Early/Turbo DraftKings MLB picks August 17: Test Lester

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CLEVELAND, OH – JULY 16: Zach Plesac #65 of the Cleveland Indians pitches against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning at Progressive Field on July 16, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Ron Schwane/Getty Images) /

DraftKings MLB turbo notes:

Pitching is always tough on a two game slate, but this is tougher than most with great hitting conditions in New York. James Paxton has been better at home, but Cleveland has always hit him well. Zach Plesac did well against the Yankees the first time around. On a slate like this he is worth considering.

Steven Brault is a guy I want no part of against the Cubs, so our picks are really Paxton, Plesac, and Tulloch’s favorite, Jon Lester. Lester has been better on the road lately, and has done well enough against Pittsburgh this year. On top of that, this is a pitcher’s park that stifles right handed power. I think Lester has to be one of our guys.

Then we have to pick between Plesac and Paxton. Paxton is better at home, but this lineup could really get ahold of him. I’m more inclined to lean towards Plesac. That gives us a solid $4,175 per hitter slot. I like that more than paying for Paxton.

Part of my reason for picking Lester and Plesac is because I want to stack Cubs. Good hitting weather notwithstanding, the Cubs against Brault make up for that. Schwarber, Addison Russell, Bryant, and Javy Baez have all homered off of Brault before. I definitely want Bryant and Baez. David Bote will probably start over Russell, so we may have to use him instead.

The next priority is Cleveland righties. Yasiel Puig is the only one that has homered off of Paxton before, and he’s nice and cheap. I’m playing Bryant in the outfield so I can use Jose Ramirez at 3B. That leaves us with $4,050 for C, 1B, 2B, and one OF slot.

The Cubs will likely start Jon Lucroy at catcher since Caratini was behind the plate last night. Add him to our righty stack! Carlos Santana has averaged 18.8 DraftKings points per game against the Yankees this year. Add him to the Cleveland stack!

That leaves $4,150 for our 2B and one OF slot. I’m leaning towards playing Bote at 2B so I can still afford Nick Castellanos in the outfield. That leaves us with a five Cubs/three Indians stack with each of their starting pitchers. I’m taking sides and sticking to it!