FanDuel MLB Daily Fantasy Picks 8/7/19
Contents
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
James Paxton ($9,600) – There is some rain in the area, and there are a few other options to go with if things start to look dicey. Eduardo Rodriguez is an option, but the strikeout potential isn’t quite as high as James Paxton. Baltimore isn’t bad against left-handed pitching, as they have a few power bats to get around, but the strikeout rate is over 24% in their projected lineup. Paxton has a 29.5% strikeout rate and 4.03 xFIP this season. He has been hammered in a few starts, and not quite the lock he was in Seattle. However, hitters have under a 70% contact rate against him, and his whiff rates are still strong. For under $10,000 he is the best arm going tonight if weather permits.
Cash Hitters
Hunter Renfroe ($3,000) – I could probably name every Padres right-hander going tonight, as they all mash left-handed pitching. Hunter Renfroe has a higher ISO than wOBA against left-handed pitching. It sits at .481 this season, and he has a .424 wOBA. His strikeout rate is also below 20%, which was a knock against him in prior seasons. Kikuchi has struggled for the most part, although a lot has come against the Angels. The strikeout rate is below average at 16% and he has over a 5.00 xFIP. Right-handers have hit him hard this year for a .369 wOBA and .235 ISO. The Padres lineup could do some real damage.
Cameron Maybin ($2,800) – John Means has allowed a .327 wOBA and .184 ISO to right-handers dating back to last season. His strikeout stuff is more against left-handed hitters, and he is in trouble against a loaded offense tonight. Cameron Maybin has been on a heater, and he is cheap exposure against Means. It is a good ballpark for right-handed power. He will be in the back third of the lineup, but that doesn’t mean much in this lineup. The Yankees have an implied total over five, and if you can fit the bigger right-handed bats in your lineup, go for it.
Nick Ahmed ($3,200) – Jason Vargas was one of the deadline moves for a GM that could say he tried to improve the rotation. He has over a 5.00 xFIP and has allowed a .176 ISO to righties. Hitters have a 42% flyball rate off Vargas, and a 39% hard-contact rate. Nick Ahmed is a solid option on the Diamondbacks side, and has been crushing lefties since last season. This season alone he has a .373 wOBA and .196 ISO off southpaws. On a smaller slate, the Diamondbacks right-handers might carry some ownership, but that’s fine. It is a good spot against Vargas.
Tournament Hitters
Christian Walker ($3,400) – Christian Walker is more of a boom or bust play against Vargas, given his 25% strikeout rate. But, the power is worth it on this slate. He has a .178 ISO off lefties, which seems modest, but Walker has solid power. His hard-contact is over 45%. Names like Adam Jones are on the cheaper side as well, and we know Ketal Marte and Eduardo Escobar can do some damage. They just cost a bit more if you are paying up on the hill. I like a Diamondbacks stack tonight, as they have been an underrated fantasy offense all year,
Mike Moustakas (3,700) – This game shouldn’t draw a ton of attention, even on a smaller slate. PNC Park is obviously a downgrade from Miller Park, but Mike Moustakas is still a power option. Trevor Williams has allowed a .388 wOBA to left-handed hitters, and a .205 ISO. Moose has a .367 wOBA and .255 ISO off right-handed pitching this season. His strikeout rate is also at just 16.7%. Moose has a .323 ISO off right-handed changeups and a .315 ISO off his fastball range. Both make up mostly what he throws to left-handed hitters.