RADIO
If you're still playing MLB DFS by the point in the season, first of all, let me salute you because it's a long season and many have already given up on this game we love. And secondly, I hope you have learned to embrace the variance that occurs in baseball and especially some of the weird and wacky stuff that can happen in August/September baseball. For example, who was expecting a no-hitter from a rookie making his first major league start last night? Or who thought Jake Meyers - the 9-hitter for Houston - would hit two homers and be the highest scoring hitter on the slate?
With 10 games on the slate, there are plenty of options for our rosters. My biggest piece of advice on large slates is to trust your research and process. Don't be afraid to fade some chalky spots or cross off some games entirely if you're not interested in them. Even if you are playing 150 lineups, you can't get exposure to every pitcher with a favorable matchup or offense with a solid Vegas total. You have to pick your spots!
I'll be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for the FanDuel main slate on 8/15/2021. Be sure to also check out all the MLB player news, including late scratches, and the projected and confirmed daily MLB lineups for each DFS slate. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for sites like DraftKings, and other sports.
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FanDuel DFS Pitchers
Cash Game/GPP Anchor Play:
Elieser Hernandez vs. CHC ($6,800)
It's Sunday, and Sundays I have found to be pretty weird when it comes to actual results vs. expected results. I'll start by saying I am going down to Hernandez partly because I don't really trust any of the top-priced arms in cash. Hernandez is returning from an injury that forced him to miss most of the season.
I don't usually like to read too much into rehab starts against minor league teams, but 18 strikeouts and no walks in 11.2 innings is pretty darn impressive at any level. He struck out 10 in his last start and needed only 62 pitches to get through five innings. He will likely still be on a pitch count today (my guess would be 70-80 pitches) but he has the best matchup on the board as the Cubs' scrubs who are still in this lineup have some massive K rates to righties. At this price, I feel pretty good about my chances for 25-35 FD points and I love all the salary we will be able to save for hitters.
Potential Alternate Play
Triston McKenzie @ DET ($7,200)
We are going to stick with cheap pitchers today and McKenzie feels much too cheap for his recent form and this matchup against the free-swinging Tigers. It's been a rough year for McKenzie but he is showing some positive trends lately and has pitched well in three of his last four starts - which included some good offenses in Toronto, Tampa, and Oakland.
Anyway, McKenzie has a 28% K rate and you can't ignore his potential for a big strikeout day against a Detroit team that continues to have strikeout struggles (right around 26% on the season). It's not an entirely safe spot, but again I like the savings we get by paying down and I'll chase the strikeout upside here for cheap.
Other options: Aaron Nola ($9,500) vs. CIN, Eduardo Rodriguez ($8,000) vs. BAL
FanDuel DFS Infielders
Kike Hernandez - 2B/OF vs. BAL ($3,700)
Kiki checks all the boxes today, especially for cash games. He's leading off for the Sox who have the biggest total on the board at 6.7 runs. He is in great recent form and he's on the right side of his splits against lefty Keegan Akin. Hernandez has the second-best ISO of any Red Sox hitter this season against LHP at .228 (right behind Dalbec and right in front of Renfroe).
Austin Riley – 3B vs. WAS ($3,600)
Riley is now up to 24 homers on the year and while he didn't get on the fun yesterday (Albies and Swanson did the heavy lifting), I like him a lot here against righty Paolo Espino. Riley is actually the Braves' best hitter against RHP this season by the numbers with a .408 wOBA and .265 ISO. Espino, meanwhile, has an xFIP over 5 and throws his fastball in the high 80s. I think Austin is taking him deep today.
Nolan Arenado – 3B @ KCR ($3,500)
We have a bit of theme going today with red-hot lefty-mashers and Arenado certainly fits the bill. He's homered in both games in Kansas City this weekend and driven in six runs. With a .439 wOBA and .366 ISO against LHP this season, Arenado has shown he's still one of the best in baseball against lefties. The best part of the utility slot is being able to play two big bopper First basemen or third basemen so my conscious is clear writing up two 3B today.
FanDuel DFS Outfielders
Hunter Renfroe - OF vs. BAL ($3,500)
Renfroe is an absolute must-play for me based on his elite numbers against lefties and his red hot recent form. He's homered in back-to-back games and driven in nine runs over his last five. Hopefully, he moves up to the 2-hole where he might get an extra at-bat off Baltimore starter Keegan Akin who has absolutely dreadful this year.
Randy Arozarena– OF vs. MIN ($3,900)
Another lefty, eh? Yes, please! Aroz has been swinging a hot stick and should lead off against Minnesota lefty Barnes today. He has elite power for a leadoff hitter and has smashed LHP this season to the tune of a .382 wOBA and .262 ISO. Vegas likes the Rays to bounce back today and has them implied for nearly six runs here, and I definitely want some exposure to their hitters in my builds.
Mark Canha – OF vs. TEX ($3,500)
Another right-handed lead-off hitter for a good offense facing a bad lefty? Yep, today's picks are all following a pattern and despite his 0-5 last night, I like Canha a ton in this matchup against Kolby Allard. Canha has great numbers against Allard's fastball and cutter and I like his chances of having a big day at the plate for an Oakland team that could go overlooked despite a 5.1 implied run total.
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