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We head into Thursday night with an interesting seven-game slate on tap. Just a heads up, the slate locks an hour earlier than normal, at 6:05 pmEST. There is no Coors in play tonight, but we do have the Yankees and they should be very popular, for good reasons. There are a few other main targets that we can build around as well if we do not want to play the popular Yankees.
When looking at the slate there are three top-end pitchers to target, but it gets really murky after that. Carlos Carrasco faces off vs Luis Castillo, both strong targets, but only one can get the win. There are a few young arms to take chances with and some other punts to plug your nose and play. If you want the big bats you will have to take some chances on these messier arms.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 8/6/2020. The lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for sites like FanDuel, and other sports too. If you have any questions or comments, contact me on Twitter @bdentrek.
DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers
Tyler Chatwood - P, CHC at KC ($9,400)
First, no one thought we would see Chatwood as a $9K+ pitcher period in 2020. Second, I have no problem paying this price vs a weak Royals team. Hopefully, most will focus on Carrasco or Castillo and leave the ownership low on Chatwood. He has been great in his first two starts, going at least six innings in both while strikeout eleven and eight respectively. Some will say the 0.71 ERA is not sustainable, they are correct, but his 2.06 xFIP supports his very strong start. A large part of Chatwood's success has been utilizing a cutter and utilizing it 27.2% of the time while only throwing his 4-seam fastball 8.3%. The pitch mix change has led to fewer walks, more strikeouts, and a great start to 2020. As a team to start 2020, the Royals are striking out over 23% of the time with a wonderful 79 wRC+.
Nate Pearson - P, TOR at ATL ($7,300)
Pearson made his MLB debut last week vs the Nats and was outstanding. Throwing five shutout innings, allowing only two hits and striking out five. He managed to achieve all that success on 75 pitches. He heads into Atlanta tonight, playing a Braves team who has quieted down offensively since the Mets left town. Ozzie Albies is now on the IL and a once extremely strong lineup has become a little quieter. The Braves have shown some power vs RHP to start the season, but they are also striking out nearly 27% of the time. Pearson may give up a few runs, but the strikeouts should be aplenty and he should be able to hit value at this cheap price point.
DraftKings DFS Infielders
Francisco Cervelli - C, MIA vs Wade LeBlanc ($3,600)
The season sample size is extremely small, but when discussing the Marlins it shrinks even more. Cervelli caught game one of yesterday's doubleheader, giving him a whopping four-game sample size. He has hit safely in two of those four games, including a home run on Tuesday. Cervelli has never been a massive power bat, but in his career, he has hit .285 with a .115 ISO vs LHP. He will fave LeBlanc tonight who allowed LHH to hit .296 with a .356 wOBA and nearly allowing 2 HR/9 last season.
Other Options: J.T. Realmuto (PHI vs NYM) $4,700, Victor Caratini (CHC at KC) $3,200
Rhys Hoskins - 1B, PHI vs Jordan Montgomery ($3,700)
Hoskins is off to a slow start to 2020, but we will take that with a grain of salt considering the Phillies had to wait a week to play. Last season Hoskins made some nice strides vs LHP, hitting .261 with a very strong .275 ISO. He will be facing the lefty Montgomery tonight at a nice little discount on DK. Montgomery was strong in his last outing, but in his career has allowed over one HR/9 vs RHH. First Base is a good place to save some money tonight with any of the three options listed.
Other Options: Jesus Aguilar (MIA vs BAL) $4,200, Luke Voit (NYY at PHI) $3,900,
Jason Kipnis - 2B, CHC at Brad Keller ($2,800)
No, this is not 2016, I am really writing up Kipnis. I am writing up Kipnis for two reasons; first, he is insanely cheap tonight vs Keller and two he is absolutely raking. The Cubs have used the veteran wisely, platooning with Nico Hoerner. Kipnis has hit safely in four of five games this season with four extra-base hits, including two home runs. Kipnis is a plug and play value tonight and a near-cash game lock on DK.
Other Options: Ketel Marte (AZ vs HOU) $5,000, Keston Hiura (MIL at CWS) $4,900, D.J. LeMahieu (NYY at PHI) $4,500, Hanser Alberto (BAL at MIA) $3,900
Gio Urshela - 3B, NYY at Zach Eflin ($4,800)
Urshela is swinging a hot bat entering action tonight. He has hit safely in five straight games, including multi-hit games in three of the five. More impressively, Urshela is flexing his muscle with three home runs and a .367 ISO. When looking at his Baseball Savant page it has that beautiful color of red we all love. He is barreling the ball 16.7% of the time with an insane 58.3% hard-hit rate. He will cool down eventually, but not tonight vs Eflin in hitter-friendly Citizen Bank Park.
Other Options: Yoan Moncada (CWS vs MIL) $4,400, Brian Anderson (MIA vs BAL) $4,400
Didi Gregorious - SS, PHI vs Jordan Montgomery ($3,700)
Hey, another target in the Yankees and Phillies game. Didi vs a lefty? Are you crazy? NOPE. From 2016-2018, Didi hit at least .264 vs LHP with ISO's of .149 and .153 in two of those three seasons. Didi has hit safely in five of six games to start the season and will look to stay hot vs Montgomery tonight.
Other Options: Bo Bichette (TOR at ATL) $4,600, Javier Baez (CHC at KC) $4,500,
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
Aaron Judge - OF, NYY at Zach Eflin ($5,300)
This is plain and simple. Aaron Judge is playing better than pretty much everyone in baseball. Yesterday, Judge hit his league-leading seventh home run of the season and has another great matchup tonight. The fun thing about Judge is he has always hit RHP very well and with power. Last season he had a .251 ISO vs RHP and his ISO has been .238 or higher in each of the last three seasons vs RHP. Bottom line, get Judge in your Yankees stacks tonight.
Avisail Garcia - OF, MIL at Gio Gonzalez ($4,200)
Avi has had a quiet start to the 2020 season. He has hit safely in three of his last four games and has a matchup tonight that may just help Avi break out. He faces the southpaw Gio Gonzalez. Avi has always hit LHP well and really has the last two seasons. He has hit at least .265 with a .185 ISO vs LHP. With Cain gone and Braun out, Garcia should be hitting in the middle of a Brewers lineup that needs to get going. Tonight could be that night for Garcia and the Brew Crew.
Andrew McCutchen - OF, PHI vs Jordan Montgomery ($3,900)
Cutch is purely a GPP play tonight and only apart of a stack. It has been a crazy slow start for Cutch with only one hit to show thus far. Hopefully facing the lefty Montgomery is what Cutch needs to get going. In his career, he has hit .310 with a .233 ISO and .946 OPS vs LHP. He has shown power, the ability to get on base, as well as being a huge fantasy asset vs lefties. Let's get Cutch going at low ownership tonight.
Other Options: Kyle Schwarber (CHC at KC) $4,700, Nick Castellanos (CIN at CLE) $4,500, Aaron Hicks (NYY at PHI) $4,500, Luis Robert (CWS vs MIL) $4,200, Eloy Jimenez (CWS at MIL) $3,900, Brett Gardner (NYY at PHI) $3,800
DraftKings DFS Stacks
New York Yankees at Philadelphia Phillies (Zach Eflin, RHP)
Chicago Cubs at Kansas City Royals (Brad Keller, RHP)
Chicago White Sox vs Milwaukee Brewers (Josh Lindblom, RHP)
Sneaky Stack - Philadelphia Phillies vs New York Yankees (Jordan Montgomery, LHP)
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