DraftKings and FanDuel MLB Picks for Wednesday, 8/17/22

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Pitchers

Carlos Rodón FD - P 10700 DK - SP 10800
Opponent - ARI (Zach Davies) Park - SF
FD - 38.31 DK - 21.04

Rodon has quietly had a monster year in San Fran, and it'd be scary to see where this team would be at if he weren't throwing gems every time out. The former ChiSox pitcher has a 2.95 ERA and 1.06 WHIP this year, striking out 168 batters across 134 innings. Those are some of the best averages in DFS, with Rodon registering a 2.51 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and 11.1 K/9 rate across his last 11 starts. He should be able to keep that form going at home against Arizona, with the Diamondbacks ranked 22nd in OBP, 21st in wOBA, and 23rd in xwOBA. That's why he's entering this matchup as a -210 favorite, with the D'Backs projected for just three runs.

Cal Quantrill FD - P 8300 DK - SP 7000
Opponent - DET (Daniel Norris) Park - CLE
FD - 36.19 DK - 18.13

Quantrill is not someone you'll get excited about, but this guy is really starting to mow down opposing bats. He's actually thrown 13 scoreless innings in his last two starts, shutting out the Blue Jays and Astros. Those are two of the best offenses in baseball, and we're obviously not worried about him facing a Detroit team that's bottom-three in every offensive category. Q has been feeling it much longer than that two-start stretch, tallying a 2.80 ERA and 0.99 WHIP across his last six starts. He's also allowed four runs or fewer in 20 of 22 starts this year, which gives him one of the highest floors of any player on this slate. Not to mention, he's a -230 favorite in this magical matchup!

Max Scherzer (FD $11500 DK $11100) is one of the best pitchers in the sport and gets to face an Atlanta team with the second-worst K rate in baseball.

Catcher/First Base

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. FD - 1B 3900 DK - 1B 6100
Opponent - BAL (Austin Voth) Park - TOR
FD - 14.99 DK - 11.29

Vladdy got off to a slow start this season, but the 2021 AL MVP frontrunner has been raking for well over a month now. He's got a hit in 25 of his last 27 games, providing a .345 AVG, .391 OBP, .600 SLG, and .992 OPS in that span. That's the stud we saw throughout last season, and it makes it hard to understand why he's below $4K on FanDuel. A matchup with Austin Voth makes it even more mind-boggling, with the Baltimore pitcher posting a 5.34 ERA and 1.50 WHIP this year. That has Toronto projected for five runs, one of the highest totals on this slate.

Luke Voit FD - 1B 2900 DK - 1B 3700
Opponent - CHC (Drew Smyly) Park - WSH
FD - 10.44 DK - 7.83

It's always nice to find someone this talented in this price range. People obviously forget about Voit because he plays for one of the worst teams in baseball, but this big man has been doing damage throughout his career. In fact, Luke has a .351 OBP, .494 SLG, and .845 OPS since 2018. That has earned him the three-hole in this lineup, with Voit amassing a .350 OBP, .494 SLG, and .844 OPS over his last 24 games. Those statistics are oddly similar, but it's a good indicator of how reliable this guy can be. Getting the platoon advantage against Drew Smyly is the best part of this, though, with the southpaw slinging a 4.82 ERA and 1.41 WHIP since 2017.

Sean Murphy (FD $2700 DK $4500) always bats in the heart of Oakland's order and should do well against a lefty with a 1.71 WHIP.

Second Base

Marcus Semien FD - 2B 2400 DK - 2B 4300
Opponent - OAK (Adam Oller) Park - TEX
FD - 14.05 DK - 10.63

Semien also got off to a slow start this season, but he's been a stud for months. This dude finished 2021 with 45 homers and 15 steals, and he's been playing like that for a while now. In fact, Semien has 18 homers and 16 steals over his last 75 games, providing a .265 AVG, .492 SLG, and .815 OPS in that span. Those are incredible totals from a player in this price range, especially since his K rate is below 15 percent in that span. That recent form makes him tough to fade against Adam Oller, with the A's pitcher posting a 7.26 ERA and 1.78 WHIP this year.

Jonathan India FD - 2B 2900 DK - 2B 4700
Opponent - PHI (Ranger Suárez) Park - CIN
FD - 10.38 DK - 7.84

India and Semien had similar starts to the year, but their seasons have taken a similar trajectory. A trip to the IL is what did India some good, generating a .282 AVG, .344 OBP, .504 SLG, and .848 OPS over his last 32 games. That's the guy who took down NL Rookie of the Year in 2021, and it always had him leading off for this Reds team. The matchup against Ranger Suarez is not easy, but it gives India the platoon advantage from the right side. It's also nice that he gets to hit in Great American Smallpark, one of the most hitter-friendly ballparks around.

Shortstop

Amed Rosario FD - SS 3100 DK - SS 4600
Opponent - DET (Daniel Norris) Park - CLE
FD - 10.68 DK - 8.37

Many people called the Francisco Lindor trade a steal for the Mets, but Cleveland looks like the winner because of Andres Gimenez and Rosario. Amed is the direct replacement for Lindor, and he's been doing work in the two-hole of this lineup. The speedster has developed a power stroke recently, totaling a .500 SLG over his last 17 games. That's big news when looking at his season-long averages, accruing a .284 AVG and .733 OPS. That might not jump off the page, but it's really enticing since he has a .303 AVG, .525 SLG, and .877 OPS with the platoon advantage in his favor. Daniel Norris is not a scary matchup either, accumulating a 5.97 ERA and 1.44 WHIP.

Paul DeJong FD - SS 2800 DK - SS 3800
Opponent - COL (Germán Márquez) Park - STL
FD - 8.38 DK - 6.32

I've been riding DeJong for a few weeks, and I don't understand why these DFS sites keep him so affordable. The slugging shortstop has been a different player since his most recent Triple-A stint, collecting a .275 AVG, .367 OBP, .608 SLG, and .975 OPS over his last 15 games. That alone makes him an immense value in this price range, and the matchup against Marquez is magnificent as well. The Cardinals are projected for nearly five runs, facing a righty with a 5.08 ERA and 1.42 WHIP.

Third Base

Matt Chapman FD - 3B 3200 DK - 3B 4900
Opponent - BAL (Austin Voth) Park - TOR
FD - 11.13 DK - 8.27

Stacking the Blue Jays can be challenging with salary restrictions, but Chapman is one of the few bats who's a good value. The Gold Glove third baseman got off to a rough start this year, but he's got a .293 AVG, .379 OBP, .638 SLG, and 1.017 OPS over his last 33 games. That makes him way too cheap on both sites, and we obviously don't mind that he has an OPS above 1.100 against Baltimore this year. We already discussed how bad Voth has been this year, making Toronto one of the best stacks on the board. Don't forget about hitters like Bo Bichette, George Springer, and Teoscar Hernandez as well!

Alec Bohm FD - 3B 2600 DK - 3B 4100
Opponent - CIN (Nick Lodolo) Park - CIN
FD - 8.85 DK - 6.8

It was sad to see Bohm struggle defensively and get booed mercifully by his home crowd, but he's played with a chip on his shoulder since then. The former top prospect has been moved into the heart of this order, compiling a .344 AVG, .376 OBP, .489 SLG, and .864 OPS across his last 34 games played. That's a large sample size of success, and it looks even better since he's got a .395 OBP, .575 SLG, and .970 OPS with the platoon advantage in his favor this season. Nick Lodolo isn't a bad matchup either, maintaining a 4.72 ERA and 1.66 WHIP so far this year.

Outfield

Byron Buxton FD - OF 3700 DK - OF 5900
Opponent - KC (Daniel Lynch) Park - MIN
FD - 14.28 DK - 10.86

It's been a bizarre year for Buxton. Many season-long fantasy managers drafted him because of his elite speed, but Bux has let his average and speed on the mend to become an elite power hitter. It's hard to understand what's happened, but 28 homers are hard to argue with. That gives him a .584 SLG and .901 OPS over the last three years. Getting to face Daniel Lynch is the best part of this, though, with the lefty producing a 4.52 ERA and 1.51 WHIP. It also gives Bux the advantage from the right side, registering a .632 SLG and .959 OPS against lefties this year.

Adolis García FD - OF 3800 DK - OF 4200
Opponent - OAK (Adam Oller) Park - TEX
FD - 10.73 DK - 8.18

Garcia broke out last season with 31 homers, 16 steals, and 90 RBI, and it doesn't make sense why the fantasy community was sleeping on this guy in offseason drafts. In any case, he's having another stat-stuffing season, amassing 19 homers, 17 steals, and 73 RBI in this much-improved lineup. He's done a ton of that damage recently, entering this matchup amid a 13-game hitting streak, accruing a .333 AVG, .382 OBP, and .813 OPS in that span. All of that makes him an outstanding option against Oller's 1.78 WHIP, particularly since Adolis has better splits against right-handers.

Nick Castellanos FD - OF 2800 DK - OF 3900
Opponent - CIN (Nick Lodolo) Park - CIN
FD - 12.63 DK - 9.59

It's strange to see Castellanos in this price range. This is a former All-Star who was $1,000 on both sites this time last year, and it's just a matter of time before he returns there. We've seen flashes of that player recently. generating a .348 AVG, .392 OBP, .536 SLG and .928 OPS across his last 18 games played. That directly correlates with the trade deadline, and it's clear that a huge burden was lifted off his shoulders once he realized he was staying in Cincy. We already discussed how Lodolo has a WHIP above 1.60, which is awesome since Castellanos' OPS is much higher against lefties.