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Daily Fantasy MLB Baseball Picks for FanDuel and DraftKings – 8/20/17

Daily Fantasy MLB Baseball Picks for FanDuel and DraftKings - 8/20/17

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Pitcher

Madison Bumgarner Madison Bumgarner FD 10400 DK 12400
Opponent - PHI (Lively) Park - @SF
FD - 41.74 DK - 27.58

There is no better situation for Madison Bumgarner. He's at home facing off with the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies are the worst team in baseball and are absolutely horrible against lefties. They've ranked 25th in the league with a .299 wOBA and 21% strikeout rate. They have absolutely no power and will struggle to put up runs in this spacious park. Bumgarner is the same guys he has been for the past couple years. Since the start of the season, he's held a .281 wOBA and 21% K rate. AT&T Park is the best park in baseball in limiting runs and this Phillies team is going to have bundles of trouble. Bumgarner is one of the best pitchers in baseball and we can't forget that just because he hasn't done a lot recently. He's the top option in both formats and I don't see it as too close. He will definitely cost you a pretty penny and it'll just come down to how you value your salary. If you're looking for safety, you should probably pay up. Pitchers are far more predictable than hitters and there is also a greater opportunity cost with only 1 on the roster.

Jacob deGrom FD 10400 DK 12700
Opponent - MIA (Conley) Park - @NYM
FD - 38.11 DK - 25.06

I don't see this as a day to pay down for pitcher(s). While I'll certainly touch on a guy who you can take a flier on in the low-end, it won't be fun. deGrom is the 2nd best play on this slate and he is the same price as Madison Bumgarner. deGrom and the Mets will face off with the lowly Miami Marlins in Citi Field. They have 3 good hitters and 6 poor ones. While definitely a tall task, if deGrom can find a way to get around Stanton, Ozuna, and Yelich, he will be on his way to a dominant outing. As a team, the Marlins rank 15th against righties with a high K%. Even if one of the big 3 does tag deGrom, I don't see him getting flustered and letting it bother the rest of his start. deGrom has been absolutely phenomenal this season with a combined .288 wOBA and 10+ K/9. He can go 9 innings and will more than likely last at least 7. Terry Collins is willing to push him to around 115 pitches and I do think he lasts that long against the Marlins. If you are looking for a pivot from Bumgarner or don't like the match-up for some reason, deGrom is an exquisite pivot. Don't be scared by the Marlins.

Catcher

Buster Posey FD 3000 DK 4200
Opponent - PHI (Lively) Park - @SF
FD - 11.04 DK - 8.55

Catcher is always one of those positions that you can go a lot of different ways with. If you're good, you can make a lot of money and play on some very prestigious teams. Fortunately for Buster Posey, he's the best catcher in this league. He sees Ben Lively tonight, who is just not a good pitcher. He's not a good control arm and he is very picky when it comes to his spots. This will often lead to falling behind in the count and making a mistake. Posey and the Giants hold an implied team total over 5 and are a team I'm a huge fan of. Mark Leiter Jr. was originally scheduled to start this game, but Lively has been given the reigns and will likely drop them. Lively is worse than Leiter and this Giants team can absolutely be stacked. Posey is the top option of the day at catcher and you should have exposure in all formats.

Jonathan Lucroy FD 3300 DK 3700
Opponent - MIL (Anderson) Park - @COL
FD - 11.92 DK - 9.29

If you feel the need to pay down at catcher, just wait until lineups come out and go with a guy that finds himself a bit higher in the order than usual. Ther are always 3 or 4 on Sundays, when most starters take a break. If you do have the funds and are looking to pivot from Posey, Jonathan Lucroy is obviously a great target in Coors Field. Lucroy has been a lot better against righties over the last couple years and has sported a .327 wOBA since 2016. He's definitely struggling compared to his old self, but is still one of the better hitting catchers out there. He faces off with Chase Anderson, who is a righty with reverse splits. He has a bit of trouble with HR's and moving to Coors Field will certainly not help. I do prefer Posey in both formats, but Lucroy will be more popular and it makes sense why people will be on him. Coors Field is attractive at a position without much to offer.

First Base

Joey Gallo FD 3800 DK 4900
Opponent - CHW (Gonzalez) Park - @TEX
FD - 14.13 DK - 10.654

The Texas Rangers have been in play for what seems like 4 weeks in a row now. They aren't as big of a deal tonight, as Miguel Gonzalez is a far better pitcher than the likes of James Shields and Derek Holland. That's not to say Gonzalez will throw a clean slate, either. He will surely give up a couple runs and Joey Gallo looks to be the best candidate to take advantage. Gonzalez has allowed a .316 wOBA and he has had some HR issues, which will translate poorly into Coors Field. Gallo is going to hit at least 40 home runs this year, so he should definitely be around if you're looking for upside with the Rangers. As for a 1 off, Gallo is s great way to go. He can hit 2 HR on any night and will have some extra RBI opportunities tonight. He's a strong option in both cash games and tournaments.

Jesus Aguilar FD 3100 DK 3900
Opponent - COL (Freeland) Park - @COL
FD - 13.12 DK - 9.86

This Jesus Aguilar pick is pretty obvious. In Coors Field, we see the Rockies and Brewers face off. Kyle Freeland, a lefty, will take the mound here for the Rockies. The Brewers as a team are far better against lefties and so is Jesus Aguilar with some huge power numbers to get things going. Aguilar is way too cheap for Coors Field when you consider he's posted a .385 wOBA against lefties. He will be right in the heart of the order and one of the more popular plays around. Kyle Freeland, who we will touch on later, is bad against righties. The Brewers can obviously be stacked and you need to make sure you play Aguilar in each and every combo of her. All in all, he's a great option in all formats.

Second Base

Jason Kipnis FD 3200 DK 4500
Opponent - KC (Hammel) Park - @KC
FD - 10.9 DK - 8.66

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Opponent - KC (Hammel) Park - @KC
FD - 10.9 DK - 8.66

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Opponent - KC (Hammel) Park - @KC
FD - 10.9 DK - 8.66

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