Daily Fantasy Baseball 2015: MLB DraftKings Strategy, Primer for August 23
As a new week in fantasy baseball begins, Sunday’s MLB action features a full dosage of 15 different games. While pitching often presents better value for daily fantasy leagues, it’s smart to choose offense over subpar pitching for today’s games.
Clayton Kershaw and Cole Hamels are arguably the top two pitching options for Sunday and the only true aces taking the mound. Veteran talents such as R.A. Dickey, Edinson Volquez and Francisco Liriano are a few of the top options based on their reasonably low DraftKings values.
When selecting from a variety of veteran pitching options, it’s best to balance your budget for a plethora of high-quality offensive players. American League MVP candidates Mike Trout and Miguel Cabrera are just a few of the great talents worth consideration despite their high asking prices.
Here are the top options for Sunday’s games, primarily focused on hitting rather than pitching.
1B Eric Hosmer ($4,900), Kansas City Royals at Boston Red Sox
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Hosmer has been on fire with a .371 batting average since the All-Star break. He will aim to continue his success against Boston pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez, who has been hard to figure out over his past two starts.
Rodriguez has given up a combined nine earned runs over his past two starts. After an abysmal outing against the Miami Marlins, he dominated in his previous start against the Cleveland Indians.
| Opponent | Earned Runs allowed | Hits allowed | Walks Allowed | Strikeouts |
| vs. CLE | 1 | 6 | 0 | 5 |
| at. MIA | 8 | 9 | 1 | 2 |
Hosmer has hit a modest .286 against lefties this season but has been incredibly patient at the plate with a .444 on-base percentage over his past 30 games. His recent streak at the plate combined with the inconsistency of Rodriguez makes Hosmer a solid option on Sunday.
1B/3B Miguel Cabrera ($4,900), Detroit Tigers vs. Texas Rangers
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Cabrera is back in the American League MVP discussion with an astounding .500 batting average since the All-Star break. He has also hit an impressive .339 against left-handed pitchers this season which sets up a favorable matchup against Cole Hamels.
Hamels has struggled on the road this season. He has recorded a 4.29 ERA on the road in 2015 and has had a recently tough time adjusting to American League hitting. The 31-year-old has allowed a combined 12 earned runs over his first three starts with the Texas Rangers.
Cabrera has hit safely in seven straight games and should continue his success against Hamels. He has dominated the Rangers in the current three-game series including a three-double performance on Friday, which makes his high asking price a chance worth taking.
3B/SS Xander Bogaerts ($4,200), Boston Red Sox vs. Kansas City Royals
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Bogaerts has dominated right-handed pitchers at Fenway Park this season, a trend which should continue against Royals starter Edinson Volquez. He is hitting .324 at home against right-handed pitchers in 2015.
The 22-year-old has made a huge impact at the plate this season for the Red Sox. Bogaerts leads the team with a .313 batting average this season and ranks second on the team with 26 doubles.
Volquez faltered in his previous start against the Red Sox this season in allowing four earned runs, eight hits and one home run. Bogaerts has been one of the biggest surprises for the Red Sox in 2015 and should continue his impressive hitting on Sunday.
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OF Juan Lagares ($4,200), New York Mets at Colorado Rockies
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Lagares has been on a recent hot streak with a .355 batting average over his previous 15 games. He is fresh off of a three-hit performance against Chris Rusin and the Rockies on Saturday.
The veteran outfielder will face struggling right-hander David Hale on Sunday. Through 10 starts this season, Hale has recorded an abysmal 3-4 record with a 6.17 ERA. However, Hale has had his way against the Mets in the past and has allowed just eight earned runs combined through four career starts against the team.
Lagares presents a low-risk, high-reward pick for Sunday’s MLB action. He should continue his success at hitter-friendly Coors Field in a favorable matchup against Hale.
SP Francisco Liriano ($10,300), Pittsburgh Pirates vs. San Francisco Giants
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Liriano has been an important piece for the Pirates’ starting rotation in 2015. The former All-Star has averaged 9.74 strikeouts per nine innings pitched this season, his highest average since 2006.
Liriano is a must-pick due to his reasonable value and his past success against the Giants. He dominated San Francisco in his previous start on June 3, allowing just one earned run, four hits and one walk. The 31-year-old has also dominated at home this season, allowing visiting teams to hit just .218 against him.
Liriano presents a great pitching option due to his past success against the Giants and his overall performance this season. While San Francisco ranks second in MLB with a .270 team batting average in 2015, Liriano should put a halt to the Giants’ offensive promise.
SP Michael Wacha ($11,000), St. Louis Cardinals at San Diego Padres
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Wacha has recorded an impressive 14-4 record and 2.85 ERA for the first-place Cardinals in 2015. He hasn’t recorded a loss over his previous four starts and should continue his dominance against the disappointing Padres.
San Diego ranks 26th in MLB with a .243 team batting average this season. The team also demonstrates poor patience at the plate and ranks last in MLB with a .299 team on-base percentage in 2015.
Wacha does a great job at limiting easy opportunities for opposing teams to get on base, as he has allowed an average of just 2.23 walks per nine innings pitched this season.
The 22-year-old dominated the Padres on July 3 in allowing just one earned run, five hits and one walk. Wacha should be able to repeat his past outing against San Diego, and his high asking price should be ignored due to his favorable matchup.
Follow Curtis on Twitter: @CalhounCurtis.
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