Jim Adduci is 4-5 wtih a pair of RBI against Gibson if you are looking for some cheap bats.

Up until last night, I was really going to be all in on Matt Boyd. The Twins destroyed Liriano last night, so I’m not that crazy about it how. Jorge Polanco has a homer and six RBI in 24 at bats against Boyd.

DeSclafani has really struggled against the Giants in his career, but I can’t possibly stack this offense. There are a couple of places that I’m willing to attack though. Brandon Belt and Hunter Pence have both homered off of DeSclafani, and Andrew McCutchen has 19 homers in 75 career games in Cincinnati.

We all know about Kyle Freeland‘s road struggles. I would just ignore them since he has pitched well everywhere lately. However, the Braves are hitting .357 in 56 at bats with three homers and ten runs off of him. That’s too much risk. I would rather fade Freeland and use Markakis, who has homered off of him twice. Ronald Acuna is firmly in play as well.

Bargain Shoppers:

All of the Reds power is mired in slumps right now. About the only Reds that are hitting are Phillip Ervin and Billy Hamilton. Either are solid picks at a reasonable price.

Many are going to chase James Shields against the Royals, but the Royals do have 12 runs in three games against Shields this year. Lucas Duda has homered off of Shields twice in 16 at bats. Ryan O’Hearn and Brett Phillips have taken him deep as well. Alex Gordon is batting leadoff right now, and he has also hit Shields well. The best part? All of them are under $4,000!

Edwin Jackson has been a breath of fresh air for the A’s, but I still don’t really trust him against the Astros. Martin Maldonado is 5-12 with a homer and six RBI against Jackson. Evan Gattis and Marwin Gonzalez have also taken him deep, and all of them are under $4,000.

If you want to go after Max again, I wouldn’t blame you. The Marlins are cheap enough that there is a lot of value here. Derek Dietrich has two homers and five RBI against Scherzer. Miguel Rojas, Starlin Castro, Realmuto, and Yadiel Rivera have all homered off of Scherzer in the past. I wouldn’t go nuts here, but one or two Marlins could help you out. It’s just a matter of picking the right ones.

Next. MLB Game by Game breakdown August 17. dark

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