Welcome to MLB DFS Quick Hits for FanDuel & Draft Kings Contests for Tuesday, August 18th, 2020
We have a nice 11-game slate tonight that locks at 7:00 PM EST. There is plenty of talent on the mound to choose from and some juicy hitting matchups to look into. In these DFS quick hits, you’ll see my:
Pitching Plays – My top two pitching plays of the night. The opposing team’s effectiveness against pitcher’s handiness, K rate, and wRC+ are just a few of the items considered here.
Happy Hitters – One corner infielder, middle infielder, and two outfielders who should be smiling at the end of the night. Hitter’s platoon splits, ISO, and wOBA are just a few of the items considered here.
Let’s Get Weird – I will give one hitter and one pitcher lesser owned that MIGHT have a chance to boom but an equal chance to bust. In other words, a dart throw that could set you apart in GPP’s. Your decision if you want to live dangerously.
Let’s dive right into today.
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Top MLB DFS Plays for 8/18
Pitching Plays
- Luis Castillo ($9,500 DK / $10,400 FD) – Mr. Changeup is going against a Royals lineup that strikes out nearly 25% of the time versus right-handers, and they might be playing against the best one they’ve faced all season. Castillo did not fare as well against them his last time out but I expect that’ll be completely different this time around. He will be chalky and he will cost a lot, but it will be worth it.
- Kenta Maeda ($9700 DK / $8800 FD) – Milwaukee has been DREADFUL versus right-handed pitching, striking out 28% of the time and as a team having a .134 ISO. Maeda has looked awesome himself this year with the reigns off and finally being able to pitch. He will be lesser owned with some studs on the slate, so turn to him if you need a little bit of a cheaper option.
Happy Hitters
- Corner Infield: Travis d’Arnaud ($3000 DK / $ 3,200 FD) – Going against the righty Austin Voth, expect a good day for this Atlanta Brave. He leads all of baseball with a .548 wOBA against right-handers and a 1.319 OPS. Voth has looked shaky of late and this whole Braves offense could feast.
- Middle Infield: Tim Anderson ($4,700 DK / $3,300 FD) – Tim Anderson is absolutely MASHING left-handed pitching this year with an .800 wOBA, .727 ISO, and 427 wRC+. Combine that with the rookie Tarik Skubal making his debut, I smell blood in the water here. Get Anderson in your lineups.
- Outfielder #1: Jay Bruce ($4,200 DK / $ 2,700 FD) – He likes his righties like he probably likes his Philly Cheesesteaks. A .500 ISO (2nd amongst those with over 30 PA), a 0.8 BB/K ratio, and a 189 wRC+. Save money here to spend up elsewhere.
- Outfielder #2: Austin Meadows ($5,000 DK / $3,600 FD) – We know that Tanaka, when he gets his splitter going, is trouble. However, Tanaka has shown he is far from the consistent elite pitcher many thought he would be start in and start out. Look for Meadows to potentially make some damage against the righty as he’s shown since his breakout last year that he can hit quality pitching. He currently owns a .470 wOBA, 207 wRC+, and has a career .333 BA against offspeed pitches (splitter). He might not be used in as many lineups so this could especially help in GPP’s.
Let’s Get Weird
- Dylan Cease ($8,500 DK / $8,200 FD) – Put in right-hander vs the Detroit Tigers here. Cease has played the Tigers already this year and looked good, throwing 6 innings of 1 run ball. If he can control his pitches, this is a guy that should be able to strike out a guy per inning and get some good run against a mediocre offense.
- Rio Ruiz ($3,700 DK / $3,400 FD) – A nice L/R matchup against the rookie right-hander Nate Pearson. Ruiz already has 6 HR’s on the season and Pearson has looked shaky to say the least to start his career. In a game that I’m expecting a lot of runs, look for a Rio-Bomb tonight.
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