Wednesday marks the midpoint of the work week with an eight-game featured slate that has a 7:05 p.m. ET lock time on DraftKings, FanDuel and Yahoo. As always, we will use Stokastic’s tools to help in identifying today’s MLB DFS Top Stacks, key pitchers and MLB DFS picks. For DraftKings, FanDuel and Yahoo MLB DFS picks today, look to RHP Gerrit Cole and the Los Angeles Dodgers offense in a tremendous matchup against LHP Hogan Harris.
MLB DFS Picks: Spotlight Pitchers and Top Stacks
MLB DFS Picks: Spotlight Pitchers
Main Slate Primary Pitching Target: RHP Gerrit Cole vs. Tampa Bay Rays — 3.9 implied runs
First Pitch: 7:05 p.m. ET
- DFS Salary: DraftKings $10,800 | FanDuel $10,900 | Yahoo $52
The Stokastic Top Pitchers Tool has RHP Gerrit Cole rising to the top of the list tonight. Across his last 10 starts, Cole has a pristine 2.30 ERA, 2.75 FIP, .214 batting average against and 70 strikeouts in 62.2 innings, ceding just five home runs. After a torrid first two months of the season, Tampa Bay has seen offensive regression, and the Rays have a 94 wRC+ across the last 30 days, which is in the bottom third of the league during this timeframe. Additionally, their 24.3% strikeout rate is the 10th highest in the league, which bodes well for Cole finding fantasy success tonight.
Main Slate Secondary Pitching Target: RHP Logan Webb vs. Arizona Diamondbacks — 3.5 implied runs
First Pitch: 9:45 p.m. ET
- DFS Salary: DraftKings $9,800 | FanDuel $10,200 | Yahoo $44
While RHP Logan Webb is having another solid season, it is not quite on par with his prior two campaigns that resulted in a stellar 2.96 ERA, 2.90 FIP and 3.40 xERA. Webb has brought down his walk rate to a miniscule 1.52 per nine innings, though his 1.08 has nearly doubled. Strikeouts remain solid, with just a tick shy of one per inning. These metrics, along with a career-best 60% ground ball rate, make Webb a strong foundational piece for all formats.
Arizona added Jace Peterson and Tommy Pham for infield and outfield flexibility. Of course, the core of Ketel Marte, Christian Walker, and All-Stars Corbin Carroll and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. are still worrisome bats, but Webb should be up for the task tonight.
Wild Card Pitching Target: RHP Tony Gonsolin vs. Oakland Athletics — 3.6 implied runs
First Pitch: 10:10 p.m. ET
- DFS Salary: DraftKings $7,500 | FanDuel $8,400 | Yahoo $35
Tonight RHP Tony Gonsolin is the lucky pitcher who will be facing the Oakland Athletics. The 29-year-old is a perfectly average pitcher who rarely makes our radar unless he is in a good matchup at a low-ish salary that in turn keeps his point-per-dollar ratio at an appealing level. The stars have aligned today, and Gonsolin is an easy click as an SP2 salary saver on DraftKings and Yahoo. Gonsolin can be skipped on FanDuel outside of the late slate, as he has closed out the sixth inning only three times in his 16 starts. That makes it highly unlikely that he will earn the quality start bonus, even in this cherry matchup.
MLB DFS Picks: Top Stacks
Main Slate Target: Minnesota Twins at RHP Dakota Hudson — 5.4 implied runs
First Pitch: 7:45 p.m. ET
Now that Jordan Montgomery and Jack Flaherty have been traded, RHP Dakota Hudson looks like he will be in the rotation for the remainder of the season. Hudson has been a starter in the past, and while he was used mostly as a reliever this season, he did log 93 pitches in his last outing on Thursday, so he should be in line for five innings tonight. Hudson does a solid job of limiting home runs, but he has a sub-15% strikeout rate and a 52.9% hard hit rate, so he does allow his share of doubles in the gaps.
Minnesota has intriguing options across various positions at appealing salaries. Matt Wallner and Joey Gallo are the discount dandies with cheap extra-base-hit upside. Max Kepler, Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa are the best building blocks for steady production. Finally, switch-hitter Jorge Polanco is healthy, and he has reached base in each of his last four games while also collecting three RBIs.
Evening Slate Target: New York Mets at LHP Cole Ragans — 5.2 implied runs
First Pitch: 8:10 p.m. ET
The Stokastic Top Stack Tool has the New York Mets as an intriguing option tonight with a nice blend of fantasy upside, reasonable popularity and appealing salaries. They will be taking on LHP Cole Ragans in Kansas City, where it is hot and humid. Ragans has issues with walks, power and a lack of strikeout stuff, which, of course, are the key ingredients for any successful stacking recipe.
Pete Alonso, Francisco Alvarez and veteran Starling Marte are a fine 1-2-3 combo in the middle of the lineup, and they do their best work against southpaws. Mark Vientos should also be in the lineup, and he is just $2,000 on DraftKings and $2,300 on FanDuel.
Late Slate Target: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. LHP Hogan Harris — 6.2 implied runs
First Pitch: 10:10 p.m. ET
Tonight the Dodgers are once again a team to target, as they are facing LHP Hogan Harris, who has been a disaster in most of his appearances this season. Over his last four starts, the 26-year-old has allowed 16 runs in 18 innings. He did have 20 strikeouts and allowed just two round-trippers, but there is small solace in those figures.
The acquisition of Amed Rosario has been a good one for Los Angeles, and there is a good chance that he will be in the heart of the order tonight with a lefty on the mound. Mookie Betts and Will Smith will, of course, be in their prominent spots in the batting order, and Chris Taylor should see a boost up the lineup as well. Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy bring elite power in lefty-lefty matchups and can be used to round out full stacks.
Other DFS and Sports Wagering Opportunities
Tonight Francisco Alvarez is a strong DFS option and someone to consider in the sports wagering market. Looking at the True Odds feature on OddsShopper, we can see that his “true odds” of hitting a home run are +606, which means the +650 line that is currently available has 4% to 5% inefficiency baked in.
The rookie hit his 21st home run of the season last night, and though the odds of him knocking one out of the park for a third consecutive game are long, the weather, weak pitcher and inefficiency in the line are combining to make this one of the more appealing options on the board.
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Final Thoughts for Wednesday, August 2 | MLB DFS Picks
There is a weather system moving through the Midwest, with a chance of showers in both Kansas City and St. Louis.
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