DraftKings and FanDuel MLB Picks for Saturday 8/20/22(Main Slate)

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Pitchers

Joe Musgrove FD 10500 DK 10100
Opponent - WSH (Josiah Gray) Park - WSH
FD - 47.98 DK - 25.98

The pitching landscape isn't great on the main slate today as the top guys have had their struggles in the second half but the good news is that they get plus matchups. Let's start with Joe Musgrove who hasn't been nearly as bad as the 4.97 ERA in the second half as the xFIP(3.71) is running over a run better and the BABIP(.321) and HR/FB rate has also spiked above the norm. I am not worried at all, especially in a matchup against the Nats who are a bottom-five offence since trading Juan Soto and have also seen their K rate jump about 3-4 % as well. Musgrove is my top pitcher on this slate.

Logan Gilbert FD 9800 DK 8000
Opponent - OAK (James Kaprielian) Park - OAK
FD - 37.44 DK - 20.66

Gilbert's numbers(6.59 ERA) may look ugly in the second half but considering 13 of the 20 earned runs over five starts came against the Yankees, I am not too concerned. He looked much better in the other three starts going six innings in each, posting a 3.50 ERA and tallying 19 strikeouts(26% K rate). What really stands out is the matchup as he faces the A's who were playing above their heads to start the second half but have come back down to Earth scoring just 2.8 runs per game over their last 17 games. Better yet, they have struggled even more against righties ranking second to last in wOBA(.274) and wRC+(80) in the split. Fire up Gilbert in all formats.

Catcher/First Base

Paul Goldschmidt FD 4800 DK 6000
Opponent - ARI (Madison Bumgarner) Park - ARI
FD - 13.32 DK - 10.09

If there is one player we want to be paying up for on this slate it's Paul Goldschmidt. He is the odds-on-favourite to win the MVP leading the NL in average, wOBA, wRC+, is third in home runs and second in RBI. He has been incredibly consistent all season and has always hit lefties well but this season he has been on another level hitting .429 with an insane .561 wOBA, 272 wRC+, and .405 ISO.  Now he faces a struggling lefty in Madison Bumgarner who has given up four or more runs in five of his last six starts(6.19 ERA) and to top it off Goldy has absolutely crushed him in his career(.342/.425/.630 slash line). Find value elsewhere to ensure you load up on Goldy in all formats.

Pete Alonso FD 3800 DK 5300
Opponent - PHI (Bailey Falter) Park - PHI
FD - 10.16 DK - 7.59

If you can’t quite afford Goldy but still want a hitter who mashes lefties, dial up Pete Alonso tonight. Not quite on the same level but the Polar Bear enters with a .372 wOBA/146 wRC+ in the split and gets a terrific matchup against Bailey Falter who has given up four homer runs in his last two major league starts. I got the Mets putting up runs tonight and Alonso will be the Center of those stacks.

Second Base

Luis Arraez FD 3100 DK 4000
Opponent - TEX (Glenn Otto) Park - TEX
FD - 9.67 DK - 7.57

The Twins are a team I am high on for PTS/$ value, especially on DraftKings where there is some odd pricing. Leading the way in that department is Luis Arraez who leads the league in average(.335) and is also one of four players with a .400 or better on-base percentage. It's not even like he has started to cool off as he comes in with hits in eight of his last nine games with four three-hit games. The matchup also stands out against Glen Otto who may look like he has been better as of late but is running a very unsustainable .159 BABIP in his last three starts. Arraez is my top play at second and one of my top PTS/$ plays at any position on this slate.

Also Consider: Jonathan India(CIN) who hits leadoff, comes in with hits in three straight, and gets a plus matchup against Tyler Beede

Shortstop

Carlos Correa FD 3200 DK 5000
Opponent - TEX (Glenn Otto) Park - TEX
FD - 10.83 DK - 8.2

I mentioned the Twins being a top team to target above and while Correa's price has finally started to correct, he is still a core play. He comes in red-hot with hits in 11 of his last 12 starts hitting .311 in that time while getting on base at a .418 clip. The matchup also lines up nicely as he faces Glen Otto who has given up a wOBA(.366) that is 70 points higher against right-handed batters. Fire up Correa in all formats.

Also Consider: Kevin Newman(PIT) as a low-owned value who comes in red-hot with hits in five straight(9 for 18 with two doubles) and also gets a plus matchup against Justin Dunn who has given up eight earned runs(4 HR) over his first two starts of the season

Third Base

Jose Miranda FD 3300 DK 3900
Opponent - TEX (Glenn Otto) Park - TEX
FD - 9.21 DK - 7.1

With an abundance of rookie standouts this season, Jose Miranda has gone relatively under the radar. He has been good all season but has really come on down the stretch hitting .322 with a .371 wOBA/145 wRC+ in August. More good news for the Twins righties as they face off against Otto man who is giving up a .366 wOBA in the split. Fire up Miranda in all formats.

Brett Baty FD 2800 DK 2400
Opponent - PHI (Bailey Falter) Park - PHI
FD - 6.77 DK - 5.17

If you are looking for a punt play today, consider Mets' top prospect Brett Baty who got the callup this week after tearing apart the minor leagues. He hits down in the order but the Mets are on the road which helps the implied at-bats and better news is that he looks more than comfortable at the major league level and now has hits in all three games. He not only has big power upside but knows how to work a count and get on base(over .400 OBP at AA/AAA this season) and like I mentioned already in this article, the Mets get a plus matchup. Baty is one of my top PTS/$ on this slate and would get a huge boost if moved up the lineup a few slots. Stay tuned.

Outfield

Joc Pederson FD 3400 DK 4300
Opponent - COL (Ryan Feltner) Park - COL
FD - 14.71 DK - 11.05
LaMonte Wade Jr. FD 3000 DK 2800
Opponent - COL (Ryan Feltner) Park - COL
FD - 14.5 DK - 10.95

The Giants are in a great spot again tonight playing in Coors and most of my exposure will come in the outfield. It starts with the matchup against Ryan Feltner who has posted an 8.03 ERA/5.27 xFIP over his last six appearances(five starts) including five home runs, a 46.3% hard contact rate and 9.5% barrel rate. Let's start with LaMonte Wade Jr. who has not only been hitting leadoff against right-handed pitching but has been on fire with at least one hit in each of those three games at the top of the order including three home runs. Joc Pederson hasn't had the same upside recently but has been just as consistent with hits in eight of his last 11 games and is also hitting near the top of the order. At these prices, I will have exposure to both in all formats as they are right near the top of our PTS/$ rankings.

Dylan Carlson FD 2900 DK 3800
Opponent - ARI (Madison Bumgarner) Park - ARI
FD - 11.51 DK - 8.75

There is an abundance of value in the outfield today and this one aligns nicely with one of our top overall teams to target. Carlson hits lead off in front of some monster bats(Goldy/Arenado) and has been consistent lately with hits on four of his last five games. He is a switch hitter and is considerably better against lefties(.393 wOBA/158 wRC+) and gets a great matchup against MadBum who has given up 4+ earned runs in four straight starts. Carlson is a top PTS/$ play in the outfield tonight.

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