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We have a 15-game main slate on tap tonight, and it's a wild one. First off, we have two double-headers, meaning two seven-inning games. Then we have a handful of high-priced pitchers to target on DK with only a couple, not so attractive cheap arms. On FD, there are some $8-$9K options, but they all have a major questions mark, making that quite fun. With all the questions outside a handful of pricey arms, this means bats for days. There will be some of the usual chalk and some really nice spots to attack with usually not too popular teams.
The slate starts with which pitchers to build around. Paying up for Scherzer will be very popular and makes a ton of sense. If not Scherzer, then Manaea is right up there as a top option and likely a popular option. Those two should be popular and do not need my breakdown to have you use. I chose to discuss ERod and Gallen as they are a bit iffy but bring some great upside tonight. After deciding on your pitchers, it is all about the bats. There will be the usual suspects like the White Sox, but teams like the Mets, Mariners, Rockies, Tigers and more usually not popular are in play tonight. They will help with roster rates and have some nice value in your builds if you want to pay up for two stud pitchers. As expected, on a 15-game slate, there are a lot of ways to build. Listen to MLB DFS Quick Hits to get a full slate rundown and game plan for tonight's slate.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 8/10/2021. The lineup will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. You can also check out today's FanDuel MLB DFS lineup picks and read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports too. It’s also important to monitor injury news and today's MLB starting lineups. If you have any questions or comments, contact me on Twitter @bdentrek.
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DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers
Eduardo Rodriguez - P, BOS vs. TB ($9,300)
ERod bounced back in a big way his last time out with a five-inning outing allowing no runs and striking out ten. He bounced back nicely from an outing where he allowed six runs in 3.1 innings while still striking out eight. Over his last six starts, ERod has allowed one earned run or less in four starts while striking out five or more in five of the starts. As a whole, ERod has been outstanding and has been striking out plenty to offset most outings where runs are scored. He will take on the Rays tonight, striking out 25% of the time versus LHP over the last month while hitting .246 with a 105 wRC+. They can hit lefties a bit, but the strikeouts will be there for ERod, and that is what we are looking for tonight. Earlier this year, he faced the Rays and went six innings with three earned runs while striking out seven. Another outing like that, and we are doing great tonight. He is not a cash game play, tournaments only as the blow-up are in play, but his tournament ceiling makes for a great play that will likely be lowlily rostered.
Daniel Lynch - P, KC vs. NYY ($6,600)
It is truly amazing how many people bail on your players when they are hyped up due to prospect pedigree, and then they aren't as good when first called upon. That has happened a ton this year, and Lynch is one of those that many threw out of their player pool after a rough three-game stretch to start his career. After the rough start, Lynch was sent back to the Minors, where he started to deal again and was recalled on July 25. Lynch has now made three starts since his return, and he has been excellent. Lynch has thrown five or more innings in each start for a total of 19 innings and has only allowed four runs over that stretch. He has also struck out 13 while walking four. These weren't walk-over teams either, as the last two starts were at the White Sox and the Blue Jays. There will be some regression as he has a .250 BABIP and 93.4% LOB rate, but he is still much better than the pitcher we saw to start the season. He will take on the Yankees tonight, a Yankees team whose offense has been a massive disappointment. They are striking out 23% of the time versus LHP in the last month with a .271 average and 123 wRC+. Could the Yankees go off on Lynch tonight? Most definitely, but it's a gamble I am ready to take. I rolled with Hernandez last night and will roll with some Lynch tonight. If you do not like that risk, look at Gallen versus the Giants, Steven Brault versus the Cardinals, or J.A. Happ versus the Pirates.
Other Options: Max Scherzer (LAD at PHI) $11,000, Sean Manaea (OAK at CLE) $10,000, Logan Gilbert (SEA vs. TEX) $9,600, Ross Stripling (TOR at LAA) $9,500, Zac Gallen (AZ at SF) $7,100
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DraftKings DFS Infielders
Elias Diaz - C, COL at Jake Odorizzi ($3,800)
As you can tell from Quick Hits, I like the Rockies tonight. I hope most do not, as they are not in Coors, but that will not stop me versus a pitcher like Odorizzi. Insert a value catcher like Diaz. Sure he is usually cheaper on the road, but he has been raking, and I will roll with him anyways. He has hit safely in six of his last seven games, good for a .375 average. He has flexed his muscle with four home runs (two on the road) over the seven-game stretch with a .583 ISO and 1.402 OPS. Diaz has been locked in late, including an 11.1% walk rate and an impressive 3.7% strikeout rate. He will take on Odorizzi tonight, allowing RHH to hit .241 with a .451 SLG and 2 HR/9. Diaz will be a catcher one-off target tonight as well as a piece of a Rockies' stack.
Miguel Cabrera - 1B, DET at Keegan Akin ($3,700)
As some get older, some things stay the same, and that is very evident with Miggy. He is still raking at the plate, and I do not see that stopping in his juicy matchup tonight. Miggy enters tonight's action hitting safely in 10 of his last 13 games, good for a .349 average. He has four home runs over the stretch with a .326 ISO and a 1.092 OPS. As usual, his plate discipline is still great, with a 14.5% walk rate and still a 12.7% strikeout rate. His contact quality is also through the roof, with a 22.5% barrel rate and 60% hard-hit rate. He is locked in and gets a nice matchup versus Akin, who allows RHH to hit .322, with a .510 SLG and 1.5 HR/9. Look for Miggy for some savings at first base tonight, as well as a great piece of a Tigers' stack.
Abraham Toro - 2B, SEA vs. Kolby Allard ($4,200)
Toro has been an absolute stud for the Mariners since he was traded to the team, and I do not see their new lead-off hitter slowing down tonight. He has hit safely in 10 of the 12 games since he joined the Mariners, good for a .386 average. In addition, he has flexed some power with seven extra-base hits, including three home runs over his time with the Mariners. His .295 ISO and 1.142 OPS are outstanding, and so is 10% walk rate compared to an 8% strikeout rate. The switch-hitting stud will face Allard tonight, who has allowed RHH to hit .264 with a .443 SLG and 1.5 HR/9. I am a big fan of a Mariners' stack tonight, and Toro will be one of the main pieces tonight.
Trevor Story- SS, COL at Jake Odorizzi ($5,600)
Back to the Rockies, we go and back to one of the hottest hitters in all of baseball. Story brings an 11-game hitting streak into tonight's game versus Odorizzi. He is hitting .381 over the streak with 10 extra-base hits, including three home runs. He has a .381 ISO and a 1.220 OPS over the stretch. Story's quality of contact has been great as well, with a 17.1% barrel rate and 57.1% hard-hit rate. He will face Odorizzi, who we already discussed as a pitcher, to target with RHH hitters. Since the all-star break, Odorizzi has also allowed 17 runs in his four starts (16.1 IP) with eight home runs. So get your Rockies' stacks on and get some Story in all those lineups.
Kyle Seager - 3B, SEA vs. Kolby Allard ($4,200)
Back to the Mariners, we go and back to one of our lefty-on-lefty crime machines. Seager enters tonight, hitting safely in 11 of his last 14 games. Only hitting .245 over the stretch but does have a .358 ISO, with six home runs and a .943 OPS. He does not always get hits, but when he does, he spanks it, which shows with his 11.9% barrel rate and 47.6% hard-hit rate. Heck, Seager is even walking nearly 13% of the time. Many get nervous about starting an LHH versus an LHP, but Seager should not be of concern. He is hitting .239 versus LHP this season with a .493 SLG and 10 of his 24 home runs. He will face Allard tonight who is only allowing LHH to hit .203 this season, but they are slugging .418 and are hitting 2.3 HR/9. So if you are stacking the Mariners tonight, you better not forget about Seager in those stacks, maybe a cheap Jarred Kelenic too.
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
Eloy Jimenez - OF, CWS at Griffin Jax ($4,400)
Oh my, it is great to have Eloy back. It took a few games to get rolling, but I think it is safe to say he is feeling it at the plate. He brings a five-game hitting streak into tonight's game with three straight multi-hit games and back-to-back games with two home runs. His .889 ISO and 1.939 OPS is outstanding. When one says locked in, I like to look at the statcast numbers, and I would say a 35.7% barrel rate and 64.3% hard-hit rate would signal locked in. The White Sox should be one of the top stacks tonight, and Eloy should be in all of those stacks. More importantly, Eloy should be in most of your lineups, period, as he is far too cheap. Sometimes the value plays aren't just in the #2K range, but a player that is at least $1K too cheap is also a value.
George Springer- OF, TOR at Jose Suarez ($4,600)
I may break one of my rules about fading bats in seven-inning games as the Jays (and the Brewers) are in a great spot tonight. Plus, their prices are dropped due to only seven innings. Insert a cheap George Springer. Springer has been a masher for nearly three weeks. He has hit safely in 13 of his last 17 games, good for a .368 average. He has 17 extra-base hits, including seven home runs. Springer's .471 ISO and 1.274 OPS are elite, and I do not see it stopping anytime soon. Even in a seven-inning game, Springer makes for a great play tonight with his Jays teammates.
Lewis Brinson - OF, MIA at Craig Stammen ($2,000)
I wrote up Brinson in Monday's values article, and he went deep, scoring 21 DK points and was less than 1% rostered. Sounds good to me. Let's keep running it back until DK figures out their flaw. Brinson has hit safely in six of his eight games for a .414 average. This stretch has five multiple-hit games, six extra-base hits, a .345 ISO, and a 1.211 OPS. Brinson has been an absolute stud of late and is hitting cleanup for the Marlins. They will face Stammen for a few innings to start tonight, followed by the Padres' bullpen. So if looking for a punt tonight in cash games and tournaments, look no further than Brinson.
DraftKings DFS Stacks
- Chicago White Sox (Griffin Jax, RHP)
- Seattle Mariners (Kolby Allard, LHP)
- Colorado Rockies (Jake Odorizzi, RHP)
- Sneaky Stacks- Detroit Tigers (Keegan Akin, LHP)
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