DraftKings MLB Picks August 21: Lock in Snell at home

ATLANTA, GA – AUGUST 1: Big O of Atlanta Braves security watches on from the visitors bullpen during a pregame rain delay for the game between the Braves and the Miami Marlins at SunTrust Park on August 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. The game would eventually be postponed. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /

DraftKings MLB Picks August 21: Lock in Snell at home

It has been a while since we have had a full 15 game slate in the main DraftKings tournament. That is what Tuesday gives us! However, we only have four of the 30 pitchers priced in five figures. Are any of them worth it, or do we need to drop into the weaker middle tier? We have 21 pitchers priced at $7,500 or less. that means many stack options, and a couple of hidden gems. Let’s find them!

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There is a slight delay chance in Washington, Detroit, Denver, and Chicago, but the real danger is in Atlanta. The game should start normally, but rain moves in in the middle innings and may not let up. Therefore, starters are very risky in this one.

Wind is blowing out at 12 mph to left in Pittsburgh, Detroit, and New York, so that could help boost right handed power in those locales.

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!

ARLINGTON, TX – AUGUST 14: Patrick Corbin #46 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches against the Texas Rangers in the bottom of the second inning at Globe Life Park in Arlington on August 14, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

Patrick Corbin ($11,900): Corbin has a 2.73 ERA over his last ten starts. Corbin also has at least seven strikeouts in all five starts since the All Star Break. That combination has him as the highest priced pitcher on the slate. He just might be worth it. It appears as though the Angels are without Trout still, so that takes a chunk out of this offense. The current Angels are just 4-22 against Corbin, but they have only struck out three times. At any rate, I wouldn’t rule out Corbin while he is pitching like this.

Blake Snell ($11,500): It’s to the point that I would start Snell against the 1927 A’s if he pitched against them at the Trop. Yes, I consider the ’27 A’s better than the 1932 Yankees offense. Many people forget that a 40 year old Ty Cobb hit .357 for the A’s that year. That team also had Al Simmons, Eddie Collins, Zack Wheat, and Mickey Cochrane, all Hall of Famers. Not to mention a 19 year old Jimmie Foxx. Talk about loaded lineups! The ’32 Yankees had Gehrig, Ruth and Bill Dickey, but I digress. Snell has a 0.97 ERA and 0.90 WHIP in nine home starts this year. The Royals are 7-12 against Snell lifetime, but that’s too small of a sample size. The Royals strike out enough to make this worth our while, and to make Snell worth the price. He is absolutely worth paying for tonight.

Jose Berrios ($10,900): The Twins are trying to make sure they are out of the playoffs by starting two rookies this week, but it also serves to get Berrios some extra rest. He has absolutely dominated the White Sox already. The South Siders are hitting just .175 with three homers and 11 runs in 137 at bats with 49 strikeouts. When you add in the home dominance of Berrios, you have an elite option today Berrios has a 3.14 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in 14 home starts.

Hyun-Jin Ryu ($9,200): Ryu didn’t miss a beat in his return from the DL, giving up only three hits in six scoreless innings against the Giants. Ryu has not allowed a run in 19 home innings this year, and the current Cardinals are hitting just .128 off of him in 39 at bats with 11 strikeouts. Do you really think the rookies are going to figure him out? I have my doubts. The only thing holding Ryu back is the fact that the Dodgers likely wont leave him out there after six innings no matter how well he is pitching.

Middle Tier:

Michael Kopech ($7,600): This is one of the most anticipated arrivals of the season for pitchers so far. Kopech was one of the main pieces of the Chris Sale deal. In his last seven AAA starts, he struck out 59 batters! The Twins are a decent offense, but they do go cold from time to time. The price seems a bit high for a major league debut, but the strikeout potential should keep Kopech in the mid teens even if he gives up a few runs. I wouldn’t trust him in cash games, but he is an interesting GPP option.

Kevin Gausman ($7,100): The Pirates are hitting just .184 against Gausman in 49 at bats with only one homer, two runs, and 11 strikeouts. Gausman gets a nice park upgrade here, but his strikeouts aren’t really high enough to make me want to pay this price. That said, the Pirates offense has gone cold again, so there is pretty good potential here. They were shut out by rookie Bryse Wilson and the bullpen last night.

Vince Velasquez ($7,000): Velasquez has an ERA exactly two runs lower on the road, and he held the Nationals to just two runs on four hits through seven innings earlier this season en route to 23.8 DraftKings points. Overall, the Nationals are still hitting a solid .265 against Velasquez in 83 at bats, but this year he has done well against them. He should be a lower owned arm with decent strikeout potential at a decent price. The Nationals have rocked Velasquez for five homers already though.

Bargain Pitchers:

Tyler Anderson ($6,900): Anderson always seems to be low priced at home, and I’m not sure why. Anderson has a 3.47 ERA in 12 home starts, and a 2.55 ERA in three starts against San Diego this year. I would say that Anderson is almost certain to outscore his price point here. There is a lot of right handed power in this offense, but Anderson has only allowed one long ball to the Padres in three starts this year.

Sam Gaviglio ($6,800): Gaviglio got hammered in his last start, but there is a silver lining here. First off, Gaviglio has a 2.70 ERA in eight home starts. He also picked up 19.9 DraftKings points in his first start against the Orioles this year. If he can do that again, that’s a great return for the price. I’m not particularly afraid of anyone in that Baltimore lineup, and Gaviglio’s home stats speak for themselves.

Junior Guerra ($6,700): Guerra has a 2.59 ERA in 14 home starts this year, and he has amassed 39.8 DraftKings points in two starts against the Reds this year. Guerra has been underpriced almost all season. I know that he isn’t a big name and isn’t particularly flashy, but Guerra puts up good strikeout numbers and more often than not rolls up a quality start. I’m happy to take advantage of Guerra’s pricing once again.

Chris Stratton ($6,000): Usually using a pitcher that has been exiled to the minors is a bad idea. However, Stratton was much better on the road, and this is the Mets, who have suddenly gone cold again. Part of that has to do with the injury to Nimmo. The other part is that, well, they’re the Mets. There is potential for Stratton here, but this is a place to either use Stratton or stack against him. In between will get you nowhere.

SAN DIEGO, CA – AUGUST 12: Justin Bour #33 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on before a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on August 12, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) /

Philadelphia Phillies vs. Tanner Roark:

Nothing really stands out about Roark except for the 5.00 ERA at home, and the fact that the Phillies have destroyed him over the course of his career. Forget the three losses this year to them, the Phils are hitting a robust .301 with seven homers and 34 runs in just 193 at bats! Justin Bour has three of those homers and eight RBI against Roark. Odubel Herrera is 15-36(.417) with a homer and six RBI. Jorge Alfaro, Rhys Hoskins, and Asdrubal Cabrera have also homered off of Roark. Cesar Hernandez has eight runs and four steals in 34 at bats. The only one I wouldn’t play is Nick Williams. Williams is just 2-13 against Roark.

Boston Red Sox vs. Shane Bieber:

Bieber’s numbers have been very average. Average wont cut it against the Red Sox. However, choosing which Boston players that are going to go off is a bit of an enigma lately. I am definitely including Xander in any stack, and Mitch Moreland looks good too. It’s really hard to use both Betts and J.D. Martinez in the lineup, but with so much cheap pitching today, it is certainly possible. The problem is that I’m not entirely convinced that Bieber is going to get smoked here. I think the only way I play Betts or J.D. is in a stack. lf I’m looking for exposure, Moreland and Xander look better.

Chicago Cubs vs. Jordan Zimmerman:

The Cubs are hitting .368 in limited exposure to Zimmerman with both Rizzo and Heyward hitting the home runs off of him. I wont say that this is a fool proof stack because Zimmerman has pitched well at home. Well, until last week when the other Chicago team lit him up. This one could do the same, especially when they get to add a free hitter. Baez, Zobrist, Contreras, and Kyle Schwarber would fit nicely into any stack, and David Bote continues to show that he belongs in the majors.

New York Mets vs. Chris Stratton:

If Nimmo is back, I like this stack opportunity. This lineup is much better with him in it. Michael Conforto and Amed Rosario are worth a look as well. Jose Bautista is the only Met that has faced Stratton. He doubled off of him and struck out twice. Todd Frazier is worth a look as part of a stack as well.

New York Yankees vs. Pablo Lopez:

Stacking in a pitcher’s park isn’t always a good idea, but it can be when the pitcher is one that got crushed by the Braves last week and is facing one of the best offenses in the league. Stanton is an elite pick returning to his old home. He would be no matter the pitcher. Didi Gregorius, Miguel Andujar, Greg Bird, and Aaron Hicks are all worth a look here. Gleyber Torres and Brett Gardner are decent value plays as well.

Colorado Rockies vs. Robbie Erlin:

I think Erlin is going to be a good pitcher, but not at Coors Field. We have Coors back in the fold to skew some tournaments, and there are going to be some crooked numbers with the Padres in town. Arenado homered off of Erlin at sea level, and he just blasts lefties at home. Arenado should bat left handed at home just to make it fair! Story, Blackmon, and Ian Desmond also look good here. D.J. LeMahieu batting leadoff isn’t a bad idea either.

Oakland Athletics vs. Ariel Jurado:

The A’s hammered Bartolo Colon last night to the surprise of none of us here at Fantasy CPR. I think we were all advocating an A’s stack in some form. There is no shame in going back to the well tonight. Jurado has a 6.41 ERA so far. Khris Davis is elite, but I really like the cheap bats here. Nick Martini, Stephen Piscotty, Mark Canha, and Ramon Laureano, he of the two homer night last night, are all $3,800 or less. You can fill in a Coors stack with A’s and still have enough left for solid pitching.

ST. LOUIS, MO – AUGUST 16: Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals hits two-RBI single against the St. Louis Cardinals in the fourth inning at Busch Stadium on August 16, 2018 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

Top Tier:

Bryce Harper is 5-9 with a homer and five RBI against Vince Velasquez already. He should be in your lineup regardless of if you are stacking Nationals or not. Daniel Murphy and Ryan Zimmerman are also hitting Velasquez hard.

Sal Romano got absolutely smashed by Cleveland last week, so I think Milwaukee is going to be stacked a lot tonight. However, Romano has a 3.60 ERA against the Brewers this year. With Thames still smarting, this offense loses some power. I still like Christian Yelich and Travis Shaw here, but I’m not going to go Brewer crazy tonight.

Personally, I find the price on Felix Pena laughable, especially when you consider all of the other prices in this tournament. I know he has been better on the road, and he did allow only one run in four innings to Arizona the first time he pitched against them, but lately Pena has been all over the place. I don’t expect Arizona to roll him here, but I do like Goldy and Pollock here. A side of David Peralta wouldn’t hurt either.

The ERA on Daniel Poncedeleon is excellent, but he doesn’t strike out enough batters to consider at his price. And this is the Dodgers. The offense is still a threat to go off at any time. That’s why Tulloch keeps stacking them. I’m not opposed to a Dodger stack here, but I’m not all that convinced the offense is going to go off. Max Muncy and Cody Bellinger are my targets here. It’s hard to ignore Matt Kemp at his price too.

We really have no idea who is starting for Houston tonight since McHugh took the loss in relief last night. Truth be told, this bullpen is deep enough to get through the game without a true starter, but that becomes harder since Cole only went five innings last night. Whatever happens, Nelson Cruz is worth a look. Kyle Seager is heating up, and hits lefties well enough to put in there no matter what. After that, it gets dicey until we know who they are facing.

I don’t particularly care for the big price tag on Christian Villanueva at Coors, but he has homered off of Tyler Anderson before. I think I will pass on the rest of the high priced Padres though.

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Middle Tier:

Ivan Nova has a 3.32 ERA at home this year, so I’m not really going to get crazy against him. In fact, I prefer middle tier Braves here like Nick Markakis who has a homer and three RBI with a .333 average in 42 at bats against Nova. Adam Duvall is the only other Brave to homer off of Nova, but I doubt he’s in the lineup.

Jose Abreu is about the only White Sox hitter that I would even consider against Jose Berrios.

I used a couple of Rays yesterday and it backfired. I’m considering it here as well. Glenn Sparkman has been average, but the Royals bullpen is going to have to handle at least half of this game. I like Bauers and Wendle here and maybe C.J. Cron, but not much else. I’m not sure paying for Mallex will be worth it.

If you want to go after Nathan Eovaldi, I certainly don’t blame you. The Cleveland offense has cooled a bit, most notably Martinez and Lindor. I think I’m after Melky Cabrera right now, who just continues to hit. Both he and Greg Allen are great ways to get exposure without breaking the bank.

I really want to play Steven Matz because the Giants are horrid, but Matz hasn’t given up less than four runs in a start in over a month. I’ll play McCutchen, but that’s it. I could see Matz having a good game because the only offense that may be worse than his own is the Giants.

Elvis Andrus is 7-22(.318) with a homer and three RBI against Brett Anderson. Adrian Beltre has the exact same hits and at bats, but has slugged two homers. If I go after Anderson, it will be from the right side. He is pretty tough on lefties.

Mike Leake has been solid enough to not stack against. Evan Gattis has both homers off of Leake, but Bregman is 4-6 off of him. Marwin Gonzalez is 6-11 and hit a homer last night.

Bargain Shoppers:

You simply can’t trust Dylan Bundy right now, no matter where or who he is pitching against. The good part is that Toronto bats are relatively cheap. Aledmys Diaz and Grichuk have homered off of Bundy in the past. So has Russell Martin, but it is his only hit in 11 at bats. Justin Smoak is worth a look as well.

The Marlins are one of those pesky offenses that exist just to keep elite pitchers from having an elite score. Just ask Max Scherzer. The Marlins have actually driven in seven runs against Masahiro Tanaka in just 31 at bats. Derek Dietrich is 4-6 with a homer and two RBI. Realmuto has a grand slam for his only hit in six tries against Tanaka. Starlin Castro is worth a look as well.

The Detroit offense isn’t all that good, but don’t talk yourself into thinking that Kyle Hendricks is. There is no way he is worth the price not only because of the lack of strikeouts but because he gave up three runs in five innings to the Tigers earlier this year. I like Goodrum and Victor Martinez here. Maybe Castellanos if you feel like paying a little extra.

If you want to go after Gaviglio, both Chris Davis and Tim Beckham hit two run homers off of him earlier this year.

If I take a shot at Corbin at all, it will be with the ridiculously underpriced Andrelton Simmons. Kole Calhoun would be another reasonably priced option.

I wouldn’t go crazy with Twins today, but Max Kepler, Joe Mauer, and Jake Cave have hit righties well. Eddie Rosario is there, but I’m not sure I want to pay that much for him, especially with so many affordable options.

Next. MLB Game by Game breakdown August 21. dark

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