MLB DFS PICKS FOR DRAFTKINGS 8/25/2020

RotoRiley
Aug 25, 2020
6 min read

It's been a while but I'm back and ready to go through tonight's ten game slate. It looks like we don't have any major weather concerns to worry about and the Rockies are away from home which means no Coors! All in all, I like this slate and hopefully these picks will help you make a winning lineup. Let's go!

Pitcher

Shane Bieber $10.8k:

Perhaps the best pitcher in baseball right now, Biebs faces the Twins at home tonight. These Twins hitters have actually had success against Shane in the past but that was before he really took the next step to be the pitcher he is today. He faced this squad earlier this season and put up a monster 46.2 DK points and while that performance will be hard to repeat, I'm still confident in his ability to pick up double digit stirkeouts against a team that K's 23.5% of at bats. There's no doubt that MIN has some big bats that can do damage but nobody is as lights out as Shane Bieber right now.

Gerrit Cole $10.6k:

Around the same price, we get the Cole-train in Atlanta. The Braves have been bit by the injury bug this season but they still sit at the top of the NL East. Still, you couldn't wish for a better matchup right now for Cole. The Braves are striking out 26.5% of the time and now have to go against the man who has been a K machine for the last two years. Sure they still have some very capable hitters like Freeman and Acuna Jr. but we can live with a solo shot or two if Cole is going to pick up 10+ strikeouts. His ceiling is as high as any other pitcher in the league and there's a chance he could show us it tonight.

Lucas Giolito $9.7k

If you can't get to those two more expensive options, I don't mind Giolito in this spot. He has a high ceiling with his strikeout stuff and the Pirates don't pose much of a threat. Guaranteed Rate (the worst name for a ballpark ever) is a very underrated hitters ballpark and the weather is supposed to be hot in Chicago so the potential of giving up a few long balls does worry me since the Pirates get a huge ballpark upgrade here. I don't like him as much as the top two guys but we chase strikeouts and this is a prime spot for him to rack up some.

Brandon Woodruff $8.2k

I finally feel a little more comfortable attacking the Reds as they've cooled off. I've been waiting for the right time and tonight feels like it could be it. Woodruff has been a good pitcher this season but just ok in terms of fantasy. It's also a toss up on whether or not the Brewers can get him the W. However, the Reds are cold right now and Woodruff is definitely a better pitcher in his own ballpark. I imagine people will go down to Paddack for SP2 but if you want to be different then take the chance on Woodruff.

Chris Paddack $7.8k

I keep plugging him into my lineups but he still hasn't really come through. Tonight is not the night to stop rostering him as he gets a matchup at home against the Seattle Mariners. He will be high owned tonight as everyone's SP2 but that isn't going to scare me away from him. I'd be a fool to fade him in his best spot of the year. The Padres should absolutely be able to pick up the win here for those very important extra points and hopefully we get around seven innings along with seven strikeouts. Attacking Seattle has actually hurt me a few times this year but I feel comfortable doing it again tonight.

Sean Manaea $7.5k

This play is only for the brave. If you're looking to go away from the field or maybe you want to stack some expensive bats then I'd recommend looking at Manaea as an option. He clearly has not been great this year but we know what he's capable of. You're looking for him to go deep into games and pick up around six strikeouts along the way. This is a matchup in the very friendly pitchers park in Texas against a bad Rangers lineup. He faced them earlier this year and it didn't go well but his last two starts have been a good sign. It's hard to see him not turning it around and I really can see this being a solid outing in route to an A's W.

Catcher

Willson Contreras $4.9k:

This is a very heavy price tag but the Cubs get Turnbull tonight and if you plan on stacking the cubs then throw Willson in there. Last night's game was a good sign for the Cubs' offense as they seem to be figuring it out. Also worth noting that the Tigers have used a lot of their bullpen so Turnbull may have to eat some innings here.

Gary Sanchez $4.8k:

You're looking for a bomb whenever you roster Gary and tonight the Yankees get the pleasure of facing a rookie in his debut. Yankees stack in play.

James McCann $4.2k:

Still waiting for the power to come for him this season but he gets a cake matchup against a lefty. White Sox are in play.

Victor Caratini $2.6k

If he's starting then I'm just going to lock him in and move on. Simply too cheap for a solid hitter in a stack that we all like. He's capable of a long ball and that short wall in RF is calling his name. Being a switch hitter is also a great bonus.

First Base

Jose Abreu $5k:

Hottest hitter in baseball and has a great matchup against Brault. Get him in if you can.

Paul Goldschmidt $4.7k:

He's on fire this year with a .368 BA and the matchup is great. Cardinals fully in play.

Luke Voit $4.4k:

This is a good price for someone with these kinds of numbers. Add the fact that he's up against a pitcher making his debut. Include in Yankees stack if that's the route you're taking.

Edwin Encarnacion $3.8k:

If you're stacking the Sox then you have to choose between him and Abreu. While Jose is obviously the better choice, you save a lot of money going down to Edwin who is a lefty masher with a lot of pop.

Second Base

Ryan McMahon $4.1k:

This is my favorite position to pay down on tonight. This is a L/L matchup but it's still a great stack tonight with the roof open in ARI. Odds are they will knock the lefty out early and that'll give him plenty of more at bats in the game.

Kolten Wong $3.3k:

Most likely will be chalk at this price and leading off in a stack that everyone likes. You might just want to plug and play in cash games

Brenden Rodgers $3.1k:

Love this if he's starting. Lots of speed and a great opportunity to put up some points if the Rockies score as many runs as we think they will.

Third Base

Nolan Arenado $4.9k:

He's not having a good year but how often do we get him below 5k? This is a really good matchup for him to get going and must be included in any kind of Rockies stack.

Tommy Edman 4.3k/Brad Miller $4.1k

Both of these guys are available at other positions. Edman is hitting second and has been seeing the ball well lately and Miller has the power to hit the long ball in the cleanup spot.

David Bote $2.6k:

Solid punt play. He's hitting 8th but that doesn't bother me at this price. If the Cubs score as many runs as we think then he shouldn't have an issue putting up some points. Hit a 455 foot bomb last night as well.

Shortstop

Tim Anderson $5.4k:

Shortstop is loaded tonight. You can't go wrong with Tatis but right under him is the lefty mashing shortstop, Tim Anderson. If the Sox do damage tonight, look for him to be a key part of it.

Trevor Story $5.2k:

Against a bad lefty he's pretty automatic. Double dong potential and should be high owned.

Javy Baez $4.6k:

"He's baaaack" - Len Kasper .. Very promising sign last night as he went deep twice. The biggest thing for me was the opposite field blast. Javy is at his best when he's looking to go the other way.

Paul Dejong $4.1k:

Big time power bat and if we're rostering the red birds then we should include him. Too cheap too for the amount of pop in his bat.

Outfield

Charlie Blackmon $5.6k:

Still hitting over .400 and back in the cleanup spot tonight. Big time RBI spot and should be worth the price.

Eloy Jimenez $4.9k/Luis Robert $4.5k:

Either/both in play here against the below average lefty.

Kyle Schwarber $4.1k/Ian Happ $4k/Jason Heyward $2.4k:

All are way too cheap. Heyward has been looking good lately and hitting in the middle of the lineup. Happ is a lead off hitter with pop from both sides of the plate and Schwarber is always a threat to go deep.

Stacks Ranked: