Welcome to today’s daily fantasy post! Remember that you can find our posts on the DFS home page, as well as the fantasy page. Bookmark those sites now!
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Let’s get to today’s interesting facts, using DraftKings prices. We’ll cover all players, but remember that three of today’s 10 games are in the afternoon, starting with with Diamondbacks-Mets at 12:10 p.m. ET. Please note that much of the information in this post is being published several hours prior to game times, so check MLB lineups later to confirm that any recommended players are included.
5 Things to Watch:
1. Noah Syndergaard ($11,800) is the day’s biggest favorite at -225, with Corey Kluber ($11,000) close behind at -210. Syndergaard’s game has the lowest projected run total at 7.5, while Rockies-Rangers is set at 11. That’s a really high total for a non-Coors game.
2. Please note that only the first game of the Astros-Twins doubleheader is included in DraftKings’ all-day tournaments. You’re not getting nine at bats from Carlos Correa.
3. Injuries to watch: The Red Sox’s Mookie Betts (calf) and David Ortiz (shin) are day-to-day, with both looking doubtful for tonight … Jose Bautista is back on the DL with a sprained knee … Yasmany Tomas (stiff neck) is still day-to-day, as is Carlos Gonzalez (ankle).
4. Yo, BvPers: Do you think the Royals will let Jarrod Dyson ($3,600) play, since he’s 8-for-10 against Miguel Gonzalez? … Brian Dozier ($4,900) is 6-for-11 with a homer vs. Doug Fister … Jacoby Ellsbury ($3,900) has a couple of homers in 14 at bats vs. Eduardo Rodriguez … Today’s BvP landscape is a boring place.
5. Imagine if I told you in April that a day would come when Danny Duffy ($12,400) would be a -157 favorite over Chris Sale ($11,700), and slot as the most expensive SP on the board. Duffy had a 52.8-point performance against the Rays on Aug. 1, and has averaged 23.3 over his last 10 starts. He has 132 strikeouts in 115 1/3 innings.
Our recommendations for the day are below!
Yesterday’s recap:
Must-start Adrian Beltre had a couple of RBI, while “Deal of the day” Robbie Ray racked up 22 points with seven shutout innings against the Mets, and a Jays’ stack could have helped you if Troy Tulowitzki (homer, five RBI) was in it.
Must Start of the day: David Freese, PIT
Freese ($4,600) isn’t considered a star, but he sure hits like one against southpaws, with a .431 wOBA and a 1.026 OPS against them this season (.368/.846 career). Today Freese gets a home matchup against Padres LHP Christian Friedrich, who has a 4.76 ERA.
Deal of the day: David Dahl, COL
Dahl isn’t playing at Coors, but so what? He’s $2,900, is averaging 10.9 DK points over his last 10 games, and faces Lucas Harrell. The guy just keeps hitting.
Avoid of the day: Adam Eaton, White Sox
Duffy has allowed a .219 wOBA and a .445 OPS against lefthanded hitters.
Stack of the day: Texas Rangers
Let’s go with Vegas on this one — the Rangers are a -138 favorite over Chad Bettis (4.95 road ERA) in a game with an over-under of 11. A Choo/Desmond/Lucroy/Beltran stack will cost you $17K, which is not bad, and Odor/Beltre aren’t too expensive either.
Starting pitchers:
Noah Syndergaard, NYM: Thor hasn’t been peak Thor lately, but he faces the struggling, strikeout-prone D-backs.
Jameson Taillon, PIT: $8.600 vs. the whiff-happy Padres. Has averaged 18.6 DK points over his last five starts, with 28 Ks in 30 IP.
Michael Pineda, NYY: Pineda is a middling $7K, but this is more of a bet on Betts and Ortiz being out.
Catchers:
Jonathan Lucroy, TEX: $4,600, Rangers stack.
Stephen Vogt, OAK: $2,900 vs. Tillman, has hit in his last three games.
First basemen:
Anthony Rizzo, CHC: $5,200, and Carlos Martinez hasn’t been too impressive this season.
Freddie Freeman, ATL: $5,000, and a nice matchup vs. Garza.
Eric Hosmer, KC: $3,700 is a nice price for him vs. Miguel Gonzalez.
Second basemen:
Brian Dozier, MIN: Seven double-digit DK games in his last 10.
Rougned Odor, TEX: $4,100, depends on where he bats vs. Bettis. Rangers stack option.
Josh Harrison, PIT: $3,900, nice matchup vs. Friedrich. If you want to stack Pirates, I won’t argue.
Kelly Johnson, NYM: $3,300, three homers in his last six games, faces the hittable Braden Shipley.
Third basemen:
David Freese, PIT: “Must start of the day.”
Todd Frazier, CHW: $3,800, and has a .367 wOBA vs. LHP this season. Yeah, I know Duffy is pitching well.
Adrian Beltre, TEX: The cheapest decent option on the Rangers ($3,400).
Shortstops:
Jonathan Villar, MIL: $5,200, but he’s facing Roberto Hernandez. Guys should be fighting at the bat rack to get up against him.
Didi Gregorius, NYY: $3,200, has a .389 wOBA vs. LHP this season.
Outfielders:
Shin-Soo Choo, TEX: $4,400, Rangers stack.
Ian Desmond, TEX: $4,200, Rangers stack.
Andrew McCutchen, PIT: Not having his best season, but interesting at $4K vs. Freidrich. Also adds variety by breaking up our string of Rangers. (Yes, that’s a joke.)
Carlos Beltran, TEX: $3,800, Rangers stack.
David Dahl, COL: “Deal of the day.”
