MLB DFS Picks: Saturday, August 31st has various split slates for the early game. All of the sites agree on the nine game main slate for Yahoo, DraftKings, FanDuel and FantasyDraft. Before you lock in your baseball DFS lineups and MLB DFS picks, make sure to check out check out Awesemo’s DFS baseball MLB rankings and projections. Not a member? Sign up HERE and use Promo Code: MLBSTACKS for 50% off any one month subscription. Mookie Betts.
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Greetings Gamers! We have wall-to-wall baseball on the this holiday weekend with Coors Field in full effect!
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Early Slate
New York Yankees vs RHP Homer Bailey – 5.9 implied runs
In the interest of picking a team that is on all of the early slates for the various DFS sites we have the Yankees. This should be no surprise, but they are not going to break our budget and that is a twist. Targeting RHP Homer Bailey with lefties is key as he has allowed a .213 ISO, 8.0 BB% with a 1.74 HR/9 since last season. Right-handed batsmen have not been too far behind with a .162 ISO, 6.9 BB% and 1.32 HR/9.
Luke Voit has returned from injury, so we will probably only see one of LHBs Mike Tauchman and Mike Ford. If that is the case we will want more of a priority on Didi Gregorius and Brett Gardner as the likely trio of Yankees lefties. Aaron Judge, D.J. LeMahieu, Glyber Torres and if in the lineup Gary Sanchez are also phenomenal plays.
Houston Astros at RHP Clay Buchholz – 6.0 implied runs
On sites that include this game with OAK at NYY we can look to the ‘Stros as contrarian options since they are more expensive. Clay Buchholz has allowed six home runs in 30.2 innings, which if prorated to 200 innings would top the league. Yordan Alvarez, Alex Bregman, George Springer and Michael Brantley are the core four. Add in Aledmys Diaz and Robinson Chirinos for differentiation as both are fine in same-handed matchups.
Main Slate
Baltimore Orioles at RHP Jorge Lopez – 4.9 implied runs
As we saw on Friday, the Batters of Birdland are not completely abysmal. They have a nice matchup again on Saturday against RHP Jorge Lopez who struggles with lefties. Over his last 344 opposite-handed matchups he has allowed a .367 wOBA, .212 ISO with a 9.3 BB%. Target switch-hitters Anthony Santander, Jonathan Villar and Steve Wilkerson. Add in lefties Rio Ruiz and D.J. Stewart as discount dandies with or without the other Orioles (or with some Rockies).
Coors Field Extravaganza – 13.5 implied runs
Well this matchup is down a half run from Friday’s so there is that (joking of course). RHP Tim Melville does not have much of a fastball but he has average to above average breaking stuff, but that is not going to save him in Coors Field. He is slotting in for the injured Jon Gray and a big step down, roll out the Bucs.
There may be some strategy in play to use RHP Joe Musgrove as a leverage option on Saturday. That is all well and good, but do remember that the Rockies are phenomenal at home. It is not always the longball that does the damage, but back-to-back extra base hits.
Late Slate
Boston Red Sox at LHP Dillon Peters– 5.4 implied runs
With back-to-back mediocre southpaws we can borrow directly from Friday’s analysis. LHP Dillon Peters has been toasted by righties with a 381 wOBA, .252 ISO with a 1.97 HR/9. J.D. Martinez, Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts and Christian Vazquez will be the core four to target on all slates Saturday. For savings we can look to Sam Travis, though he is a pinch hit risk as soon as a right-handed reliever enters the game. Chris Owings will likely be batting in the nine-hole if he makes the lineup, but he is near the minimum price on every site.