Daily Fantasy Baseball 2015: Best MLB DraftKings Picks, Advice for August 26

Matchups are extremely important to identify in daily fantasy baseball leagues, both from a hitter and pitcher's perspective. The 15 MLB games scheduled for Wednesday expose a few key matchups to keep in mind when filling out your DraftKings lineup.

Here are five of the top daily fantasy baseball options for Wednesday.

Michael Brantley, OF, Cleveland Indians vs. Milwaukee Brewers ($4,600)

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Michael Brantley has arguably been the hottest hitter in baseball over the past few weeks. He has recorded a phenomenal .413 batting average and a .683 slugging percentage over the past 15 games.

The veteran outfielder will face Brewers starter Jimmy Nelson, who has been inconsistent against left-handed batters. Nelson is allowing opposing lefties to hit .292 against him, a noticeable difference from his .192 opposing batting average when facing right-handed hitters.

Brantley’s recent streak and the inconsistency of Nelson make the Indians outfielder a strong pick for Wednesday.

Manny Machado, 3B, Baltimore Orioles vs. Kansas City Royals ($3,800)

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Manny Machado’s value has plummeted after an unimpressive recent streak of appearances. He has hit just .234 over his past 15 games, which has dropped his overall batting average to .293.

Despite his recent slump, Machado still has an excellent matchup on Wednesday against Royals starter Johnny Cueto. Kansas City’s biggest acquisition at the trade deadline struggled in his most recent start, giving up six earned runs and 13 hits to the Boston Red Sox.

Machado has the perfect opportunity to break out of his slump against Cueto. He is a low-risk, high-reward pick despite his recent struggles.

Gio Gonzalez, SP, Washington Nationals vs. San Diego Padres ($7,500)

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Gio Gonzalez has struggled in recent weeks for the slumping Nationals, but his matchup with the Padres on Wednesday sets him up perfectly to get back on track.

Since 2012, the 29-year-old has had his way against San Diego. Gonzalez has recorded a 2-0 record with a 2.33 ERA against the Padres over the past three seasons. The Padres rank 27th in MLB with a .244 team batting average despite the acquisitions of former All-Stars Justin Upton and Matt Kemp this past offseason.

Like Machado, Gonzalez has a great chance to break out of his recent slump due to his favorable matchup. While there are other pitching options on Wednesday, such as Chris Sale and David Price, Gonzalez’s low value makes him a risk worth taking.

Wilmer Flores, 2B/SS, New York Mets vs. Philadelphia Phillies ($4,000)

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Wilmer Flores has been on a tear since he was once thought to be on his way out of New York just before the trade deadline. He has hit .300 over his past 30 games, including a .333 batting average over his past 15 appearances.

Flores has a great chance to continue his timely hitting against the lowly Phillies and pitcher Jerad Eickhoff. Though he had a great season debut against the Marlins in which he threw six shutout innings, Eickhoff is still young and inexperienced against top-tier offenses.

As the Mets continue to extend their lead in the National League East, Flores is a must-have option in daily leagues. Though there is still a possibility his recent streak could be a fluke, it is best to use the 24-year-old in the short term as he continues to perform at a high level.

DJ LeMahieu, 2B, Colorado Rockies vs. Atlanta Braves ($3,600)

John Bazemore/Associated Press

The All-Star second-baseman’s value has dipped in recent weeks due to a .241 batting average over his past seven games. However, DJ LeMahieu is still performing at a high level overall and is poised for an excellent matchup on Wednesday against Braves starter Shelby Miller.

Over his career, LeMahieu has recorded a .600 batting average (3-for-5) and a .714 on-base percentage against Miller. Though he has had a few incredible performances this season, Miller is winless over his past 15 starts.

LeMahieu may not be the explosive player he was during the first half of the season, but he is still an above-average fantasy option. His past performances against Miller and his tremendous upside offensively make him a solid pickup on Wednesday.