Skip to main content

DraftKings DFS MLB Strategy Advice: Sunday (8/16)

DraftKings DFS MLB Strategy Advice: Sunday (8/16)

Sunday slates are always interesting. There are typically games spread all throughout the day, so I’m going to focus on the main eight-game slate starting at 1 p.m. ET. It should make for a great DFS day.

If you have any comments or questions, reach me on Twitter @Bartilottajoel

Create DraftKings lineups using our DFS Lineup Optimizer tool partner-arrow

Value Plays

Pitcher

NAME (TEAM) OPPONENT PRICE MATCHUP RISK
Max Scherzer (WAS) @ BAL $10,800 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Low
Lance McCullers (HOU) vs. SEA $8,700 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Medium
Adam Plutko (CLE) @ DET $6,400 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Medium

 

  • Scherzer is easily one of the best pitchers in baseball and should have no problem cruising through a below-average Baltimore lineup.
  • McCullers was brilliant in his last outing and should handle this terrible Mariners lineup. Houston enters this matchup as a -240 favorite.
  • Plutko is pitching to a 2.45 ERA and 1.00 WHIP this season. He was also solid at times last year and faces a Tigers lineup ranked 23rd in wRC+.

Catcher/First Base

NAME (TEAM) OPPONENT PRICE MATCHUP RISK
Paul Goldschmidt (STL) @ CWS $4,700 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Low
Howie Kendrick (WAS) @ BAL $3,800 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Medium
 J.T. Realmuto (PHI) vs. NYM $5,200 ⭐⭐⭐ Medium

 

  • Goldschmidt has always crushed lefties throughout his career. That’s big news after homering in his return Saturday and facing southpaw Dallas Keuchel, who has just 15 strikeouts in 23.1 innings this season.
  • Kendrick has an OPS near .900 over the last three seasons and gets the platoon advantage against lefty John Means. That makes this sub-$4,000 price tag shocking.
  • Realmuto is the best catching option on the board. The slugger now has eight homers over his last 12 games and gets to face a lackluster Rick Porcello.

Second Base

NAME (TEAM) OPPONENT PRICE MATCHUP RISK
Jose Altuve (HOU) vs. SEA $5,100 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Low
Keston Hiura (MIL) vs. CHC $4,600 ⭐⭐⭐ Medium
Luis Arraez (MIN) vs. KC $3,600 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Medium

 

  • Altuve had an 1.057 OPS against left-handers last season, so a matchup with rookie Justus Sheffield could get him going.
  • Strikeouts have been Hiura’s one weakness this season, but facing Jon Lester and his 13.6 percent K rate makes him an attractive option here. It also puts the platoon advantage in his favor.
  • Arraez also gets the platoon advantage against the right-handed Brady Singer, and his career 10 percent K rate makes him a great contact option in this potent lineup.

Third Base

NAME (TEAM) OPPONENT PRICE MATCHUP RISK
Alex Bregman (HOU) vs. SEA $5,400 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Low
Yoan Moncada (CHW) vs. STL $4,800 ⭐⭐⭐ Medium
Jedd Gyorko (MIL) vs. CHC $3,400 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ High

 

  • Bregman is yet another Houston righty who excels against lefties and could thrive against Sheffield, who owns a 5.68 ERA and 1.66 WHIP for his career.
  • Moncada has been stellar atop this lineup and gets to bat on the left side against an average Dakota Hudson.
  • Gyorko, who has posted an .814 OPS against southpaws since the start of 2018, should be in the heart of Milwaukee’s lineup against Lester.

Shortstop

NAME (TEAM) OPPONENT PRICE MATCHUP RISK
Francisco Lindor (CLE) @ DET $5,200 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Medium
Carlos Correa (HOU) vs. SEA $4,800 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Low
Jorge Polanco (MIN) vs. KC $4,200 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Low

 

  • Lindor is one of the best hitters in the game, and he gets to bat from his more favorable left side here against Michael Fulmer.
  • Correa is yet another piece to this Astros stack, getting the platoon advantage against Sheffield. He’s also been their best hitter this season with an .853 OPS.
  • Polanco should be in the heart of this Twins lineup, providing an .869 OPS against right-handers since 2018.

Outfield

NAME (TEAM) OPPONENT PRICE MATCHUP RISK
Nelson Cruz (MIN) vs. KC $5,600 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Low
George Springer (HOU) vs. SEA $4,900 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Low
Eddie Rosario (MIN) vs. KC $4,200 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Medium
Ryan Braun (MIL) vs. CHC $3,700 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ High
Avisail Garcia (MIN vs. CHC $3,500 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ High
  • The Twins could destroy Singer, who only has one year of professional experience and never pitched above Double-A before this season. That makes Rosario and Cruz great plays.
  • If we like the rest of the Astros, we have to love Springer atop the lineup.
  • Braun and Garcia have wrecked lefties throughout their careers, so they make for a sneaky stack against Lester with the platoon advantage in their favor and the southpaw due for some negative regression.

5 Studs Worth Their Salary

  • Max Scherzer, WAS ($10,800): Scherzer is the most expensive pitcher on the board, and rightfully so. This is one of the best strikeout pitchers in the game who gets to face a bad (but overachieving) O’s offense. That will likely have Scherzer entering this game as a -200 favorite.
  • Lance McCullers, HOU ($8,700): McCullers flirted with a no-hitter in his last outing and gets to face a Mariners offense ranked 26th in OPS. He too is starting for a heavy favorite.
  • Nelson Cruz, MIN ($5,600): Cruz hit two homers on Saturday and now has an OPS over 1.000 dating back to last season. That’s bad news for Singer and the Royals.
  • George Springer, HOU ($4,900): Springer gets to hit atop this Astros lineup and has always been much better against left-handers.
  • Paul Goldschmidt, STL ($4,700): Goldschmidt has an OPS nearing 1.000 for his career against left-handers, and I’m not worried about Keuchel.

5 Notable Players to Fade

  • Jon Lester, CHC ($9,300): Lester has an ugly K rate and is seriously due for some regression. A matchup against Milwaukee looks OK on the surface, but this price tag is crazy for a guy who doesn’t get Ks and posts league-average peripherals.
  • Dakota Hudson, STL ($8,600): I just don’t understand this price. Hudson hasn’t pitched at this level at any time throughout his career and has a tough matchup against a stingy White Sox lineup. Not to mention, he might be limited with the Cards missing so many games recently.
  • Pete Alonso, NYM ($5,200): Zack Wheeler is one of the best pitchers on the slate, which is bad news for a struggling Alonso from the right side of the plate.
  • Christian Yelich, MIL ($4,900): Yelich has been slumping this season. Even though I’m fading Lester, it’s hard to overlook that he’s pitching from the left side and putting up solid numbers.
  • Didi Gregorius, PHI ($5,000): This is another crazy price. Gregorius should never be at $5,000, no matter who he’s facing.

Create DraftKings lineups using our DFS Lineup Optimizer tool partner-arrow

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio

Whether you’re new to fantasy baseball or a seasoned pro, our Fantasy Baseball 101: Strategy Tips & Advice page is for you. You can get started with our Sabermetrics Glossary or head to more advanced strategy – like How to Make Custom Fantasy Baseball Rankings with Microsoft Excel – to learn more.

Joel Bartilotta is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Joel, check out his archive and follow him @Bartilottajoel

More Articles

Fantasy Baseball Trade Value Chart: Luis Castillo, Josh Naylor, Ketel Marte (Week 5)

Fantasy Baseball Trade Value Chart: Luis Castillo, Josh Naylor, Ketel Marte (Week 5)

fp-headshot by FantasyPros Staff | 10 min read
MLB DFS, PrizePicks & Underdog Player Props Picks: Wednesday (4/24)

MLB DFS, PrizePicks & Underdog Player Props Picks: Wednesday (4/24)

fp-headshot by Josh Shepardson | 1 min read
10 Players to Trade Now (2024 Fantasy Baseball)

10 Players to Trade Now (2024 Fantasy Baseball)

fp-headshot by FantasyPros Staff | 4 min read
Fantasy Baseball Trade Advice: Buy Low & Sell High (Week 5)

Fantasy Baseball Trade Advice: Buy Low & Sell High (Week 5)

fp-headshot by Brett Ussery | 3 min read

About Author

Hide

Current Article

3 min read

Fantasy Baseball Trade Value Chart: Luis Castillo, Josh Naylor, Ketel Marte (Week 5)

Next Up - Fantasy Baseball Trade Value Chart: Luis Castillo, Josh Naylor, Ketel Marte (Week 5)

Next Article