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Hello RotoBallers! We have a nice-sized Thursday main slate to dissect with lots of batting and pitching options for us to consider. We have some good pitching options on this slate so we will need to figure out which one can get us a few strikeouts and a win while also choosing between some great offenses like Houston, San Diego, and Toronto to choose from.
I'll be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for the FanDuel main slate on 8/5/21. 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 check out today's FanDuels MLB DFS lineup picks, and read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports too. Let's get to it!
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FanDuel DFS Pitchers
Cash Game/GPP Anchor Play:
Framber Valdez - HOU vs. MIN ($9,700)
The safest and best arm on the slate is Framber Valdez facing off against the Twins. Valdez is 7-2 on the season with a 3.01 ERA and has been in good form recently as he has picked up back-to-back wins over his last two starts. The Twins have struggled recently against lefty pitchers as they have a collective batting average of .189 over the last 14 days while striking out 39 times which was the sixth-most in that 14-day span. The Twins batting order has a collective ISO of .135 against lefty pitchers this season so the power threat is very low for Valdez in this matchup.
Alternate Play(s)
Kyle Muller- ATL @ STL ($7,700)
A viable tournament option from a pitching standpoint is Kyle Muller. Muller has pitched pretty well despite having a 2-4 record as he has a 2.41 ERA and has allowed no more than four hits in any start this season. He has is coming off of one of his better outings as he went five innings while striking out seven batters and allowing one earned run in his start against Milwaukee last week. St. Louis has not been great against lefty pitchers as they have averaged .232 as a team over their last 30 days while also managing to only hit four home runs off of that handedness in that 30-day span which is the second-lowest total in the league during that span.
UPDATE: Touki Toussaint looks to be starting for the Braves instead of Kyle Muller. Toussaint is $8,500 but is still a fine option against this Cardinals team that is tied for the seventh-highest strikeout total over the last 14 days against right-handed pitching.
Other recommended value pitching options: Dallas Keuchel vs. Kansas City Royals, Sonny Gray vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
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FanDuel DFS Infielders
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. - 1B/3B, TOR vs. CLE ($4,600)
Rostering Vlad Jr. is tough to do because of his high price point but he looks fantastic in this matchup against Triston McKenzie. Righties have accrued a .261 ISO against McKenzie this season and Vlad Jr. is hitting .344 against righties this year while also hammering 29 home runs against that handedness. McKenzie throws two main pitches to righties and Vlad profiles well against both pitches, especially against his fastball as he has a .292 ISO and a .456 XwOBA against it while also managing to have a 95% contact rate and a 54.55% hard-hit percentage against his fastball.
Ozzie Albies - 2B, ATL @ STL ($3,600)
Whenever a lefty is pitching against the Braves, Ozzie Albies should always be considered. He is slashing .324 against lefties this year and is tied for the team-high with six home runs against that handedness. Albies profiles really well against Kim, especially against his fastball as he throws it 40% of the time to right-handed batters, and Albies sports a .636 ISO and a .661 XwOBA against that specific fastball pitch type.
Kyle Farmer - 2B/SS, CIN vs. PIT ($2,900)
One batter that has been on a bit of a hot streak has been Kyle Farmer for the Reds. Farmer has managed to hit double-digit FD points in seven out of the last 10 games that he has played in and he has seen a nice bump in the batting order as he has been placed in the three-hole for several games. The matchup looks good for Farmer and the Reds as Crowe allows righties to have a .227 ISO against him and with Farmer recording multi-hits in five out of the last 10 games, it is hard to not want to roster the hot bat that Farmer is swinging.
FanDuel DFS Outfielders
Aaron Judge- OF, NYY vs. SEA ($3,800)
One of the top pay-up options from a batting perspective is Aaron Judge. Judge has hammered left-handed pitching this year as he is hitting .320 and leads the Yankees with eight home runs against that handedness. Judge has incredible numbers as he has a .535 XwOBA and a .307 ISOand right-handed batters have gotten to Tyler Anderson as they are hitting .271 against him with 16 home runs and a .191 ISO.
Teoscar Hernandez - OF, TOR vs. CLE ($3,400)
One bat that could go overlooked for Toronto is Teoscar Hernandez. He has been solid against right-handed pitchers as he has a .282 average and 10 home runs against that handedness. Triston McKenzie will be on the bump for the Indians and he has been roughed up by right-handed batters as they have hit 10 home runs off of him and have a collective .261 ISO against him. Hernandez is one of the top Toronto bats against McKenzie's fastball as he has a .480 ISO against that fastball type and McKenzie throws it 59% of the time to right-handed batters.
Andrew Vaughn– OF, CWS vs. KCR (2,800)
One of the cheaper bats that carries upside is Andrew Vaughn. Vaughn has been a big splits guy this year as he has hit lefty pitchers well by having a .322 batting average and crushing six home runs against lefties this year. Vaughn has a .295 ISO, a 42% hard-hit percentage, and a .478 XwOBA against that handedness, and Vaughn profiles well against Lynch's slider had changeup as he has a .333+ ISO and a .410+ XwOBA against both pitch types.
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