FanDuel MLB Daily Fantasy Picks 8/21/19

MLB DFS is full on in the dog days of summer. Cash games you want to find consistent high floor pitchers, and the same goes for hitters. Tournaments you want to find lower owned bats and pitchers that carry huge upside. This article will point you in the direction of both.

Pitchers

Patrick Corbin ($10,300) – Washington Nationals

There are a few aces on this slate, as Justin Verlander and Walker Buehler both standout as terrific home options with big upside. I would go Buehler in cash games, or Verlander. In tournaments I like the pivot to a slightly cheaper Patrick Corbin. He has a 28.5% strikeout rate, and has been dominant in the second half. He also gets a poor Pirates lineup that struggles against left-handed pitching. Corbin also gets to move to a friendly PNC Park. Corbin should flirt with 7-9 strikeouts and a quality start in this spot.

Cash Hitters

Jean Segura ($3,300) – Philadelphia Phillies

It has been a somewhat quiet year for Jean Segura, and really this Phillies offense has been rather inconsistent. Tonight they are in another plus spot against a bad Red Sox rotation and bullpen. Rick Porcello has allowed a .338 wOBA and .208 ISO to right-handed hitters this season. He has also a sub 20% strikeout rate. Jean Segura has good contact numbers, but his 53% groundball rate has been rather poor. I still like him at this price and in the top half of a Phillies offense projected for 5.5 runs.

Michael Conforto ($3,600) – New York Mets

Adam Plutko has been a below average right-handed arm this season, sporting a 14.2% strikeout rate and 5.61 xFIP. He has allowed a .360 wOBA and .246 ISO to left-handed hitters. He has also allowed a .335 wOBA and .269 ISO to right-handers. Pick your poison, as the Mets are in a good spot tonight. However, Michael Conforto is someone who stands out to me at this price. He has a .274 ISO and .402 wOBA off right-handed pitching this season.

Jason Heyward ($3,300) – Chicago Cubs

Jason Heyward has been crushing this season, and that is after a few seasons of being rather unlucky or just not on par with his early career numbers. He has a .380 wOBA and .218 ISO off right-handed pitching this season. His strikeout rate is also sub 20%. He gets another poor Giants starting pitcher, who are stepping outside of Oracle Park. Dereck Rodriguez has allowed a .342 wOBA and .213 ISO to lefties this season.

Tournament Hitters

Sam Travis ($3,000) – Boston Red Sox

Sam Travis has been a platoon bat this year for the Red Sox, and has a .283 ISO and .396 wOBA off left-handed pitching. He is on the cheaper side, and gets Drew Smyly tonight. The lefty has allowed a .375 wOBA and .245 ISO to right-handed hitters. Travis should go overlooked, even with the Red Sox being prime targets. Both sides of the plate are in play, but come with a hefty price tag.

Isan Diaz (2,300) – Miami Marlins

Julio Teheran has been one of the luckier pitchers in baseball this season, and it certainly helps he gets to face the Marlins a fair amount during the year. He is allowing over a 40% hard-contact and flyball rate to left-handed hitters this season, and needs to be targeted still in tournaments. If you need a punt option, Isan Diaz hitting second is one to look at. Teheran has had career struggles with left-handed hitters and his off-speed usage drops against them.