Daily Fantasy MLB Baseball Picks for FanDuel and DraftKings - 8/16/17

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Pitcher

Yu Darvish FD 9800 DK 13700
Opponent - CHW (Rodon) Park - @LAD
FD - 44.62 DK - 29.43

Marcus Stroman FD 8300 DK 11600
Opponent - TB (Faria) Park - @TOR
FD - 33.53 DK - 22.15

Early - Jimmy Nelson, Jose Urena

Catcher

Austin Barnes FD 2500 DK 3400
Opponent - CHW (Rodon) Park - @LAD
FD - 9.91 DK - 7.85

Alex Avila FD 2500 DK 3800
Opponent - CIN (Bailey) Park - @CHC
FD - 4.64 DK - 3.5

Early - J.T Realmuto

First Base

Edwin Encarnacion FD 3500 DK 5300
Opponent - MIN (Gibson) Park - @MIN
FD - 12.76 DK - 9.51

Anthony Rizzo FD 3900 DK 4500
Opponent - CIN (Bailey) Park - @CHC
FD - 12.91 DK - 9.85

The Cubs don't have an implied total just yet, mostly due to this game being played in Wrigley Field, where wind speed and direction strongly influence the total. I expect the Cubs to end up with a total between 5-6 and end up going over it. Homer Bailey is undoubtedly one of the worst pitchers on the entire slate and you have to target a lineup as lethal as the Cubs against him. Anthony Rizzo is the head of the monster and certainly the best bat against righties. He's sported a .382 wOBA over the last 2 years and has as much HR upside as anyone. Homer Bailey has held a .417 wOBA against lefties over his last 50 innings and has shown absolutely no signs of improving. The Cubs are easily one of the best offenses on this slate and I'll have exposure in all formats.

Early - Tommy Joseph, Eric Hosmer

Second Base

Rougned Odor FD 2600 DK 3500
Opponent - DET (Sanchez) Park - @TEX
FD - 11.38 DK - 9.12

It seems like there are more insanely bad pitchers in the MLB right now than usual. On most nights, you can pick out 2 or 3 guys who have no place in the majors. Anibal Sanchez is certainly one of those guys tonight and there is no arguing that. He has been utterly awful against  both sides of the plate in over 70 innings on the season. He's allowed a .381 combined wOBA and 21 total home runs. He now moves into one of the friendliest ballparks for hitting and in the summer, the ball flies. The Rangers hold an implied team total over 6 and are certainly right up there as a top offense. Odor, in particular, is a guy I typically restrict for tournaments While he's quite the play there s well, I like him in cash games too. The price is too low and Sanchez is simply too bad.

Jason Kipnis FD 2500 DK 4000
Opponent - MIN (Gibson) Park - @MIN
FD - 10.7 DK - 8.54

Early - Robinson Cano

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Shortstop

Francisco Lindor FD 4000 DK 4700
Opponent - MIN (Gibson) Park - @MIN
FD - 11.8 DK - 9.52

Elvis Andrus FD 4200 DK 5400
Opponent - DET (Sanchez) Park - @TEX
FD - 11.31 DK - 9.77

When looking at Anibal Sanchez and the numbers, it's hard not to laugh. You simply don't see a guy this horrible get 70 innings in a rotation. I have no idea how the Tigers can be this bad and how they can't find any beating human heart in the minors with some potential. Either way, we need to target Sanchez every time he takes the hill. Against righties, Sanchez has held a .409 wOBA. He's given up 12 homers in just 37 innings and now moves into a top 5 hitting ballpark. Elvis Andrus is actually better against righties with a .355 wOBA and has far more power against them. This team will be very popular and rightfully so. With that being said, the price on Andrus is spiked and it'll be interesting to see how many are able to bite the bullet and pay up.

Early - Jean Segura, Marcus Semien

Third Base

Jedd Gyorko FD 2900 DK 4100
Opponent - BOS (Rodriguez) Park - @BOS
FD - 10.86 DK - 8.36

Justin Turner FD 3900 DK 4700
Opponent - CHW (Rodon) Park - @LAD
FD - 10.72 DK - 8.31

If you've had a chance to look at the numbers Justin Turner is sporting against lefties this year, this won't need much explaining. In 140 plate appearances, he has held an insane .508 wOBA. Yes, .508. Looking deeper, he's hitting the ball hard 46% of the time and striking out just 8%. He has probably been the most efficient hitter in baseball against lefties this season and I'm not sure you can call it a fluke in any capacity. The peripherals look good and .350 BABIP isn't too high. He faces off with Carlos Rodon tonight, who is a young and talented left-hander. He does struggle against righties, however, and has already given up 7 homers and a .335 wOBA in just 35 innings. Turner is definitely expensive and you won't be able to fit him if you pay up for Darvish. If you do have the funds, I expect Turner to be around 15% owned and one of the best tourney options on the entire slate.

Early - Manny Machado, Maikel Franco

Outfield

Shin-Soo Choo FD 3500 DK 4600
Opponent - DET (Sanchez) Park - @TEX
FD - 13.08 DK - 10.23
Nomar Mazara FD 3600 DK 4800
Opponent - DET (Sanchez) Park - @TEX
FD - 12.28 DK - 9.52

When the Royals are facing an average to bad righty, I am all for these 2 guys. Both Mazara and Choo have hit righties extremely well and get an insane ballpark with Globe Life in the summer. As we've said about Anibal Sanchez, he is utterly atrocious. He's held a .364 wOBA against lefties and gives up a home run about 5 times each inning. In reality, it's about 2-3 a game. Both Choo and Mazara posted a .365+ wOBA in 2016 and have maintained elite numbers into this season. There is nothing to dislike about either of these options and I think they should be very popular. With that being said, they are priced in the middle of the pack and there are a whole lot of options in the OF. Don't be surprised if either of these guys fall between the cracks and ends up sub-15% owned in cash games. Personally, I'll be close to 100%. The Rangers are going to demolish Anibal Sanchez and I don't see the prices being high enough to deter me.

Kyle Schwarber FD 3100 DK 3600
Opponent - CIN (Bailey) Park - @CHC
FD - 10.62 DK - 8.09
Ben Zobrist FD 2800 DK 3000
Opponent - CIN (Bailey) Park - @CHC
FD - 10.85 DK - 8.32

When Homer Bailey travels into Wrigley Field, we pay attention. As one of the bottom 10 pitchers in baseball, you can really target anyone. Both Zobrist and Schwarber will be in the top of the lineup and play great roles in different formats. Schwarber is a bit more boom or bust and has 2 HR upside if righties come out of the bullpen. His price is fair and I don't think he'll get over 20% owned. Zobrist is a cash game king that holds a premium as a switch-hitter that smashes both sides. Zobrist has an even lower price than Schwarber and he will be a mainstay in all of my cash games. The Cubs as a whole are a top stack and I will make sure I get plenty of exposure. Pay attention to the weather and winds, as it plays a huge role in Wrigley.

Carlos Gonzalez FD 3700 DK 4100
Opponent - ATL (Foltynewicz) Park - @COL
FD - 12.1 DK - 9.27
Charlie Blackmon FD 5000 DK 5700
Opponent - ATL (Foltynewicz) Park - @COL
FD - 14.21 DK - 11.75

Early - Rhys Hopkins, Giancarlo Stanton, Adam Jones, Adam Lind, Melky Cabrera

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