Daily Fantasy Baseball Picks for FanDuel and DraftKings - 8/16/16

 

Welcome to Tuesday baseball! We have a 9 game main slate on our hands with some aces and a few offenses in great spots to put up some runs. Make sure to check out our other articles as they will touch on more pitching options, tournament stacks and any weather concerns that may arise. Let's get into the top options at each position!

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PITCHER

Corey Kluber FD 10700 DK 11400
Opponent - CHW (Quintana) Park - @CLE
FD - 39.23 DK - 25.9

Corey Kluber is going to start us off at the pitcher position, as he will be taking on the Chicago White Sox at home in the hitter neutral Progressive Field. While the White Sox surely have some big bats, they also strikeout a ton. In over 3500 plate appearances, the White Sox have sported a league 23rd worst .306 wOBA that is backed up by a 20.7% K rate and a .707 OPS. Kluber on the other hand, has been dominant against both lefties and righties. With a .258 combined wOBA, Kluber is one of the best pitchers in the league and can have a huge game against any team. While there is always some risk with Kluber, he is the safest option on the board o a slate that lacks a ton of high end option. Kluber is my top option in both cash games and tournaments.

Kenta Maeda FD 8700 DK 9500
Opponent - PHI (Velasquez) Park - @PHI
FD - 32.62 DK - 20.42

Maeda, Mr.Consistent. Kenta Maeda has been absolutely amazing since coming over to the major leagues, and it doesn't look like he is going to slow down anytime soon. Against righties, Maeda has sported a .264 wOBA that is backed up by a 3.05 xFIP and a very good 25% hard contact rate. While a tad bit worse against lefties, he still has held some very nice numbers. His opponent, the Phillies, have been absolutely horrible against right handers on the year. They have been the 3rd worst team in the league against righties with a .299 wOBA that is backed up by plenty of peripherals ad batted ball rates. While the park is somewhat an issue, the Phillies are bad enough to the point that it doesn't really worry me.

CATCHER

Evan Gattis FD 3100 DK 3500
Opponent - STL (Garcia) Park - @HOU
FD - 10.03 DK - 7.58

The catcher spot is a pretty tough one tonight as there is no singular guy that stands off the page. That being said, there are some guys who are obviously in better spots than the rest. One of which being Evan Gattis, who will be taking on the southpaw in Jaime Garcia. While Garcia is a very competent pitcher, he has had some troubles with righties on the season. Through 108 innings, Garcia has given up 12 home runs and a .311 wOBA. Gattis on the other hand, has been quite awesome against lefties over the past few seasons. Dating back to 2013, Gattis has exhibited a .341 wOBA with a ton of power to back it up. With the crawford boxes in short lef field, I could see Gattis banging one out tonight.

Stephen Vogt FD 3100 DK 4000
Opponent - TEX (Harrell) Park - @TEX
FD - 10.02 DK - 7.77

Moving on to more of a cash game option, we are going to look at Stephen Vogt. While Vogt has fallen off quite a bit this year, he is still a very sold hitter against right handers. So far in 2016, Vogt has sported a .329 wOBA against righties that is supported by a 24% line drive rate. Lucas Harrell, however, has been quite bad against lefties. While his wOBA has been decent, his +4.50 xFIP suggest there is some impending regression. With this game being played in the hitter friendly Globe Life Park, I am looking for a big game from Vogt.

 

FIRST BASE

David Ortiz FD 4200 DK 5400
Opponent - BAL (Gallardo) Park - @BAL
FD - 14.1 DK - 10.61

First base is extremely loaded tonight with options at all ranges of the spicing spectrum. At the very top, we are going to look at David Ortiz. Ortiz and the Red Sox will be taking on Yovani Gallardo, a right hander that has struggled mightily on the season. In 34 innings against lefties, Gallardo has given up a .359 wOBA along with a putrid 5.80 xFIP. Ortiz, while it goes unsaid, is one of the best hitters in the league. He has demolished righties for the past 15 years and has continued to do so this season. With this game taking place in Camden Yards, I am going to take a long hard look at David Ortiz.

Anthony Rizzo FD 4200 DK 5200
Opponent - MIL (Garza) Park - @CHC
FD - 13.48 DK - 10.3

If you are looking to pay up and want to pivot off of Ortiz, Rizzo is a great way to look. Rizzo and the Cubs are in a great spot here against Matt Garza, who has had some big struggles against both lefties and righties. Against lefties, Garza has sported a .372 wOBA that is backed up by a crazy 45% hard contact rate. Rizzo on the other hand, has been dominant against righties with a .419 wOBA that is held up by superior peripherals. While Wrigley Field is a neutral park, it is heavily influenced by wind speed ad direction, so make sure to keep an eye on that.

Adam Lind FD 3100 DK 3900
Opponent - LAA (Chacin) Park - @LAA
FD - 10.23 DK - 7.88

If you are looking to pay down, Adam Lind is a terrific way to go. The Mariners are in a great spot here against Jhoulys Chacin and the Los Angeles Angels. For some reason, Chacin still has a starting job and until he is relieved of that duty, we are going to target lefties against him. Lind has been a great hitter against righties over the last 3 years with a .362 wOBA to go along with his 34% hard contact rate. While Ortiz and Rizzo are certainly the preferred options, Lind is a terrific way to go if you are looking to pay down.

 

SECOND BASE

Daniel Murphy FD 4400 DK 5600
Opponent - COL (Bettis) Park - @COL
FD - 13.59 DK - 10.83

The Nationals are in a great spot here against Chad Bettis and the Rockies in the hitter haven that is Coors Field. Coors Field makes a huge difference, though that is taken in account with the uptick in pricing. Murphy has been one of the best hitters in the league this year, and has arguably been better than Bryce Harper. In 290 at bats against right handers, Murphy has sported an astounding .429 wOBA that is supported by all of the necessary peripherals. While we will touch on Bettis in a bit, all you need to know is that he has had some big struggles at home against lefties. In both cash games and tournaments, Murphy is by far my favorite option.

Rougned Odor FD 3600 DK 5200
Opponent - OAK (Triggs) Park - @TEX
FD - 11.91 DK - 9.64

While this is the first Rangers bat mentioned, they are in a tremendous spot here against Andrew Triggs. While Triggs doesn't have much of a sample size, the sample he does have is not very good. In 16 innings against left handers, Triggs has given up a .335 wOBA and a 33.3% hard contact rate. While Triggs is a decent prospect, I expect him to struggle for a while this year. Odor has been tremendous for about 2 years now against righties and there is no reason to expect anything different in the near future.

 

SHORTSTOP

Corey Seager FD 3800 DK 4800
Opponent - PHI (Velasquez) Park - @PHI
FD - 11.38 DK - 8.89

Vincent Velasquez, while he started off very good this year, has fallen off and is now pitching like the talent he really is. Seager on the other hand, is a special talent and has been exceptional this year, since his major league debut. Against righties, Seager has sported a .397 wOBA that is backed up by a 38% hard contact rate and a 23.5% line drive rate. While I don't absolutely love the play, I think he is the safest and best option at the shortstop position. The shortstop position lacks both safety and upside, which Seager has a ton of. As a bonus, the Dodgers will be traveling to Citizens Bank Park, which is a top 10 park for left handed power.

Jhonny Peralta FD 2500 DK 3300
Opponent - HOU (Keuchel) Park - @HOU
FD - 8.74 DK - 6.75

If you are looking to pay down for a guy with a bunch of power upside, Jhonny Peralta is a great way to go. While Keuchel is a good pitcher, he has given up a .332 wOBA to righties which is backed up by some high peripherals and batted ball rates. Peralta, however, has been very good against lefties over the last 5 years with a .351 wOBA and some great peripheral stats. The Cardinals will be moving from Busch Stadium to the hitter friendly Minute Maid Park, where there is a very short porch in left field. While Seager is a clear cash game option, Peralta is a terrific tournament option.

 

THIRD BASE

Nolan Arenado FD 4200 DK 5500
Opponent - WSH (Gonzalez) Park - @COL
FD - 13.23 DK - 10.16

Arenado is one of the best hitters in the league against lefties, undoubtedly. When you factor in Coors Field, he is an absolute monster. So far in 2016, Arenado has demolished lefties in Coors Field to a .478 wOBA that is backed up by a .283 ISO and a 42% hard contact rate. Gio Gonzalez on the other hand, while a good pitcher, has struggled in the past at Coors Field. While Arenado is going to cost you a pretty penny,, he just might be worth it when you consider everything.

Kris Bryant FD 4100 DK 5100
Opponent - MIL (Garza) Park - @CHC
FD - 13.45 DK - 10.33

If you are looking to pivot off of Arenado, Kris Bryant is going to be your best option. As I mentioned earlier, Garza is a major gas can and is someone we should be looking to take advantage of at all costs. While Kris Bryant has been better against lefties, he has been elite against right handers. Since entering the league in 2015, Bryant has hit 37 home runs and has held a .377 wOBA against right handers. The Cubs are a great team to target in both cash games and tournaments, and I don't mind the team stack in either.

 

OUTFIELD

Bryce Harper FD 4600 DK 5500
Opponent - COL (Bettis) Park - @COL
FD - 18.17 DK - 14.02

Bryce Harper is my favorite hitter on this slate and the only guy that is close is Daniel Murphy, who is also on the Washington Nationals. Bryce Harper is obviously one of the best hitters in the game and that is quite evident by his +.400 wOBA against righties over the past 2 seasons. Bettis on the other hand, has given up a .337 wOBA to lefties in 2016 and his peripherals suggest some negative regression. As mentioned, Coors Field plays a huge factor here as the ball absolutely flies due to the insane increase in altitude. Last night Marcell Ozuna was my pick for a home run and he came through. Tonight, however, I am going to take Harper for my homer pick of the night. Plug him in both your cash games and tournaments.

Adam Jones FD 3500 DK 4300
Opponent - BOS (Rodriguez) Park - @BAL
FD - 12.45 DK - 9.67
Steve Pearce FD 2700 DK 4200
Opponent - BOS (Rodriguez) Park - @BAL
FD - 10.88 DK - 8.42

While these are the first Orioles bats mentioned, they are one of my favorite offenses of the night as they will be taking on Eduardo Rodriguez in the hitter friendly Camden Yards. While Rodriguez has been better recently, he is still struggling against righties and will continue to do so. Both Adam Jones and Steve Pearce have sported +.360 wOBA's against lefties and have peripherals to back it up. While Jones is the preferred cash game option, I am going to look at Pearce in tournaments as he will be lower owned and has just as much upside as anyone else at the position.

Shin-Soo Choo FD 3800 DK 5100
Opponent - OAK (Triggs) Park - @TEX
FD - 14.19 DK - 11.12

The last guy we are going to look at is Shin-Soo Choo. Choo is a very consistent option against righties and has been tremendous over the past 3 seasons. Dating back to 2013, Choo has sported a .348 wOBA that is backed up by plenty of peripherals and batted ball rates. Like I mentioned earlier, Triggs is going to struggle a ton and we are going to look to take advantage of him. This game will take place in Arlington, which is one of the best parks in baseball. While I prefer Choo in tournaments, I don't mind him in cash games either.

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